Women dressed as men: powerful officials

Chapter 170 Marry My Sister

Hearing Qi Shengxin's words, Xu Yuan raised his eyes and asked, "What if I want to enter Wenhua Palace?"

"My father has submitted this to the emperor during the morning court today. If you wish to enter Wenhua Palace, my father can ask Wenhua Palace to re-examine you, as long as you are confident that you can pass."

"What if I don't have one?"

"There is still a vacancy for the prince's tutor next year."

"What if I just want to take the national exam?"

"As for the poetry pavilion assessment, or admission to the four major academies, I know your family is poor, so all the expenses will be borne by the Qi family."

Qi Shengxin said, looking at Xu Yuan and said: "This is the sincerity of the Qi family. No matter which path you choose, we can provide you with countless solutions."

"Then what do you need me to do?" Xu Yuan put down the teacup. "The Qi family won't show goodwill for no reason. I don't think I have such great charm that the Qi family would think so highly of me."

"All three conditions are within your capabilities."

Sure enough, there is no free lunch in the world.

Xu Yuan straightened his sitting posture and said, "Master Qi, please speak."

"First, you have to make sure you can be among the top three in next year's national exam. I believe that with your talent, it won't be difficult."

Making a wish and nodding is naturally not difficult.

"Second, your brother Zhang Yue will return to Beijing with Xie Xiaocheng."

Xuyuan frowned: "Why?"

"Since the Qi family values ​​you so much, they will naturally not harm him. It's just that you have both civil and military talents under your command, that's all."

Xu Yuan hesitated for a moment and said, "This is not difficult."

"Then, the third condition is coming." Qi Shengxin looked at Xu Yuan, folded up his sleeves and said, "Marry my sister."

"What did you say?"

"On the day Zhang Yue arrives in Beijing, you will be engaged to my sister. Once you take the national exam and rank among the top three, we will get married immediately."

Qi Shengxin looked at Xu Yuan's surprised expression and said, "Don't worry, I'm not asking you to marry into the Qi family, but my sister is going to marry you."

Xu Yuan looked at Qi Shengxin and suddenly understood.

She understood the plan of that old fox Qi Chengen, or perhaps, she already knew the Qi family's self-protection strategy and why they valued her so much.

As for saying that Qi Shengzhu liked her, Xu Yuan naturally didn't believe it.

To be more precise, he liked her clean family background.

Qi Shengzhu, the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister.

With an elder sister who was the Crown Princess and a father who was the head of the civil service, her marriage prospects were definitely no less likely than those of a royal princess, and there were fewer families of the right age for her to choose from.

Therefore, what the Qi family wants is not the descendant of a noble family.

But it is the upstart that he himself brought up.

And she is one of the candidates.

She is talented and resourceful. As long as she takes part in the national examination, she will definitely be valued. In addition, she has a good relationship with the Prime Minister's Office, so she will be able to reach a high position in the government within a few years.

However, many students can meet this condition. But there is one thing that others cannot compare with - Zhang Yue.

A military general who has made military achievements and is in urgent need of rewards.

If Zhang Yue made achievements, he would surely become a great general in the future. And for the sake of balance, if she became an official, her position would certainly not be high, which would have two advantages.

Firstly, she still needed the support of the Prime Minister's Office and would not treat Qi Shengzhu harshly.

Secondly, the prime minister also has his own military confidants in the court, and his position is unshakable.

As for the third one, Xu Yuan guessed that it might be because the crown prince had plans to marry Qi Shengzhu, or maybe other princes, such as the third prince, also had plans to marry Qi Shengzhu.

The Qi family did not want to send both daughters into the royal family, so they arranged their marriages in advance.

This marriage was also based on the premise that she could gain a foothold in the court.

What Qi Shengxin meant by the last sentence was: Zhang Yue, if you can come to the capital, then you will be qualified to be engaged to my sister. Only after you take part in the national examination and gain fame, can you marry my sister.

In other words, Qi Shengzhu would not marry her if she failed the national examination.

This will naturally benefit the Prime Minister's Office as well.

First, since Qi Shengzhu is engaged, there can be no further discussion of marriage. No matter who comes, even if it is the emperor's decree, the Prime Minister's Office has reason to refuse.

Second, if Qi Shengzhu didn't want to get married, the Prime Minister's Mansion could just find a reason to prevent her from taking the national exam. After a few years of dating, when she found a suitable family, they could just cancel the engagement.

No matter what, the initiative lies in the hands of the Prime Minister's Office.

The ones who benefited were all the Prime Minister’s Office.

Even if it was just a wish, one had to admit that Qi Chengen's calculation was just right.

However, she raised her head, looked at Qi Shengxin and said, "I know that the support of the Prime Minister's Mansion is something that everyone wants, not to mention being able to marry the legitimate daughter of the Qi family is a blessing that will last for several lifetimes. But the path I want to take does not rely on women, nor on the powerful."

If it was Xu Yuan who was surprised before, now it was Qi Shengxin who was surprised.

He looked at Xu Yuan in confusion, "Do you know what you rejected?"

"Isn't it just rejecting the goodwill of the Prime Minister's Mansion?" Xu Yuan smiled faintly, "Master Qi, I am not a fool. I understand the situation in the court. The Prime Minister wants to make preparations for both situations, but I only want to take one path. What I seek is not fame and fortune."

The water is boiling.

The tea leaves tumbled in the boiling water, and the fragrance of tea wafted out.

Xu Yuan stood up and walked to the window under Qi Shengxin's puzzled gaze.

The cold wind blew, and the thoughts in her mind became clearer.

Qi Shengxin stood up and walked to Xu Yuan's side, still trying to persuade him: "With the help of the Prime Minister's Mansion, no matter what you want to do, you will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort. Xu Yuan, I value talent, and I can't bear to see a talented person like you remain unknown all your life because there is no mentor."

"It is true that there are good horses and good horse trainers in the world, but I also believe that a pearl will never be covered in dust. Master Qi, you don't need to persuade me. I will not change what I want to do no matter what."

"So what do you want to do? I can help you."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan turned and looked at Qi Shengxin.

It was the first time that she looked at Qi Sheng Xin so seriously.

Qi Shengxin is also good-looking, but in a place like the capital, there are good-looking people everywhere, and he does not stand out.

In addition, Shen Yichuan always outshines him in everything, so he can't be considered a great talent.

In the capital, when people talk about good looks, they only think of the third prince Beiyao; when people talk about talent, they only think of Shen Yichuan from the Grand Tutor's Mansion.

Qi Shengxin, on the other hand, was independent of these two people.

Qi Shengxin felt a little uncomfortable being looked at like this by Xu Yuan, and his ears turned slightly red. He looked away and asked, "Why are you looking at me like this all of a sudden?"

"I was thinking of a reason."

"what reason?"

"Why is Master Qi helping me so much?"

Xu Yuan raised her lips slightly, her voice was still a little hoarse, and her voice was a little low, and she spoke slowly and unhurriedly: "Prime Minister Qi helped me because he saw my talent and my brother behind me, and Miss Qi helped me to prevent a marriage she didn't like, so what about you? Why?"

"I..." Qi Shengxin was speechless. After a moment, he said, "Not everything happens for a reason. I help you just because I want to help you."

"No." Xu Yuan shook his head. "Mr. Qi, you want to help me to prove that you are better than Shen Yichuan. You are competing with him, whether it is talent, reputation, status, or even friends. Shen Yichuan is friendly with me, so you treat me like this, trying to pull me into your camp, right?"