Chapter 288 The True and False Prince 5 (1/2)

Time flies by, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye. With goals and motivation, the three brothers of the Su family showed talents that surprised their parents and wives.

From not knowing a single big word to being able to read and write by themselves, in a short period of time, several young people who have been doing hard labor have actually become scholars.

In comparison, the growth of the fifth brother Su is not so impressive. After all, he has been studying for five years, and he was often praised by the teacher for his intelligence. On the surface, it seems that there is not much change.

In fact, only Yang Yan knows that he is the one with the best qualifications among the brothers. Although he has no famous teacher to teach him before, his vision is limited, but he has a good foundation.

In this year, he has learned from him and gained knowledge. The whole person has made a qualitative leap. With his current level, the title of scholar can be said to be within his reach, and even the title of juren is 70% to 80% certain.

However, Yang Yan was not in a hurry to let him go. Seeing that he had mastered the knowledge in the books, he sent him out to study. Reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. Many things can only be understood more deeply after personal experience.

Besides, the people who are eyeing him have not been found yet. Yang Yan spread a white paper on the desk and picked up the pen with a smile. It is time to eliminate some unstable factors.

***

Compared with the peace and joy of the Su family and the unity of brothers, the days of Jinshouhou Mansion this year can be said to be chaotic. It should be said that since the real prince was replaced, there has been no day of peace in the mansion.

In the past, Zuo Yangyan showed extraordinary talent when he was young. He could speak eloquently and advance and retreat at a young age. He passed the examination of Xiucai and Juren without the grace of the family. He was just like a child from another family.

Almost every person of his age in the circle of the rich and powerful has been compared to him and scolded by his elders, which can be said to have attracted enough hatred. When they found out that he was not the real prince of the Marquis's Mansion, there were countless people who mocked him and took advantage of his misfortune.

The reason why they did not step on him in person was not because these people were unwilling, but because the original owner was alert enough to know that his changed status would easily lead to trouble. He never gave them a chance to stay in the mansion all day long under the pretext of studying.

Originally, he had planned very well. Although he was not the biological son of the Marquis and his wife, the hard work they had put in over the past ten years was real. In this world, many families would be willing to make friends with promising students even if they had no relationship with them.

They formed such a deep friendship by accident. As long as he was still useful, the Marquis's Mansion would not be willing to let him go. When he achieved fame, the Marquis's Mansion would definitely lend a hand, and he could use it to climb to a high position and give back.

It was a mutually beneficial matter for both parties. The original owner reached a tacit understanding with Marquis Jinshou. He felt at ease staying in the Marquis's mansion. The only thing he didn't expect was Zuo Yangyi.

It can be said that he was implicated by the original owner. In the past, those people envied Marquis Jinshou for having a good son. When the Marquis's mansion got back his own son who grew up in a farmhouse, they were ridiculed.

Zuo Yangyi had just come from a simple thatched house that could only shelter him from the wind and rain to an exquisite fairy-like garden. Before he had enjoyed a few days of rich life, he was covered in the malice of these "superior people".

They smiled, but they looked at him as if they were looking at something dirty. They ridiculed him from beginning to end in a plain tone with a special charm, but he didn't even understand what they said.

It was only later that he hid behind the scenes and learned from the maids and servants what those people meant. They thought his words and deeds were vulgar and unpresentable, and laughed at him for digging in the soil since he was a child and having a smell of soil on his body, and despised his rough face and hands covered with callous scars.

What he couldn't stand the most was that he was compared with Zuo Yangyan, who was taken away by mistake. Although the other person was fake and he was the real prince, in the eyes of these people, one was in the sky and the other was in the mud, and he was not even worthy of carrying shoes for others.

The young man's mind was sensitive and could not stand being provoked. He quarreled with others for the first time he appeared in the circle of power and wealth, and then started fighting. After being guided by someone with ulterior motives, he took the resentment on the original owner.

After that, the Marquis's Mansion had a small quarrel every two days and a big quarrel every three days. The Marquis's wife felt sorry for her son who had suffered so many years outside, so she naturally sided with him. The Marquis of Jinshou was also troubled by the quarrel, and the original owner was sent away.

When his legs were crippled and lost their value, the mansion never mentioned taking him back again, but the mansion did not return to peace because of his departure.

Marquis Jinshou was eager to cultivate his own son, and invited a famous teacher to arrange heavy academic work for him. Zuo Yangyi suddenly came to a completely different environment. He was sensitive and inferior, and someone often provoked him in his ears. He was stubborn and believed that his father looked down on him.

