Chapter 224: The Talent of the Number One Scholar
Ji Yunshu said, "Okay, I'm older than you, so I'll call you Xi'er."
Cen Xi nodded, then asked, "Sister, what brings you and the prince here tonight? If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know."
If it were before, she would never have said this. Prince Zhao is the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture. Who knows whether he came here just on a whim or for some official business?
The official affairs of Jingzhao Prefecture were not something that merchants like them could interfere with.
But now Ji Yunshu spoke to her in a friendly manner, obviously treating her as a friend, so she naturally couldn't hold back.
Ji Yunshu also heard the intimacy in her words, so he smiled and said, "We just thought of coming here at the last minute, just to join in the fun, nothing much."
Although I had a hunch that something might happen tonight, they were just a group of scholars and I didn't think anything big would happen.
She looked down and saw that the hall was even busier than before. She asked again, "You're well-informed. Do you know if there are any particularly outstanding candidates among this year's candidates?"
The New Year had just passed and it was not yet time for the imperial examination. If Zhao Shen hadn't mentioned it, she would not have paid attention to this matter.
Although Zhao Shen must know the answer, there is nothing wrong in asking others.
Cen Xi was very clever and quickly understood what she meant. After a moment's thought, he said, "There is a man named Yan Ningmo, a scholar from Suzhou. He is said to be extremely talented, and even the previous top scholar, now a member of the Hanlin Academy, has praised him."
"From Suzhou?"
It’s no wonder that Ji Yunshu is sensitive about Suzhou. It’s just that the events of Suzhou left such a deep impression on her.
Cen Xi nodded. "Yes, there have been many changes in Suzhou officials this year, and the number of candidates there is a bit smaller than in previous years. It is said that Yan Ningmo is very famous in the local area and has been hailed as a child prodigy since childhood. He entered the capital at the end of last year and has visited many great scholars recently, who have all praised him highly. There are even rumors that he will be the top scorer this year."
"Is it so high-profile?"
Scholars of this era still value humility. Even someone as arrogant as Zhao Shen is usually very low-key, so much so that if Ji Yunshu didn't mention it deliberately, he would have forgotten that he was once a world-famous talent.
Cen Xi smiled and said, "He's a bit high-profile, but he's also genuinely talented. These scholars hold literary gatherings in Cuihua Building every few days. They say they're making friends through literature, but they're all desperate to stand out. So far, wherever he's around, no one else has a chance."
Ji Yunshu held his chin with one hand, thinking: "Sounds like he's really capable."
Cen Xi told everything he knew and said no more.
After a while, Ji Yunshu asked again, "Xi'er seems to know a lot about these candidates."
Cen Xi smiled and said frankly, "To be honest, sister, I'm not young anymore, and my grandfather has always been concerned about my marriage. But you know my situation, it's impossible for me to marry into a wealthy and powerful family. Most ordinary families are just after the Cen family's wealth, so they plan to choose a scholar from a humble family."
"Anyone you like?"
As soon as Ji Yunshu heard it, he knew that she was forced into a situation where it was difficult to find a marriage, but she had to find one.
Now everyone knows that the Cen family's property will fall into the hands of a weak woman like her in the future, so naturally everyone regards her as a piece of fat meat.
If her marriage is not arranged soon, it will be troublesome if some powerful person forces her to marry him.
Don’t say that powerful families don’t marry daughters of merchant families. They are the real powerful families. There are many impoverished families in the capital nowadays.
If you marry Cen Xi, you can get all the Cen family's property, which is a good deal for many people.
Therefore, it is indeed a good idea to find a poor student with a simple family background.
Ji Yunshu asked directly, and Cen Xi didn't act shy like a little girl. She said generously, "I'm still looking. I think I'll decide after the exams. It would be best to find someone who has some talent but didn't make the exam this time."
Catching a son-in-law from the list is not just talk.
If someone who is not married passes the exam this time, there will be many people competing for him.
After all, she has no competitiveness. It would be better for her to find someone who can take the exam again in three years with the support of the Cen family.
The important thing is that she can completely control the Cen family in these three years.
Ji Yunshu laughed and said, "Those who are loyal are usually butchers, and those who are unfaithful are usually scholars. You'd better open your eyes and watch carefully."
Cen Xi heard such words for the first time and couldn't help laughing out loud: "Don't worry, sister, I never believed in love. In my eyes, getting married is no different from doing business. I need a man to help me dispel the gazes of those who covet the Cen family. It doesn't matter if it costs me an acceptable price."
Seeing that she was clear-headed, Ji Yunshu couldn't help but say, "It would be great if I were a man."
Marry Cen Xi, and then just lie down.
The life she had always dreamed of.
Cen Xi blushed at what she said and was about to say something when Ji Yunshu suddenly put a finger on his lips and made a gesture to keep quiet.
Then he quickly walked to the door and pushed it open with a snap.
Outside the door, a person was standing there, and seemed to want to leave, but when he saw Ji Yunshu, he stopped and said, "Miss Ji, long time no see."
This person turned out to be Prince Yong’s son Xiao Kun.
Ji Yunshu was stunned. She got married as soon as she came here, and everyone called her the Crown Prince's wife. This seemed to be the first time someone called her Miss Ji.
She couldn't tell whether the man did it on purpose or if he just called her that out of habit and couldn't change it right away.
Of course, none of this matters. What matters is when Xiao Kun arrived and how much he heard.
Although she and Cen Xi did not talk about anything confidential, she did mention Cen Xi's marriage.
Thinking of this, she said with a dark face: "When did the prince develop the habit of eavesdropping?"
Xiao Kun didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed about being caught eavesdropping. He smiled and said, "Ah Shu, you're wrongly accusing me. I was just passing by here and stopped outside the door for a moment when I heard your voice. How can that be called eavesdropping?"
Ji Yunshu said unhappily, "Don't call me Ah Shu, we're not familiar with each other."
Xiao Kun's eyes fell on Ji Yunshu. He looked at her for a moment before saying, "We grew up together in the palace. You are the emperor's cousin, and the emperor and I are cousins. So, I am still your brother. How can I say we are not familiar with each other?"
Ji Yunshu was almost laughed out of anger by him. Although his forced explanation made sense, could the relationship between the royal family and ordinary families be the same?
"Even if my Ji family kills all nine of our clans, they can't kill you. How can you be considered my brother?"
When the important Prince Yong's Mansion is destroyed, don't implicate her.
She thought her counterattack was very effective, but Xiao Kun just smiled and said, "You don't have to curse yourself like this."
Ji Yunshu: “…”
Before she could say anything else, the door to the private room next door suddenly opened, and Zhao Shen walked out. He said to Ji Yunshu, "What the prince said is actually not wrong. Considering his relationship with the emperor, it's only right for you to call him brother."
Originally, what Xiao Kun said was indeed correct. When they played together as children, the original owner had called Xiao Kun brother. But when Ji Yunshu thought about him eavesdropping on his conversation with Cen Xi and saying such annoying words, he just couldn't call him that.
She touched Zhao Shen's forehead and asked, "Did you take the wrong medicine?"
Didn’t you tell her to stay away from Xiao Kun?
Why do you recognize your relatives?
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