The old lady Zhu Jiashi is anxiously waiting for news from the city.
For most of the candidates in Anlu, success in the Prince's Reading Companion Selection is gratifying, but failure is not unacceptable. After all, where is studying not just studying?
But in the Zhu family's view, this is the key to whether they can turn over.
Finally, as sunset approached, Zhu Wanjian came back in a hurry and ran to the back hall to report to the old lady: "Mom, things are not going very well."
Zhu Jiashi's heart skipped a beat: "But the results of the candidacy have been achieved?"
"I don't know if there are any results, but among the five children our family sent to take the exam, none of them made it to the final round, and they were all sent back early!"
Zhu Wanjian had a bit of gloating on his face, waiting to see the joke as if it had nothing to do with him.
Zhu Jia's face suddenly darkened: "My family has chosen to send so many children, even those who are well-educated from the tenant farmers' families, but surprisingly..."
Zhu Wanjian said: "I heard that the new young master from the county magistrate's family and a boy named Zhu Hao... performed well in the first two selections and easily advanced without making any mistakes... That much is known for now...
By the way, mother, the one named Zhu Hao...can't be Xiao Haozi from the third family, right?"
"Zhu Hao?"
Zhu Jia's face became even worse.
At this moment, Butler Liu came in and said respectfully: "Old Madam, Lin Baihu, the Jin Yiwei, is here to visit."
Zhu Jia knew that Lin Baihu's visitor was not a good person, so he probably came to denounce the Zhu family for their failure in selecting companions.
I didn’t want to see him, but I had to see him.
As a special envoy sent by the imperial court to find out the inside story of Prince Xing's Mansion, Lin Baihu had previously stated that spies lurking in Prince Xing's Mansion had recently regained contact with him, and his information channels were by no means comparable to those of the Zhu family.
"I'm going to see him right now. No one is allowed to disturb me. I'll prepare another two hundred taels of silver..."
From Zhu Jia's point of view, if the family's children failed to participate in the selection of companions, they could only look for compensation elsewhere, use money to feed Lin Baihu, and use their information channels to be used by the Zhu family. Maybe they can give it a try.
…
…
Zhu Jiashi met Lin Baihu.
Lin Baihu's face was not as dark as he imagined, but with a kind of admiration and compliment. As soon as he came up, he clasped his fists and saluted her: "First of all, I would like to say congratulations to Mrs. Zhu."
Zhu Jiashi frowned: "Where does happiness come from?"
"oh!?"
Lin Baihu frowned, as if he was a little confused, rolled his eyes, and seemed to have thought of something, and said with a smile, "The final result has not been announced yet, but we have found out from the internal affairs department that among the two shortlisted for this selection, except for longevity,
The other son of the magistrate's family is Zhu Hao, the young master of the third room of your Zhu family..."
"Isn't it gratifying that the Zhu family can send their children to Prince Xing's Mansion based solely on their own abilities in such a fair and just selection?"
Lin Baihu's words revealed two important messages.
The most important thing is that the one named "Zhu Hao" is Zhu Hao, the grandson of the Zhu Jia family and the direct grandson of the third wife.
Also, Lin Baihu is now said to have "great magical powers". Before the results of Prince Xing's Palace were announced to the public, he found out the news in advance. Didn't he mean to come to show off his power?
Even if your Zhu family sends their children to Prince Xing's Mansion as a companion, how much important information will be released? It's not as good as me. Just contact the internal affairs officer and you can bring out what you want to know!
Zhu Jia's face was as calm as water, and she was not moved by Zhu Hao's selection. She calmly asked: "There were so many children who participated in the election, but only two were selected in the end?"
Lin Baihu said: "Yes, there are only two people. The news is not wrong at all. It is precisely because there are many children running for election that I say that you, old madam, are far-sighted...I heard that the relationship between your third roommate and you has always been bad. Such a situation
Come on, the children of the third brother of the Zhu family will run for election. If selected, they will have little to do with the Zhu family. People in Prince Xing’s Mansion will not be too suspicious...otherwise, how can I say that you, old madam, are far-sighted?"
