Chapter 602: Fate

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After Yangyang entered the palace, he told Chu Yao about his decision to participate in the imperial examination.

Chu Yao looked at Yangyang in admiration and said with a smile, “Then you have to take the exam well. You can’t ruin our reputation.”

Yangyang replied solemnly, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll definitely do my best. ”

Qi Dingbang patted Yangyang in admiration and smiled. “Good brother, you’re still the best. I’ll wait for our good graces! ”

Pan Sheng looked at him with mixed feelings. “Zhou Chenxi, aren’t you determined to be a general? Why are you still participating in the imperial examination?”

Yangyang felt that Pan Sheng’s attitude towards him these days was a little strange. He was sometimes cold, sometimes hot, and sometimes sarcastic.

He decided not to spoil him anymore. He looked at him and raised his eyebrows. “Who said that you can’t participate in the imperial examination as a general?” He turned to look at Chu Yao. “Your Highness, is there such a rule in the law?”

Chu Yao glanced at Pan Sheng. “Why would there be such strange rules in the law? If one can participate in the imperial examination, one can be a general who knows both martial arts and literature.”

Chu Yao’s attitude embarrassed Pan Sheng. He forced a smile and said, “Zhou Chenxi, you have to work hard. Unfortunately, I only know two dilettantish middling moves. ”

Yangyang smiled and waved his hand. “I’ll definitely do my best.”

At this moment, Shen Jie brought her maidservant, Xiao Ya in from the palace door. Pan Sheng blushed and found an excuse to retreat into the classroom.

Yangyang looked at him in confusion. “What does his marriage proposal have to do with me? I didn’t ask him to do it. He’s always so sarcastic.”

Chu Yao looked at Yangyang and felt that he had only grown taller in the past few years. He felt that Eldest Master Zhou’s life was too comfortable. Zhou Chenxi didn’t know anything. He didn’t know that his family had long been the first choice for those enthusiastic mothers looking to betroth their daughters.

Chu Yao decided to teach this silly kid a lesson. “Did you see Pan Sheng when he saw my cousin?”

Yangyang shook his head. “I can’t tell. He’s been sarcastic to me these days. I can’t be bothered with him.”

“I heard from my grandmother that the Pan family invited someone to the Shen family to propose marriage,” Chu Yao said in a low voice.

Yangyang turned around and looked at Pan Sheng, who was sitting in the classroom in a daze. He gave Chu Yao a thumbs up.

“How brave. How dare he have designs on this little chili.”

Shen Jie looked at the two people muttering and pointed at Yangyang. “Zhou Chenxi, are you talking bad about me?”

Yangyang felt a pain in his chest when he saw Shen Jie. He rolled his eyes at her. “Which ear of yours heard me talking bad about you?”

Shen Jie glanced at Chu Yao, who was rubbing his nose and smiling dryly. She was so angry that she stomped her feet and turned to leave.

Two months later, the Fu County Prince brought Mr. Cheng and the others back to the capital to report to Chu Yuhao.

They told the emperor that they had searched the nearby county cities but could not find any traces of the Second Prince.

Mr. Cheng could not survive the punishment. He recalled that the Second Prince had said in the past that he would die if he did not succeed. He had said that he might not be alive anymore.

Chu Yuhao did not believe that this treacherous second brother would commit suicide. He kept feeling that he was still hiding in some corner. He sent a secret order to Chu Sihai and asked the people of the Four Seas Bank in various places to secretly investigate the news. If they found anything, it did not matter if he was dead or alive.

Time passed like an arrow, and the sun and moon were like shuttles. In the blink of an eye, it was August’s golden autumn. In the large rice field in Liang Village, the golden grain waves swayed with the wind, emitting the fragrance of rice.

The dilapidated village had changed. New three-party courtyards rose from the ground.

Ah Lian and the other women were busy harvesting. After working hard for more than half a month, they finally took the rice back to their new home.

The rice was stored in the granary. Looking at the clean and tidy courtyard and thinking that the government office was sending the children back the next day, everyone was so excited that they couldn’t sleep.

The next morning, Ah Lian and the other women woke up early and packed their things. They made rice cakes and killed the chickens and ducks to welcome the children.

At dusk, the women who had been watching at the village entrance for the entire day finally saw a few carriages appear at the village entrance. Everyone greeted them excitedly.

After entering the village, everyone watched as the fair and chubby Lord Sun alighted from the carriage. An old woman and two scribes followed him down.

Lord Sun said to Ah Lian, “I’ve already found a child for you. There are girls and boys. Are you prepared for this?”

Looking at the carriage, Ah Lian and the others bowed gratefully and said, “Sir, we’ve long thought about it. Whether it’s a son or a daughter, it’s our fate.” Sun Da nodded in satisfaction. “Alright, for this matter, we’ve also thought of a way. The children are all sitting in the car. The child you hold first will be your child.”

When the women heard this, they all felt that this was a good idea. They didn’t even see if it was a boy or a girl. They didn’t see if the child was ugly or handsome. It saved the sisters from hurting their harmony.

Everyone readily agreed and nodded. “Alright, we’ll do as you say, sir.”

Lord Sun took out the registered register. ‘Whoever I call comes up. Three at a time. San Qiao, Yang Liu, Ying Tao.”

After the three of them bowed to Lord Sun, they were led to the carriage by the old woman. They suppressed their excitement and nervousness and extended their hands into the carriage.

San Qiao led out a thin and small little girl who looked to be three or four years old. She had bright black eyes and looked at San Qiao timidly.

The old woman said to her, “Girl, this is your mother. Call her Mother.”

San Qiao’s heart almost melted when she saw her. She said gently, “Child, I’ll be your mother from now on.”

Looking at San Qiao’s warm gaze, the little girl wrapped her arms around San Qiao’s neck and called out softly, “Mother.”

San Qiao’s tears fell. “Aye… Aye!…”

Yingtao and Yang Liu each led a thin kid down.

Next were Ah Lian and Hong Mei. Aunt and Aunt brought down a boy and a girl. An hour later, all the women who had registered received their children.

After the scribe helped settle the household register, everyone happily brought the children back. The deserted Liang Village became lively.

The women invited the Zhou family’s stewards and tenants home for a reunion meal to celebrate their future.

At dusk, a few carriages stopped at the entrance of the Zhou Mansion.

An honest man who looked like a shopkeeper got out of the car and a youth helped an auntie to the entrance of the Zhou Mansion.

The young man went forward and asked politely, “Uncle, may I ask if the

Assistant Minister of Revenue Zhou’s family is here?”

Uncle Liu sized up the family of three and felt that the woman looked a little familiar. He smiled and nodded. “Yes, may I ask who you are?”

The young man cupped his hands shyly. “Please inform him that Madam’s aunt and uncle from Tongzhou are here..”