Chapter 80: Kindness, frugality, and not daring to be the first in the world

Zhou Tieyi lowered his head.

Of course I know these four words are precious.

But I want more!

He raised his head and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, as a son, I cannot be unfilial. My mother taught me to have the three virtues in the future, so I dare not ask for this reward."

"Which three virtues?"

His Majesty the Great Xia did not get angry, but continued to ask with a smile.

Zhou Tieyi said respectfully, "My mother said that I am very intelligent and will always get into trouble in the future, but as long as I have these three virtues, I can save my life."

"These three virtues are kindness, frugality, and not daring to be the first in the world."

The Great Xia Emperor looked up at the sky and recited, "Be kind, be frugal, and dare not be the first in the world. Good! Good! Good!"

He suddenly felt that these three virtues seemed to have touched his heart and were no worse than the Taoist poem.

The emperor was immediately delighted, and said to his attendants with a smile, "Now people say that he is a Confucianist who can teach his son, but I don't think so. Taoism teaches much better than Confucianism!"

No one dared to answer this.

The Great Xia Emperor looked at Zhou Tieyi and said, "I will not only reward you, but also your mother. I want to show the people of the world how to be a king, a father, and a subject!"

"Come here, take my colorful feathered robe and give it to Zhou to show her how well she educates her son!"

Even Su Xibi, who was standing next to him, was stunned for a moment.

Today, Zhou Jiazi went to the palace to meet the emperor and received three rewards in one day!
With such an honor, what else could I ask for?
This time Zhou Tieyi did not refuse again, but quickly replied, "I thank the Lord for his grace. I only hope that Your Majesty will be like the sun and the moon, shining in the sky forever!"

Today, I, Zhou Tieyi, will teach everyone here how to be a jester!

······
Peony Festival in the Imperial Garden.

Mother Zhou demonstrated the Taoist celestial phenomena, and even the Queen of Heaven wanted to sit with her. Naturally, no one was blind enough to continue to provoke her.

The ladies were chatting and laughing, and naturally they talked about educating their sons.

Especially since the diva intentionally directed the conversation to this issue.

Smiling, he took Zhou's mother's hand and said, "Everyone said that you only taught your eldest son and didn't teach your younger son to prevent trouble in the family. But today it seems that you taught your younger son better. If you have any secrets, please tell us."

Mother Zhou laughed and said, "What secret is there? I have been busy with my own cultivation these years. I sent my eldest son to the military camp and left him alone. My youngest son was naughty a few years ago, and I couldn't control him even if I wanted to..."

As they were chatting, the emperor's companion, the eunuch, suddenly came over holding a colorful feather robe.

"The emperor issued an oral order."

Everyone stood up and responded to the instructions.

"Mrs. Zhou has a good way of educating his children, and he was given a colorful feather robe to show his merits."

Since it is an oral instruction, it doesn't need to be so formal.

After that, the eunuch Su Xibi stepped forward with a smile, "You have taught your son well. Mr. Zhou just won the first prize, and His Majesty has been rewarding him. Your son is filial and dared to accept the reward only after he asked for it for you. You are really a blessed person."

If it was an ordinary general, or even the wife of one of the three officials, Su Xibi wouldn't have to put on a smile.

Because they have no control over Su Xibi.

But Zhou Yulong is Zhou Tieyi's mother.

Now everyone in the palace knows that the emperor gives three rewards a day.

Even if you don't give money, the people in the palace will still smile.

A word from a popular jester might not kill the ministers of the previous dynasty, but the people in the palace were afraid of it.

Haven’t you seen Li Bai at his craziest, with the strong man taking off his shoes and the imperial concubine grinding ink?

Madam, the concubines all looked at Mother Zhou.

Especially Zhao Shuyue'er, her face was distorted. You are so good, Zhou Yulong, everyone seriously asked you how to teach your son, but you actually gave everyone a sloppy answer.

He is so scheming, so scheming!
You must have taught your scheming son well!

······
In the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zhou Tieyi and the fourth prince Li Jing worked side by side.

Although he caught so many dragon fish today, including a fourth-grade dragon fish, he would not take it home.

Take it directly to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and get a discount!

Li Jing was also tactful and knew that it was Zhou Tieyi's credit that he could sit next to his father today, so he gave Zhou Tieyi all the eight dragon fish of the sixth grade that he had caught.

Zhou Tieyi held the dragon fish and said with a smile, "If it were in the past, I would definitely share these dragon fish with Jing Ge'er, but recently, my dragon fish must be of great use, so I won't be polite."

Li Jing smiled and said, "We two brothers have a deep friendship and a long way to go."

Although the previous affection has disappeared, it can still be accumulated again.

The eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department was more friendly when he saw Zhou Tieyi coming to exchange things than when he saw the princes.

He quickly took out the exchange list.

There are treasures from all over the world on it.

The dragon fish in this Fengyu Lake is a truly rare creature!

Every year, there are only a few dozen dragon fish in the world that swim to Fengyu Lake. Each of them can be taken back to extract at least ten drops of dragon blood essence.

If a living dragon fish is really exchanged for essence and blood, the amount would be more than twenty drops!
Zhou Tieyi's harvest this time included thirty sixth-grade dragon fish, one fifth-grade dragon fish, and one fourth-grade dragon fish.

That fifth-grade dragon fish was caught by the prince.

In addition to the dragon fish, he also has two jade pendants that contain the spirit of national destiny. These are truly good things. Holding them makes people feel relaxed and happy. Zhou Tieyi plans to go home and ask for advice on how to use them.

No wonder people who learn literature and martial arts all love money and the royal family.

Apart from the calligraphy, the colorful feather robe and two jade pendants awarded by the emperor were just other rewards, enough to support a local noble family for two or three generations!

Zhou Tieyi first chose to exchange the essence and blood of these dragon fish. Now he not only had the essence and blood of A Da and other five personal guards, but he could also form a real army of fifty cavalrymen to kill the gods.

Apart from these mid-grade dragon vein essences and blood, Zhou Tieyi actually exchanged all of them for rare items.

For example, there is the Shoushan Inkstone, which is directly equivalent to three dragon fish. Of course, according to legend, this thing can make the elderly live longer. For many fourth-rank family elders, it is also a good thing.

The eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department took the trouble to explain to Zhou Tieyi the uses of various things, and according to Zhou Tieyi's request, affixed royal seals to each of them.

However, although it has the royal seal, as something Zhou Tieyi exchanged from the palace, it is like the silk and other items given by the emperor to ministers during the New Year, and Zhou Tieyi can reward them to people around him.

As for the five-colored feather robe, those four words can only be used by Zhou Tieyi and his mother, and cannot be given to anyone else.

After picking out nearly five carts of valuables, it was already past noon.

Zhou Tieyi casually picked up a Shoushan inkstone and handed it to the eunuch in charge.

The eunuch in charge said repeatedly that he dared not.

Zhou Tieyi smiled and said, "Eunuch can do things, but I can be a good person. Today, the emperor and my mother taught me the principles of being a human being. Isn't that right?"

Although the Shoushan inkstone is precious, it is not something that the eunuch in charge cannot take his eyes off.

However, the two sons of the Zhou family were indeed well educated.

I am not like the other philosophers who look at people with their chins.

He bowed his hands in thanks and said, "In the future, our family will also learn more from General Zhou."

Zhou Tieyi laughed out loud and said, I love studying the most!

Learning can make people progress!

(End of this chapter)