Chapter 489 Marriage
The Third Prince's reputation is now quite widespread in the capital.
He was diligent and conscientious yet relaxed, neither greedy for credit nor eager to take credit for others.
He was very close to Qin Shi'an's faction.
On this day, the Third Prince paid a visit to Grand Tutor Pei.
Pei Qing's attitude was neither too close nor too distant.
The Third Prince sat opposite Pei Qing.
"Grand Tutor Pei, the Golden Branch is about to return to the capital in great victory, and the imperial examination is approaching. Does Grand Tutor Pei have a preferred candidate for the chief examiner?"
Pei Qing stroked his beard and smiled, "The imperial examination is a matter of great importance; everything is up to Your Majesty and Your Highness to decide."
The Third Prince smiled and said, "Grand Tutor Pei, you are being too polite. Although Jinzhi has broken off the engagement with the Pei family, who in the court doesn't know that the Pei family is still under Jinzhi's command? Jinnian's reputation in the officialdom is excellent now, and Jinzhi's support is indispensable behind the scenes. The examiners who will preside over the trial will definitely be selected from your subordinates. Knowing that they are on your side, I, the prince, can also help out."
Pei Qing smiled and said, "The Pei family will always remember the princess's great kindness. However, the two families have already dissolved the engagement. I hope that Your Highness will not harm the princess's reputation. As for the matter of presiding over the trial, I have not received any imperial decree. If His Majesty invites me, I will certainly ask Your Highness for help."
The Third Prince smiled and said, "Grand Tutor Pei, please don't stand on ceremony with me. I heard that Jin Nian has not been engaged for the past two years. Is she waiting for Jin Zhi to return to the capital? Your two families broke off the engagement because of the war. Now that Jin Zhi has returned, you can continue your relationship."
Pei Qing smiled and said, "Your Highness is joking. The princess is of heavenly beauty, and Jin Nian is no match for her. The reason he is not yet engaged is simply because he is busy with official duties. These past few days, his grandmother has been arranging a marriage for him. Nowadays, arranged marriages are no longer common. His grandmother and I are getting old, and we also hope that Jin Nian can marry someone he loves and spend the rest of his life with."
The Third Prince laughed heartily upon hearing this, "I thought Jin Nian was waiting for Jin Zhi. That's excellent. Since the Pei family has no intention of rekindling their relationship with the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion, how about they arrange a marriage between them?"
Pei Qing was taken aback. "Jin Nian and Your Highness are both men. This is not a joke."
The Third Prince laughed heartily upon hearing this, “Grand Tutor Pei, you have misunderstood. My Ninth Sister and I are siblings from the same mother, so naturally I am here to help her. Grand Tutor Pei must have heard that my sister is deeply in love with Jin Nian and has remained unmarried all these years. Why not marry Jin Nian? What do you think, Grand Tutor Pei?”
Pei Qing immediately smiled and said, "Your Highness has really frightened this old man. Your Highness may not know this, but my wife is the one who decides the marriages of our descendants. How about I inform my wife first and then discuss it with Your Highness?"
The Third Prince nodded, "Of course. As the mistress of the Pei family, Madam Pei should be informed. In that case, I will come to visit again in a few days."
Pei Qing stood up and said, "Respectfully seeing Your Highness off."
After the Third Prince left, the smile on Pei Qing's face faded.
He returned to the courtyard, where Madam Lu was looking through the register.
Pei Qing sat on the soft couch and said, "We need to hurry up and find a match for Jin Nian."
Madam Lu looked up. "Have you encountered any difficulties?"
Pei Qing took a sip of tea. "The Third Prince wants Jin Nian to marry the Ninth Princess."
Madam Lu chuckled and looked down at the roster. "The Third Prince's performance in court these past two years has been commendable. Although he hasn't overstepped his bounds, it's clear to everyone that the Emperor and Empress favor the Imperial Grandson. But the Imperial Grandson is just a toddler, and all the princes are eyeing that position. The Third Prince is trying to get the Pei family on his side."
Pei Qing nodded, "That's right, the princess will be back soon. The third prince wants to get the Pei family on his side so that the princess will support him to ascend the throne."
Madam Lu put down the register in her hand. "The princess wants a wise ruler, so he will play the role of a wise ruler. I just don't know how long he can play the role."
Pei Qing approached Madam Lu and said, "Madam, I'm entrusting Jin Nian's marriage to you. I will try my best to delay it, and everything will be resolved once the princess returns to the capital."
Madam Lu agreed.
"Grandpa! Grandpa!"
Pei Jinnian's anxious voice came from outside the door.
Pei Qing opened the door. "What's wrong, Jin Nian? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Pei Jinnian immediately said, "Grandfather, may I bring out the portrait of my eldest uncle?"
Pei Qing was taken aback. "What do you need Yunxiao's portrait for?"
Pei Jinnian said somewhat anxiously, "Grandfather, please allow me to explain to you later, where is Uncle's portrait?"
At this moment, a figure appeared behind Pei Qing.
Madam Lu quietly handed a scroll to Pei Jinnian.
Pei Jinnian immediately knelt down, "Jinnian did not upset Grandmother, and Jinnian is willing to accept punishment afterward."
Madam Lu quickly helped Pei Jinnian up, saying, "How could Grandmother blame you?"
Pei Jinnian was helped up by Madam Lu and quickly opened the portrait.
After looking at the portrait, he said to the two of them, "Grandfather and Grandmother, please come with Jin Nian to a place."
The Pei family's carriage stopped at the entrance of the street near the Imperial College.
The carriage curtain was lifted.
This was the time when the students of the Imperial Academy were leaving school.
Grand Tutor Pei and Madam Lu still didn't understand what Pei Jinnian was up to.
Then I saw a young man, tall and straight as a pine tree, gentle and refined as jade, walking out of the Imperial Academy with books in his hands.
Madam Lu immediately cried out, "Yunxiao!"
Two years have passed, and Luo Chengzhi has grown taller and more handsome.
His demeanor was completely unlike that of an eighteen-year-old boy.
But he looks about 70-80% like Pei Yunxiao when he was 18.
His eyes and brows exuded a righteous and upright aura, and were exceptionally clean.
Madam Lu was already in tears. How could anyone in this world be so similar to Pei Yunxiao?
Pei Jinnian lowered the carriage curtain.
Madam Lu and Grand Tutor Pei quickly grabbed Pei Jinnian's hands, "What exactly happened?"
Pei Jinnian patted Madam Lu's hand.
"This man is named Luo Chengzhi. He is a disciple of Daoist Changfeng. In the past two years, he has gained a high reputation among students and is outstanding in his studies. He is also a hot candidate to win the imperial examination this year."
Most importantly, he was the princess's man, and I had intended to show him some consideration.
When I saw him, I felt that he looked very similar to my uncle.
Moreover, Luo Chengzhi lost his father at a young age and was raised by his widowed mother.
I remember that my uncle had a concubine before he passed away. Although she was not listed in the family genealogy, she was indeed the woman my uncle loved. However, this woman later disappeared without a trace.
Do your grandparents still remember that woman's name?
Pei Qing and Madam Lu exchanged a glance.
"The woman's name was Luo Xiangfu."
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