CHAPTER 1590: CHAPTER 1590 MR. JI

In the capital’s teahouse, after Yu Die and several others had tired themselves of shopping, they asked the young servant to send their purchases back to Hou Residence, and headed to the bustling teahouse.

Recently, with various Graduates arriving in Beijing one after another, the teahouses have become the busiest places in the capital, where people often engage in passionate debates, bringing substantial business to the teahouses.

The sisters booked a private room, and Jiang Miu, who prefers quietness, frowned slightly upon entering the teahouse, "So many people?"

Yu Die loves the lively atmosphere, listening with great interest. She and Yuan Bo have already visited several times, and if she weren’t accompanying her cousin today, she would have been here with her fiancé.

Yu Die pointed ahead, "It’s crowded every day, cousin, look, there’s another debate happening."

Lazily, Yu Wen rarely seemed energetic, glanced over, and said, "Let’s go upstairs."

Upon reaching the upstairs, passing by an open space, Yu Die paused, then blinked, oh dear, it’s actually grandfather, she was conflicted, unsure whether to go over.

Yu Yi, being observant, also noticed, and finally tugged at the third sister, "Let’s go to the private room."

Yu Die, relieved from her dilemma, walked briskly towards the room, and once inside, she asked, "Who did you see?"

Yu Yi and the others have met the Emperor and Crown Prince, Yu Yi said, "The Emperor and Crown Prince."

Yu Die patted her chest, "Luckily, we didn’t go over."

Yu Jiao saw the Waiter enter and ordered teas and snacks that her sisters liked, indicating for him to leave. After the door closed, Yu Jiao said, "Are they here incognito to listen to debates?"

Yu Die sat down, "Hmm, Yuan Bo and I once encountered a splendid debate, thinking that the Emperor might have heard about it and came to listen."

Jiang Miu kept a straight face, unlike her cousins who spoke freely, which is the confidence brought by the Hou Residence, having seen a lot and gotten used to it.

Lazily propping her chin, Yu Wen pondered, "No wonder there are so many debates recently; it’s a way to gain fame; indeed, it’s a good method to recommend oneself, but sometimes it can backfire."

Look, someone will be unlucky today. If they catch the Emperor’s eye, great, otherwise, haha!

In the open space, Zhou Shuren naturally noticed his granddaughter and other granddaughters, explaining, "My granddaughter accompanies her husband back to the capital for exams, and several girls from the family are out shopping together."

The Emperor focused on the exam, "How did your grandson-in-law perform in the exams?"

"Fairly well, among the top ten, better than my grandson."

The Emperor knew about Marquis Zhou’s eldest daughter’s family, especially the twins, and now hearing they passed the exams, showed a little interest, "Your son-in-law’s family are good scholars."

Zhou Shuren, "They are all diligent and hardworking kids."

The Emperor’s mention was already valuable, then he turned his gaze towards the Graduates loudly debating downstairs, "Their perspective is too shallow."

Zhou Shuren sighed inwardly. Yes, still seeing too shallowly, different from national matters, he was quite disappointed too. He followed the Emperor hoping for impressive talents but ended up with unfulfilled expectations.

Talents, he truly being fond of, as the Ministry of Revenue needs talents, wanted to get ahead, but decided to wait until the results are announced.

The Crown Prince sympathetically looked at the Graduates who were still debating below. The Emperor’s comment of having a narrow perspective destined that being on the list wouldn’t gain importance; truly, without deep foundations and insights, taking shortcuts isn’t advisable.

At least don’t speak too much, being listed stably would still lead to a decent future, now though, tsk tsk.

Suddenly, Zhou Shuren leaned forward, surprised, turned to look at the Emperor, whose face turned rather grim.

The Emperor chuckled lightly, "Old Second and Old Third have also left the palace."

The Crown Prince was surprised too, then thought of something, squinting his eyes; recently, the Second and Third Princes have frequently been leaving the palace, it turns out they are meeting Graduates across places, choosing talents for themselves?

Zhou Shuren shut his mouth tightly but thought inwardly, the Princes have grown up indeed.

The Emperor indicated for Eunuch Zhang to leave, "Let them come up."

Soon, the two Princes came up looking like quails, the Emperor, "Been quite free lately?"

The Second Prince thought of his thick coursework, "No, not at all free."

The Third Prince lowered his head, "Your son admits his mistake."

Zhou Shuren raised his eyes, then lowered them, continuing to fiddle with the cup beside him.

The Emperor smiled, "Since you can leave the palace, shows you have strong confidence in your studies, I am quite relieved, upon returning to the palace, I shall test you, if."

The rest didn’t need to be spoken, the meaning was clear.

The two Princes were somewhat afraid, they had no choice, the coursework was truly overwhelming, even the Second Prince wanting to attend court duties yet found no opportunity.

Thus the Second Prince was anxious, and the Liu family was anxious too, but the Emperor had just reprimanded the Liu family, leaving the Second Prince restless, only able to think of ways himself.

The Crown Prince, having thoughts turned, knew the Second Prince’s intent, had heard him speak downstairs, not just for talent selection, but also aiming for fame for himself.

The Emperor glanced at the old third, too lazy to inquire, "Soon return to the palace with me."

Zhou Shuren glanced sideways, not surprised that the Third Prince was following the Second Prince, seeing that after the Emperor’s reprimand, the Second Prince attracting the Third Prince was inevitable, seemingly satisfactory so far.

With the debate below ended, Yu Die and the others descended first, waiting by the door for the carriage, Marquis Zhou’s carriage arrived, Zhou Shuren told the Emperor, preparing to return home with granddaughters instead of going back to the Ministry of Revenue.

Yu Die saw her grandfather approaching, "Grandfather, hehe, we saw you."

Zhou Shuren, "I saw you too, were the debates today splendid?"

Yu Die had heard splendid ones before, "They were okay."

Yu Yi shook her head slightly; their perspective is no less than men’s, some of the points earlier she didn’t agree with.

Yu Wen was more straightforward, already dozing off, listening to them had put her to sleep.

Little girl Yu Jiao also drooped, didn’t find it interesting, rather preferred jewelry shopping!

Jiang Miu then thought about visiting with her husband some day.

Zhou Shuren seeing his granddaughters’ expressions understood, beard curling up, look, the granddaughters he and Zhulan raised have indeed broad insights, whoever marries his granddaughters would be fortunate.

The carriage arrived, Zhou Shuren got in first, and a few young ladies boarded the carriage behind.

After the Marquis Zhou’s carriage departed, many noticed from the teahouse, chatting with disbelief that Marquis Zhou was in the teahouse just now.

The Third Prince’s cousin, son of the Du family, also a Graduate this year, came today to meet the Third Prince, but the Third Prince had just arrived and went upstairs with the Second Prince, having seen the Third Prince leave, he understood, the Emperor is present and regretted not joining the debate.

Du Ling saw the gentleman beside still gazing at Marquis Zhou’s carriage going away, squinted knowingly and asked, "What are you watching Mr. Ji?"

Mr. Ji withdrew his gaze, "Was that Marquis Zhou just now?"

Du Ling, "Yes, didn’t you hear the discussion?"

Mr. Ji pinched his sleeve’s corner, "I have always admired Marquis Zhou; had I known he’d be here today, I would have joined too."

Regretful, regretting to the core.

Du Ling glanced at Mr. Ji, a scholar from a poor background, with disdain in his eyes, then lowered his eyes. Due to Marquis Zhou, the Du family lost their official position, now the entire family had hopes vested in him.