When He Jinran placed the box of gold and silver jewelry in front of Qiu Yan, Qiu Yan's first reaction was:
"A gift from your father?"
That shouldn't be the case. If His Majesty were to send something, it wouldn't be something for young women.
These things look like they're worth quite a bit of silver. "They were a gift from Consort Hui. Oh, she's the Empress now," He Jinran said casually.
What she owed her mother was not just this piece of gold and silver jewelry.
He Jinran pondered how he should get his revenge.
"She gave it to me?" Qiu Yan asked suspiciously. Xiao Ran was really interesting, blatantly asking her for something.
"Xiao Ran, the palace is not like other places; you need to be careful at all times."
"I know, Mother," He Jinran replied obediently.
"Mother, if we pawn these jewels, we should be able to open a fairly large shop."
Qiu Yan: "Can't you see how busy I am all day long? I'm so busy I barely have time to breathe!" Her two shops have just opened, so she doesn't want to open another one yet.
He Jinran's expression stiffened, his gaze falling on Qiu Yan's slightly protruding belly. He suddenly realized that he was being a somewhat incompetent son.
"...It was my oversight."
"Don't be so nervous, I was just saying it casually." Qiu Yan couldn't help but chuckle at He Jinran's expression.
"Why don't you use this money to build a Nuwa Temple in Shangjin?"
"The Nuwa Temple?" He Jinran suddenly thought of his birth mother and silently nodded.
"Mom, you are so good."
He suddenly beamed with joy.
But when he thought about the imperial examination the day after tomorrow, his face suddenly fell.
"Mother, please don't despise me if I embarrass you in the imperial examination."
"What are you saying? I watched you grow up. Xiao Ran, the palace examination is just a formality, there's no need to feel too much pressure."
"But I'm under so much pressure." Only then did He Jinran truly understand the bitterness of not studying hard.
The ministers outwardly treated him with utmost respect, but behind his back, they all spoke ill of him, saying he was ignorant and just a country bumpkin.
He was fully aware of all of this.
If one fails the palace examination, wouldn't one be even more criticized?
Qiu Yan looked at Gu Xiaoran's furrowed brows, raised her hand and gently stroked his forehead.
"The palace examination is held only once every three years, and very few people stand out from the crowd. It's not a big deal if you fail. Xiao Ran, you are the crown prince. Never be impatient or agitated."
Qiu Yan truly felt that becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination was much more difficult than becoming the top scorer in the college entrance examination in the modern world.
After thinking for a moment, she asked:
"Do you know what aspects the imperial examination examines?" She didn't delve into the intricacies of the imperial examination system.
He Jinran lowered his eyes in thought: "Political policies, historical theories, and... what else was there again?"
He's currently so busy with a single national policy that he hasn't had time for anything else.
"And then there's literary theory." That's exactly what Qiu Xu said.
"Yes, it's about literary theory." He Jinran scratched his throbbing head and turned to see Qiu Xu enter.
"Uncle, are you ready?"
"Be prepared at all times before the palace examination." Qiu Xu had been preparing for this day for many years.
Then, he looked at Qiu Yan sullenly.
"Sister, we didn't get the money."
"Why?" Qiu Yan had expected this result, but thinking about it...
"Did you get the bracelet back?"
"No." Qiu Xu looked embarrassed as soon as this was mentioned.
"I...I...lost her." He never imagined that Miss Sun loved shopping so much.
Moreover, Sun Wan went into the rouge shop and never came out again.
He waited for a long time, and later went into the shop to look for her, only to be told by the shop owner that Miss Sun had already left.
"Lost him?" Qiu Yan wondered, is this still her supposedly steady younger brother?
Seeing her younger brother's face full of self-reproach, she shook her head.
"It's alright, with the Sun family here, she can't escape."
"But what if Miss Sun denies taking our jade bracelet?" Qiu Xu was annoyed. He had only wanted to help his sister get rid of that woman's harassment.
Later, thinking that she was just helping her sister with her business, she never imagined that Miss Sun would be trying to get something for nothing.
"It's all my fault."
He Jinran listened to their conversation, but couldn't quite understand it and couldn't join in. "Uncle, are you also involved in the business?"
Qiu Xu shook his head. That woman was not quite like the typical aristocratic family he had imagined.
Aren't daughters of prominent families all dignified, quiet, knowledgeable, and reasonable? How could they possibly default on their debts?
Qiu Yan: "Even the most meticulous plans can have oversights, Ah Xu, don't blame yourself. Maybe she'll send the money over herself."
"Really?" Qiu Xu didn't believe it. "If she had money, why would she send me away?"
Qiu Yan: "Maybe." Seeing that Miss Sun treated her maid fairly well, she felt that Miss Sun's heart was probably not bad.
However, if you become her enemy, that's a different story.
Seeing her younger brother still blaming himself, Qiu Yan shook her head at him, then turned her gaze to He Jinran, changing the subject.
"What are Xiao Ran's views on politics and national policies?"
With her younger brother around, she thought that letting Xiao Ran hear his insights would help her understand him better.
...
The Duan family, including Prime Minister Duan, were busy preparing for their trip in a few days.
Throughout the entire process, Qin remained a detached observer.
"I say, Prime Minister Duan, you've really gone to great lengths for that rebellious son."
"Stop calling him a rebellious son. The reason he treats me this way is because of you!" Duan was furious at Qin's cold words.
"Hmph, because of me? I'm not as ruthless as you. Don't forget, you were the one who threw him into the mass grave." Qin sneered, continuing her sarcasm.
"Do you think he'll acknowledge you just because you went with him this time? That unfilial son is just like Li Zheng, cold-blooded and heartless. Why bother trying to curry favor with him when he's so indifferent?" Ever since she was threatened by Gu Qian last time, she had given up on the idea of trying to please him.
Duan Xiang glared at Qin Shi, and was so angry at her words that he jumped up and down.
However, since it was something he had done in the past, he couldn't refute it.
“Back then, I did it for the Duan family. The fortune teller said he was cursed and had killed his mother. If we didn’t cleanse the family, I was afraid he would also kill me. Besides, didn’t you say that his presence would affect the fate of the Gu family? That’s why I threw my son, who was still breathing, into the mass grave.”
As Duan Xiang spoke, Qin Shi, recalling what happened back then, subtly changed her expression.
"If he's such a jinx, why bother recruiting him?"
"Do you think I want this? Your Qin family has fallen, and His Majesty intends to remove me from my position as Prime Minister. If I don't rely on him, how can I expect anything from your Qin family?"
"Prime Minister Duan, don't forget how you treated him back then. With a father like yours, you still expect to rely on him? Dream on!" Madam Qin sneered.
“You…he was too young then, he wouldn’t remember.” Duan Xiangru thought to himself, and he couldn’t sleep at night whenever he thought about this.
As soon as he finished speaking, the door creaked open and was suddenly pushed open.
"Qian'er...you've come to see your father." Normally, Prime Minister Duan would have loved to see Gu Qian at home.
But now,
He looked at Gu Qian ingratiatingly, hoping that Gu Qian hadn't heard his conversation with Qin Shi.
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