kingnovel Chapter 87 Discussions at the He Mansion
Chapter 87 Discussions at the He Mansion
While riding the horse, Chu Ci silently observed the changes in Shi An's expression.
Seeing his slightly flushed face and excited expression, she slowed down a bit and asked with concern, "Are you scared?"
Shi An's cheeks flushed with excitement. He shook his head and answered without hesitation, "With my wife protecting me, I'm not afraid."
Hearing this, Chu Ci's lips curled up slightly, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, and he asked softly, "Then shall I go even faster?"
Shi An hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.
The next second, the horse accelerated again, and Shi An's heartbeat quickened with the increase in speed.
Shi An's back was pressed tightly against Chu Ci's chest, and his waist was firmly held by a pair of strong hands, giving him a great sense of security.
Chu Ci stopped after riding for less than three laps, letting the person in his arms catch their breath.
Shi An's heart was still pounding, but he felt more open than ever before.
"My lady, I like riding horses," Shi An said softly.
Chu Ci lowered his head and kissed Shi An's cheek. "Then I'll take you out riding often from now on."
"Really? Won't that interfere with your training?"
Chu Ci felt a warmth in her heart; Shi An was always so sensible.
She turned her horse around, made a turn, and said with a smile, "No, it's just a couple of laps, nothing serious."
Shi An was very happy to hear this, and said, "Then thank you, my lady."
After leaving the horse farm, the two chatted all the way and unknowingly arrived at their doorstep.
Chu Ci immediately noticed an unfamiliar female servant standing in front of the door.
When the maid saw them return, she immediately put on a warm smile and stepped forward to greet them respectfully.
"Congratulations, Madam Chu, on passing the provincial examination. I am a maid from the He family. My master has specially sent me to invite you to a small gathering at the mansion."
Chu Ci nodded slightly to her and said, "In that case, I'll trouble you to lead the way, young lady."
The maid smiled. "Yes, come with me."
Chu Ci led Shi An and the maid toward the He residence.
Upon reaching the entrance hall, the two parted ways.
Chu Ci continued walking with another female attendant, heading straight for the study.
Meanwhile, Shi An followed a servant boy toward the courtyard where Chu Xun lived.
When Chu Xun saw Shi An appear before him, his face instantly lit up with joy, and he quickly waved and called out, "Shi An, come here quickly!"
His words were full of enthusiasm, as if they were reunited after a long separation.
Immediately afterwards, he strode forward, affectionately took Shi An's hands, and smiled broadly.
"Do you know? The 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix' embroidery you made before was simply exquisite! My matriarch loved it so much that she hung it in the center of the main hall without hesitation for everyone to admire. Now, many people in the capital have asked me to inquire on their behalf, all hoping to learn such superb embroidery techniques from you!"
Shi Anxin was somewhat surprised. Thinking back to his previous life, although his embroidery skills had reached their peak, due to his lowly status as a male prostitute, no one cared about the things he made.
I never expected that I would have such an unexpected joy in this lifetime.
"Thank you for your kindness, Madam. As long as she is satisfied, that would be the best outcome."
Shi An bowed slightly, a humble smile on his face.
"You," Chu Xun gently patted Shi An's hand, his tone filled with affection and admiration, "Even the incomparably noble Empress has taken an interest in you and inquired about you. Now you are quite famous!"
Upon hearing this, Shi An's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly waved her hand, saying, "This... I really don't deserve such praise."
“No need for such modesty!” Chu Xun earnestly advised, his eyes full of sincerity. “As far as I know, your wife’s achievement of winning first place in the provincial examination is truly admirable. In my opinion, you should set off for the capital as soon as possible to find a stable place to settle down so that you can prepare for the metropolitan examination without any distractions. After all, the metropolitan examination is far more difficult than the provincial examination, so you must seize the time to make full preparations.” These words were truly heartfelt and sincere.
Shi An nodded repeatedly, indicating that he would definitely convey these suggestions to his wife and discuss the matter with her.
Looking at the well-behaved and sensible young man in front of him, Chu Xun was overjoyed and couldn't help but praise him repeatedly: "What a good child! I believe that with your talent and hard work, you will definitely have a bright future."
Shi An quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your praise, sir. I will definitely work hard."
Meanwhile, on the other side, Chu Ci was sitting opposite He Sheng.
He Sheng smiled broadly, showing great satisfaction with Chu Ci. He even got up to pour Chu Ci a cup of fragrant tea and said softly, "I knew long ago that you would achieve great things."
In response to He Sheng's praise, Chu Ci stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you for your careful guidance all this time, Lord He. Without your guidance and support, I am afraid I would not have been able to achieve what I have today. I hope you will continue to take care of me in the future."
He Sheng quickly waved his hand and said, "I didn't help you out. You succeeded in this exam entirely on your own merit!"
Chu Ci understood perfectly well, “Your letter of recommendation played a crucial role, and you even specially introduced me to a teacher. I will never forget this kindness.”
Hearing this, He Sheng smiled with satisfaction and softly praised, "What a sensible and good child."
She reached for an exquisite box beside her, handed it to Chu Ci, and instructed, "This is our He family jade pendant. After you arrive in the capital, you can go to Chunlan Flower Shop and find Master Jin there. Just show this jade pendant, and she will help you with your food and lodging."
Then, He Sheng took out an expensive invitation from his pocket and continued to say to Chu Ci, "Master Li speaks highly of you, so I suggest you pay a visit to Grand Tutor Song, who lives in the East Alley of the capital. This Grand Tutor Song is extremely learned and talented, especially skilled in policy essays. If you can get some guidance from her, it will surely be of great benefit to your future development."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ci nodded without hesitation and replied, "Okay, I'll remember."
At this moment, she was unaware of just how renowned and highly respected this Grand Tutor Song was.
He Sheng, standing to the side, did not elaborate further.
After Chu Ci accepted the visiting card and jade pendant, He Sheng told her about some matters concerning the court and politics, and then asked her to leave first.
Chu Ci, led by the maid, arrived at the door and stood quietly, patiently waiting for Shi An's arrival.
Before long, a horse-drawn carriage slowly drove up.
Nongmo sat next to the coachman and saw Chu Ci in the distance. He immediately lifted the curtain to send a message to his master.