Professional Ethics of a Concubine

"Your Majesty, it's Zhuangzi from Prince Jing's Mansion." Zhou Shutian said seriously.

"I went to the farm manager to learn more about the situation. It turned out that the farm of Prince Jing's mansion used the so-called intercropping method during the spring plowing to increase grain production.

This method of intercropping has been mentioned in some agricultural books, but it has not been popularized because it has not been verified to increase yields.

I have asked the Ministry of Agriculture and was told that during the spring ploughing period, Prince Jing's palace did dispatch two minor officials to help study the issue of planting crops and provide guidance to the tenants.

Now looking at the results, the achievements are remarkable and surprising!

I think that we should continue to conduct similar farmland experiments during the summer planting season and increase the number of experimental fields.

If the yields of these experimental fields can be significantly increased again during the autumn harvest, this method of intercropping can be promoted during the spring ploughing next year."

"Good, good, good!" The emperor nodded repeatedly, saying yes, with a smile on his face.

"Minister Zhou is right! Minister Zhou is indeed a man of action. He has just joined the Ministry of Agriculture and has done something great that benefits the people and the country."

"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I don't deserve it. This method of intercropping was not invented by me. It is all the credit of Prince Jing's Palace."

Zhou Shutian heard this and quickly shook his head, saying with great fear,

"I only reported the facts I discovered to His Majesty. The credit for this achievement that benefits the country and the people should belong to Prince Jing's Mansion."

“No matter how good a good horse is, it still needs a good horse trainer to discover it. If it weren’t for Lord Zhou’s seriousness and responsibility, and his careful statistics and comparative analysis, I wouldn’t have known that the harvest at Prince Jing’s farm was so good.

Because the people below think that this is a very small matter, and no one else will report it to me, so I will have no way of knowing it.

It may take several more years before this intercropping method can be popularized.”

The emperor looked at Zhou Shutian with a smile on his face, and this time he spoke very pertinently about his contributions.

This made it difficult for Zhou Shutian to refute, and he could only express his gratitude to the emperor again.

Being appreciated by such a wise ruler and being able to serve him, he only wants to devote himself to his work until his death.

As for King Jing?

Zhou Shutian was also in awe and support of this future young master. Since the atmosphere had been set to this point, Zhou Shutian continued,

“Your Majesty, in addition to the intercropping method, the tenants employed by the Jingwangfu Farm are also very enthusiastic about their work and their spirits are the best.

I was very puzzled, so I chatted with the tenants and found out that the reason for this was that Prince Jing’s Mansion treated them very well.

Prince Jing's palace did not distribute a fixed amount of grain to the tenant farmers, but promised to give them 40% of the harvest from one acre of land. This greatly promoted the enthusiasm of the tenant farmers and urged them to take good care of the crops.

If there is a natural disaster, low grain production or no grain production, Prince Jing's Mansion will also provide subsistence allowances to tenants to ensure that they can fill their stomachs.

Therefore, the tenants are full of praise for Prince Jing's Mansion, have a strong sense of belonging, and are very loyal. "

Upon hearing this, the emperor nodded with satisfaction again.

From the attitude of Prince Jing's mansion towards tenants, we can see that Prince Jing loves his people like his own children. He does not exploit the people, but instead provides them with protection.

It is very normal that people are willing to support him.

When the emperor thought of this, he remembered the original intention of calling Zhou Shutian over, which was to ask him about the prince.

My mood suddenly turned gloomy.

"Are you close to Prince Jing?" the emperor asked Zhou Shutian, his face no longer smiling, only majestic.

This is the person in power. His joy and anger change in just a thought, which makes you tremble with fear.

"I dare not lie to the emperor. Because of the relationship with Young Marquis Xie, I have indeed had contact with Prince Jing several times. In addition, it was I who reported the Fuzhou case to Prince Jing."

Zhou Shutian still had a strong psychological quality. Facing the emperor's questioning, he knelt down again and spoke calmly.

"Young Marquis Xie? Xie Niankang?" The emperor was a little surprised. "Are you and Xie Niankang old acquaintances?"

"Your Majesty, yes. Three years ago, Imperial Doctor Feng saved my wife and children. He and Young Marquis Xie lived in my home for another half a year. We do have a close relationship."

Zhou Shutian said honestly,

"I came to the capital alone. I lived in an inn before, and now I am staying in the second courtyard of Young Marquis Xie, using the servants bought by Young Marquis Xie.

Your Majesty, you don't know that the reason why I went to Beijing to take the imperial examination was actually because of the case of selling official positions and titles in Fuzhou, as well as the case of selling illegal salt.

I have found out that the Crown Prince seems to be behind these two cases. I cannot believe that how the crown prince can do such a thing that harms the country!

If the prince ascends the throne in the future, wouldn’t such a monarch be a disaster for the country and a calamity for the people!

I was so uneasy about this that I couldn't sleep or eat. After thinking for a long time, I decided to go to the capital to take part in the Spring Examination.

If I am lucky enough to enter the palace examination, I can meet the emperor, and I will think of a way to file a complaint with the emperor.

