There were many smart people in the capital. Not only Xiao Yuanshi’s people were keeping an eye on them, but many ministers were keeping an eye on them.

If Xiao Hanzheng and his wife entered the palace for a short time, it means that the Emperor dismissed them casually and didn’t pay much attention to them.

If it took a long time to enter the palace, it means that the Emperor and Xiao Hanzheng must have talked a lot. This means that the Emperor pays attention to him, so they will also pay attention to him.

Not long after, they found out the length of time Xiao Hanzheng’s stay in the palace.

And also the Emperor’s reward to Xiao Hanzheng and his wife.

After hearing this reward, everyone was stunned.

They didn’t expect it would be so strange.

Then they further inquired about it, they found out that this was the reward proposed by Xiao Hanzheng and his wife themselves.

Most people were very disdainful, thinking that they were indeed from a small county and mountain village. They don’t cherish such a good opportunity in front of them.

Such a great achievement, but they only requested a mountain villa and permission to read the previous test papers. They were too short-sighted and stupid.

As a result, they lost interest in winning over Xiao Hanzheng.

Very few old foxes can see the twists and turns in this.

In the Xi Family.

At this time, the men of the Xi Family had just finished dinner, and Old Master Xi called them over to sit and drink tea.

And talked about the Emperor’s reward.

Xi Rui couldn’t help but frown: “Qingluo is too stupid to only ask for a village.”

Even he was rewarded with gold and jade unicorns. While Shi Qingluo, the person who planted corn, suffered too much.

He added with a bit of anger: “Xiao Hanzheng is also confused. He just asked to look at the previous test papers. Why waste such a great opportunity?”

The Third Master of the Xi Family couldn’t help but shake his head and say: “It’s such a waste not to cherish such a good opportunity.”

No wonder, he can hang out with a group of dandies.

When Old Master Xi heard what the two said, he frowned slightly and asked his other son: “What do you think?”

He had five sons, two legitimate sons, and three illegitimate sons.

The eldest son and second son were direct descendants, while the third, fourth, and fifth were from the concubines.

The second and fourth sons worked as officials in other places, while the third son was assigned an errand in the capital, and the fifth son was still studying.

So the ones here were the eldest son, the third son, and the fifth son.

The Fifth Master thought for a while and said: “I also think that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife are a bit short-sighted. Some people from the countryside just can’t stand up on the high ground.”

As soon as these words came out, Xi Rui glared at him: “Fifth Uncle, who do you think can’t stand on the high ground? They are my friend.”

When the Fifth Master was glared at by his nephew, he didn’t sneer at him. Instead, he smiled sarcastically: “Slip of the tongue!”

Although he was Xi Rui’s uncle, he was only a few years older than him. But in this family, this bastard was the younger ancestor, and he could not afford to offend him.

Old Master Xi completely gave up on his fifth son after hearing what he said. This was the so-called short-sighted.

He looked at Xi Xinheng and asked: “Do you think so too?”

Xi Xinheng thought for a while and said with a smile: “No, I think Xiao Hanzheng and his wife are very smart.”

“Although, it seems silly, that they only want such a simple reward. At least, they entered the Emperor’s eyes. What’s more, they can get more in the future.”

The purpose of taking the imperial examination was of course to pursue an official career.

The success of your official career, in addition to your ability, has a lot to do with whether the Emperor was impressed by you and whether he thinks highly of you.

Such a reward for Xiao Hanzheng and his wife would not be very conspicuous in the capital.

Nine out of ten people will think like the Third Master and the Fifth Master, so they will be too lazy to win over or suppress them.

They will not think Xiao Hanzheng and his wife knew the saying: “A beautiful tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind”.

Many people understand this truth, but when suddenly a big pie falls from the sky, many people cannot hold it.

So the choice of Xiao Hanzheng and his wife surprised them and also made them very optimistic.

It seems that his stupid son has made the right friends this time.

Old Master Xi’s frowning eyebrows relaxed, and he said: “Not bad.”

