Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 193 Xian'er's Marriage, Honored with a Place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple
Inside the Zhenguo Duke's mansion, the back courtyard rooms were brightly lit, and maids and servants moved about quietly, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

When Gu Tingye was granted the title of Duke, Zhao Han bestowed upon him the Cheng Garden, which was originally next to the Ningyuan Marquis's residence.

Chengyuan was the residence of a meritorious official during the reign of Emperor Taizu. Later, the official was exiled after committing a crime, and the residence remained vacant.

The garden is luxurious yet elegant, surrounded by mountains and water, with flying eaves and green tiles, spacious halls and a grand layout.

To thoroughly explore the entire courtyard, it would take at least one or two days.

Gu Tingye then connected the Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion and Chengyuan Garden, merging the two residences into one. He renovated and reorganized the main courtyard, naming it Jiaxi Residence.

In terms of scale alone, it far surpasses the residences of the Duke of England and the Duke of Wei.

After leaving the palace, Gu Tingye did not linger and went straight home. As soon as Chang'er saw him, she immediately dropped the roly-poly toy in her hand and stumbled into his arms.

Three-year-old Chang'er was wearing a light red shirt and her hair was styled into two round little buns.

She had a small, oval face with fair skin and rosy cheeks, and her eyes and brows hinted at the heroic spirit of a general's daughter. She was charming and lively.

Gu Tingye chuckled and picked her up, gently stroking her soft little face with his fingertips, and they walked into the house together.

At this moment, Yuan Wenying was sitting at her desk fiddling with her abacus, making a clattering sound. When she saw the father and daughter come in, she looked up and smiled, without stopping what she was doing.

"I have some good news for you, sir: Granny Chang's grandson has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar."

Gu Tingye raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone full of satisfaction. Although becoming a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations) was only the first hurdle to entering officialdom, only one in ten could actually pass it.

"Granny Chang has worked diligently in the manor all these years. Now that her grandson is successful, she can say that her hardships have finally come to an end."

"I'll have the accountant prepare a copy of the generous gift and send it over. He can then withdraw all his future expenses for his studies from the accountant."

Yuan Wenying nodded gently, "Alright, I'll do as you say, sir."

"From today onwards, our family will be more frugal. We should avoid banquets and entertainment as much as possible, and we should not buy any extravagant items."

Seeing Yuan Wenying's confusion, Gu Tingye continued, "There has been no rain recently, and His Majesty is concerned about the people. He has ordered a reduction in meals and the cessation of music, and personally prayed for rain."

"As a subject personally promoted by the Emperor, I am entitled to the Emperor's salary and should naturally share the Emperor's worries."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Wenying nodded in deep agreement, "I will give the order first thing tomorrow morning."

"By the way, how has the master considered Xian'er's marriage?"

Ever since Gu Shuxian came of age, countless families have wanted to marry her.

After all, this was a golden opportunity to get in touch with Gu Tingye; if missed, it would take at least more than ten years.

“The Shen family of the Marquis of Ruyang’s mansion sent someone over the other day to sound them out. They kept mentioning their eldest son. I think the boy is quite good; he’s steady, polite, and has a handsome appearance.”

Marquis of Ruyang was also one of the hereditary marquises enfeoffed during the reign of Emperor Taizu.

Although they have inevitably been declining in recent years, with the protection of their titles, as long as their descendants are too outrageous, they will still enjoy wealth and glory for a lifetime.

Families like the Gu, Qi, Zheng, and Zhang families, which have been able to maintain their glory for centuries, are extremely rare.

Gu Tingye raised his hand and touched his chin. After weighing the options, he said softly, "The Shen family has a good reputation. When you have time, have his eldest son come and meet Xian'er."

"Since neither Ruoxian nor her sister-in-law have any objections, we can proceed with the discussion of this marriage."

Yuan Wenying smiled and nodded, saying, "What you say is true, sir. I plan to add two hundred acres of paddy fields and several estates and shops in the suburbs to Xian'er's dowry."

