Zhao Yong grinned and puffed out his chest proudly. “My strength has also increased. Sister, I can now pull a five-stone bow.”

Zhao Hanzhang praised him. “Worthy of being my fierce general. Excellent work.”

Though Zhao Erlang had returned, Zhao Hanzhang only paused briefly before having him sit at the side to listen to their discussion.

This was a minor court assembly. Besides Fu Tinghan, officials from the Six Ministries and important officials from the Imperial Secretariat and Secretariat-Chancellery were all present.

They mainly discussed New Year’s agricultural encouragement and agricultural support measures; provisions, military pay, and retirement arrangements for various armies; and the attribution issues of Internal Court Manufacturing and Hua Kingdom Manufacturing.

Internal Court Manufacturing referred to industries under Zhao Hanzhang’s own name. This portion had nothing worth discussing – basically a one-person decision.

However, because Internal Court Manufacturing mostly used Fu Tinghan’s techniques and formulas, the Ministry of Works was attempting to intervene in internal court management.

As for Hua Kingdom Manufacturing, needless to say – it was equivalent to state-owned enterprises. Salt, iron, gold, copper, and other industries belonging to state manufacturing that private individuals couldn’t participate in.

Now brought up for discussion because both the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works believed these matters should fall under their management.

Bluntly put, today’s assembly was about money.

Dividing the treasury’s existing funds, confirming rights to various major industries and workshops.

Zhao Erlang initially sat down listening with great interest. After discovering his brain couldn’t keep up with their arguments, he couldn’t help letting his mind wander.

The pastries before him looked rather delicious…

Eat them!

Zhao Erlang reached out and picked up a piece, sitting quietly at the side nibbling like a little hamster. Zhao Ming glanced over and silently passed over the plate of snacks before him as well.

Zhao Erlang was flattered and hurried to accept it. He was rarely liked by elders – he hadn’t expected Zhao Ming to give him snacks.

He grinned at him. Zhao Ming looked away, sighing inwardly. Too simple and foolish – it was as if all the cleverness from the main branch had concentrated in Zhao Hanzhang.

After finishing two plates of snacks, Zhao Erlang felt somewhat drowsy. He shifted restlessly but still didn’t make a sound. Instead, he tried hard to open his eyes wide, just like when he was young attending school.

But his eyelids still grew heavier and heavier. Suddenly a voice said, “We’ll discuss this much today. Beloved ministers, proceed according to the agreed plan.”

Zhao Erlang’s head dipped then he sat bolt upright, blinking to clear his vision. Seeing Ji Yuan and others rise to bow, he also hurried to rise and bow along with them.

After Ji Yuan and the others left, Zhao Hanzhang asked him, “How was your sleep?”

Zhao Erlang just stared at his toes, saying nothing.

Zhao Hanzhang patted his head. “Come on, I’ll take you to see Mother. I had wanted you to listen and learn about some Ministry of War matters.”

Now it seemed these matters should still be left to Xie Shi. Zhao Erlang should continue focusing on military strategy and martial arts.

Wang Shi was surprised and delighted to suddenly see her son return. She held his hand, doting endlessly. “Dusty from travel – how uncomfortable! Quickly go bathe and change. I’ll have the kitchen make your favorite mutton soup.”

Zhao Erlang shook his head. “Mother, I don’t want mutton soup right now. I want to eat greens and dumplings.”

The border was bitter and cold. Greens were harder to obtain and more precious than meat.

Because they raised large numbers of sheep there and going beyond the pass was Xiliang which also didn’t lack sheep, they had plenty of mutton. But as for vegetables, since deep winter he basically couldn’t eat any.

Wang Shi hurried to ask, “Didn’t you store Chinese cabbage?”

Zhao Erlang said, “I did, but we ate it all. Some even spoiled.”

Wang Shi asked how many pounds he’d stored and how he stored it.

Zhao Erlang knew nothing when asked.

Wang Shi said, “Fine. You go bathe – I’ll have someone make food for you.”

She didn’t have Zhao Erlang run to Deqing Hall but arranged a guest room for him in a side hall to rest.

Zhao Hanzhang was his sister – he could naturally stay overnight in the rear palace.

As soon as he left, Wang Shi pulled Zhao Hanzhang aside. “Sanniang, you saw it too. Erlang has no wife and doesn’t even know about storing vegetables. His life is a confused mess.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “What he lacks isn’t a wife but a steward.”

Wang Shi slapped her. “Stewards also need management. If there’s no master above managing them, no matter how capable the steward, without rewards and constraints, after three to five months they’ll grow lax. Do you think Erlang looks like someone who can manage a household?”

Wang Shi said, “Erlang is at this age – he should marry.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked distressed. “I know. I’m also looking but really can’t find anyone suitable. Mainly because Erlang has no clear preferences – I can’t force him.”

Wang Shi said, “Marriage has always been by parents’ command and matchmakers’ words. You haven’t even mentioned specific people to him – how do you know he won’t like them?”

Zhao Hanzhang asked her, “Do you have a suitable candidate?”

Wang Shi’s spirits lifted and she immediately said, “I really do.”

After becoming Empress Dowager, she met with external noblewomen every month. This was originally the Empress’s responsibility, but Fu Tinghan was currently so busy he’d taken root in the Ministry of Works, and his status wasn’t suitable either. So Wang Huifeng had been assisting her with this.

When a group of ladies gathered together, what they loved discussing most was their children’s marriages.

Zhao Erlang was unmarried – too many people wanted to matchmake for him.

Wang Shi counted on her fingers. “There’s Wang Kuang’s daughter from the Wang family, Xiahou Ren’s daughter, Cao Lin’s daughter, Liu Kun’s daughter, and also daughters from our Taiyuan Wang family…”

Wang Shi watched Zhao Hanzhang’s expression and said quietly, “Someone also mentioned Northern Palace General’s daughter. Besides these, many in Jiangnan want to marry their daughters to Erlang – even as concubines.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “…Mother wants to find Erlang a concubine?”

Wang Shi shook her head. “An unstable rear household brings great misfortune. If your brother were clever, I wouldn’t interfere much. But being like this, unable to control the rear household, he must work together with his wife to live well. So we can’t let him have thoughts of taking concubines.”

Wang Shi was indifferent toward concubines. The Zhao family had upright customs – her husband hadn’t taken concubines, not even bed-warming servants. Her father-in-law was the same.

Many Zhao family men had no concubines, so she also disliked men taking concubines, even if that person was her son.

So she greatly disliked those families hinting their daughters could be concubines. “Their family customs are improper – the daughters they raise probably won’t do either.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “With so many candidates, which has Mother chosen?”

Wang Shi grew conflicted and said quietly, “Among these, except for Northern Palace General’s daughter whom I haven’t met, I’ve seen all the others. I like your cousin-uncle’s daughter best, but Liu Kun’s daughter seems even better. I don’t know if her status is suitable…”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Except for my cousin, Wang Kuang’s daughter, and Xiahou Ren’s daughter, the others are all acceptable.”

Wang Shi paused and asked, “Why won’t your cousin work?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “We haven’t even passed five degrees of mourning – the kinship is too close.”

Wang Shi said, “People only complain about not being close enough – how can you complain about being too close? It’s a pity you have no real uncle, or even closer cousins all died. I actually think the blood relation is too distant.”

“Mother, two people with blood ties too close having children has a high probability of producing deformed children. My cousin is still within five degrees of mourning with us, so it won’t work.”