"Brother Ming." Zhou Rui walked over to Ming Jingzhou, who was busy organizing scrolls with his head down. "I heard the kitchen prepared two new dishes today. Let's go and try them together."
Ming Jingzhou smiled at Zhou Rui. "Brother Zhou, we've known each other for years. If you have something to say, just say it directly."
Zhou Rui pulled Ming Jingzhou to a corner. "I know you might have some reservations about Prince Chen, but if word gets out that you're treating him this way in the Ministry of Rites, it might displease His Majesty."
"Prince Chen is lazy and quick-tempered. Copying documents will help temper his character." Ming Jingzhou patted Zhou Rui's shoulder. "Don't worry, Brother Zhou. Even if His Majesty finds out, he won't be able to fault me."
Zhou Rui fell silent. On the surface, there might be no fault to find, but everyone knew this was intentional provocation.
His Majesty had even bestowed two titles upon the Ming family. It wasn't so you could mistreat his son. The Ming family is known for their stubbornness, but in times like these, perhaps it's better to be a little less rigid.
"Minister Ming, Minister Zhou."
Zhou Rui turned around and saw Prince Chen personally carrying two large food containers. Behind him, the attending eunuch was empty-handed.
"Minister Ming, please enjoy the meal." Prince Chen placed one of the food containers on the table, a faint smile on his face.
Ming Jingzhou recognized the food container—it was from his own household. He glanced at the other container in Prince Chen's hand and realized it was also from his home.
Why were their family's food containers in Prince Chen's possession?
Zhou Rui observed the scene, noticing the respectful smile Prince Chen directed at Ming Jingzhou. His feelings became somewhat complicated.
Prince Chen had indeed been somewhat arrogant in the past, but ever since he joined the Ministry of Rites, he had obediently followed Ming Jingzhou's instructions. He probably still didn't realize that Ming Jingzhou was deliberately humoring him.
Thinking of the recent improvements in the Ministry of Rites—the better meals, the newly replaced furniture, and the constant supply of high-quality charcoal—Zhou Rui's gaze toward Prince Chen softened considerably.
In the past, he had only seen Prince Chen as lazy and disrespectful, but after working together, he realized the prince wasn't as terrible as the rumors made him out to be. If you looked carefully, you might even find a few redeeming qualities.
"Brother Ming, I'll leave you and His Highness to enjoy your meal. I’ll take my leave now."
A son-in-law who remembers to bring meals for his future father-in-law can't be all that bad.
As he left, Zhou Rui thoughtfully closed the door behind him, leaving the future father-in-law and son-in-law alone.
"Your Highness, why do you have my family's food containers?" Ming Jingzhou opened the container and saw that it was filled with his favorite dishes. His brows relaxed slightly.
"Miss Ming sent them." Prince Chen thought for a moment before sitting down in Ming Jingzhou's room and opening his own food container.
Ming Jingzhou's brows furrowed again. If his daughter had sent the meal, why was Prince Chen the one carrying the containers?
He glanced at the dishes in Prince Chen's container and noticed they were different from his own.
Seeing the dishes inside, Prince Chen was momentarily stunned. These were all his favorite dishes. He hadn't shared many meals with Ming Jiuzhu, so he was surprised she had remembered his preferences.
Did she really care about him that much?
By the time Ming Jingzhou put down his chopsticks, Prince Chen was still eating. Ming Jingzhou read a few pages of a book before Prince Chen finally finished.
"Your Highness, you can leave the food containers here. I'll take them home after I finish my duties today."
It was one thing to eat his family's food, but he couldn't let Prince Chen take the containers too. These custom-made containers cost a full two taels of silver each.
"Thank you, Minister Ming." Prince Chen washed up and tidied himself with the help of his attendants. "The tax records you asked me to copy are complete."
"The tax records from various regions are publicly available in the Six Ministries. I'm pleased to see Your Highness has the patience to copy them." Ming Jingzhou took a sip of his digestive tea. "However, my memory is failing me in my old age. I can't recall last year's tax revenue from Liuzhou. Does Your Highness remember?"
"Liuzhou suffered a drought last year. My father, out of compassion for the local people, exempted them from seventy percent of their taxes. The total tax revenue for the year was only 235,000 guan. The production of rice, silk, and cloth was also affected."
Since Emperor Longfeng ascended the throne, he had been diligent and caring toward his people, disliking anything that would burden them. It wasn't unusual for a single prefecture to generate over a million guan in annual taxes.
"Your Highness has an excellent memory." Ming Jingzhou nodded. "His Majesty loves his people like his own children and cannot bear to see them suffer or be separated from their families. The people of the empire are fortunate to have such a wise ruler."
