Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!-Chapter 1271: The Brain Is a Treasure

Since it was the inaugural issue, Zhou Shuren, the person who proposed the idea, directly used his son-in-law’s articles and paintings. In the future, his son-in-law must strive on his own. Zhou was willing to lay the groundwork for his children but would not lead them by the hand; they had to rely on themselves. If they couldn’t stand on their own two feet, they had only themselves to blame.

Rongchuan stretched lazily, "Father, Mingyun and Jiang Zhu must be close to the old home by now."

Zhou Shuren, "They should be arriving soon."

Rongchuan actually wanted to sit for a while longer, but unfortunately, that was not possible; he had many duties to attend to. His rise had been meteoric, his status had changed, and the duties he came into contact with had shifted. The Emperor hoped he would quickly become an indispensable aide to his elder brother, and the Emperor shared this wish, assigning him one duty after another. Status implied responsibility, and his shoulders bore no light burden.

Seeing his son-in-law’s tired expression, Zhou Shuren said, "Don’t push yourself too hard; your health is the most important, especially at your young age."

Rongchuan felt a warm sense of comfort. Now, only his father-in-law wished for him to get more rest. "Father, I’ll take care."

Zhou Shuren paused for a moment, then stood up and retrieved some tea leaves from a drawer. "This is from Mr. Li, take it with you."

After giving it away, the heartache was real; that tea had been a treasured stash of Li Zhao’s.

Rongchuan was surprised, "Father."

Zhou Shuren asked, "Don’t you want it?"

Rongchuan swiftly hugged it to his chest, "Yes, yes, of course, Father, I must be going now."

He left with incredible alacrity, fearful that his father might change his mind. Rongchuan was genuinely thrilled. The old man was so frugal and yet had given him such fine tea; even the box that held the tea was clearly expensive.

Zhou Shuren’s hand, which had stretched out, slowed, and he sat back down, clutching his chest in mock agony. It pained him to give away such tea, and he wondered how he ever managed to pry it from Li Zhao. After only a single tasting, now there was none left. He chastised himself for his generosity.

Qiu Yan entered and was confused, asking Jingyan, "What’s wrong with your master?"

Amusement in his eyes, Jingyan said, "The master is regretting his decision!"

Qiu Yan, utterly baffled, came in holding a report, "This is the tallied amount; take a look."

Zhou Shuren was in no mood for work, merely grunting in response.

Qiu Yan sat down and said, "After the New Year, the other ministries have also seen considerable changes. You wouldn’t believe how much faster operations are now. It used to be so slow it made me anxious just to watch."

Zhou Shuren thought to himself that it was because Qiu Yan had worked with him for so long, he had grown accustomed to high efficiency. "Still, it’s not quite there yet!"

Qiu Yan replied, "This is already quite good. The other departments don’t have the foundation you’ve laid within the Ministry of Revenue. For them to change this much after the New Year is enough."

Thinking of the other ministries bustling with activity after the New Year, Zhou Shuren hummed in approval, his mood lifting.

In the following days, Rongchuan’s work efficiency was exceptionally high, and he was a true man of action. In just a few short days, propaganda had already begun in the capital; the nearby states had also received the promotional paintings and articles, while the farther states would have to wait a bit longer.

The propaganda was incredibly effective. The paintings were displayed in glass frames, protected from wind and rain, and were hung up at several city gates and the busiest places. Without this promotion, no one would know how much the lives of the common people had changed.

The citizens near the capital had seen many changes, but that was not representative of all citizens. As residents of the Capital, they naturally felt a certain sense of superiority, believing their lives to be the best.

Now that the propaganda had been rolled out, it became evident that not just the citizens of the capital, but also those in other states, had seen significant improvements in their lives.

In ancient times, the well-being of people was most directly reflected in their children. If children were numerous and well-raised, then life was surely good.

The distinctive feature of Jiang Sheng’s paintings was their realism; he paid great attention to details, including the expressions of children.

The results of the propaganda campaign were positive, sparking much discussion in the capital. The good lives of the citizens highlighted the country’s prosperity and strength.

