After Gu Lin left, Gu Qingyan looked at the booklet in front of him, which contained the names of the eldest daughters of the Qin family and the Sun family.
As he watched, Gu Qingyan couldn't help but chuckle.
"I don't believe the Qin and Sun families would be willing to marry their daughters to Dayu."
However, Yingzhi, who was standing to the side, did not think so. In his opinion, the emperor was the most promising young emperor in the world, and the women who could marry the emperor were the luckiest women in the world.
"Yingzhi, go and summon those family heads to the palace tomorrow."
After glancing at it a few more times, Gu Qingyan tossed the booklet aside with little interest. The wind blew the booklet open, making the lifelike portraits on it appear even more vibrant.
......
On the other side, inside Lingyun Garden.
"Thank you, Master."
Several female examinees knocked on Xie Zhiqing's door, and Xie Zhiqing's weak voice rang out, "Come in."
"Master Xie, how are you feeling?"
Xie Zhiqing's eyes swept over everyone, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that everyone's complexion had returned to its usual rosy hue. "I'm fine, as long as you're all alright, that's all that matters. The autumn examinations are just around the corner, so you don't need to worry about me."
These are the first batch of female examinees that Xie Zhiqing has watched grow up. It is no exaggeration to say that these people are Xie Zhiqing's life.
"Thank you, Master. The Empress Dowager has sent us food and said that Wanji Wan Gonggong will take care of our meals during this period. You can rest assured and take good care of your health."
One of the women spoke, her voice choked with sobs.
"The Empress Dowager values you highly and has put a lot of effort into the girls' school from the very beginning. You must perform well in this autumn examination. With the Empress Dowager's support, your future achievements will not be inferior to those of the men."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. The Empress Dowager... was their great benefactor.
"Alright, go back and review your lessons."
Xie Zhiqing told everyone to leave, and only after everyone had left did she take out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
“The young lady is clearly reluctant to leave,” Jiao Hong said softly from the side. “Everyone has studied very well and came here to talk to the young lady more.”
"Jiaohong, I'm afraid of holding them back."
Xie Zhiqing let out a heavy sigh. "Their existence touched the interests of some people, which is why they were poisoned. That's why we need to be even more determined."
Xie Zhiqing's eyes held a deeper meaning that Jiao Hong could not comprehend.
"Only if they do well in the exams will the path of women taking the imperial examinations be smoother in the future."
"Thank you for your guidance, Miss. I will remember it."
“Jiaohong, in a few days we will go to the palace to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager has been very kind to us, and we should pay our respects to her in person.”
After Xie Zhiqing finished speaking, she looked a little tired, and Jiaohong quickly covered Xie Zhiqing with a quilt.
"Girl, please rest well and recover before we talk about anything else."
......
The next day, at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"I have carefully considered the marriage proposal you put forward a few days ago."
Gu Qingyan got straight to the point, “Women from noble families can only marry men from noble families. This is an unwritten rule of the noble families. I am truly moved that the heads of the families are willing to break this rule for the sake of Dayu.”
Hearing Gu Qingyan's words, the three of them exchanged glances, and an ominous premonition arose in their hearts.
"It's already the best that the Emperor of Yu understands our intentions."
The head of the Qin family spoke up, trying to imply that Gu Qingyan should stop there.
"So, I thought about it carefully after I came down and I think that a marriage alliance is indeed a good idea."
Almost instantly, the expressions on the faces of the three family heads froze. The head of the Sun family seemed to find it hard to believe his ears. What? The Emperor of Yu actually agreed to the marriage alliance?
"Well... Emperor Zhaoyuan and the Empress Dowager are newlyweds after all." The Qin family head could no longer maintain his smile. "Although we proposed the marriage alliance, we also did not want Emperor Zhaoyuan and the Empress Dowager to develop any grudges."
"I also think that makes sense."
Before the three could even breathe a sigh of relief, Gu Qingyan spoke again leisurely, "Although I am only sixteen years old this year, I can get married in two more years. I have discussed it with my father and mother, and I will arrange a marriage alliance with a noble family."
"Wh...what?"
"Do the three patriarchs find me unacceptable, or look down upon me?"
"What are you saying...?"
The Qin family patriarch spoke with a wry smile. It wasn't that he looked down on Emperor Yu, but... if they were to form a marriage alliance with Emperor Yu, given his methods, wouldn't that be pushing his daughter into a fire pit?
"I have already seen it. The Qin family and the Sun family both have eligible daughters. If the Gong family doesn't, then so be it. As for the Pei family... the young master of the Pei family is to inherit the Pei family's title, so so be it."
Gu Qingyan clearly didn't fight an unprepared battle. "I would like to first have the two young ladies stay in the capital of Dayu. We can discuss the wedding two years later. What do the Qin family head and the Sun family head think?"
The head of the Gong family breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief upon hearing this, his mind racing, while the other two looked as if they had been struck by lightning.
"Emperor Yu, there can only be one Empress of Great Yu, yet you desire two legitimate daughters from noble families. Isn't that a bit too greedy?"
The words of the Gong family patriarch reminded the two of something, and they immediately came to their senses. "That's right, Emperor Yu wouldn't want our noble family's eldest daughter as a concubine, would he?"
Why not?
Gu Qingyan chuckled softly.
"presumptuous!"
The Qin family head and the Sun family head spoke in unison, and immediately the Imperial Guards rushed in, their gleaming swords pointed at the three people in the hall.
"To speak disrespectfully to the Emperor is a crime punishable by death!"
Yingzhi, with her pinky finger raised, spoke with full confidence.
"Step back," Gu Qingyan said after a pause. "They're all our own people, why are you making such a fuss?"
On the surface it looks like a reprimand, but in reality there is no blame whatsoever.
Gu Qingyan slowly looked at the three of them, his eyes full of amusement.
"What? Am I inferior to my father?" Gu Qingyan's words made the three realize something, their faces turning a variety of colors. "You proposed to marry my father, aren't you here to become his concubines?"
"Either you look down on me!"
"Or you're deliberately trying to make my father and mother divorce!"
The air froze for a moment before the three of them finally realized they had shot themselves in the foot.
"Your Majesty has misunderstood," the Qin family head said slowly. "It is only our opinion. We need to go back and discuss the specifics with my daughter."
"Discuss? As the head of the family, if I can't arrange the marriage of the eldest daughter of the family, it would be a laughing stock."
Gu Qingyan waved his sleeve, "I am very fond of my two eldest daughters and hope they will come to the capital to meet me soon."
Just as Jiang He stepped into the Hall of Supreme Harmony and heard these words, his foot slipped and he almost fell to the ground.
He only came to see what was happening after hearing that swords had been drawn in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. What did he hear?
Whom does the Emperor favor? Or both?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com