Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 216 Self-Recommendation for Bedchamber
This man was quite refined-looking, with a handsome appearance, and looked to be around twenty years old. Now, in front of a whole street of people, he suddenly knelt down, his face flushed, but he still mustered the courage to speak.

"Lord Ying, I have a scroll to present to you. Please take a look."

Jiu Que was initially uninterested, but seeing the man kneeling on the ground in front of him risking his reputation to gain a chance to be appreciated, he thought about it and asked the driver to stop. He then took the scholar's scroll through the window.

Her literary talent was certainly not comparable to that of the Jinshi who had fought their way through the encirclement, but the quality of her writing was still discernible. However, when he first glanced at it, he was stunned. What was written on the scroll was not a brilliantly written article, but rather the family situation of a young man.

Moreover, judging from the situation, the person writing this was none other than the young student kneeling on the ground in front of him. At this moment, the student trembled slightly as he raised his head, just enough to present his handsome face at the most flattering angle.

Nine Palaces: ...

Is this another form of self-promotion? Isn't this just offering yourself up for a romantic relationship?

"Do you know what it says? If I'm not mistaken, it should be you, right? You're a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), and you could become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) after passing the metropolitan and palace examinations, and maybe even enter the Hanlin Academy. Why would you do something like this? Are you doing it willingly?"

The student was clearly extremely ashamed, his face flushed red, but he still forced himself to speak.

“I understand. But I admire Lord Ying’s demeanor and worry that if you have already found a suitable husband during my palace examination, it will be too late. If you do not mind my humble opinion, please give me a chance.”

If it weren't for the inconvenient location, Jiu Que would really like to check if the person in front of her had a fever. Did she really have to find someone to marry to fit her current worldview after all her good days?

Couldn't the entire court and the people of the world just leave her alone? She really didn't want to get married! She was perfectly content on her own, with an official position, a title, a house, money, and children. Her life was already perfect, wasn't it? Why did she have to make herself miserable?

She had initially thought this scholar was a promising young man who dared to present his work to her first, but it turned out he was just offering himself up. Although he had concealed it well, Jiu Que had seen countless people and events in recent times, and the hint of ambition in his eyes was still clearly visible to her.

"Go back now. I am not considering this matter at the moment."

In front of so many people, Jiu Que still wanted to give this man a chance to save face. After saying those words, Jiu Que wanted to leave, but the man didn't think so. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed the carriage window frame, repeatedly expressing his loyalty.

"Lord Ying, Earl Ying! I am now a Juren (successful candidate in the provincial examination) and will soon become a Jinshi (successful candidate in the imperial examination). My status and learning are no disgrace to you. Why don't you give it a try? You'll never know the beauty of some things until you try them. What's wrong with a harmonious marriage? Besides, I don't mind if you serve as an official in the court. Can you find another man like me?"

"..." Jiu Que originally wanted to retort, but she was truly disgusted at the moment. In this world, what kind of cats and dogs can act wildly in front of her? Speaking to her with such a condescending attitude, is she doing her a favor? It's truly laughable.

Does she need anyone's charity? It seems that she is now a hot commodity in the eyes of the world, and everyone wants to take a bite, but no one has asked whether the owner of this hot commodity is willing to be bitten by others.

Jiu Que threw the paper directly at the man's face, sneered, and simply stepped out of the carriage.

In the sunlight, the embroidery on her official robes shimmered brilliantly, simultaneously fueling the resolve of the man kneeling on the ground. His fists clenched, his determination to climb higher only intensified. He was unlike those ordinary scholars, who practically wanted to drag Ying Jiuque down from her position as a high-ranking official and lord, then trample her underfoot a thousand times. In his eyes, those scholars were utterly laughable. What good would it do to tear Ying Jiuque down? It would be far better to marry her; after marriage, wouldn't all of Ying Jiuque's power belong to her husband?

Even if he takes each step carefully, and then proceeds to the provincial and imperial examinations, if he is fortunate enough to rank in the second class, he will still have a chance to succeed. If he is unfortunate enough to become a mere Jinshi (a lower-ranking scholar), then his official career will end there. If he can marry Ying Jiuque before the imperial examination, given the current emperor's favor towards Ying Jiuque, wouldn't he be able to rank in the first class and become a Jinshi?

As for the rumors of an affair between Ying Jiuque and His Majesty, he didn't mind. At worst, he could prevent Ying Jiuque from getting pregnant after the marriage, and then take a gentle, honest, young, and beautiful concubine to continue the family line. Life can't be perfect; you always have to pay a price.

He was willing to pay this price for a bright future.

With so many people criticizing and dissatisfied with Ying Jiuque during this period, he didn't believe that Ying Jiuque wouldn't be moved at all. At such a critical moment, he, a young and talented man, was willing to marry her. Ying Jiuque might not say it on the surface, but he must be overjoyed in his heart.
As for tossing the travel document to him, it was merely a way of expressing a woman's shyness. It's alright, he's willing to accept it. It's just that after marriage, she can't act like a superior in front of him anymore.

Just as the man before him was lost in his fantasies, Jiu Que had already arrived in front of him. His black official boots stepped across the muddy ground, the surfaces of the shoes clean and almost spotless. Only then did the man realize that he was still kneeling on the ground. A crowd of onlookers had already gathered around, and his face was burning with embarrassment. He didn't know whether to kneel or get up, since Ying Jiu Que hadn't told him to.

"I originally thought you stopped my carriage in the street to showcase your talent and ask me for a chance to advance your career. But I didn't expect you to be aiming for the wrong thing. Offering yourself as my concubine? To be honest, among all the people I've met, your looks and talent are far from being in the top 100. With such meager abilities, you think you can become my male concubine? Isn't that a bit too much?"

"Buzz!"

The surrounding crowd erupted in uproar. Was this really so sensational? A young, talented man had stopped a carriage in the street, actually begging his superior for a chance to offer himself as a concubine! And not even for a proper marriage, but to become someone's male favorite!
My goodness, I can't believe it! This young talent looks so refined and handsome, but is he actually so wild?

The surrounding whispers and murmurs made the student kneeling on the ground feel like he was about to explode! He never expected that Ying Jiuque would speak so openly about such an unspeakable matter in front of so many people! Wasn't she afraid of being gossiped about behind her back?

(End of this chapter)