Favoring a concubine and destroying the wife? I'll abandon my husband and children and wipe out

Not long after, the screen was delivered to Guantang Courtyard.

"Madam, at the Spring Banquet, you must cultivate a good relationship with the Left Prime Minister's eldest daughter and ask her to agree to send a visiting card to Abbess Fang Xi for a meeting." Zhao Ye solemnly instructed, emphasizing the importance of the relationship between the two parties.

Even if they didn't get involved with the nun Fang, but did have a relationship with the Left Prime Minister, they wouldn't lose out.

But it's best to take the nun from the front!

Zhao Ye looked at Cheng Nanzhi expectantly.

Cheng Nanzhi said, "Of course my husband can rest assured."

Zhao Ye went to his study to handle official business, satisfied.

Seeing Lan direct her servants to carefully move the screen into the storeroom and put it away.

"Miss, are you really planning to give this screen to the young lady of the Left Prime Minister's family, just so that Sister Yu can get Master Fang to teach her?" Lianruo looked at the beautiful and exquisite screen with reluctance.

Using that talent on Zhao Huaiyu would be such a waste. None of the people in the Zhao family are worth such effort from Miss.

Qingdai didn't speak, but nodded in agreement.

Cheng Nanzhi chuckled: "The eldest daughter of the Left Prime Minister will not accept this screen."

"Huh?" Qingdai and Lianruo looked at them in surprise.

“But she will definitely agree to introduce me to Abbess Fang,” Cheng Nanzhi said confidently with a smile. “Just you wait and see.”

She would never use her own things on the Zhao family.

Once the screen is back in her hands, she can no longer give it away, let alone give it away for Zhao Huaiyu!

“Oh, right,” Cheng Nanzhi remembered something, “tomorrow is the imperial examination. Is that young master Song still in the capital? Is he sure he wants to participate?”

Qingdai asked in confusion, "What Young Master Song?"

Lianruo looked at Cheng Nanzhi and gave her permission. She then told her about Song Yanlan and said, "I have asked someone to keep an eye out. He is still in the capital. It seems that he will definitely participate in the imperial examination tomorrow."

Qingdai was quite surprised: "Miss, why do you think this Young Master Song is not suitable to participate in the imperial examination?" She always felt that since Miss returned home, she always knew things that she had never encountered before, as if she could predict the future. She was too amazing!

"The tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind. That's just a guess. Besides, his talent far surpasses that of Zhao Shize, who cheated, yet he's overshadowed by Zhao Shize's reputation, which displeases me."

Cheng Nanzhi casually made up an excuse and said, "Go and tell Chen Wang to find a few people to keep an eye on Young Master Song's whereabouts starting tomorrow, and make sure they stay by his side at all times. If anyone tries to harm Young Master Song, be sure to rescue him in time."

After a pause, Cheng Nanzhi changed her words and said, "Ordinary people can't be trusted. Here's what I've learned: I remember that Uncle Lin's son is quite skilled in martial arts. Have Chen Wang take the hairpin I always carry to Uncle Lin and ask his son to handle this matter."

It's time to use the people her parents left her.

Since she wanted to win over Song Yanlan, it would be safer to use someone she could trust.

Qingdai nodded and went to do it.

Lianruo and Jianlan, who had just returned, were curious about the Lin Bo that Cheng Nanzhi mentioned. They had only started serving Cheng Nanzhi after she entered the Zhao family mansion, and they were unaware of Lin Bo and the others who secretly protected Cheng Nanzhi. This was the first time they had heard of them.

Seeing that Cheng Nanzhi didn't say much, they didn't ask any more questions either, and went to do the other tasks that Cheng Nanzhi had taught them.

At this time, Song Yanlan was actually with Wen Chengnan.

Since their first meeting and instant connection, Song Yanlan had developed a great admiration for Wen Chengnan, while Wen Chengnan also had a good impression of him. He instructed his servant to inquire about Song Yanlan's whereabouts, hoping to meet and exchange ideas.

Who would have thought that the servant would tell him that Song Yanlan was living frugally, staying in the woodshed at the inn to save money by only staying in the woodshed for a few coins a day, and doing odd jobs from time to time to earn money.

Wen Chengnan immediately went to find Song Yanlan and asked him to move to the inn where he was staying so that he could live with him.

"You're about to take the imperial examinations, so you should be studying hard. How can you waste your time on such trivial matters? Come to my place, and you won't have to worry about food or lodging. Just focus on your studies."

Wen Chengnan was always generous to those he had a good impression of.

Song Yanlan felt she had no merit to accept such a reward and refused him.

Unable to persuade him, Wen Chengnan blurted out in desperation, "Then how about this, you copy books for me. I have a few rare books that need to be copied and preserved. But I'm getting old, and I'm not strong enough to copy so many. I'm afraid I'll find someone who is disrespectful and perfunctory towards them. I think you're a good candidate. If you don't mind, then come."

