024 The selection of girls from Zhu's family has a girl with a school bag network
Due to the previous Yellow River incident, the atmosphere in Kyoto had been depressed for a long time. However, with the issuance of Ming Emperor's edict to select and adopt girls, the capital seemed to have been injected with chicken blood, quickly restoring its former prosperity. For a time, people came and went, visiting each other without end.
Especially the Zhu family, this selection is presided over by the Minister of Rites, Zhu Changren. Some low-ranking officials who wanted to rely on their daughters to leap into prominence also took the opportunity to fawn upon them, and the threshold of the Zhu family was trampled several times.
Mrs. Zhang had just finished paying respects to a group of visiting guests when she heard the servant come to report that the master had summoned her, so she hastily rushed back to the inner chamber and found Zhu Changren sitting on the couch reading a book. After exchanging greetings with him, she smiled and asked, "Master has returned quite early today, I wonder what you have called me for?"
Zhu Changren put down the book and revealed a slightly serious expression. He glanced at Zhang's wife with a hint of indifference and asked, "Regarding Ruo'er's marriage, do you have any suitable candidates?"
Zhang was taken aback, not expecting him to ask about this matter. The joy in her heart faded a bit, but she promptly put on a worried expression and said with difficulty: "Master, you also know that Rong'er has encountered that thing, but no good family is willing to take her back."
Zhu Changren furrowed his brow, slightly displeased, but forced himself to say: "There's no need for a door-to-door match, just find someone with good character from this year's jinshi."
His displeasure was naturally seen by Zhang, who hastily responded, but in his heart he was extremely bitter. Since her family broke off the engagement, Master had been treating him worse and worse every day. With this matter on her mind, she seemed a bit dazed. Zhu Changren raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is there anything else you want to ask me?"
Zhang hesitated for a moment, but when she saw the impatience on his face, she stopped delaying and asked: "Master, in today's selection of talented women, will our family also submit an application? In my opinion, Yier is an excellent choice, whether it's her character or appearance."
"Shrew!" Zhang's words had barely left her lips when she was slapped in the face by Zhu Changren. His eyes were bloodshot, his gaze fierce and wide with anger, as if he could devour her whole. This was the most furious he had ever been in his life. "You are so infatuated with your own desires, indulging in the alchemy of burning dan and refining mercury, that you have forgotten the importance of selecting a worthy daughter-in-law for our family's legacy! You actually believed the deceitful words of those charlatans who promised eternal youth and longevity, didn't you? And now, by reporting this intention to the authorities, what kind of heart do you possess?! Poisonous woman!"
He flung his sleeve and left the room in a huff. The room fell into a dead silence, with the servants standing by with their hands clasped together and their eyebrows furrowed, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible, lest they become the target of his anger.
Just then, the sound of a report came from outside, and Zhang's wet nurse, Yun Ai, lifted the flower soft curtain and walked in. Seeing the bright red palm print on Zhang's face, she was shocked and asked hastily: "Madam, what happened to your face?"
Zhang's eyes closed and she leaned against the imperial concubine's couch beside her, not responding to Yun's words. Instead, she asked aloud, "What's going on outside?"
Yun Niang's face was slightly hesitant, saying: "It's about coming to discuss a marriage arrangement."
Zhang's hand suddenly clenched in his wide sleeve, his face tense, and he asked, "For whom?"
"It's... Fourth Miss." Yun's words were almost inaudibly low.
The people in the house suddenly felt a chill all over, followed by a loud crash. The exquisite Ru kiln teacup on the nanmu round table was smashed to pieces on the ground, and the carpet was instantly stained with tea spots.
"That cheap person again!"
