Chapter 2288: The Young Man Seeking Madam Hou
Chapter 2288: Chapter 2288: The Young Man Seeking Madam Hou
Meng Yunzheng is about to leave the prefecture, and the house remains unoccupied.
He has been very busy these days, as the academy just opened, and in its early days there’s always plenty that requires his attention as the Mountain Master.
The first day was enrollment, the second day was admissions, and now on the third day, Meng Yunzheng is preparing to deliver the opening speech.
He has to personally oversee all these aspects, so for these three days, he has been staying at the academy and hasn’t returned home.
However, since it’s the early days of marriage, he at least kept Shu Yu by his side, preventing him from feeling lonely at night, which offered some comfort.
After three days, the academy finally settled down and began operating in an orderly manner.
Yet, the grand inauguration of Zhenglu Academy was still something many people spoke of with relish, spreading far and wide.
At this time, in the neighboring prefecture a young man was traveling by carriage there, and upon hearing news about Zhenglu Academy, he stopped briefly and said to the attendant student beside him, “It seems Top Scholar Meng’s academy is doing very well. Do you think he would let me stay there?”
The attendant student grimaced, “Young Master, your studies at the Imperial College are going well, why insist on coming to this backwater? Even if there are two great scholars and a top scorer with six degrees here, it’s still no match for the strength of the Imperial College, right?”
“You don’t understand; even Yao Po came here.”
“But Scholar Yao was agreed upon by his family, whereas you sneaked out. When you return to the Capital, Lord will definitely break your legs.” After all, the young master has always been obedient and suddenly being this rebellious, how could Lord not be furious?
The young man solemnly replied, “What are you talking about? How have I sneaked out? I’m here for a legitimate reason; I even left a letter for my father.”
“What legitimate reason do you have?” The attendant student muttered softly; running off to a minor academy for studies hardly compares to being at the Imperial College, does it?
The young man took out a letter from a small box behind him and waved it in front of the attendant, “I’m here to deliver a letter to Madam Hou.”
The attendant student, “…” How is this legitimate? Is delivering a letter really necessary for you? Madam Hou will naturally see it upon returning in a few days; if you’re making excuses, at least find a better one.
The young man put away the letter again, lay back in the carriage, and mused aloud, “I’m delivering a letter to Madam Hou, who has a good relationship with County Lord Lu, who is Mountain Master Meng’s beloved wife. When the time comes, I will have Madam Hou say a few words for me, and staying will certainly be no problem.”
“But your relationship with Madam Hou is mediocre; she may not speak well for you. Furthermore, Madam Hou is Lord’s concubine, and has been quite favored these past few years. Although she hasn’t borne a son, who knows what the future holds?”
In this household, how many concubines want the legitimate son’s interests to prosper? Afraid that Madam Hou might act deviously behind the scenes, taking advantage of this opportunity to make Lord displeased with the young master is not impossible.
Of course, these thoughts the attendant student kept to himself, daring not speak them aloud.
The Wan Family doesn’t tolerate servants sowing discord among their masters, especially the closest servants, if discovered, would only be sold off cheaply.
“We better hurry up; I heard the academy has been open for three days now. If I go any later, they might not accept anyone.”
The young man sat up quickly, urging the coachman to press on.
Thus, after noon on the third day, outside the gates of Zhenglu Academy, suddenly arrived a pair of master and servant covered in dust; upon closer inspection, they appeared somewhat disheveled.
The young man knocked on the gates of the academy, and the gatekeeper opened them, asking in surprise, “Who are you looking for?”
“We are looking for Madam Hou… no, we are looking for Mountain Master Meng.”