Troubled times: Start practicing spiritual practice by taking care of your sister-in-law.

Chapter 662: Palace Examination Results
Zhang Mansion.

"Mr. Song's visit to my humble home really brings honor to my humble abode."

Zhang He was the first to learn about Song Qing's arrival and came to greet him.

"Greetings, General Zhang. I'm sorry to bother you." Song Qing bowed.

"What are you talking about, Lord Song? It's my honor that you are here." Zhang He said with a smile.

Song Qing lowered his head and said nothing.

"The dinner is ready. Sir Song, please come in."

"We'll talk about the dinner later. I have something to discuss with General Zhang."

Zhang He's face slightly stiffened when he heard this.

The hall of the mansion.

Zhang He was entertaining Song Qing and said, "Sir Song, this is new tea picked in Jiangnan this year. It has a sweet aftertaste. Please try it."

Song Qing took a sip of the fragrant tea, tasted it carefully, and nodded with enjoyment: "Not bad, good tea."

After saying this, he took another sip, then put down the teacup, glanced at the servants in the hall, and said nothing.

Zhang He understood and dismissed the servant immediately. Then he slightly restrained the smile on his face and said, "Master Song, what can I do for you?"

Song Qing said calmly, "General Zhang, how much do you know about your son-in-law who has not yet married into the family?"

In Song Qing's opinion, Zhang He took "Guo Xian" as his son-in-law, which is why he used the term "not yet married".

Zhang He frowned slightly, realizing that Song Qing's visit should be related to Guo Xian, and then he began to tell the story: "I met him in Pingting County, Qingzhou. At that time, he was the first in the Qingzhou County Examination. It happened that my daughter was still unmarried, and I especially respected scholars, so I intended to marry my daughter to him, and he agreed...

He is from Cangzhou, unmarried, and his parents died early. "

"Does General Zhang really believe what he said?" Song Qing said.

"I was a little suspicious at first, and I even asked someone to investigate, but there was chaos in the north at that time, and the household registration files of the government offices in various places had long been lost, so there was really no place to check. Moreover, his accent was indeed from Cangzhou. Later, after spending some time together, I found that he had an excellent character, and gradually I stopped doubting him."

Zhang He had a really good impression of this son-in-law. At the same time, he realized that Song Qing's words might be related to the identity of "Mr. Guo", so he asked again: "Did something happen to him?"

When questioning, Song Qing kept staring into Zhang He's eyes. Seeing that he really didn't know, he slowly took out the copied case file from his arms, handed it to Zhang He, and said:
"Today, when the police from the government were tracking a suspect, they happened to see the suspect trying to kill three people outside the city. These three people were an old man, a woman, and a boy under ten years old. The police immediately controlled the suspect. According to his account, he killed these three people because he was instructed by someone in General Zhang's mansion..."

When Song Qing said this, Zhang He also finished reading the case file. His face darkened and his hands holding the case file were shaking. He looked like a volcano about to erupt. After being stunned for a long time, he only said one sentence: "Master Song, is this true?"

"It is true that Peng Si'er murdered someone, and he was caught red-handed. As to whether it was Guo Xian who ordered it, and whether he was wearing the map, we are still investigating."

As he spoke, Song Qing picked up the teacup, lowered his eyes and blew a breath, then raised his eyes and said, "I think this matter has a great impact on General Zhang, so I came to inform you."

Zhang He is no longer the ignorant country bumpkin. He can understand the meaning of Song Qing's words. As long as he speaks up, the other party will do him a favor and get the matter done.

Zhang He first said that he didn't know any Peng Si'er, and then asked: "Does the prince know about this?"

"I have already stopped this matter on behalf of General Zhang, and it has not yet reached the prince's ears. In addition, I feel that the matter has not been investigated clearly yet. If Guo Xian is wronged, and he tells the prince, wouldn't it cause a rift between the prince and General Zhang?" Song Qing said.

He was very cunning, so Zhang He naturally wouldn't be able to see any clues.

Zhang He's expression changed for a while, and he said carefully: "Thank you, Lord Song, for hiding it for me, but this kind of thing of killing his wife and children is simply worse than pigs and dogs, and it is intolerable by heaven. If it is found to be true, I hope Lord Song will enforce the law impartially. If it is false, he can be cleared of all charges."

After saying that, Zhang He stood up and bowed towards Song Qing.

Hearing this, Song Qing couldn't help but look up at Zhang He, and quickly stood up and saluted: "General Zhang, what are you talking about? This is my duty."

After saying that, Song Qing found an excuse to leave and did not stay for dinner.

