The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Chapter 409 Returning to You

It was almost noon.

The discussions at the Hall of Mental Cultivation have concluded.

After leaving the palace, Wei Zhao did not exchange pleasantries with anyone, but boarded the carriage of the Duke of Shunguo's mansion, while Rong Di rode ahead, preparing to leave.

Gu Fuju kept a close eye on this side before finishing his conversation with the Fifth Prince and stepping over. Although he was a civil official, he had a considerable presence due to his years of experience in the officialdom.

His hands were behind his back, blocking the way.

Rong Di subconsciously whispered a few words into the carriage and heard the general's instructions inside.

"Please invite Grand Tutor up here."

Rong Di quickly jumped down and lifted the carriage curtain to invite Gu Fuju inside.

As he lowered the curtain, obscuring the figures inside, the wheels of the Duke of Shun's mansion slowly rolled forward.

"This is so decent!"

They are clearly father-in-law and son-in-law, not enemies, so why be so distant?

Marquis Zhongyong stood there and smiled before walking up to Yang Changzheng.

"You're currently riding high; you rose to prominence a few years ago thanks to the Emperor's promotion."

Marquis Zhongyong acted as if he had a good relationship with him, and helped straighten the hem of his clothes.

"Although you were born into a prominent family, you are an illegitimate son. At best, the Yang family was just a minor family in the capital. Like me, your foundation is unstable."

"I won't mention Gui Zhi anymore. Gu Fuju comes from a poor family, which is no better than yours or mine, but he is far above us. He usually seems to have a good temper, but he is not a clay figure. When he is cold, even the emperor has to give him face. How many people like him are there in the world?"

"And you, you've offended him?"

Wouldn't that be digging your own grave and dying?
Marquis Zhongyong had secretly handed over his power and military authority to his son long ago. It goes without saying what Xiao Huaiyan has been busy with these days, leaving early and returning late.

The execution of the entire Zhou family was just an appetizer.

If the Wei and Gu families were to join forces, they would be poised to strike directly at the imperial palace. The Ying family has ruled the empire for so many years; it's time for them to change their ways.

Marquis Zhongyong wished he could rub salt into Yang Changzheng's wounds.

"Everyone says that a good wife is one who is virtuous..."

He paused.

The provocation is highly significant.

Yang Chang's face turned ashen.

He had always believed that his wife was intelligent!

Although she is somewhat snobbish, she can bear him children, manage his household affairs, and is impeccable in all her social interactions.

This time I was really confused!
To everyone's surprise, the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery turned his head away.

"The Fourth Prince."

He walked over and patted Yingcheng on the shoulder.

Yingcheng was the prince he liked the most among them.

Although Marquis Zhongyong was a military general and a reckless man, he clearly acknowledged that he had been disliked by the emperor since childhood, yet he had managed to survive in the cannibalistic imperial city until now, which shows that he also had the ability to survive in the cracks.

But he doesn't seem to care much about making promises.

He doesn't fight for anything.

It's not pretending.

They truly live by their duty.

But precisely because of this, he is the most clear-headed one.

He knew he couldn't compete with Ying Yin, nor with Ying Zhi. But now the emperor wanted him to compete.

Did Emperor Yingqian really want to promote him to the throne?
No.

He should make it clear that he was just a stepping stone that could be discarded at any time.

Once the fight starts, whoever gets the position will have a hard time. So these days, he's been pretending to be stupid and anxious.

Marquis Zhongyong's words had a double meaning: "The Emperor's bestowal of a marriage is indeed a good thing, but this Yang family girl... Once she enters the family, you must take good care of her and not let her ruin things."

I wonder who exactly he was referring to when he said the phrase "marry a virtuous wife."

But it is extremely insulting.

After saying that, he dusted himself off and left.

The two people were left looking at each other in bewilderment.

Yang Changzheng wanted to say something, but he couldn't avoid it and hurriedly slipped away.

Upon seeing this, Yang Changzheng's expression twisted for a moment.

