Chapter 254: Seizing The Momentum
Zhou Wangshu held her hand, interlocking their fingers.
“If it were before, that possibility indeed existed. But now it’s different; I have my father-in-law and the General’s Mansion behind me.”
Su Yaoguang thought of the Heir of Marquis Cheng’an’s rudeness and said, “In that case, it’s fortunate that we reunited with my father at this time.”
In front of those nobles, ordinary people were like ants, their life and death not their own. If they didn’t have the General’s Mansion as their backing, Zhou Wangshu might truly be implicated in this matter.
In her previous life, if she had reunited with her father, Xiao Yanci wouldn’t have dared to treat her like that, right?
At this time, in Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion, Xia Zhen was listening to his attendant’s report. When the attendant said that the person who had given him the horse back then was the current Newly Appointed Top Scholar, Xia Zhen sneered several times.
“So what if he’s the Top Scholar? A mere Top Scholar—this Heir Apparent can still make sure he doesn’t live to see tomorrow.”
Xia Zhen only cared about eating, drinking, and having fun; he didn’t care at all about what was happening outside. As for the top three scholars of the imperial examination, as long as he wished it, none of them would have the opportunity to become powerful ministers.
He was ignorant and incompetent, so of course he paid no attention to any scholars or imperial examinations. Even during the family recognition banquet held at the General’s Mansion last time, he was out carousing in pleasure houses.
“If he were just the Top Scholar, it wouldn’t be too tricky, but he is now the Great General Who Protects the Nation’s son-in-law.” The attendant continued, “Young Master, do you still remember the woman who was with him at the time? That woman is the Great General Who Protects the Nation’s newly recognized biological daughter.”
Xia Zhen was truly angry this time.
“If that lowly commoner hadn’t given this Heir Apparent the Blood-Sweating Horse, this Heir Apparent wouldn’t have gotten into this mess. Does that mean this Heir Apparent can’t even settle accounts with him?”
“Young Master, the Great General Who Protects the Nation has always been protective of his own, and his temper isn’t good. If we provoke him, I’m afraid the Marquis will be even angrier. Our Marquis Manor wouldn’t dare to offend both the Duke’s Mansion and the Great General’s Mansion at the same time.” The attendant reminded him tactfully.
As an attendant by the Heir Apparent’s side, whenever the Heir Apparent made a mistake, it was the attendant who suffered. In this situation, he could only steel himself to remind the Heir of Marquis Cheng’an not to cause more trouble.
Xia Zhen was very unhappy and very displeased. However, he was now confined by Marquis Cheng’an and couldn’t leave the mansion; even with a belly full of anger, he had nowhere to vent it.
At this moment, a maidservant came in carrying tea.
The maidservant kept her head down, trying her best to minimize her presence, but her whole body was trembling, and all the tea she carried spilled out.
She knelt on the ground with a thud, trembling as she begged for mercy: “Young Master, spare my life.”
Xia Zhen yanked the maidservant up, his eyes full of evil intent: “So eager to attract this Heir Apparent’s attention? This Heir Apparent will oblige you.”
Seeing this, the attendant withdrew.
From inside came the maidservant’s miserable screams.
A few days later, Zhou Wangshu went to the Ministry of Personnel to report for duty.
As a newly entered official, he could take up the position of Director of the Ministry of Personnel right upon starting—such a starting point was nearly the endpoint for many officials.
As the Great General’s son-in-law and this year’s Newly Appointed Top Scholar, his position as Director of the Ministry of Personnel was personally appointed by the Emperor, which meant he was far luckier than his fellow examinees right from the start of his career.
Su Yaoguang stood outside the Ministry of Personnel yamen, watching the officials coming out and searching among those in the same official uniforms for the handsomest one.
“Whose Madam is that?” someone asked, pointing in Su Yaoguang’s direction.
“Mine.” Zhou Wangshu walked out from inside.
