Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 1819: Chapter 1819: The Little Apprentice

Chang Zhi raised an eyebrow, "You’re wrong there; you should say our family knows how to educate children."

Our children indeed have talent. They say that unpolished jade is worthless; children with talent are useless if not well cultivated.

Mr. Qi felt even more envious. Who wouldn’t want to have a master from the Zhou family? But in reality, except for when Marquis Zhou first rose to prominence and took on a student, none have succeeded since. It is said that the student of Marquis Zhou has done well in external assignments, which is one of the reasons for the envy towards Hou Residence—Hou Residence has rich resources to educate its own people, leaving others with nothing but jealousy and bitter words.

Chang Zhi asked, "Did you place a bet?"

Mr. Qi stroked his beard, "Hmm, would you like to hear it?"

Chang Zhi stepped back, "Forget it, just pretend I didn’t ask."

He didn’t want to think more after hearing it, so it’s better not to listen.

Mr. Qi, "!!"

Chang Zhi quickly left, fearing he’d be grabbed. Mr. Qi wanted to hit someone; is there anyone who would tease him like this?

In the afternoon, Zhulan, having rested, mused about her brother and sister-in-law, "I said they should stay a little longer, but they didn’t want to, and I don’t know if they’ve reached home yet."

Zhou Shuren spoke up for his brother-in-law, "Brother-in-law is worried about home, and Wu Chun didn’t come to the capital, after all, it’s not home here for them."

Zhulan felt melancholy, "That was the last time we saw them."

Zhou Shuren suggested, "Why not invite Second Brother to the capital?"

"Second Brother’s health isn’t as good as Big Brother’s."

That’s also why Chang Zhi didn’t extend the invitation.

Zhou Shuren didn’t like to see his wife feeling sad, so he whispered, "I secretly bet on our son becoming the top scorer."

Zhulan fell silent strangely, seeing Shuren puzzled, she cleared her throat, "I heard the odds are quite high, so I also placed a bet."

Zhou Shuren laughed; it seems the couple really have a tacit understanding, "How much did you bet?"

Zhulan squinted and asked in return, "You first, how much did you bet?"

She was calculating the silver coins Zhou might have in hand, wondering if he had secretly stashed away some silver.

Zhou Shuren knew his wife well, "I took three hundred taels from the eldest, two hundred from Chang Yi, two hundred from Chang Zhi, and added three hundred of my own, betting a total of one thousand taels."

Ahem, this was the silver their sons discreetly offered up as filial piety at the end of the year, he wasn’t shy about asking them for money.

Zhulan was speechless, "Well, they’re quite good at helping you keep it a secret."

Zhou Shuren couldn’t admit he threatened their sons, of course, "They need a good lesson!"

Zhulan said, "I also bet a thousand taels."

Zhou Shuren laughed even more cheerfully, "The odds are now twelve to one."

Zhulan also laughed, "I’ve made up my mind, if we win this silver, I’ll give the large share to Chang Xhong and distribute the rest to Ming Hui and the others."

Zhou Shuren knew immediately, "You want to help Ming Hui?"

Zhulan sighed, "I have to be fair. I heard from Lady Li that Ming Hui sold the gemstone given by his second uncle, but unfortunately, I can’t simply supplement Ming Hui alone."

Zhou Shuren frowned, "Did he really sell it? Chang Yi is biased towards Ming Hui and secretly gives him quite a few good things. Does Chang Yi know?"

Zhulan nodded, "He knows. This kid told Chang Yi about selling the gemstone; without Chang Yi’s permission, Ming Hui wouldn’t have sold it."

Zhou Shuren smirked, "I wondered why Chang Yi was so generous at New Year."

Zhulan chuckled, "That’s why they say Ming Hui takes after me and gets off easy. He gets the most out of it while rarely getting punished, and the second most good things."

Among the grandsons, Mingyun is the eldest, so Chang Yi wouldn’t bypass Mingyun. Apart from his sons Ming Rui and Ming Feng, Ming Hui receives more good things than other nephews.

Zhou Shuren asked, "How much silver did Ming Hui give Lady Li?"

