Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

Madam Zhou held Zhou Lin's hand tightly, her face full of love, her eyes full of care and expectation, and she said earnestly: "Hanzhi, you are already of marriageable age, and it's time to consider starting a family and building a career. Grandmother wants to find a match for you, so that you can settle down as soon as possible."

Zhou Lin frowned slightly when he heard this, with a hint of reluctance on his face, and said softly: "Grandma, my grandson doesn't want to get married yet."

His tone was firm and persistent, and he seemed to have his own opinions and insistence on getting married.

Madam Zhou asked, "Do you not want to get married at all, or do you not want to get married now?"

Her eyes revealed deep concern.

Zhou Lin shook his head, "Grandson just feels that now is not the time to get married."

Seeing this, Old Madam Zhou couldn't help but sigh again, "If now is not the right time, then what is the right time? Last month, Grandma attended the full moon ceremony of the eldest grandson of the Yu family. That Yu family boy is the same age as you. Now that you have a son, you still think it's not the right time."

There was a hint of reproach in her words.

After hearing this, Zhou Lin said helplessly, "Although they are the same age, Yu Yan is the oldest and my grandson is the youngest. How can we compare them? Besides, our Zhou family already has a great-grandson. If you still want a great-grandson, just ask your sister-in-law to have another one. Why bother putting my grandson in trouble?"

Madam Zhou slapped Zhou Lin on the back and said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about! Your sister-in-law can have children if she wants to, and she can choose not to have children if she doesn't want to. What does it have to do with you getting married?"

Seeing how angry he had made his grandmother, Zhou Lin quickly calmed her down and said with an apologetic smile, "I know you're thinking of me, but I'd like to focus on preparing for the imperial examination first. After the results are announced, I can go and find a husband for you. That'll make you proud, right?"

But what he was thinking in his mind was that by the time the imperial examination results were announced, Shen Chuning would have already reached the age of marriage, and it would not be too strange for him to propose marriage then.

After settling down, wait a few years and get married when Shen Qinghe returns to Beijing. This way everything will be just right.

Old Madam Zhou's heart began to beat with anxiety. "That's true, but our Zhou family is full of reckless men. If you insist on taking the imperial examination, what if you don't do well? If you're neither good at literature nor martial arts, wouldn't it be even more difficult for you to get married?"

Zhou Lin coughed lightly and said embarrassedly, "Don't worry, grandma. The teacher said that my grandson is doing well in his studies and should have no problem passing the imperial examination this time."

Madam Zhou asked in disbelief, "Master? Which master? Can his words be trusted?"

Zhou Lin replied calmly, "The teacher from the Shen family school."

When Mrs. Zhou heard this, a bright smile instantly broke out on her face, and her eyes sparkled with surprise.

"The Shen family has produced a top scholar! Since the teacher of the Shen family school says you can pass, then you will definitely pass!"

She secretly rejoiced in her heart that her grandson was so promising, which really made her feel relieved.

However, she thought of another thing. Although her grandson said that he would wait until the results were announced before discussing marriage, she thought that they should still meet in advance.

So, she said excitedly, "At the full moon ceremony for the eldest grandson of the Yu family, Grandmother met the second granddaughter of the Kang family, the Minister of War. She is sixteen years old this year and looks very heroic. I think she is a perfect match for you."

However, Zhou Lin refused without hesitation: "No, the women of the Kang family are good at beating people. The eldest son of the Liu family married their eldest granddaughter and was often beaten so badly that he couldn't get out of bed for several days."

Madam Zhou frowned and shook her head repeatedly, saying, "That's impossible. What about the Wei family in the Ministry of Revenue? Grandmother saw that the couple next door married the daughter of the Wei family, and they are living happily together."

Zhou Lin shook his head slightly, his expression solemn. "Recently, there have been numerous censors impeaching Lord Wei in the court. I believe this must be intentional on the part of His Majesty. Lord Wei guards the treasury extremely closely and refuses to share even a single ounce of money with His Majesty. His Majesty must be looking for a fault to remove him. If we rashly approach him now, we'll likely be implicated!"

Madam Zhou frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "What about the girl from Marquis Cheng'an's family? Marquis Cheng'an is just a leisurely marquis, so he shouldn't cause any major trouble."

Zhou Lin, however, remained apprehensive. He slowly shook his head and said, "The Cheng'an Marquis' family traditions are truly not good. The Marquis' wife spends all day not caring about raising her children, but instead is obsessed with competing with the concubines for favors. If his daughter were to marry into the Zhou family, I'm afraid our Zhou family would be in turmoil from then on."

Old Madam Zhou nodded slightly, as if agreeing with him.

After a moment's silence, she asked again, "What about the daughter of Lord Wang of the Dali Temple? Although her appearance is a little lacking, her character is impeccable."

Zhou Lin couldn't help but chuckle and softly replied, "If you can say 'my appearance is not good', then I must be truly unattractive. It's fine if my grandson suffers a little injustice, but if my future child is also criticized for his appearance, wouldn't you feel distressed, Grandmother?"

Madam Zhou said angrily, "I don't want this, and I don't want that either. I'll go to the palace tomorrow and ask for a princess for you to marry."

Zhou Lin: "Princesses are born into noble families and most of them have unruly personalities. I..."

Before he could finish his words, Madam Zhou twisted his ear and said, "You're so angry when I say you're fat. You even dare to comment on the royal princess. I think you just don't want to get married. It's intentional."

Zhou Lin rubbed his ears and quickly explained, "Grandma, calm down. I have absolutely no such intention! It's just that I feel that with our Zhou family's current status and reputation, why should we cling to the royal family? Besides, the royal princess is a golden branch and jade leaf, so I'm afraid she's not that easy to get along with!"

Madam Zhou glared at him and snorted coldly, "Hmph, then tell me, what kind of woman is worthy of our Zhou family's second young master?"

Zhou Lin hurriedly smiled and said, "Grandma, please don't be angry! In fact, there is no need to be so troublesome. We have many relatives in our family, and they are all families that know each other well. The girls have all grown up under our care, so their character and appearance are naturally not bad.

After hearing this, Mrs. Zhou's expression softened slightly.

"Are you attracted to your sister-in-law's younger sister?"