Yan Zisheng stood at the courtyard gate, watching Song Zhiyuan leave until he was out of sight, then turned to return inside.
"Young Master, what did the Pri Minister say when he ca looking for you?" the attendant student Shanhe asked with a smiling face.
Yan Zisheng replied, "He just ca for a casual visit, but sir comnted on my essay, which left enlightened with much insight. I must rewrite my policy essay afterward."
"The Pri Minister treats you the best and has the highest regard for you," Shanhe said cheerfully, then whispered, "I was thinking, might the Pri Minister want to arrange a match for you, maybe with the Second Miss of the Pri Minister’s Mansion..."
"Silence." Yan Zisheng reprimanded him, scolding, "Your mouth runs unchecked, daring to say anything. What if this brings trouble? If you keep acting like this, without a lock on your tongue, you can return to your hotown; I have no need for your service here."
Shanhe imdiately knelt down, "Young Master, it was my fault, I won’t dare do it again."
"Get up." Yan Zisheng said irritably, "Never speak like that again. Sir treats with great kindness, and so do his family, whom we must not discuss behind their backs, especially the ladies of the Pri Minister’s Mansion, lest we damage their reputation."
"Yes, Young Master," Shanhe replied awkwardly, getting back on his feet.
Yan Zisheng sighed softly as he looked at Shanhe’s dejected appearance. He knew what Shanhe ant, but how could he dare to think of the Second Miss of the Pri Minister’s Mansion? He never even wanted to.
She was not soone he could think about.
"Changsheng, Changsheng, where’s the Pri Minister, has he left?"
A man dressed in a blue long robe walked in, shouting at Yan Zisheng.
Yan Zisheng cupped his hands in salute, "Brother Xiuquan."
"Oh, no need for such formalities. I ask you, has the Pri Minister left?" Wu Xiuquan asked anxiously.
Yan Zisheng nodded, "He has already left."
Wu Xiuquan was sowhat regretful, saying, "He left so quickly. What did the Pri Minister say? Oh, did he ntion when the Pri Minister’s Mansion will hold a poetry gathering, and if we can attend?"
Yan Zisheng was speechless, "Why would the Pri Minister be involved in such things?"
Poetry gatherings are usually hosted by young scholars, a figure like the Pri Minister wouldn’t host such a thing, and Pri Minister Song never liked attending those poetry or tea gatherings, because he once said those kinds of gatherings were trivial and of no interest to him.
Yan Zisheng had also attended a few poetry and cultural gatherings, which were indeed boring. However, he was very interested in the lectures hosted by true great scholars.
Wu Xiuquan sighed, suddenly rembering sothing, and exclaid excitedly, "Changsheng, you’ll never guess who I just saw at the East Gate of the front street? It was the Second Miss of the Song Mansion, surrounded by a group of maids. Ah, the Second Miss of the Song Mansion is truly beautiful beyond asure, a beauty beyond words. Imagine if we could marry such a lady, how could we worry about our future?"
Yan Zisheng frowned, "Brother Xiuquan, watch your words. I have an essay to write, so I must excuse myself first."
Gossiping about noble ladies is not the behavior of a gentleman.
Wu Xiuquan watched him return inside without any hesitation, curling his lips, thinking to himself, "What pretense of being a gentleman. I refuse to believe you don’t want to beco the Pri Minister’s son-in-law."
But thinking it over, they, as scholars from poor families, could never match up to the daughters of the Pri Minister’s Mansion, and could only dream about it, like daydreaming.
Wu Xiuquan also returned to his room, thinking he should find a way to obtain an invitation to the poetry gathering held by the second young master of the Marquis of Yongchang’s Mansion, hoping to make a na for himself there.
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