There were a lot of smart people in the capital.

Not only were Xiao Yuanshi’s men keeping an eye on them, a handful of officials were keeping an eye on them too.

If Xiao Hanzheng and his wife had only been in the palace for a short period of time, it meant that this was a casual interaction with the emperor.

They don’t need to put so much effort into this.

If they had been in the palace for a long time, it meant that the emperor must have had quite an in-depth conversation with Xiao Hanzheng.

The emperor had spent his time on him, so they naturally had to pay more attention to him as well.

Not long after figuring out that they had been in the palace, the news of the emperor’s reward for Xiao Hanzheng and his wife also spread.

Everyone was stunned after knowing the reward.

It wasn’t as unique as what everyone not expected.

After asking around, they found out that this was the reward that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife had requested.

Many felt very disdainful.

No wonder they were from a small village.

There was a good opportunity right at their doorstep, but they did not cherish it.

They made such a great contribution, yet they only asked for a villa and permission to browse through past exam papers.

They were too short-sighted and dumb.

Because of this, he lost interest in trying to rope in Xiao Hanzheng.

A few old and experienced officials saw through the twists and turns.

In Xi family.

The males in the Xi family had just finished their dinner when the old master called them over to sit down and drink tea.

He also told them about the emperor’s reward.

Xi Rui could not help but frown. “Qingluo is too stupid. She actually asks for a manor.”

He was already rewarded with gold and a pair of jade kirin.

Shi Qingluo was losing out as the pioneer who planted corn.

He said with a hint of anger, “Xiao Hanzheng is really too much. If he wanted to look at the exam papers, he could have just asked for our help. Why did he waste a chance to be rewarded?”

Third Master Xi family could not help but shake his head and said, “This is a good opportunity, yet he doesn’t know how to cherish it. What a waste.”

No wonder he could hang out with his dandy-like nephew.

Hearing their words, Old Master Xi frowned slightly and asked his other sons, “What do you think?”

He had five sons.

Two were legitimate sons, and the other three were the sons of his mistresses.

The eldest and the second were the legitimate heirs, while the third, fourth, and fifth weren’t.

His second and fourth sons were deployed to other places as officials.

He assigned his third son to a job in the capital, while his fifth son was still studying.

Therefore, only his eldest, third, and youngest son were here.

Fifth Master Xi thought for a moment and said, “I also think that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife are a little short-sighted. People from the countryside are just a little inconspicuous on the grandstand.”

As soon as he said this, Xi Rui glared at him. “Fifth uncle, who is inconspicuous? They were my friends.”

He glared at Fifth Master Xi on the spot, but Fifth Master Xi did not reveal it.

Instead, he smiled embarrassedly. “It was a slip of my tongue!”

Although he was Xi Rui’s uncle, and a few years older than him, this bastard was a precious one in the family.

He could not afford to offend him.

After listening to his fifth son’s words, Old Master Xi also completely gave up on this son. They were too short-sighted.

He looked at Xi Xinheng and asked, “Do you also think so?”

Xi Xinheng thought for a moment and smiled. “No, I actually think that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife are very smart.

“Now, they only ask for a small reward. Although it looks silly, they will get more in the future. At least, they will be in the emperor’s eyes.”

What was the purpose of the imperial examination? Of course, it was to clinch the official career.

The success of being an official, apart from one’s own ability, had a lot to do with whether the emperor valued you and was impressed by what you did.

This was the reward Xiao Hanzheng and his wife were aiming for.

In the capital, they would not be very eye-catching.

There was a high chance that many people would think the same as his third and fifth sons.

They would be too lazy to rope them in or try to suppress them.

Presumably, Xiao Hanzheng and his wife understood the Chinese saying, “A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.”

Actually, many understood this, but when a big pie suddenly fell from the sky, most of them could not resist their temptation.

Therefore, Xiao Hanzheng and his wife’s choice surprised him and caused him to think highly of them.

It seemed that his dumb son had made the right friend this time.

Only then did Old Master Xi’s originally furrowed brows relax. “Not bad.”