He insisted on taking Song Yanlan back and showed him the rare book he had treasured.

Song Yanlan's eyes lit up.

"Sir, you have such a fine book. Are you truly willing to let this junior read it?"

Wen Chengnan waved his hand and said, "As long as you cherish it, there's no problem. I have plenty more that you can borrow."

Song Yanlan was very moved and quickly thanked him.

Wen Chengnan wanted to pay him his wages, but he firmly refused.

And once he started copying, Song Yanlan was so engrossed in it that he almost forgot to eat and sleep.

In just two days, he finished copying the book that Wen Chengnan needed to copy for half a month. He also had a photographic memory. No matter what Wen Chengnan asked, he could answer fluently and had his own insights. He would have a heated discussion with him.

This made Wen Chengnan like him even more, and the two of them stayed in the inn and discussed everything they had learned in their lives until the night before the imperial examination.

Wen Chengnan had high hopes for Song Yanlan: "With your talent and learning, you will surely pass the imperial examination. When you become an official, never forget your original aspiration, remember to establish a heart for heaven and earth, establish a life for the people, continue the lost learning of the past sages, and create peace for all generations."

Song Yanlan solemnly performed the kneeling ceremony.

"I have benefited greatly from your teachings these past few days, and I will certainly accept them with an open mind and live up to your expectations!"

Wen Chengnan was very pleased: "Although I did not find a disciple I was interested in on this trip to the capital, meeting you made the trip worthwhile."

Song Yanlan asked curiously, "May I ask which disciple you have chosen, sir? To be chosen by you, he must be very talented. Would I have the honor of learning a thing or two from him?"

“He is Zhao Ye’s son, Zhao Shize,” Wen Chengnan said with a smile, stroking his beard.

Song Yanlan still had a strong impression of Zhao Shize. "So it was him. He is so talented at such a young age. He is indeed worthy of being a senior disciple. I am ashamed to admit that I am inferior to him."

The servant standing nearby couldn't help but say, "What talent? He's clearly a fraud!"

"what?"

Both of them were taken aback.

"Sir, you and Young Master Song have been studying these past few days, but something terrible has happened to the Zhao family!" The servant vividly recounted the story of the apprenticeship banquet and even showed them the manuscripts he had bought earlier.

After reviewing the materials, Wen Chengnan made his own judgment.

"It's really impossible for a child to write so many poems with such diverse styles. At the banquet, he claimed that he wrote them all, but later he said that he didn't, and even said that the servants stole the manuscripts. How is that possible?! It's clearly a deliberate attempt to find someone to take the blame!"

"If he truly possessed talent, why did he behave so differently during Brother Zhou's test at the banquet, so unlike his behavior at the poetry gathering? And why did the Zhao family send people to the Purple Bamboo Pavilion several times afterward?"

Wen Chengnan was greatly disappointed. "Integrity is the foundation of one's character. This boy is full of lies and easily pushes his servants to take the blame. It's really too much. He has truly wasted Brother Zhou's expectations and high regard."

Song Yanlan frowned, somewhat disappointed.

The servant hesitated and said, "Mr. Zhou's efforts weren't in vain. He did take Young Master Zhao as his last disciple, and the Zhao family even gave him the 'Lonely River and a Thousand Cranes' painting as an apology."

"What? Brother Zhou is just going to give up like this? Impossible!" Wen Chengnan didn't believe it.

Seeing the servant's confident assurance, Wen Chengnan immediately got up, not even paying attention to Song Yanlan, and had someone take him to see Zhou Xiangru.

"Brother Wen? Why didn't you leave?!" Zhou Xiangru's expression changed slightly when he saw Wen Chengnan at the inn.

Wen Chengnan ignored the explanation and questioned Zhou Xiangru about why he had accepted Zhao Shize as his last disciple.

"Brother Zhou, I don't believe that with your eyesight and knowledge, you wouldn't be able to see that there's something wrong with the young master of the Zhao family. The Zhao family's actions are also an attempt to cover up the matter and suppress it! Why did you still agree? Was it because they gave you the 'Lonely River and a Thousand Cranes' painting? Or did you have other considerations?"

Zhou Xiangru was somewhat embarrassed by the questioning.

“Brother Wen, you misunderstand. Zhao Shize is indeed talented, unlike what is said outside. I also tested him myself, and he wrote an essay for me on the spot, which was very outstanding. How could I miss such a talented person?”

Wen Chengnan then asked, "What article did he write?"

Zhou Xiangru was determined to prove it, and he recalled the details in great detail, but he saw Wen Chengnan looking at him with even greater disappointment.

"Brother Zhou, do you really believe that a young boy who has never even left the capital can write such a free and genuine article about the scenery of the frontier? Brother Zhou, if you really take him as your last disciple, your reputation and integrity will be ruined. Do you really want to insist?"