Chapter 800: Chapter 760: Should I Tell Him? (Third Update)

Zhao Xi’s gaze lingered on the national letter for a long time.

It was within his expectations that Beiyang would retreat for Amuer, but he didn’t expect them to propose a diplomatic marriage.

What was even more surprising was that the princess herself requested to marry Yun Huai.

Yun Huai is a man of the Jianghu and usually acts without the court’s constraints. If an edict were suddenly issued for him to marry the Peace Princess of Beiyang, he might not be willing.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xi set down the national letter and took out pen and paper, dipped it in ink, and wrote a letter to be sent to Liangzhou City.

...

At precisely 7 a.m., the Ministry of Rites released the rankings, and the candidates who came to copy the list were in a sea of people.

Wen Wan’s cloth shop was in Xiao Shiyong Square, which was relatively close. Song Yuanbao and Xu Dengke went there directly to sit and drink tea while waiting for the servant to copy the list.

The shopkeeper was invited by Wen Wan, a woman in her thirties who still had her charm.

Knowing that one of them was the Young Master and the other was the gentleman from the master’s house, and seeing Xu Dengke’s genteel and handsome appearance, she began joking with him.

Xu Dengke had a very good temperament, and even if he was not familiar with the other party, he did not show the slightest impatience. The shopkeeper spoke, and he quietly listened, occasionally responding with a word or two and occasionally sipping his tea.

The shopkeeper, thinking they were friendly, was about to inquire about his marriage matters when Kankan, who had returned from copying the list, interrupted, panting, "Master, sir, you both made it."

"Who made it?" Song Yuanbao looked at him.

"Both made it!" Kankan was panting and couldn’t straighten up.

Song Yuanbao poured him a cup of tea and took the paper with the rankings from his hand to see. Indeed, they had both made it.

Xu Dengke was the top scorer of this year’s Juren examination, taking the first place, while he himself was second.

In fact, this result was something Song Yuanbao had anticipated for a long time. After all, Xu Dengke’s talent was praised even by Song Wei, who had warned him that Xu Dengke would be his biggest opponent this year.

However, predicting the result beforehand and seeing it with his own eyes was still a different experience.

He was used to being first in school from childhood, and suddenly being beneath someone else, his feelings were a bit complicated.

He remembered that during the provincial examination, he slept until the papers were due and still got the top spot. For the metropolitan examination, he was more serious due to the pressure, but he ultimately lost to Xu Dengke.

Song Yuanbao looked at the copied list and sighed silently.

The complicated feelings were a given, but to say he felt very defeated, not quite.

Firstly, because under Song Wei’s subtle influence, as he grew older, he became much more calm and steady.

Secondly, he had long experienced more frustrating setbacks.

Back when he went to Yutang Palace as a companion, Zhao Xi crushed him in exams every time, leaving him unable to flip even when glued to the floor. That maniac, not only on exams but also in other aspects.

One could say, Zhao Xi was an all-round crusher, leaving no room at all.

Compared to Zhao Xi, Song Yuanbao felt that the defeat he suffered with Xu Dengke wasn’t even called defeat.

After consoling himself somewhat, he handed the paper to Xu Dengke, cupped his hands, and smiled with candor, "Congratulations, sir, congratulations, indeed, you’ll have to treat us to a meal later."

Hearing Song Yuanbao say this, Xu Dengke didn’t even need to look to guess his own ranking. He took the paper, and sure enough, it was as expected.

With a gentle smile, Xu Dengke said, "A treat is definite, but all my silver is with Ah Gui. I’ll have him go book the restaurant later."

Mentioning Ah Gui, Song Yuanbao almost choked on his tea, "Him?"

That guy is just a big loudmouth! Tight-fisted! All of Xu Dengke’s money is in his hands, thriftier than a woman. Asking him to book a restaurant, might as well go home and make a bowl of noodles to eat.

Xu Dengke asked, "What’s wrong?"

Song Yuanbao said bluntly, "Can we choose the place ourselves?"

"Of course we can." Xu Dengke nodded, "Wherever Young Master Song suggests, that’s where we’ll go."

"No, Master!"

Just as Xu Dengke finished speaking, Ah Gui burst in from outside, transforming directly into a human abacus, "You just bought a large wolf hair brush, a small wolf hair brush, as well as a piece of Hui Ink and a stack of Chengxin Paper, spending a total of 20 taels and 7 qian, which is seriously over budget. If you book a good restaurant, you’ll end up broke again."

Song Yuanbao: "..."

He really couldn’t listen anymore and knocked on the table, "Hey, I say, the stuff you guys bought, it seems like it was paid with the Song family’s account."

Ah Gui boldly glared at Song Yuanbao, "That’s still money. Over budget is over budget!"