The young man's means of expressing anger were immature and ridiculous. He refused to do anything he was asked to do, and he insisted on trying things that he was not allowed to touch. He also had a mother who was pampered because she had suffered for many years because of her heartache. He was seen to be more and more unruly.

Now when people in the capital mentioned the real prince of the Marquis Jinshou Mansion, they all shook their heads and lamented that people were greatly affected by the environment. Meng Mu's moving three times for her son was really wise.

The Marquis's wife occasionally heard about her son's reputation outside, and she was very angry, but she had no way to deal with him. Beating, giving up, scolding, and listening were not allowed.

Originally, she had planned to teach him slowly, hoping that he would eventually understand things over time. However, a piece of news she received that day made her unable to sit still any longer.

Zuo Yangyi skipped class again and drank and had fun with others until it was almost curfew before returning home drunk. As soon as he entered his yard, he was stunned. The hall was brightly lit, and Mrs. Hou sat in the middle with a sullen face, looking at him with eyes. With anger.

He had sobered up a little, but he didn't pay much attention to it. He walked in with a smile and said, "Why are you here in person? If you have anything to do, please send someone to ask me to come over to you."

"I did send someone to call you, but unfortunately I couldn't find anyone despite repeated calls." Mrs. Hou said coldly, "Where have you been fooling around again?"

"How can you say it's fooling around?" Zuo Yangyi staggered two steps, fell into the chair opposite her, picked up the tea cup in front of her and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "I'm going to drink as a host for my friend's birthday. Had two drinks.”

"Can those people you have made friends be called friends?" Madam Hou raised her eyebrows, "Some of the sons of petty officials and businessmen are all followers of others. They just take a fancy to your identity."

"I don't like hearing what my mother said anymore," Zuo Yangyi said unhappily, "What about those from petty officials and merchants? Don't you think you can't make friends if you don't have a high status?"

"Make friends?" Mrs. Hou was angry when she saw his unsparing look, and said coldly, "You treat others as friends, but others may not be sincere to you. If you are not the prince of the Hou family, do you think those people still treat you?" Are you just trying to please you?"

"It turns out that in my mother's heart, she looks at me just like everyone else," Zuo Yangyi sneered and said, "I, Zuo Yangyi, am just a farmer who forages for food in the soil. I got lucky and became the heir apparent of the Hou Mansion. How can I be worthy of being truly friends with others?”

"Yi'er!" Mrs. Hou said angrily, "How could my mother ever have such intention?"

"It doesn't matter if you have it or not," Zuo Yangyi covered his eyes with his big hand and said a little tiredly, "I'm very dizzy now. If mother wants to scold me, why don't you wait until I wake up and come back tomorrow, otherwise I won't be able to remember it. It’s time to make you angry again.”

Mrs. Hou was so angry that her chest was tight, she took a deep breath to calm down, and said to him as calmly as possible: "Yi'er, mother knows that you have suffered a lot of grievances, so I have always tried my best to follow you. "

"Mom, I just want you to live a happy life on your own. Anyway, you are the heir apparent, and you will inherit this great palace in the future. You can always guarantee that you will have enough food and clothing throughout your life."

As she spoke, her expression became serious: "But the situation is different now. Do you know that your father recommended your eldest brother to study in the Imperial College today?"

"Study, just study. If he likes to read, just read!" Zuo Yangyi said nonchalantly.

"That's the Imperial College, not just any academy!" Madam Hou was almost pissed off by his attitude. "Do you understand what this means?"

"What?" Zuo Yangyi really didn't understand.

"What, what, you've been back for so long, why are you still unclear about the situation?" Madam Hou couldn't help lowering her voice and roared, "The Imperial College is the most advanced school in the entire dynasty. In addition to those who are outstanding in talent and learning, every noble family also has There’s only one spot available.”

"We can only have one person in the Marquis Mansion. It used to be A Yan. When he leaves, you should be the one to take over. It's just because you don't know a single Chinese character that the Imperial College has not let go. Now the Marquis has put this The quota is given to Zuo Yangan, do you understand what your father means? "

"He is dissatisfied with you. He feels that you can't hold up the wall, so he gave the precious position to your concubine. He wants to support his concubine's eldest son. Do you think you can still hold the position of heir apparent? Is it stable?”

"You have only been back for a short time, so you may not understand the meaning. Let me tell you this. As the crown prince, you will not only inherit the title of Marquis of Jin Shou in the future, but you will also receive 70% of all the property when the family is divided."

"The remaining 30% needs to be divided among all your brothers. The Marquis has five heirs, which means that except for the crown prince, each of your brothers only gets a quarter of the 30%."

Hearing her mother's hoarse words, Zuo Yangyi roughly understood the seriousness of the matter, but he didn't turn pale or show regret as she imagined. He just stayed quiet for a long time before saying calmly: "Oh - —" made a sound.

