Chapter 1623: Chapter 1623 Breaking the Door
In the blink of an eye, Ming Rui’s eldest daughter’s three-day ceremony was over. The little girl looked different every day, glowing more radiant, having been well-nurtured in the womb. Zhulan liked to come over when she had time.
Zhulan came out from the second wife’s quarters to stroll in the garden, and saw her youngest son, accompanied by a young servant, ready to go out, “Where are you going?”
Chang Xhong took out an invitation, “Gu Sheng has moved to a new house and sent a card to invite people over to celebrate. We’re going for a drink today.”
Zhulan, “Moved houses?”
“Yes, Gu Sheng moved to an area where low-rank officials gather. It’s said he spent five hundred taels to buy the place.”
“He’s quite good at saving silver.”
Five hundred taels is no small amount; I wonder how many paintings Gu Sheng sold.
Chang Xhong knew more, “He became a Tanhua; people have been asking for his paintings, and during the days after his name was on the golden list, he sold quite a few.”
Zhulan thought for a while, “Go ahead, but don’t drink too much.”
Chang Xhong, “Understood.”
Zhulan didn’t feel like wandering around anymore, and as she walked back, she said, “I wonder where Yu Yi is now?”
Qing Xue replied, “Miss Yu Yi’s group should be heading south along the Grand Canal.”
On the canal, Yu Yi’s group stayed on the top deck of the passenger boat, the best room, and fortunately, none of them were seasick.
It started to rain lightly today, Yu Jiao was on the deck with an umbrella enjoying the scenery. Yu Yi, seeing that her sister hadn’t returned, decided to go out herself.
Yu Yi opened the door and was stunned by the beautiful view in front of her, a little maid called, “Miss.”
Yu Yi came back to her senses and walked towards Yu Jiao, “Brother, are you fishing?”
Ming Hui, “Yes, idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”
Yu Yueyang, at some point, took the umbrella from the maid’s hand and stood beside his fiancée, “Yu Yi, would you like to fish?”
Yu Yi didn’t want to; she preferred enjoying the scenery and looked up, “Your shoulder’s wet.”
Yu Yueyang, not often able to get close to his fiancée, had been guarded like a thief by her future brother-in-law since leaving the capital, “It’s fine, shall we go see the other side?”
Yu Yi, noticing her fiancé speaking in a low voice and glancing at her brother, almost laughed out loud. Seeing her brother was focused on fishing, she nodded.
They walked to the other side to enjoy the view, and Yu Yi didn’t get wet at all.
Yu Yueyang was happy even with wet clothes, tilting the umbrella more towards his fiancée.
Yu Yi pointed out, “If you do that again, I’ll go back.”
Yu Yueyang hurriedly said, “Don’t.”
Yu Yi smirked, “How did you convince Uncle to let you come with us?”
Yu Yueyang’s ears turned red, “I said, said I wasn’t comfortable leaving you.”
Yu Yi chuckled, “You are indeed bold.”
Yu Yueyang also smiled, his dimples charming, “I am indeed bold.”
Yu Jiao ran over, “Sister, someone brought hot tea for Brother Ming Hui, take a look.”
Yu Yi looked over and saw a maid already setting down a teapot. She turned her head, and through an open window in a room, noticed a young lady in a plain dress standing softly. Feeling Yu Yi’s gaze, the young lady even gave a polite gesture.
Yu Yi slightly frowned and quietly asked the old woman beside her, “Has this young lady been checked?”
When boarding, the old woman had already checked the top deck and said, “A young lady going home for memorial rituals; nothing else was clear.”
Yu Yi looked again, understanding why she was dressed so plainly.
In the capital, Zhulan held an invitation from the Duke of Yongan’s Residence in her hand. Although Zhuo Guyu didn’t obtain the top scorer title, the Emperor seemed eager to make use of him. The Duke Residence had been oppressed for too long and urgently wanted the capital’s influential people to know about it.
Zhulan put down the invitation, “The eldest grandson who placed second was just honored; now they are hosting a flower-viewing banquet again.”
Lady Li, “It’s a bit too eager.”
Zhulan, “Yes, Zhuo Guyu hasn’t even taken office yet!”