"First, he gave her nine hundred taels, and after selling the gemstone, another one thousand one hundred taels."

This was after Xue Han knowingly offered a high price!

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "With the extra two thousand taels, combined with the prepared betrothal gift, it’s quite a lot now."

Zhulan asked again, "When will Wu Ming return to the capital?"

Zhou Shuren stroked his beard, "We still need to wait a bit longer."

We’re waiting for Wu Ming to train the people sent by the Emperor. The Emperor fears there might be chaos if Wu Ming leaves.

The couple discussed Wu Ming’s siblings; each has their own family. Wu Ning, married and living with her husband, won’t come back unless there is something significant. Apart from letters notifying about situations, they haven’t seen each other in a while.

The next day, after the morning court, Zhou Shuren stayed behind. The Emperor held his Grandson and spoke with a sour tone, "Lately, you’ve been thinking about your youngest son, so I haven’t let you see the child. Here, this child calls you Master."

The Emperor was happy his grandson spoke early, not knowing whether it was because he taught too much or because he saw Zhou Shuren often. The grandson didn’t call out much for mom or dad, nor did he call him this grandfather; instead, he unclearly called out Master, which soured the Emperor’s mood for an entire day.

Zhou Shuren, smiling, picked up the little apprentice. What can he say? Seeing him often does feel different, especially since the first thing the child called was him. He laughed to himself; the Emperor got what he deserved, continuously saying, "This is your Master," so naturally, the Grandson remembered.

The Emperor snorted. Fortunately, the second thing the Grandson called was Grandpa.

The Crown Prince was frustrated. His son was often taken by his father, not teaching him to call him Dad, and he ended up being third in line!

The Emperor, seeing his Grandson tug at Zhou Shuren’s beard, felt better and joked, "I’ve placed a bet on Chang Xhong too. If we lose, you must compensate me with the silver."

Zhou Shuren felt it difficult to explain, "How much did Your Majesty bet?"

"Not much, just ten thousand taels."

The Crown Prince chimed in, "I bet ten thousand taels as well."

Zhou Shuren, "..."

Even though he knew the Emperor wouldn’t favor Chang Xhong over ten thousand taels, did the father and son have to trust Chang Xhong so much?

The Emperor wagered purely for joy, while the Crown Prince aimed to make money.

The Emperor said, "How about selling me the questions you’ve prepared for Chang Xhong?"

Zhou Shuren thought of his son’s desk full of exam questions and coughed, his son really hadn’t done few mock exams this year, "Has His Majesty taken a liking to them?"

The Emperor signaled the Crown Prince to bring over a couple of sets of questions, "I requested the consent of Chang Xhong for Fourth to bring them into the palace. You’ve really made comprehensive question sets."

Zhou Shuren said wistfully, "Who wouldn’t want a top scorer in the family?"

He understood the value of these questions; Wu Ming is a true scholar, Chang Zhi is an all-rounder academic star, and he himself is not bad. With Rongchuan added in, leaking these questions would undoubtedly cause a stir.

The Emperor placed more importance on the papers as they not only tested classical essays but included various other disciplines, hinting at the reform of the imperial examinations, "Sell all the papers Chang Xhong has done to me."

Zhou Shuren cherished silver but knew better than to accept it, "Your Majesty, I love silver but know which silver is rightful. These papers, if Your Majesty needs them, I will willingly offer them."

He hoped for the court to gain truly talented and well-rounded individuals!

The Emperor chuckled, "I knew you would say that. In fact, I didn’t prepare even a single coin."

Zhou Shuren, holding the Grandson, said, "Little apprentice."

The Grandson called out crisply, "Master."

The Emperor, "..."

The Crown Prince, "..."

Zhou Shuren felt gratified, smiling as he conversed with the Imperial Grandson!

Time flew by, the Spring Exam finally ended, and Chang Xhong packed his luggage, listening to the calls while quietly waiting. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Yang Xiu, who was, after all, young and without a reliable elder. He had long noticed Yang Xiu struggling to hold out through the exams.