Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 14 Young Master, I'm still so young

He Qu was stunned. These guards, who had followed Shen Qingzhou since childhood, had been on many missions and to many places, but rarely chose to travel by water.

Moreover, Tanzhou is located in Hunan Province and is not a city along the Grand Canal. It is unlikely that anyone would readily say how long it would take to get there.

"Young Master, please go to the cabinet for a meeting first. I will report back later."

Shen Qingzhou gazed at the street scene outside the window, remaining noncommittal.

The silence is an affirmative statement.

He Qu exchanged hand signals with the guards at the front of the carriage, and the carriage picked up speed slightly.

The snow on the streets had long been crushed into mud by vehicles and pedestrians, turning into streaks of dirty yellow fluff lying on both sides of the road. The open space in front of the Cabinet Office had been cleared clean, and several sedan chairs were already parked by the wall. The three members of the Shen family, father and son, got off one after another, and officials dressed in seventh-rank robes came to greet them.

He Qu watched Shen Qingzhou and the others enter the warm pavilion, then turned around and went out the main gate.

Incense burners were placed in the four corners of the hall. Everyone had arrived. Upon hearing the announcement, the group of people in high positions stood up one after another, and one by one they exclaimed in surprise, "Grand Commandant, Grand Commandant!" before coming out of their seats to greet him.

The highest-ranking among them was the Second Assistant Minister Pang Zhi, who asked, "It's just a small meeting. If we had known that the Grand Commandant would be coming in person, we would have certainly gone to greet him from afar."

Shen Bo took a seat in the place they had vacated, looked around at everyone, and gestured for them to sit down: "My son is young and has never been involved in the affairs of the Six Ministries. I brought him out to broaden his horizons. Please, gentlemen, speak freely and offer your guidance."

Pang Zhi looked at Shen Qingzhou and smiled slightly: "It seems that you are much better now, young master."

Shen Qingzhou nodded slightly: "Thank you for your concern, Elder Pang. It's freezing cold. Now that everyone has arrived, please begin."

Since Shen Bo took over as commander-in-chief of the border, the burden of border defense rested entirely on his shoulders. The emperor had always delegated most matters, large and small, to the cabinet, but he had always maintained a firm stance on the appointment of commanders-in-chief, never wavering.

Thus, even though the cabinet controlled the government, the Shen family remained an insurmountable obstacle for them.

While Shen Bo was away on campaign, Shen Qingzhou became the only channel through which the Shen family could connect with the court and the public.

Shen Qingzhou was not yet twenty years old and had always disliked socializing. He usually associated with only a few members of the imperial clan. In addition, there were rumors that he suffered from a chronic illness and had many dietary restrictions, so even if others wanted to curry favor with him, they dared not invite him easily.

I would occasionally run into him at banquets I couldn't refuse. He didn't say much and had little expression. He was always surrounded by people who were trying to please and flatter him.

After Shen Bo returned, countless people lined up to see him, but unfortunately, the Shen family members were all reluctant to pay attention to them.

The invitation to Shen Qingzhou was made with a bit of luck, but unexpectedly, not only did they manage to get Shen Qingzhou to come, but Shen Bo also came, and the whole family of three did.

The father and son remained as taciturn as ever, but once they sat down, the cabinet's meeting room seemed to belong to them.

Pang Zhi coughed, gesturing to the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet on his right to unfold the file: "His Majesty has repeatedly urged the Cabinet to recommend candidates for Imperial Envoy, and after repeated screening, these seven have been selected."

"These seven individuals are all highly qualified and capable, and their talents have already been presented to the young Grand Secretary, who has given them his approval."

"If you all have no objections after reading this today, I will submit it to the Emperor for his approval."

"Young Grand Secretary?" Shen Zhui looked around. "Who's the Young Grand Secretary? A Grand Secretary is a Grand Secretary, why is there a Young Grand Secretary?"

The boy's voice was clear and powerful, and it was impossible for anyone in the room not to hear it. Immediately, more than a dozen pairs of eyes turned to Shen Zhui, but Shen Qingzhou lowered his eyes and stroked his cup, as if he had not heard it.

