Chapter 63 Marriage by Agreement
With a single, casual remark, Sun Qingzhao decided to abandon those who had studied diligently for years but were not good at mathematics.
Chu Yanqing firmly disagreed.
"Your thinking is wrong. The court wants to select truly talented scholars, not filter out those who don't understand mathematics. Setting overly difficult questions is tantamount to abandoning them."
Sun Qingzhao insisted on his own ideas.
"The court urgently needs talented people, and in the rush, it is impossible to prepare a perfect plan. Some people will always be abandoned. Your plan is too slow and cannot solve the serious problem."
"I also think your method is too hasty and will overlook many talented people. Instead of solving the problem, you are only increasing the burden on the court."
Chu Yanqing did not back down in the slightest.
The two argued fiercely and soon began to quarrel.
At a critical moment, Sun Qingzhao chose to attack based on gender, saying, "Women are the cause of national ruin; this saying is indeed true."
Chu Yanqing was no girl who would sit idly by and wait to be killed. She chose to launch a personal attack: "You're just a beggar who can't even fill your stomach. You finally managed to rise to power, and now you want to block the path of all scholars. Your heart is despicable!"
The two argued more and more intensely. At first, they were still rational, but in the end, it turned into a complete attack on each other.
Yao Lin wanted to persuade Sun Qingzhao to give the young lady some face, "Lord Sun..."
Before he could finish speaking, Sun Qingzhao glared at him coldly and said, "You, shut up."
Prince Duan also wanted to persuade Chu Yanqing to calm down, "You..."
He had barely started speaking when Chu Yanqing cut him off, saying, "You shut up too."
Prince Duan and Yao Lin looked at each other in bewilderment.
They all wisely kept quiet.
However, Prince Duan made a gesture for them to continue, and as expected, he received another cold look from Chu Yanqing.
If we want the Great Zhou Dynasty to enjoy long-term stability, we must indeed formulate a perfect talent selection system that takes into account all aspects.
Zhou Chuanxing thought Chu Yanqing's suggestion was the best choice.
However, the Great Zhou Dynasty is suffering from chronic and intractable diseases that urgently need treatment. It has already reached the point where there is no one available to use. How can it wait until the day when the talent selection system is perfected?
Putting everything else aside, right now, everyone in Jiangnan, from top to bottom, has been arrested and is on their way to the capital. It's unclear how these gaps will be filled.
Seeing that the little girl started to yawn, I knew that continuing the discussion would not lead to anything meaningful.
Let's just adjourn the meeting and go home to rest.
"That's enough for today. Go back and think about it again. We'll decide tomorrow."
After everyone finished their greetings and were about to leave, Zhou Chuanxing suddenly called out to Chu Yanqing, "It's getting late, Miss Chu, why don't you stay at the Prince's Mansion and rest?"
Chu Yanqing hadn't spent much time with her cousin in a long time, and that was exactly what she wanted to do.
She was secretly delighted and gave Tang Xinu a wink.
After everyone who didn't know Tang Xinuan's identity left, she took Tang Xinuan's hand and said, "Cousin, I'll sleep with you tonight."
Tang Xinuan was even happier than her, "Okay, okay, let's hurry back to the inner quarters, I still have something to tell you."
The two women, hand in hand, quickly disappeared into the Xiaoqinzheng Hall.
It was rare for Prince Duan to live with Chu Yanqing, and even though it was just in the same house, it was enough to make him itch with desire.
"Second brother, you didn't sleep with your sister-in-law?"
Zhou Chuanxing knew exactly what he was up to. "Don't you know our situation?"
Prince Duan sighed, "What a pity."
If his second brother sleeps with Tang Xinuan, he will have a chance to be alone with Chu Yanqing.
Zhou Chuanxing couldn't help but sneer: "Is that all the ambition you have? You should spend this time figuring out how to get the imperial decree for marriage tomorrow."
Prince Duan was still confused. "Second brother, are you sure my sister-in-law will agree to me marrying the Chu family girl?"
Zhou Chuanxing simply didn't have the patience to teach his younger brother step by step. "You should go find Miss Chu San. She will tell you what to do."
This was a matter of lifelong importance, and Prince Duan dared not delay. "I'll go find her right now."
Tang Xinuan and Chu Yanqing had just arrived at their boudoir when Prince Duan followed them, before they could even exchange a few words.
He called out to Chu Yanqing from across the doorway, "Yanqing, come out, I have something to ask you."
Tang Xinuan has made rapid progress recently and is no longer an innocent little girl.