Zhu Jiashi sneered in her heart.
I was clearly not aware of it, but I was called "far-sighted" by Lin Baihu?! If the other party was deliberately pretending to be confused, this comment was just pointing at the bald man and scolding the monk - making use of the topic.
However, judging from Lin Baihu's reaction, it was clear that the other party didn't know the whole story, otherwise he wouldn't have come to congratulate him... Perhaps Lin Baihu felt that the Zhu family was of value now, and that was why he was so easy to talk to.
That being the case...
It seems that if you prepare money in advance to bribe the other party, you can avoid it.
To take advantage of each other, who needs to give gifts to whom?
"Old madam, to be serious, it seems like a good thing that the young master of your house has been selected, but it is not necessarily true... It is impossible for Prince Xing's Mansion to be defenseless against the Zhu family. I am afraid that after he enters the palace... there will be people like those former spies.
situation." Lin Baihu expressed his concerns.
Zhu Jiashi said: "You mean, someone will attack me, a descendant of the Zhu family?"
Lin Baihu sighed: "When it comes to the inheritance of the throne, even adults will quietly disappear from the world, let alone a child who is not deeply involved in the world? It can be said that it is extremely dangerous for this child to enter the Xingwang Palace... The old lady should have made plans in advance.
If you need someone, just ask."
When Zhu Jia heard this, she thought it was a piece of advice, but after hearing it, she could only think that the other party was a disguised threat.
Don't think that if a child enters Prince Xing's Mansion, he can beat me. If this child has no one to help him in Prince Xing's Mansion, he is like a headless fly.
Whether something can be done or not is uncertain, and when it will fail is uncertain.
"I dare to ask Lin Baihu, if my child enters Prince Xing's Mansion, can he get in touch with the secret line laid by Jin Yiwei in Prince Xing's Mansion and discuss strategies for advance and retreat?"
Zhu Jiashi immediately took a negotiating stance.
Since they are using each other, both parties must show sincerity.
If you still want to hide people, you don't have a cooperative attitude.
Unexpectedly, Lin Baihu just smiled and said: "It's okay if necessary, but this person's identity is very special, and it is extremely difficult to get in touch with him again... It is extremely difficult, and he is very worried that his identity will be exposed... Speaking of which
, I also used some small tricks to force him to submit."
"Coercion and inducement?" Zhu Jiashi probably understood.
"Roughly the same."
Lin Baihu did not hide it, "Because of this, we cannot tell the truth about his true identity. The fewer people who know, the harder it is to expose him. Now I am the only one who knows the details, and even my superiors don't know..."
The young master of your mansion has entered Prince Xing's mansion. In an emergency, I will arrange for this person to help secretly, otherwise... I'd better not see him if I can!"
Zhu Jiashi understood that Lin Baihu did not want to expose his trump card.
Originally, she could have fought hard, but then she thought about it. She didn't know that the kid from the third room was selected, and she didn't know what to say next...
Can that child become the trump card in his hand?
If you don’t have any cards, what do you give in exchange for them?
"Lin Baihu, after my child enters Prince Xing's palace, I hope you can help him... We will discuss it later. I have something to do, so I won't send it to you!"
…
…
Zhu Jia asked someone to send Lin Baihu out of the house without giving any bribe.
In her opinion, fixing Zhu Hao is more important than anything else right now.
At this time, Zhu Hao had returned home, but it was not until sunset that Zhu Niang came back from outside... She was going to meet the people sent by Su Xigui to bring back the money earned from selling the snowflake salt.
Uncle Zhong and others followed behind, carefully protecting the three big black bundles.
Zhu Niang instructed Uncle Zhong and others to put their bundles on the counter, then opened the drawer herself and gave each person two hundred coins.
Uncle Zhong and others said goodbye wisely.
