Mu Wanzhou never expected that the top scholar would be like this.

"Having a wife is nothing special; I'll definitely marry an even more formidable one later."

"No, the top scholar's wife must be a shrew. I must be stupid to compare myself to him."

Wang Huaijing was naturally unaware of Mu Wanzhou's inner thoughts. He was all smiles, and he was in a great mood whenever he praised his wife.

Turning his head, he noticed Mu Wanzhou's strange expression. "Brother Mu, are you married with children?"

Mu Wanzhou glanced at Wang Huaijing and said irritably.

"A true man should establish his career before starting a family; once he has achieved success and fame, why worry about not having a wife?"

The wife you marry when you are down on your luck is not necessarily the best.

Wang Huai nodded.

"Brother Mu is absolutely right, but who can say for sure about luck?"

The wife you marry when you are down on your luck may not be from the best family, but she may be the most suitable for you.

For example, my husband and I are a harmonious couple, and my son is smart and well-behaved.

As long as I can see them every day, I feel all the fatigue of the day disappear.

Brother Mu, you should take advantage of your relatively young age and marry a wife quickly. Otherwise, the older you get, the more things you'll worry about, and the less happiness you'll have.

Mu Wanzhou...

Forget it, he's a magnanimous person and can't be bothered with this country bumpkin who popped out of who-knows-where.

"Hmph, once you've seen all the glamour, I don't believe you won't despise your wife who's been through thick and thin with you, you country bumpkin."

Mu Wanzhou inwardly grumbled.

After Qiu Zhongqi's arm was set, splinted, and given several doses of medicine, the group left.

The interruption of the top scholar's parade on Chang'an Street had already alarmed the emperor.

"This is really bad luck. It's a major exam every three years. Is it easy to find a few promising young talents who are both pleasing to the eye and have good academic knowledge?"

The Emperor mentally pondered, "Has the assassin been caught? A thorough investigation is essential."

The Vice Minister of Rites, who was in charge of today's parade, knelt down and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, the assassin has been identified; it is Mu Wan'er from the Mu family."

"Hmm, the Mu family, which Mu family? The Mu family of the former Grand Tutor?" The Emperor frowned.

"Why did Mu Wan'er attempt to assassinate the top scholar? Did she harbor some grudge?"

The Emperor was puzzled. Even if the two families had a deep-seated grudge, there was no need for his own daughter to personally intervene.

"This can't really be called an assassination."

According to Mu Wan'er's confession, at that time, she saw other girls throwing sachets and handkerchiefs to the scholars below.

She felt her accuracy was a bit low, so she put an apple in her handkerchief.

He originally intended to hit the top scholar, but the top scholar dodged it, so he hit the third-ranked scholar instead…

The emperor's expression turned strange after hearing this, as if he were out of control, and he finally burst into laughter.

"What a coincidence!" But I wonder what exactly makes it so coincidental.

Prime Minister Qiu, of course, would not allow his son to be bullied and demanded a thorough investigation.

Mu Wan'er's biological father, of course, would do everything in his power to protect his daughter's reputation.

After apologizing, they also had to explain that in the past, when top scholars were paraded through the streets, weren't they also subjected to having everything thrown at them?

Why didn't anything happen to you? But your son got hit after being ranked third in the imperial examination. Isn't that just bad luck?

The emperor sat behind his dragon throne, listening to the two people below arguing back and forth.

Seeing that the noise had subsided, he cleared his throat.

"Gentlemen, stop arguing. I have a solution that you may consider."

The Mu family's young lady injured the Qiu family's young man; this is a stroke of fate. Why don't the two families become husband and wife?

With Miss Mu taking care of the Qiu family's son, cooking and preparing meals for him, I believe the Qiu family's son will recover quickly.

The Emperor's words were met with strong opposition from Prime Minister Qiu, but Mu Wan'er's father fell into deep thought. He knew his daughter's character better than anyone else.

With the departure of the imperial concubine and his father, the Mu family gradually declined.

I am currently just a lecturer in the Hanlin Academy, a fifth-rank official.

If a marriage alliance is formed, then the family will be tied to the Prime Minister's. Judging by the kinship alone, the Prime Minister is unlikely to cause any trouble for his family.

Sacrificing one daughter for the peace of two generations is worthwhile.

Moreover, with her current reputation, her daughter is incredibly fortunate to be able to marry the prime minister's grandson.

Thinking of this, Mu Hanlin kowtowed and thanked the emperor for his great favor.

Prime Minister Qiu was furious.

"Your Majesty, Zhongqi already has someone he loves. If we were to let Miss Mu marry into my Qiu family, she would only be a concubine."

"I'm afraid this will offend Miss Mu; I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree."

The Emperor smiled, knowing that Old Man Qiu wouldn't give in. He looked at Minister Mu and asked, "Minister Mu, what do you think?"

Mu Hanlin looked at Prime Minister Qiu with a half-smile.

"I wonder who the third-ranked scholar's beloved is?"

If the third-ranked scholar can get married within seven days, then I, Mu, will offer my congratulations.

Whether Scholar Mu offers his congratulations or not is of no concern to me.

As for when my grandson will get married, that's a matter between the two of them, and I, as an old man, won't interfere.

"Miss Mu, Mr. Mu still hasn't given an explanation regarding the incident where an object was thrown from a high-rise building and injured my grandson."

Mu Hanlin finally understood that Old Man Qiu would never agree to his daughter marrying into that family.

It's not good to offer a warm welcome only to be met with a cold shoulder.

"What kind of explanation does Lord Qiu intend to seek?"

Prime Minister Qiu was taken aback by this, "Of course, I should kowtow and apologize in public."

Mu Hanlin nodded.

“Very well, if that’s the case, then tomorrow I will have my unfilial daughter personally go to the Qiu family’s door to kowtow and apologize.”

I urge Prime Minister Qiu not to mention this matter again.

"Of course. I am not that petty-minded."

This time, however, my grandson has truly suffered an undeserved calamity and great misfortune.

If I can't help him get justice, I, as his grandfather, will be too ashamed to show my face in front of him.

Mu Hanlin's face remained expressionless, but his voice was as cold as ice shards, "Prime Minister Qiu is magnanimous."

This is the effect the Emperor wants to see.

Sure enough, at midday the next day, Mu Wan'er was personally brought to the gate of the Prime Minister's residence by her own father.

He announced loudly, "Mu Zhenshan has brought his unfilial daughter to the Qiu family to apologize. Please inform the eldest son of the Qiu family, Qiu Zhongqi."

Now Mu Hanlin understands that ever since his father retired and the empress and the ninth prince went to their fiefdom, the Mu family has fallen into decline.

Saving face is not important at all.

That thing isn't worth much, and besides, my daughter's reputation is ruined after this incident.

It's better to openly admit your mistakes and earn a reputation for being able to correct them than to stubbornly deny them.

Upon hearing Mu Hanlin's words, the doorman quickly went inside to announce the arrival. A quarter of an hour later, Qiu Zhongqi was carried out in a sedan chair.

"Ouch, slow down, slow down, it hurts so much!"

Are you complaining that the monthly allowance from the manor is too low or what? Why are you trying to climb so high by carrying a sedan chair?

"This young master doesn't want to ascend to heaven yet..." Qiu Zhongqi's voice came from inside the gate.