Shen Zhao stopped what he was doing and asked, "Will Third Uncle agree?"
"Third uncle is in power now, so it's not suitable for me to go to the Zhanshi Mansion."
Given Shen Zhixiu's current position within the court, it's unsuitable for the younger generation of the Shen family to be too prominent. It's best to bide their time and accumulate experience. When Shen Zhixiu steps down, the younger generation can smoothly take over.
This was also a common practice among large families. Whenever a brilliant and talented person emerged from the family, all the people and relationships within the mansion would make way for this person.
A hint of disgust flashed across Li Chaoyun's lowered eyes, and the red corners of his eyes raised sharply.
"Last time we talked about this, you were quite happy. Why are you so cowardly today?"
"As for whether Shen Zhixiu will agree, what are you worried about? The Crown Prince cousin will handle it himself."
She naturally knew that Shen Zhixiu held a high position and that Shen Zhao was not suitable to go to the Zhanshi Mansion. But she insisted on letting Shen Zhao go to the Zhanshi Mansion to serve the Crown Prince. Since one of the uncle and nephew had to give way, why couldn't Shen Zhixiu give way?
Shen Zhao heard the displeasure in Li Chaoyun's words and explained, "What father said is not without reason. Only when the family sticks together can the family prosper."
Li Chaoyun was slightly startled. "Is this what the father-in-law asked you to talk to in the study today?"
Shen Zhao nodded and said, "Father is also doing this for the good of the Shen family. He reminded me that I can't just consider the interests of the eldest house when doing things."
Li Chaoyun snorted, "Then you can just refuse your cousin the Crown Prince tomorrow. From now on, we will be dominated by the Third House. You will have to keep your tail between your legs in front of your Third Uncle and Third Aunt for the rest of your life."
"Poor mother-in-law is at the farm, she doesn't know what life will be like. The deaths of my eldest sister and Shen Ying were also very strange, and there is no one to take care of them."
"Third Aunt is so lucky. After breaking off the engagement with you, her life has been going smoothly."
Li Chaoyun's words struck Shen Zhao's heart one by one. When Li Chaoyun finished speaking, Shen Zhao's face became frighteningly gloomy.
Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, Li Chaoyun moved the hand on his waist gently.
Then he whispered, "I am the one who wants you to be well the most, and you are the only one I can rely on."
"My father-in-law is doing the Shen family's best, but he may not be wholeheartedly planning for you. Don't forget, the eldest son has two illegitimate sons."
Shen Zhao's expression changed slightly, knowing that Li Chaoyun was telling the truth. They were husband and wife, and only when he was well could Li Chaoyun live a good life.
He bent down and kissed her forehead. "I will obey you. Once I enter the Imperial Household, I will follow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince diligently. When the new emperor ascends the throne one day, I will earn you an imperial decree."
Li Chaoyun's expression relaxed considerably after hearing him say this. But she still felt exhausted. Shen Zhao was like an unstable child, even his future depended on her coaxing him into bed. Could such a person really stand on top of the mountain like Shen Zhixiu one day?
She didn't dare to think about it too much, and could only comfort herself that Shen Zhao was still young after all. With her relationship with the prince, it was only a matter of time before he became successful.
*
The next day, just after Shen Zhixiu had finished lunch at home, Wenzhu came in to deliver a message.
"Third Master, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has summoned you and Elder Chen to the other courtyard."
Shen Zhixiu's brows twitched slightly. He was not willing to meet the prince in private.
The prince has been living in a villa outside the capital these days, which was also allowed by the emperor. He said that he should go out more often and understand the suffering of the people.
But what the prince didn't know was that every day, who he met and what he did would be reported to the emperor at night. The emperor did this in great secrecy, and it was Puyi, the commander of the Dragon Guard, who personally handled it.
Shen Zhixiu knew about this because the emperor summoned him to the Imperial Study that day, but he returned to the harem midway, saying that a noble lady was unwell. He had been left in the Imperial Study to draft a document and accidentally saw what Puyi presented. Although he only saw a corner of the paper and a few scattered words, he was able to guess about 70% of it.
Although he didn't want to go, he had no choice but to refuse since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had summoned him.
Shen Zhixiu changed his clothes and took a carriage out of the city and headed straight for the suburbs of Beijing.
When he arrived at the courtyard, Chen Zheng had just entered. Turning back and seeing him arrive, he stopped and waited for him.
Shen Zhixiu took two quick steps and came to Chen Zheng's side. "Teacher, do you know why His Royal Highness the Crown Prince summoned us two at this time?"
Chen Zheng stroked his beard and shook his head slightly, "You'll know once you get in."
Shen Zhixiu knew this, and Chen Zheng might not be unaware of it either. However, he also understood the delicate relationship between teacher and student.
The young eunuch led the two to the prince's study in the other courtyard. When they entered, the prince was fiddling with the chessboard, sometimes holding the white pieces, sometimes the black pieces.
When he saw the two of them come in, he offered them a seat and ordered someone to serve tea, then continued to look at the chessboard in front of him.
Shen Zhixiu and Chen Zheng didn't want to be disturbed, so they sat quietly drinking tea.
After a quarter of an hour, the prince threw the chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard.
"Whichever chess piece I choose will win? It's truly evil."
"It seems that this chess game depends on whose hands it is in."
Shen Zhixiu knew that the prince was trying to point out something to him, but he remained expressionless, as if he had not understood what the prince meant at all.
The prince threw away the chess piece in his hand and turned to look at Shen Zhixiu.
"Sir Shen, I asked you to come here today because I have something to discuss with you."
Shen Zhixiu bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness, please speak."
A little palace maid brought in a warm handkerchief. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wiped his hands and spoke.
"Last time, I suggested that Su Chengyan be sent to the Ministry of Revenue as a grain officer, but you refused. I suggested that Huang Xuanzhong be sent to the Ministry of Personnel, but you also didn't agree. I also suggested that Sun Zhiyao be sent to Hangzhou Prefecture, but you, Lord Shen, didn't give me that face."
Shen Zhixiu's heart sank after hearing the Crown Prince's words. He had felt something was amiss the last time the Crown Prince mentioned Huang Xuanzhong and Sun Zhiyao. Sure enough, today was the day to reckon. The reckoning wasn't important; what mattered was the Crown Prince's ultimate goal.
He quickly stood up and knelt, "Your Highness, please forgive me. This is my duty."
The prince signaled the eunuch beside him to come forward and help Shen Zhixiu up, then smiled and said, "Master Shen, what are you doing? Of course I know that you are loyal to your duty."
"I just want to say that there have been times before, times after, times after, but today shouldn't be a fourth time, right?"
The more he said this, the more Shen Zhixiu dared not to agree.
"Your Highness, please forgive my ignorance. I don't understand what you mean."
The prince motioned him to sit down and said casually, "It's a small matter. I value your Shen family's eldest young master, Shen Zhao, and want him to come to the Zhanshi Mansion to help me with some work."
There was no change in Shen Zhixiu's expression, but anger welled up in his heart.
He knew exactly what Shen Zhao was capable of. The prince had gone to such great lengths to get Shen Zhao to the Zhanshi Mansion, simply to drag him and the Shen family into the water.
"Your Highness, Chen Zhao is absorbed in his studies at the Hanlin Academy and I'm afraid he's not up to the task of handling the duties of the Chancellery."
"If the Zhanshi Mansion is short of capable people, I will help you find one."
The Crown Prince looked unhappy when he heard this, "But why do I feel that Young Master Shen is so talented?"
He looked at Chen Zheng again, "What do you think, Master Chen?"
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