A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 220 I Want to Recruit Him as My Son-in-Law
Song Xuan's behavior really attracted everyone's attention.

No one expected that Prefect Yan just said that everyone should relax.

Song Xuan, the winner of this exam, immediately carried out the order.

Moreover, Song Xuan's attitude made it seem as if he was at home!
This is so relaxing.

I was so relaxed.

How can you, the top scholar, be so arrogant?

He didn't even take Prefect Yan seriously.

Many students who passed the examination looked at each other in bewilderment, at a loss.

After all, it is understandable if a new top scholar acts like this.

It's just youth and recklessness.

But Song Xuan is only a top scorer in the imperial examination. Can he really go far in the imperial examination if he is so arrogant?
As for Zhang Fangping, he knew that Song Xuan must have a reason for doing this.

But no matter what, he had to share the pressure and anger with his twelfth brother.

Then he asked for a few to lean on.

Even Zhao Gai, who was sitting opposite him, was a little confused about Song Xuan's behavior. Then he suddenly realized and asked someone to prepare a stool for him.

Yan Shu glanced at Song Xuan who was nearby.

He was really not polite at all.

Song Xuan not only carried out Shangguan's words 100%, he would also double it and make it 200.

If Yan Shu didn't understand Song Xuan's temperament.

Yan Shu was thinking, is Song Twelve's actions of carrying out his words and doubling his efforts only adding fuel to the fire?

But the effect is obvious.

Despite Song Xuan's dissolute behavior, Prefect Yan just smiled.

He even praised himself in public, saying that he was worthy of being the top scorer in the imperial examination because he knew what it meant to relax.

With Yan Shu's affirmation, the other students saw that Song Xuan was so unrestrained and everything was fine, so they naturally relaxed.

Not nervous anymore.

Yan Shu glanced at all the students present and had to admit it.

Song Xuan is good at solving problems for his boss!

Otherwise, I wonder how long this tense atmosphere will last?

With Song Xuan's proofreading, many students talked to each other and gradually relaxed.

Lu Lejian poked Bao Zheng's shoulder:

"Brother Bao, it seems that Prefect Yan really likes Twelve Brother."

Bao Zheng turned his head and glanced at Lu Lejian, who stretched his neck, and said slowly:

"If you, Lu Lejian, can also pass the exam and become the top scholar, you can certainly receive the same treatment as my twelfth brother."

Lui Lok-chien asked for trouble.

Although he made the list, he was only ranked at the bottom.

How could he compare to the others, not to mention Song Xuan, the top scorer.

As for the upcoming provincial examination.

Lu Lejian wailed even more, not knowing if he had a chance to pass!
Yan Shu was not the only official present at the banquet. Several other officials, such as Song Shou, Song Qi, Su Qi, and even Du Yan were also present.

Anyway, he is also an official, and there is nothing wrong with him attending this banquet by chance.

If Du Yan gets promoted quickly in the future, he will eventually be able to do this kind of thing.

Du Yan looked at Song Xuan, who was leaning on the bench in a very casual manner, and said to Su Qi beside him:

"This boy is indeed a handsome man with excellent interpersonal skills. In a short time, he helped Mr. Yan."

Su Qi always thought that Song Xuan was just lucky.

However, the effect achieved by Song Shier's simple operation really impressed Su Qi.

When this boy becomes an official in the future, he will surely achieve great things.

"Indeed."

Du Yan then looked at Su Qi and said, "I have three daughters."

Su Qi and Du Yan's children had just become in-laws.

Du Yan's eldest daughter married Su Shunqin, the second son of Su Qi.

"Your second daughter is only thirteen years old now!"

Su Qi understood Du Yan's thoughts.

Song Twelve is such a talented person. If he becomes his son-in-law, he will definitely be able to take care of the family in the future.

After all, Su Qi himself is the son-in-law of Prime Minister Wang Dan.

The eldest brother-in-law is Han Yi, the third brother-in-law is Fan Lingsun, and the fourth brother-in-law is Lu Gongbi, the son of Lu Yijian.

Although their father-in-law Wang Dan is no longer with us, there has been no obvious interruption in their careers.

Su Qi himself was circulating among various transport envoys, and there was currently no vacant position in the central government of the imperial court.

"Thirteen is the right age to look for a good husband. When you are fourteen or fifteen, you can choose the right time to get married."

The more Du Yan looked at Song Xuan, the more he liked him.

