Chapter 1244: Bride Returns, Work Arrangements

Soon, Huanbi and Liuzhu brought Lanxin's dowry box.

Lan Xin asked Su Mingzhe what gift to give.

Su Mingzhe looked at the box and picked out a few items.

Seeing this, Lan Xin didn't say anything.

However, the two maids, Huanbi and Liuzhu, beside them, both showed distressed looks.

The dowry that Ling Zhu gave to his daughter Lan Xin, plus the one that Alinga added from the public account, totaled only sixty-four loads of dowry.

These dowries mainly consisted of furniture, utensils, cloth, silk, ready-made clothes and other items.

In other words, these dowries are just some large items that are not very valuable and are not suitable as a gift for a wedding.

The items that Su Mingzhe picked out as gifts were basically Lan Xin's few and more presentable pieces of jewelry and jade.

It is no wonder that the two maids Huanbi and Liuzhu were so distressed about this.

However, the master Lan Xin did not say anything. Huanbi and Liuzhu were just little maids, so naturally they could not say anything.

Not long after, Nanny Zhang, who was guarding outside, came in to report that concubine Li had come with her three children.

Everyone finished the ceremony.

Lan Xin followed the man's instructions and picked out four gifts to give to Li and her three children.

Su Mingzhe now has one principal wife (Rouzhe), two concubines (Nian Shilan and Lan Xin), two illegitimate wives (Li and Yixiu), and six concubines (Song, Feng, Geng, Tang, Yingying, and Lili).

Among them, the four concubines, Song, Feng, Geng and Tang, all followed the legitimate wife Rouze.

Yingying and Lili were the two beauties bestowed by the prince in June. After being used by Su Mingzhe, they lived with Li.

Among these six concubines, only Song gave birth to a child, who died young. It was equivalent to having no children, so there was no need to send a gift.

The two concubines and Su Mingzhe's four children all need to send gifts when they meet.

They chatted for a while, and at Su Mingzhe's signal, Lan Xin changed into a pink casual dress and followed Li to pay a visit to the principal wife Rouze and the concubine Nian Shilan.

Rouze had a gentle personality like water. When she saw Lan Xin, who looked 80% similar to her, she was surprised and kind. After giving some instructions, she rewarded Lan Xin with a large number of gifts.

Lan Xin also took the opportunity to give gifts to Yixiu and Honghui.

Rouze was also happy to see that Lan Xin acted steadily and generously.

Afterwards, Lan Xin went to visit Nian Shilan again.

Nian Shilan had always been careful and cautious in doing things in Prince Zhen's mansion. Even though Lan Xin had just married into the family, she did not dare to take any action.

Finally, Nian Shilan learned from the maid Songzhi that the legitimate wife Rouze had given a lot of gifts, and Lan Xin had also given gifts to the concubine and several children. After thinking for a moment, she asked the maid to take a box of jewelry and give it to Lan Xin.

In this way, Lan Xin only gave six greeting gifts, and in return received two boxes of jewelry, as well as various silks and satins and other gifts, which was considered a big profit.

Su Mingzhe had already expected what would happen to Lan Xin.

After all, as the legitimate wife, Rouze is a capable and tolerant woman.

Under Rouze's training and management, the women in Zhen Beile's mansion have always lived in harmony and peace.

The time ticked till evening.

Su Mingzhe had dinner in Lan Xin's yard.

As an experienced person, Nanny Zhang had someone prepare the bath water in advance and asked her young lady to take a bath and change clothes.

Su Mingzhe's body was originally very clean, but he also washed it.

After the You hour, the sky was completely dark.

The six glazed palace lanterns in the bedroom were all lit by Huanbi.

When Liu Zhu helped Lan Xin walk into the dormitory after she had taken a bath, they saw a man sitting on the edge of the bed wearing a white silk gown, reading a book with great interest.

When Lan Xin saw this, she didn't dare to disturb them. She could only wear her pink dress and sit in front of the dressing table, letting Huanbi and Liuzhu constantly fix her makeup and kill time.

Boom, boom! Boom, boom!
The sound of night watchmen passing by.

Su Mingzhe finally raised his head, with a look of confusion in his eyes:
"Is it already midnight?"

When Lan Xin heard the man finally move, she replied shyly:
"Yes, it's already midnight, Fourth Master!"

"Call me 'Master' from now on!" Su Mingzhe spread his spiritual sense and found no one eavesdropping outside, so he spread his arms and let Huanbi and Liuzhu help him undress.

