The entire Northwest is guarded by the Duke of Zhenguo, and the princes are vying for power, all coveting a marriage alliance with the Duke of Zhenguo, which has been a constant headache for His Majesty.

Jiang Ningning, the second daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, is a female general on horseback. She is already sixteen years old and has not yet found a suitable husband.

The reason she couldn't find a husband wasn't because she was ugly, but because Jiang Ningning had said, "I will not be a concubine, nor will I allow men to take concubines. If you want to marry me, you must swear in black and white that you will not take concubines. If you do, I will kill you."

None of the princes, including the crown prince, could do it.

Gu Shaoyu's plan was to make Zhang Hexuan the second son-in-law of the Duke of Zhenguo.

"The Duke of Zhenguo probably looks down on Zhang Hexuan because he is a commoner. However, if Zhang Hexuan were to take charge of Yuzhou, which is the Duke of Zhenguo's supplier of grain and fodder, and if Zhang Hexuan were to sign a document promising never to take a concubine, and if Zhang Hexuan's family background were also good enough to match the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, then under these three conditions, the Duke of Zhenguo would naturally agree to let Zhang Hexuan be his son-in-law."

“If the Duke of Zhenguo agrees to let Zhang Hexuan be his son-in-law, I will go to His Majesty and say that Zhang Hexuan is now the Duke of Zhenguo’s son-in-law. I will ask His Majesty to give Zhang Hexuan a position as a seventh-rank county magistrate. His Majesty will surely agree happily.”

"Prefect Ying of Yuzhou is already fifty years old, and he is still only a fifth-rank official. The difference between a fifth-rank official in a local area and a fifth-rank official in the capital is like heaven and earth. If Minister Zhang helps him arrange a fifth-rank position in the capital, wouldn't he be grateful to the point of tears?"

"Minister Zhang will definitely try his best to find a vacancy for Lord Ying so that his son can take office as soon as possible."

“As long as Lord Ying leaves Yuzhou and comes to the capital to retire, Zhang Hexuan can take office, and the whole matter will be completely resolved.”

Grand Secretary Gu pinched his wife's cheek and said, "Tell me, isn't it simple? Haven't I hit the jackpot?"

Xie Zhaozhao was stunned and full of admiration. What a brilliant move to get something for nothing! No, what a meticulously planned and executed scheme!

Apart from the Crown Prince and Prince Qi's group, everyone was overjoyed; the Grand Secretary had won big!

"Aren't you impressed with me?"

Without saying a word, Xie Zhaozhao gave him a heartfelt hug.

She pressed her face against his chest, deeply grateful: "Your Excellency, thank you."

"Then, how about we try out the comic books in your box tonight?"

Xie Zhaozhao was taken aback. She raised her head and looked into his serious eyes. Her admiration for his unparalleled wisdom in handling matters vanished in an instant.

Her face turned bright red, and she felt that the former Grand Secretary and the former Grand Secretary were not the same person.

But she couldn't refuse.

She took out the little book that was hidden at the bottom of her box and looked at it under the lamp. Xie Zhaozhao was so embarrassed that she almost died.

But Gu Shaoyu looked at it very carefully and said to her, "I think these are too basic. I have something better."

He casually pulled a book out of his pocket.

Xie Zhaozhao was dumbfounded: "You, you, why do you carry it with you all the time?"

We've been discovered. Is this...is this a good thing?

Gu Shaoyu wasn't embarrassed at all: "I've already thought it through. Once you've finished reading it, I'll destroy it so no one can see it."

"Didn't you think about what would happen if someone saw us?"

"Then I'll hide it as best I can. I can't destroy it before you see it, can I? It was very expensive! When I bought it, the person told me it came from Xiandou, and that it was extremely rare. They charged me 20 taels of silver!"

"Twenty taels of silver, you..."

Such a small booklet must cost at most one tael of silver, right?

Such a shrewd Grand Secretary Gu was actually deceived.

“I had already seen it, but I didn’t dare to burn it. I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me and would think I made it all up myself.”

The man eagerly sought praise, "Little darling, wasn't I good?"

Wow, that's quite a head!

Qingpuyuan is being cleared out today.

In the dark night, fireflies peek out with their lanterns, while crickets shoo people away with a "go away, go away!"

"Sweetie, this is great, why don't you try it?"

"don't want"

"My little darling..."

"Stop shouting."

"Sweetie, let's do it one more time."

...

The candles in Qingpu Courtyard remained lit until dawn.

Xie Zhaozhao didn't want to move anymore, not even a little bit.

All the admiration and gratitude for Grand Secretary Gu turned into a powerless eye roll.

"My dear, I have to go to court now. You rest well. I still have a book over there..."

"Burn it, burn it right away..."

"But I haven't bought it yet!" Gu Shaoyu said, trying hard to suppress a smile. "I've paid a deposit."

"Refund it!" Xie Zhaozhao pulled a sheet over her head.

After changing his clothes, Gu Shaoyu went outside and said to Manman, who was waiting there, "Madam, please sleep a little longer and don't wake her."

Manman replied, "Yes."

Gu Shaoyu added, "Whether it's the old lady or anyone else, just say it was my order, and no one is allowed to disturb her rest."

"Yes, thank you, son-in-law."

Manman smiled happily, her little mouth pursed. The Grand Secretary was so good to his young lady.

Gu Shaoyu went out looking energetic, and Bei Chen suddenly appeared at the door: "Your Excellency, last night, the young master went to the Crown Prince's residence to report to you about his visit to the Zhang family."

"Hmm," Gu Shaoyu said, not taking it seriously at all, and instructed Bei Chen, "Keep an eye on what he's doing."

Three days later, Princess Xiyan, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager summoned Emperor Hui to the inner palace.

Princess Xiyan: "Royal brother, you take this matter too seriously and then treat it with disdain. Who will respect the royal family in the future?"

Emperor Hui: "Is the Princess here to attack me? Zhang Hexuan didn't say anything about you, did he? As for the person who mentioned the male horse, I have already caught him. He is a disciple of the Crown Prince! If the Princess really wants to punish him, then the Crown Prince will be implicated."

"This..." Princess Xiyan was speechless.

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