Upon hearing Prince Duan's voice, she revealed a mischievous smile, "Cousin, Prince Duan is looking for you!"
Chu Yanqing, who was originally very outgoing, suddenly became shy after her cousin smiled at her.
"Cousin, he needs to talk to me about something."
Tang Xinuan didn't believe it. "Then why doesn't he look for me?"
Chu Yanqing wanted to explain a few more words to her cousin, but Prince Duan kept calling her, so she could only leave the bedroom shyly.
Tang Xinuan had never seen what it was like for others to be in love, so she was really curious.
Xiaoqian was also curious and whispered encouragingly, "Why don't we go listen to it?"
Tang Xinuan felt uneasy on one hand, but on the other hand, she couldn't help but be curious.
"Quietly? Without being discovered?"
Xiaoqian nodded, "Let's stay far away."
Tang Xinuan and Xiaoqian, like two little thieves, followed Chu Yanqing out of the house and then hid behind a wooden pillar.
Noticing his cousin standing shyly with her head down in front of Prince Duan, Prince Duan stared at her with deep affection in his eyes.
So this is what it's like for lovers to be together.
"Yanqing, my second brother asked me to ask the Empress for a marriage decree tomorrow, but I'm not at ease with this. How could the Empress possibly agree to let me marry you?"
Tang Xinuan was not far away, and she heard every word of the Prince of Duan clearly.
So the Empress didn't approve of her cousin being with Prince Duan. Why?
Does the Empress dislike her cousin?
How come she'd never heard of these things before?
However, since she had been kept under house arrest by her cousin and couldn't hear any news from the outside world, it's understandable that she didn't know about her cousin's affairs.
Chu Yanqing quickly spoke up: "Today, the Prince killed Miss Wang, and the Empress hates him. This is the best time for you to propose."
Tang Xinuan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.
Is the prince my cousin is talking about Erlang?
Did Erlang kill Miss Wang?
Erlang had mentioned to her before that he wanted to get engaged to Miss Wang, but he already had a plan and told her not to worry. Could his plan be to kill her?
Prince Duan still didn't understand Chu Yanqing's meaning, "What does the Empress's hatred for Second Brother have to do with our marriage?"
Chu Yanqing explained, "Guess what the Empress or the royal family is most afraid of right now?"
Prince Duan understood this: "Of course, he was afraid of losing power."
Chu Yanqing gave him an approving look. "You're right, but how can they maintain their wealth and power forever? The Emperor is seriously ill. No matter which of his brothers ascends the throne, the Empress is destined to be a thing of the past. What will happen if the Grand Tutor's Mansion still wants to hold power then?"
Prince Duan certainly knew: "To form a marriage alliance with the next emperor."
Chu Yanqing: "You're right. That's what the Grand Tutor's Mansion thought too, which is why they wanted Prince Qin to marry Miss Wang. But now that Miss Wang is dead, the Grand Tutor's Mansion has no daughters of marriageable age. What will they do?"
Prince Duan's wisdom could only reach this point: "So what does this have to do with our marriage?"
Chu Yanqing had to admit, "That's where your second brother's brilliance lies."
Prince Duan grew impatient, "Stop keeping me in suspense, tell me quickly."
Chu Yanqing: "Everyone misunderstands that your second brother likes me, but your second brother has never explained it."
Prince Duan: "..."
Chu Yanqing: "This is what we've been planning. You like me, and your second brother likes me too. What is the greatest enmity in the world?"
The hatred for his parents and the hatred for the one who stole his wife.
The Empress hates the Prince of Qin, so your request for a marriage decree from her at this time is exactly what she wants.
Her biggest desire right now is to take revenge on the King of Qin, but she can't do anything about it. Turning brothers against each other is the easiest thing for her to achieve, and then she can use me to control the two of you.
That's why I said now is the most opportune time for you to request an imperial decree to grant you marriage.
Prince Duan suddenly realized, "So my second brother thought so far ahead! I admire him!"
Chu Yanqing reached out and tapped his forehead. "You, you're always doing nothing and not putting your mind to anything. Your second brother is the one who's worrying you the most."
It's not that Prince Duan doesn't try; he just can't think that much.
There were three brothers: the eldest was kind and gentle, the second was cunning and deep, and only he was a naive and innocent boy.
"But what if the Empress doesn't want to sow discord between us brothers?"
Chu Yanqing didn't know what else the Regent had planned, but she said confidently, "Prince Qin must have planned it all out. Just go to the palace tomorrow. By the way, you must make a show of breaking with Prince Qin and stand firmly on the Empress's side."
