Chapter 86 - Don't Scare Him
“I recall there was another child who had knowledge about the yuan. Who might that be?” The madam gave Mrs. Xue a questioning look.
Mrs. Xue had no alternative but to extract Zuo Shaoqing from the rear of the crowd.
Realizing he couldn't evade the situation, Zuo Shaoqing approached the madam with a racing heart and respectfully bowed before establishing eye contact with her.
Everyone was perplexed. Why did the seemingly amiable old lady lose her smile upon seeing Zuo Shaoqing?
Was it because Zuo Shaoqing was born of a concubine? It appeared that the madam's aversion to her concubine was indeed true.
Zuo Yunwen secretly rejoiced that he hadn't brought Lady Yue along.
Zuo Shaoqing braced himself as the madam's scrutinizing gaze swept over him. He clutched his hands tightly, fearing that the madam might cast him out.
He returned the madam's gaze with his clear eyes, trying his best to shield his thoughts from her probing gaze. He remembered Lu Zheng's advice not to overthink things in the presence of the madam.
The two of them maintained eye contact for a while, assessing each other's qualities. Finally, the old lady smiled warmly and gestured affectionately, saying, “Come here, let me have a closer look!”
With just that one sentence, a collective sigh of relief swept through the Zuo Family. Despite Zuo Shaoqing being born of a concubine and Mrs. Xue's disapproval, his humiliation would have reflected poorly on the entire Zuo Family.
Zuo Shaoqing wasn't certain if this was a genuine compliment or if he was being set up for something else. Uncertain of the madam's intentions, he steeled himself and moved forward without hesitation.
Surprisingly, the madam took his hand and examined it closely, repeatedly praising, “This is the first time I've seen a boy with such beautifully marked palms and long fingers. One can tell at a glance that he is blessed.”
Zuo Shaoqing blinked in confusion. Was he being praised? He looked at the madam, bewildered.
“Why are your hands so cold? Isn't he dressed too lightly?” The madam furrowed her brow as she inspected his attire. It was evident that his clothes were somewhat oversized and outdated in terms of style. No wonder she found something amiss.
Mrs. Xue's heart constricted. Had she known that the Old Mistress would pay so much attention to a bastard, she would have never allowed Zuo Shaoqing to visit their home in these clothes.
Zuo Shaoqing obediently shook his head, saying, “I'm not cold.” It was just anxiety, wasn't it? He was so nervous that he was breaking out in cold sweats.
Zuo Shaoqing thought to himself: Even if he were to encounter the Emperor in the imperial court one day, he wouldn't be as anxious as he was today.
“The winters here in the north are quite different from the south. It can get pretty cold, but with your upcoming exams, you mustn't catch a cold,” the madame's concern was heartfelt.
Zuo Shaoqing was deeply moved by her words. “Thank you for your kindness, madame.”
Out of the blue, the madame asked, “How old are you?”
Taken aback by the sudden question, Zuo Shaoqing replied obediently, “I'm fourteen.”
“He's a whole five years younger than me, Zheng'er.”
Zuo Shaoqing was uncertain about the meaning behind her statement, so he simply lowered his head in silence. She continued, “He's only 14 years old, yet he's already the Top Scorer of the country. He's truly exceptional.”
Zuo Shaoqing modestly replied, “I was just fortunate.”
The madame retorted, “You're too humble. I don't like that.”
Zuo Shaoqing felt on the verge of tears. Was it wrong to be modest?
“Do you have confidence in the Conference Test?” she inquired.
Zuo Shaoqing hesitated but dared not say otherwise. “Yes.”
The old mistress cautioned, “Don't underestimate the Conference Test. Great Yang has no shortage of talented individuals, and even dropping off the list wouldn't be uncommon.”
Zuo Shaoqing felt like crying but had no tears left. Apart from obediently saying “yes,” he couldn't utter anything else.
He could sense that the madame was intentionally testing him. Otherwise, why would his siblings praise him so highly?
“You're still young, so don't rush to conclusions. Think carefully before you act!”
Did she intend to admonish him? Zuo Shaoqing thought to himself, “In this lifetime, was there any matter I didn't think through carefully?” No matter how cautious he was, he couldn't fathom Lu Zheng's actions.
Zuo Shaoqing met the madame's gaze directly and replied, “The madame's wisdom is evident. However, this humble one believes that opportunities must be seized and not allowed to slip away. Overthinking can lead to missing out on great opportunities.”
Everyone perspired due to his words; it was a brazen retort. Mrs. Xue even felt an urge to strangle him.
Madame Lu was about to speak when she saw her son entering briskly. She called out, “Mother!”
