Chapter 0007: Meeting with Kou Li

Wang Shu adjusted the stove, allowing the flames within to burn more vigorously. After boiling the water, he continued to prepare tea for Kou Zhun

Upon seeing Kou Ji, Er Bao hurriedly stepped forward and called out.

At this moment, Kou Zhong also appeared in the central courtyard pavilion. He stood outside the pavilion and said softly, "Master, the young master is very well-behaved."

Kou Zhonggong bent down and made a gesture of invitation

Just now, when he met with Kou Ji, he was focused on Kou Ji and did not pay much attention to the people around Kou Ji

Father

a quarter of an hour later

The jade belt appears to be somewhat old and not new, yet the nine jade rings embedded on it are clearly not ordinary items

He dried the droplets of water on his body with a dry towel

As he was washing up, Wang Shu returned to the pavilion in the central courtyard amidst the curtain of rain

The entrance of the ancestral hall is half ajar

Kou Ji's gaze fell upon the middle-aged man, his expression somewhat complex

He is Kou Li, the inexpensive father of Kou Ji

Young Master, please ... ...

Young Master

Wang Shu looked astonished, casting a peculiar glance at Kou Zhun, "Do you care about him?"

A long shirt made of milky white Shu brocade, an inner lining of moonlight white, adorned with a golden crown, a jade belt, and complemented by an ivory folding fan

One person entered, placed down the plate, bowed, and said: "Young master, your clothes are ready..."

Under the service of two maids

Front courtyard wing room

Wang Shuyi was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said: "Since you do not care about these insidious tactics, why not let him practice with them."

Wang Shu smiled and shook his head, beginning to prepare tea for Kou Zhun

Then, accompanied by Kou Jiqi, they took a winding path and arrived in front of a building resembling the main hall

Wang Shu's strange remark: "I have done this, but you agreed to it... Moreover, I have not been unhelpful to him; at the very least, I have agreed to three of his conditions"

Kou Zhun, upon hearing this, nodded in satisfaction. Noticing Wang Shu's seemingly smiling yet ambiguous gaze directed at him, he quickly cleared his throat and, with a serious expression, said: "Ahem, arrange for two elderly maids to attend to him"

After a pause, Kou Zhun added, "Go to the treasury and take out the jade belt that I used in my younger years for him to use. Then send someone to Huazhou to inquire why no one accompanied him to the capital."

Shouted towards the door.

Please thank my grandfather on my behalf

Kou Ji is washing away the dust of travel in the side room, which will take some time

After a while, he glared at Wang Shu, pointed at the empty teacup in front of him, and snorted: "Brewing tea..."

He is not qualified to enter the ancestral hall

If you were to take a stroll around Bianjing City, who knows how many young ladies would be captivated by you

After listening, Kou Zhun did not focus on the three conditions proposed by Kou Ji, but instead frowned and said: "Are you saying that this time entering the mansion, only a young servant accompanied him?"

The old woman smiled and said, "We are all old servants of the household, there is no need to worry about being a bother. Please stand still, and we sisters will assist you with changing your clothes."

Kou Zhun raised his eyebrows and glared, saying: "You wouldn't use Kou Li's matter to test him, would you?"

Kou Zhun outwardly expressed disdain for Kou Ji, his grandson, yet deep down, he still cared to some extent

The furnishings in the ancestral hall are quite simple

Wang Shu entered the pavilion, removed his boots, sat cross-legged, and sighed: "There is indeed some cleverness, but it is merely the audacity of a young calf that knows no fear, which is somewhat overconfident."

Kou Zhong arrived at the entrance of the ancestral hall and came to a stop

However, in the memories of the predecessor, the impression of this father is pitifully scarce

Wang Shuwen was also taken aback upon hearing this, and after a moment of contemplation, he said: "I have not discovered any other followers."

Although Kou Ji is not the direct grandson of Kou Zhun, he is still of the same lineage, as blood ties are unbreakable.

Since the beginning of recorded history, Kou Li has been studying abroad and rarely returned home

Kou Ji does not believe that Kou Li, this irresponsible father, would have many memories of his son, so he is not worried that Kou Li would notice any differences in him

The clothes sent by the maids were specially purchased by the household servants from the ready-made clothing shop on the street

Kou Ji nodded, leaving Er Bao behind, and pushed open the door of the ancestral hall, entering inside.

Compared to the main hall, the ancestral hall is somewhat lacking in opulence, yet it possesses a few more strands of tranquility

Kou Zhun sat in place, silent.

He has quite the demeanor of a young master from a prestigious family

The two maids looked at the neatly dressed Kou Ji, and their eyes brightened.

The old woman smiled and explained, "This jade belt was personally bestowed by the late emperor during the time when the master achieved success in the imperial examination at the Zhaigong Hall."

Kou Ji donned an inner lining, a brocade robe, secured a golden crown, and wrapped himself in a jade belt

Wang Shu could probably guess a portion of Kou Zhun's thoughts

It was only when Kou Zhun mentioned this matter that he recalled it

In the center of the ancestral hall, there are three mats.

Kou Jiwen was taken aback upon hearing this, his brows raised slightly, and a different kind of brilliance flashed in his eyes

Kou Ji stepped forward and knelt on the mat beside Kou Li, softly calling out a phrase.

In addition to the ancestral rankings of the Kou family, which are prominently displayed, there is only one offering table and two rows of candles

Kou Ji nodded to him, then turned to Kou Zhong, who was approaching slowly, and said: "Please take me to the ancestral hall to see my father"

Kou Ji cleaned off the grime accumulated from the journey, took a deep breath, and stood up from the bathtub

Wang Shu carefully conveyed the three conditions proposed by Kou Ji to Kou Zhun

Two elderly women opened the door, carrying two plates supported by clothing, and entered the room.

On the cushion in the middle, there is a middle-aged man, around 30 years old, dressed in a blue long gown.

As a time traveler, Kou Ji seized the body of his predecessor and inherited the memories of that predecessor

The old servant understands...

When Kou Zhun saw Wang Shu leave and then return, he sat up and pretended to casually ask, "How is it?"

Even upon hearing the sound of the ancestral hall's door opening, there was no movement at all

Although he shares the surname Kou, it is a bestowed surname rather than his original surname

After everything was tidied up, Kou Ji bid farewell to the two maids, and upon exiting the room, he saw that Er Bao had been waiting outside the door.

A cup of fragrant tea was presented to Kou Zhun.

As they helped Kou Ji organize his attire, they cheerfully praised, "The young master has such a good foundation; once he puts on a set of brocade garments, he immediately transforms into a handsome young gentleman

The middle-aged man knelt there, perfectly upright, not moving at all

Kou Ji carefully examined his reflection in the copper mirror in the room and nodded in satisfaction

What conditions?

Although not comparable to the beauty of Pan An, he is still considered handsome

Due to the urgency of Kou Ji, it is certainly too late to prepare it now

Kou Zhun was taken aback and quickly waved his sleeves in disdain, saying: "I am merely concerned that he might complicate matters further; he has never been involved in officialdom and does not understand the affairs of the court at all"

After the second child finished washing up, he changed into a full set of servant's clothing, looking much more spirited.

The ivory folding fan was held in the hand of Kou Jina, who gave it a gentle pat

Upon hearing this, Kou Zhun immediately became anxious and said, "How can you throw such matters to a child to handle? You know well how deep the waters of Bianjing are; how can a child manage the affairs of the officialdom?"