Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

"Have someone clean it up!" Jiang Zhao instructed.

Unclaimed residences are regularly repaired and cleaned by officials from the Ministry of Works.

Have someone do a little cleaning and decorate it according to your aesthetic preferences, and you can move in.

Sheng Hualan nodded.

"Once you move to the royal residence, we'll hold a housewarming party." Jiang Zhao pondered for a moment, "I've sent invitations to some friends and relatives of senior officials from the Korean faction. We still need to maintain some appropriate interactions."

Now he has reached the stage of accumulating experience and knowledge.

Whether it's the younger generation or the older generation of Korean influencers, they all need to be appeased.

As a wife, Sheng Hualan also had to gradually develop into the "wife of the party leader," at least to gain the respect of the masses.

Sheng Hualan nodded repeatedly.

Since marrying Jiang Zhao, she often visited Consort Cui, Han Zhang's favorite concubine, and thus knew exactly what the party leader's wife was supposed to do.

Maintain unity!

Husbands have their social lives, and wives have theirs.

Occasionally, if there are disagreements or conflicts between the wives of two core figures in the Party, the female relatives have to resolve the issue.

Ultimately, if a rift develops, or even hatred, the party leader will be the one who suffers.

Putting down the deed to the imperial residence, Jiang Zhao took out the deed to the imperial estate and glanced at it.

This thing has always been managed by the royal steward.

Being the steward of a royal estate is a lucrative job.

As far as he knew, in the original storyline, Gu Tingye also received a reward from the imperial estate.

The stewards managing the imperial estate acted like masters, even daring to threaten Gu Tingye, who had already become a prince.

Jiang Zhao put it down and said in a deep voice, "Have someone check the accounts of the imperial estate."

"Does Your Excellency mean that someone in the Imperial Estate might be taking bribes?" Sheng Hualan asked softly after carefully examining the land deed.

"I'm afraid that some people who have been with the emperor for many years will think that they have become imperial relatives as well."

Jiang Zhao shook his head. He wasn't like Gu Tingye, willing to endure the butler's threats!

If the steward of the royal estate under his management is honest, that would be an excellent thing.

But if you're not honest, then you can't blame him for being ruthless.

If the steward of the imperial estate is backed by a eunuch, then we should impeach him for the eunuch's monopoly of power.

If the imperial estate is backed by a concubine or empress, then accuse the empress of causing chaos in the inner palace.

In an era dominated by scholars, who cares about mere eunuchs and palace women?

Sheng Hualan understood and nodded obediently.

Jiying Lane, Sheng Mansion.

At noon, the central gate was opened wide.

Perhaps there was some distinguished guest, which is why Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu came out to greet them.

The remaining younger generation—Sheng Changbai, Sheng Changfeng, Molan, Rulan, and Minglan—all came out to observe.

It should be noted that Sheng Hong was transferred from the position of Assistant Minister of Rites (a fifth-rank official) a few years ago, but now he is a newly promoted official minister of Rites (a fifth-rank official).

This is someone who could easily rank among the top 400 in the world.

Judging from this setup, the guest they're welcoming must be at least a third-rank official in purple robes!

"what!"

"They're here, they're here!" Sheng Rulan called out, and everyone looked up at the same time.

Sheng Hong's heart skipped a beat. Following his daughter's gaze, he immediately spotted the approaching elmwood carriage.

The carriage was about ten feet long, with the words "Merit in All Directions" engraved on the saddle and purple ribbons hanging from it. Wasn't that his good son-in-law?

Sheng Hong straightened his clothes and tried to keep his expression calm.

As a father-in-law, he must maintain the dignity and seriousness of an elder, but he cannot be too distant or aloof, lest he upset his son-in-law.

Difficult!

Both Sheng Minglan and Sheng Molan witnessed Sheng Hong's actions, and their feelings were quite different.

As for Sheng Minglan, she already knew a little about her father's temperament.

He favored his concubine over his wife, and was extremely cautious.

Faced with a son-in-law who is a third-rank civil official in his twenties, one has no choice but to carefully curry favor with him.

Crucially, flattery is also an art.

Not only do you have to flatter them, you also have to maintain the dignity of an elder.

Sheng Minglan sighed inwardly.

If she had the same skills as her brother-in-law, why wouldn't she be able to avenge her mother?

Sheng Molan clenched her handkerchief, her eyes fixed on the approaching carriage.

A high-ranking official in purple robes, a third-rank official!

Moreover, he was the Duke of Lu!

In comparison, even the young master Qi Heng would pale in comparison to his brother-in-law.

When the son-in-law and daughter return to their parents' home, almost the entire family comes out to greet them.

Such a grand display is truly enviable.

I wonder if she'll ever have that opportunity?