"Without the people, there is no nation. Agriculture is the foundation of the state." Ming Jingzhou picked up a thick volume of agricultural tool records collected by the Ministry of Works. "Your Highness, these are the statistical records of farming tools from various prefectures and counties. You can browse them in your spare time."
"Thank you, Minister Ming." Prince Chen took the records and, seeing that Ming Jingzhou had no intention of engaging him further, lazily walked out with the books in hand.
Officials passing by saw the agricultural tool records in his hands and quickly averted their eyes.
If they didn't see it, they could pretend they didn't know Ming Jingzhou was deliberately humoring Prince Chen.
"Ming Jingzhou is really going out of his way to dismiss Yun Duqing. The two titles His Majesty bestowed on the Ming family were wasted." Prince Huai picked up a cup of wine and drained it in one gulp. "No matter how much Father favors him, his outrageous behavior will never be tolerated by the court."
Among the brothers, he was the eldest. Back when their father had fallen out of favor, the officials who supported him were dismissed, and their father was placed under house arrest in the palace. All the siblings were anxious, except for Yun Duqing, who remained carefree and continued to pester their father to play with him, completely oblivious to the family's predicament.
A child who was so clueless back then wouldn't grow up to be any more responsible. Yun Duqing was enfeoffed as a prince at a young age and acted recklessly. Even when his tutor fainted from frustration, their father couldn't bring himself to scold him too harshly.
"The Ming and Sun families both have ties to the royal family, but the Emperor's favor differs greatly."
"I and the second prince are both married, yet our wives' families were not granted any titles because of the marriages." Prince Huai snorted. "Yun Duqing is just a spoiled brat, and the Ming family has no intention of supporting him. He's not a threat. But Yun Yanze, who excels at winning people over and has a strong reputation in the court, is my greatest concern."
"So, we don’t need to worry about Prince Chen for now?"
"Why bother? Let him continue copying books in the Ministry of Rites." Prince Huai said with a hint of schadenfreude. "I even suspect that the incident at the royal stables was orchestrated by the fourth prince and his mother. Consort Ning may appear gentle, kind, and well-educated, but she’s actually a venomous woman."
He still remembered when he was ten years old, watching Lady Zheng hold a cat underwater in the lotus pond, only releasing it when it was on the verge of death.
With a mother like that, how kind could the seemingly gentle Prince Qi truly be?
"Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you urgently!" A voice called from outside the door.
Prince Huai set down his wine cup and immediately stood up. "Prepare the horses."
Prince Huai hurried to the palace and found the six ministers and his other brothers already there. He glanced at Prince Qi, who was standing with the Minister of Revenue, and then at Prince Chen, who was with the Minister of Rites, before taking his place beside the Minister of Justice.
"Eldest Son, have you been drinking?" Emperor Longfeng frowned as he caught the scent of alcohol on his eldest son.
"Father." Prince Huai quickly bowed in apology. "Please forgive me. Today was a day off at the Ministry of Justice, and I had a few drinks at home."
"Excessive drinking harms the body and should not be overdone." Emperor Longfeng turned his attention to the ministers of the six ministries: "Urgent news from Youzhou—the region has been struck by a snowstorm, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in decades. My esteemed ministers, please discuss and propose a disaster relief plan."
"The distance from Youzhou to the capital is only a few hundred kilometers. With swift horses, we can reach Youzhou in a matter of days," said the Minister of Works. "However, we must guard against the cold front moving further north to prevent neighboring counties from suffering the same fate."
"Your Majesty, I will immediately inventory the relief supplies and send them to Youzhou," said the Minister of Revenue, hesitating slightly. "However, the people are bound to be panicked by the disaster. In my humble opinion, we should appoint someone to assist with the local relief efforts in Youzhou."
"Your suggestion is reasonable," Emperor Longfeng nodded. "Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?"
The Minister of Revenue bowed. "There are many capable officials in the court, but the decision rests with Your Majesty."
"Father, I have a candidate in mind," Prince Huai, slightly intoxicated, spoke up. "Wu Mian, the Left Vice Minister of Works, is very suitable."
Prince Qi inwardly sneered. Recommending his father-in-law to claim credit for the disaster relief effort—his elder brother truly had had too much to drink.
"Fourth Prince, do you have anyone in mind?" Emperor Longfeng turned to him.
"I believe that Minister He from the Ministry of Personnel and Minister Zhang from the Ministry of War are both capable of taking on this responsibility."
Prince Huai glanced at Prince Qi, thinking to himself, as if he didn’t know that He Yu and Zhang Yinglian were Prince Qi’s lackeys.
"What do the rest of you think?"
The ministers had differing opinions on the choice of the disaster relief envoy. Emperor Longfeng sipped his tea, letting them argue, while also ordering the ministries to prepare relief supplies and dispatch them to Youzhou immediately.
