No one could understand why a princely heir of a First-rank Marquis would care so much about the daughter of a rchant who makes a public appearance, even often protecting her outside.
"Thank you this ti, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know how to handle it!" Yang Xiudan walked with the man by the lakeside, the breeze blowing, presenting a picturesque scene of a handso man and pretty woman on an outing. However, the beauty seed only twelve or thirteen years old, yet her current deanor already hinted at future captivating allure.
"Do we need to say thank you between us? If it weren’t for the accounting thod you taught last ti, I wouldn’t have been able to complete the task assigned by Your Majesty so quickly. They were just a ragtag group who saw you lacked backing, and everyone wanted to intervene. You should have told earlier." Duan Lin looked at the girl beside him, his eyes filled with admiration. Every ti he saw her, she brought him a sense of novelty.
"I heard your family has arrived in the capital? It seems your third uncle works in the Ministry of Justice?" He asked again, his heart filled with surprise. He knew where she ca from, and didn’t expect such remote places, besides Yang Xiudan, had so many talents, and they’re all her family.
"How does the princely heir know?" Yang Xiudan slightly frowned. How did she not know about her third uncle in the Ministry of Justice?
"How could I not know? Your third uncle has been making waves recently, having captured a notorious flower thief single-handedly. I heard both the Ministry of Justice and the governor are trying to snatch him away."
"Really?" Yang Xiudan pondered in her heart, could the person the princely heir ntioned really be the good-for-nothing third uncle she used to know, who couldn’t accomplish anything? Before coming to the capital, she knew her third uncle worked in the county governnt, but how did he get recomnded into the Ministry of Justice?
"And it’s not just that; apparently, your eldest cousin’s reputation is also quite significant recently."
"My eldest cousin?" This ti Yang Xiudan was truly shocked. How did she not know?
"Didn’t your family tell you? Your eldest cousin ranked fifth in the Imperial Examination, becoming the youngest Advanced Scholar in the history of the Dayong Dynasty since its founding. I heard even the Emperor was moved and inquired about him."
Yang Xiudan was rendered speechless. Her eldest cousin Yang Shuchen beca an Advanced Scholar? And ranked fifth? Moreover, even the Emperor took notice, which ans there might still be a chance to contest for the third-class in the upcoming Imperial Examination?
She had always heard her eldest cousin was smart, but always thought that was just grandmother’s bragging. She never expected he was truly so remarkable!
Had she known...
Yang Xiudan lowered her eyes, diligently striving for years, she always faced rejection from the nobles and officials, rely because her family was from a rchant background. Thus, she constantly urged her brother to study, hoping to change their family’s standing and others’ perceptions of them.
But now being told that the family she couldn’t wait to distance herself from, the useless and wayward third uncle is favored in the Ministry of Justice, the spoiled and lauded eldest cousin really has the potential for top scorer, had she known, why did she rush to separate from the family back then?
As soone who transmigrated, Yang Xiudan once looked down on her family which seed like vampires, and now she has to rely on them to add glory?
Thinking of her hardships over the years, the rift between her father and mother, if she hadn’t orchestrated the family separation, if she had led the entire family to wealth, would everything be different?
But there are no ifs; if she seeks them out now, it’s feared her Eldest Aunt, Third Aunt, and grandmother would only suspect her ulterior motives!
She took a deep breath, it’s okay, her brother is not lacking, eventually, he will uplift the family standing, eventually, he will earn glory for her.
However, what she didn’t know was that the recent happenings in her family, the expectations she harbored, and the pressure Yang Shuchen as her eldest cousin put on himself already made him struggle to cope, questioning himself if he, with diocre talent, could truly excel like his eldest cousin?
Recently, due to Yang Shuchen’s fifth place in the Imperial Exam, the newly bought house of their family had its doorstep almost worn out by visitors, having just sent off one group, a knock sounded again.
"Here we go again." Ji Qiuyan felt a bit exhausted but still looked very pleased. What did this prove? It proved her son had ability!
"Sister-in-law, hurry to open the door, maybe it’s another proposal for Xiu Fen." Zhou Qing teased.
Ever since Yang Shuchen excelled, his sister Yang Xiufen also rose along with the tide. Previously, those inquiring about the unmarried Yang girl were mostly ordinary rchants, but now with the family’s elevated status, the inquiries co from official families.
No one is a fool. A young Advanced Scholar at seventeen receiving the Emperor’s favor, surely the future is bright, and this is precisely what delights Ji Qiuyan the most; despite the many inquiries, she hasn’t agreed to any yet. With only three days until the Imperial Examination, if her son could take another step forward, wouldn’t there be more choices?
"Who is it?" She opened the door, seeing a young gentleman dressed in luxury, she was imdiately puzzled.
"Hello, Aunt." Du Yu paid respects, "I’m a fellow student of Brother Yang, here to congratulate him."
"Please co in." Initially thinking after seeing her own child so many tis, other children wouldn’t catch her attention, but to her surprise, this young gentleman before her appeared so spirited, effortlessly genial, with a pair of smiling eyes that evoked imdiate fondness.
"Shuchen, this young man says he’s your fellow student." Ji Qiuyan led him in and courteously poured a cup of tea, not expecting this evidently noble-seeming young man to be utterly unpretentious, sipping the plain tea with such elegance it almost made her think her tea was worth a fortune.
"Mr. Du?" Yang Shuchen was equally taken aback upon seeing the visitor, wasn’t this the person who struck up a conversation on the exam day? How did he know his residence?
"From Yang brother’s expression, it seems odd that I know where you live?" Du Yu laughed cheerfully, "Your na has already spread throughout the capital, just a slight inquiry and it’s known, haven’t even congratulated Yang brother for making it high yet!"
"Thank you." Not being close to him, Yang Shuchen didn’t know what to say.
Du Yu ca with ulterior motives, so he rolled his eyes and said: "I’m here to tell Brother Yang about the Imperial Examination in three days, the Emperor is kind, the examination will only have a short stop, so Brother Yang need not be nervous, but going to the palace is troubleso, so on that day, rember to eat and drink sparingly to avoid being inappropriate before His Majesty."
What he said was very basic, yet for thinking of this and especially coming to tell, Yang Shuchen was very grateful: "Thank you Mr. Du for making this trip, as it’s getting late, why not stay for dinner?"
Yang Shuchen thought he would politely refuse but unexpectedly, he accepted cheekily: "Sure, then thank you for your hospitality."
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