Shang Ping did not attend the second day's literary gathering. He decided to take a rest for a day, and on the tenth day, he would hurry back to Beijing with all due haste.

  This time back home was too rushed, and many things were not arranged in time.

  So he didn't attend the literary meeting, and naturally he didn't let Shang Mingjie go either, because he wanted to discuss with Old Lady Shang about taking him to Beijing to educate him personally.

  This news was a bolt from the blue for Old Lady Shang, Second Mistress Shang and Shang Mingjie.

  The old lady refused without hesitation: "No way!"

  Madam Shang came back to her senses from her daze, looked at Old Madam Shang and then at her husband, thinking that it was impossible for him to bring her back to the capital when Old Madam Shang lived in Suzhou.

  Even if her son went to Beijing, she could only stay here to take care of her mother-in-law, so she lowered her eyes and didn't speak.

  Shang Mingjie didn't want to follow his father either. He still remembered what had happened last year, and he was afraid that once they arrived in the capital, he wouldn't be able to do anything on his own.

  Even if he wanted to take part in the imperial examination this year, it wouldn't be at this time that he would enter the capital.

  Shang Ping looked at his pale-faced mother with a slight headache, and explained in a soft voice: "Mother, I think Ming Jie is not young anymore, following me to the capital, I can guide him on his studies, and introduce him to some friends..."

  "He has a tutor in Suzhou," said Old Lady Shang, looking down at her son. "In terms of knowledge and connections, Mr. Lu is no worse than you. Moreover, you are an official in the capital, busy with official duties, how much time do you have to teach him every day? It's better to let him stay in Suzhou and go to Beijing just before the exam."

  His birth mother said that he was not as good as others, Shang Ping felt a bit awkward, but who made her his own mother? Shang Ping could only force a smile and say: "I know, son, so when I get to the capital, I will find another teacher for Ming Jie. Mr. Lu's knowledge is naturally good, but after all, it is the Lu family's learning, mostly with the Lu family's children, he is so busy, I'm afraid he can't take care of Ming Jie."

  "Don't worry about this, Mr. Lu is a man of high integrity and won't hide anything just because Ming Jie doesn't have the surname Lu." Yesterday, he had just rejected the marriage proposal from the Shang family, and today he was going to take Shang Ming Jie away, making Old Lady Shang feel like her son was being defensive against her.

  Shang Ping had a headache and looked at Shang Ming Jie, asking: "Ming Jie, you're so old now, can't you make your own decisions?"

  The old lady frowned heavily and couldn't help but slap the armrest, saying: "He's grown up and should make his own decisions. You're even older than him, do you also want to take charge of this family?"

  "Mother," Shang Ping hastily knelt down and said, "You know that your son didn't mean it that way. Your son is also doing this for Ming Jie's own good. If he can make a name for himself in the capital a step earlier, his chances of passing the imperial examination will be even higher..."

  Shang Mingjie also lifted his robe and knelt down, but it was towards Shang Ping. He bowed his head and said, "Father, I was just about to tell you that I have already made an appointment with my fellow students. After the first month, we will go on a tour of learning. In June, we will directly go to the capital to take the imperial examination."

  Shang Ping frowned, "What can be learned in just half a year?"

  "I don't seek to learn anything, I just want to take a look at the mountains and rivers of Daliang, the people of Daliang," Shang Mingjie raised his head and said: "And also the governance of Daliang."

  The old lady asked immediately: "Who's going?"

  "Lu Li, Lu Rui, Cui Hua, Lin You and his brother have also decided to go, as well as Qian Tao and Zheng Zhong who were previously at the Imperial Academy."

  They are all children of people we know, and Old Lady Shang hesitated: "Not bad, where do you plan to go?"

  Shang Ping's eyes widened in shock, "Mother!"

  He has only one son, how can he let him go out for further study? What if something happens on the way?

  The old lady glared at him and said, "Jade that is not carved will not become a useful vessel, isn't this what you always say? It's just right, let him go out and gain some experience, as long as he doesn't go to any dangerous places."

  "Nothing dangerous, nothing dangerous. Others won't say it, but Lin You's brother wouldn't dare go to a dangerous place. So we decided on the Central Plains area, which is actually just slowly heading towards the capital city, and just taking a stroll around the capital."

  The old lady felt even more at ease upon hearing this and immediately gave her approval, saying: "Very well, in that case you can start making preparations."

  Shang Mingjie was overjoyed and happily spun around in place, then bowed his head to his grandmother.

  He thought he would have to struggle for a while and even prepared a secret route to sneak out of the city, but unexpectedly his grandmother agreed so easily.

  Shang Mingjie lowered his eyes and smiled secretly, knowing that this time he had taken advantage of his father's kindness.

  Nor does he know how his father offended his grandmother.

  Shang Ping's heart was even more bitter, knowing that his mother was mostly angry because he had declined the two marriage proposals yesterday. But even so, she shouldn't gamble with Ming Jie's life safety.

  Mrs. Shang would never gamble with Shang Mingjie's life safety, she agreed because Lin You was among the people who went together.

  Lin You's importance in the Lin family is no less than Shang Ming Jie, he is their only child, if his widowed mother agrees to let him go, then the route they have planned will definitely be very safe.

  The mother and son of the second room of the Shang family were fighting together, but Shang Mingyuan didn't know that he was now happily taking his wife and three sisters to play in the garden.

  Xiao Fang's belly was already quite big, and Shang Mingyuan supported her as he whispered: "Don't worry about anything else, just take care of yourself and eat well. If something happens, look for Aunt Lin."