Gu Tingyu was meticulous in his actions. He knew he was not destined for a long life, so he began preparing a dowry for Xian'er shortly after her birth.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, it was customary to give generous dowries, and Lady Shao was indecisive.

If she were to pass away one day, Xianjie would lose her support and her generous dowry, and she would inevitably suffer mistreatment in her husband's family.

Therefore, the items that Gu Tingyu left for Xian'er alone were enough for her to have a grand wedding.

"Alright, you can get ready. Xian'er is, after all, a girl who has married into our family. We must not let her suffer any injustice."

Gu Tingye responded slowly, after all, this matter would greatly benefit his reputation.

At the end of September, Rong Feiyan gave birth to the seventh prince, Zhao Han, who named him Zhao Cong. The Rong family was overjoyed and decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers.

Rong Feiyan was promoted from Xiuyuan to Zhaorong. Although she was still a concubine, her status was much higher than that of Xiuyuan, second only to Zhaoyi, who was the highest-ranking concubine.

Rong Xian was promoted to Commander of the North Gate of the Five Cities Military Command, a rank of sixth grade.

Inside the Jade Capital Hall of the Imperial Palace, Consort Rong held Cong-ge in her arms, her brows relaxed, her heart filled with joy.

She couldn't keep any of her own children.

She couldn't help but shower all her affection on her little nephew, bringing out several of the most treasured items Emperor Renzong had given her.

"It's a pity that Her Majesty the Empress has two sons, so my Cong-ge'er has no chance of becoming the Crown Prince." Rong Feiyan held a cup of hot tea and pouted.

Consort Rong snorted and said in a low voice, "What you're saying is true. Even if the Empress has no son, there are Consort Zhang and Consort Xian. It's impossible for us to have a son."

"If Cong-ge'er can be granted the title of Prince in the future, enjoy a stable and wealthy life, and marry a well-educated and sensible princess, that would be better than anything else."

Rong Feiyan shrugged, looking helpless.

Her father was just a bricklayer in the first half of his life, and in terms of family background, he couldn't compare with them at all.

"Alas!" Rong Feiyan sighed deeply and turned her gaze to Cong Ge'er.

In the tenth year of the Hongwu reign, rainfall remained scarce.

Huainan, Jiangdong, Runzhou and other places were affected one after another, but due to proper water conservancy construction and irrigation canals, the crops in the fields were not severely damaged.

Local governments held rain-praying ceremonies repeatedly, which had little effect, but could temporarily calm the people's minds.

Inside the Wenhua Hall of the Imperial Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Qingyun stood quietly to one side, her eyes slightly lowered.

Minglan leaned against the soft couch by the window, dressed in a moon-white brocade dress, her hair simply tied up with a jade hairpin inserted diagonally, her attire understated and elegant.

At this moment, she was squinting, feeling drowsy.

Zhao Han sat upright at the desk, holding a vermilion brush, and slowly read through the memorial that Han Zhang had handed over that morning.

After a moment, he gently exhaled a breath of stale air, "Han Qing is retiring."

Upon hearing this, Minglan blinked and said softly, "Lord Han is already in his seventies. He has worked hard in the court for half his life. It is only natural that he is retiring now."

"If Your Majesty is reluctant to part with him, perhaps you could try to persuade him to stay a little longer?"

Zhao Han shook his head and said, "Han Qing has mentioned more than once that he is not in good spirits and may delay state affairs. Forcing him to stay would make me seem too harsh."

At the age of seventy-three, he should retire and go home to enjoy his old age. Moreover, his eldest grandson, Han Cheng, is a fair and just man with outstanding political achievements and is a promising talent.

The retirement benefits for civil officials in the Great Zhou Dynasty were extremely high. In addition to gold, silver, and silk, mid-ranking civil officials could receive half of their salary while in office.

High-ranking civil officials received full pay and were allowed to continue wearing their official robes and fish-shaped pouches of their rank even after returning to their hometowns.