After Zhu Niang and Aunt Li sent someone out, they looked around, returned to the shop, closed the door panel, and let out a long sigh of relief. Then they walked to the counter and opened the baggage, immediately revealing the white silver, including ten taels of silver ingots.
five.
The long-term funding shortage problem faced by the small courtyard was solved so easily.
"Madam, why do you have so much money?"
At this time, Aunt Li's eyes were wide open. She had never seen so much money since she was a child.
Zhu Niang looked at Zhu Hao with smiles in her eyes: "It's all Xiao Hao's credit. We took advantage of the good weather to dry out more salt. Boss Su was very satisfied with the quality of our salt. It is said that he has achieved the first
The batch of salt was sent to Jinling for sale and went very smoothly, so this time we received an extra penny per pound of salt."
Zhu Niang was very happy.
But Zhu Hao heard a question: "Mom, why does he need more money when he is so good? If you show courtesy for nothing, you are either cheating or stealing. I have long seen that the person named Su is not a good person."
"..."
Zhu Niang and Aunt Li looked at each other.
You were the one who advocated doing business with Su Xigui at the beginning. Now that the business between the two parties has just picked up, you are saying that Su Xigui is not a good person?
"Mom, today I went to the Prince's Mansion to study with you." Zhu Hao said again.
Zhu Niang nodded. She didn't have high hopes for this matter. There were so many children applying for the election. It was said that they had to study for more than two years before they could have a chance. Zhu Hao didn't even get started. At most, he hung out with Mr. Lu for a few times.
I went to apply for the election in the first place, how could I possibly get selected?
"It doesn't matter if you're not selected. Mom has money now and will hire the best husband for you. As for returning to the Zhu family...at worst, I'll give your grandmother some more money...Mom will beg her to let you go..." Zhu Niang has her own
considerations.
Zhu Hao smiled and said, "Mom, what I want to say is that I did pretty well in the exam. If nothing else happens, I should be able to get selected."
"ah!?"
Zhu Niang was very surprised.
My son hasn't even completed his elementary school education. The knowledge he masters is mostly a few words she usually teaches. How can he still pass the assessment?
At this moment, there was a knock on the door: "Is this the residence of the young master of the Zhu family?"
Zhu Niang hurriedly hid the money, straightened her clothes and went to open the door. Zhu Hao followed closely.
As a door panel was removed, Zhu Hao saw Jiang Lun standing in front of the door with an entourage.
Jiang Lun was startled for a moment when he saw Zhu Niang, then saw Zhu Hao, nodded as a greeting, and helped to remove the other door panel and put it aside.
"This official is...?"
Zhu Niang didn't know Jiang Lun, and her face was a little confused.
Jiang Lun said: "I am from the palace, and I came here to inform the young master of the Zhu family... the young man behind you, that he has been selected as the palace's companion. The day after tomorrow, I will pack up everything and go to the palace to be the prince's companion.
...From now on, I will have food and accommodation in the palace, and I will have one hundred Wen pocket money every month."
When Zhu Niang heard this, she immediately became nervous: "Entering the palace? This... this..."
Jiang Lun smiled and said: "This must be the widow of General Zhongyi and the mother-in-law of the young master of the Zhu family? Madam, don't worry, she will work as a companion in the palace. She will go out to visit her family one day every ten days, and she can also reunite with her family during the holidays. In the palace
Eat well, sleep well, study with the crown prince, and have a bright future! Without further ado, I have to inform the other two families... and say goodbye!"
Zhu Hao chased him out and asked, "Mr. Jiang, I wonder who else is chosen?"
Jiang Lundao: "There are also the county magistrate's son and Lu Dianzhan's son."
Jiang Lun was a real person, and he told all the candidates without any cover-up.
This fully shows that he is very optimistic about Zhu Hao. He rushed to notify him as soon as possible, and then went to the Jing family and the Lu family. But Zhu Hao thought about it, did the Lu family need to notify him? He just said hello to Lu Song.
Just let him go back and take his son into the palace. Wouldn't it be unnecessary for Jiang Lun to run away?