Chapter 1598 Catching the Eye

Changzhong and his brother-in-law were already standing in front of the desk. On the desk was a painting of plum trees. Changzhong whispered, "Most of Mr. Gu's paintings are of plum blossoms."

Jiang Sheng looked at the painting in front of him and felt a sense of appreciation for talent. "Mr. Gu is a person who loves plum blossoms."

The pride of the plum blossom comes to my face, as if I were a plum blossom standing in the cold wind, noble and proud.

Changzhong heard footsteps and turned around to see the man in long gown beside Gu Sheng. "Who is this?"

Before Gu Sheng could introduce himself, Master Ji spoke first, "I came from Yizhou with Master Gu, and we were both selected in the same class. My name is Ji Deming."

Gu Sheng looked a little unnatural. He thought Master Ji was too anxious, and he was also worried about how Master Zhou and Mr. Jiang would view him.

Changzhong, "Master Ji, you came out in a long gown. You are not afraid of catching a cold in such a cold weather. Come in quickly and don't stand at the door."

Master Ji was indeed cold. He was afraid of being discovered by the people in the same courtyard, so he ran over in a hurry, "Thank you, Master Zhou."

Gu Sheng was unsure of what the young master of the Marquisate was thinking. He didn't think that Marquis Zhou couldn't see what Young Master Ji was thinking. He pursed his lips and followed him in and closed the door. The light in the room was not affected because the windows of this courtyard were glass windows.

Changzhong's love for painting is not as much as his brother-in-law's obsession with Zengdu. Jiang Sheng ignored his brother-in-law and waved to Gu Sheng, "I have a few questions for you."

Gu Sheng didn't even bother to care about Master Ji. He nodded to Master Zhou and walked briskly to the desk. "Excuse me, sir."

Jiang Sheng pointed to several places in the painting and asked questions carefully. The more Gu Sheng listened, the more he understood.

Changzhong took a quick look and took out some dried meat from his pocket, without any intention of speaking.

Master Ji finally had the chance to meet the Master of Zhou Mansion, and he was unwilling to sit there and do nothing. "I am happy for Brother Gu to have won the Master's favor."

Chang Zhong looked at Master Ji with a half-smile. No matter how well he tried to hide his jealousy, he couldn't hide it. "I don't know much about Master Gu. Every time I see him, he always surprises me. It hasn't been long since Master Gu rented an independent courtyard. I like people who are self-reliant."

Master Ji, "......"

Is the young master of the Marquis's Mansion calling on him?

Ji Deming became more and more jealous as he looked at the glass windows. This small courtyard with three rooms cost five taels of silver a month, all because of the glass windows. The room in the courtyard he rented was very dark when the door was closed. He wanted to live there himself, but Master Gu directly refused. Ji Deming's smile was a little forced.

Suddenly I heard, "Sell this painting to me, I'll give you twenty taels of silver."

This is what Jiang Sheng said. He really likes this painting. Although it still has many flaws, it has an impeccable artistic conception. Twenty taels is very high.

Gu Sheng said hurriedly, "You have taught me a lot. How can I sell you a painting? I will give this painting to you, sir."

Jiang Sheng raised his hand, "If you say so, I won't dare to come again."

As he said this, he reached for his purse, but his hand froze halfway and he looked up at his brother-in-law.

Changzhong chuckled. His brother-in-law didn't bring his purse with him when he went out, so he motioned to his servant to get some silver. Jiang Sheng smiled and said, "I'll give it to you when I get back."

Master Ji, "......"

Only twenty taels? My heart aches!

In Zhouhou Mansion, Zhulan was holding Yulu's youngest son, Wang Zhuoqing. The child was chubby and looked like a ball in his thick winter clothes. "This child is sturdy."

Yu Lu, "This child has a particularly good appetite. He drinks a lot of milk and eats a lot of complementary food. Every time he checks his pulse, the doctor says that this child has a good spleen and stomach. There are few strong children like this in Beijing."

Zhulan smiled and said, "It's a blessing to be able to eat, but you look thinner than the last time I saw you."

Yu Lu explained, "My granddaughter has grown taller, and with the two children making noises, she has become thinner."

Li has always been fat, and is particularly envious of slim women. "It's better to be thinner."

Yu Lu really didn't lose weight on purpose. She was relying on her youth and good health to recover so quickly after giving birth twice.

Everyone heard the giggles and looked at Wang Zhuoping who was playing hide-and-seek. The little guy was very happy. There were few children in the Wang family and Zhuoping was quite lonely. Although he also found children from the clan to accompany him, he was very cautious with the little guy and the sensitive child found it boring. When he returned to the Zhou family, there were many uncles and aunts around, so the little guy naturally had a good time.

Li would visit the Wang residence once a month and knew how much Wang Ju valued her grandson. "I have never seen Zhuoping so happy in the Wang family."

Yu Lu sighed, "The Wang family has too few children, Zhuoqing is young, and Zhuoping is indeed a little lonely."

Mrs. Li thought about how the old man of the Wang family always took his grandson with him wherever he went, and felt sorry for him, but she did not tell her daughter to bring the child home more often.

Zhulan asked Yulu, "You brought the child back not just for us to see him, right?"

Yu Lu nodded, "There is a girl of marriageable age in the Wang family who has not yet been engaged. The Yong'an Duke's Mansion sent an invitation for a tea party, but since I didn't receive the invitation, I asked the old lady to let me take care of her."

Su Xuan heard this and asked, "Is this to be brought to show to some officials' wives?"

Yu Lu nodded, "Yes, I hope to find a better family."

It is not uncommon for couples to meet at a banquet, and most of the meetings start with the female guests at the banquet.

Su Xuan understood that Yu Lu came back specifically to inform her.

The next day, the Yong'an Mansion became the focus of the capital. It was the first time in many years that such a large-scale banquet was held, and the Yong'an Mansion also wanted to use the banquet to regain the capital's attention.

Zhuo Guyu's recent debates have already made his presence felt and created quite a stir, attracting many families with daughters waiting to get married. Many of them went to this tea party with a purpose, especially when they heard that there were many good young men in the Duke's Mansion.

Su Xuan and her daughter sat in the carriage. Yu Die and Yu Yi did not go because they were already engaged and did not want to join in the fun. Yu Jiao wanted to go but was too young.

The carriage stopped near the Duke's Mansion. Yu Wen came down wearing a cloak and holding a heater in her arms. The fiery red cloak was particularly eye-catching. There was not a single stray hair on the cloak, which showed the value of the cloak.

Su Xuan saw her daughter's brilliant appearance, and her eyes were filled with pride. "Are you cold?"

Yuwen shook her head, "It's not cold."

Su Xuan looked at the long carriage and said, "From today onwards, the Yong'an Duke's Mansion will be bustling with activity."

Yu Wen looked at the vast Duke's Mansion and sneered, "It's going to be lively."

Su Xuan came late on purpose, as she didn't want the carriages to get stuck in front of her. She walked all the way and didn't see the palace's carriage, so she turned her head to look at the lady.

Yu Wen looked towards the direction of the palace and lowered her voice, "This is the attitude of the royal family."

Su Xuan nodded. So unless the emperor died, the status of the Yong'an Mansion would remain mediocre.

At the Ministry of Revenue, Zhou Shuren was very surprised to see the Minister of Punishment. He didn't have much contact with the Minister of Punishment. "How did you have time to come to the Ministry of Revenue today?"

The Minister of Justice smiled and said, "The Ministry of Justice has not been busy recently. I came in to ask for a cup of tea when I passed by the Ministry of Revenue today."