Xue Rui had not yet returned to the capital, so Yu Shu could only bring the carriage he had sent into the courtyard. She had someone unload the carriage and put the adult horse and her Little Red in the same stable. As the saying went, the same repels the same, while the opposite attracts the opposite. The two horses, one male and one female, one red and one white, got along very well. When they saw each other, they would whisper to each other and mingle together, which was very worrisome.
Liu Tan only gave Yu Shu two days off. On the third day after the results of the last subject were released, he sent someone to bring her to the guesthouse and gave the list of candidates to her and Helanchou.
Just like last time, Yu Shu suggested to Liu Tan that she study the list at home. Because of the arrival of the four joyous events last time, Liu Tan trusted her very much and agreed immediately.
Thus, Yu Shu did not follow Liu Tan to the Double Suns Meeting that day. Instead, she took the sedan chair back home.
With familiarity, Yu Shu used two days to use the laws of the time of calamity to sort out the list of nearly a hundred people and pick out the three "best" candidates.
At night, sitting in front of the study table, Yu Shu looked at the candidates in her hands. Her pen poked her forehead and she felt a little hesitant.
Should he add her name to the list?
It was not that she was boasting, but based on the way she answered the questions on the day of the exam, even if she could not enter the top three, she would at least be in the top ten. If not, then there was something wrong with the head examiner's head.
If she added her name, she could definitely add flowers to Liu Tan's brocade and give her a chance to show her face at the Double Suns Meeting.
However, if she added her name, when the time came, she would truly become Liu Tan's subordinate and be labeled as the Ninth Prince. Wouldn't that be equivalent to officially participating in the competition between the princes?
At that time, she would become a chess piece in the struggle for power and would be used by others. She would not have the energy to study her algebra.
"That's not appropriate." Yu Shu weighed the pros and cons. In the end, she still felt that it was better not to add her name.
After packing up her brush and ink, Yu Shu, who had been busy for a whole day, went out to the yard to get some fresh air. At this time, Zhao Hui and her husband had already gone to bed, and Yu Xiaoxiu had also finished reviewing his homework. All the lights in the room had been extinguished. Only the lantern under the eaves of her house was still lit, illuminating the area below her feet. The stars were sparse and the moon was bright.
This is not a good day for stargazing, but Yu Shu still painstakingly sees an image of "Unrivaled Champion". This is a sign that the owner of this astrolabe is about to enter the Golden Roll. This image often appears in the Milky Way in the spring and spring, but no one knows which lucky person it is.
Thinking of this, Yu Shu couldn't help but sigh, "This Celestial Commissioner is really something. Since there's no first place, she might as well let me be first. She just had to make an empty spot and put me in second place. "
As the saying goes, one's heart is insatiable. Before the results of the Extraordinary Arts course were released, Yu Shu did not have high hopes, but who knew that she would enter the top three. Now, she was complaining that she could not get first place and completely enjoy the glory.
"Sigh, forget it. I don't have that kind of fate. "Yu Shu stretched her body, turned around, and went back to her room to sleep.
***
Just as Yu Shu was sleeping soundly, Xue Rui rushed back from work outside the capital and had just arrived at the Minister's Manor.
Because it was too late, he did not disturb the servants in the courtyard. He only asked the servants to boil water to prepare a bath, and his personal manservant helped him wash up.
The journey was tiring, so Xue Rui casually ate a midnight snack and went to sleep.
The night passed. On the morning of the next day, the sleep-deprived Xue Rui still habitually woke up before the sun rose. He called his personal manservant, who was on guard outside the door, got water to wash his face, changed into a loose pine green robe, and went to the martial arts field next to the small garden in the backyard to practice boxing. To the side stood a row of neatly dressed attendants. Some were carrying silver basins, some were folding sweat towels, some were holding cloaks, and some were holding tea and snacks.
After a set of Crane Catching Fists, he saw the old housekeeper of the upper courtyard waiting for him in the corridor with a smile.
Xue Rui withdrew his boxing stance and took a deep breath. He walked forward and called out, "Uncle Zhan."
Zhan Ao was the head housekeeper of the Minister's Manor and a servant of the Xue family in name. In reality, he was Xue Lingnan's right-hand man. They had been master and servant for more than forty years. In this enormous manor, no one dared to treat him as a servant. Even Xue Rui had to treat him with some respect and call him Uncle Zhan.
"Young Master just came back last night. Why didn't you rest properly and wake up so early?" Zhan Ao took the sweat towel from the servant's hand and wrung it in the hot water basin. He shook it open and handed it to Xue Rui.
Xue Rui wiped his sweat as he said, "Later, I still have to enter the palace to report to His Majesty, so I didn't have time to sleep in."
"You haven't eaten breakfast, right? Master knows that you've returned and has asked this old servant to invite you over to have morning tea together." Zhan Ao watched his young master grow up to be a talented young master. As an elder in the manor, he felt very gratified for his master.
"En, I'll go back to my room and change my clothes."
"This old servant will wait."
Xue Rui returned to his room to freshen up and then crossed the courtyard with Zhan Ao to the upper room.
