Chapter 1624: Chapter 1624: Scamming
Zhou Shuren looked deeply at the coachman, gesturing for him to come down, and the coachman sighed with relief.
After a while, Jinyan arrived with people, two of whom were bestowed by the Emperor. Zhou Shuren turned to look at the coachman, who briskly went to knock on the door.
The gatekeeper of the Duke of Yongan’s Residence scolded, "Who dares to knock on the gate of the Duke’s Residence?"
Saying that, he opened the small door on one side, recognizing the official’s uniform, his eyes widened slightly.
Coachman, "Open your eyes wide and take a good look, this is the Minister of Revenue, Marquis Zhou, appointed by the Emperor."
The gatekeeper’s momentum weakened, and he was somewhat bewildered, "Why does the official knock on the door?"
Zhou Shuren said coldly, "Let the Duke of Yongan come out."
The gatekeeper swallowed and didn’t say another word, swiftly going to report.
The Duke of Yongan, upon hearing the report, furrowed his brows deeply. Remembering Zhou Shuren’s return, he was well aware that it was intentional back then, and now he dared to bang on the door in broad daylight. Even though he had survived many years, he was a man who had been on the battlefield and achieved many great military feats, "Well, very well."
The Princely Heir hurriedly calmed his father, "Father, please calm down."
The Duke of Yongan stood up, "I must go and meet Marquis Zhou."
Zhou Shuren stood cold-faced in front of the door. Although many nobles were present, no ordinary people were watching the commotion. Still, such a big stir led neighboring official’s families to send people to inquire.
The Duke of Yongan strode out with a formidable aura, "Marquis Zhou, you go too far. Don’t think the Emperor’s trust allows you to act recklessly."
Zhou Shuren also kept a cold face, "I came here today to seek justice."
The Duke of Yongan laughed angrily, "What justice is Marquis Zhou seeking?"
Zhou Shuren, "I don’t believe your Duke’s Residence isn’t aware of the rumors. Last time you approached me personally, I made it clear that I would not ally with the Duke of Yongan’s family. Do you think I was just talking nonsense?"
The Duke’s face grew darker. He knew Zhou Shuren didn’t play by the rules, yet he still caught him off guard, "What do the rumors have to do with my Duke’s Residence? Can the Duke’s Residence even stop rumors?"
Zhou Shuren laughed with anger, "If you were man enough to admit it, I’d respect you as such. Rumors arise, and you let them spread, thinking eventually it’ll convince yourself this union will work? I’m telling you, no way, stop thinking about my granddaughter. Even if your grandson becomes the top scorer, I wouldn’t care."
The Duke of Yongan pointed at Zhou Shuren, "You don’t behave like an official."
To act like a shrew scolding in the street, and this man is the Minister of Revenue!
Zhou Shuren snickered, "Don’t point at me. Just because you’ve lost your spine after all these years doesn’t mean I have a good temper. Point at me again, and I won’t be polite."
The Duke of Yongan was so angry that he almost had a reversal of his blood flow, his face flushed with anger. Zhou Shuren was lifting his veil in front of his residence, "You’re enraging me!"
The Emperor and the Crown Prince sat in the carriage, the Emperor watching with interest, and the Crown Prince was dumbfounded, "I realize."
The Emperor asked, "Realize what?"
The Crown Prince chuckled, "In court, Marquis Zhou is quite reserved."
Marquis Zhou now was like a shrew cursing in the street, indeed broadening his horizons.
The Emperor was also amused, "Your grandfather must regret not seeing the show himself."
At this moment, Zhou Shuren collected his anger, raising his chin, "What can you do to me? Hit me!"
The Duke of Yongan, in a moment of anger, rushed over directly. The Princely Heir was stunned, failing to grab his father’s clothes, watching him charge ahead with open eyes.
Zhou Shuren, though prepared psychologically, was still startled, actually rushing over. Jinyan stepped forward to block, and a few other guards moved up as well.
The Duke of Yongan was stopped, his mind clearing somewhat, though with fiery emotions, he started fighting with Jinyan and others.
Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, stepping aside, having to admit, despite his age, the Duke’s skills were still impressive.
Knowing he was no match, the Duke quickly stopped, his arm aching, upon seeing Zhou Shuren looking disappointed for not continuing to fight, a mouthful of blood stuck in his throat, "You."
Zhou Shuren caught, with his peripheral vision, the Emperor and Crown Prince dismount from the carriage, then rolled his eyes, fainting.
The coachman, standing nearby, caught him in time, "Master, Grand Master of Writing, sir, what’s wrong, don’t scare this little one."
Zhou Shuren thought, the coachman is not bad.
The Emperor hurried over, frowning as he looked at the Duke of Yongan, then instructed the guards, "Call the Imperial Physician."
The Crown Prince found it hard to describe. He didn’t believe his father couldn’t see that Marquis Zhou was pretending to faint, even more shocked by Marquis Zhou’s act!
The Duke of Yongan’s hands trembled, not from fear, but anger, thinking he should be the one fainting. Zhou Shuren made a fuss, yet it turned into his fault!
The Princely Heir felt nervous, the Emperor’s glance earlier plainly dissatisfied with the Duke’s Residence, oddly making his heart race with unease.
Jinyan had already picked up his own marquis. Inside, Zhou Shuren felt deeply complicated, being carried princess-style by a man!
The Duke of Yongan took a deep breath, "Please, Emperor, enter the residence."
The Emperor gave the Duke a cold look, "I roughly heard a few words. Marquis Zhou is not unreasonable. Magistrate Anhe is conferred by me as magistrate. I don’t want to hear any more rumors about An He and the Duke’s Residence."
The Duke of Yongan thought it was over. The Emperor’s words thwarted all his plans; his grandson could never marry An He in the future, unless Magistrate Anhe herself insisted on marrying the grandson, but is that possible?
Thinking of how Magistrate Anhe never left her residence, with unknown likes, indifferent to his grandson, he knew it was hopeless.
After the Emperor left with Marquis Zhou, the Princely Heir quickly supported his father, "Father, are you alright?"
The Duke felt somewhat despondent. Today, his residence lost face entirely, and thinking about the Emperor’s trust and protection for Marquis Zhou, yet not for his own residence, he felt deeply upset.
Inside the Emperor’s carriage, Zhou Shuren opened his eyes, forcing a chuckle, "Emp-Emperor."
The Emperor snorted, "I just found out Marquis Zhou is such an expert faker."
Zhou Shuren explained, "Truly, I was so angry it left me dizzy, clouding my thoughts."
The Emperor didn’t believe Zhou Shuren’s excuse, "Enough, you’ve achieved your goal today, no need for further bargains."
Zhou Shuren touched his nose, "I’m truly indignant. My daughter’s reputation is so important; though I’ve rejected the Duke’s Residence once, they wouldn’t give up, so I had to make a scene."
The Emperor continued, "A scene that alerted the entire capital, making the Duke’s Residence afraid to scheme further."
Zhou Shuren thought, if it weren’t for your apparent intention to favor the Duke’s Residence, he would fear that making a scene would lead the Emperor to advise against it, better to do it sooner than later.
The Emperor, "Did today vent your anger?"
Zhou Shuren, "Mm, not angry anymore."
The Emperor rotated the String of Pearls, "I’ll send you back to the Ministry of Revenue."
Zhou Shuren clutched his head, "Oh, my head is still dizzy, I wish to go back and rest."
The Crown Prince, "..."
Too fake.
The Emperor with a half-smile, "Your, what did you say? I didn’t hear clearly just now."
Zhou Shuren, "... I said I’ve improved a lot, no need to call the Imperial Physician."
The Crown Prince, "..."