"You have a good back, it seems that you have made progress in your studies."

A simple sentence made Shen Yichen's body tremble, because from this sentence, it can be known that Cheng Guogong knew his past academic performance, otherwise he would not use the word progress to describe it.

Did he actually pay attention to me?

Shen Yichen subconsciously clenched his fists because he was excited, which was a child's joy for his father's recognition.

Even if the current consciousness has changed to another person, this emotion in the depths of memory still can't be contained, just like the mother Shen hopes that Shen Yichen will one day recognize his ancestors and return to his ancestors, the original Shen Yichen also hopes to prove himself in front of Zhu Yong!

"Grandpa Xie praises."

Shen Yichen finally just thanked him politely, not to mention that he was no longer the original Shen Yichen, even if he was, he was not qualified to be proud of the pampering of Grandpa Guo.

Shen Yichen's answer and performance were normal and decent, but Zhu Yong always felt that something was wrong, as if the young man in front of him had changed a lot.

Could it be that because he had too little contact, he didn't understand Shen Yichen's changes?

Although Zhu Yong has not had a face-to-face conversation with Shen Yichen over the years, he has learned some of his information through the housekeeper in the house, such as his studies and character.

However, objectively speaking, this kind of concern has little to do with the relationship between father and son, purely because Cheng Guogong is not very prosperous, Zhu Yong only has two sons and three daughters under his knees, and he still has children in his old age.

According to the standards of later generations, there are two sons and three daughters, which can already be called a "superborn guerrilla", but in ancient times like the Ming Dynasty, the infant mortality rate was extremely high, and even the royal children did not dare to guarantee that they could live to adulthood in peace and stability, and then pass on the ancestry.

So even if he has two sons, Zhu Yong still keeps an eye on Shen Yichen, a male in the bloodline, as the final "spare tire" plan for the family title.

It's just that as the two sons under his knees are gradually coming of age, and Shen Yichen's performance is too unbearable, Zhu Yong has not had much expectations for this servant son in recent years, and today's scene is really a bit impressive.

"Hmm."

Zhu Yong nodded, did not continue to say anything to Shen Yichen, and instead looked at Li Tingxiu on the podium.

"Teach Li, I'm just passing by to take a look, you can continue teaching."

Cheng Guogong belongs to the military generals who are knighted in Jingnan, and he is in charge of the army in Beijing all the year round.

"Yes, Grandpa."

Li Tingxiu bowed his hand and saluted, he was not a sycophant, so he didn't care if he could say a few more words.

After saying this, Zhu Yong was about to turn around and leave, but when he reached the door, he stopped.

"Shen Yichen, do you want to study in the inner courtyard?"

In the inner courtyard of the Chengguo Mansion, there is also a family school, which is different from the children of the cronies and subordinates who study in the outer courtyard, and the private school in the inner courtyard can be called the real Chengguo Public Education Hall. Only the children of relatives and friends in the clan, as well as the outstanding ones who have passed the examination in the outer court, are eligible to go to school.

Shen Yichen, who can't even pass the test for children, is naturally impossible to enter school with grades. So there is only one way left, that is, as a child of the clan, Cheng Guogong's question, in a sense, contains a metaphor.

Do you want to be in the genealogy?

When this question came out, all the eyes in the lecture hall were focused on Shen Yichen, and the answer seemed to be self-evident.

Even Shen Yichen himself began to throb wildly in his heart, wanting to hurry up and accept it. For him, this is not only an opportunity to enter the genealogy in the future, but also an affirmation from his father.

But is this really for sure? Shen Yichen didn't know why, and there was a trace of hesitation in his heart inexplicably.

Seeing that Shen Yichen didn't respond for a long time, the other students in the lecture hall were puzzled, what else is there to hesitate about this kind of opportunity, could it be that this kid is stupid?

"Back to my grandfather, the younger generation dared to ask, in what name did you go to the inner courtyard to study."

"Shen Yichen!"

Before Zhu Yong could reply, Li Tingxiu preemptively stopped drinking, Shen Yichen's words were too bold, if he collided with Cheng Guogong because of this, the identity of a servant son would not be able to keep him.

Sure enough, after hearing Shen Yichen's question, Zhu Yong's eyes changed instantly, and the killing aura brought by his perennial military career made people shudder.

As the top nobleman of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yong is definitely not the kind of simple-minded reckless martial artist, he understands the meaning of Shen Yichen's words. This kid is confirming to himself whether he is going to school as a disciple of the clan, or to put it more bluntly, whether he is really giving him the opportunity to go to the genealogy!

Such a straightforward expression made Chengguo Gong Zhu Yong's previous good feelings dissipate a lot.

You must know that the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty was popular with polite resignations, even if the emperor invited an old minister to go out of the mountain, he had to pretend to excuse himself several times before he could finally be appointed.

Although Cheng Guogong is a military general, he has been in the officialdom for a long time, and he has become accustomed to this atmosphere. Not to mention that Shen Yichen's life experience is special, it should be more subtle and euphemistic, and it is also in line with the image of a weak and cowardly waste material in the past.

As a result, Shen Yichen didn't hide it at all, and he didn't even bother to do superficial work, and he felt like he was nakedly making his ambitions public.

After all, he is still unwilling to become an illegitimate child, and wants to get the identity of a child of a family?

"With your current grades and identity, even if you go to the inner courtyard to study, you can only use the name of the attached school."

Zhu Yong's words are also very straightforward, that is, to tell Shen Yichen that letting him study in the inner courtyard does not mean that he will be given the opportunity to enter the genealogy, and he is still an "auditor", so don't think about it.

Seriously, this kind of communication can no longer be described as a "gift" for father and son, but more like a kind of "charity".

Hearing Zhu Yong's answer, I don't know why, a hint of mockery appeared on the corner of Shen Yichen's mouth, as if it was so deserved.

To be honest, the question just now, even he himself was very surprised after he said it, don't you have the opportunity to become a gentleman, but ask such a sentence with more mouths, isn't this self-defeating?

But at the moment before the question, memories kept pouring out in his mind, revealing the unwilling anger in Shen Yichen's heart, and the expectant face of his mother Shen appeared.

Everyone else thinks that Shen Yichen wants to enter the genealogy, just to get the status of the noble son and get the glory and wealth at his fingertips. Even Shen Yichen, who has crossed over, thinks about taking the opportunity to become a gentleman, isn't it beautiful to eat, drink and have fun?

But it was the hesitation and emotions that emerged at this moment that made Shen Yichen suddenly understand that the real reason why he wanted to enter the genealogy was not glory and wealth, but wanted to fight for his mother's name, so that she would no longer be criticized by others.

Similarly, the efforts that her mother Shen is looking forward to getting ahead are not for any status, but just for the recognition of Zhu Yong, the Duke of Chengguo, and to step into the Guogong Mansion in a dignified manner, and no longer be looked down upon by the world!

In addition, there is also a hidden expectation of the relationship between his father and husband, but Cheng Guogong's answer made Shen Yichen understand that he looks at himself like others in a secular light, without the slightest affection between father and son, so there is a touch of mockery at the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you grandfather for his love, the younger generation chooses to continue to study in the outer courtyard."