Chapter 12: Hou Fu's Son

"Young Master Mu, Madam invites you to come over for a chat!"

The sudden invitation made Li Mu slightly stunned.

This aunt values etiquette the most, especially avoiding suspicion; every meeting was when the Zhenyuan Marquis was at home.

In normal times, even if he went to greet her, it was a bunch of maidservants, let alone sending him an invitation.

"Xiao Cui, do you know why Aunt called me over?"

Hearing the question, the maid's face turned red, and she hesitated and said:

"The three young masters of the Fu have returned from the academy, and Madam wants you brothers to gather."

Hearing this answer, Li Mu smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth.

In treating concubine sons and daughters, his aunt indeed has the demeanor of a big family. The treatment that should be there is all available, and no one can pick out any faults.

"Oh, the three cousins are back, then I must see them.

Xiao Cui, lead the way!"

Passing through more than a dozen doors, all the way to the back garden. Only three teenagers and four young girls were seen standing on both sides, respectfully listening to the Marquis's wife's training.

If there are no accidents, these three teenagers are his cousins. Among the four young girls, he saw two on the first day, and the other two should be concubine daughters.

Perhaps because of the legal daughter, the Zhenyuan Marquis and the Marquis's wife don't value these two concubine cousins, and haven't introduced them to him separately.

"Cousin Mu, come here!"

The young girl who shouted was the second daughter of the Marquis's wife, and also the youngest daughter of the Zhenyuan Marquis.

At the age of four, it is the most lively and active time. Relying on the Zhenyuan Marquis's love for her, the rules in the mansion are almost like wind in her ears.

"Li Yu, pay attention to the rules!"

The Marquis's wife couldn't help but scold.

There are so many children in the Hou Fu, and everyone is regular in front of her, but the youngest daughter became the black history of her educational career.

"Aunt, it doesn't matter, we are all family here.

Cousin Yu is just a little lively; in our military noble family, it's not a bad thing."

Li Mu said with a smile.

Don't blame his uncle for favoring her; who can't like a lively little meatball.

"Let you see a joke, Yu'er's temperament has followed her father since she was a child.

Don't stand there, hurry and greet your cousin Mu!"

It can be seen that the Marquis's wife understands language art. Mischievous became the demeanor of the father, and she threw the pot to the Zhenyuan Marquis in one go.

However, this kind of pot, his uncle would definitely be willing to carry it. Daughters are like fathers; in his ears, he probably thinks it's a compliment.

"Greetings, Cousin!"

After simple pleasantries, the Marquis's wife took the female family members away, leaving the venue for the four brothers.

Reviewing the glory of the ancestors, Li Mu soon became familiar with the three cousins.

The topic shifted from the family development history at the beginning, to the strange news in the capital, and finally to the court.

"People in the academy are inciting to submit memorials, has the court struggle reached this point?"

Li Mu asked in surprise.

The struggle between Qingliu and the Eunuch Party has been going on since the current emperor ascended the throne, which is not fresh news.

However, the main battlefield of the two sides' struggle is the court, and now even the academy students want to be pulled in, which is clearly someone wanting to expand the battle.

"Cousin Mu, you have lived in Hanzhong for a long time and don't know, in fact, submitting memorials in the academy is not fresh news.

Since the struggle for the crown prince a hundred years ago, several major changes have followed, and academy students have participated in them.

However, those who like to toss are mostly children from poor families, wanting to take the opportunity to perform and hope to enter the sight of high-ranking officials in the court.

Official children don't lack this opportunity and generally don't join in the fun."

Li Sen explained calmly.

There was even a trace of arrogance in his words, clearly looking down on this speculative behavior.

"Big brother, you are gilding them.

These things, which time is not stirred up by that bunch of civil official children.

Inciting classmates to charge and become cannon fodder, hiding behind to pick up ready-made ones, they are all despicable villains!"

The second brother Li Lai's words directly broke the truth.

"Second brother, these words are fine to say at home, but don't say them outside!"

Li Sen hurriedly advised.

Everyone knows the truth, including the poor children who were incited.

Without any relationship, relying entirely on their own ability to pass the academy exam, there is not a single fool.

Knowing there is a risk, and still taking the risk to jump into it, are all caused by interests.

The track of the imperial examination is too narrow, once every three years, and the number of admissions is no more than one or two hundred.

Even if you reach this step, without relationship background, wanting to get a good position is also difficult.

Besides the power inherited from blood, there are also relationship networks formed by fellow villagers and teachers.

Wanting to mix well in the court, you must have at least one of the three relationships.

For poor children, the best choice is to worship under the door of a high-ranking official in the court and enter the officialdom smoothly through the imperial examination.

Sorting out the ideas, Li Mu instantly understood why the capital, which sits on many political resources, did not give birth to a top-tier academy.

Political speculation requires paying a price.

If you win the bet, you can indeed get an official ticket; but once you lose, you will have to peel off a layer of skin even if you don't die.

In fact, speculative promotion is not liked in the officialdom, no matter how bright the reason is, it will be feared by others.

"Humph!

I'm not stupid, how could I offend people for no reason."

Li Lai said disdainfully.

If it weren't for his good friend also being involved, he wouldn't be so angry.

Unfortunately, anger is useless; it's a matter of mutual consent, why should outsiders stop it.

Unless you can provide a better path for others, the best choice is to put down the plot of helping others and accept reality calmly.

The Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion does have political resources, but they are mainly concentrated in the military.

The connections in the civil official group, the three of them may not be enough to divide in the future, let alone outsiders.

"Big brother, second brother.

You two are always arguing, can't you make people worry less!"

"Shut up!"

As soon as the third brother Li Long opened his mouth, the two refuted in unison, and Li Mu almost laughed out loud.

The relationship between these three brothers is complex enough.

The eldest has an arrogant temperament, the second has a straightforward personality, and the third is good at pulling hatred.

Such a combination together, without fighting on the spot, is the success of the Hou Fu's education.

"Three cousins, Uncle will be back in a while.

I think he wants to assess your homework, since there is still time, you can prepare, why don't we stop here today."

Once the ultimate move was unleashed, the three who had been at each other's throats instantly became like eggplants hit by frost.

From the painful facial expressions, it can be seen that the three's grades in the academy will not be very good.

However, this is also in line with the consistent level of noble children; military to civil has been carried out for so many years, and there are not many who have passed the imperial examination, not even many scholars.

It's useless to invite famous teachers to teach; talent is really not something that can be forced.

Developing to the present, no Confucian scholar is willing to accept noble children as students, which is really losing face.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 13 =====