Let’s put aside the fact that Song Twelve passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar. Just with his looks, physique, and brains, there’s no need to worry that he won’t become a general or a prime minister in the future.
Therefore, Du Yan felt that there was no difference between marrying one family and marrying two families.

"Shichang, please ask Mr. Yan about this matter first. I think that since Song Twelve passed the imperial examination, the local gentry will definitely rush to propose marriage to him."

"You, a dragon that crossed the river, wouldn't have much of an advantage against a local snake."

Listening to his in-laws' jokes, Du Yan also felt that this was true.

Given Song Xuan's outstanding character, there would definitely be many matchmakers trying to find him.

Maybe he even collected a lot of portraits of young ladies from various families.

But everything depends on human efforts.

Seeing that Du Yan had no intention of joking at all, Su Qi immediately came up with another idea:
"Go ask Mr. Yan. He is familiar with Song Twelve and might be able to help you make some connections."

Su Qi estimated that Yan Shu's eldest daughter was about to reach marriageable age.

I don’t know if he has wanted to recruit Song Xuan as his son-in-law for a long time.

So Su Qi thought it was interesting to try to find out a few things through Du Yan's mouth.

"Well, that's a good idea."

Du Yan really didn't waste time. He picked up the wine glass and ran towards Yan Shu.

Yan Shu was looking at these talents, wondering how many of them could successfully pass the palace examination and become an official of the Song Dynasty.

Then he caught a glimpse of Du Yan coming over from the corner of his eye.

"Mr. Yan."

Du Yan raised his wine glass and smiled: "I have never had a good chat with Mr. Yan."

"You and I serve in the same court, so we'll have opportunities to chat. It's just that I haven't seen you for a long time. Your hair and beard haven't changed at all?"

"Mr. Yan knows that I have grown old at a very early age. I don't know when I will suddenly pass away."

Du Yan sat aside:
"My children have grown up, and I am really worried about them, so I came here to arrange the marriage between them and Su Qi."

"Congratulations." Yan Shu picked up the celadon wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"It's something worth celebrating."

Du Yan also nodded in agreement. He was very happy that his eldest daughter's marriage was settled.

"But I still have two daughters who are not married yet."

Du Yan changed the subject:
"I have been observing these students, hoping to find a responsible and capable son-in-law."

Yan Shu immediately guessed Du Yan’s next sentence. You said so much, isn’t it just that you like Song Twelve?

Come to me and ask if you want to recruit him as your son-in-law!
As a child prodigy, how could Yan Shu not understand this little thought?
"I think Song Twelve is good. He has good looks, good temperament, good knowledge, and talent."

Du Yan didn't even bother to act, saying that he liked Song Twelve as his son-in-law.

"What do you think, Mr. Yan?"

Yan Shu pinched his beard and pondered for a moment before he slowly spoke:

"I'm afraid Shichang only has a superficial understanding of Song Twelve, not a complete one."

"Indeed it is."

"I have to tell you about this boy's family matters."

"Appreciate further details."

Yan Shu told Du Yan what he had learned.

Song Xuan suffered such a severe blow since childhood, but he did not give up on himself and grow up as a bad person like his second brother.

Instead, he made his name by relying on himself step by step.

Just based on this ability, how many students taking the imperial examinations in the entire Song Dynasty can be compared with him?

As for his poor family background, Du Yan didn't care at all.

Although he came from a prominent family and his ancestor was the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty.

But by the time he got here, his family had already fallen on hard times.

His mother remarried earlier than Song Xuan's mother.

Du Yan was also unwelcome in his own family.

His own two brothers often abused him and even attacked him with swords.

He was only fifteen years old that year.

In order to survive, Du Yan went to his mother, but his stepfather didn't want to take him in.

Du Yan suddenly became homeless and wandered around Mengluo and other places, hanging out on the streets.

However, when Du Yan was strolling on the street, a wealthy man saw that he was handsome and immediately married his daughter to him.

From then on, Du Yan no longer had to worry about food and clothing, and he had the conditions to study, so he began to study hard.

God rewards those who work hard. In the first year of Dazhong Xiangfu, he ranked third in the first class.

This is what is often called Tanhua.

Therefore, based on his own personal experience, Du Yan knew that Song Xuan had the same extraordinary appearance as himself and would become a great man in the future.

If you don't marry your daughter to such a promising young man immediately, it means you have no vision and are wasting your daughter's happiness.

