Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Before the Zhou residence's gate, the sky was dim.

Zhou Maoxue, carrying a bundle, had been standing at the entrance for quite some time.

He hadn't returned home since the imperial examinations.

Having failed the examinations repeatedly, and knowing he had no face to show, he wanted to embark on a great career, but ended up being taught a lesson by society.

Covered in dirt and grime from his failures, his heart was currently filled with mixed feelings.

After hesitating for a while, Zhou Maoxue sighed and knocked on the door.

The gate slowly opened, and the doorman peeked out from the crack.

Seeing that it was Zhou Maoxue, he immediately exclaimed with joy, "Oh, Young Master! You've finally returned! The master has been sending people out like crazy to look for you. Where have you been?"

Zhou Maoxue didn't say much, pushing open the gate and walking straight in.

The doorman hurriedly closed the gate, quickly catching up to Zhou Maoxue and running ahead to report to the inner courtyard.

Before long, a figure walked from the inner courtyard to the front hall.

This person was dressed in casual clothes, tall and dignified, but his waist seemed to have a problem, as he leaned on a cane with one hand.

Time had left its mark on his face, but he was still resolute and unyielding.

His gaze beneath his thick eyebrows was exceptionally sharp, and he was currently scrutinizing Zhou Maoxue.

Seeing his own father appear, Zhou Maoxue immediately tensed up: "Father..."

"You haven't been home these past few days, and we couldn't find you even when we sent people out to look. Where have you been?" Zhou Hong's words made Zhou Maoxue's heart clench again.

"Son went to stay at a friend's house for a few days..." Zhou Maoxue said softly.

Stay at a friend's house for a few days?

Zhou Hong's thick eyebrows furrowed.

He could sense that his son's demeanor was obviously off, and his temperament had also changed, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

"Go back to your room and change your clothes first. Have the housekeeper tidy up your things, and after you've cleaned up, come to the study to see me." Zhou Hong left those words behind and turned to leave briskly.

Zhou Maoxue secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He then threw his bundle to the approaching housekeeper and asked in a low voice, "Does my father know about my exam results?"

The housekeeper whispered, "He knows. The master was furious. Before he couldn't find you, he smashed the teapot. Also, when your friends came to visit before, they were all chased away by the master."

"Why did he chase my friends away!" A surge of anger rose in Zhou Maoxue's chest.

Seeing this, the housekeeper quickly advised, "Young Master, the master is bound to be angry knowing that you failed again, but you've been gone for so many days. Just speak nicely later."

"I know." Zhou Maoxue flung his sleeves and left in a fit of anger.

The housekeeper watched his retreating figure and shook his head helplessly, opening the bundle to take out the clothes for washing.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the bundle was opened, two letters fluttered down...

......

Zhou Maoxue returned to his room, where a maid had already prepared a basin of water.

He had just changed his clothes and was about to wash his face when a servant suddenly knocked on the door: "Young Master, the master wants to see you now. He wants you to go over immediately."

Hearing the servant's urgent tone, Zhou Maoxue felt a sense of foreboding.

However, after thinking it over, it didn't seem like there was anything to worry about.

It was just failing the exam, being dragged over for another scolding, that was all.

Stopping his actions, Zhou Maoxue quickly went out and went straight to Zhou Hong's study.

At this moment, Zhou Hong was writing something at his desk, with two letters spread out on the table.

Zhou Maoxue asked cautiously, "Father, why did you call me here?"

Zhou Hong paused his movements, put down his pen.

Picking up the two letters, he slowly walked up to Zhou Maoxue, staring at him intently, and said, "Did you write these two things? A scholar gathered people to cause trouble at the Jianye Marquis's residence, and you led the way?"

Zhou Maoxue looked at the two letters, his eyes gradually filled with horror.

Oh no!

He had written two articles during the protest in front of the Jianye Marquis's residence, one to the emperor and one refuting science.

He had forgotten about them after so much time had passed.

They had actually fallen into his father's hands.

Cold sweat involuntarily dripped down Zhou Maoxue's forehead: "It's true that I wrote them, but Father..."

Pa!

Before Zhou Maoxue could finish speaking, a swift slap landed heavily on his face.

Zhou Maoxue's ears rang, and he fell to the ground, seeing stars.

"How could I have given birth to such a scoundrel!" Zhou Hong roared in anger, his eyes mixed with disappointment, "Who told you to lead the trouble, and who told you to go to the Jianye Marquis's residence?"

"It's one thing to fail the imperial examinations repeatedly, you're not cut out for it, I admit it! But how could you do such a stupid thing!"

"Publicly defying the imperial court's decrees, wanting to find another crooked path after failing the examinations, a bunch of useless trash! You even dared to provoke Fang Zheng Yi, did you even think about it! How much trouble do you want to bring to this family!"

Zhou Maoxue fell to the ground, listening to his father's barrage of questions, his already aching face burning even more.

Repeated failures, useless, trash, stupid...

Every word stabbed into his heart.

He originally wanted to argue a few words, but seeing Zhou Hong's roar, Zhou Maoxue's stubbornness instead flared up.

He slowly propped himself up, covered his face with one hand, looked at Zhou Hong, and sneered: "That's right, I did it! But I can gather people because I am following the hearts of the scholars in the world. What, does Father still fear a Fang Zheng Yi?"

Zhou Hong's face turned pale and then white: "Shut up! Things aren't as simple as you think!"

"I've written a letter, you immediately take the letter and go to the Jianye Marquis's residence to apologize, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite."

Zhou Maoxue's tone was slightly mocking: "I'm not going! Although you are no longer in the court, you were once the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, claiming to have disciples all over the world... Fang Zheng Yi is only about my age, and his status is also below yours, so why are you so afraid of him?"

Zhou Hong suddenly raised the cane in his hand, wanting to strike a hard blow, but when he met Zhou Maoxue's stubborn eyes.

He sighed deeply, and the cane slowly lowered...