However, I never expected that I would be appreciated and valued by the Emperor. I was so excited that I became more determined to file a complaint with the Emperor, even if it meant destroying myself and the rest of the family.

Later, Young Marquis Xie came and found me. When he learned that I came to the capital to file a complaint, he introduced me to Prince Jing.

Prince Jing said that the emperor was a wise ruler and would definitely give an explanation to the people of Fuzhou.

Prince Jing also said that the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne, and if this matter is used to directly accuse the Crown Prince, it will cause an uproar, all kinds of wrangling, turmoil in the court, and also make the Emperor embarrassed.

Therefore, King Jing suggested that the matter be suppressed in Fuzhou. I also think that what King Jing said makes sense, so I cooperated with King Jing's actions and provided relevant evidence..."

Zhou Shutian explained all these things honestly.

The emperor frowned and remained silent for a moment when he heard this. He asked Zhou Shutian to stand up and said soothingly,

"Lord Zhou, I need a loyal and upright minister like you, and the people of Great Zhao also need a parent official like you. You are very good, and I hope you can always keep your original intention!"

"Your humble servant is terrified. I will obey your command!" Zhou Shutian kowtowed again, "Your humble servant thanks the emperor for his great grace!"

The emperor then asked Zhou Shutian a few more details, including the main culprit in the so-called smuggled salt case. Zhou Shutian answered them one by one and said that he had corresponding evidence.

The emperor did not ask him to produce evidence immediately. He just waved his hand and asked him to leave first, and told him to do his job well in the Ministry of Agriculture.

After Zhou Shutian left, the emperor sighed softly.

As for the prince, because of these two things, the emperor completely disliked him.

Before it was just disappointment, now it’s disgust.

The emperor sighed and even envied his younger brother. He did a paternity test and found out that the previous troublesome prince was a bastard.

Although I was very angry, I felt relieved now.

His troublesome prince is his own biological son!

In fact, all his children are his biological children. Although this makes him very satisfied, he still has to grit his teeth and acknowledge a rebellious son like the prince!

"Royal brother, what's wrong? I heard you sighing from outside the palace." At this time, Prince Su walked in from outside, looked at the emperor and asked with concern.

"I was mad at the prince." The emperor simply said that the prince supported the Fuzhou matter.

"You still have a great son like Prince Jing." Prince Su comforted him.

"When the time is right, I will depose the crown prince, give him a mansion, and let him leave the palace to live a good life. You can also turn a blind eye to it."

"……"emperor.

Although he had this plan, he still felt depressed.

Moreover, there is the Crown Prince.

This child has been implicated innocently, and his position as Crown Prince will be abolished. When the time comes, he will fall from his high position, which will be enough for him to suffer.

Alas, the emperor at this moment had the mentality of a father and grandfather, and even regretted having appointed this grandson as the crown prince.

It is even more cruel to give benefits and then withdraw them.

But at that time, there was no heir like Prince Jing that could satisfy him.

"Brother, don't worry about your rebellious son. If it really doesn't work, give birth to two more children to give you some vitality and joy. I feel very comfortable looking at my son and daughter every day."

When Prince Su thought of his son and daughter, he immediately smiled and said to the emperor with a look of eagerness to share,

"Royal brother, the two children have grown more than three pounds this month, and they both look up and smile at you. They are just wobbly and can't hold on for long, but that's amazing!

Although they are still a little thinner than single-born babies, their bodies are not weak at all. Hehe, this is my offspring!"

"……"emperor.

Ha ha.

Look how proud you are of yourself.

The emperor thought that since he was already a grandfather, he really didn't want to talk about raising children, so he asked Prince Su,

"What are you doing here? Just to chat with me and show off your precious daughter and son?"

"I came to ask my brother for money." Prince Su turned to business.

"Now that the treasury is full, my royal brother, why don't we invest more silver in siege equipment, build more catapults, or research some new and powerful siege weapons.

In two or three years, the border city of Chu will be stronger than a tortoise shell under the construction of that old man Jiang Tai. If we want to fight back, we must have good siege weapons. "

"Okay!" The emperor had no objection, but this matter needed to go through the approval process.

"This is a national event. You write a memorial and discuss the amount of silver with the cabinet. After it is approved, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate the silver to the Military Equipment Bureau under the Ministry of Works."

Prince Su naturally had no objection.

Before leaving, Prince Su did not forget to show off his daughter and son to the emperor.

"Royal brother, when you have time, please come to my house and see their cute little appearance. It can be cured and I guarantee that you will feel better."

"...I am busy, please bring them to the palace." said the emperor.

"The children are still young, don't bother them. My royal brother, come by yourself when you have time." Prince Su said anxiously.

"I'm going back first. I was busy all day today and didn't go back to see them at noon. I missed them a lot."

"...Get out!" The emperor rolled his eyes and said unhappily.

You have a good son and a good daughter, haha, he has them too!

"Call Prince Jing to the palace." The emperor said to the eunuch.

He wants to talk to his eldest son first, and then he can go find the prince, the rebellious son!