Lan Xin shyly leaned over and helped the maid.

Su Mingzhe was not polite. After unbuttoning his outer shirt, he grabbed Lan Xin, who had already become weak and powerless, and pushed her down on the bed.

Just as Yixiu said in the morning, Su Mingzhe's anger had been relieved a lot, and at this moment he needed to flirt slowly to get into the mood.

Lan Xin's feeling was that the 'cold-faced king' rumored by the outside world was exceptionally gentle when treating her.

Under the candlelight, two figures kept overlapping inside the gauze curtain.

I do not know how long it has been.

Lan Xin's voice was almost hoarse and her hands and feet had no strength left.

Su Mingzhe then lay down contentedly, and called Huanbi and Liuzhu, who were blushing outside, to get on the bed and clean up after himself and Lan Xin.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the ninth day of marriage, according to the royal etiquette of the Qing Dynasty, Su Mingzhe escorted Lan Xin back home.

When Ling Zhu saw his daughter coming in shyly and his son-in-law Su Mingzhe smiling brightly, he knew that his daughter was living a happy life.

Su Mingzhe followed etiquette, asked Ling Zhu to sit high, and bowed himself.

Ling Zhu also accepted this gift very calmly.

After the ceremony, Ling Zhu wanted to invite his son-in-law to take a seat.

Su Mingzhe asked Ling Zhu to prepare a quiet room for the conversation:
"Brother Amu (father-in-law), the Minister of Rites Han is seriously ill. According to the imperial physician, he doesn't have much time left. As for the candidate for the new minister, I think it should be the Minister of Revenue Li Zhenyu. How is your relationship with him?"

Li Zhenyu has been an official for 30 years. He has always been honest and dedicated to his work, loved the people like his own children, had good abilities, and had a good reputation as an official.

Kangxi praised him many times.

In the 30th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, he had been promoted to Minister of Works.

Because of his good work, he was transferred to the Minister of Justice.

He was also highly praised for his incorruptibility, experience in handling cases, and fairness in judging cases. In the 38th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi, he was transferred to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

When Ling Zhu heard Su Mingzhe's words, he was stunned:

"Fourth Master, this Minister Li is now the Minister of Revenue. He has always been able to do things without any problems. How could he be transferred to be the Minister of Rites?"

Although the official rank of the six ministers is the first rank, they are all grand secretaries.

However, in the eyes of civil and military officials, if the importance of the six ministries were ranked, the Ministry of Personnel would definitely be ranked first, and the Ministry of Revenue would definitely be ranked second.

As for the Ministry of Rites, it can only compete with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice for the third place.

Logically speaking, Li Zhenyu is now the Minister of Revenue. He has a good reputation and ability. Even if he is transferred, he should be promoted to the Minister of Personnel. How could he be transferred to the Minister of Rites?

Ling Zhu really couldn't figure it out.

Su Mingzhe was not stingy with his advice and gave him an analysis directly:
"Some time ago, Zhang Tingyu brought news that the Junggar tribe colluded with Lazang Khan and planned to rebel next year. The court will definitely send troops to suppress it then."

"When Li Zhenyu was the Minister of Revenue, he was indeed honest and frugal. However, once the border was in danger, a steady supply of food and grass would be needed!"

"Li Zhenyu loves his people like his own children. If he is asked to impose heavy taxes and levies... I'm afraid he won't agree!"

Ling Zhu had been an official for many years, and after hearing this, he understood.

When Li Zhenyu was the Minister of Revenue, he indeed kept a close eye on the purse strings and prevented corruption and bribery from happening.

But now, with war on the border imminent, Kangxi urgently needs a Minister of Revenue who can increase revenue and reduce expenditure.

Li Zhenyu obviously did not meet the requirements, so he was going to be transferred.

It just so happened that the Minister of Rites was seriously ill and dying, so it would be natural for Li Zhenyu to be transferred at that time.

Ling Zhu figured this out, and immediately asked,
"Fourth Master, I don't have much contact with this Li Zhenyu. Now he wants to come over, what should I do?"

"Since you don't know each other, there's no need to do anything. In fact, there's no need to do anything at all!"

Su Mingzhe gave instructions in person, and Ling Zhu couldn't help but applaud after hearing them.

With Su Mingzhe's guidance, Ling Zhu believed that he would definitely be valued by Li Zhenyu.

(End of this chapter)