Qi Guze didn't know what was wrong with him, but he felt as if the world had collapsed, making it hard for him to breathe.
This is, after all, the backyard of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Now that Xu Yuehuai has left, how can he, an outsider, continue to stay here?
He left dejectedly, each step extremely slow, as if treading on thorns.
...
After Zhou Wan finished changing her clothes, she thought she would go and see Xu Yuehuai and Aunt Cui, but she happened to witness the two parting on bad terms.
She knew something must have happened, so she quickly went to find Xu Yuehuai.
"Ah Yue, what's wrong with you two?" Zhou Wan pushed open the door and entered. Xu Yuehuai was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking dejected.
Xu Yuehuai's tears had already begun to well up in her eyes, but Zhou Wan's arrival helped her control them.
Seeing that Xu Yuehuai was in a bad mood and not saying anything, Zhou Wan quickly sat down next to her, put her arm around her shoulder and comforted her, "Ayue, what happened?"
Xu Yuehuai then came to her senses and began to explain, "His Majesty wants Qi Guze to marry a princess from another country, but I..."
“I can’t jeopardize his future,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “Compared to personal feelings, his future is far more important.”
She had been controlling her feelings for so long, but now she could no longer hold back.
Once they've cried it out, they'll have nothing to do with each other anymore.
Seeing this, Zhou Wan immediately understood. She pulled Xu Yuehuai into her arms and said, "Ayue, I'll lend you my shoulder."
As she spoke, she gently patted Xu Yuehuai's back, trying to comfort her.
"Ah Yue, don't worry, no matter what, San Niang and I will stand by your side." Zhou Wan didn't express her own opinion, but told Xu Yuehuai that she would stand with her.
"Hmm." Xu Yuehuai also realized that she had lost control of her emotions, and she slowly calmed herself down.
Even if talking about it doesn't solve anything, it still makes you feel much better.
Zhou Wan stayed quietly with Xu Yuehuai until she fell asleep, then covered her with a blanket and left.
...
After making a fuss for most of the night, and with dawn approaching, Zhou Wan decided to head straight back to Tianxiang Restaurant since it was almost open for business.
As soon as she arrived at the door, she saw Qi Guze already standing in the lobby waiting for her.
She knew in her heart that Qi Guze must have come because of Ayue's matter. Then she thought about what Xu Yuehuai had said and suddenly had an idea.
She walked quickly inside towards Qi Guze: "Your Highness?"
"Hmm." Qi Guze was thinking about how to start the conversation when he saw that someone had finally arrived.
"Is Your Highness here because of A-Yue?" Zhou Wan went straight to the point. "Logically speaking, I shouldn't meddle in other people's business, but A-Yue and I have been through life and death together, and our relationship is no less than that of any other couple. So, I'll ask Your Highness if you have A-Yue in your heart?"
“Of course we do,” Qi Guze replied immediately.
However, he subconsciously frowned, wondering why Zhou Wan would suddenly ask such a question.
Zhou Wan then continued, "Does Your Highness know that His Majesty intends for you to marry a princess from another country?"
"What!?" Qi Guze was shocked, clearly unaware of this.
Seeing this, Zhou Wan continued, "A-Yue didn't want to put you in a difficult position, nor did she want to delay your future, which is why she decided to distance herself from you."
"I think His Majesty's earlier talk about wanting to matchmake A-Yue and the new top scholar was not just a casual remark, but something that had been planned for a long time."
Although Qi Guze did not speak, he was thinking about it repeatedly in his heart. He naturally understood what Xu Yuehuai meant.
But if that happens, we have to find a way to cancel the marriage proposal first. She doesn't want to put me in a difficult position, and I can't put her in a difficult position either.
Having made up his mind, he was about to go and explain things to the Emperor when Zhou Wan said quietly from the side, "If you don't have the skills, don't take on a job you're not qualified for."
Qi Guze stared at Zhou Wan for a moment, said nothing, and hurriedly left.
His attitude greatly displeased Zhou Wan.
...
The next day.
When Xu Jingui learned that Xu Mingzhi had won second place in the imperial examination, he exclaimed that it was truly an incredible stroke of luck.
Xu Mingzhi whispered a reminder from the side: "Father, the green smoke rising from the ancestral graves is drifting towards Marquis Ningyuan."
They had already made an agreement with Marquis Ningyuan that as long as they worked for Marquis Ningyuan, they would ensure that their son would be ranked first.
Although we're not number one now, we're second, which is enough.
“Father knows!” Xu Jingui raised an eyebrow.
Since the other party had helped them so much, they wanted to prepare some things to visit him, but they were already starving, so they simply brought some yams and other grains.
Marquis Ningyuan was stunned for a moment upon receiving the report from his servant, but quickly recovered and ordered someone to bring the person in.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Jingui took out the gift, leaving Marquis Ningyuan still quite puzzled.
Xu Jingui immediately spoke up: "Thanks to the Marquis's help, my good-for-nothing son was able to become the second-place scholar. We came here specifically to thank you."
Marquis Ningyuan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
He had long since put the matter out of his mind and naturally couldn't help much. However, since the other party had brought gifts, he naturally decided to play along and accepted the gifts.
However, when he saw the shabby thing, he felt dissatisfied.
Nevertheless, he smiled and said, "Now that Mingzhi has become the second-place scholar, he will soon be granted an official position. No matter what position he achieves in the future, never forget who gave you the opportunity."
"Yes, yes, we will definitely remember what you said, Lord Marquis." Xu Jingui nodded and bowed, clearly having completely forgotten how Lord Ningyuan had looked down on them and even beaten them.
Marquis Ningyuan was very satisfied with his appearance and waved his hand: "Since you are going to be an official in the future, you must not be so shabby and make people laugh. Take this money first, go back and buy a house and a shop, so that you will have a place to live in the future."
"Yes, yes." Xu Jingui's eyes widened.
He had never seen so much silver in all his life. He was sure that when his son became an official, people would rush to give them silver.
Upon thinking of this, Xu Jingui's eyes immediately crinkled with laughter.
After chatting for a while, Marquis Ningyuan excused himself, saying he was tired, and let the father and son leave.
...
After leaving the Ningyuan Marquis's residence, Xu Jingui no longer concealed the greed in his eyes.
He counted the silver notes in his hand, feeling it was too little, and said with disdain, "How can this amount of silver buy a big house? Son, just wait, your father will definitely bring you back double the amount of silver."
Upon hearing this, Xu Mingzhi knew that Xu Jingui was going to gamble again.
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