In the evening, Zhulan checked the gift list and put away the gifts in different categories. Most of the gifts today were furs, but there were no bright red fox furs. They were all medium-quality furs. The most collected today were mink furs. Although the furs were not top-quality, Li Shi coveted them very much. Unfortunately, Zhulan still had no intention of sharing them.

Zhulan sent her three daughters-in-law away, locked the door of the warehouse again, and returned to the backyard with the gift list.

Zhou Shuren heard footsteps and saw Zhulan coming back and asked, “Have you finished the inventory?”

Zhulan opened the gift list. “The Shi family also came to give gifts? Didn’t the Shi family move to the capital?”

Zhou Shuren took the gift list and saw the Shi family’s name on it. The gift was not small, a set of fine ceramic tea sets. “Pingzhou is the Shi family’s root. The master had someone to take care of it when he went to Beijing. The Shi family has been giving gifts to scholars and candidates all these years. The master should have left a message after he left. He would not have given gifts to only me. I guess he gave gifts to the top ten candidates.”

Zhulan took the gift list and said, “It’s really unexpected. When we first arrived, based on the original memories, the Emperor deeply resented merchants and severely oppressed them. Who would have thought that this same emperor would go back on his own words without hesitation, even granting Shi Qing special permission to take the imperial exam? Now that this precedent has been set, there’s no turning back in the future.”

Zhou Shuren was also surprised by the Emperor’s shamelessness. He thought he was quite shameless sometimes, but he was really incomparable to the Emperor. “So the Emperor is a ruthless person, but it also proves that we are too strong-willed. Shi Qing also changed his own destiny.”

Besides, the Emperor had already started the process, just like laying out bait, waiting for people to take the bait!

Zhulan closed the gift list, “Shi Qing’s fate has changed completely, his master has been replaced by the Emperor. However, even if Shi Qing passes the imperial examination and becomes an official, he can only be loyal to the Emperor. If he has any unfaithful thoughts, he will be destroyed in a minute.”

Zhou Shuren let out a light laugh and said, “In the age of imperial power, loyalty has always been to the emperor. Shi Qing’s move is both brilliant and strategic.”

Zhulan said faintly: “No wonder he dumped Wang Ru so easily. He had climbed onto the thickest thigh.”

Zhou Shuren smiled with narrowed eyes and said, “Actually, I quite admire Shi Qing. He embodies the saying ‘Every man for himself or heaven and earth will destroy him’ to perfection. Unfortunately, despite participating in the imperial exam, Shi Qing comes from a merchant background, which greatly limits his achievements. Otherwise, he would truly be a remarkable figure!”

Zhulan’s eyes sparkled. “Who do you think is more powerful, Shi Qing or Wu Ming?”

Zhou Shuren said without even thinking: “Shi Qing.”

“Why?”

Zhou Shuren curled his lips, “Shi Qing has been growing up in adversity, dealing with various forces since he was a child. His intelligence and ruthlessness are not comparable to Wu Ming. On the other hand, Wu Ming’s path to the imperial examination was smooth sailing because of our indirect influence. Wu Ming had long lost his determination to reach a high position.”

Zhulan was very curious, “Do you think Shi Qing staged the kidnapping of Wang Ru himself and secretly offered her up?”

Zhou Shuren shook his head. “Shi Qing is not that stupid. He knew Wang Ru hated him, so how could he let Wang Ru see the Emperor? But he couldn’t kill Wang Ru because he knew that Wang Ru’s traces could not be wiped away. The Emperor would find out sooner or later. So the best way is that Wang Ru was kidnapped by someone else.”

Zhulan narrowed her eyes. “Shi Qing doesn’t dare to kill Wang Ru, because once Wang Ru dies, he will definitely be suspected by the Emperor. The Emperor will think that Shi Qing didn’t tell the whole story and that Shi Qing hid something. Once Wang Ru dies, Shi Qing will face the same dilemma as Wang Ru.”