Mrs. Hou: "..."

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She stood up, and the figure reflected on the wall by the candlelight stooped a bit: "Forget it, you are not in a hurry yourself, what's the use of me worrying about you?"

But even though he was talking about this, when he glanced sideways, the young man still looked that lazy, as if he didn't care about anything.

Mrs. Hou was completely desperate for her son and left the place with a wave of her sleeves. Zuo Yangyi still kept one hand covering his face and did not move. People who didn't know thought he was Was asleep.

Angrily returning to her apartment, Mrs. Hou swept away the tea sets on the table with a wave of her hand. She sat down on the stool and punched the table angrily: "I have no sense of crisis, and I can't hear good words." , How did I give birth to such a thing?"

"Sometimes I wonder if we really got the wrong child. The Marquis is very brave and I'm not stupid. He doesn't look like our blood."

"Madam," the old woman next to her was shocked, "You can't say this casually. If the prince knew about it, wouldn't it alienate the relationship between you and your son?"

"I understand, Madam Yang," Madam Marquis took a deep breath and exhaled, "I would only say this if it's just the two of us?"

She pressed her temples and felt a splitting headache. She said, "I really don't know I wonder what I did wrong in my last life that God wants to punish me like this. I have raised a good son for sixteen years, but in the end, he is not my own. If I hadn't discovered this, how could I be so embarrassed with Yan'er's intelligence? "

"Madam, please don't say such things again in the future," Nanny Yang stepped forward and rubbed her head, advising, "Young Master Yan is already useless. Even if Madam is unwilling, this has become a fact. You can only rely on Master Yi in the future."

"Don't I understand it?" Madam Hou leaned on her weakly, and said weakly, "But today Yi'er You have also seen his attitude with your own eyes. He is so useless and has no sense of crisis. How can we rely on him? "

"The prince is just young and doesn't understand the good intentions of the lady," Nanny Yang rolled her eyes and came up with a solution, "Madam, why don't you discuss with the Marquis and move up the prince's wedding date?"

"It is said that men should start a family and a career, but starting a family comes before starting a career. Maybe when the prince gets married and has children, he will have concerns in his heart and understand his responsibilities."

"This..." The Marquis's wife hesitated, "Will it work?"

"I dare not say whether it will work, but I heard that Nan The eldest daughter of the Marquis of Xiang is virtuous, maybe she can make the prince turn back from his ways? "Madam Yang did not stop her hand and said softly, "Besides, the two of them already had an engagement, it's just that they got married in advance. No matter what the result is, there will be no loss. What do you think, Madam?"

As the old woman kept pressing, the Marquis's headache eased a lot. She closed her eyes and murmured, "Madam, you are right. Maybe this is also a way."

The next day, she mentioned this matter to Marquis Jinshou. After all, he was the legitimate son. Although he was very dissatisfied, he also had a little thought in his heart. He agreed without much hesitation.

Finding a suitable time, Marquis Jinshou specially visited Marquis Nanxiang. Outsiders had no way of knowing what the two discussed in detail, but when he left the mansion, the wedding date of the two families was set for more than three months later, almost a year earlier.

As for what the two parties, Zuo Yangyi and Qin Yunxin, thought in their hearts, these days, parents' orders and matchmakers' words are important. Even if it is their marriage, as a junior, there is no room for interruption.

Three months later, the wedding date arrived as scheduled. It should be a grand event for the two marquisates to get married, but the Nanxiang Marquisate is no longer as famous as its predecessors, and the real and fake prince of the Jinshou Marquisate a year ago was a hot topic.

The newly recognized prince Zuo Yangyi has been causing trouble from time to time this year. It can be said that he is "famous". This wedding looks very glorious on the surface, but many people secretly laugh at it.

Some people sighed that Qin Yunxin had bad luck. The so-called high-marriage and low-marriage, even if the Nanxiang Marquisate has declined in recent years, but with her family background and talent, if she had not happened to discuss marriage with the Jinshou Marquisate at this critical juncture, she would definitely marry a better man.

Some people also felt sorry for the Jinshou Marquis. The good legitimate son was taken to a farmer's house and raised to waste. After a hundred years, Zuo Yangyi might not be able to support the door of the marquisate.

In the end, everyone looked down on this real prince of the Marquis's Mansion, and felt that anyone who had anything to do with him was more or less unlucky.

As expected, these rumors reached Zuo Yangyi's ears, and the young man's self-esteem was greatly hit, so that he had a stern face on the day of the wedding, without a trace of smile.