After bidding farewell to Song Qing, Zhang He lowered his eyes and looked extremely ugly. The other party said that the matter had not been clarified yet, but he understood that if the other party was not extremely sure, he would not come to talk about it.

But everyone has a lucky mentality.

Especially "Guo Xian" concerns his face. After coming to Xiangyang, he often boasted in front of those old friends that he had found a good son-in-law. If this is true, he will lose all his face.

He called the servants and asked where his son-in-law had gone.

The servant returned and said that the son-in-law had gone to meet his good friend.

Zhang He frowned, put his hands behind his back, and asked his servant to call Zhang Zhu over.

After seeing his daughter, Zhang He did not tell her about "Guo Xian" and asked her to stay away from "Guo Xian".

After all, if there is a misunderstanding, it would be more troublesome to fall out with each other now.

He just gave Zhang Zhu a few instructions.

She said that she was going to marry "Mr. Guo" soon.

During this period, let her keep a little distance from "Guo Xian" and let her be more reserved.

Don't give your body away before getting married.

Zhang Zhu blushed and said she understood.

……

On the other side, south of the city.

Dai Tu, who was wearing a mask, did not see Peng Si'er, so he started to inquire about him. As a result, he found out that Peng Si'er had been arrested by the government.

Peng Si'er has a lot of cronies. People like them would watch the gate of the yamen every day, so that they would know in advance if the yamen had any major actions.

When Peng Si'er was taken to the yamen, he was seen by someone.

Upon hearing the news, Dai Tu was immediately panicked and fled to the south of the city in a panic.

After arriving at an empty dark alley, he took off his mask and gasped for breath.

After calming down, Dai Tu began to think.

He was wearing a mask at the time, so Peng Sier probably didn't know his identity.

Even if Peng Si'er was arrested, he would not be implicated.

But here, Dai Tu has a point of concern.

Where was Peng Si'er caught by the people from the yamen?

It would be terrible if he was caught when he was trying to kill Huang Zhaodi and the others, and Huang Zhaodi and the others were not dead yet.

After all, if the government took Huang Zhaodi and others back for investigation, everything would be over.

At the same time, Dai Tu particularly hoped that it would be best if Peng Si'er was caught by the government after killing Huang Zhaodi and others. In this way, he would have no worries.

……

The deceased is like a husband who does not want to leave day or night.

Three days passed in a flash while Dai Tu was worried and frightened.

Seeing that nothing happened, Dai Tu breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that when the government arrested Peng Si'er, they did not encounter Huang Zhaodi and others.

In this way, Dai Tu felt relieved.

However, because he was in a state of fear, he did not notice that Zhang He was no longer as enthusiastic towards him.

Just then, Dai Tu suddenly heard the sound of gongs and drums.

He thought that today was the day when the results of the palace examination would be announced.

Dai Tu was suddenly shocked!
Did I win?
Dai Tu was horrified and hurried out of Zhang's house. His heart was pounding as he looked at the guard of honor coming towards him.

At the same time, Zhang Zhu heard the sound of gongs and drums and came out to see.

When I first saw the honor guard, there was surprise on my face.

People from the nearby neighbors came out to watch the fun, and they basically all knew what day it was.

As a result, the honor guard passed by the gate of Zhang's mansion and stopped in front of the house on the street next to Zhang's mansion. Here lived Qin Shi and his son Qin Hao.

The two of them don't live here permanently. This is just a house purchased by the Qin family in Xiangyang. After the list is announced, Qin Hao will return to Jiangnan.

Hearing the sounds of gongs and drums outside, the father and his son and their servants hurried out to check.

As soon as they arrived at the door, the messenger who brought the good news bowed and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Qin. Congratulations, Mr. Qin. Congratulations, Mr. Qin, on being admitted to the imperial examination."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Qin father and son and the people watching around were stunned and silent.

After a moment, there was an uproar.

The first place in the second class is commonly known as Chuanlu, and is the first person below the top three.

"I'm the one who passed the palace examination?" Qin Shi was stunned for a while. Although he felt that he had performed well after the last palace examination, he never expected to do so well.

Qin Hao, who was standing next to him, smiled so widely that his mouth was cracking. He quickly took out gold leaves from his pocket and gave them to the person who reported the good news. Even the onlookers were rewarded, but not with gold leaves anymore, but with small change.

It is enough to prove his excitement and happiness at the moment.

The people who received the reward money naturally did not hesitate to express their praise and immediately gave another round of congratulations.

