Chapter 261 - 240: Palace Examination (Part 3)
Chapter 261: Chapter 240: Palace Examination (Part 3)
Xiao Yanci also saw Zhang Zhaodi and her daughter among others. His expression was calm, as if he didn’t know them. When he noticed something, he glanced towards the second floor and smiled gently.
Zhang Zhaodi was trying to figure out what Xiao Yanci was looking at when suddenly someone stopped beside her and said, "My news arrived in good time, didn’t it?"
Zhang Zhaodi saw the visitor, and nodded, "Not bad, thank you General Su."
"Your son-in-law is quite decent," Su Rende said, "Just now, when we were at the palace, the Emperor couldn’t stop praising him, clearly very fond of him. The Emperor wanted to arrange a marriage for him, saying he wanted to marry him to the Commandery Princess, but he refused. He said he is the Su Family’s child bride, and all these years the Su Family has been funding his education, and he is deeply in love with his wife, and absolutely cannot divorce his wife and marry another. If he were to do that, there would be no difference between him and a beast. The Emperor originally had seven points of satisfaction for him, but seeing him so loyal and affectionate, it rose to ten."
"Indeed, my son-in-law is perfect in every way," Zhang Zhaodi said, "My daughter’s judgment is the best."
"There’s a banquet at the palace today, as the family of the Champion Scholar, you should be among the invited. Get ready in advance!" Su Rende said, "This General has other matters, I’ll take my leave first."
Zhang Zhaodi conveniently picked up the nearby sugar cake and handed it to him, saying, "I made this this morning, if you can handle it, try it, if not, just toss it."
Su Rende took it, and his mind suddenly conjured some fragments.
He took a bite, and the familiar taste rushed to the crown of his head.
"Why did you put pepper in the sugar cake?"
This taste indeed rushes straight to the crown of one’s head, doesn’t it?
"I like eating it this way. If you can’t stand it, don’t eat it, I already said so earlier. This cake is only palatable to my family because I make it regularly and they’re used to eating it."
Su Rende held the sugar cake, bowing his head and nibbling it bit by bit.
Zhang Zhaodi looked back at him and, seeing his strange expression, paid no mind and turned inside.
Her son-in-law had already walked away, and there was nothing else worth watching.
Beside them, Chen Buyu said enviously, "Had I known there would be such a glorious moment, I should’ve worked harder back then; perhaps I could’ve had my moment of glory too."
"You just didn’t take the final examination of the imperial exam, but you did very well on the previous exam, and you’re about to become an Advanced Scholar after being listed," Su Yaoguang replied.
"I’ve already written to my parents. Actually, I’m just listed in the previous exam. Truly arranging an official position would still depend on the batch who took the final exam first. By the time it’s my turn, it’s impossible to get an official position in the Capital City. I’ll have to go to another place to assume office," Chen Buyu said, "Though not as great as Chu Shan and Wang Shu, this is already considered successful to my parents. Just think, as a young master of a dance house who earns gold daily, I’ll be reduced to a monthly salary of several taels of silver."
"Your family business is always yours; no one can take it away. The family business was earned by your parents, but the current official position is gained by your own ability. Brother Chen, you are already impressive."
"Yaoguang, you speak so kindly. By the way, Yaoguang, you are going to the palace banquet, you should prepare some formal attire in advance."
Su Yaoguang shook her head, "No need to be too formal; after all, we’re just ordinary citizens, and Wang Shu doesn’t have an official position yet. If we act too ostentatiously, it might cause trouble for Wang Shu. Everyone knows we run a rouge and cosmetic shop, so dressing up a bit is fine, but our attire shouldn’t exceed the norms."
"I suddenly feel glad that I achieved ordinary success, not becoming a metropolitan official," Chen Buyu said, "I have an unsharp mind, and my wife is even more naive and pure. If we stayed in the Capital City, with our personalities, we’d never make it to the top, better to be a local official, doing some real work for the people, with the Emperor far away, with no constraints."
"The most important thing is staying far from the Capital City, so you won’t get watched by the Imperial Censorate when you spend money lavishly. In this sense, you are indeed more carefree."
Su Rende held the cake and continued nibbling it, while the images in his mind remained perpetually vague.
"General, we’ve found them, your old belongings have been found!" the steward ran out excitedly and said.