Han knew he had misspoken and his face turned bright red.

  Ji Qi didn't want his wife to be embarrassed, so he changed the subject: "Is there any news from your grandfather's side?"

  Han was slightly relieved and muttered: "Xincai just sent it out a few days ago, how can it be so fast!"

  "When you see Ming, be careful." Ji Qi instructed a few words and went to the government office.

  Han thought for a moment and went to Ji Lingzhen's place.

  It so happened that Liu Shi, the fourth young lady of the Han family, and Han Su, the tenth young lady of the Han family, were visiting Ji Ling at his place.

  The whole Han family was in the house, and the atmosphere was especially intimate because of this.

  That Liu lady was a daughter of the Yixing Lius and had married into the Huzhou Hans, so she had known the Hans since childhood. As soon as they met, she loudly congratulated them, took tea from the maids and served it herself, sat down next to Han and chatted warmly with him for a while before asking about Ji Yong's marriage: "Auntie can't just let her nephew have his way all the time, sometimes you have to be firm."

  Ji Ling smiled with pursed lips and exchanged a glance with Han Su.

  The Liu family has many daughters, and the Liu clan also has two unmarried younger sisters, one of whom had once exchanged couplets with Ji Yong and received praise from Old Master Ji.

  Han was already worried about Ji Yong and Dou Zhao's affairs, and upon hearing this, she felt displeased in her heart. She furrowed her brow and said: "Jian Ming has grown up in the old master's house since he was young, so naturally his marriage should be decided by the old master. As an inner courtyard woman, I don't have the vision or insight to compare with the old master. This matter, I'll just let go of it and wait peacefully for the day when I become a mother-in-law!"

  But in her heart, she thought that if the old master was to hastily arrange a marriage for his son to cut off any lingering thoughts, hopefully it wouldn't be with the Liu family's daughter. Not to mention anything else, just based on the Liu family's daughter being so talkative and having a loose tongue, her son would definitely not like her.

  Immediately gave birth to some regret.

  She had originally come to ask about the fourth Miss Dou's situation, but with Liu here, it seemed like she wouldn't be able to ask after all!

  Han's patience and Liu's courtesy.

  Ji Yong was talking with Dou Qijun.

  This time will try, Dou Qijun name falls on Sun Mountain.

  "Why the hurry to rush back?" Ji Yong tried his best to persuade Dun Yongjun. "Why not wait for the results of the court trial, you can also take a look at the current affairs of those champions, and compare them with your own, so that you can know where you are lacking." He also said, "I have something to do in Zhengding, let's go back to Zhengding together later."

  Ji has already settled in Kyoto, what else does he need to go to Zhen Ding for?

  Dòu Qǐjùn was very surprised.

  Ji Yong smiled and said, "Fourth sister is just coming of age, coinciding with my big exam. Not even a congratulatory gift was sent. After passing the imperial examination and becoming a Jinshi, I will have to take office in the Hanlin Academy, and after that, it's unlikely I'll have another chance to leave the capital, so let's take this opportunity to go out and travel."

  He spoke very frankly, and everyone knew that Du Zhao was already engaged, so Du Qijun didn't suspect anything else. He smiled and said: "You want to sneak out and have fun, but you're dragging me down with you. Never mind, since you're my elder, I'll just take a loss." He agreed to go to Zhen Ding with Ji Yong.

  Ji Yong was overjoyed and ordered his son to set up the table. The two of them ate while discussing this time's exam, until the moon was high in the sky before dispersing.

  In just a few days, it was already March 1st.

  Ji Yong changed into a brand new sky blue silk robe and went to the Western Garden.

  One day, the trial came, and Ji Yong indeed won the title of Tanhua.

  All of Ji's relatives came to offer their congratulations.

  Ji Yong felt a lump of gloom in his heart that was hard to dissipate, and his face was dark.

  He took out the wooden hairpin given to Dou Zhao and stared at it for a long time, then "clanged" the box into the corner of the bed and lay down on the drunkard's chair in the study, pretending to sleep. The guests outside were crowded with guests, but he didn't move his eyes or eyebrows.

  The servants were in a flurry, but none of them dared to urge him to greet the guests.

  Mrs. Han walked in wearing a bright red cheongsam, and seeing her children standing at the door of the study, she lowered her voice: "What's wrong?"

  Zi Xi whispered to Han Shi about throwing the wooden hairpin box into the corner of the bed.

  Mr. Han was both surprised and delighted. He was surprised that his son really had a crush on the fourth daughter of the Duan family, and he was happy that perhaps his son would be too embarrassed to show up in front of the fourth daughter of the Duan family, which might not be a bad thing in the long run.

  She was just about to instruct her children a few words to take good care of Ji Yong, when she heard a "creak" sound, the folding door of the study room opened wide, and Ji Yong walked out from inside.

  He didn't look surprised when he saw his mother.

  This year, everyone came to congratulate him on his high school graduation, but he didn't show up. His mother worriedly came to see him, which was expected.

  He nodded to his mother and said, "I'll go to the front yard to entertain the guests," then handed the sandalwood box in his hand to Zixi and said, "This is my gift for Miss Duan's coming-of-age ceremony. Hurry up and deliver it to Zhending personally."

  That kind of calmness made both Han Shi and Zi Xi feel a bit unnatural. Fortunately, Zi Xi was a quick-witted person and soon hid that slight awkwardness, respectfully stepped forward, took the box, and left in response.

  Ji Yong had something on his mind and didn't pay much attention to his mother and Zi Xi's appearance. After Zi Xi left, he asked his mother: "Do you want to go to my room and sit for a while? I'll change into another set of clothes and then head to the front yard."

  "Good!" The son was singing this tune, and Han's heart was uncertain. He followed his son into the hall.