Prince Chen, listening to the bickering, lazily leaned against a pillar and yawned.
"Duqing," Emperor Longfeng noticed Prince Chen’s bored demeanor. "Do you have a suitable candidate in mind?"
The ministers and the other princes all turned their heads to look at Prince Chen, their expressions subtle. Asking Prince Chen to recommend a capable official was akin to asking him which cricket was better at fighting.
Emperor Longfeng, seemingly oblivious to how others viewed Prince Chen, still looked at his son with expectation.
"I believe..." Prince Chen recalled the examination papers of the top scholars that Ming Jingzhou had shown him. Wu Mian’s essay on disaster relief and public welfare had been particularly well-written, with substantial content rather than empty rhetoric. Even someone as unscholarly as himself had found it impressive.
"The snowstorm is severe, and many houses are bound to have collapsed. Wu Mian, as the Vice Minister of Works, must be well-versed in construction and engineering. Why not send him?" Prince Chen straightened up, as if the lazy man from moments ago had never existed.
Prince Qi smiled faintly and glanced at Prince Huai. Was Yun Duqing actually siding with the eldest prince?
Hearing Yun Duqing speak in his favor, Prince Huai was equally baffled. Even if Yun Duqing was a fool, he should know that Wu Mian was his father-in-law. Why would he help him?
"Very well. Since Duqing also supports the eldest prince’s proposal, Wu Mian shall be sent for the disaster relief effort," Emperor Longfeng waved for a guard. "Summon Wu Mian to the palace immediately."
Li En, standing beside Prince Chen, gave him a complicated look. He and Wu Mian had been classmates, and he was well aware of Wu Mian’s capabilities. Among the candidates proposed by the princes, Wu Mian was indeed the most suitable.
Had Prince Chen recommended Wu Mian by coincidence, or did he truly understand his abilities?
Seeing Prince Chen lazily lean back against the pillar, Li En averted his gaze.
He was overthinking it. It was all just a coincidence.
Once the disaster relief matters were settled, the ministers and princes left the main hall, with only Prince Chen being retained by the emperor.
Prince Qi smiled faintly at Prince Huai. "Elder Brother, you care so much for your younger siblings that even the fifth prince shares a deep bond with you."
Prince Huai, struck by this unexpected accusation, was at a loss for words.
How was he supposed to know what Yun Duqing was thinking?
"Haha, as the eldest brother, it’s only natural to look after my younger siblings," Prince Huai replied with a smile. "My feelings for you and the fifth prince are the same."
In his heart, all his younger brothers were equally annoying. What difference did it make?
"Elder Brother has always been benevolent and caring toward his siblings," Prince Qi cupped his hands in a salute. "I take my leave."
"Take care, I won’t see you out," Prince Huai replied with a forced smile. He detested Yun Yanze’s hypocritical demeanor the most.
Prince Qi calmly boarded his carriage, his smile fading. "Investigate whether Yun Liu'an and Yun Duqing have had any recent interactions."
With no legitimate heir in the palace, Yun Liu'an held the position of the eldest prince. If the emperor’s beloved Yun Duqing were to switch his support to the eldest prince, it would greatly disadvantage him.
"Father, why have you kept me behind? Do you have something to ask?" Prince Chen yawned twice as he sat in his chair. Last night, he had been reviewing the records of agricultural tools and ironware from various counties, which had left his head spinning.
He didn’t dare skip it, though. If Ming Jingzhou were to quiz him on the contents and he couldn’t answer, how could he show off his abilities in front of Ming Jiuzhu in the future?
"Go to bed earlier at night," Emperor Longfeng said, seeing his son’s constant yawning. He ordered a maid to bring him a cup of refreshing tea. "You’re young—how can you look so listless?"
"With Your Majesty’s heroic bearing and Mother Consort’s beauty, even if I’m listless, I’m still handsome and likable."
Emperor Longfeng was both amused and exasperated by his shamelessness. "Likable to whom?"
Of course, to Ming Jiuzhu.
Prince Chen’s mind involuntarily conjured up Ming Jiuzhu’s fair and delicate face.
He coughed lightly. "To you and Mother Consort, of course."
Emperor Longfeng chuckled helplessly and had Liu Zhongbao bring the pastries from his table over to Prince Chen. "It’s rare for you to recommend someone today. Why did you choose Wu Mian? I recall that you and the eldest prince haven’t been on good terms. Why give his father-in-law the chance to earn merit?"
"Wu Mian is the Vice Minister of Works. I’ve read his essay on disaster relief, and it was quite well-written. Naturally, he’s the right person for the job," Prince Chen picked up a pastry and popped it into his mouth. "My issues with the eldest prince are personal matters between brothers. What does that have to do with the people? Wu Mian is your minister. As long as he follows your orders and does his job well, that’s what matters. If he offends me in the future, I won’t spare him any face."
