Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 225 The Son-in-Law Who Was Like a Passerby
After Lu Jia finished speaking, Lu Jie remained silent for a long time. Unable to help but ask, "Aren't you going to ask me what kind of account I'm trying to settle?"

Lu Jie glanced at her only once: "You have your reasons for doing what you want to do, why should I ask so many questions?"

Lu Jia choked.

Before she could retort, Lu Jie continued, "Even if we were to release them, it wouldn't be now. Let's talk about it after the New Year."

Lu Jia had no objection to this. After such a big incident, many people in the mansion thought that Lu Jie would divorce his wife, but he did not. As a result, there has been speculation in private that Jiang Shi would regain power.

Besides, the New Year is just around the corner, the wedding of the Lu and Yan families is in full swing, and the emperor has just issued the imperial decree to bestow the marriage. Everything is happening at the same time, and releasing her at this moment could really cause trouble.

After watching her leave, Lu Jie looked at Yang Bonong, who was walking in, and said, "Have Lu Rong take some men to escort Madam Jiang to the temple. Then, prepare for the New Year."

……

As the year draws to a close, officials who went to Beijing to report on their work are leaving one after another, and the streets and alleys, which had been bustling for a while, are gradually returning to their usual order.

The festive atmosphere of the New Year celebrations lasted for half a month amidst wind and snow. News of the arranged marriage between the Shen and Lu families had already permeated every corner of the capital. During this year, the most talked-about topic was the marriage of the Lu family's two daughters.

As the festive atmosphere of the past gradually faded, official business resumed in various government offices, and officials whose transfers had been scheduled before the new year began to take their places.

Shen Qingzhou put on his official robes early in the morning, but he held his black gauze hat and hesitated at the threshold for a few rounds before returning to sit down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Song En said, "Young Master, if you don't go soon, you'll be late."

Shen Qingzhou looked dejected: "I don't really want to go today."

Song En glanced at him twice, then nodded: "Then I won't go. I'll go ask for leave from the young master."

After saying that, he walked out.

He Qu and the others were waiting outside. When Song En waved for them to go back to their rooms, they couldn't help but ask, "Why aren't you going anymore?"

Song En said meaningfully, "Today, the new Minister of Revenue has taken office, and everyone in the yamen must pay their respects. What should you say when you go, young master?"

The guards suddenly realized what was happening and immediately urged them to go back to their rooms.

Just as they stepped down the stairs, the door opened, and Shen Qingzhou, dressed in his finest attire, stepped out: "Let's go."

Song En asked in surprise, "Young Master, are you still going?"

"You can hide from the first day of the month, but you can't hide from the fifteenth. If you don't see them today, you'll see them tomorrow."

As Shen Qingzhou spoke, he stepped down from the covered walkway.

……

If Shen Qingzhou's impression of Lu Jie before meeting Lu Jia was that of a treacherous minister who colluded with the Yan family, then after so much time—especially after returning to the capital and seeing Lu Jie's unusual behavior in dealing with the conflicts between Lu Jia and the Jiang family—Shen Qingzhou's opinion has become less firm.

He still did not deny that Lu Jie was a treacherous minister, but in dealing with conflicts within the household, Lu Jie did not seem to be as heartless as Lu Jia had previously described.

Furthermore, judging from his attitude towards Madam Jiang, the rumors circulating in the capital that Minister Lu was completely obedient to his wife and deeply affectionate towards her are clearly not entirely accurate.

What kind of person is he?

Rather than saying that Shen Qingzhou is worried about the awkwardness of meeting each other, it would be more accurate to say that he is now unsure of how to deal with this treacherous father-in-law.

As usual, the sedan chair was carried all the way into the yamen before being put down. As they walked in, the offices along the way were empty, but near the innermost courtyard, there was a constant stream of voices, and many people were standing under the covered walkway. Just as expected, everyone in the yamen had come to pay their respects to their superior.

But as a high-ranking official, Lu Jie naturally couldn't receive everyone individually. He was familiar with the two vice ministers, and after drinking tea for a while, someone outside announced, "Lord Shen has arrived."

The three people in the room stopped drinking at the same time. Just as Lu Jie looked up, the two vice ministers had already stood up.

The curtain was opened, and a distinguished young man walked in with his head slightly lowered. He glanced around the room briefly, then bowed to Lu Jie and said, "Shen Yu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, greets Your Excellency, Minister."

Lu Jie scrutinized him closely. In this freezing weather, the snow outside was up to his calves deep, but his shoes were clean, indicating that they had been covered up completely from the cold all the way here.

He wore a cloak over his official robes, and although there was no protection on his head, his slightly pale but handsome face was clearly visible.

Ultimately, it's because of my weak constitution.

Jiajia's worries are probably justified; she may not be able to have children in the future.

But what's done is done, and there's no point in worrying about that now. At most, we can bring her back after she becomes a widow.

Since Lu Jie herself did not have a son, there was no possibility that her family was preventing her from returning, or that she would feel uncomfortable staying there.

Thinking of this, Lu Jie felt a little more at ease, after all, no one would be too harsh on a frail son-in-law who was just passing through.

He stood up: "It's freezing cold and inconvenient to travel. If Lord Shen doesn't have any urgent matters to attend to, he can stay at the mansion."

Shen Qingzhou glanced at him: "Thank you for your concern, sir. Since last winter, it has snowed four or five times. It's freezing cold, and I've already been out quite a few times."

It's fine to have designs on him, but how can you doubt his health?

Two vice ministers stepped forward to ease the tension: "Since taking office, Lord Shen has been diligent and conscientious, and he has never been careless in handling any official business. What is even more commendable is that he has never taken a day off because of the cold weather."

“Like father, like son. Grand Commandant Shen is an invincible hero with an aura that can swallow mountains and rivers. Lord Shen is naturally a young talent as well.” Lu Jie stroked his beard with a hearty laugh.

They can talk a good game, but how they actually perform remains to be seen.

"Your Excellency, Minister Liu from the Ministry of Works has come to visit."

As the group was rambling on and on, saying one thing but meaning another, someone came to the door to report.

Shen Qingzhou turned his head and immediately saw Liu Zheng, who had colluded with the Yan family and made a mess of Tanzhou Prefecture and Shawan County, hurrying over.

Without showing any emotion, he cupped his hands again and said, "This humble official takes his leave."

The two vice ministers standing nearby also took their leave upon seeing this.

After they all left, Liu Zheng and his group brushed past each other without saying hello and went straight into Lu Jie's house.

"Congratulations, Your Excellency! Congratulations, Your Excellency!"

Lu Jie said, "You rushed over here so quickly, it couldn't be just to congratulate me, could it?"

"Congratulations are one thing, but as you guessed, there is indeed a second reason!"

As Liu Zheng spoke, he stepped forward and sat down next to him: "The Ministry of Works is still short of funds for the repair of the waterway ordered by the imperial decree. I approached Grand Secretary Chen many times before, but he kept making excuses and refusing to approve it. Brother Lan Chu's transfer to the Ministry of Revenue is a great blessing for our Ministry of Works!"

Lu Jie glanced at the account book handed to him, and his eyes instantly lit up: "Three million taels?"