"Oh dear, Miss Six's courtyard is so desolate! I haven't even seen any maids sweeping or cleaning it."
"Perhaps the Sixth Miss is not favored, so the maids who sweep and clean are unwilling to stay long."
"Tsk tsk, how pitiful. So what if she's alluring? She's still just an unfavored concubine's daughter!"
"Stop talking. If the Sixth Miss hears this, she'll go crying to the Master and say that the Madam is mistreating her."
"Giggle~"
"Whether the Madam treats the Sixth Miss harshly or not is obvious to everyone in the manor. However, perhaps our Miss Liu will soon rise to a high position and become a phoenix!"
"What? Has some important person offered to betroth Miss Six?"
"It'll be soon~ Let's just wait and see~"
......
The courtyard gate was half open, and the maid who was supposed to be sweeping was nowhere to be found, neglecting her duties!
Shan'er was angry and couldn't listen anymore. This was clearly someone coming to their yard to provoke them!
"Let them be happy for a while, and they'll be proven wrong soon enough."
Shangguan Xian'er picked up a cup of tea, her demeanor extremely elegant.
One sip reveals the finest Pu'er tea; from now on, no one else in the Shangguan family will be able to enjoy it!
"A slap in the face?"
Shan'er was slow-witted, but she didn't ask any further questions.
Miss is very capable; both Master and Young Master have to ask her for advice!
However, the young lady's status in the mansion remained unchanged; only her meals were secretly the same as the eldest young lady's.
Caixia's appearance and what her mistress was secretly doing were not unknown to her, nor was the mistress hiding anything from her, so she didn't ask any further questions.
"Sister Shan'er, I want to eat your chestnut cake. Miss also wants some. Could you make a few portions for her?"
Caixia deliberately sent Shan'er away, and intentionally licked the corner of her lips, pretending to want to eat.
"Okay, I'll go buy some fresh chestnuts."
Shan'er nodded, curtsied to her mistress, and withdrew...
"Caixia, don't bully Shan'er anymore."
"This servant knows, but there are some things that Sister Shan'er is too naive to know, so it's better if she doesn't."
The less you know, the safer you are, right?
......
Qingyun and Changjun entered the Hanlin Academy and became Left and Right Attendant Readers, holding the rank of sixth grade.
He was assigned to follow his teacher's disciples, and later learned the ways of being an official from Yuan Tong, the current Vice Minister of Rites.
No one other than a member of the Hanlin Academy could enter the cabinet, and no one other than a probationary official could serve as the chief minister.
None of the top three in this examination have received this honor.
This shows just how high their starting point was...
With everything settled, before leaving Jinling, Jiang Yue hosted a banquet for some people and carefully prepared small gifts to send to the Xu residence.
"A teacher for a day is a father for life." In this era, taking a teacher as a disciple is no different from recognizing a father.
Changjun was her mother-in-law's son, so they were considered like nephews and nieces. His gift was the same as Qingyun's.
Since Grand Tutor Xu had not returned, it was Old Madam Xu who received her.
There were no major events, and nothing felt like an instant connection.
During routine meetings, she responded neither humbly nor arrogantly.
The host invited her to stay for dinner, and after declining twice, she finally agreed after several attempts.
During the meal, she saw several beautiful young women and suddenly realized something...
However, matters concerning her children are preordained by fate, and she would not make any rash promises. She would only follow her children's wishes. As their mother, she could not provide any assistance to her son in his official career, nor would she hold him back.
Despite her lingering smile, Madam Xu kept her company for a short while after the meal. However, feeling unwell, she sent someone to escort her back to her residence.
Jiang Yue was overjoyed and, after showing some concern, got up to take her leave.
After she left, the previously unwell Madam Xu suddenly became energetic and called over her daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
After a conversation, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were quite satisfied, but Miss Xu Miaoyun was a little annoyed. It turned out that her grandmother and mother had arranged for someone to look at her today.
The girl was somewhat shy and even more worried about this.
“My darling, how could your grandmother harm you? If you don’t believe me, ask your mother what she saw and heard today.”
Grandma Xu smiled lovingly, hugged her granddaughter in her arms, and coaxed her with affectionate words, calling her her "darling".
Miaoyun is the legitimate daughter of the Xu family, and many people outside are watching her.
But the closer one gets to imperial power, the more precautions one has.
The Crown Prince often visited the Xu family when he was young, but he and Miaoyun were like siblings, and Miaoyun could not be married off to the Crown Prince!
If she were to marry another prince, it would inadvertently fuel their ambitions, and the alliance between her Xu family and the Crown Prince would be...
Other families of similar social standing had already chosen their wives; her granddaughter couldn't possibly become a concubine!
If I can't be a concubine of a high-ranking family, then I'll be a wife of a poor family!
Among the successful candidates in this imperial examination, only two or three were around the same age as her daughter, Miaoyun. Two of them, her son preemptively took as his students.
Two of the students came from a remote village. Just now, they met their elder, Lady Jiang, who was granted the title of a seventh-rank county lady!
Both out of consideration for the person in question and out of reason, she took the matter seriously, observing their character on one hand, and acting as a matchmaker for her granddaughter on the other...
"Miaoyun, don't be angry. Your grandmother is doing this for your own good. The Xu family holds a special position in the court now, and your marriage is of utmost importance. It cannot be taken lightly."
Madam Xu dismissed the servants, leaving only the three of them in the room. There were some things she could say openly.
"Mother, what do you mean?"
Xu Miaoyun was a lady from a prominent family, and she was raised in the same way as her brothers.
It can be said that her vision and mindset were different from those of ordinary young ladies.
She was born knowing what mission she was entrusted with!
"Yes, the Crown Prince is about to choose a consort, and all the princes will also be betrothed. You can't escape your marriage."
The woman you just spoke to has a son and a nephew, both around your age. Your mother, father, and grandmother have discussed it and will choose a husband for you from among them.
Madam Xu frankly told her that a woman's marriage is not up to her own choice, but this decision was the only chance to change her daughter's future marriage!
"My daughter understands."
When Xu Miaoyun heard about this decision, she didn't throw a tantrum or cry.
As a daughter of the Xu family, I should prioritize the Xu family.
She believed in her grandmother, her father and mother, and her brothers; they wouldn't let her lose!
"Good boy, if you like each other, get engaged first, and then get married two or three years later. If you feel it's not right during that time..."
Madam Xu's meaning was quite clear: avoid this arranged marriage for now, and if it doesn't work out, it's not too late to negotiate a annulment later!
"Yes, granddaughter understands."
Xu Miaoyun smiled, feeling a sense of anticipation for what her future son-in-law would be like.
At the same time, she also thought about how she had family to protect her, but what about the other young ladies?
Even legitimate daughters have their mothers to take care of them, but what about illegitimate daughters?
She had a close friend who was an illegitimate daughter in her family.
To avoid any conflict of interest in their relationship, they always kept their interactions secret.
Should we suggest they feign illness to avoid this...?
"Madam, Madam, Master has returned home, and he brought two young men with him..."
"Yes, you may leave."
"This servant takes her leave."
"Miaoyun, you should secretly observe and assess the situation with your mother."
"Yes, Grandmother~"
......
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