The Emperor reviewed the list and the spies’ reports, then said to the Crown Prince, “Zhōu Dàrén’s subsidy measures can be promoted throughout the various prefectures.”

There were too many officials from powerful families in the court now. Even if he, as emperor, is capricious, he can’t select only those without connections for every imperial examination. Of course, not everyone without connections has the ability to earn his favor. He, as Emperor, had to maintain a balance in everything; the power of a founding emperor was hard to relinquish!

The Crown Prince pursed his lips. “Your Majesty, it will be difficult to extend this.”

Too many poor scholars taking the exams would be unwelcome by the powerful families in various regions.

The Emperor knew this, too. He had initially chosen Zhou Shuren to go to Lizhou City, hoping to use the top scholar as a weapon, but the top scholar was best left unmentioned; the mere thought of him infuriated him. He wasn’t petty. The Emperor thought to himself that Yao Zheyu’s blade was cutting off military power, but he needed a sharper blade to cut off powerful families. He mentally reviewed the names in his mind before replying to the Crown Prince, “If it can’t be extended, then forget it.”

He didn’t want to hear reports of insincerity from below; it was already too much trouble.

The Emperor looked at the Crown Prince and asked with amusement, “It’s time to move our Zhou Daren. Where do you think I should send him?”

The Crown Prince felt that his father had been acting erratically for the past year, and he had grown used to it from the initial anxiety. He lowered his head and said, “It’s entirely up to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor said quietly, “Then tell me, after Zhou Daren leaves, who will take over Lizhou City? Lizhou City will no longer be a place without profit opportunities. Next year, Lizhou City will be a juicy piece of meat. Who do you think should be sent there?”

Sometimes the Crown Prince wanted to curse. “I don’t know.”

The Emperor flicked the memorial. “Your younger brothers will be very interested.”

The Crown Prince thought of his brothers’ maternal relatives’ actions and the chaos in Pinggang. He felt truly distressed.

The Emperor, noticing the Crown Prince’s increasing cunning, narrowed his eyes and said, “You may leave!”

In Lizhou City, Li Xu Shi looked at the apple trees covering the mountainside. “Did you plant all of these, qīnjiāmǔ?”

Zhulan nodded, then explained how to plant them and how much investment and income were expected annually. Finally, Zhulan said, “This year’s spring rains haven’t stopped; it looks like a year of favorable weather. I’ve done the math, and the income from the apple orchard alone won’t be small.”

Li Xu Shi was intrigued. “Qīnjiāmǔ, can they be grown in the Northeast?”

Zhulan had indeed asked. “They can be grown, but they won’t grow very large, and the taste will be somewhat inferior. If you want to grow them, why not try hawthorn? I’ll help you find a fruit merchant.”

In modern times, there were many varieties of apples, and the Northeast apples tasted very good. However, in ancient times, there were fewer varieties, and without advanced technology, the taste was relatively inferior.

Zhulan dared to make a promise because she trusted the Li family. The Li family was meticulous in their work, and their servants would naturally be attentive as well. She believed the Li family could grow hawthorn well.

Li Xu Shi was overjoyed. “Qīnjiāmǔ, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. You’ve helped us a lot, too.”

Li Xu Shi thought to herself, ‘No wonder the old saying goes, ‘When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.’ If her in-laws hadn’t become officials, she wouldn’t have dared to plant them, fearing that fruit merchants would make things difficult for her and she’d lose money instead of making a profit. Now she wasn’t afraid anymore; she could plant them boldly, and as long as there wasn’t a natural disaster, she wouldn’t lose money.”

Zhulan and Li Xu Shi returned to the city after their stroll. Zhulan didn’t take Li Xu Shi to the shops; she didn’t want Li Xu Shi to feel awkward. She preferred Li Shi to handle the shopping; mother and daughter shouldn’t be so calculating.

The next day, Li Shi took her parents to the shops and bought quite a few things.

Li Xu Shi said somewhat embarrassedly, “I didn’t buy anything fancy, just some dates and honey to nourish our bodies. I thought we should visit the Yang family now that we’re here; after all, we’re the younger generation.”

Zhulan glanced at Zhao Shi, who bit her lip. Compared to her mother, she realized how inferior she and her mother were, and Zhao Shi felt increasingly ashamed.

Zhulan smiled. She had originally only done this for Li Shi, but unexpectedly, it had also served to educate Zhao Shi. Zhulan thought of the house in Li Family Village, where her mother liked Li Xu Shi. “My mother will be happy. She came to visit a few days ago and talked to me about our hometown, mentioning the days she chatted with her mother-in-law in Li Family Village!”

Li Xu Shi smiled. “I get along well with Shěnzi, so I can just keep her company and chat with her.”

Dong Shi glanced at Second Sǎo from the corner of her eye, hoping that after seeing the comparison with Eldest Sǎo’s natal family, Second Sǎo would recognize her own shortcomings. The Zhou family would only continue to rise higher and higher, yet Second Sǎo still could not carry herself properly in public. What she disgraced was the entire Zhou family.

The next morning, Zhulan and Li Xu Shi went to the Yang family together. Sun Shi was indeed happy. “I was just talking about you the other day; let your Shěnzi take a good look at you.”

Li Xu Shi was filled with emotion. The Yang family was now an official family. “Shěnzi, do you think I’m old?”

Sun Shi looked closely, her heart aching. “You are indeed old. You’ve really had a hard life.”

Li Xu Shi used to feel that her life was miserable, but she didn’t feel that way anymore. Who told her to have such a good daughter? In a few years, she could also be a happy old lady enjoying her retirement. “The good days are ahead. I’m happy now, waiting to enjoy my retirement.”

Sun Shi also liked Li Shi. Among her several wàisūn xífù, the one she liked most was Li Shi. Dong Shi was also not bad, but Zhao Shi had wasted all the teaching her daughter had given her. She might be old, but she was not muddle-headed; she also knew about the matters in her daughter’s household. “Good, good; may everyone enjoy blessings.”

Sun Shi really liked Li Xu Shi. At noon, Zhulan and her group stayed for lunch.

That night, Zhulan had just fallen asleep when she heard a knock at the door. “Mistress, the First Madam is about to give birth.”

Zhulan sat bolt upright. “Quickly, fetch the doctor!”

(End of Chapter)