After the morning court session ended the next day, many ministers in the hall congratulated Lord Wen, and Zhou Shuren also went up to congratulate him.
Old Master Wen raised his chin high, "Back then, there was a lot of talk that Lord Zhou's eldest grandson would win the top three prizes. What a pity. At that time, I was wondering if the Wen family could produce a top three prize. Unexpectedly, Wen Yong won two prizes in a row. This child is really hardworking."
Old Master Wen continued, "Master Zhou doesn't know that I am afraid that Wen Yong will not win the gambling game in the capital. My grandson is very proud, and he can't bear the blow. Oh, look at what I am saying, I am so happy that I am confused."
There was silence all around. What was the point of saying the wrong thing? Lord Wen did it on purpose.
Zhou Shuren's smile grew deeper and deeper. Ever since the Queen became pregnant again, Lord Wen had been poking him with words from time to time. The Emperor trusted him, which made the Wen family very unhappy.
Now that the Queen is pregnant again, Lord Wen is not going to tolerate it any longer.
The Zhou family and the Wen family are in a competitive relationship. The Wen family wants to gain the emperor's trust, and the Zhou family is its rival.
This is also what the emperor wants to see. The emperor is gradually using the Zhou family to contain the Wen family.
Zhou Shuren maintained a good demeanor, "Then I would like to wish Mr. Wen the fourth master to win the top three prizes in advance."
Having said that, Zhou Shuren took a step back, turned around and left with the same smile on his face. He didn't want to argue and give in to Old Man Wen's wishes.
It was as if Lord Wen's punch hit the air. It was the same every time he criticized him. He felt a breath stuck in his heart, not knowing whether to go up or down. Facing other people's congratulations, he could no longer muster any spirit.
Wang Ju chased after Zhou Shuren, "Mr. Wen has been picking on you lately."
Zhou Shuren, "If he wants to find it, then let him find it."
As long as he ignores it, it will be Lord Wen himself who will be angry in the end.
Wang Ju smiled and said, "I stayed a little longer on purpose. Lord Wen looked at you with a dagger in his eyes."
"You're gloating?"
"I want to see you get humiliated, what a pity."
Zhou Shuren quickened his pace. He shouldn't have stopped to listen to Wang Ju's nonsense.
In the Hanlin Academy, Mingyun handed the book in his hand to Liu Song, "I don't need it here."
Liu Song took it and called out to Mingyun who was about to leave, "Wen Rong passed the exam and won first place."
Mingyun paused and looked at Liu Song in confusion, "So what?"
"I heard that Wen Rong sees you as his rival, and this time he won two prizes in a row just to suppress you."
Mingyun, "There are many people who regard me as an opponent, and you are one of them. If I pay attention to everyone who regards me as an opponent, I will be exhausted. I am busy and I will leave first."
Liu Song twitched his lips. He thought Zhou Mingyun would care about Wen Rong, but Zhou Mingyun didn't care about Wen Rong at all. His face suddenly changed, and Zhou Mingyun didn't care about him either.
It's a terrible feeling that you treat the other person as your opponent, but the other person doesn't even see you.
Mingyun returned to his seat. His only opponent would always be himself. What he had to do was to constantly surpass his current self instead of looking for opponents for himself. He would always only see opponents.
In the academy, Chang Zhong pushed Wen Xiao who was lying on the table. The noise he made seriously affected his study. "Hey, can you be quiet for a while?"
Wen Xiao didn't sleep, and he didn't want to look up.
Chang Zhong was used to seeing Wen Xiao being aggressive, and this was the first time he saw Wen Xiao being so depressed. He rolled his eyes and said, "I understand. You've been hit hard by your fourth brother."
Wen Xiao raised his head with his eyes wide open, "Pah, I'm not disappointed. His achievements today are all due to his family's resources. If I were given the same resources, I would also be able to pass the exam and get first place."
He was not convinced. He thought that his eldest brother was not talented, so they should compete fairly. Why should the fourth brother be chosen directly
Chang Zhong curled his lips, "If you have the time to yell at me, you might as well study harder instead of complaining every day."
After a pause, he continued, "We have been classmates for several years. Do you know why I have always been unwilling to talk to you?"
Wen Xiao was a spoiled child, his eyes reddened, "Why?"
Changzhong smiled, "Because I look down on you."
Wen Xiao: "...Want to fight?"
Chang Zhong is not afraid. "Look at yourself. Is there anything that I respect about you? If I were you, even if I didn't have family resources, I wouldn't complain all day. I would just study hard to prove myself. Even if I still get nothing in the end, I won't regret it. At least I tried my best."
Wen Xiao pursed his lips, "You are talking without any pain in your waist. You have enjoyed all the resources since you were a child. What qualifications do you have to criticize me?"
Chang Zhong rolled his eyes. He shouldn't have said anything. Wen Xiao was just a stubborn ass. "Okay, then just pretend I didn't say anything. You can continue to complain about the world."
Seeing that Zhou Changzhong really ignored him, Wen Xiao's face became even uglier. He snorted and continued to lie there, all he could think about was the smug look on the eldest wife's face.
Three days passed in a blink of an eye, and Tao came to visit. Zhulan was very happy, "This is the first time you come to visit this year."
Tao, "You won't come to see me if I don't come?"
"Your door is not easy to enter. If I really go there, I don't know what will be spread."
Tao came here with a lot of anger in her heart. She was suffocating at home. "If anyone dares to pass on this message, I will tear her apart."
Zhulan looked at Tao and asked, "Who gave you such generosity?"
This is really mad, he said everything out loud.
Tao's heart ached when she thought of it. "My second branch has a legitimate granddaughter, and that girl actually fell in love with Wen Rong. If Yu Lu hadn't reminded me, I really wouldn't have noticed it. I mentioned it to the old lady, and the old lady also warned the second branch. Guess what happened?"
"Your second branch must not have listened to it. Instead, they think the Wen family is indeed a good choice."
Mrs. Tao slammed the table in anger. "The second branch also said that if they were worried about not having enough status, they could let Wang Hua be adopted by our first branch. It just so happens that the first branch doesn't have a granddaughter. Is this a matter of status? It's obvious that the Wang family shouldn't be involved with the Wen family."
The Wang family has already formed an alliance with the Zhou family, so there is no need for them to marry into another prominent family. The Wen family is too ostentatious, and the Wang family can't even hide from them, and the second branch actually wants to join in!
Zhulan, "You should be more than just angry about this."
Mrs. Tao was furious. "Our daughters are also precious. I followed the old lady's advice and carefully selected marriages for the two daughters. I was busy with this for the past year. I finally got the list and sent it to the second house. My sister-in-law thought my family background was low and implied that I had bad intentions."
Zhulan poured some water for Tao, "Drink some tea to calm down."
"I can't calm down even if I drink tea. She doesn't think that I dare to take the list over. The old lady has seen it. Even if the old lady hasn't seen it, I am the head of the family. I have to arrange the marriages of the two girls for my own reputation and for the family's face!"
Zhulan waited until Tao didn't want to talk anymore before she spoke up, "The Wen family has no shortage of families that want to marry into the family."
Tao smiled bitterly, "Don't mention it. Every family has its own problems."
"I'm tight-lipped. You're just letting out your anger by talking to me. Don't get yourself hurt."