Chapter 1649: Chapter 1649 Truly Willing
The next day, after the early court session, Earl Ye stopped Zhou Shuren, "Shall we walk together?"
Zhou Shuren was surprised; he had no relationship with Earl Ye, "Sure, please."
Earl Ye deliberately widened the distance from the people in front, and once confirmed they couldn’t hear, spoke softly, "Marquis Zhou has always been a person of integrity in my eyes."
Though not predictable, he is principled.
Zhou Shuren, "If you have something to say, just say it. No need to flatter me."
Earl Ye smiled, "Then I’ll be straightforward. I know you don’t like the Duke of Yongan’s residence."
Zhou Shuren understood what he was getting at, "Rest assured, I don’t hold grudges without cause. As long as they don’t provoke me, I won’t act out of spite."
Earl Ye stopped to show respect, "I admire your integrity, Marquis."
Zhou Shuren thought to himself, repeating his emphasis on integrity, Earl Ye has quite a few subtle thoughts, "I disdain talking behind people’s backs, but of course, that’s if they don’t anger me. If they do, then my bottom line disappears instantly."
Earl Ye’s smile froze, watching Marquis Zhou stride away, he sighed long after a silent few seconds, regretting somewhat the engagement with the Duke of Yongan’s residence, but now he could only plan his moves further.
Upon exiting the palace, Zhou Shuren got into the carriage and saw Wong Ju speechless, "You hitched a ride on my carriage again."
Wong Ju curiously asked, "What did Mr. Ye want from you?"
Zhou Shuren, "He’s afraid I’ll badmouth him to the Crown Prince."
"Using a petty man’s heart to judge a gentleman’s belly."
Zhou Shuren, "He wants to send his eldest son to the Crown Prince; he’s afraid I’d retaliate because of the Duke of Yongan’s residence, which is understandable, it’s all for his son."
"It’s for the Ye family’s legacy."
"Recently, many have approached me for information about the Crown Prince. I’m clearly the Emperor’s man!"
Wong Ju clasped his chubby hands, "The Emperor dealt harshly with the Liu family, so everyone has their eyes on the Crown Prince. You’re not the Crown Prince’s man, but with the Crown Prince in the Ministry of Revenue, you end up being the closest person to him."
Zhou Shuren chuckled lightly, "It’s all a waste of effort."
The Crown Prince wouldn’t recruit people; the Emperor is in his prime, so what the Crown Prince should be doing now is sticking closely to the Emperor, not building his own power.
At the Hanlin Academy, Gu Sheng was holding back his emotions as he worked; yesterday his eldest brother returned home and learned about the incident at the temple. Gu Sheng meticulously recalled his first meeting with the Magistrate, and realized clearly.
Gu Sheng drifted off again, Zhuo Guyu called him twice before he snapped back, "Is there something?"
Zhuo Guyu pursed his lips, "You’re acquainted with Wu Shangheng; I want to invite him for a meal, and hope you can help."
Gu Sheng didn’t understand why Zhuo Guyu suddenly wanted to invite him for a meal, but knowing the future prince consort didn’t like Zhuo Guyu, he shook his head, "We aren’t close, and even if we were, I wouldn’t help. Please."
Zhuo Guyu gave Gu Sheng a deep look, didn’t say more, and turned to leave.
Gu Sheng couldn’t figure out the reason, as he felt unable to work effectively, and upon seeing Lord Zhou passing by the window, he quickly stood up and followed him out, "Lord Zhou."
Chang Zhi, knowing yesterday what his daughter had done, had previously been testing Gu Sheng, but once Gu Sheng guessed it, his attitude changed, now looking at him critically, "Hmm."
Gu Sheng, "...."
The change in attitude was significant, further solidifying his suspicions.
Chang Zhi asked, "You’re not busy?"
Gu Sheng, "Not particularly."
At this moment, Zhuo Guyu walked out of a room, seeing Gu Sheng his expression cooled more.
Chang Zhi asked, "What’s up with him?"
Gu Sheng rubbed his nose, "I refused to help, so he’s targeting me."