Su Xuan asked, “This time it’s not just about viewing flowers, right? Zhuo Guyu’s cousins are of marriageable age, and it seems they want to take this opportunity to find matches too.”
Zhulan lifted her teacup, “Our Hou Residence won’t go.”
Lady Li took the invitation, “I’ll go respond then.”
“Mm.”
Zhulan chatted for a while with her two daughters-in-law when Chang Xhong returned, “Mother, I’m back.”
Zhulan saw the clarity in her son’s eyes and smiled, “Why back so early?”
Chang Xhong drank tea to quench his thirst, “Too many people in Gu Sheng’s courtyard. I don’t like crowds, so I came back.”
He winked, “I don’t know how Gu Sheng declined, but none of the officials interested in him sent anyone today.”
Zhulan was glad Gu Sheng had a way to decline, “By the way, what about Gu Sheng’s elder brother?”
Chang Xhong, “They’re leaving in a few days to return home for ancestral rites. They’ll probably consider personal matters after returning.”
Zhulan didn’t ask more, “You should go rest.”
“Mother, I’m going then.”
“Mm.”
In the evening, Zhou Shuren came back, “Jiang Zhu and Mu Fan’s official ranks are available now.”
“That was quick.”
Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, “Both are appointed as County Magistrates, and the counties they govern are by the coast, though not in the same province, they’re not too far apart.”
Zhulan understood it was the Emperor’s consideration for Zhou Shuren, “That’s good; they’ll have each other’s support.”
Zhou Shuren, “After returning from the ancestral rites, they’ll take office. I think it’ll be nice by the sea.”
Zhulan was a bit regretful, “We’ve been here in ancient times for so long, and we haven’t gone to see the sea together.”
Zhou Shuren felt sour inside, his wife trapped in the inner residence, “We’ll definitely go see it this year.”
Zhulan, “Alright.”
In the following days, news from the Duke of Yongan’s Residence about engagements spread, but it wasn’t Zhuo Guyu’s, rather his cousin’s. The Emperor’s actions were signaling; those previously interested in matchmaking took the opportunity to settle engagements this time.
The Duke Residence arranged two engagements in succession, except for Zhuo Guyu. The Duke of Yongan’s actions were never concealed, and as discussions grew louder, the focus of attention shifted more to the Hou Residence.
Zhou Shuren, even attending morning court, could feel the probing glances; he clutched his palm, then lifted his head to look at the Emperor.
The Emperor was slightly taken aback, then had a premonition that Zhou Shuren was up to something.
After morning court, Zhou Shuren turned and strode off; Wong Ju couldn’t catch up, and anyone could see Zhou Shuren was in a fiery mood.
Leaving the Palace, Zhou Shuren boarded the Ministry of Revenue’s carriage and told Jing Yan, “Go back and call those with decent skills over, you know who to call.”
Jing Yan, “Understood.”
Zhou Shuren instructed the coachman, “Go to the Duke of Yongan’s Residence.”
The Ministry of Revenue’s coachman was stunned, doubting his ears, “Grand Master of Writing doesn’t return to the Ministry of Revenue?”
Zhou Shuren, “The Duke of Yongan’s Residence.”
After saying that, he closed his eyes. The coachman felt jittery, rarely having seen the Grand Master of Writing with such a gloomy face; something big was about to happen!
In the Palace, the Emperor returned to the government hall and summoned Eunuch Zhang to inquire. Hearing that Zhou Shuren had stormed out, the Emperor, “…..”
The Crown Prince asked, “Is it because of An He?”
The Emperor recalled Zhou Shuren’s words; Zhou Shuren was going to fight, “Go to the Duke of Yongan’s Residence.”
The Crown Prince, “??”
Zhou Shuren arrived at the Duke of Yongan’s Residence, which had contributions dating back to the founding. The Emperor was generous with the dukes, and the residence itself was vast and commanding. The vermilion gate was intimidating, at least the coachman was somewhat afraid.
Zhou Shuren saw the driver’s cowardice, “What are you afraid of? There’s me, the Marquis, here to back you up. Go knock on the door.”
The coachman, “…”
Inwardly, he felt anxious on his own, and why did the Grand Master of Writing want to go knock on the Duke’s door?