From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 687: Chapter 689: Ominous Premonition

Someone else tried to persuade Zhou Shicong of the Ministry of Revenue to back down, and his entire face turned grim.

’He and Zhou Shixiong are from the same clan, and with members of their family now leading two different ministries as Chief of Staff, a faint sense of foreboding crept into his heart.’ ’No matter how much the current Holy Emperor valued talent, he would never allow a single family to control both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War. Zhou Shixiong had the support of the Empress and a distinguished military record, so it was all too clear who would be forced to retreat. He had been walking on eggshells these past few days just to fight for his place in the imperial court.’

’This matter shouldn’t have fallen to the Ministry of Revenue in the first place, but these people just want to dump it all on my head. Such a brilliant scheme. If they want something to hold over my head, they’ll have to see if I give them the chance.’

Zhou Shicong looked coldly at the others. They were all veteran courtiers; he refused to believe they hadn’t seen through the Holy Emperor’s intentions.

The way they were all ganging up on him now was just an indirect way of currying favor with the Holy Emperor.

"This silver was embezzled by Liu Xuan. It can’t have all been destroyed; it must have gone somewhere. It’s up to the gentlemen of the Ministry of Justice to find a way to deal with it."

If he were to casually approve this sum of silver, even more requests for funds would follow.

The National Treasury didn’t have an endless supply of silver to be squandered like this, so he had to cut this off at the source and make these people abandon the notion.

As they were locked in a stalemate, Hua Shunming sent someone over to press them, asking how their deliberations were progressing.

Xu Zhiwen, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "It’s a shame Marquis Zhou is at home busy with his wedding. Perhaps he would have a better idea."

With two men serving as Chief of Staff Zhou in the court, everyone could only differentiate them by calling one "Marquis" and the other "Mister."

"What does this have to do with the Ministry of War?" Niu Hai’an knew perfectly well that Xu Zhiwen was just trying to drag another person into this mess.

Chen Zishu of the Ministry of Rites chimed in, "It’s not right for one of the Chiefs of Staff of the Six Ministries to be absent.

We’re here discussing official business; we can’t just leave him out.

I heard Ancient Wen Heng cooperated well with him in Lu City, so perhaps he will have a better idea."

’It was these very two people who had run the pawn he’d placed in Lu City ragged. And they didn’t forget to screw me over on their way out, even bringing the man back with them. Now Li Ji shows up at my door every day, demanding I make good on my previous promise. Hah! In the past, all I would have had to do was say the word and it would’ve been done. I could have certainly helped Li Ji get a better position. But now? As the Minister of Rites, my reach doesn’t extend that far anymore. Because I haven’t helped him, that man is just short of shamelessly living in my residence.’

"Why doesn’t Mr. Chen go and inform him?" Yu Ligao, never one to pass up a good drama, readily agreed. "I hear a relative of Mr. Chen has served as an Assistant General under Marquis Zhou for many years. This time, he even specially brought the man back to Shangjing.

With this connection, it would be easier for Mr. Chen to talk to him than it would be for us. Perhaps Marquis Zhou would be willing to do him the favor of setting aside the most important event of his life to come to the palace and discuss matters of state with us."

At this, he clicked his tongue and shook his head. "TSK TSK TSK. Marquis Zhou is already well on in years from guarding the border, and he’s only just now managed to find a wife. I never thought everyone would be so unable to do without him that we’d have to drag him in even during his vacation."

"..."

Zhou Shixiong, resting at home, was not nearly as busy as they thought.

He was to be married by imperial decree, and with no elders in his household, the Empress had dispatched a few female officials to the Marquis Mansion to manage the preparations.

Meanwhile, he, the man at the center of it all, was out hunting in the mountains.

Even if he knew what these people were plotting behind his back, he would at most just chuckle.

Seeing that they hadn’t come up with a solution, Hua Shunming directly ordered the Ministry of Revenue to allocate the funds.

Zhou Shicong wanted to make one last-ditch effort. "Holy Emperor, a few years ago in Lu City, Ancient Wen Heng managed to revitalize the city without requesting any funds. Today, the situation in Yi Province is much better than Lu City’s was then. Perhaps we can also..."

"It sure is easy for you to talk, Mr. Zhou," Niu Hai’an said, his face cold. "If this matter were so simple, why don’t you go and claim the credit for it yourself? Are you saying that from now on, all officials dispatched to the provinces must be self-reliant?"

The words were nothing short of ruthless. If Zhou Shicong dared to agree, he would offend more than half the court.

Zhou Shicong, "..."

「Gaoling Village」

After seeing off the last guest, Li Cuicui returned to the courtyard, supported by Liu Liu.

"This matter is finally settled. Thank you all for your hard work today, running back and forth in this cold."

Liu Liu replied, "Mother, we’re family, there’s no need to say such things. You’ve been busy all day too. Why don’t you go rest for a while? Leave the rest to me."

Li Cuicui went back into the room and sat on the heated brick bed, finally warming up a little. "Settling Chuncao’s marriage is a weight off my mind.

From now on, she will be with Yuan Feng. They are mother and daughter, after all. I’ll leave them to it."

Liu Liu had long sensed the matriarch’s bitterness but didn’t know how to console her.

It was supposed to be a wedding celebration, but nobody felt happy about it.

After comforting the matriarch with a few more words, Liu Liu left with her sisters-in-law, who had also finished their work.

"What kind of nonsense is this?" The moment they left the matriarch’s courtyard, Wang Caiyue opened her mouth to complain.

"This mother and daughter pair marrying a father and son is truly ruining our family’s reputation."

"We should never have let Gu Yuanfeng take the girl back then. Now that it’s come to this, I feel utterly ashamed whenever I step outside."

The women complained back and forth, finally finding an outlet for the frustration they had been suppressing for days.

They hadn’t dared to say anything in front of the matriarch, for fear of upsetting her.

Now, with no outsiders present, the women held nothing back.

Gu Yuanfeng took the two children over, saying it was to arrange a marriage. Nobody knows what happened behind the scenes, but a few days ago she came back and said she was marrying Li Chuncao to her stepson, Shi Laicai.

When the matriarch heard the news, she fainted on the spot, scaring everyone half to death.

Nobody knows what was said between the mother and daughter behind closed doors, but in the end, Li Cuicui gritted her teeth and accepted the match.

In truth, they all had their suspicions; they just didn’t want to spell them out.

Li Xiaohua chimed in, "Finding any random man would be better than Shi Laicai. I really don’t know what’s in our dear sister-in-law’s head.

I suspect she and her mother must have been plotted against. I don’t see much joy on Chuncao’s face."

Liu Liu said, "That’s a given. Chuncao is a girl with high standards; how could she ever be interested in a farmer’s son like Shi Laicai?

In the end, it all comes down to Yuan Feng. That woman can’t distinguish between family and outsiders. Judging by her expression just now, she actually seemed very happy."

Xie Ruyi said, "Of course she’s happy. Think about it: her own daughter is now also her daughter-in-law. It’s only us who find it scandalous.

For all we know, she’s feeling quite pleased with herself, having a firm grip on the Shi father and son."

"That can’t be right."

Xie Ruyi had more or less watched Gu Yuanfeng grow up, so she understood her personality. "That woman has always been selfish. When has she ever considered anyone else’s thoughts?

You’ll see. Our family’s reputation is being trampled, but she’s the one who’s actually reaping all the benefits."