Zhulan got up a little late in the morning. Zhou Shuren had already washed up and changed his clothes. When Zhulan got up, she saw Zhou Shuren sitting on a chair looking at her. Zhulan was in good spirits and touched her face. "Is there something wrong with me?"
Zhou Shuren looked at Zhulan carefully. Zhulan's face was rosy and her eyes were full of energy. Thinking of how she slept well last night, he put away his worries and said, "Nothing, I just think you look good recently."
Zhulan smiled, "I think so too. Maybe I've had enough rest recently."
Zhou Shuren originally wanted to take Zhulan for a walk around the area after he finished working on the dike, but now with Shi Qing, he had to think carefully about how to satisfy the emperor. Zhou Shuren couldn't help but touch his hair, he felt that he had been losing a lot of hair in the past two years.
Not long after Zhou Shuren arrived at the yamen, Shi Qing came in person. Zhou Shuren left Shi Qing alone for a while before going to the front hall to meet him.
Shi Qing's attire is very different from before. He used to be dressed like a nobleman, but now he is much more low-key and simple. The only difference is the jade pendant on his body.
Zhou Shuren looked at Shi Qing, and Shi Qing also looked at Lord Zhou. He had never paid much attention to Lord Zhou before, and his memory had long been blurred. This meeting left a deep impression on his heart. Lord Zhou was wearing an official uniform and was serious. Although there was no contempt for him in his eyes, it was full of indifference. He looked at him coldly, and he felt a lot of pressure. This was the power of an official, and his heart was burning with anger.
Shi Qing stood up and saluted respectfully, "Student Shi Qing greets Master Zhou."
Zhou Shuren hummed, "Master Shi, please sit down."
Shi Qing sighed, he used to look down on people, but now he not only has to be respectful, but also has to please them. Shi Qing continued to salute, "I came from Pingzhou with Master Zhou. I got fifth place in the Tongsheng exam this year. I came from Pingzhou and I admire you, so I shamelessly came to become your disciple."
When Shi Qing thought of his results in the provincial examination, he sneered in his heart. He should have been in the top three, but because he was originally from a merchant family, he only got fifth place. If he had not been willing to spend money, it would have been difficult for him to keep his fifth place.
Zhou Shuren looked at Shi Qing with interest, "Although I am a bit old, I am not confused. This is not what Master Shi wrote in his letter yesterday."
Shi Qing thought about it all night yesterday and felt that it was better to be honest. The more he schemed, the more annoying he would become. He didn't know the emperor well and had only met him once. He didn't know much about the emperor's confidant, Lord Zhou, either. But he knew that compared to Lord Zhou, he had no weight in the emperor's heart.
Shi Qing still bent over, "I hope you won't argue with me. I have my own difficulties..."
Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes. Shi Qing's reaction was really fast. He basically told him about his experience in the capital, and even hinted that it was a problem given to him by the emperor. He was honest with him, but he also kicked the ball to him. Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes, "You are very smart."
Shi Qing lowered his head. He had to be smart. If he wasn't smart, he would have died long ago. "I hope Master Zhou will accept you as a student."
Zhou Shuren couldn't accept Shi Qing so easily. Sometimes he felt that he was quite aggrieved. Although he had been bullied by others most of the time during his two years in Lizhou City, he was still no match for the emperor in the face of absolute imperial power. He finally gained some weight, but it was not enough to compete with the powerful nobles in the capital.
Now everyone respects him as Lord Zhou. Apart from the common people, the nobles in the capital are all polite to him because of the emperor. Once the emperor's favor is gone, his end will not be good.