"Then Song Twelve's experience is really similar to mine."

Du Yan felt that he and Song Xuan were getting more and more compatible.

Both the father-in-law and the son-in-law had miserable childhoods, but they met a "noble person" and embarked on the right path.

Yan Shu was Song Xuan's benefactor, like his own father-in-law.

When Yan Shu heard Du Yan's answer, he felt a little jealous for a moment.

He really thought about marrying his daughter to Song Xuan.

But Cao Liyong was shouting that he had taken a fancy to Song Twelve and wanted to marry his daughter to him.

So Yan Shu disdainfully competed with Cao Liyong, as he believed that Song Xuan was a smart man.

Smart people know how to choose!
What Yan Shu didn't expect was that Song Xuan, who had passed the imperial examination, was like a fly that had escaped a crack.

Constantly attracting people to want to be his father-in-law.

Yan Shu believed that Du Yan would not be the last.

"So I'd like to ask Mr. Yan to introduce me so I can have a detailed chat with him."

"Alright."

Yan Shu did not refuse, wanting to see what Song Xuan would say.

Song Xuan leaned formally on his desk, thinking about his plan to study in Luoyang, the Western Capital.

I don’t know if places like the Eight Scenic Spots of Luoyang still exist today, but the Longmen Grottoes should exist. In order to protect a statue, the Song Dynasty even added an eaves-style building.

The only thing Song Xuan was sure of was that there were definitely no tombs of Fan Zhongyan and the two Cheng brothers among the current Luoyang tourist attractions!
"But Song Jieyuan?"

Song Xuan was still a little uncomfortable when he heard this name. He looked up in surprise and saw an old man with white hair and beard standing next to Yan Shu.

"Exactly. I wonder who this person is?"

The two of them sat in front of Song Xuan, and Yan Shu introduced Du Yan to Song Xuan.

"I have a daughter who is of the right age for marriage. I wonder if Twelve Lang has an engagement?"

Song Xuan's eyes showed surprise. He quickly glanced at Yan Shu and saw that he didn't express anything.

"Not really, but I'm currently aiming for the provincial title, so I'm afraid I don't have the energy to focus on this kind of thing."

Song Xuan responded immediately. The old man looked to be in his eighties.

His daughter, who is suitable for marriage, should be at least twelve or thirteen years old.

That means he was seventy years younger than his concubine and she was pregnant.

It's really like a pear tree overshadowing a crabapple tree!

He is capable at such an old age and is in good health.

But looking at Du Yan's demeanor, he doesn't look like he's over eighty years old. Perhaps he has a very good physique and can live a long life.

Du Yan understood the meaning of Song Xuan's words and the look in his eyes when he was looking at him just now.

He stroked his white beard and smiled:
"To be honest, I'm only 48 years old now, and my daughter was conceived by my wife."

Song Xuan's eyes widened immediately.

It turns out that he is only in his forties, but he looks like he is in his eighties.

Isn't this premature graying of hair?

"When did Mr. Du's hair and beard turn completely white?"

"In his thirties."

Song Xuan leaned back slightly to show respect:

"Is Mr. Du feeling unwell?"

"Not really."

Song Xuan immediately asked, "Do you feel that you are under a lot of mental pressure on a daily basis?"

"Mental stress."

This was the first time Du Yan heard this word. He really didn't expect that Song Xuan also had the ability to treat illnesses, and shook his head again.

"Then you must have suffered from malnutrition during your youth, often not having enough to eat or get enough rest, or even being abused?"

Du Yan turned his head to look at Yan Shu. Song Xuan probably didn't know about his affairs.

How did it become so clear?
Yan Shu shook his head.

Of course he knew that Song Xuan had done considerable research in medicine.

Doctor Wang concluded that Judge Gu could not be saved, but was saved by Song Xuan.

Let Yan Shu always keep it in mind and take the initiative to keep this secret for him.

"Indeed."

Du Yan then described in detail his experiences in his youth.

"Oh."

Song Xuan naturally saluted: "I really admire you, kid."

"Hahaha."

Du Yan waved his hands, he was indeed full of worry back then.

Now that I think about it carefully, it’s just that the corner of my clothes is slightly dirty.

Du Yan understood the rejection in Song Xuan's words, but he was unwilling to give up.

"Shi Erlang, you should study harder. My daughter's portrait will be delivered to your residence soon."

"what?"

Song Xuan really didn't expect that he would only win a small first place.

