Changqing was slightly stunned, “If you want to reconsider him, won’t Third Miss object?”

“If she objected, she wouldn’t have sent him right in front of me,” Zhao Ming said. “This action clearly shows she’s letting me choose.”

But not long after, Zhao Ming became so angry he threw down the book in his hand, stood in the corridor with his hands on his hips and cursed Zhao Hanzhang from afar. After cursing for quite a while, he took the tea Changqing offered, drank a mouthful, but still couldn’t suppress the anger in his belly. “Choose what? She clearly sent him to anger me and make me give up.”

Changqing felt their master’s temper had been growing lately, though it wasn’t his fault. Recently there had been too many matters. Zhao Hanzhang was currently in Luoyang and only handled some major issues, throwing everything else to Zhao Ming.

And Zhao Ming not only had to handle Yuzhou affairs but also clan matters. If it weren’t for Ji Yuan helping him remotely, his temper would definitely be even worse.

People, once they get busy, their tempers turn bad.

Zhao Ming huffily returned to his room and sat cross-legged on the wooden platform by the window, his expression gloomy.

Changqing watched him for a while, then turned and went downstairs. Soon he brought up food and warmed a pot of wine.

Smelling the wine’s aroma, Zhao Ming’s expression finally improved somewhat. Changqing knelt to the side to pour wine for him, “I saw Young Master Yi was proper in his conduct, courteous and measured, and his studies were quite good. Why is Master dissatisfied with him?”

Zhao Ming’s face showed no anger now, only a faint mockery. “His studies are quite good? He’s only three years younger than Zhao Kuan. When Zhao Kuan was his age, not only had he finished reading all the required books, he also knew to go out and study abroad, able to refute others with reason and evidence. And him? He’s still studying at this age, reading the same books as Zhao Zheng.”

“Uh,” Changqing quickly said, “Young Master Zheng is different from other young masters. Though he’s young in years, his years of study aren’t few.”

Zhao Zheng was Zhao Cheng’s son. Because Zhao Cheng had raised him from childhood, he was placed in the clan school as soon as he could run, studying together with the clan’s children.

He learned to speak and began reading and memorizing books.

By the time he could hold a brush and write, he had already memorized several books.

Zhao Kuan was recognized as the most outstanding disciple of this generation, but the smartest of this generation’s disciples was definitely Zhao Zheng – oh, incredibly good at studying.

Zhao Ming glanced at Changqing and said, “Fine, he can’t compare to Zhao Kuan and the others in studies, so I won’t hold that against him. But how do you explain his courtesy and propriety?”

“He has courtesy, but where is the propriety?” Zhao Ming said, “Zhao Hanzhang is several months younger than him. Though she’s somewhat glib, her heart is upright and she has backbone. She could be neither servile nor overbearing even with Seventh Uncle, but what about him?”

“At such an age, yet he still has few opinions of his own, indecisive and irresolute,” Zhao Ming shook his head in disappointment. “Irresolute means his character isn’t firm, easily breeding weakness. The clan leader is the clan’s weathervane. Whatever the clan leader is like, the clan will gradually become like that too.”

“If he only had minor flaws but was acceptable in major principles, I could turn a blind eye. But he doesn’t even have thoughts about major principles, muddling through, and even the steward at his side has more insight than him.”

With someone like this, how could Zhao Ming favor him as the next clan leader?

If he became clan leader, who knows who would end up controlling clan affairs. Since authority would be handed to others anyway, he might as well choose Zhao Erlang.

Father and uncle always thought Erlang was unsuitable because, with Emperor Hui’s example before them, if he became clan leader, power would fall into other hands, which would cause disputes within the clan.

But he felt Zhao Yi wasn’t much better than Zhao Erlang. If power was going to fall into other hands anyway, better to choose Zhao Erlang.

At least Erlang had a pure heart, could listen to advice, and wouldn’t foolishly compete for power with people over things he didn’t understand. Plus, he had Zhao Hanzhang behind him.

She could rule with absolute authority. As long as she didn’t harm the Zhao clan, the Zhao clan would be united as one.

That was better than Zhao Yi taking power and then competing with Zhao Hanzhang for authority, turning the clan into a mess.

Living in chaotic times, they needed a strong clan leader.

Zhao Ming drank three cups of wine and finally let out a long sigh, giving up on Zhao Yi. “Forget it, better to find Erlang a wife.”

He said, “Choose a smart one.”

Changqing smiled and agreed, asking, “Which family’s young lady does Master think would be suitable?”

Zhao Ming turned the wine cup in his hand without speaking. Who would be suitable?

He couldn’t think of anyone at the moment.

Zhao Ming pondered for a long while, then said, “Spread the word that the Zhao clan wants to arrange a marriage for Erlang. This time the candidate must be carefully selected.”

He felt Zhizhi’s wife at the time hadn’t been well chosen. How could someone as intelligent as Zhao Zhi produce Zhao Erlang?

It must be Wang Shi’s problem.

And facts proved that Wang Shi indeed wasn’t very smart.

Zhao Ming emphasized again, “Choose someone smart.”

Changqing smiled and agreed, “Master is more devoted to finding Erlang a wife than finding one for our own young master.”

Mentioning his son who was nowhere to be seen, Zhao Ming frowned and asked, “Is he still in Shu?”

“Yes,” Changqing bowed and said, “No letter has come back, so he probably hasn’t left Shu yet.”

Zhao Ming nodded, “Shu is still relatively safe, but he should still be careful. Next time a letter comes, send him one telling him to return quickly. Yuzhou is currently in great need of people.”

Changqing wore a bitter expression, “Master, the young master is traveling and studying, not staying in one place for long. We’ve sent so many letters urging him to return, but from the letters he sent back, he hasn’t received a single one.”

This was common. Not to mention now during chaotic times, even in peaceful years, lost mail and failure to find recipients were normal occurrences.

Zhao Ming could only sigh, then put his son out of his mind. “Zhao Yi probably won’t pass the recruitment examination. Find him a house near the academy. After he finishes the exam, have him move out and go study at the academy to see what other people’s children are like.”

He sneered, “Those children don’t match his background, and even their intelligence doesn’t match his, but they’re no worse than him in other respects.”

Changqing agreed and went out that very afternoon to look for a house. After all, the recruitment examination was only a few days away.

Wang Shi was at home burning incense and praying to Buddha. She knelt before the Buddha and sincerely prayed, “Buddha, this believer asks you to bless my son and daughter with peace, health, and freedom from illness and disaster.”

Then she immediately continued, “Let Zhao Yi fail the recruitment examination.”

Qinggu knelt to the side. After Wang Shi finished making her wish, she helped her insert the incense, then together they respectfully kowtowed three times before withdrawing from the Buddhist hall.

She whispered, “Madam, is it bad for us to openly make such an uncharitable wish?”

Wang Shi looked around and said, “What’s there to fear? Only we two know about this.”

She whispered, “I can’t understand what Third Miss is thinking. Why have him take the recruitment examination for no good reason? But I know that if he doesn’t pass, it’s good for Erlang. So it’s better he doesn’t pass.”

She put her palms together and said, “If the Buddha blames anyone, let him blame me. As long as he doesn’t pass, that’s enough.”

Qinggu said nothing more.

Wang Shi also took the opportunity to pray for the Buddha to protect her daughter and son more, then started muttering complaints, “I wonder how those two children are doing in Luoyang. Now that it’s getting hot, the summer clothes we made should have arrived, right?”