Looking at the chaotic imperial court, Zhao Changyu refused once, but he also knew he couldn’t refuse for long. For the sake of his future prospects and his reputation, he stopped personally managing the business and instead handed these commercial affairs over to the stewards he had trained.
Zhao Changyu picked up his books again and circulated among the aristocratic families. His reputation, which had been criticized because he engaged in commerce, immediately reversed.
Everyone vied to converse with him and exchange manuscripts. Zhao Changyu returned to his former state—everyone who met him couldn’t help but praise his bearing and talent.
When he finally accepted the court’s appointment and went to Luoyang to take up his post, he became an Attendant to the Crown Prince.
What was an Attendant to the Crown Prince?
It meant accompanying the Crown Prince, taking turns on guard duty, and living in the imperial palace. The purpose was for the Crown Prince to learn his excellent character and abilities, so only those with high moral character could serve in this position.
Zhao Changyu’s first official position was as a fifth-rank Attendant to the Crown Prince, which showed how good his reputation was before entering service.
You should know that when Zu Ti and Liu Kun entered service, they could only become county registrars.
Zhao Changyu—right from his first appointment, he walked directly before the emperor. Oh, no, before Sima Zhao and Sima Yan, because at that time it was still Cao Wei, and Cao Wei had no Crown Prince, only emperors who kept being replaced.
Zhao Changyu’s luck was very good. The year after he became an Attendant to the Crown Prince, Sima Zhao died of illness. A year after that, Sima Yan usurped the throne and formally established Jin.
Then this Attendant to the Crown Prince walked directly before Sima Yan.
Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan, was very fond of Zhao Changyu’s talents and continuously promoted him, promoted him again, and then promoted him to Governor of Yingchuan.
Zhao Changyu began his external appointment.
He kept his father’s teachings in mind. Although he had been secretly engaged in commerce all these years, he never used his official authority for convenience.
As for taking advantage of privileged information, hmph—even if he weren’t an official, he could find out this information and still make money. Zhao Changyu was quite confident.
Weren’t the officials of Jin curious why Zhao Changyu was getting richer and richer?
Clearly everywhere he served as an official had a good reputation. They had secretly investigated the accounts and found no problems at all.
He was truly honest and clean.
“He’s stingy, right? Last time I went to his house, I praised how delicious the roasted meat was, but he acted like he didn’t hear me. He only gave me the small plate on the table. No matter how much I hinted, he wouldn’t serve more.”
If their family’s roasted meat was praised, they would definitely have the cook prepare more to give to friends. If it was a particularly close friend, giving them the cook wouldn’t be out of the question.
The person listening to the complaint also said: “Changyu is indeed somewhat miserly.”
The person being criticized as somewhat miserly, Zhao Changyu, was currently berating Zhao Zhongyu with a dark expression: “I spent so much money sending you to visit renowned teachers, and this is the kind of essay you produce? Truly rotten wood that cannot be carved—what a waste of my money.”
Zhao Zhongyu’s face turned bright red as he stood at the bottom of the steps, not daring to make a sound.
Fu Zhi quickly tried to placate him: “Changyu, I think Erlang’s essay is quite good. Your standards are just too high.”
Zhao Changyu was so angry his chest heaved. “You don’t need to cover for him. You call this good? It’s superficial, regurgitating others’ ideas, not writing anything useful—just piling up words, recycling the scraps left over by the ancients. Aren’t you disgusted?”
“I’m quite nauseated,” he pointed at Zhao Zhongyu and scolded mercilessly: “If you have no intention of studying, tell me now and I’ll send you back to plow and farm the land. At least that won’t waste my money. That head on your neck is meant to let you see farther and to think, not to shed tears…”
Fu Zhi saw that Zhao Zhongyu had been scolded to tears and quickly pulled Zhao Changyu away, waving his hand to disperse the onlookers.
He dragged Zhao Changyu behind the garden, also somewhat angry: “How can you scold Zhongyu like that in front of guests and servants?”
“Disciplining one’s son in the hall—what did I say wrong?”
“You think everyone is you? I see that while his talent doesn’t match yours, it’s no worse than others. You can’t use yourself as the comparison. How many people in this world can match you?” Fu Zhi said: “Moreover, he’s your younger brother, not your son. He’s only four years younger than you. At his age, he could marry and become a father himself. You must give him some face.”
Zhao Changyu was furious. “The way he is, he still wants to marry? Stop harming some poor girl. Accomplishing nothing—I engaged renowned teachers for him, spent years on his education, and this is the essay he produces.”
Zhao Changyu’s disappointment ran deep.
Mother Zhao was deeply worried. Seeing the brothers’ relationship becoming increasingly strained, she began arranging a marriage for Zhao Changyu.
The eldest son carried great authority, and as the elder brother acted like a father. It wasn’t appropriate for her to always take the second son’s side, otherwise not only would the brothers’ relationship deteriorate, but their mother-son relationship might also worsen.
At this time, she needed a virtuous wife to counsel and comfort him from the side. So Mother Zhao decided to arrange a marriage for Zhao Changyu.
After careful selection, Mother Zhao chose a young lady from the Wang family of Taiyuan for him.
After the young lady married in, the relationship between the two brothers indeed improved considerably. The only problem was that she didn’t become pregnant for three years.
Zhao Zhongyu had already married, yet Zhao Changyu still had neither son nor daughter.
Mother Zhao had originally been quite at ease, but now she couldn’t help but inquire about the eldest household’s heir issue.
Zhao Changyu told his mother directly: “It’s not Lady Wang’s fault—it’s mine.”
Mother Zhao’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
Zhao Changyu said: “We’ve both seen physicians. My health isn’t good, and I’m not easily fertile. You don’t need to worry. Now that Erlang is married, when the time comes, let him have several children. When I die, the title can pass to his son for inheritance.”
Mother Zhao could only comfort him in turn: “Don’t be anxious either. Life and death are decreed by heaven, children by fate. If there are none, then there are none. In this world, who knows how many people die each day, how many families are exterminated, how many bloodlines end. So as long as you and Lady Wang live well together, that’s what matters. The key is the present—your happiness is more important than anything.”
Zhao Changyu thought the same way.
And his greatest happiness, aside from handling government affairs and strengthening the country for the people’s benefit, was making money and counting money.
Counting money was truly joyful!
Zhao Changyu glanced at the orchids his mother kept in the corridor and asked: “Mother, did you divide the pots?”
Mother Zhao’s heart tightened as she said quietly: “I only divided one pot.”
“With Mother’s skill at growing flowers, it will surely survive. Give me the other pot. Last time Wang Lin held a banquet, he boasted he’d pay a thousand gold pieces for an orchid. Even if Mother’s pot can’t fetch a thousand gold, it should be worth a hundred.”
Mother Zhao: …
She could only watch helplessly as her eldest son carried away her beloved orchid.
Zhao Changyu made a circuit around the garden and called over the steward: “Many roses and Chinese roses have bloomed in the garden. Cut the Chinese roses and have someone sell them to the general store. Gather up the roses and dry them. According to their different qualities, those suitable for making dried flowers should be made into dried flowers, those suitable for medicine should be made into medicinal ingredients. It’s going to rain in a few days—don’t wait for them to be beaten down by the rain.”
The steward quickly said: “The first lady praised the roses as beautiful a few days ago, so I was wondering if we should leave some for her to admire?”
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Changyu said: “I’ll bring her out to look in a while. After she’s seen them, harvest them.” Just see them and remember them in your heart—why keep them until the flowers fall?