Chang Zhong returned to the rented yard. It was not big. The boy asked a woman from the village to clean it up and bought grain, eggs, etc. in the village.
Chang Zhong said: "Go to the county town to buy a set of pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Buy some more good paper and come back with enough to write two copies of the Four Books."
The boy didn't understand, "Sir, do you want to write silently?"
"As a gift."
Chang Zhong waited for the boy to leave and took out his usual pen and ink to prepare some letters. He met three candidates along the way. Among them, the two in question had been hit and had given up studying long ago. Only Liu Mingsheng continued to persist and had a good character.
Liu Mingsheng's case is easy to investigate. You can find out whoever is suppressing him. Liu Mingsheng's test papers must have been replaced by someone, and Liu Mingsheng's results were replaced.
We haven't even arrived in Sichuan yet. The darkness under the imperial examination is frightening. The local aristocratic families can really cover up the sky with one hand.
After Chang Zhong finished writing the letter, he thought about what he had seen in Zhoucheng. A young man from an aristocratic family was not taken seriously by the officials in Zhoucheng. It was all because this young man had an uncle who was an official in the capital.
In the capital, Zhou Shuren didn't know what Chang Zhi saw and felt. He was holding the child!
Yes, they are soft children.
The emperor looked on happily and said, "Marquis Zhou often hugs his children at home. Look how standard his movements are."
Zhou Shuren said: "It's true that I hug you a lot."
The emperor asked, "Does this child look very much like me?"
Zhou Shuren thought that he only resembled the prince in three ways. This child looked more like the prince, "Yeah, he does."
The emperor snorted. The old fox only said they were similar, but he didn't mean that they were very similar. He stretched out his hand and hugged the child, "Today you also saw your future apprentice. This child will be entrusted to you in the future."
Zhou Shuren's mood was complicated. For such a young apprentice, "I try to live a few more years."
The emperor felt worried when he looked at Zhou Shuren. He looked at the thin man and said, "Can't you eat more?"
"The minister cannot be blamed for institutional problems."
Not to mention how much my wife envies him for eating all he can and not getting fat!
The emperor handed the child to the prince and signaled the prince to send the child back. When no one was in the study, the emperor said: "I haven't summoned Gu Sheng for a few days. Your son is testing the future son-in-law, and I have added fuel to the fire."
Zhou Shuren rolled his eyes inwardly, "You obviously want to add leverage to the Yong'an Government."
So don’t miss him thinking about it!
The emperor laughed, "I know you know everything."
Zhou Shuren took a sip of tea and said, "Three years are about to expire. Where does the Emperor want Zhuo Guyu to go? I need to make my attitude clear first. The Ministry of Household Affairs is not planning to recruit officials."
Your Majesty, "Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble to you."
Zhou Shuren raised his eyes and looked straight at the emperor. He didn't say anything but his intention was clear. Didn't you cause enough trouble
The emperor did not feel guilty, "I have chosen a good place for him. What do you think of the Punishment Department?"
Zhou Shuren put down his tea cup and gave a thumbs up, "Wonderful."
The Duke of Yong'an's Mansion could only resort to underhanded schemes, and it was not easy to do underhanded schemes. The emperor added chips and convenience.
The emperor smiled again, "The prince will return to the Ministry of Punishment in a few days, and he will take Zhuo Guyu with him."
Zhou Shuren gave another thumbs up, so he said the emperor was the best at playing chess.
The emperor added: "Your fourth child has a lot of ideas."
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "He studies a lot and thinks a lot."
The emperor sneered, "There are many people who read a lot, but not many who have ideas."
Zhou Shuren agreed. Many officials in the imperial court were seeking political power in their positions, clinging to stubborn ideas and suppressing officials with ideas. He would get upset every time he saw them.
The emperor said again: "What a pity."
Zhou Shuren lowered his head and looked at the tea cup on the table. It was a pity for the fourth child. He could only be Young Master Zhou. Fortunately, Chang Zhi was understanding and open-minded.
The emperor kept staring at Zhou Shuren from the corner of his eye. This man was too sober.
A few days later, the emperor kept his promise, and the prince went to the Ministry of Punishment, taking Zhuo Guyu with him, which attracted many eyes to the Yong'an Duke's Mansion.
I thought that the Duke's Palace had no future, but the eldest son of the Zhuo family was favored by the Crown Prince and even took him to the Ministry of Punishment.
The Duke of Guo was not very happy, but kept sighing, the Duke of Guo's government has to work hard!
In the Hanlin Academy, several people came to Gu Sheng's side, and one of them said: "Now it seems that Zhuo Guyu has gone somewhere."
Another person said: "I thought the first one would be Gu Sheng."
Gu Sheng said, "Guys, you are blocking the light."
Several people looked at each other with sarcasm in their eyes. In the past, Gu Sheng was the envy of them, but now that Mr. Zhou is no longer there to protect him, Gu Sheng can only do so.
Gu Sheng is stable. If he can't enter the palace, he can just do his own thing. It's good and bad. Because of his silence, there are fewer people talking about kissing him recently, which is also a good thing for him.
When he went to the Yamen, Gu Sheng saw Wu Shangheng and asked, "Why are you here?"
Wu Shangheng said: "I'll treat you to a drink."
Gu Sheng smiled and said, "Okay."
He understood that Wu Shangheng came to support him, and this was the future prince-in-law.
After getting on the carriage, Wu Shangheng observed Gu Sheng, "Are you okay?"
"I'm doing well. I'm just able to calm down and study more ancient books."
Wu Shangheng was relieved, "I'm telling you, don't look at Zhuo Guyu's beauty. My father has always warned me that nothing is good without reason, and everything should not be taken at face value."
There are some things he can't say much about, so he can only reveal these.
Gu Sheng just doesn't have big ambitions, and he's not stupid. "I understand. Didn't you say your father was going to Beijing last time?"
Wu Shangheng said: "We still need to wait five or six days to arrive in the capital. He is not here for me."
Dad went to the palace to see the emperor and let the emperor know the Wu family's loyalty.
Wu Shangheng sighed, "After Chang Zhong left, the fourth prince did not leave the palace. You are the only one of my good friends. I can only drink tea and chat with you more in the future."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
In Zhouhou Mansion, Zhulan chatted with Zhao. Zhao said about Hu, "My mother-in-law went to Zhuangzi."
"Her little life was going well."
Mrs. Zhao had watched her mother-in-law's life for a long time, and she felt envious in her heart. She didn't have children to worry about, and she lived a pleasant life for herself. "Well, she wants to rebuild Zhuangzi this year."
Zhulan liked Hu's temperament very much. She kept her word and said she would not interfere in the couple's life, but she never interfered once. "She is an open-minded person."
Such people live long lives.
Mrs. Zhao was thinking about Yu Shuang, "I don't know how Yu Shuang and his wife are doing."
"Liu Feng and Yu Shuang can handle it."
On the contrary, she did not miss her two children, as she knew both of them well.
Zhao suddenly said: "I heard from your husband that the Ministry of Etiquette is preparing for the wedding of the second prince."
This Zhulan knew that Shuren came back and said that the emperor was planning to let the second prince get married. However, unlike the prince's wedding, the second prince's wedding would be low-key. It has not been announced yet, and only some people know about it.
Ms. Zhao whispered: "It's not easy for the Li family girl."
Zhulan thought that it was indeed not easy. The second prince hoped to have a good family, but unfortunately the Li family was not. The more unwilling the second prince was, the harder it would be for the girl of the Li family.