Song Yuanbao rolled his eyes, "That 20 taels and 7 qian all went into your pocket, right? I find you very adept at maneuvering. You shouldn’t be a servant, you should be an accountant in a restaurant."

Ah Gui snorted, "I am willing to be a servant, what business is it of yours?"

Song Yuanbao mocked him, "If you keep being a servant, how are you going to marry my aunt? Can you even afford it? Just relying on your master’s monthly salary, are you planning to save until the end of time?"

Infuriated and annoyed by his words, Ah Gui grabbed the broom by the door and chased after Song Yuanbao to hit him.

...

Though the others discussed endlessly in the fabric shop, Wen Wan had already settled everything. She knew that Xu Dengke’s family wasn’t well-off and had spent a significant amount on his education. Not wanting him to pay for a meal at a restaurant, she simply added more hands in the kitchen to prepare a feast.

Song Wei had been appointed as chief examiner since the beginning of the New Year and hadn’t returned home. Today, as the results were announced, it marked his return to the mansion after more than a month. Wen Wan set up a feast, also to welcome him back.

This year, the two top scorers were at the Song Mansion, making the feast very lively.

After the guests left, Wen Wan returned to her room and brought up the matter with Song Wei regarding the Su Family.

Finally, Wen Wan asked him, "Husband, do you have any good solutions to this issue?"

Song Wei fell into a brief silence.

Ever since Amuer was brought back, he knew that the child was the Chosen One of the Jiuli Clan; Amuer couldn’t stay with the Su Family forever and would have to leave someday.

He just hadn’t expected that day to come so quickly.

And he certainly didn’t expect Amuer’s situation in the Chu Country to be so difficult.

After all, as a father, facing a child of three or four years old, regardless of their identity, Song Wei always harbored a sense of compassion.

"Since His Highness wants to use him as a bargaining chip for peace between the two countries, there is no possibility of changing this matter," Song Wei said.

Although Zhao Xi is young, his methods are mature and considerate. For him to make such a decision, he must have thought it over carefully.

After the Winter Solstice chaos last year, Zhao Xi no longer avoids challenges, and his sharpness becomes increasingly evident. Although he hasn’t formally ascended the throne, he exercises imperial power. Having taken control of the government for only a few months, his handling of state affairs is impressive.

Emperor Guangxi indeed chose the right person, setting aside the aspect of being "sentimental." Zhao Xi will be an exceptionally good emperor.

...

Liangzhou City, Hongyun Inn.

Yun Huai was severely injured and is still recuperating.

Yun Shisan, who received the first-hand information, was in a dilemma, uncertain whether to inform the Family Head at this time.

He spent the entire morning in turmoil, finally deciding to find someone to discuss it with. Unconsciously, he found himself at Xu Jia’s door.

Xu Jia, having just finished her morning routine, heard the knock and quickly opened the door.

Seeing Yun Shisan standing outside, Xu Jia was somewhat surprised, "Need something from me?"

Since Yun Huai awoke, she had changed rooms and wasn’t on the same floor as them, nor had she gone to see Yun Huai.

The reason she still stayed there was to wait for the victorious news from the frontlines. She wanted to return to the capital with her father and Ye Rong. However, after so many days, the war at the Northern Border showed no signs of ending, and she didn’t know how long it would last.

"Well, ma’am..." Yun Shisan originally wanted to call her "madam" as before but felt it inappropriate, so he switched to, "Miss Xu, I have something I need your advice on."

Xu Jia stepped aside and opened the door wide, "Come in then."

Yun Shisan crossed the threshold and sat by the round table.

Xu Jia asked him, "What’s the matter?"

Yun Shisan hesitated, "Bei Yan has proactively sought peace."

"That’s good news!" Xu Jia’s expression relaxed, clearly delighted.

"But they have conditions."

"Oh? What conditions?"

"It’s that Chu Country should send the person they want over, and Bei Yan will send a princess for an arranged marriage. But the princess isn’t playing by the rules, she explicitly stated in the official letter that she won’t marry into the Imperial Family, and specifically wants to marry my master, who is the Family Head."

"Ah?" Xu Jia was momentarily taken aback by the sudden twist.

Once she regained her composure, she realized her reaction seemed odd, quickly adding, "Oh."

"That princess definitely doesn’t have good intentions!" Yun Shisan said bitterly, "She’s the biological daughter of the Beiyang Imperial Concubine; what good can she be? The Family Head killed two of their Grandmasters, and now she wants to marry him, clearly seeking revenge."

"That may not be the case," Xu Jia said, "Perhaps she thinks your Family Head, being able to survive after killing two Grandmasters, is a formidable person and she’s taken a liking to him?"

"But the Family Head is seriously injured now," Yun Shisan looked at Xu Jia, "Do you think I should tell him right away that he’s about to become the Prince Consort of Bei Yan?"