Prince Duan himself was not particularly cunning, but he was obedient. "Don't worry, I know what to do."
Chu Yanqing was still worried and instructed, "Afterwards, the Empress may ask you to do something. No matter what she asks you to do, do not disobey her. Agree to everything and then tell Prince Qin."
Prince Duan was overjoyed at the thought of marrying his beloved girl soon. He bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Madam."
Chu Yanqing was embarrassed by his sudden action. "Who is your wife? It's not even close to being settled yet."
Prince Duan had never been so resolute before: "Anyway, my queen can only be you. I don't want anyone else but you."
Hearing Prince Duan's words was enough for Chu Yanqing.
Actually, the two of them were together by agreement.
Chu Yannuo forced her to marry the young master. Although she found evidence that the young master had abducted women, committed murder, and arson, she dared not gamble all her hopes on this.
She then approached Prince Duan and arranged to marry him.
The condition was that she marry him, but he could not take concubines.
From childhood to adulthood, all she longed for was a lifelong, monogamous relationship.
In the end, she still has to compromise herself and share her husband with others.
Tang Xinu listened to the entire conversation between Chu Yanqing and Prince Duan.
She originally thought Erlang wasn't very smart, but she never expected him to be able to plan so many things.
This is just the marriage between Prince Duan and his cousin.
In addition to hers, she wasn't planning anything more!
Sun Qingzhao's mathematical genius is clever, and Zhou Chuanxing's ability to manipulate people's hearts is also clever.
Suddenly, she realized how clever her second son was!
"Ouch—"
Tang Xinuan squatted for too long, her legs went weak, and she suddenly fell down with a cry of pain.
Chu Yanqing then realized that her cousin had overheard her conversation with Prince Duan.
Feeling incredibly shy, she pushed Prince Duan away forcefully and hurriedly ran back to her bedroom.
Tang Xinuan was helped up by Xiaoqian. Feeling a little embarrassed to face Prince Duan, she ran back to her bedroom as fast as she could.
"Cousin," Tang Xinuan not only overheard, but also needed Chu Yanqing to answer her questions, "Why doesn't the Empress agree to your marriage to Prince Duan? Doesn't she like you?"
Chu Yanqing really couldn't explain it.
The Empress was wary of the fact that the Chu family and the Tang family were related by marriage.
In fact, it was the Tang family that the Empress opposed.
“Cousin,” Chu Yanqing planned to discuss with her mother about telling her cousin about the great feud of the Tang family, but for now she had to be evasive, “The Empress only wants Prince Duan to marry a daughter of the Wang family. Our Chu family has no relationship with the Empress, so naturally she opposes it.”
Tang Xinuan understood, "So Erlang wants to marry me, but she doesn't agree?"
Chu Yanqing nodded. "Although Miss Wang is dead, the Wang family still has members, and they will definitely choose one from within the family."
Although she could guess the Regent's plan to matchmake Prince Duan with her, she had no idea how the Regent would actually marry her cousin.
The Empress is so wary of even the Chu family, how could she possibly let my cousin, a legitimate daughter of the Tang family, go?
If the rumor that my cousin was an idiot hadn't spread back then, and if my father hadn't pleaded for her life, I'm afraid even my cousin wouldn't have been spared.
Because my cousin is mentally challenged, the Grand Tutor's family lowered their guard. If my cousin had shown any signs of normal intelligence, she would have immediately become a target for the Wang family to kill.
Tang Xinuan couldn't help but worry, "This is so difficult, Erlang will have to put in a lot of effort again, can I help him?"
Chu Yanqing didn't like seeing her cousin looking worried. She pinched Tang Xinuan's cheeks with both hands and forced a smile. "Cousin, aren't you helping him select talents? As long as there are talented people, there will be people to do things for him. Isn't that the same as helping him?"
Tang Xinuan also had the same plan: "Go to sleep first, and get enough rest to study the next plan properly tomorrow."
Early the next morning, Prince Duan packed his belongings and prepared to enter the palace.
Eunuch Wei entered the palace first and secretly reported the key points of the affairs in his residence to the Empress.
"Your Majesty, you don't know, but the Prince is determined to be with the Chu family's daughter. He even let her stay overnight at the manor last night. The Third Prince argued with him about it, and the two almost came to blows."
The Empress, who was just worrying about how to avenge her younger sister, had a sudden thought upon hearing this. "Is that so?"
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Author's note: Nvbao: She is serious about selecting talents, establishing principles for the world, and securing a future for the people.
The Regent: He's a hopeless romantic, and he's serious about planning to marry the girl he loves every day.
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