Chang Zhi became intrigued, "He’s got some nerve, asking you for help. What does he want help with?"
Gu Sheng did not hide and explained Zhuo Guyu’s invite, "It’s somewhat strange."
Chang Zhi made an ’oh’ sound, "Yesterday, the eldest princess and the future prince consort greeted the Empress Dowager together; she quite liked the latter and gave a lot of nice things."
Yesterday’s rewards sent a signal that the whole royal family was very satisfied with the future prince consort.
Gu Sheng thought, so that’s it— Zhuo Guyu wanted to reconcile with the future prince consort, he mused carefully, "Mr. Wu is quite a free-spirited person."
Indifferent to external opinions, once set, such a person is hard to change his mind.
In his heart, he envied the future prince consort a bit; although he was somewhat better, he also didn’t want to climb high positions. Since his journey from the capital exams to the Hanlin Academy, he had been schemed against many times. He preferred a simple life, letting his career develop naturally, rather than wasting mental energy scheming daily.
At the Zhou Residence, Zhulan was flipping through a painting from her eldest daughter, "Is this Gu Sheng’s painting?"
Xue Mei nodded, "He received guidance from my husband, and a few days ago he gifted this, his best painting, to my husband. Since you like paintings, my husband asked me to bring it today to give to you."
Zhulan, "This Mr. Gu is a lover of plum blossoms."
Xue Mei nodded, "A person with plum blossoms in his heart must not have a bad nature; look how the plum blossoms in the painting seem real."
Zhulan liked the painting a lot and called for Qing Xue, "Send it to Fifth Miss, let her take a look."
Xue Mei, "Miumiu sent a letter yesterday; my husband wants to go out for a walk. We’ve discussed visiting Miumiu first, then Jiang Zhu."
Zhulan said, "Yesterday I received a reward from the Empress Dowager; I distributed some to the girls, just in time for you to bring some to Miumiu."
Xue Mei quickly waved her hand, "Mother, you’ve already given Miumiu plenty."
Zhulan smiled, "Miumiu is out of town; having jewelry rewarded by the Empress Dowager can deter those with ill intentions."
It can also deter Mufan; this is the royal family’s trust in the Zhou family.
This time, Xue Mei didn’t refuse, knowing she wasn’t capable of obtaining such rewards, "Thank you, Mother."
"When the time comes, I..."
She stopped speaking, as it wasn’t the time to discuss inheritance. She and Shuren wouldn’t take gold and silver with them in burial; they planned to distribute it to the children before their deaths, having accumulated many good things over the years.
Xue Mei didn’t understand, "Mother, what did you want to say?"
Zhulan changed the topic, "How are your in-laws’ health?"
Xue Mei, "They are in great health; a letter from their hometown some days ago said they refused Second Brother’s offer to send the kids over."
"They genuinely want to live with you all."
Xue Mei thought, her in-laws were the most sensible, "My father-in-law said he saved quite a bit of money, and will distribute it before he dies, and didn’t mention anything else."
Zhulan, "Indeed, in the past two years, your in-laws have made quite a bit."
Xue Mei laughed, "I’m not eying the old couple’s savings."
"If it’s due to you, just accept it."
"Okay."
In Yu Wen’s courtyard, after looking at the painting, Yu Wen wanted to ask her maid to put it away, but Qing Xue said, "The old lady just asked Miss to have a look."
Yu Wen, "..."
She never said to gift it to her, and Yu Wen wondered why Qing Xue didn’t leave after delivering the painting!
Qing Xue knew the old lady very well and took the painting in her hand, "Qing Xue is leaving now."
Yu Wen really liked this painting and said to her head maid, "Do you think I should exchange the plum painting I bought for this one?"
Head maid, "If Miss wants to exchange, then do it."
Yu Wen, "Bring the painting over."
The head maid stood up to retrieve the painting; Yu Wen thought that her eldest aunt was in the main courtyard, so she waited for her to leave before taking the painting to the main courtyard.
In the main courtyard, Zhulan touched the painting, "Are you really willing?"