"By imperial decree, Han Qing has passed the imperial examinations early, served three emperors, and is upright and discerning in his duties."

"Although I rely on him and am reluctant to let him go, I dare not go against the old minister's wish to retire. I hereby grant him retirement, bestow upon him the title of Grand Tutor, and grant him full salary for life. I also personally inscribe a plaque for his loyalty, integrity and incorruptibility to commemorate his achievements." "After Han Qing's death, he shall be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and enjoy sacrifices in all four seasons, sharing the prosperity of the nation."

Upon hearing this, Qingyun took a deep breath and bowed, saying, "This servant obeys the decree."

After Qingyun left, Minglan stood up and came to Zhao Han's side. She narrowed her eyes and said softly, "Your Majesty, I will go to the small kitchen to prepare some delicious food later. Would Your Majesty do me the honor of joining me tonight?"

Zhao Han shook his head repeatedly.

"I have already ordered a reduction in meals, so it is not appropriate to be too extravagant. If I were to break this rule myself, wouldn't I be losing the trust of the people?"

Minglan frowned, her almond-shaped eyes filled with a pleading look.

"Stir-fried goji berry sprouts with oil and salt, steamed buns with tofu skin, and cucumbers wrapped in straw raincoat are all vegetarian dishes, ordinary food, not extravagant at all."

Standing to the side, Xiao Tao smiled and chimed in, "Back then, the old lady ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist scriptures all day long. She was thin and had a light palate."

"To encourage the old lady to eat a few more bites, Her Majesty specially learned from Mama Fang and Mama Cui, and it has a unique flavor."

"When I was little, I disliked vegetarian dishes the most, but as long as it was made by the Empress, three bowls of rice would not be enough. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water."

After saying that, she couldn't help but swallow.

Minglan turned to look at her, "Don't worry, I'll definitely save one for you tonight."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xiao Tao's eyes were full of smiles. Since she was little, Minglan would always share some of the good food with Xiao Tao, and this was no exception even now.

Zhao Han put his arm around her slender waist and said, "Alright, I agree."

"Yesterday, Wei Ling sent someone to tell me that your aunt is pregnant and is on her way back to the capital to recuperate."

"Once she arrives in the capital and settles in, she will be allowed to bring Lady Wei into the palace to meet you and catch up."

Upon hearing this, Minglan's eyes lit up. "Really? The Wei family is going to have an heir!"

"Yes." Zhao Han gently pinched the soft flesh on her waist.
Caught off guard, Minglan's waist went limp, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Don't do that, I'm most ticklish!"

Seeing that the atmosphere in the inner hall had become somewhat ambiguous, Xiao Tao consciously withdrew, her mind now preoccupied with the dishes for tonight.

-

In the tenth year of the Hongwu reign, not a single drop of rain fell throughout the autumn and winter. Flood victims appeared in several parts of the northwest, and grain prices gradually rose.

In April of the following year, Zhao Han ordered the granaries to be opened and grain to be distributed. He also ordered all prefectures and counties to investigate local powerful and tyrannical figures. The Imperial City Guard personally supervised the matter.

Anyone who has committed murder, evil deeds, or acts of tyranny in the countryside will be executed, all of their land will be confiscated, and the land will be converted into government land.

Once the drought ends, the land will be rented out at a low price to landless people.

In years of famine, besides the influx of refugees, the most common occurrences are bandits who rob and plunder, causing unrest and chaos in the local area.

At the Yongchang Earl's Mansion, Liang Hui finished his mourning period. Although he was not reinstated to his original position, he still held an important post in the Ministry of War.

At his insistence, the division of the family property has been put on the agenda, and several of his half-brothers have successively taken a portion of the family property and moved out of the Earl's mansion to establish their own households.

He genuinely didn't want to risk his life fighting on the front lines, while his good-for-nothing brothers relied on his influence to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves at home.

Who knows when they might cause trouble that will drag them down?

