The Zhuangyuan should have been yours!
After the two groups entered the main road of the capital, they went in different directions.
One was Prince Yi's estate.
The other was Prince Rong's estate.
Mutual non-interference!
As soon as Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu returned to the estate, a manservant came to inform them.
"Your Highness, Lord Shang requests an audience."
"Lord Shang?"
Jing Rong searched his mind. Was there such a person in the imperial court?
The manservant straightened his waist and said, "It's Master Shang, an editor from the Hanlin Academy. He came here yesterday, but Your Highness went to the suburbs, so I asked him to go back. Now he's here again."
Oh!
So it's Shang Zhuo from Mingshan Academy.
The manservant asked, "Will Your Highness see him?"
Logically speaking, Shang Zhuo had just taken office. Coming to the Rong estate now would inevitably cause gossip.
But they had met once. Since he was here, they couldn't just kick him out, right?
Jing Rong glanced at Ji Yunshu, "What do you think?"
"Since he came twice, whether it's important or not, there's no harm in coming in for a chat."
"Mm."
Jing Rong allowed him in.
After a short while, Shang Zhuo came in with the manservant.
He was dressed in plain clothes and held a long box in his hand. His eyes were lowered.
One could vaguely see that he was a courtier and had a respectful appearance.
He walked into the room and bowed deeply, "Greetings, Prince Rong."
After not seeing him for several months, he was now wearing more of an official's attire.
"Lord Shang is welcome."
"I should have come to visit on the day Your Highness entered the capital. However, I was busy with many matters and had time to spare, so I came yesterday. Unexpectedly, Your Highness was busy with the Dry Well Case, so I came again today. I hope I didn't disturb Your Highness."
He was as humble and courteous as before.
Jing Rong looked him up and down, "After not seeing you for several months, you have already graduated. This Prince should congratulate you."
"It's thanks to Your Highness' blessing that this official was able to enter Hanlin Academy and become an editor."
"You should be the one who has the ability!"
Jing Rong's words weren't polite.
Everyone knew how talented Shang Zhuo was. He was knowledgeable, talented, and had an outstanding ability to imitate.
He was a good painter, and he wrote good calligraphy.
The position of editor of Hanlin Academy was really a waste of talent.
The corner of Shang Zhuo's mouth curved into a smile. He lowered his eyes and turned to look at Ji Yunshu, also saluting her.
"Greetings, Teacher Ji."
Ji Yunshu stood up and returned the greeting. "Lord Shang greets you."
"I never thought that I would be able to meet you in the capital. It is my honor."
"When we parted ways at Mingshan Academy, I was certain that you would be able to graduate. Now that you've succeeded, it's well deserved."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Shang Zhuo was very polite.
Then, he handed over the box in his hand to Jing Rong and said, "I know that Your Highness doesn't accept court gifts, but this lowly official brought a token of appreciation. I hope Your Highness doesn't mind."
It was not the etiquette, but his thoughts.
This reason made it hard for anyone to not accept it!
Jing Rong took the box and opened it. Inside was a scroll.
The stitches were removed and unfolded.
It was a painting.
It was the Hundred Birds Illustration!
In the painting, the birds in the forest were either playing, spreading their wings, or perching on the branches …
It was very lifelike.
Shang Zhuo said, "I didn't know what Your Highness would like, so I drew this lowly official's best painting."
Jing Rong admired the painting in his hand and couldn't help but nod in praise. "As expected, Lord Shang's painting can be called a divine work. The things in the painting seem to be reflected in front of your eyes. It's so lifelike."
"Many thanks for Your Highness' praise. It's just my humble work. It's good that Your Highness likes it."
"This Prince likes this painting very much."
He handed the painting to Ji Yunshu so that she could also admire it.
Even Ji Yunshu had to admit that she couldn't compare to the essence of the painting.
"I believe that in this world, only you, Lord Shang, can draw the white bird so vividly. “
It came from the heart.
Shang Zhuo lowered his head to express his gratitude.
She closed the scroll.
She suddenly asked, "Oh right, I wonder … how is Lin Shu now? I heard that he was the top scholar and entered the editing department. You were with him at Hanlin Academy, so you should know something. "
At the mention of that person, Shang Zhuo's expression darkened.
He answered truthfully, "To be honest with Teacher and Your Highness, ever since the day the Emperor issued the edict, Lord Lin and I no longer quarreled and messed around like we did in the academy. As for him and I … Although we were both at Hanlin Academy, he was an editing officer and had to deal with the imperial court's documents, while I was only an editor and had to sort out the affairs of the six ministries, so … we rarely communicated."
There was a hidden meaning in his words.
Jing Rong asked, "Is it because of Prince Yi?"
He directly pointed it out.
Ah!
Shang Zhuo was shocked. "How did Your Highness know?"
He was a prince, how could he not know?
"Anyone with a discerning eye can see the affairs of the imperial court. Moreover, on the day this Prince entered the capital, Vice-Chancellor Yu of the Supreme Court told me about Lord Lin. Thinking about it, he was able to become the top scholar because of Prince Yi's grace."
Jing Rong addressed Lin Shu as Lord Lin!
"Indeed." Shang Zhuo sighed, extremely vexed. "Just the day before the Emperor decided on the top scholar, Prince Yi sent someone to bring him to Prince Yi's estate. I should have tried my best to dissuade him, but Your Highness and Teacher both know Lin Shu's temperament. If he becomes stubborn, no one can stop him."
"Everyone has their own choice and cannot be forced. It's just that … this Prince is worried that you will have complaints."
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
"Whether it's in terms of talent or character, you're definitely at the top. You're thirty percent better than him. The title of zhuangyuan should belong to you. However, Official Lin was conferred the title of zhuangyuan because of Prince Yi's secret connections. It's inevitable that there's a thorn in your heart."
However, Shang Zhuo smiled and said with relief, "This lowly official is already satisfied with the top scholar. Why would I have any complaints? Even if there is a thorn in my heart, it is just an inconspicuous thorn that can be ignored. Moreover, we are all officials in the imperial court and we do our best for the imperial court, regardless of rank. "
He was broad-minded.
He did not have a petty heart.
Jing Rong said, "It's good that you can think that way. A title is just a title. If you really have the ability, even if you are left in the wilderness, you will still be useful."
"Your Highness is right."
"This Prince did not misjudge you. You can let go of your complaints and be an official with peace of mind. Very few people can have this kind of temperament."
Shang Zhuo smiled.
Jing Rong waved his hand again. "Forget it. Let's not talk about this anymore."
After all, Lin Shu was now Prince Yi's man. There was no point in discussing it in private.
After the topic ended, the three exchanged a few more words.
Shang Zhuo still had official matters to attend to, so it was inconvenient for him to stay.
Before he left, he said, "If Your Highness needs this lowly official's help, just let me know. This lowly official will do his best and not hesitate."
He had made his stand clear!
After he left, Jing Rong looked at his back and said, "Shang Zhuo has a steady temperament and knows the difference between good and evil. Although he is currently only an editor in Hanlin Academy, if this Prince uses him, he will be this Prince's right-hand man in the imperial court in the future."
High evaluation!
In fact, Jing Rong had this idea long ago.
Of course, Ji Yunshu also expressed her approval.
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