  Dong Zhao received Ji Yong's letter five days later. After reading the letter in the camphor wood box, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Just then Su Xin walked into the kitchen with a freshly made peach crisp and laughed, saying: "What did Master Ji say in his letter?"

  Dong Zhaoyi smiled as he picked up the letter, saying: "He said that when the imperial examination began, the Emperor walked around the great hall and saw him, the youngest, and carefully looked at him twice. He suspected that the Emperor didn't even read his paper, but because of his youth, he was chosen as the top scholar. He carefully read the papers of the first-place winner Cai Guyuan, which were not as good as his..."

  She couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Dong Zhao tasted the peach cream and said, "Ji Zhi's brother is still like a child. He clearly knows my birthday, but he deliberately waits until he wins the title of Tanhua Lang before sending me gifts. If he fails this time, I'm afraid he won't pay attention to me for several years. After all, it's because he remembers what I said about him and Dong Ming being reckless."

  Su Xin nodded and helped Du Zhao pour a cup of tea, saying: "Although Mr. Ji is very proud, he is straightforward and easier to get along with."

  "Who says it isn't." Du Zhao smiled and went to the study, "I'll write a letter to him - I reckon everyone in the world thinks he's delighted at this moment. Elated and proud, probably only he thinks that being the Flower Officer is a kind of humiliation, doesn't even want to mention it!"

  After some thought, I think Ji Yong is indeed capable of doing such a thing.

  She couldn't help but purse her lips and smile as she helped Dou Zhao grind ink beside him.

  Ji Yong received a reply from Du Zhao when he was hesitating whether or not to take up the post at Hanlin Academy.

  Ji Yong's uncle Ji Song and father Ji Qi were so anxious that they were spinning around in circles. Ji Qi even complained, "Why hasn't Grandfather sent any news until today? What are we going to do about the matter of seeing Ming? He can't make up his mind. We can't take action either!"

  Ji Cong smiled wryly.

  The child asks to see you.

  Both of them couldn't wait for their children to come back and talk.

  "Master told me to tell the sedan chair bearers," Zi Xi panted, apparently having run all the way here, "that he needs the sedan chair early tomorrow morning to go to the Ministry of Rites for an audience."

  Ji Song let out a sigh of relief.

  Ji Qi suddenly stood up and said: "How did Ming change his mind again?"

  The servant took a deep breath and said, "Young Master just received a letter from Miss Duan's fourth daughter. I don't know what she wrote in the letter, but Young Master burst out laughing after reading it, and then he told me to inform the people in the sedan chair hall."

  Ji Song and Ji Ke stared at each other in dismay.

  Ji Yun hesitated for a moment. He asked softly, "What did the fourth miss of the Duan family write in her letter?"

  The child shook his head.

  Ji Song pinched his beard and said in a low voice: "Then think of a way to take a look at what the fourth miss of the Duan family wrote in her letter."

  The son was shocked and involuntarily looked up at Ji Ke.

  But Ji Ke coughed lightly and took a sip of tea, as if he hadn't heard the sentence.

  The child secretly smiled bitterly, but had no choice but to agree. The next day, taking advantage of Ji Yong's departure, he hastily found the letter that Du Zhao gave to Ji Yong and glanced at it briefly before hurrying to return a message to Ji Song and Ji Qi: "......There was nothing else said. Miss Du only wrote some experiences about raising flowers in her letter."

  "What experience of raising flowers?" Ji Song was stunned.

  "Yes!" Zi Xi said with his hands hanging down, respectfully. "Miss Duan Si said in her letter that to set up a courtyard, apart from growing long green arborvitae and evergreen trees, we should also plant some flowering trees and grasses that bloom all year round, so the scenery of the courtyard will be pleasant. In spring, there are narcissus, orchids, camellias, rhododendrons, and winter jasmine... Narcissus is elegant, orchids are fragrant, camellias are beautiful, rhododendrons are like a sunrise, only winter jasmine is ordinary, but as soon as the weather warms up, it blooms like a cloud of brocade, making people unforgettable. No matter who mentions spring, they will talk about this flower that heralds spring... To see this flower is not about how expensive it is, but when it blooms... Even if it's something from the streets and alleys, if it takes on the first color of early spring, it's the best flower in the world. Why bother to be particular about what kind of flower it is?"

  Ji Cong furrowed his brow and remained silent.

  Ji Yun furrowed his brow in a headache and muttered: "If only I knew what was written in the letter that Jing Ming gave to Miss Duan..."

  The child is sweating profusely.

  The two old gentlemen wouldn't let him go and ask Young Master about his intentions, would they?

  If it arouses the young master's vigilance, then it will be troublesome!

  Just as he was somewhat flustered, Ji Song waved his hand at him and said, "You go down! Don't mention this matter to others."

  The son bowed and responded with a loud "yes", then retreated.

  Ji Song said to Ji Qi without any worry, "You also shouldn't make wild guesses. What Miss Duan said in her letter is obviously a metaphor, encouraging Jianming to strive for progress. Logically speaking, after ten years of hard study, someone like Jianming has already achieved great merit and virtue, what else could he be dissatisfied with? Why would he rather talk to Miss Duan than his family members? And how did Miss Duan know that such advice would be effective?"

  They also often advised Ji Yong to study hard and make progress, but the more they advised Ji Yong, the more he deviated from the right path, until they didn't dare advise him again.

  "Exactly!" Ji Qi said, "If we could know why Miss Duan was able to persuade Xian Ming, we wouldn't be at a loss for what to do with him!"

  Ji Cong sighed and immediately wrote a letter to his grandfather Ji Lao Ye after returning home.

  ※

  Today I went out with colleagues for bonding, and only caught insects when I got back home.

  o(n_n)o~

  ※