"Mom, don't you want me to come and see you?"
"No, I'm not interested in his purpose. People who think too much are not suitable for dating."
"Is it possible that he wants to marry into the family? After all, you are the only mistress in this mansion, and I, the young marquis, am still a child. If I marry you, I will have everything, and your age is just right."
"You need to be more imaginative. With his qualifications, there are countless families in the imperial city who would be willing to offer him an olive branch. He can choose any one of them without any problems. Why would he set his sights on me?
Besides, if you ask around, you should know that my idea is not a good one. As a top scholar, he must have a good brain and would never do something so unpopular."
"That's hard to say. You have status and money, and I'm even richer than a child. The quickest way for someone with ambition is to take advantage of you."
"If you really want to improve your status quickly, going to Princess Shang will be most helpful."
"That would require him to be a good match, and there isn't a princess of the right age right now."
"Are you prejudiced against the top scorer?"
"Well, there is a little bit of that. After all, there are so many bad top scholars in novels. Anyway, as long as I don't see him, I won't achieve my goal."
Wan Shanting knew that Bai Zhiyue was not angry when she saw him.
"I don't have much money to buy a gift, so I'll just bow to you here. I'll always remember your help."
He bowed deeply towards the main courtyard, then stood up and walked away.
Later, several students who lived in her house came to express their gratitude. In addition to Wanshan Pavilion, there were three other successful candidates who were given free accommodation. It was said that they were assigned to serve as county magistrates in other places.
They didn't come to ask to see Bai Zhiyue, they just came to express their gratitude. They bowed outside the mansion and were about to leave.
Bai Zhiyue had people prepare gifts, a new set of clothes and a set of writing brushes for each person. These weren't very nice things, but they were meant to congratulate them on their successful landing.
The main reason was that these three men were indeed somewhat down and out. Although they wore long robes, they were all patched. Unlike Wan Shanting, since he became the top scholar, all kinds of people have been vying for his friendship, and now he has entered the Hanlin Academy as a compiler.
These people are too ordinary and are minor officials sent out to other places, so the nobles look down on them.
The three of them did not refuse and accepted it with great gratitude and left.
Inside Prince Rui's Palace
"You said the top scholar didn't respond to any invitations from other residences and went straight to the Marquis of Anding's residence?"
"Yes, Princess. I heard it was to thank Madam Rongfu for her help."
"What help did Madam Bai give him?"
The maid told Princess Jiayang all the information she had found out.
"Just providing a place to eat and sleep, and asking him to do the work himself, how can that be considered help, and is it worthy of his gratitude?"
"Not only the top scorer, but also three other candidates on the list went to express their gratitude.
Mrs. Rongfu was really good at it. Without spending much money, she organized several poetry and policy discussion meetings, which attracted many students and made her famous. Her bookstore became the biggest winner.
She even earned the gratitude of these Jinshi masters. She only provided them with housing, yet she forced them to work for her. Those poetry conferences and seminars were all organized by these people, but she took all the credit.
The maidservant felt very sorry for the top scholar and the Jinshi gentlemen. Princess Jiayang understood after a little thought.
"That's how shrewd the Bai family is. But it's a good thing she didn't just give them money. Otherwise, wouldn't they always be inferior to her in the future?"
"Why?"
"You are such a fool. If you really accepted the money, how would you be able to stand up to her in the future? Fortunately, the champion is not stupid. He came to thank her like this, and we can see the true face of the Bai family."
"But Mrs. Bai hasn't seen it?"
"It's better that she didn't meet him. Do you really want her to have the idea of becoming the top scholar? Humph, it's a good thing she knows when to act and when to retreat. Otherwise~"
"ah?"
The maid still couldn't understand, but it didn't matter. It would be safer if she was a little dumber.
"Tell my father I want to see him again and ask him to come home."
"yes"
Fortunately, Bai Zhiyue did not meet Wan Shanting, otherwise she would have been hated by Princess Jiayang.
Although Princess Jiayang liked his temperament and appearance, she was not completely lost at this time and wanted to get to know him more closely.
Wan Shanting rejected many people's overt and covert invitations to meet his wife, saying that his first wife had passed away less than a year ago and he was not considering marriage for the time being.
When Prince Rui heard that he was already married, he was somewhat dissatisfied and wanted to persuade his daughter to give up. Even if the original wife died and there were no children left, his daughter would be a stepmother if she married into the new wife, which would bring bad reputation.
"Jiayang, the number one scholar is already married and is not worthy of my son. How about I help you choose a better one? He is a liar and he even said in the palace that he has no wife or children."
"It's not a lie, I really haven't! It's okay if he's been married. Father, look at how many young ladies in the imperial city have been attracted to him and wanted to be engaged to him, but he refused and is determined to remain a virgin for his deceased wife. Doesn't that just show that he's a good person?"
"But she's a step-wife. How can the daughter of King Rui be a step-wife?"
"What's the big deal? He's a good-looking man with good character and talent. With the support of my father, he has a bright future ahead of him. Why wouldn't it be good for my daughter to marry him?
So what if she's my step-wife? She has no parents and no brothers. After I marry him, I have the final say in everything. What does it matter whether I'm his step-wife or not?
I don't have to serve my parents-in-law, and there are no internal conflicts. Don't you always say that I'm spoiled too much and worry that I won't have a good time under my mother-in-law in the future? Isn't this just right for a daughter?
There's no difference between me marrying into his family and him marrying into his family's family. Everything will be under your and mother's supervision, and there's no need to worry about him having any other thoughts. It's all good!
Father, please agree to your daughter's request. You were the one who originally chose this man and asked me to marry him. Now that I've chosen him, you're saying no. Do you still want your daughter to marry off? If you don't agree, your daughter will just become a nun!"
"Oh my little ancestor, I always feel that his words are a little untrue and I am worried that they are fake."
"Father, just call the people over and check what needs to be checked. Ask more questions and try more. I'll also take a look from behind. If there's really any problem, we'll talk to you!"
"What if he's still obsessed with his first wife and refuses to accept it?"
"Doesn't that just show that Master Wan is deeply affectionate and sincere? Isn't that what one should choose when choosing a husband?"
The reason why Princess Jiayang looked down on these noble young men in the imperial city was that many of them had concubines at home before they even got married.
Although it is not allowed to have illegitimate children before getting married, after the marriage, every family will have illegitimate children left and right. Even if the family members try to stop them, the outsiders cannot stop them. Didn’t you see that even the princess was not spared?
So I have always looked down on these and just want to find someone who is loyal to me. Of course, he must have a good appearance. Even if I am picky about his character, without appearance, I have nothing.
So judging people by appearance is the norm
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