Zuo Shaoqing exhaled deeply upon hearing this. When Lu Zheng approached, he dared not display any signs of supplication and instead stood respectfully to the side.
“Mom, all the guests have arrived. It's time for the banquet,” Lu Zheng stated calmly.
The elderly lady released Zuo Shaoqing's hand and allowed the butler to lead them to their seats. Once the Zuo family departed, she expressed her displeasure, “I only exchanged a few words with him. Look at how jittery you've become.”
Lu Zheng didn't take advantage of the situation and replied gently, “He's timid; don't frighten him.”
The old mistress pursed her lips. “He's timid?” I don't see it. He dared to retort just now.
Lu Zheng assisted her in getting up and remarked in a cool tone, “Let's not overdo it if you're playing.”
The old mistress rolled her eyes at her son. “Playing?” I'm merely examining him. Do you think just anyone can be the wife of Duke Zhen?”
Lu Zheng recognized her frustration, so he refrained from further comment. He instructed a servant to attend to her needs and proceeded to the banquet hall.
Once he departed, the madame turned to Maid Zhong and inquired, “Is everything prepared?”
Maid Zhong nodded and hesitantly asked, “Old madam, are you certain about this?” “What if…”
The old mistress's expression grew stern. “There's no room for uncertainty! If he can't withstand this minor trial, he might as well quit now!”
“Understood!”
Upon entering the dining room, the four Zuo family members attracted numerous curious glances from all directions.
Many individuals discreetly inquired about the identities of these four individuals. Although the capital was vast, how could those who held fifth-grade positions in the imperial government go unrecognized?
Zuo Yunwen began to perspire profusely. It was one thing to face the old lady earlier, but now, he confronted genuine court dignitaries. As a commoner devoid of any official rank or standing, the pressure was immense.
The butler guided them to their seats, which happened to be toward the back of the room. The Zuo Family, although anxious, made no objections and nervously took their places.
After an unspecified period, a sudden cry of recognition rang out, drawing the attention of a middle-aged man who swiftly approached. “Are you my brother-in-law?”
Hearing that someone had recognized him, Zuo Yunwen raised his head and, peering through his mustache, carefully scrutinized the man's face. He exclaimed in surprise, “Yes… Brother Cheng Rui?”
It was worth noting that these two families shared a significant family connection. Cheng Rui was the brother-in-law of Mrs. Xue, and despite being a few years older than Zuo Yunwen, he had risen to the position of Young Master at Taichang Temple, overseeing state affairs.
In any other circumstances, Cheng Rui would not have recognized Zuo Yunwen or displayed such enthusiasm.
The consequences of what had happened in the past had not only led to the decline of the Zuo Family but also placed varying degrees of pressure on other families associated with them.
Consequently, over the past few years, the Zuo Family had been widely shunned, and even relatives had refrained from initiating contact.
“Has the entire Zuo Family come to the capital?” Cheng Rui's astonishment was understandable. After all, the late emperor's edict was common knowledge. If Zuo Yunwen had not appeared at Wu Steel Manor, it would have been assumed that this family had violated the imperial decree and secretly entered the capital.
Zuo Yunwen sighed with mixed emotions. Cheng Rui had once been an ordinary Humble Class student who had relied on him for everything. Yet, after two decades had passed, Cheng Rui remained an ordinary commoner, only a fourth-ranked official at Taichang Temple.
However… the future would be different! His Zuo Family would surely rise again!
“The Duke holds your family in high regard.” Zuo Yunwen kept his words brief, intentionally veiling the connection between the Zuo Family and Liu Steel Manor.
Different thoughts filled everyone's minds. Even though they weren't high-ranking officials at the imperial court, they were relatives of Duke Zhen. Who, then, was this Zuo Family? How did they secure a seat at the table with no apparent ties to Duke Zhen? It was clear that there was more to this situation than met the eye.
Having all been seasoned government officials for many years, they understood that surface appearances often concealed deeper truths. As a result, many officials who had interacted with the Zuo Family in the past stepped forward to offer their greetings.
Zuo Yunwen suddenly felt transported back to a time twenty years ago when he had been the cherished grandson of the Imperial Tutor. He regained his sense of pride and exchanged pleasantries with the gathering of officials, until Lu Zheng made a composed entrance.
Lu Zheng furrowed his brow and remained silent as he surveyed Zuo Shaoqing's position. Seating himself at the head of the table, he faced the assembled guests, who stood with respect. Politely, he addressed them, “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Consider this a simple family gathering.”
Regardless of whether they regarded Lu Zheng with awe or fear, everyone was filled with delight, and compliments flowed freely from their lips.
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