The crowd saw Zhou Wangshu and greeted him: “Lord Zhou.”
“My lords, you’ve made me laugh. Today is this subordinate official’s first day on the job; my wife can’t help but worry.”
“Lord Zhou and his Madam are truly affectionate.”
“This Madam is the Great General’s beloved daughter, right? Lord Zhou is so fortunate!” the crowd said.
“My lords, see you tomorrow.”
Zhou Wangshu trotted over to greet Su Yaoguang.
At this time, Xiao Yanci came out from the Hanlin Academy.
Generally speaking, the top three scholars of the first rank all entered the Hanlin Academy upon starting their careers; Zhou Wangshu’s situation was an exception.
Xiao Yanci and the Second Scholar had both entered the Hanlin Academy as per normal procedure, becoming compilers in the Hanlin Academy.
The Second Scholar happened to also catch sight of Zhou Wangshu and Su Yaoguang and sighed, “Brother Zhou is truly heaven’s favorite. Look, we’re all about the same, but the wife he married in the countryside turned out to be the Great General’s long-lost daughter. Just ask, whose luck could compare to that?”
“You and I have reached today through our own abilities; relying on a woman’s connections won’t last long. Brother Wang, why fixate on immediate petty gains?”
Xiao Yanci left with a cold face.
Seeing Xiao Yanci’s expression, disgust flashed in the Second Scholar’s eyes.
Who was he pulling that sour face for all day?
Talking about not relying on connections— wasn’t he himself trying to climb Prime Minister Wang’s high branch? Wasn’t that relying on a woman’s connections?
“Don’t provoke him anymore. His marriage to Miss Wang might fall through, and he’s in a bad mood right now!” Another official said to Minister Wang.
“Because of that previous marriage of his?” Minister Wang asked. “Is it true, not just a rumor?”
“They spoke of it in great detail— even knew her name, where she lived, how many people were in her family. It definitely wasn’t a rumor.”
“No wonder he talks about not relying on women’s connections— turns out he can’t get any!” Minister Wang said.
“Minister Wang, you seem to really dislike Lord Xiao. Could it be you two have some grudge?”
“I wouldn’t call it that; I just feel this man lacks uprightness. On the contrary, Lord Zhou, though luckier than us thanks to his father-in-law’s good fortune, acts openly and honorably. And look at how eagerly he goes to his wife— it makes me think at least this man values loyalty and righteousness.”
“Did you know Lord Zhou is a son-in-law who lives with the wife’s family?”
“I really didn’t know that.”
“Though Lord Zhou relies on his wife’s family, he himself is the Top Scholar and has that ability, doesn’t he? Moreover, when Lord Zhou held the wedding ceremony for his wife, he had no idea he had such a powerful father-in-law. In the end, it’s because he himself is reliable that General Su was willing to acknowledge this son-in-law.”
“Makes sense.”
Xiao Yanci had just prepared to return to his rented courtyard when someone delivered him a letter. He opened the letter, and on it was an address—the Yang Family Troupe Theater.
Could it be Wang Ruyan asking him to watch a play?
Right! He wrote love poems to Wang Ruyan every day; even if she had a heart of stone, she should have been moved long ago. The reason she hadn’t yielded yet was because Prime Minister Wang hadn’t cooled off.
Xiao Yanci hurried to the theater and entered the dormitory room on the second floor, finding the Peony Room mentioned in the letter.
He pushed the door open and went in.
“Why did you take so long?” The woman in the room turned back impatiently. Upon seeing Xiao Yanci’s figure, her eyes filled with terror. “Why is it you?”
Xiao Yanci: “…”
The smile on his face disappeared.
The gentle and elegant young talent of the previous moment now had icy cold eyes, like a malevolent ghost crawling up from underground.
“Com…” Jiang Yihuan had just uttered one word when she saw Xiao Yanci walking toward her step by step. She was so frightened she didn’t dare make another sound. “What are you doing? We’re done; you go out.”
