Chapter 226: If the lord doesn’t mind, I will pledge as your adopted son… (1 / 2)
Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court
Xu Yanmiao swore he hadnât deliberately run into Ji Sui.
It was really Ji Suiâs grand entrance that caught his attention. From afar, the scene was so extravagant it piqued his curiosity, prompting him to wander over. When he realized it was Ji Sui, he was genuinely surprisedâwasnât this man already banished from the capital?
And then, his curiosity deepened. With a casual glance, he discovered Ji Sui was here to send his adopted son to take the imperial exam.
[Oh ho! A candidate!]
[Isnât this just perfect? The first unlucky one to be chosen is you, Ji Suiâs adopted son!]
After reading up on his situation, Xu Yanmiao fell into deep thought.
Hmm⦠kind of hard to judgeâ¦
The next day during court, Xu Yanmiao couldnât hold back and sighed.
[Does Ji Sui have bad eyesight or something?]
As Ji Sui, who had come to court to report on the work of the provincial government, noticed the subtle, peculiar glances being thrown his way, his heart skipped a beat.
Although he couldnât hear Xu Yanmiaoâs inner thoughts now, he could guess that Xu must have said something, which explained the reactions from these court officials.
The question now was⦠what exactly did Xu Yanmiao say? Was it good or bad?
[He used to protect the Crown Princeâs grandson, only to later find out the child wasnât even his biological nephew. To top it off, that person ended up bringing harm to the daughter of the girl Ji had spent half his life searching for.]
[And now, after finally picking a seemingly decent scholar to take in as an adopted son, hoping his granddaughter would have someone to rely on after his death, heâs picked someone who⦠um⦠how do I even describe thisâ¦]
The old emperor rubbed his dark-circled eyesâhe hadnât slept well since appointing Xu Yanmiao as the chief examiner.
He had been lethargic earlier, but upon hearing this inner monologue, he discreetly glanced at Ji Sui.
âTo earn a âhow do I even describe thisâ from Xu Yanmiao⦠just what kind of weirdo did Ji Sui pick?
Curiosity: activated.
Ji Sui felt the gazes on him grow more intense. But in court, he couldnât outright ask what people had heard. His face grew darker, and his heart sank deeper.
[Tsk tsk, turns out after passing the imperial scholar exams, he didnât just target Ji Sui. He also set his sights on two other provincial governors from nearby states.]
[What insane luckâhe saved the family of the Anqing governor and earned their favor, almost got adopted as a son. Not content with that, he went to Jinling, found a severely ill woman, stayed by her side tirelessly, and after her death, spread their âlove storyâ far and wide. The truth? They barely knew each other for seven days.]
[Honestly, with that kind of hard work, itâs no wonder the Jinling governor didnât suspect ulterior motives. The man thought this scholar was loyal and sentimental and even wanted to marry his daughter to him.]
[Thank goodness that didnât happen. All thanks to the scholar having three options and wanting to weigh them outâthis is peak dark humor.]
[Laughable, really. So, Ji Sui ended up being the best option, huh? No son, only a granddaughter, and with a sister whoâs the Crown Princess, thereâs no way she could give Ji Sui an heir. The scholar, upon being adopted, would immediately enjoy the best resources.]
[Poor Ji Sui. Heâd die of anger if he knew the scholar wasnât chosen because he was the most learned or charismatic of the three, but simply because he doesnât have a son. Hahahaha!]
[Right now, Ji Sui still thinks the scholar admires his intellect!]@@novelbin@@
[Comparing candidates for adoption⦠no, wait⦠comparing dads!]
âPfftââ
âCough, cough, coughââ
The faint sound of stifled laughter reached Ji Suiâs ears, and this was clearly the restrained version.
Ji Sui stood tense on the tips of his toes. He couldnât hear these thoughts himself, but knowing they existed left him with a growing sense of unease.
What exactly did Xu Yanmiao say?! Was it related to him?
One of the officials close to Ji Sui adjusted his robes and tiptoed over, recounting the gist of the inner monologue in his own words.
âExcept for the part about âcomparing dads.â
That had to be quoted verbatim. Anything less wouldnât do it justice.