And this once again became the reason for him to be criticized. Many people thought that he was a little ungrateful. A farmer's son was lucky enough to marry a noble lady with good talent, beauty and virtue in the capital. It would be fine if he was not grateful, but he also put on a bad face at the wedding.

Those who said these things did not think that Zuo Yangyi was originally the legitimate son of the Marquis's Mansion, but unfortunately fell into a poor family, which gave them the opportunity to attack the south.

Fortunately, this topic of gossip did not exist in the capital for long, and was soon drowned out by another extremely sensational news.

The story started three months ago. Xianyun Jushi published a new storybook. As soon as it was released, it caused a buying frenzy. Some people even waited in front of the bookstore after the curfew, just to buy the book they liked as soon as possible.

Although Xianyun Jushi has only appeared in the public's sight for a year, he has already occupied half of the storybook world. Except for some old and young scholars who regard "extracurricular books" as a flood and beast, almost all writers have become his fans.

The martial arts world he describes is happy and exciting. The fairy tales he tells seem to really show the world of immortals in front of people, and the monsters and ghosts he writes are different from people's impressions but have reason and evidence. Those flesh-and-blood monsters seem to really exist in the world.

This time, Xianyun Jushi wrote about ordinary officialdom. Those who came for the wonderful story were a little disappointed, but those who are officials, have been officials, and have some understanding of officialdom were very shocked after reading it.

There is no other reason, it’s mainly because what he said was too real.

It can be seen that Xianyun Jushi is actually somewhat evasive, and only touches on many unspoken rules and dark places, but it is precisely this that makes people understand that he knows a lot about officialdom.

Because he has always been very mysterious and hides himself very well, countless people have speculated about his identity but could not confirm it. Once this storybook was published, most people were convinced that he must have retired from the officialdom, and most of them had held high positions.

This storybook is not very eye-catching at first glance, and is far less exciting than his previous works, but the more you read it, the more fascinating it becomes. After all, most scholars still aim to become officials. They can't help but think: If I encounter the situation in the storybook, what will I do?

After putting myself in it, I can't help but become more addicted to it. There was such a small county magistrate who was sent out with the storybook. After encountering the same thing above, he couldn't help but try the irrigation method described in it, and this attempt was successful!

If this method was proposed by his subordinates, he might have claimed the credit for himself, but it was written openly in a best-selling storybook.

The county magistrate knew that he could not cover it up anyway, so he simply reported the matter directly to his superiors. Although he could not monopolize all the credit, he was brave enough to try, and he might even get a good impression.

And he was right. The prefecture above him had been transferred out for two years and was short of political achievements. After receiving his report, he quickly used his own manpower and material resources to try other cases in the storybook.

Then he found that most of them were feasible, and only a few were not done because they did not understand. He was ecstatic and immediately reported the matter, and mentioned the name of the county magistrate in the memorial.

The memorial went straight to the emperor, and then someone came to investigate. After confirming that it was correct, the emperor was shocked and ordered his subordinates to find this Xianyun hermit and bring him to the palace to meet the emperor. Once the news came out, it caused a sensation instantly.

Compared to the legends of Jianghu where people take revenge, the longed-for fairy tales, and the strange and bizarre secrets of demons and ghosts, although the affairs of the officialdom are also exciting, they are relatively less attractive.

Many people who read Xianyun Jushi's new storybook were disappointed, and some even asserted that he had run out of ideas. Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and a storybook even shocked the emperor?

Those who quit fans and stepped back a while ago were inevitably stunned. Some of them who had spoken wildly in front of everyone were embarrassed to go out for a while, and the storybook, which had been somewhat sluggish in sales, also caused a wave of buying again, even crazier than when it first came out.

This is a storybook that even shocked the emperor. Although there is already a copy at home, who doesn't have relatives and friends? It must be prepared for people far away!

Unfortunately, the bookstore only had so much in stock, and it would take time to increase the printing. Those who didn't buy it had to turn their attention to the previous stories written by Xianyun Jushi and bought them all.

The bookstore owner shed tears of joy, and was very glad that he had a keen eye and spent a lot of money to keep this noble man.

While the outside world was in a commotion and rushed to buy the stories, the emperor's people also followed the clues and found the Su family in He'an Village.

"Mr. Su, His Majesty invites you." The leading guard looked at him with some surprise.

I thought that the person who could write such a book should be a great scholar, but he saw a young man who was not yet twenty years old, and he was one of the protagonists of the story of the true and false prince a year ago.

If they hadn't found the clues themselves and carefully checked that there was no ghostwriter behind him, he would never have believed it.

"Thank you for leading the way." Yang Yan was not surprised by their appearance. He should have gone to the emperor. If the power of the royal family couldn't find this place, then he would be really surprised.