Zhou Shuren thought to himself that he was pleased that the Emperor had halved his duties, not only because it meant less work for him but also because it showed the Emperor wasn't confused. He was genuinely terrified; many wise rulers tend to become befuddled with age. Fortunately, this one had his wits about him all along.
As for the Emperor not mentioning Wong Ju, Zhou Shuren felt even more confident. He had expressed what needed to be said and set the traps he needed to set. With Wong Ju in the dark, the plan was progressing smoothly. The more the Emperor kept it to himself, the less likely he was to speak of it, and it was almost certain that Wong Ju would appear in the Ministry of Revenue next year.
In the Government Office of Jinzhou Residence, Wong Ju sneezed incessantly. Sir Wang asked with concern, "Did you catch a cold?"