In less than twenty breaths, the elmwood carriage rolled over the stone slabs, and the driver pulled on the reins, causing the chestnut horse to neigh and stop.

The curtain was lifted, and Jiang Zhao, dressed in a brocade robe, stepped out.

A slender, delicate hand reached out and supported Jiang Zhao.

With one hand supporting her husband, Sheng Hualan gently pulled a four-year-old child wearing a tiger-head hat into her arms with the other.

The mother and son got off the carriage together.

"My dear son-in-law," Sheng Hong called out affectionately.

"Hua'er!" Wang Ruofu exclaimed excitedly.

She hasn't seen her daughter for three years!

However, considering her son-in-law's presence, she restrained herself and did not act impolitely.

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law," Jiang Zhao said, bowing respectfully.

Wang Ruofu smiled with rare composure and returned the greeting.

"This must be Huaijin?" Sheng Hong returned the greeting with a cupped hand, stepped forward with a kind smile, and patted the child's head.

“Exactly.” Jiang Zhao nodded.

"Big sister, big brother-in-law."

Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changfeng stepped forward and bowed.

Jiang Zhao smiled gently and nodded slightly.

"Big sister, big brother-in-law."

Mo Lan, Ru Lan, and Ming Lan bowed in turn.

Jiang Zhao laughed heartily and took several gifts from the elmwood cart, some were calligraphy and paintings, and others were gold and silver jewelry.

The brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law received the gifts and thanked them in unison.

"Ha ha!"

Sheng Hong extended his hand: "My dear son-in-law, please."

"Please!" Jiang Zhao smiled, took a step forward, and the father-in-law and son-in-law walked in together.

Wang Ruofu carefully took her grandson from her daughter's arms, her face full of delight.

Haven't seen you for three years.

The last time, she held Jiang Huaijin in her arms; her grandson was not even a year old.

Jiang Huaijin is now over four years old.

Such a rare meeting is indeed very precious.

Upon entering the inner hall, the group went together to pay their respects to the old lady.

"Grandmother," Sheng Hualan called out, quickly walking forward to pay her respects.

"Hua'er." Old Madam Sheng waved with a smile.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Zhao respectfully bowed.

Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu bowed in turn.

Wang Ruofu stepped forward with her grandson in her arms and introduced him with great interest: "Mother, this is Huaijin."

"ah!"

"Huaijin." Old Mrs. Sheng looked at Jiang Huaijin and hugged him with a smile.

Jiang Zhao and Sheng Hong exchanged a glance, then called Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changfeng, and together they withdrew.

It's not very interesting for a few people to squeeze into Shou'an Hall, so we might as well discuss calligraphy and paintings.

In the study, several people were gathered around a painting or calligraphy.

"Changbai and Changfeng have both passed the imperial examinations."

Jiang Zhao picked up a brush and wrote a character in the style of calligraphy and painting, then asked, "I guess you're going to try it out next year?"

“Exactly.” Sheng Changfeng nodded first.

Jiang Zhao understood.

In the original work, almost all the lines were about Sheng Changfeng being a good-for-nothing.

However, upon closer examination, Sheng Changfeng is by no means inferior.

He passed the provincial examination at the age of eighteen and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination). Such talent already surpasses 99% of the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest level of the imperial examination).

"Then study hard and strive for an official career." Jiang Zhao smiled nonchalantly.

As a high-ranking official of the third rank, supporting the future of two successful candidates in the imperial examinations was not difficult.

Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changfeng both expressed their determination to continue their efforts.

The main reason I made this special trip to the Sheng residence was to understand Sheng Hualan's homesickness.

For a while, Jiang Zhao and his companions didn't have much to say besides discussing politics and their studies.

Fanlou.

Vermilion roofs and green tiles, flags fluttering in the breeze.

On the twelve-foot-long wooden table were three jars of aged wine, several dishes of seasonal side dishes, and several plates of fresh fruit.

Jiang Zhao, Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zeng Gong, Zeng Bu, Zhang Heng, Zhang Dun, Gu Tingye, and Sheng Changbai gathered together.

Time has passed, and three years have gone by. The seven sons of Jiayou have finally reunited.

Each of the nine people recounted their career paths and life experiences.

Su Shi wrote some poems in his spare time, and had already gained considerable fame in the literary world.

As a junior scholar, he served in the Hanlin Academy for three years. According to custom, he was promoted one rank, which was already the sixth rank. Once he was transferred to a post outside the capital, he would be the sixth rank.

Su Zhe quietly read books and would occasionally analyze the political situation on the frontier. One of his analyses caught the attention of Wang Yaochen.

Recommended by Wang Yaochen and Zhang Fangping, he had already been appointed as a sixth-rank official, and if he were to be transferred to a post outside the capital, he would be a fifth-rank official in red robes.

Zeng Gong was promoted one rank, becoming an official of the eighth grade.