This guy is hopeless!

If it were the Second Prince, he would have already started scheming!
Contrary to what Marquis Zhongyong had imagined, the relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law was far from harmonious; the carriage was deathly silent. Wei Zhao did not offer any flattery to Gu Fuju.

Gu Fuju closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, no one knew what he was thinking.

Speechless all the way.

The carriage stopped in front of the Grand Tutor's mansion.

Gu Fuju showed no intention of getting out of the carriage: "Emperors throughout history have all been shrewd and calculating; those who obeyed them prospered, and those who opposed them perished. Today, you are in the palace..."

He paused slightly.

Do you know what you're doing?

Wei Zhao was not at all surprised that Gu Fuju would ask this question. After all, this was Gu Fuju's real purpose in getting on the carriage.

He looked up at Gu Fuju, his casual clothes unable to conceal his noble bearing, and the determined ambition in his eyes. He chuckled and said, "This student knows."

Gu Fuju remained silent for a moment.

He looked at his most prized student.

I remember when he established Huaqing Academy, he would also take time to teach at the Imperial College.

Students of the Imperial College were divided into those who were children of officials and those who were tribute students who entered the college through the provincial and metropolitan examinations.

New students learn the Four Books and Five Classics, while those who are about to take the imperial examinations focus on exam-taking skills and current affairs.

Regardless of age, students are assigned to different training centers based on annual assessments.

Those taught by Gu Fuju were naturally required to participate in the imperial examinations. Among the students in the dormitory that year, Wei Zhao was the youngest.

He's just a teenager.

The Duke of Shun led Wei Zhao to him.

That gentle and kind person, who had been gentle all his life, said to him.

"Fu Ju, I'm entrusting Gui Zhi to you."

"This child is good in every way, except that he is too informal. Please bear with him."

Gu Fuju: ?
He wanted to laugh when he heard that.

It's not like they're five-year-old babies learning the Hundred Family Surnames, so why did they have to be sent over by their father?
Wei Fengxing spoils his son too much.

then……

They really don't stand on ceremony.

After leaving the classroom, he picked up a book and started reading. He found the students around him laughing and playing too noisy, so he went to his resting cubicle.

He knocked on the door respectfully.

"Master, may I come in?"

Gu Fujiu, who was about to take a nap, thought he had something to ask.

But after Wei Zhao entered, he looked around. He then respectfully pointed to the empty chair opposite Gu Fuju and asked, "May I sit here?"

After he sat down, he sat very straight, with a faint smile on his face, and opened the book.

"Master, please go to sleep. I won't keep you from getting up."

Gu Fuju understood.

The students of the Imperial Academy all avoided him, so his place was the quietest.

As it was almost time for the class to begin, Gu Fuju took a sip of tea and asked, "Aren't you leaving yet?"

Wei Zhao also respected him at that time.

He put down the book he was holding, stood up, and replied.

"When I was young, I entered the Imperial Academy, but my father was too busy with official duties to teach me personally. Now that my father is free, he often tests his students."

The reason for his leisure was simply that after Emperor Qian ascended the throne, he did not want Duke Shun to interfere in important state affairs. He deliberately used the excuse that Wei Fengxing had worked too hard in his early years to gradually take back the things he was in charge of.

"Now that Master Liu is teaching, the students have already mastered the content, so there is no need to worry about it anymore."

That's arrogant.

Although the Duke of Shunguo's talent and learning are truly rare, Gu Fuju can benefit from every discussion with him.

Although Wei Zhao is really smart, he understands things very quickly and learns everything very fast.

Gu Fuju looked at him: "Then why did you come to the Imperial Academy?"

"I came here for you, Master."

"What Father knows, I must know. What you, Master, know, I must also know. Combining the talents of both of you, why wouldn't I be happy to do it?"

Gu Fuju also found out.

Wei Fengxing didn't come specifically to escort Wei Zhao; he came specifically to ask him to take on more responsibility.