The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

Qin and Lu Chong were about to start arguing after only a few words. For her own and her children's sake, Cui couldn't keep up the pretense any longer. She nudged Lu Jingyan and, feigning difficulty, spoke first:

"Father, please don't blame me for siding with Mother."

Aside from attending court, you spend your days feasting and having fun with your colleagues and friends. You simply draw money from your account every day, and if you come across a piece of calligraphy, painting, or antique that you like, you will not hesitate to spend money to buy it.

But as the old saying goes, you don't know the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt until you're in charge of the household. Our household has over a hundred people, and we need to spend money on everything we eat and use.

It was incredibly difficult for my mother to support the family all by herself. Just last year, the family shop's business was sluggish, and the rice harvest on the farm was poor. My mother had to sell a few pieces of jewelry from her dowry to make ends meet.

You only see us fixated on our second brother's possessions, but let's not even talk about the fact that he hasn't separated from the family yet and lives independently. His property already includes a share of the Earl's estate. Just look at the current situation at home: money is flowing out of the house repair accounts like water, and we still owe money to the carpenter's shop.

You and Jingyan have to go out and socialize every day, and Qi'an and Qichen need money for their studies. With autumn approaching, people also need new clothes. You men only care about showing off and enjoying yourselves outside, pushing all the difficult things onto your mother. Now you even blame us for being stingy.

As she spoke of her true feelings, Cui's eyes reddened.

Qin felt that her daughter-in-law's words had touched her heart. She felt a bittersweet feeling, as if her years of hard work had finally been understood and seen. She covered her chest and cried silently.

Seeing his mother and wife crying, Lu Jingyan frowned and looked at Lu Chong: "Father, even if the family has been divided, my second brother will still have to pay tribute to the public funds every year."

You said that my second brother hasn't taken any money from the public funds over the years, but didn't he use the Earl's name to open shops and buy land outside? And Mother didn't order that the people at Songtao Courtyard be short of food and drink, did she?"

At this point, Lu Jingyan sneered, "His mother isn't his biological mother and doesn't deserve his filial piety, but you are, after all, his biological father. He's earned so much money; shouldn't you, as his father, get a little bit of it?"

If Qin Shi had only ever confronted him, Lu Chong could have shown some courage and punished her. But Cui Shi's words just now made him feel guilty. He hadn't really managed the family's income all these years; as long as Qin Shi was there, he could just take money whenever he needed it.

Hearing that Qin had actually sold off her dowry, he felt somewhat guilty.

Now that even his son said so, Lu Chong's heart wavered again. He looked at Lu Xin to the side with some confusion: "Is that so? But I remember that the Earl's mansion has quite a lot of property."

What could Lu Xin say in front of Qin Shi and Lu Jingyan?

Qin cried and said, "Lord, you are so forgetful. You have long forgotten that back then, the old Lord gave almost half of his family property to his third brother."

The three brothers of the Earl of Chengen were as follows: the second brother was a son born to a concubine and did not receive much of the family property; however, the third brother was the youngest son of the Earl and his wife. When the family property was divided, the Earl directly gave half of the family property to this youngest son.

Now the third son's family lives a comfortable life outside, sending back gifts during holidays, yet they still try to squeeze some money out of the Earl's mansion.

If Qin hadn't mentioned it, Lu Chong would have almost forgotten that on New Year's Eve this year, his third brother sent someone back saying that he wanted to find a job for his nephew and needed some money to bribe officials, so he asked for Lu Chong's help. Lu Chong had Lu Xin send over five thousand taels of silver without hesitation.

Seeing the hesitation on Lu Chong's face, Cui pressed her advantage: "Father, if this thing is kept in the public treasury, with you watching over it, Mother won't mistreat Second Brother."

Lu Chong looked at this and then that, and finally could only close his eyes helplessly. He instructed Lu Xin, "Fine, you go and guard the door yourself. If Shi Yan returns, tell him to come see me immediately."

Upon hearing this, Qin paused, her hand covering her chest; Cui almost couldn't suppress the smile on her lips; even Lu Jingyan's tense back relaxed. He knew his father loved him the most.

So what if it belongs to Lu Shiyan? As long as his father and mother are alive, it will all belong to him in the end.

Lu Shiyan had no idea what kind of grand show his father had prepared for him at home. After handing over the duties with the Dali Temple, he went straight to the palace.

Inside the Zichen Palace, Emperor Chenghe had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Imperial Censor Lu. When the palace official announced that Lu was coming to pay his respects, Emperor Chenghe personally descended the steps to greet him.

Before Lu Shiyan could kneel down, he helped him up and laughed loudly, "Songzhan, you really haven't disappointed me."

Lu Shiyan hurriedly leaned forward and said, "It is all thanks to His Majesty's strategic planning that the Jiangnan case was able to be resolved smoothly."

Emperor Chenghe said, "Songzhan, do not be so modest. If it weren't for your quick thinking, our years of planning would have been in vain. Who knows how long we would have to wait to touch the official property in Jiangnan again in the future."

The atmosphere between the emperor and his minister was harmonious, and even the eunuch Chao, who was serving tea, was all smiles.

After the important matters were discussed one by one, Emperor Chenghe picked out a book from among the many memorials and gestured for Eunuch Chao to hand it to Lu Shiyan.

Lu Shiyan took a look, pondered for a moment, and then looked at Emperor Chenghe: "Your Majesty prefers Tan Xiuwen to be the Director-General of the Waterways?"

Emperor Chenghe nodded: "Old Tan and Tan Xiuwen submitted their memorials requesting to be transferred to other posts some time ago, but I have been thinking about it and haven't found a good place for them. Now that there are many vacancies in Jiangnan, I think Tan Xiuwen is the most suitable person to serve as the Governor-General of the Waterways. What do you think, Songzhan?"

Although it was a question, Lu Shiyan knew that Emperor Chenghe had already made a decision.

"Xiuwen is an upright man, and he is also decisive and capable in his work. I also think he is the best candidate for this position. However, I'm afraid the Ministry of Personnel will not agree."

The appointment and evaluation of officials in charge of the Ministry of Personnel is at a critical juncture in the Jiangnan officialdom. The Ministry of Personnel will certainly consider various factors, but the final candidate will definitely not be Tan Xiuwen.

Speaking of this, Emperor Chenghe twirled the jade thumb ring on his thumb and said with a smile, "Good things often come with difficulties, it's alright."

Seeing Emperor Chenghe's appearance, Lu Shiyan knew how to contend with the Ministry of Personnel; His Majesty was already fully aware of this.

After finishing his official business, Lu Shiyan said with an embarrassed expression, "I heard that You Ning hid in Prince De's carriage and ran away from the palace. That child is really naughty and has caused trouble for Your Majesty."

Upon hearing him mention Lu Youning, Emperor Chenghe's face was full of disapproval: "Songzhan was wise all his life, how could he raise such a foolish child? Youning is a smart child, he should have started his education early, how could he be indulged and only know how to play?"

"Look at my crown prince. He started his education at three and is now fifteen. Some time ago, the Grand Tutor came to me to resign, saying that he could no longer teach the child anything."

Unlike when mentioning the Eighth Prince, when mentioning the Crown Prince, Emperor Chenghe's expression was stern yet proud.