Do you know: I am Qi Heng

"Does the young master know?"

Minglan was both surprised and moved upon hearing this.

Although Old Madam Sheng didn't elaborate, she understood perfectly what it meant when Qi Heng demanded an explanation from the Sheng family after learning she had fallen into the water and lost consciousness.

Minglan has always been a person who is more rational than emotional. She was genuinely moved when Qi Heng went to great lengths to get the Emperor to grant her a marriage.

But rationally speaking, she still had many worries.

She didn't know how far Qi Heng would go for her.

But the fact that Qi Heng dared to demand an explanation from the Sheng family because of her speaks volumes.

"How can such a thing be kept secret, especially at the end of the year? This morning, the Qi family came to deliver gifts, and your father told him. After hearing this, he begged the Duke of Qi to go to the palace to invite the imperial physician. When he left, he also asked your father to give him an explanation. Your father was angry but dared not say anything," Old Madam Sheng said with a smile.

She was actually worried that Qi Heng's decision to marry Minglan was just a momentary impulse.

Once the initial enthusiasm fades, Minglan will be neglected.

Come to think of it, wasn't it also an impulsive decision for her to marry Old Master Sheng against her family's wishes?

When Old Master Sheng passed the imperial examination with flying colors and was appointed as the third-ranked scholar, she watched from the upper floor of a restaurant as he rode through the streets on horseback.

Upon seeing the handsome Old Master Sheng riding a tall horse, his hat adorned with an official flower, she was immediately captivated.

Looking back years later, upon careful reflection, I realized that my impulsiveness outweighed my feelings at the time.

Now that Qi Heng had gone to such lengths for Minglan, she was completely relieved.

"Then let your granddaughter write a letter to the young master," Minglan said.

"Yes, the doctor will write it down after he examines you. We can't let the young master worry too much!" Old Madam Sheng nodded.

.........

Qi Heng sat behind his desk, his mind preoccupied with Minglan.

Although he chose Minglan based on a variety of factors, after making the choice, he treated Minglan as his wife.

Now that Minglan's fate is unknown, he is extremely worried, but there is nothing he can do.

The incident occurred in Shengjia Garden, and there were no outsiders present, so he couldn't investigate.

However, due to social etiquette, he was not even allowed to visit her, nor could he see her.

"Young Master!"

Buwei hurriedly entered the study and said, "Young Master Sheng has sent someone to deliver a letter for you to review personally!"

Qi Heng stood up and held out his hand, saying, "Give it to me quickly!"

Buwei hurriedly delivered the letter, and Qi Heng took it and saw that there were no words on the outside. He then opened the letter.

"Young Master, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person. I was deeply moved to learn of your concern for me upon waking. Now I am well..."

The letter was written by Minglan. It was short, only saying that she had woken up and was alright, and that Qi Heng should not worry too much.

Finally, it was mentioned that she accidentally fell into the water.

After reading it, Qi Heng felt completely relieved.

But he didn't believe that Minglan had fallen into the water on her own.

Qi Heng pondered for a long time but still couldn't understand why Minglan was unwilling to tell the truth.

"Forget it, she must have her own reasons for doing this. Let her be."

After this incident, Lin Xiaoniang and Mo Lan dared not do anything more.

In this way, Minglan would be out of danger.

They should get married after the imperial examination next year.

Minglan isn't the type to repay evil with kindness. Since she's unwilling to talk about it, she must have other plans. Let her do whatever she wants.

After confirming that Minglan was alright, he told his parents the news.

Qi Xuan was very happy when he learned of this. However, Princess Pingning did not show any joy.

In fact, Princess Pingning's feelings were very complicated. Logically speaking, she didn't like Minglan, so if something really happened to Minglan, the engagement would be over.

However, she was also worried that it would affect Qi Heng's mentality and cause Minglan to fail the imperial examination.

Minglan is unharmed, and Qi Heng's mindset will not be affected; she should be happy.

But the thought of Minglan marrying into the family after the imperial examination next year made her unhappy.

Qi Heng had no idea about the complex emotions in Princess Pingning's heart. After confirming that Minglan was alright, he began to accompany his father to deliver gifts to various places the next day.

After the New Year, just like in previous years, people went to the palace to pay New Year's visits and visit relatives and friends.

Because the imperial examinations are in mid-March, the start of the school year is earlier than usual this year.

School started on the tenth day of the first lunar month, before the Lantern Festival.

Early that morning, Qi Heng arrived at the Gu family's residence by car, picked up Gu Tingye, and then headed to the Sheng family's residence.

"The imperial examination is drawing ever closer, and the pressure is increasing day by day," Gu Tingye sighed.

Qi Heng shook his head: "It's normal to fail the exam the first time. Even among the current prime ministers, how many passed the exam on their first try? Just take it easy."

Gu Tingye said bitterly, "You know the pressure I'm under."

If it were just for the sake of becoming an official, he wouldn't be in such a hurry.

A man's coming of age at twenty signifies adulthood and eligibility for marriage.

But in reality, most people who get married late are only around seventeen or eighteen years old.

He was already twenty-three. At that age, unmarried people were either scholars from commoner backgrounds or had lost their parents one after another and were delayed in observing mourning.

Under normal circumstances, it's impossible for someone this age to still be unmarried.

That's because he stayed at Bailudong Academy and didn't return to Bianjing.

After he returned, it wasn't long before the imperial examination, so his family didn't rush to arrange a marriage for him.

After this imperial examination, regardless of whether he passes or fails, his family will arrange a marriage for him.

If he wants Manniang to come into his family, he must pass the imperial examination with flying colors, as this will give him enough leverage.

"Second Uncle!"

Qi Heng said, "I think you're oversimplifying things. You are the eldest son of the Marquis's family. Although your reputation wasn't good in previous years, your elder brother..."

In short, your reputation from a few years ago will not affect your marriage prospects. If you achieve great success in the imperial examinations, families of higher social standing than the Gu family will be willing to form a marriage alliance with them.

Do you think achieving top honors in the exam can be used as leverage in your negotiations?

Qi Heng didn't want to discourage Gu Tingye, but Gu Tingye had oversimplified the issue.

Whether Gu Tingye could take a concubine did not depend on whether his parents agreed, but on whether the woman agreed.

Strictly speaking, it is not allowed for an unmarried man to take a concubine.

When Liang Han seduced a respectable woman and she became pregnant, Madam Wu was in a hurry to arrange a marriage for him because only after marrying a wife could he take a concubine.

That respectable woman is already taken, and it can't be delayed for long, which is why we're in a hurry.

Of course, Gu Tingye couldn't possibly have been unaware of these things.

Gu Tingye was aware of this as well, and he was thinking of passing the imperial examination as a bargaining chip to win back his family.

It is also a bargaining chip to get the woman to accept it.

The two families were originally well-matched, so the woman definitely couldn't accept this situation.

After Gu Tingye passed the imperial examination with flying colors, although it didn't directly elevate the Gu family's social standing, his personal value was completely different from before.

Once the woman considers this reason, she is more likely to accept it.

However, Gu Tingye overlooked the fact that after he passed the imperial examination with flying colors, families of higher social standing than the Gu family would also be willing to form marriage alliances with the Gu family.

The difference in social status negated any benefit of passing the imperial examination; the woman would certainly not agree to let a mistress bring two children into the family.

Gu Yankai would naturally not agree to let Manniang and her son into the house.

"Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Gu Tingye firmly replied, "I don't believe that after passing the imperial examination, he would make me give up my pursuit of fame and fortune!"