  "Don't worry, I wasn't tired yesterday either?" Xiaofang leaned in close to his ear and whispered: "What Lin Auntie said about the Zhou family yesterday, was it for Danlan's sake?"

  Shang Ming said with a distant and melancholic tone: "I'm afraid the Zhou family doesn't have that intention."

  His second uncle was a fourth-grade official, his father was a dead man, but he didn't have much talent, unlike his second brother who could read books and would serve as an official in the future... Danlan's marriage...

  Shang Mingyuan's face turned slightly red, and he whispered to her: "You quietly ask Lin Auntie, if the Zhou family doesn't have that intention, you can say that actually we can lower our conditions..."

  Actually, other families would also be fine.

  Lin Qingwan cast a glance at Xiaofang with a hint of annoyance, saying: "I haven't decided on the Zhou family yet, after all, I don't know if that young master has changed for the better or not. It was just a casual mention, but if the Zhou family is interested, they will naturally come to ask me, and then you can pick at that time."

  In her opinion, Zhou Tong is not worthy of Shang Danlan at all.

  The three sisters of the Shang family, if we're being frank, none can compare to Shang Danlan.

  Marrying a wife is not just about looking at the power standing behind her, in terms of family background, the Zhou family is not as good as the Shang family's main house.

  Madam Zhou may not understand the reasoning, but surely Governor Zhou does?

  So Lin Qingwan felt that Shang Mingyuan didn't need to lower his posture so much.

  Unfortunately, Shangming Yuan didn't understand the subtlety, fortunately, Zhou Cishi understood it. Last night after returning home, he also discussed with his wife about what happened at the banquet and naturally knew that Lin Qingyu had intentionally mentioned marriage.

  Zhou Shi's back straightened up, and he asked urgently: "Who does Lin Guizhu think is suitable for marriage?"

  "Shang family's three sisters, should be the second room's eldest daughter," Madam Zhou frowned and said: "But I heard the ladies say that her mother is not very favored in the Shang family, now the Shang family's affairs are actually managed by the people of the main house."

  "Muddled, you're going to choose a daughter-in-law, why are you choosing her mother?"

  "Daughters-in-law are to be chosen carefully," said Mrs. Chou, pouting: "What if she's like her mother and can't manage a household? We only have one son in our family."

  Someone whispered: "Moreover, mother is unhappy in her hometown, later when daughter-in-law has something and goes back to find her mother's family, who will take it seriously?"

  Zhou Zhi Shi turned his head and glanced at his foolish wife, letting out a deep sigh: "Forget it, don't bother with this matter anymore. Tomorrow you attend to your mother-in-law's literary gathering."

  "Ah?" Mrs. Zhou's mouth opened wide, "Mother, is Mother going to the literary club?"

  "Not bad," said Zhou Cishi with a headache: "Let mother go and talk to the county master."

  Mrs. Zhou felt a bit wronged upon hearing this, vaguely aware that she would not be in charge of her son's marriage matters again, although she was originally not in charge anyway. At least she had received the news and told her husband, who would then make the decision. But now, she couldn't even participate in it.

  Looking at her sad appearance, Zhou Cishi couldn't help but say: "I think Lin Junzhu is not referring to the second daughter of the Shang family's main house, you should follow your mother and learn from her more."

  "Isn't she the eldest daughter? How could it be that illegitimate girl?" Madam Zhou widened her eyes, "How can this be, how can my son marry an illegitimate girl?"

  "Alright, alright, mother will know tomorrow. He paused and continued: "In the end, it's up to us to decide on the child's marriage, outsiders can only give us a choice, if we don't agree, we can refuse, there's no need to be so entangled. This matchmaking is originally a process of continuous exploration, selection, measurement, abandonment, and re-selection, it's not possible to make a decision in one or two years."

  "Kids all grow up so fast, in a year or two..."

  Zhou Zhi Shi said nonchalantly, "It's nothing for a boy to get married late. Look at the Lin family, the Shang family and the Lu family, which of their sons who are around Tong Er's age have gotten married?"

  Although Mrs. Zhou was somewhat heartbroken that she could no longer preside over her son's wedding, the next day she still served her mother-in-law with utmost respect and went to Wen Garden.

  Mrs. Zhou glanced at her daughter-in-law, and this morning her son had already told her that her daughter-in-law was short-sighted, which she knew, fortunately she didn't have any other shortcomings except for this one, and she also listened to the mother and son's words, otherwise she would have nowhere to cry.

  At that time when we were discussing marriage, this child seemed quite clever, but unexpectedly it was just a clever appearance with a foolish brain.

  Fortunately, she lived a long life and could still help her son deal with official family relationships. As for her grandson, she definitely couldn't take care of him anymore, nor could she rely on her daughter-in-law, so the selection of her granddaughter-in-law had to be extremely cautious.

  Mrs. Zhou helped her daughter-in-law down from the car, and as she raised her eyes, she was greeted by a riot of plum blossoms, a wave of cold fragrance wafting towards her, and she couldn't help but smile, "What a wonderful place this is, no wonder those literary types flock to it."

  Madam Zhou smiled and said: "If you like it, when the weather gets a bit warmer, our family will also rent a house here and invite relatives to come and play."

  Mrs. Zhou nodded slightly, "Alright, remember this."

  Yes, the biggest advantage of having a daughter-in-law is that she is filial.

  Looking at her delighted daughter-in-law, Old Lady Zhou held her hand and looked towards the front hall, "Let's go, we'll pay our respects to the county princess."