There is not even a hint of this yet.

Whether they are ordinary people or court officials, they all want to seize this potential stock of their own.

"this?"

Song Xuan glanced at Yan Shu and saw that Yan Shu just laughed and didn't say much.

"Brother Bao, what do you think Prefect Yan said to that old man?"

Bao Zheng was also observing Song Xuan.

I was just concentrating on the food on the table, and now I’m almost done eating.

"I don't know. I couldn't hear it clearly."

Another student immediately said:

"It must be to propose marriage to Song Twelve. Could there be anything else?"

"what?"

Lu Lejian widened his eyes, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

Lu Lejian knew that a matchmaker had entered Song Twelve's house.

The top scorer.

This is the treatment for everyone.

I never thought that Prefect Yan would come in person to help Song Xuan find a partner.

Song Hao, who ranked high, actually heard that the Yangzhou prefect Du Yan wanted to marry his daughter to Song Xuan.

What is the status of the Yangzhou prefect?
Because the Song Dynasty unified the south, Yangzhou had become the center of the southeast at this time.

Both in terms of economy and culture, it is no different from Kaifeng Prefecture.

The annual commercial tax revenue was about 80,000 strings of cash, ranking third in the Song Dynasty.

Such treatment really made Song Hao envious.

If you can be valued by others, you can be recruited as a son-in-law.

If you enter the officialdom in the future, your future will be limitless.

But Song Xuan refused and did not agree!
Song Hao couldn't figure it out.

Why would Song Xuan refuse such a good opportunity?

It's not just his own business, but he can also bring glory to his family.

If Prefect Yan had not been present, Song Hao would have really stepped forward to question him.

Don’t be so arrogant when doing things.

Especially since you are only the first place winner now, not the first place winner.

Where is the bargaining power with others?
Song Hao didn't understand.

But Du Yan did not force it.

Anyway, opportunities are all encountered by yourself, so just grab them when you can.

If you don’t seize it, it means that this opportunity does not belong to you.

If you force it, it will have the opposite effect.

When Du Yan returned, Su Qi asked about the result.

“I didn’t refuse immediately.”

"I see, that means I didn't agree."

Su Qi couldn't help but chuckled a few times, then he said:

“Actually, I have a daughter too.”

"what?"

Du Yan looked at Su Qi in shock.

"What do you mean, Mr. Guo?"

"Shichang, this is not your destiny, look at mine."

After Su Qi finished speaking, he picked up the wine glass and sat directly in the seat where Du Yan had just sat.

Yan Shu and Song Xuan looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

In fact, Yan Shu was a little embarrassed to say that he also wanted to marry him as his son-in-law, so he kept silent.

But after Su Qi came over, he looked at Song Xuan with a smile:

"Shi Er Lang, I am your protector. Our relationship is much closer than Du Yan's."

"Yeah."

Song Xuan smiled and poured more wine for Su Qi: "Do you know who Su is?"

"To be honest, I also have a daughter."

Song Xuan paused while pouring the wine.

Yan Shu's face was full of disbelief.

The matter of recruiting Song Xuan as son-in-law.

Even you, Mr. Su, are here to join in the fun?

Song Xuan often restrains himself and tries not to show his joy on his face.

But when faced with something like this, he couldn't hold it back any longer.

Song Xuan slowly put down his wine glass, still thinking about what to say.

Then I heard Su Qi introduce that he had a younger daughter who had never married, and even an older daughter who was a widow.

When the time comes, you, Song Shier, can marry anyone you like.

Anyway, it's just an engagement, it won't prevent you from taking the subsequent imperial examinations.

Song Xuan was really shocked by the enthusiasm for the imperial examinations throughout the Song Dynasty.

He had just passed the imperial examination and people were already vying to introduce him to potential partners.

If he really gets lucky and wins three prizes in a row, will the drama of catching a son-in-law under the list in Tokyo be even more intense?

Yan Shu looked at his old partner Su Qi with a look of surprise on his face.

I have always thought that you, Mr. Su, are a loyal and honest person.

I never thought that in order to recruit Song Xuan as a son-in-law, you would even move your own widowed daughter out.

He is truly shameless and has no regard for his dignity at all.

You, Mr. Su, would not really believe that Song Xuan wrote the Romance of the Three Kingdoms seriously and that Cao Mengde was a good wife.

Is he, as the author, really a good wife?
(End of this chapter)