How can I bow my head and serve the powerful officials?

"Father……"

Su Qinghe clenched his fists. As his father's own son, he couldn't expose this lie in front of the Second Prince, but he had already promised the Second Prince that he would do his best to help make this happen...

Most importantly, he didn't understand why his father was unwilling to promote the study of arithmetic.

Isn’t this a good thing that benefits the country and the people?

Hasn't the Su family always been willing to share the court's worries and promote policies that benefit the people?

Biting his lower lip, Su Qinghe took a step forward, facing the majestic gaze, and spoke in a stiff tone, "I think what the Second Prince said makes sense. The way of arithmetic is of great benefit to the country and the people. I hope father can think carefully about it."

"I will consider it, but I have something important to attend to today, so I will not keep your Second Prince." Su Zhongyue leaned over and made a "please" gesture, and it was obvious that his attitude was very firm.

Now that things have come to this, Xie Chengze couldn't be tactless, "Well, then I won't bother you anymore."

After saying that, he glanced at Su Qinghe.

Su Qinghe did not catch this glance. He seemed as if all the strength in his body had been drained. He stood stiffly with his head hung, his eyes filled with loss and guilt, as well as incomprehensible confusion, making him like a piece of driftwood on the sea, adrift and helpless, with a restless heart.

Xie Chengze retracted his gaze, turned around and strode out of the Su Mansion.

Before getting on the carriage, he looked back at the black wooden plaque above the high gate of the Su Mansion.

The nights were long in the cold winter and the morning light had not yet broken. In front of the mansion gate, the candlelight in the vermilion lantern hanging high up was still flickering, illuminating the black wooden plaque brightly.

The golden characters "Su Mansion" on the plaque were written in a majestic and imposing manner. The servants wiped them diligently, without a speck of dust on them. The red candlelight from the lanterns made them shine even more...

It also dyed it a scarlet color.

He pondered for a long time, finally withdrew his gaze, and stepped into the carriage.

He said, "Go to Shen's Mansion."

……

The Second Prince came uninvited, and the entire Shen Mansion was on high alert. The Shen family members were on pins and needles and respectfully led Xie Chengze into the main hall.

Although the Shen family is not as famous as the Su family in history, it is still one of the most prominent families in the capital.

Shen Yuan's grandfather, Shen Zheng, was the previous Taifu, who had assisted Emperor Jian and the Crown Prince successively. Shen Yuan's father was Taizhong Daifu Shen Zhenpei, a subordinate official of Langzhongling. His official rank was neither high nor low, which did not bring disgrace to the Shen family.

It is said that the Shen family was originally just a moderately-sized scholarly family in Fengyang County, Haozhou. Due to their virtuous family traditions, they often set up forums outside their residence to give lectures, so that those who were poor and could not afford tuition but were diligent and studious could also receive education.

When the late emperor was in poverty, although he was a beggar, he often went to attend classes and benefited a lot. The Shen family saw that he was studious and felt sympathy for his talent, so they provided him with food from time to time to support his studies.

Later, due to the war, the discipline of the previous dynasty was weakened and the people were in dire straits. Rebel armies rose up in various places, among which there were many scoundrels who committed crimes under the pretext of killing the tyrant. As soon as they entered Fengyang City, they burned, killed and looted.

The Shen family was looted, and the women in the family were almost killed because of their beauty. Fortunately, the late emperor brought a group of beggar brothers and quickly killed the rebels who broke into the Shen family.

Later, the late emperor wanted to rebel. Shen Zheng persuaded many famous scholars to surrender and followed the late emperor to gather troops and march north to fight against the rebellion. Later, he entered the capital. The Su family took over and began to build momentum for the late emperor. Only then did the Shen family retreat to the back and began to assist the young Emperor Jian.

It can be said that the late emperor and the Shen family complemented each other. Shen Zheng watched the late emperor grow into a wise ruler. In addition, because he saved the Shen family's life, he was extremely loyal to the late emperor. Therefore, the family style of the Shen family is "loyal but not stubborn, and conspiracies without rebellion."

Loyal, but not blindly loyal; loyal, but also blindly loyal.

So when Shen Yuan didn't even bother to show his courtesy and directly asked Xie Chengze "Why are you here?", Shen Zhenpei was so angry that he slapped him on the waist and cursed, "How can you talk to the Second Prince like that!"

Xie Chengze: “Pfft.”

Shen Yuan: “…”

"Shen Taizhong, I and Minister Shen just have some small private matters to discuss, so there's no need to bother." Seeing the Shen family busy serving tea and water, fearing that they would neglect the Second Prince, Xie Chengze waved his hand and said, "I just hope to have a quiet place to discuss matters."

"So that's how it is." Shen Zhenpei glanced at the calm Shen Yuan. His son was much better than his father. He could maneuver between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince so easily.

Now that Xiao Yuan is in his prime, it seems that the Second Prince also wants to win over Xiao Yuan. However, the Shen family is more loyal to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. If the Second Prince wants to win him over, he will probably be disappointed. After all, he is the son who has inherited his father's true teachings and will only follow the right person.

So Shen Zhenpei retreated with peace of mind.

When there was no one in or outside the main hall, Shen Yuan sat on the wooden chair next to him and asked, "What are you doing here so early?"

"I want to ask you something." Xie Chengze put down his tea and stared at Shen Yuan seriously, "Su Qinghe, are you having a hard time in the Su family?"

Shen Yuan was stunned for a moment, then his tone darkened, "Why are you asking this?"

He originally thought that since Su Qinghe had been claiming illness and refusing to see him, Xie Chengze would have lost interest in Su Qinghe, so why did he suddenly mention him again today?

"Before I came to the Shen Mansion, I went to the Su family." Xie Chengze said honestly, "I felt that Su Qinghe seemed a little afraid of his father, and the Su family didn't seem to treat him that well."

"You went to the Su Mansion?!" This time Shen Yuan slammed the table and stood up. Realizing that his reaction seemed a bit intense, he slowly sat back on the wooden chair and asked in a subtle tone, "Have you suffered any injustice?"

Those people in the Su Mansion have always considered themselves to be noble and looked down upon Xie Chengze the most. In his previous life, Xie Chengze suffered a lot and lost his temper a lot because of this.

He secretly glanced at Xie Chengze's eyebrows, wanting to see if his eyes showed any signs of redness.

"No, I can't bear any injustice." Xie Chengze waved his hands and said shamelessly, "On the contrary, they were almost mad at me and cried."

Shen Yuan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

That’s right, how could he forget that Xie Chengze has a sharp tongue.

"So why did you go to the Su family?" Shen Yuan did not forget to get back to the point and stared at Xie Chengze.

"I want to promote the study of arithmetic." Xie Chengze did not hide his purpose. "The Su family has a great reputation and holds an important position in the Hanlin Academy. It is naturally the fastest and most effective way to let them take the lead."

"But you were rejected." Shen Yuan said firmly.

"How do you know?" Xie Chengze couldn't help but touch his face, thinking that he didn't show any disappointment or dejection, right?

Shen Yuan shook his head with a smile, "The reason why the Su family has been able to survive for hundreds of generations is that there is an unshakable cohesion within the clan. They are willing to use the blood of mediocre people to nourish the flesh of talented people, just to be able to sit firmly in the honorable position of the Hanlin Academy when dynasties change, continue to lead the literary and political trends, and maneuver in the court."