He was indeed the rightful heir he trained, unlike the self-righteous fools like the Third Master and Fifth Master.

Then he said to Xi Rui: “Silly boy, don’t think they are at a disadvantage. Sometimes it is a blessing to be at a disadvantage.”

“That friend of yours are smart individual.”

“Play with them more in the future.”

He added: “That boy from the Liang Family and the boy from the Fei Family are also good.”

Those two boys seemed to be good at eating, drinking, and having fun, but they were both smart people.

They were not like some dudes, that was just plain stupid.

Xi Rui didn’t understand: “How can you be blessed after suffering such a disadvantage? Isn’t it stupid?”

Old Master Xi: “……”

Xi Xinheng: “……”

This child is hopeless.

His intelligence cannot be used in politics, and they were afraid that this would be the case for the rest of his life.

Fortunately, he was not the eldest grandson, otherwise, they would be the ones crying.

Feeling the unfriendly looks from his grandfather and biological father, Xi Rui rolled his eyes.

Aren’t they tired after a long day of twists and turns? He’d better just eat and wait to die.

The expressions of Third Master and Fifth Master also changed.

Old Master Xi’s words affirmed their eldest brother, while he ignored them, which indicated that he had given up on them.

No need to mention their elder brother who was like an old fox, but why Xi Rui, a dandy nephew, were much more valued than them?

Both of them felt a little unwilling, but there was nothing they could do about it.

The Liang Family also staged such a drama.

However, Liang Youxiao and Xi Rui saw things differently. He agreed with the choice of Xiao Hanzheng and his wife as soon as he opened his mouth.

Old Master Liang and Liang Mingcheng were shocked.

Old Master Liang couldn’t help but ask: “How about you also take the imperial examination, then I’ll help you arrange an official position?”

He didn’t expect he would be able to see the twists and turns in this event.

Liang Mingcheng also wondered whether he had paid too little attention to his son before. That’s why his son had become a dandy.

Liang Youxiao immediately shook his head: “No, I just like to eat, drink, have fun, and count money.”

Old Master Liang: “……”

This grandson is hopeless.

Liang Mingcheng: “……”

It was not that he didn’t pay attention, it was just that the bastard didn’t want to aim high.

Old Master Liang waved his hand: “Forget it, do whatever you like.”

Anyway, their family has no shortage of capable grandsons. There were so many of them in the family. So he won’t for him to do something he doesn’t want and fight with them.

But he encouraged again: “You have made good friends this time. Continue to maintain your relationship with Xiao Hanzheng.”

Liang Youxiao nodded and said: “Okay.”

He then said with a smile: “People say that if there is an elder in the family, it is like holding a treasure. Our family has one, so I will listen to my grandfather.”

Old Master Liang laughed out loud and said, “You brat, you have a lot of vision.”

Other people: “……”

They understand why the old man and the old lady said that the most filial person in the family was him.

It was not that they were not good, it was just, that they don’t have such shameless flattery skill as this bastard.

They feel ashamed to say such disgusting things.

The Fei Family was similar. Old Master Fei asked his son and grandson.

Old Master Fei was very satisfied with Fei Yuzhe’s answer, so he decided to train his grandson, who had only been dawdling around before.

Fei Yuzhe also wanted to pursue an official career, so he hit it off with the old man.

Such things also happen in a few families. These old foxes will naturally not lower their stature to win over Xiao Hanzheng, but they will let their grandchildren try to make friends with him.

Of course, Xiao Yuanshi of the Xiao Family naturally belongs to the smart few.

After hearing his son’s choice, he regretted more and more his previous impulsive decision to break up the family and separate the family.

So he wanted to do something to save it, at least on the surface.

Ge Chunru didn’t have such a high political vision. When she heard that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife came to the capital and even went to the palace, her heart felt as uncomfortable and tormented as if she had been bitten by an insect.

So she asked the maid to secretly pass her instructions to Xiao Dalang’s concubine.

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