Not long after, Qin Shi's friends also came to visit, apparently knowing the news about the other party's high school.

A friend asked, "Brother Qin, do you know who is the top scorer this time?"

"Who is it?" Qin Shi asked curiously.

"It's Brother Sun from Sun Cheng. He is the top scorer this time, and the second place is Brother Guo Ning." said the friend.

"Hiss." Qin Shi took a breath of cold air.

Qin Hao, who was standing next to him, rolled his eyes and quickly asked his servants to pack some silver and go to visit.

At the same time, this scene also happened in Liu’s Baozi Shop.

Liu Taoshu was at the bottom of the top three in high school.

After the person who brought the good news left, less than an hour had passed, and the people who came to the Liu family to give gifts had almost broken down the threshold of the Liu family.

……

But people's pessimism is not the same.

There was silence in Zhang's house.

Zhang Zhu was also a little disappointed because the name "Guo Xian" was not on the list of palace examinations.

Zhang He didn't seem surprised by this result.

After all, before the matter is investigated thoroughly, the name "Mr. Guo" will definitely not be put down for the sake of influence.

Because if it is true, once the news spreads, it will also damage the reputation of other students on the list.

However, Zhang Zhu did not show any displeasure to "Mr. Guo" for this, but instead comforted him.

In her heart, she was actually very satisfied with "Guo Xian".

……

night.

Chen Mo held a banquet at Fuze Restaurant, inviting the students who made the list and the aristocratic families in Xiangyang.

He also said that they would accompany him to the capital to meet the emperor in a while, and His Majesty would confer on them the status of Jinshi and would make preparations for the arrangements afterwards.

At the dinner, Chen Mo followed the old tradition and gave out several poetry and prose topics to set the mood.

As the atmosphere became more intense, the noble families present began to interact with these students.

The most popular among them is neither the top pick Sun Cheng nor the second pick Guo Ning.

Instead it was the third place winner Wang Haosheng.

Although Chen Mo was ranked according to academic performance, it was not known whether it was destined or not, but among all the students, Wang Haosheng was indeed the most handsome.

The ladies present looked at Wang Haosheng intently, as if they wanted to eat him alive.

After today, Sun Cheng, Guo Ning and Wang Haosheng will be like stars. Wherever they appear in a store, the store will be bustling with business.

Since it was a brothel in Xiangyang City, it even spread the word that it would pay a huge sum of money to the number one scholar to write a calligraphy.

It can be said that the three of them did not have to spend any money when they went to eat. Instead, the restaurant had to give them money, and they gave it willingly.

It was not until the end of July that this situation gradually stopped.

At this time, the heat of the palace examination also dissipated in Xiangyang.

At the same time, Zuo Gang, who had led people to Taoyuan County, Yanzhou for investigation some time ago, also returned to Linzhou and was rushing to Xiangyang.

Zhang Mansion at this time.

In the hall, Zhang Zhu was asking her father when her wedding with "Mr. Guo" would take place.

This is not Zhang Zhu's anxiety.

After all, it was agreed that they would get married after the palace examination.

But now, more than 20 days have passed since the announcement of the results, and people no longer discuss the palace examination. There is no specific date set for her marriage to "Mr. Guo".

Zhang He said, "We must choose an auspicious day for the wedding. I will go to the Prince of Wei's mansion and set a date with the prince."

Zhang Zhu nodded.

"Mr. Guo" on the side also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Ever since Peng Si'er was arrested, and his name not being on the list after it was announced, although "Mr. Guo" was not confident that he would be on the list, he always felt that there was something odd about the matter.

Especially a few days after the results were announced, he could feel that Zhang He was no longer as enthusiastic about him.

This made him worry that his marriage with Zhang Zhu would fail.

This made him feel nervous all the time.

Until today, nothing bad has happened.

The arrest of Peng Si'er had no effect on him.

Moreover, he had inquired a lot these days and did not hear any rumors, which made him feel a lot more at ease.

The only thing I’m worried about now is Huang Zhaodi and the others. I don’t know whether they are alive or dead.

……

Prince Wei's Mansion.

In the backyard hall.

Ning Wan specially called Qing Wu over.

After taking the "Anti-aging Pill", Qingwu's skin has obviously become more supple and she looks much younger overall after a few days.

This made Wu Mi and the others look happy. They praised Qing Wu for managing the Fuze Restaurant's business well and gave her some silver as a reward.

Qingwu didn't know that she had become a tool for "poison testing".

On the contrary, he felt that the princess and the lady were very kind to him.

I must repay them well.

(End of this chapter)