Moreover, his current status has nothing to do with his stepmother, Madam Wu. He worked hard to bring back glory to his title, which is already a worthy tribute to his deceased father.

Today, in the Fu Ning Hall of the Imperial Palace, several trusted ministers, including Gu Tingye, Shen Shiqi, Fan Chunren, and Sheng Changbai, are gathered.

"While repairing the ancestral hall in Youyang, Rongchangbo was concerned about the disaster and personally went to great lengths to persuade local wealthy merchants to donate grain."

"Zecheng, I truly did not expect your uncle to have such courage and benevolence." Zhao Han looked at Sheng Changbai with a smile.

Sheng Changbai cupped his hands and said, "The Marquis of Rongchang has always valued loyalty and righteousness over empty fame."

"He did not reveal anything about this disaster relief effort beforehand. He only sent someone to inform my father after the supplies were shipped. My father was quite pleased to learn about it."

Zhao Han nodded slightly. He knew that Sheng Wei was a very generous person, but it was still somewhat unexpected that he could do something like this.

"I will reward Rongchang for his merits."

"However, after reviewing the records of natural disasters from various dynasties, I have discovered that a severe drought is always followed by a locust plague."

"If the locusts are not eradicated in time, they will form swarms and migrate with the wind, devouring the crops. At that time, people will have no food reserves, and the disaster will only worsen and become more difficult to control."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment.

After a quick thought, Gu Tingye stepped forward and said loudly, "I have a plan. When the time comes, we can issue an order to the local people and officials to stop them from killing the locusts."

"The regulations stipulated that locusts could be exchanged for grain. One dou of locusts could be exchanged for one dou of grain, and one dou of locust eggs could be exchanged for one and a half dou of grain. This could also be considered another form of work relief."

Sheng Changbai smiled and gave Gu Tingye an approving look.

"The Duke of Zhenguo is right."

"I second the proposal."

"..."

Zhao Han said slowly, "It's a good idea, but it's not enough."

"Pass down the order to local prefectures and cities to send people to monitor and patrol riverbanks and lakeshores for locust eggs, and report back every half month."

"By raising a large number of chickens and ducks, we can release them to feed on locusts if they appear next spring. This two-pronged approach will surely quell the natural disaster as soon as possible."

"Your Majesty is wise." Gu Tingye raised his chin towards Sheng Changbai and was the first to bow in response.

Meanwhile, inside the Wei Rui Pavilion of the Duke of Wei's residence.

Sheng Hong was at his desk preparing to write a letter to send to Youyang, intending to inform Sheng Wei of some strategies for navigating between local officials and wealthy merchants.

Leading by example in donating grain is a meritorious act, but if you encounter someone who is unwilling to donate grain, you should not force them. You should also keep records of any official assignments.

One should not act too ostentatiously, lest one steal credit from local officials. One should accumulate merit and protect one's own family and property; otherwise, it will be a losing proposition.

Wang Ruofu gently waved his fan, glanced at Sheng Hong, and said, "Brother Wei's actions are quite appropriate. There's no need for you to give me such nagging advice. I think it's completely unnecessary."

“Brother Wei has never been in officialdom and doesn’t understand the intricacies of it. It’s not that I don’t trust him, but I’m afraid he’ll suffer.”

“If you have nothing to do, have Changbai’s wife take some money from the public funds and send it to Youyang. Expanding the ancestral hall is a major event for both of our branches.”

“Brother Wei has worked hard in our hometown, and we are enjoying a leisurely life in the capital, so we should contribute more in terms of money.”

“Our family is no longer what it used to be, and we no longer need Brother Wei and the others to help us out so often,” Sheng Hong said earnestly, putting down his pen and ink.

He dried the letter, folded it, stuffed it into the envelope, sealed it with glue, and then used his own silkscreen to stamp the seal.

Wang Ruofu nodded casually, "What you say is true, sir. I'll have Liu Mama tell her right away."

(End of this chapter)