Noble Lady

Situ Zhen was having his meal when a soldier in black armor came in and reported, "Your Highness, there's a scholar outside who calls himself Zheng and wants to see you. He says he's a student of Mr. Lu and has come from the capital."

Judging from the soldier's expression, he didn't seem to believe what the other party said, but he still handed over the visitor's business card.

What a coincidence? The person she was about to meet was here right now?

However, it is not ruled out that Situ Zhen's strong intervention in Haicheng County, the distribution of porridge the day before, etc., made too much noise and attracted people to ask for a meeting.

In any case, Xue Chenyu's eyelids twitched.

Situ Zhen paused, "Give the business card to Miss Xue."

The soldier immediately handed the business card to Xue Chenyu with both hands.

"Thank you." Xue Chenyu said subconsciously.

The other party was stunned for a moment, "...No, you're welcome. This is what I should do."

Xue Chenyu nodded slightly and flipped open the name card. "Zheng Duoqi, a native of Xiangzhou, is a Juren. He is indeed a student of Mr. Lu, and was jointly commissioned by Mr. Lu and Datong Trading Company to supervise the private school here."

It was said that it was a joint commission by Mr. Lu and Datong Trading Company, but in fact it was just a preferential treatment given to Mr. Lu by A Niang.

Under the pretext of opening a private school, he found decent jobs for Mr. Lu's students who failed to make a name for themselves in officialdom.

In the future, the influence of free private schools will further expand, and this group of people will be the first to try it out and will benefit greatly.

"Prince, do you want to see me?" Xue Chenyu opened the visiting card and handed it to Situ Zhen.

"It's good enough that you've seen it. You don't need to show it to me again." He swallowed the porridge in his mouth and then said, "Do you think I should see it?"

This question really stumped Xue Chenyu.

Originally, she planned to go there as a member of Datong Trading Company, so that she would not have to reveal her true identity.

I have never revealed my identity in Haicheng County. No matter what connection Zheng Duoqi has with the people from Datong Trading Company here, he will at most know that she might be from Beijing, but he may not know her true identity.

But if the person who came to ask for an audience was Situ Zhen, and she showed up, it would be equivalent to taking the initiative... Wait, the person came to ask for an audience with the prince, why should she show up?

Xue Chenyu slapped her head and said, "It's too narrow-minded, too narrow-minded."

"What?" Situ Zhen couldn't help but laugh when he saw her suddenly slap her head after pondering for a moment.

Xue Chenyu said, "The prince will let that person in later. I'd better not show up for now."

Then she briefly explained why she didn't want to show up.

Situ Zhen thought about it for a moment and understood Xue Chenyu's considerations.

"Then it's up to you."

Yuzhu looked at them talking to each other and felt that something was amiss.

To be honest, the girl and Prince Cheng are a perfect match.

As they were talking, Situ Zhen finished his meal. Fang Rui asked someone to take the food away. The soldier who came to report took the business card handed over by Xue Chenyu and left embarrassedly.

Situ Zhen got up and went to the reception room. Xue Chenyu and Yuzhu followed him. After entering, they found a secluded corner to sit down. Fang Rui was even more sensible and brought a screen to block her figure.

There is no sense of violation and.

After a while, Zheng Duoqi came in under the guidance of the sergeant.

Then he saluted Situ Zhen respectfully.

"Student Zheng Duoqi greets Prince Cheng."

"Hmm." Situ Zhen didn't even look at him, and hummed lightly through his nose.

As the prince's attendant, Fang Rui immediately displayed the face of a bully who took advantage of his power, including but not limited to looking down on others and mocking Zheng Duoqi.

For example, "Our prince arrived yesterday morning, and the whole city knew about it. Mr. Zheng is so arrogant that he only showed up today."

Another example is, "Hmph! This Haicheng County is a mess. Our prince needs to clean it up."

There are many more like this. Fang Rui is really good at playing the role of a dog slave.

The little expressions and body movements are captured perfectly.

If Xue Chenyu hadn't seen him being polite to others before, she would have thought he was that kind of person.

During this time, Situ Zhen did not say a word to scold Fang Rui.

Zheng Duoqi was not angry and remained polite throughout, with a perfect expression on his face.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Situ Zhen pretended to lecture Fang Rui: "Mr. Zheng has a good reputation after all, so why should you be so nosy?"

Fang Rui: "Oh." Then he became obedient.

Afterwards, Zheng Duoqi maintained a tone that was attentive but not overly earnest, and chatted with Situ Zhen. Then he sadly discovered that this Prince Cheng, who grew up and studied with the Crown Prince, was not good at literature at all.

He has no interest in poetry and knows nothing about policy essays. Even if you tell him about historical allusions, he is still confused.

I don’t know how Lord Yu taught him.

Compared with the average illiterate person, it is just a little better and can recognize a few words.

But this is definitely not the level that a royal child should have, let alone the level that His Majesty's nephew, whom he loves very much and treats as his own son and who he focuses on training, should have.

Zheng Duoqi was quite eager at the beginning, but later he simply gave up, with only a barely maintained smile on his face.

After talking for a while, his flattering words were of no use.

He finally gave up and without waiting for Situ Zhen to say goodbye, he found an excuse to leave.

……

Walking out of Haicheng County Government Office.

Zheng Duoqi looked back at the plaque with a look of contempt, and the flattery on his face had disappeared.

"What's this Prince Cheng? He's just a name that's earned in vain."

As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curled slightly, "I want to see how you guys are going to break this chess game in Haicheng County."

……

Zheng Duoqi left as soon as he arrived, and Xue Chenyu appeared right after.

"Miss Xue, what do you think of this person?"

Xue Chenyu pondered for a moment and said, "I only saw him vaguely through the screen. And just based on this one side and a few words from him, it's not enough to judge a person."

Sometimes people are influenced by their first impressions.

For example, when Zheng Duoqi showed some intention of currying favor with Situ Zhen and flattering him, people would subconsciously classify him as a flatterer.

But Zheng Duoqi was only a Juren, not even a proper Jinshi. According to normal people's thinking, they would instinctively want to flatter someone in a higher position.

What's more, Situ Zhen is the prince of Cheng, the little prince, and the nephew whom the current emperor treats like his own son.

As a juren, he has the desire to climb up the social ladder, and it is human nature for people to flatter him, so this is not enough to be used as a criterion for judging a person.

"Miss Xue seems to share the same view as mine." Situ Zhen said while looking at Xue Chenyu. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but there seemed to be an inexplicable pride in his eyes.

However, before Xue Chenyu could take a closer look, he turned away.

So, was she mistaken?

"Have someone investigate this Zheng Duoqi. Haicheng County is in such chaos right now, but he seems so calm and composed, not worried at all about his husband or the Datong Trading Company's tasks. It's truly remarkable."

Situ Zhen instructed Fang Rui.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Fang Rui immediately went down to make arrangements.

Xue Chenyu was reminded by Situ Zhen's words.