The emperor summoned Zhou Man back to the capital, firstly because of Master Wei's illness, and secondly because of the new rice seeds.
He also knew that Zhou Man was in charge of the Zhou family. If it was just a reward, it would be the same as issuing an imperial edict and sending it to Qingzhou. The reason why he called her back was to discuss the cultivation and purchase of rice seeds with the Ministry of Revenue and Sinong Temple.
The court meeting had just ended, and Zhou Man was thinking about leaving the palace and going home to rest, but he was stopped by Gu Zhong just as he left the palace.
He bent down and said with a smile: "Master Zhou, Your Majesty wants to see you."
But he didn't leave yet. Instead, he waited for a while, and when Yang Heshu came out, he said to him: "Master Yang, your Majesty has summoned you."
The two looked at each other, nodded with Tang He who came out together, and went to the back hall with Gu Zhong.
The emperor had been sitting for almost a day. Although he took a break and went to the toilet, he was still very tired. He was walking around with his neck turned. When he turned around and saw the prince sitting firmly on the chair, he pointed at him.
Said: "You also move."
Prince: "...Father, my sons and ministers are not tired."
The emperor didn't believe it, and just as he was about to talk to him, Yang Heshu and Zhou Man arrived.
The emperor asked people to come in and asked the two of them to sit down. "We didn't have a good lunch, so I asked someone to prepare some food and tea. Let's talk while we eat."
Zhou Man and Yang Heshu bowed in agreement and sat down opposite the prince.
Both Zhou Man and Yang Heshu had the experience of dining at the same table with the emperor, so they were not nervous, just a little reserved.
The emperor was also tired today and didn't want to chat, so he said directly: "I have read the recorded data. The two rice seeds that can be used now are only in your family. I will ask the Ministry of Household Affairs to purchase the seeds from you. The reason for this is long.
Bo is in charge, Ziqian, you also know that the treasury has spent a lot of money this year, and now there is not much money in the treasury..."
Zhou Man was stunned for a moment before she realized that she was speaking to herself. The emperor rarely called her by name, and she was not used to it. She shuddered and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, don't say that, the price
I can offer it at a lower price than the normal price, so that I can take the worry out of Your Majesty."
Yang Heshu, who was sitting next to him, cleared his throat, attracted Zhou Man's attention and asked, "Is this the normal price of seeds or the normal price of grain?"
The emperor also looked at Zhou Man with squinted eyes and a smile.
Zhou Man: "...What do you think, Your Majesty?"
The emperor turned to look at the prince, "What do you think, prince?"
Prince:......
Yang Heshu moved his feet slightly, stepped on Zhou Man's toes and exerted a little force. Zhou Man said with a smile: "Of course it is based on the normal price of food. Your Majesty is so kind, and my family can't repay it..."
The emperor smiled and said: "We can't let you suffer too much. Just charge it at the regular price. It doesn't have to be cheap, lest the Ministry of Revenue will bully you in the future."
Yang Heshu:...Isn’t the Household Department still your Household Department?
The big head gave in, and Zhou Man no longer cared about the little head, so she declined, insisting that this was what she should do and that she did it voluntarily.
The emperor was so happy that he pointed to a fish soup and asked Gu Zhong to serve her two spoons. He smiled and said, "This fish soup is delicious."
Zhou Man took a bite, exhaled secretly, raised his head and smiled at the emperor, "It's delicious. Your Majesty, I also have something to report."
"What's up?"
Zhou Man put down his spoon and said: "Qingzhou Medical Office has now opened three hospitals, but it still cannot allow the people of Qingzhou to enjoy the benefits of the medical office, let alone other local medical offices."
"Medical offices in various places need a lot of doctors. In addition, there is also the management required by the medical office. There is a shortage of officials doing odd jobs." Zhou Man said: "I would like to ask your majesty to expand the enrollment scope of the Imperial Medical Office, or in the Imperial Examination.
Add an additional item, and then the Supervisory Office will cooperate to cultivate some talents for the Imperial Medical Office."
This matter was not small. Although it was trivial, it had a profound impact. The emperor also put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with the handkerchief and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Zhou Man chuckled and said, "There is also the matter of the restructuring of the state and county medical offices. I have made a detailed statement on this before."
The emperor looked at the prince and said, "I remember that you endorsed this before. Do you agree?"
The prince said calmly: "Many people agree with this idea."
The emperor squinted at the prince, "What about those who disagree?"
The prince said: "Father, the students from the Imperial Medical Office are now playing a very important role in the army. In addition, the patent medicines produced by the Imperial Medical Office are not yet profitable, but they can offset a lot of expenses. I think this move is okay."
Zhou Man nodded repeatedly and persuaded the emperor, "Your Majesty, don't look at the fact that the Medical Department is operating at a loss now. Over time, it will definitely make money. Even if it doesn't make money, it won't be as bad as it is now."
"And think about it, how many ordinary people can the Medical Department save? All the money lost is used on your people, and they are all your children..."
The emperor was drinking soup and choked immediately.
The prince secretly glared at Zhou Man, and together with Gu Zhong served his father and wiped his clothes.
The emperor nodded Zhou Man from a distance and became happy, but after a short pause he said: "I heard that the Bai family also planted many new rice seeds in Longzhou, and the harvest is no worse than Qingzhou and Mianzhou."
Zhou Man was silent for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll give you the regular price."
The emperor emphasized: "It is a regular price given to the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Zhou Man nodded perfunctorily, isn't it the same?
This meal was a great time for both host and guest, at least on the surface.
The emperor waited for Yang and Shu Zhouman to go away, then sighed to the prince: "It would be great if those old foxes in the court were as cheerful as Zhou Man."
The prince slandered that when there is something to do, he is humble, but when there is nothing to do, he is full of wisdom.
However, he still nodded and praised, "She is young after all and doesn't take personal gain too seriously."
Zhou Man, who was walking outside the palace with Yang Heshu, was doing mental arithmetic with his fingers.
Yang Heshu looked at her several times and couldn't help but ask: "Who do you think you are?"
Zhou Man: "Let me calculate how many years it will take me to farm the newly acquired princess fiefdom to get back the money I gave up today."
Yang Heshu couldn't help laughing after hearing this, "Then you must have earned it. If you don't count the honor, but only count the value of the fief, you can earn it back in a few years. And the fief is for life. If you work hard to live to be eighty,
Then there are still nearly sixty years. If the emperor's favor is great, someone can take your title by then and leave some for future generations, which will be even more profitable."
When Zhou Man heard this, his heart suddenly stopped hurting. He nodded repeatedly and said, "What a good idea."
Yang Heshu laughed out loud and asked, "Do you feel much happier when you think about it this way?"
Zhou Man nodded, and when he saw him smiling like this, he couldn't help but said: "Senior Brother Yang, you just followed His Majesty to trick me."
Yang Heshu said: "I am in charge of my position. I am now a member of the Ministry of Household Affairs. I am the buyer and you are the seller. Naturally, I want to maximize the interests of the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Zhou Man thought the same thing and ignored the matter, "Senior brother, my price is already very low. When the time comes, your household department can't squeeze my money."
Yang Heshu smiled and said: "Don't worry, I will give it to you on time."