The Ace Bigshot Becomes A Farmgirl

Aunt Hong quickly lowered her head and picked out two of the tenderest bunches of spinach from the stall and stuffed them into Shu Yu’s basket. ”Take these vegetables home, and if you enjoy them, I’ll bring you more next time.”

Shu Yu didn’t refuse. Even if she wanted to pay for the two bunches of spinach, Aunt Hong would never accept it. So, she accepted them graciously, ”Alright, then I won’t be polite. We still need to buy some meat inside, so you carry on, and we’ll see you later.”

”Yes, alright.”

Shu Yu didn’t linger; she took Ying Xi and Little Song Le and continued walking inside. By the time they finished shopping and came out, Aunt Hong was no longer there.

There weren’t many vegetables at her stall, so she must have sold out and gone home.

Lost in thought, the three returned home to find Meng Yunzheng already practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.

What puzzled Shu Yu was that the people who had been guarding outside for the past few days were nowhere to be seen.

As she placed the items she was carrying into the kitchen, she asked curiously, ”When I went out this morning, there were still some house servants outside wanting to see you. Why have they all left by the time I came back? Aren’t the examination results still not out yet? Have they given up recruiting you?”

Meng Yunzheng sheathed his sword, exhaled slowly, and after a moment of thought, said, ”I suppose they think I’ve fallen out of favor with the Emperor.”

Shu Yu was bewildered, ”You’ve fallen out of favor with the Emperor?” How did that come about?

So, Meng Yunzheng recounted a few exchanges he had with the Emperor in the main hall yesterday, a scene witnessed by many.

It seems that after a night of rumors brewing, everyone should know what happened in Zicheng Hall.

Those families that had been pestering Meng Yunzheng were renowned for making mountains out of molehills. Upon hearing that he offended the Emperor, they likely thought that even if he became an Advanced Scholar, his ranking wouldn’t be high, and the Emperor wouldn’t assign him any good posts. Naturally, they wouldn’t want to invest in him.

Shu Yu was speechless for a long time after hearing this. ”But if I weren’t aware of your relationship with the Emperor, I too would have thought the Emperor was deliberately making things difficult for you... Wait, was the Emperor really saying those things on purpose?”

”Not exactly on purpose. He merely expressed his discontent about my plans to open a school after the exam.”

Shu Yu understood. The Emperor was in need of talented individuals, and he had known Meng Yunzheng early on. They had collaborated many times and had great mutual understanding. For someone like that not to stay and assist him was enough to make the Emperor furious.

Shu Yu sympathized with the Emperor for three seconds before cheerfully heading to the kitchen to prepare a feast.

After lunch, Shu Yu planned to visit Aunt Hong’s house, and Meng Yunzheng intended to go as well.

However, before they could leave, Xie Bo arrived, and not just him, Xun Sheng came too.

After the palace examination, knowing that Meng Yunzheng had some free time, Xun Sheng came straight over. After all, when the results are announced in three days, he’d have to return to Changjin Prefecture, and Meng Yunzheng might have to stay in the capital as an official, making it hard for them to meet for at least three years.

Seeing they were engrossed in conversation, Shu Yu decided to take Little Song Le with her.

Aunt Hong indeed was home, and she was the only one there.

Being alone was good, as Shu Yu had something to discuss with Aunt Hong.

”What brings Lady Lu here?” Aunt Hong was doing laundry. Seeing them arrive, she quickly stood up, wiped her hands, and served them some brown sugar water.

She then happily gave Little Song Le some of her own saved snacks. Watching him eat obediently, she felt particularly satisfied.

”I’ve come because there’s something I want to discuss with you, Aunt.”