Shen Bo said calmly, “Zhui’er grew up on the border and is unaware of many things in the capital. The only son of Grand Secretary Yan, Lord Yan Shu, is exceptionally talented. Although he has not entered the cabinet, he is the strategist of the cabinet and has solved problems for the emperor and the court for many years, hence he is known as ‘Little Grand Secretary’.”

Shen Zhui gave an "Oh," his round eyes sweeping over the assembled cabinet ministers before he pursed his lips and remained silent. There was a wildness in the boy's eyes; even his silent glances around felt like soft thorns thrown at someone, pricking them.

Pang Zhi smiled and said, "I heard that the Second Young Master's horsemanship is truly mastered by the Grand Commandant. I will invite the Second Young Master out for a gathering another day, so that my good-for-nothing sons can broaden their horizons and also let them travel around the capital with the Young Master. At that time, the Young Master will gradually become familiar with the place."

Shen Zhui pursed her lips and glanced at Shen Bo, but still didn't say anything.

Shen Bo picked up the list handed to him: "Let's get down to business. Since these are the candidates selected by the cabinet, I have no objections."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Shen Qingzhou.

Shen Qingzhou said, "Those whom the young Grand Secretary approves of will naturally not have any problems."

"That's good," Pang Zhi said, as if he had been waiting for this, and immediately stood up: "I've had some tea and snacks prepared—"

"Report——"

Before Pang Zhi could fully stand up, a loud announcement came from outside the door.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it was Pang's attendants leading the official from the Ministry of Personnel.

Once Pang Zhi was allowed to enter, the official in charge of the Ministry of Personnel said, "Your Excellency, one of the seven candidates to be selected by imperial decree, Zhang He, who has served as the Imperial Inspector of Grain Transport, broke his leg in an accident this morning and is unable to travel."

Upon hearing this, the officials present immediately exchanged bewildered glances. The sudden emergence of such significance from what seemed like a foregone conclusion undoubtedly created trouble for the decision-makers.

Pang Zhi frowned as he flipped through the papers: "Zhang He is in charge of the waterways within the two lakes region. In recent years, the two lakes have had abundant rice and developed water transport. Every year, their grain transport accounts for more than half of the country's total. This cannot be neglected."

"Yes, how did things turn out this way?..."

All the officials present sighed in dismay.

“Since we can’t go, let’s find someone else.” Shen Qingzhou looked at them. “The Grand Secretaries must have many suitable candidates. Let’s make a decision as soon as possible and not delay the important national policy.”

Pang Zhi slowly placed the dossier on the table: "We have no shortage of candidates, but for the time being, we don't know who would be more suitable. Young master—oh, I wonder if Lord Shen has any insightful suggestions?"

Shen Qingzhou smiled and said, "I would also like to make some use of this, but unfortunately I have not yet taken up my post in the Ministry of Revenue, and I am a complete novice in these matters, so I am really powerless to help."

Pang Zhi stroked his beard and laughed heartily: "Lord Shen is too kind. You have been well-versed in literature since childhood, and you are only one step away from taking the imperial examination. The future court will rely on young talents like you, so why should you be so modest?"

Shen Qingzhou: "If Grand Secretary Pang is so kind, then I will presume to offer a suggestion: Minister of Rites Lu Jie has been on inspection tours for many years, and he must have suitable candidates for imperial envoys."

"I heard that Minister Lu's wife is the adopted daughter of Grand Secretary Yan. If this person was recommended by Minister Lu, wouldn't she have a greater chance of getting Grand Secretary Yan's approval?"

Pang Zhi's expression suddenly turned serious: "Lord Shen doesn't have his own candidate?"

"I am young and new to this place, how could I meddle in such an important matter? However, I see that Grand Secretary Pang is troubled by this, and I think that if this matter cannot be completed on schedule, Grand Secretary Yan may also punish me."

"I've said too much, and I don't know whether it will work out or not. Please forgive me, Grand Secretary Pang."

Shen Qingzhou continued speaking in a leisurely tone, as if to say, "Take it or leave it."

Pang Zhi withdrew his gaze, and after a moment slowly nodded: "Someone, go and consult Minister Lu's opinion."

(End of this chapter)