Emperor Longfeng was momentarily taken aback, then laughed. "You’re quite clear about grudges and favors."
"I’ve always been magnanimous and principled," Prince Chen waved his hand magnanimously. "No need to praise me, Father."
Emperor Longfeng thought back—when had he praised him?
"Wu Mian was a scholar during the Xiande era. You’ve actually read his essays?" Emperor Longfeng was surprised. When had his son become so diligent?
"I hadn’t read them before, but after joining the Ministry of Rites, Ming Jingzhou made me familiarize myself with the ministry’s affairs, so I read some related documents," Prince Chen sighed. "Father, you have no idea—lately, I’ve even dreamed of Ming Jingzhou quizzing me."
Emperor Longfeng nodded, feeling a sense of admiration. Truly, it was Ming Jingzhou. Even someone as unruly as Duqing could be reined in by him.
Since childhood, the number of tutors who had been driven to frustration by Duqing was beyond counting. Now, Ming Jingzhou had managed to make him understand the affairs of the court. It must have taken an immense amount of effort.
"Ming Jingzhou is loyal to the throne and cares for the people. He is both virtuous and talented. Learn well from him, and you’ll gain much useful knowledge," Emperor Longfeng patted his son’s shoulder. "He’s your future father-in-law. He won’t lead you astray."
He was truly a discerning emperor, not only choosing a princess with an exceptionally auspicious destiny for his son but also securing a highly capable father-in-law in the process.
"Stop the carriage." Through the carriage curtain, Prince Qi caught sight of a young girl in a pink dress walking arm-in-arm with a woman in a blue dress as they entered a teahouse. He ordered the coachman to halt the carriage.
"Your Highness?" The attendant brought over the carriage step. "Would Your Highness like to go upstairs for some tea?"
"Yes." He entered the teahouse, where the waiter enthusiastically greeted him, "Esteemed guest, please come upstairs."
He glanced upstairs and made his way up.
Zhou Xiao had brought Ming Jiuzhu out today to introduce her to a few close friends. Their families were all loyal ministers to the emperor, and over the years, their relationships had remained strong. Thus, as soon as Ming Jiuzhu appeared, they quickly welcomed her into their circle.
The customs of the Great Cheng Dynasty were open, and the strict separation between men and women was not heavily enforced. It was common for women to work and make a living outside the home.
Ming Jiuzhu sat with the young ladies around the tea table, separated from other patrons by a screen. They chatted about amusing and unusual happenings in the capital, filling the air with laughter and merriment.
"Whether one has sons or daughters, nothing compares to having a daughter who pleases the imperial consort and earns a noble title for the family."
This comment reached their ears, and the laughter of Zhou Xiao and the others abruptly stopped as they frowned.
"That gentleman is right. Toiling away at studies or training in martial arts at dawn is nothing compared to having a daughter marry the son of a favored consort. Who doesn’t envy the Ming family for raising such an exceptional daughter these days?"
"This is hardly the place for such talk. It seems these two are deliberately spreading rumors," Miss Chen, known for her straightforward nature, stood up and declared, "Ming sister, don’t worry. I’ll shut them up right now."
Ming Jiuzhu tugged at Miss Chen’s sleeve. "Sister, there’s no need to argue with them. No matter how much they envy, they could never raise a daughter like me."
Miss Chen: "..."
Was that really the point?
She glanced at Ming Jiuzhu, her slightly proud expression leaving Miss Chen puzzled.
"If my father hadn’t achieved third place in the imperial examinations back then, how could I have been betrothed to Prince Chen?" Ming Jiuzhu said earnestly. "This proves that hard work in studies is the most important thing."
"Without proper education, one ends up like those two outside—knowing nothing yet daring to say anything."
The group of young ladies: "..."
Studying diligently is indeed important, though Minister Ming might not be too thrilled about you marrying Prince Chen.
Hearing the commotion outside, Prince Qi stood up and pushed aside the screen, ready to intervene.
"What kind of ugly dogs and mangy cats are yowling nonstop here?" Dressed in a flamboyant red robe embroidered with gold patterns, Prince Chen strode in with his attendants and armed guards in tow. He kicked a chair, sending it flying and hitting one of the men, who turned pale with fear and didn’t dare make a sound.
Prince Chen raised his hand, and the guards behind him drew their swords, the blades glinting menacingly.
"Go on, keep barking for me to hear," Prince Chen said as he sat down on a chair, extending his hand for a teacup, which his attendant promptly handed to him.
The room fell silent.
"Why have you stopped?" Prince Chen took a sip of tea and smiled lazily. "Continue."
