Chapter 1673: Chapter 1673: Take You Home
Zhulan specifically asked Shuren in the evening and got the answer that the Emperor had not discussed it with Shuren. She thought there would be results soon, but unexpectedly, there was no news after some time.
That day, when Zhou Shuren returned in the evening, he signaled the maids to leave as soon as he entered the room, “Today, the Emperor and I talked about the orphans of the manor.”
Zhulan asked, “Is there a result?”
Zhou Shuren shook his head, “It’s not that easy; the Emperor’s considerations are comprehensive.”
“So what did you two talk about?”
Zhou Shuren said, “The Emperor talked about the need to prepare formal books. The Imperial Hospital is organizing medical books, and I also suggested having the manor’s children intern in batches.”
Zhulan, “Intern?”
“Yes, to practice what the children have learned, so the Emperor can see their capabilities clearly.”
Zhulan furrowed her brow, “It’s easy for boys, difficult for girls.”
Ultimately, it was the unfairness of the times. Even if the girls in the manor were not inferior to the boys, they were still limited.
Zhou Shuren was also helpless, as women’s status was low in ancient times, and he consoled, “Take it slow.”
Zhulan also knew it couldn’t be achieved overnight; until women’s status improved, everything said would be in vain.
The next day, Zhulan received the Empress Dowager’s order to arrange for the children to intern in batches and organize a list to be sent to the palace.
Zhulan thought that the Emperor’s efficiency was really high, and after sending off the Female Officer who delivered the order, she asked Qing Xue to find the orphan list.
The orphan registry not only recorded names but also contained personal information. Below the information was the children’s academic performance, with details of each exam result meticulously recorded.
Then, she had the steward prepare a carriage and called for the couple of the eldest son to head out of the city together.
In the carriage leaving the city, Zhulan looked through the register, focusing on the names of the girls.
Lady Li asked, “Mother, where will the children intern?”
Zhulan took out the paper given by the Female Officer, “The shipyard, Medicine Department.”
The places for the internship could not be private industries; they were all places operated by the Imperial court.
Lady Li asked, “Does the Medicine Department need a lot of people?”
“Yes, the Medicine Department needs masters to process medicinal materials, attendants to handle these materials, and recruits people every year.”
Unfortunately, antiquity valued inheritance, masters passing down skills to apprentices; ordinary people could not learn or contact it. The Medicine Department still lacked manpower despite annual recruitment, which limited output and caused a shortage of finished medicines, making it difficult for common people to buy them.
Lady Li, “I thought there would be internships at the Medical Department.”
Zhulan laughed, “The manor’s children haven’t learned enough yet.”
The threshold of the Medical Department was too high; even being an assistant was not qualified, so currently, it was better not to think about it.
Upon arriving at the manor, Zhulan got off the carriage and saw a row of children at the manor’s gate. She looked puzzled at the steward, “What’s going on?”
The steward explained, “These children are from nearby villages, and they were brave enough to climb over the walls to eavesdrop on classes.”
Zhulan saw the children with their heads down, knowing they realized their wrongdoing, “Is this a common situation?”
The eldest son of the Zhou family responded, “In the winter, it’s too cold for children to go out, but after the New Year, when the temperature warms up, this situation has become more frequent.”
Zhulan turned her head, “You didn’t tell me upon returning.”
The eldest son hurriedly explained, “These are trivial matters, so I didn’t report to you.”
Zhulan gestured to the steward to let the children go, and the steward waved a hand to indicate the children to leave.
The children, quite bold in climbing the walls, exchanged glances but didn’t leave; instead, they stepped forward and pushed one forward to speak, “Old Madam, we can help with work in the manor. We won’t enter the house to attend classes, only stand outside. Is that okay?”
Zhulan paused and asked, “You are quite brave.”
The boy, around eleven or twelve years old, pinched his palm to stop himself from backing down, “We have no ill intentions.”
He knew the manor housed orphans, so he dared to climb the walls, understanding that nothing adverse would happen. Several outcomes proved his assumption correct.
Zhulan said to the children, “It’s too cold now, don’t catch a cold. You should leave first.”
Saying that, Zhulan entered the manor. Once the gates closed, she said to the steward, “In the future, set up a board at the manor gate, with some words or arithmetic problems written on it, and draw a common herb. Change the content every seven days, find a literate guard to oversee it, and help explain if children inquire.”
As for how long they could persist, it depended on what changes occurred in the manor.
The steward, “Yes.”
Afterward, Zhulan became busy, first selecting children from the list, then personally meeting them to make adjustments, which was a considerable workload.
The Second Prince was also there. Zhulan ignored the Second Prince and busied herself, writing new registers, which would record the details of the internship, and bring them back after the interns completed their terms.
Zhulan did not need to do things herself; she only needed to think, so she wasn’t too busy, and could even sit down for some tea.
The Second Prince, who hadn’t left, already knew it was the Empress Dowager’s directive. He was surprised by Mrs. Zhou’s efficiency, thinking it wouldn’t be completed in a day, but by the afternoon, it was almost done.
The Second Prince browsed through the register brought by Mrs. Zhou and asked the Princely Heir Zhou, “Is this Zhou Shuren’s idea?”
The eldest son of the Zhou family shook his head, “It’s my mother’s idea.”
The Second Prince put down the register, “The Old Madam commands respect.”
The eldest son of the Zhou family felt proud, “My mother is indeed impressive.”
He felt his mother was as capable as his father!
The Second Prince gave a dry laugh. He still had not left, pondering about taking credit, thinking it fortunate that Mrs. Zhou was a woman, or it would be difficult to take credit!
After returning to the capital from the manor, Zhulan looked at the clock in the carriage, “Detour to the Ministry of Revenue.”
Lady Li felt uneasy in the carriage, “Mother, I’ll go sit in the same carriage as my husband.”
Zhulan signaled for the carriage to stop, “You don’t have to go together; go home first.”
Lady Li wanted to say something, but the eldest son quickly said, “Mother, we’ll go home first then.”
Zhulan waved her hand, “Go back slowly.”
Lady Li watched her mother-in-law’s carriage leave, stomped on her husband’s foot, “I’m worried about Mother.”
The eldest son of the Zhou family was helpless. Since the father-in-law and mother-in-law passed away, his wife particularly clung to mother, “Father wouldn’t want to see us like this.”
Lady Li wilted, still fearing her father-in-law after all these years.
At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren saw Qing Xue standing by the carriage upon leaving the government office, quickening his pace a bit upon seeing his wife inside the carriage. Believing something had happened, he quickly got into the carriage, “You came to fetch me personally; did something happen?”
Zhulan gestured for Shuren not to worry, “I went out of the city today and just got back. Since there was enough time, I came to pick you up to go home. I must say, the feeling of picking you up is nice.”
Zhou Shuren smiled, “Then will you pick me up every day?”
Zhulan chuckled, “Aren’t you afraid of being gossiped about?”
If she dared to pick him up every day, the entire capital would talk about Shuren!
Zhou Shuren, “As long as I’m happy myself.”
Zhulan, “As long as I’m happy.”
Zhou Shuren asked, “Why did you go out of the capital today?”
Zhulan told him about the Empress Dowager’s directive, “Look at my efficiency. I can report it to the Empress Dowager tomorrow.”
Zhou Shuren, “Yes, yes, you’re the most impressive.”
Though busy for the day, Zhulan was in good spirits, “The Second Prince was at the manor today.”
Zhou Shuren was not surprised, “Quite ambitious.”
Zhulan, “Who let the Second Prince be at the Ministry of Rites!”