Chapter 413: Smart Enough

Zhulan got up a little late in the morning. Zhou Shuren had already washed up and changed his clothes. When Zhulan got up, she saw Zhou Shuren sitting on a chair looking at her. Zhulan was in good spirits and touched her face. "Is there something wrong with me?"

Zhou Shuren looked at Zhulan carefully. Zhulan's face was rosy and her eyes were full of energy. Thinking of how well she slept last night, he put away his worries. "It's nothing. I just think you look good recently."

Zhulan smiled and said, "I think so too. Maybe I have had enough rest recently."

Zhou Shuren originally wanted to take Zhulan for a walk around the area after finishing the work on the dike, but now with Shi Qing coming along, he had to think carefully about how to satisfy the emperor. Zhou Shuren couldn't help but touch his hair, he felt that his hair loss had become serious in the past two years.

Not long after Zhou Shuren arrived at the yamen, Shi Qing came in person. Zhou Shuren left Shi Qing alone for a while before going to the front hall to meet him.

Shi Qing's attire was very different from before. He used to be dressed like a nobleman, but now it was much more low-key and simple. The only difference was the jade pendant on his body.

Zhou Shuren looked at Shi Qing, and Shi Qing also looked at Lord Zhou. He had never paid much attention to Lord Zhou before, and his memory had long been vague. This meeting with Lord Zhou left a deep mark in his heart. Lord Zhou was wearing an official uniform and was serious. Although there was no contempt for him in his eyes, there was indifference. He looked at him coldly, and he felt pressured. This was the power of an official, and his heart was burning.

Shi Qing stood up and saluted respectfully, "Student Shi Qing meets Master Zhou."

Zhou Shuren hummed, "Master Shi, please sit down."

Shi Qing sighed. He had not taken the person seriously before, but now he not only had to be respectful but also had to please him. Shi Qing continued to pay his respects, "I came from Pingzhou with Master Zhou. I got fifth place in the Tongsheng exam this year. I came from Pingzhou and I admire you, so I came to be your disciple with a thick face."

Shi Qing thought of his results in the provincial examination and sneered in his heart. He should have been able to be in the top three, but because he was originally from a merchant family, he only got fifth place. If he had not been willing to spend money, it would have been difficult for him to keep his fifth place.

Zhou Shuren looked at Shi Qing with interest, "Although I am a bit older, I am not confused. This is not what Master Shi wrote in his letter yesterday."

Shi Qing thought about it all night yesterday and felt that it was better to be honest. The more he schemed, the more annoying he would become. He did not understand the emperor and had only met him once. He did not know much about Lord Zhou, the emperor's confidant, but he knew that compared to Lord Zhou, he had no weight in the emperor's heart.

Shi Qing still bent over, "I hope you won't argue with me, I have my own difficulties..."

Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes. Shi Qing's reaction was really fast. He basically told him about his experience in the capital, and even hinted that it was a challenge given to him by the emperor. He was honest with him, but he also kicked the ball to him. Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes, "You are very smart."

Shi Qing lowered his head. He had to be smart. If he was smart, he would have died long ago. "I hope Master Zhou will accept you as a student."

Zhou Shuren couldn't accept Shi Qing so easily. Sometimes he felt that he was also quite aggrieved. Although he had been aggrieved by others most of the time during the two years in Lizhou City, he was still no match for the emperor in the face of absolute imperial power. He finally gained some weight, but it was still not enough to compete with the powerful nobles in the capital.

Now everyone respects him as Lord Zhou. Apart from the common people, the nobles in the capital are polite to him because of the emperor. Once the emperor's favor is gone, his fate will not be good.

(End of this chapter)