As expected of the heir he was grooming, so different from his self-righteous and foolish third and fifth sons.

He said to Xi Rui, “Silly boy, don’t think that they are at a disadvantage. Sometimes, it’s a blessing that they are.

“Your friends are intelligent.

“Hang out with them more in the future.

He added, “The boys from the Liang and Fei family are also not bad.”

Those two kids looked like they were good at eating, drinking, and having fun, but they were also very smart.

They weren’t those stupid dandies.

Xi Rui didn’t understand what he meant. “How can you be lucky when you’re at a disadvantage like this? Aren’t you stupid?”

Old Master Xi and Xi Xinheng sighed, this grandson/son was hopeless.

He didn’t use his intelligence for official business or imperial politics.

They were afraid that he would be like this for the rest of his life.

Fortunately, he wasn’t their eldest grandson or son.

Otherwise, they would be the ones crying.

Feeling the unfriendly gazes from his grandfather and his father, Xi Rui rolled his eyes.

Wasn’t it tiring to experience the ups and downs all day?

He should just muddle along and wait for his death.

Third Master Xi and Fifth Master Xi’s expressions changed.

The old master’s words were clearly affirming their big brother.

If he did not pay attention to them, it meant that he had given up on them.

He was an old fox compared to their big brother, but on what basis was Xi Rui, their dandy-like nephew, more important than them.

Both of them were somewhat unwilling, but there was nothing they could do.

The Liang family also had to put on such a show.

However, Liang Youxiao had a different view compared to Xi Rui.

He started off agreeing with Xiao Hanzheng and his wife’s choice.

This shocked Old Master Liang and Liang Mingcheng.

Old Master Liang couldn’t help but ask, “Why don’t you take the imperial examination as well, or I can arrange an official position for you?”

He didn’t expect Youxiao to be able to see through this.

Liang Mingcheng also began to doubt himself, was he putting too little attention on his son previously? That was why his son wanted to be a playboy.

Liang Youxiao immediately shook his head. “No, I only like to eat, drink, play, and count money.”

Old Master Liang was speechless, this grandson of his was hopeless.

Liang Mingcheng thought to himself, it wasn’t that he didn’t value him, but that this bastard didn’t want to help himself.

Old Master Liang waved his hand. “Forget it. Do whatever you want.”

In any case, his family didn’t lack a capable grandson.

The family only had so many resources.

If Youxiao didn’t fight for it, he couldn’t force him.

He encouraged him again, “You have made some good friends this time. Continue to maintain your relationship with Xiao Hanzheng.”

Liang Youxiao nodded and said, “Alright.”

He smiled and said, “People say having an elder at home is like having an in-house treasure. That’s what our family is upholding. It is definitely right to listen to you, grandfather.”

Old Master Liang laughed out loud. “Rascal, you have good taste.”

The others sighed.

They understood the situation better.

Old Master Liang and Old Lady Liang said that Youxiao was the most filial person in the family, not because they were inferior to Youxiao, but that this bastard would shamelessly suck up to the elders, but they didn’t.

They were ashamed to say such mushy words.

The Fei family’s situation was somewhat similar when Old Master Fei asked his son and grandson.

Old Master Fei was very satisfied with Fei Yuzhe’s answer, so he made up his mind to nurture this grandson who only knew how to muddle along well.

Fei Yuzhe also wanted to be an official, so it was easier for Old Master Fei to plan out his career for him too.

This only happened in a handful of well-to-do families in the capital.

These old foxes wouldn’t lower their status themselves to rope in Xiao Hanzheng, but let their grandsons try to befriend him.

Of course, Xiao Yuanshi belonged to the smart minority in the Xiao family.

After hearing his son’s choice, he became more regretful to split the family in a fit of anger.

Thus, he wanted to do something to salvage the situation.

At least he must seem to be salvaging the situation.

Ge Chunru did not have a grand political foresight in the imperial court.

When she heard that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife had entered the capital and even went to the imperial palace, she felt as if a bug had bitten her heart.

Thus, she got her servant girl to quietly pass on her instructions to Eldest Grandson Xiao’s beloved concubine.