Foreigners only go to large cities and never venture into the rural areas. The capital has the most foreigners, and they too are discussing.

Although these nobles claim to be unaware of how their nation’s people live, it would be false to say so. Some Westerners are skeptical and even plan to send people to see for themselves.

Once the news travels back, the foreigners all fall silent.

The Emperor and the Retired Emperor sit together, looking at the compiled reports. These reports are gathered by spies from teahouses and markets—it’s the voice of the people.

The Emperor reads every word very seriously, growing more and more joyful. Although he is aware that some negative comments have not been submitted, the positive voices outweigh the negative. Seeing the people proud and happy about the nation’s prosperity, the Emperor reads on, content yet insatiable, and remarks: "How is Zhou Shuren’s mind so brilliant?"

The Retired Emperor also expresses his amazement, "That’s why his mind is the real treasure."

If Zhou Shuren knew, heh, after the modern information explosion, everyone has a good mind.

The Emperor says, "This is just the beginning. The country is not yet wealthy and powerful enough."

The Retired Emperor fiddles with his String of Pearls, "The Emperor must be aware of the states that fabricate lies for fame. This cannot set a precedent."

The Emperor commits this to heart, "Your son understands."

The states, distant from the capital, have many who act like local tyrants and the exchange of information is not smooth. There are many cases of underreporting and non-reporting. His first act upon ascending the throne will be to burn away these crooked and evil trends.

The Retired Emperor is very satisfied with the Emperor’s performance since his ascension, patting his son’s shoulder, "You’ve done well since you took the throne. I am at ease to entrust the empire to you."

The new Emperor can hardly hide his excitement. Since his ascension, this is the first time his father has directly praised him.

The Retired Emperor, seeing his son pleased by his praise, smiles too, his lips curving upwards. Now that his son is the Emperor, he also feels proud as a father.

Imperial court propaganda directly quashes the gossips about the princess’s marriage alliance. No matter how heavenly the princess’s beauty, it has no relevance to the ordinary people. The strength of the country is what matters to them.

After the Imperial court’s propaganda, the people become more informed about the state of the states, not just focusing on their immediate surroundings. In ancient times without entertainment, this becomes a significant matter, something the people can talk about for months.

And it is at this time that the Crown Prince’s coronation ceremony takes place. Proclaiming the heir is of national importance, announcing the successor to the whole country, a time when the national solidarity reaches an unprecedented high.

Zhulan is at home and doesn’t go out into the street, yet she can hear the festivities. The coronation of the Crown Prince is celebrated throughout the capital, and all streets and alleys are filled with cheers for the Crown Prince.

Zhulan smiles subtly, "This is a good beginning. The future will be even better."

Lady Li watches her mother-in-law. In the past, being uneducated and smart, she only had small tricks. She relied on herself to explore things and had a short-sighted view. Later, taught by her mother-in-law and diligently studying books, she realized that books contained wisdom and a vast world, which gradually broadened her horizons.

At that moment, she profoundly understands her mother-in-law’s true strength; her words are not only truths but summaries of life.

Lady Li admires her mother-in-law, and upon hearing her words, she also laughs, "The future will be even better."

Zhulan looks at Lady Li. Isn’t this why people say you need to read books? Look at Lady Li; she serves as an example. Ancient women, too, should read more, just like men, "In a few days, we’ll be moving houses. Have all our chambers prepared?"

There’s too much stuff in each chamber. Each has its own storeroom and numerous scattered items. Even with many Servants, it will still take days of busy inventory.

Lady Li and several brothers and sisters exchange glances, seeing the headache in each other’s eyes. It really is a headache. When accumulating possessions, it doesn’t seem significant, and it feels satisfying to see them piled up. But when it comes to checking each one against the list, well, only a headache remains.

Especially for Lady Li, the eldest chamber has the most children, and she herself is fond of hoarding, just beginning to take inventory is already giving her a headache.

Su Xuan has too many dowries, making the cleanup of the storeroom far from easy.

Compared to the others, Lady Li has it much easier, being a person who pays attention to detail.