Xue Lingnan was used to eating his morning tea in the Plum Blossom Hall. There was a pot of fragrant tea and two small plates of meat, vegetable, cold, and hot refreshments. There was only a solitary plum tree growing outside the window sill. He couldn't say what kind of rare species it was, but as spring came and autumn passed, the flowers bloomed and withered. He would come to see it almost every morning.
Everyone in the manor knew that the Master cherished this plum tree, but no one remembered when he started.
"Grandfather." When Xue Rui came in, Xue Lingnan was sitting by the window, holding a tea-straining silver pot in his hand. He allowed the water to boil on the stove, his eyes gazing out the window at the already empty branches of the plum tree outside the window.
It wasn't until Xue Rui walked closer that he slowly turned his head and resumed his usual solemnity. In a low voice, he said, "Sit down and drink a cup of tea with grandfather."
Xue Rui lifted the hem of his clothes and sat down in front of Xue Lingnan with proper etiquette. He hid all the sharp edges of his body, like a smooth, round stone in the shallows. He quietly watched as the old man brewed tea and poured cups for the two of them.
"In the few days you were away, your mother fell ill again."
Hearing this, Xue Rui's back stiffened. Then, he asked with great concern, "This child doesn't know if I can go visit mother later."
Xue Lingnan nodded lightly, giving his permission. Not allowing Xue Rui to secretly sigh in relief, he suddenly opened his mouth again.
"After this spring, you will be twenty years old. At this age, it would be improper not to discuss marriage. You have no father, and your mother's health is not good. She has been ill all year round. The family affairs have always been managed by your second aunt, but you are the eldest son of the first wife. Sooner or later, you will inherit the family business. You can't always let others take over your affairs. I have been thinking of finding a suitable marriage for you. Your marriage will be decided this year. "
Xue Rui's expression stagnated for a moment. His eyes flickered. He stood up from the chair and lowered his head.
"It has only been three years since the death of the Tenth Princess, and you are already in a hurry to arrange my marriage. If this reaches the ears of His Majesty, I'm afraid he will not be happy."
Xue Lingnan raised his head and glanced sharply at Xue Rui. Suddenly, his face turned cold.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to be stubborn? The Tenth Princess lost her footing and fell into the water. That was the fault of our Xue family. It was not your fault. Why do you need to mourn? Moreover, the imperial edict that appointed the marriage three years ago has not been issued. The world does not know about it. Therefore, she is not considered a daughter-in-law of our Xue family. You have delayed three years for her. You have already done your best. Now that things have come to this, even His Majesty will not blame you. What are you still thinking? "
"I …"
"Alright, don't talk too much. I don't want your bright future to be delayed by love." Xue Lingnan frowned and said.
"You must know that the lady I have chosen is the youngest daughter of Count Zhongyong's family, Rui Zizhu. Your second aunt has seen her. It is said that she is very beautiful. She is proficient in the four arts. She is a good match for you. Moreover, you are good friends with her brother, Rui Lin. I think this marriage is not bad. When the excitement of the Double Suns Association is over, I will go to the palace and ask for an imperial edict to bestow this marriage for you. I will arrange a wife for you as soon as possible so that the Xue family can have more children. She will be in charge of the inner court for you. "
Hearing the old man's resolute decision, Xue Rui was silent for a moment. No one knew what he was thinking. Finally, he sighed and said,
"Grandfather, please give me three more months. The task that His Majesty has assigned to me has not been completed. After this, I may be promoted and rewarded. At that time, you can ask for an imperial edict to bestow a marriage for me. Wouldn't it be a double blessing and more respect for the lady?"
Xue Lingnan hesitated. He observed Xue Rui's expression but could not tell if he was deliberately delaying. His hand tapped on the table for a while before he finally agreed.
"Alright, we will do as you say."
After talking about this, the grandfather and grandson were no longer in the mood to drink tea. Xue Rui sat for a while before leaving on the excuse that he was on official business.
***
Xue Rui went to the palace and came out before noon. Because it was convenient, he took a sedan to a shop under his name on Song Rong Street. He was seen by the shopkeeper who was inspecting the goods at the main entrance and respectfully asked to go to the back.
"Young Master, please have some tea." The shopkeeper served him tea with two hands.
"No need, I will leave after a while." Xue Rui waved his hand and asked, "How is the matter that I asked you to do?"
"Reporting to Young Master, the carriage has been sent to the address."
Xue Rui raised his eyebrows and smiled. There was a hint of joy in his expression. He subconsciously picked up the teacup next to him. He had just said that he did not want to drink it, but now he put it into his mouth and asked,
"So, the person has passed the exam? What's her rank? "
He knew that Yu Shu had taken the examination of the strange arts. He was afraid that if she passed, she would not be able to make it in time to send the gift, so he had ordered someone to check the list. Once her name was on the list, no matter what her rank was, he would send the carriage over.
"Reporting to Young Master, that Miss Yu is really amazing. She is ranked second in the top three." The shopkeeper smiled and stretched out two fingers.
"Ahem," Xue Rui almost choked on a mouthful of hot tea. He coughed twice and asked suspiciously, "It's second? Are you sure? "
"There's no mistake. I personally went to see the list. The first name on the list with gold characters on the red paper is Miss Yu."
Xue Rui was pleasantly surprised. He did not expect that when he went out, the lass would become Mr. Hidewon. It was really beyond his expectations.
"Not bad, you did a good job. You will be rewarded."
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