“Yes, so Wang Ru’s abduction was the most brilliant move. After Wang Ru was abducted, the Emperor would never trust her according to his suspicions. By the time Wang Ru is found, Shi Qing would have had enough time to gain the Emperor’s trust. When choosing between the unknown and the already known, everyone would trust the already known.”

Zhulan continued, “And Shi Qing must have dug out almost everything in Wang Ru’s mind.”

Zhou Shuren said dimly, “We can guess so much because we know who Wang Ru is and have been paying attention to Shi Qing and Wang Ru. It’s hard for others to guess. Shi Qing is too scheming. If his background hadn’t limited him, his achievements would be immeasurable.”

Zhulan recalled silently after Wang Ru was kidnapped, Shi Qing looked for her in a big way, with notices posted all over the streets. She and Zhou Shuren saw quite a few on the way back. Well, Shi Qing looked for her in such a big way, and the people who kidnapped Wang Ru didn’t dare to let her show up again, so they could only hide her tightly. Wang Ru’s situation was worrying!

Zhou Shuren saw that it was getting late, “You’ve been busy for two days and haven’t taken a shower for two days. I’ll go get you some hot water for a shower.”

Zhulan really wanted to take a bath, “Okay.”

In her modern times, Zhulan took a bath once a day, no matter spring, summer, autumn, or winter. But in ancient times, the conditions did not allow that. And in the Northeast, it was more convenient to take a bath in summer. Not only was it difficult to take a bath in winter, but it was also too cold and she didn’t want to move. Zhulan’s habits had changed a lot.

It was very late when Zhulan and Zhou Shuren finished taking a bath. Zhou Shuren was exhausted from pouring the water. The two of them stopped chatting and fell asleep after lying down for a while.

In the following days, fewer people came to congratulate him, but more people wanted to become his disciples. They were all scholars who wanted to become his disciples. Some of them came sincerely because they valued Zhou Shuren’s abilities, while a large number of them came for future benefits.

Zhulan knew Zhou Shuren too well. These people had no hope. Zhou Shuren would not accept any apprentices. Zhou Shuren raised the Zhou family’s sons just for the sake of a better life. That was why he was unwilling to spend energy to teach apprentices!

Especially in ancient times, a master was like a father, so Zhou Shuren was even more unwilling to do it because he disliked the trouble.

Those who came to his house returned disappointed, and as they all knew that Zhou Shuren did not accept disciples, the number of visitors gradually decreased.

The invitation from the Jiang Mansion had also arrived. This was the first time Zhou Shuren had received an invitation from Lord Jiang, and Zhulan also wanted to go with him.

Zhulan had no plan to bring Dong Shi with her, even though the Eldest Dong Shi was her biological sister.

This time when she went to Jiang Mansion, Zhulan didn’t bring anyone with her. She took out the clothes she bought in the capital, put on some jade jewelry, packed her things, and went to Jiang Mansion with Zhou Shuren, taking the gifts.

It was Zhulan’s first time to visit the Jiang Mansion, which had four courtyards. Zhou Shuren stayed in the front yard, and she followed the housekeeper to the back yard.

Zhulan walked along with ease and grace, without looking around.

The housekeeper secretly observed and nodded, smiling a little more, “Madam, come this way.”

Zhulan followed the housekeeper through the gate, smiling faintly and nodding.

In less than a cup of tea, Zhulan met Madam Jiang, who was sitting in the main seat. Madam Jiang and Dong Shi looked very similar. Madam Jiang was well-maintained and did not look like she was 31. She looked to be in her twenties.

Zhulan quickly glanced at Madam Jiang’s clothes. They were all casual clothes. She thought Madam Jiang would give her a slap in the face because of Dong Shi, but she didn’t expect that she would be very kind to her. Zhulan knew what was going on and stepped forward to greet her, saying, “Greetings Madam Jiang.”

(End of this chapter)

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