Do you know: I am Qi Heng

Jiying Lane is located in the outer city, near the east gate of the inner city.

The Great Zhou Dynasty has been established for a century, and very few houses in the inner city are available for sale, and they are extremely expensive.

Even some officials of the third or fourth rank could not afford to settle down in the inner city.

The area near the inner city became the officials' first choice.

Old Master Sheng had a good eye; he bought two houses in Jiying Lane and combined them together, making them one of the better houses in the area.

Over the years, many people have contacted Sheng Hong wanting to buy his products, but Sheng Hong has never agreed to them.

Nowadays, every household in the alley is a government official, with the lowest rank being fourth grade.

Before the Sheng family arrived in the capital, they had already sent people to repair and clean the place, so they were settled in quickly after arriving yesterday.

Early that morning, Sheng Hong went out to report to the Ministry of Revenue. Not long after he left home, the gatekeeper heard a knock and opened the side door.

The doorman saw a servant standing outside and asked, "What brings you here?"

"I am a servant of the Qi State Mansion, sent here to deliver a visiting card!" said the servant.

"Wait a moment, I'll go and inform them right away!"

The gatekeeper was startled and quickly took the visiting card to report it.

When Madam Wang learned of this, she was very surprised: "I have never heard of any dealings between the Sheng family and the Duke of Qi's mansion."

She grew up in her uncle's house and married Sheng Hong not long after returning to Bianjing.

At that time, Sheng Hong had just passed the imperial examination with flying colors and went to work in a local government position after getting married.

Sheng Hong has been serving as an official in local areas for many years, and she has never come to the capital.

Therefore, she didn't know much about the powerful and wealthy families in Bianjing, but she had heard of the Qi State Duke's Mansion as one of the top wealthy families in Bianjing.

How could someone with no family or kinship possibly visit the Sheng family in person?

"Could it be related to the Wang family?" Liu's mother wondered.

The Sheng family only produced one third-place scholar (探花郎), but because he died young, his official rank was not high.

The reason he was able to marry Old Madam Sheng was because Old Madam Sheng had taken a liking to Old Master Sheng and insisted on marrying him despite her family's objections.

The Sheng family had very few connections in Bianjing, let alone any connection with the Duke of Qi's mansion.

But the Wang family was different. When Grand Tutor Wang was alive, he served as Vice Chancellor. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Tutor and was honored with a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

"That's the only possibility."

Madam Wang agreed, and complained, "My mother is really something. Our family has a past relationship with the Duke of Qi's mansion, yet she didn't mention it in her previous reply."

After Sheng Hong received the imperial decree announcing his promotion, Madam Wang wrote a letter to her mother to share the good news.

In her reply, Old Mrs. Wang only advised her that Bianjing was different from other places and that she should be careful.

Although she was complaining, she couldn't hide the smugness in her tone.

"Madam, whether it's true or not, we need to give you an answer. The people from the Duke of Qi's mansion are waiting," Liu Mama had to remind her.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Once Madam Wang came to her senses, she immediately ordered someone to invite the person who delivered the visiting card to the main hall.

She arrived at the main hall, waited for a while, and was then led over.

Madam Wang warmly welcomed them with words of hospitality, gave them two taels of silver as a reward, and saw them off.

"Madam, should we report this to the old lady?" Liu Mama asked.

Madam Wang waved her hand and said, "What's the rush? Let's wait for my husband to return!"

She was thinking of showing off to Sheng Hong when he came back.

Although Madam Wang wasn't very clever, she knew that Sheng Hong married her because the Wang family could help his future.

In later generations, this practice might be seen as being a kept man or someone who curries favor with others.

But it was very common in ancient times. Even a commoner could marry a daughter of an official family after passing the imperial examination.

The imperial examination system had become the norm, and although there was a system of hereditary titles, it was still difficult to guarantee the prosperity of a family.

Marrying one's daughter to a newly appointed scholar is a mutually beneficial arrangement.

By arranging marriages to bind the two parties together, and then providing them with some political resources, their career paths become smoother.

After the man profits, he can also support the woman's family when they decline in the future.

Even if the woman's family continues to prosper, it would still be a good help.

Therefore, there is no question of underestimating this situation.

Unless the man himself is incompetent and relies entirely on his wife's family for support.

Sheng Hong is a smooth and shrewd businessman, and in recent years the Wang family's connections have been of little use to him.

Madam Wang was aware of this, which is why, after assuming that Princess Pingning's visit was due to the Wang family, she wanted to show off in front of Sheng Hong.

Let him know that even though his father has been gone for many years, his influence still exists.

But just because she didn't want to talk about it didn't mean that Old Mrs. Sheng didn't know.

Before the servants of the Duke of Qi's mansion had even left, Shou'an Hall and Linxi Pavilion had already received the news.

When Old Madam Sheng learned that Princess Pingning was coming to visit, she frowned slightly.

She wasn't as optimistic as Madam Wang. If the Duke of Qi's mansion really had a past relationship with the Wang family, Princess Pingning shouldn't have come to visit first.

Secondly, both the Xiangyang Marquis's Mansion, the maternal family of Princess Pingning, and the Qi State Duke's Mansion were noble families.

Old Madam Sheng herself came from a noble family, so she knew all too well the relationship between noble families and those civil officials.

Under normal circumstances, civil officials and noble families rarely have private relationships unless they marry into each other.

Because the two sides not only do not belong to the same circle, but also look down on each other.

In the eyes of civil officials, especially those of high rank, the lord himself relied on the legacy of his ancestors and had no real ability.

In Xun Gui's eyes, what difference does it make if you are the Grand Chancellor of the current dynasty?

Sooner or later they will all have to retire. Unless their descendants are exceptionally outstanding, once they retire, they will have little influence in a few years.

If future generations are not ambitious, the country will soon decline.

But it's different for nobles. As long as the title is held, they can serve as officials for generations. Even if they don't have much real power, their rank is still quite high.

Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the Duke of Qi's mansion and the Wang family had any prior relationship, let alone that the Duke of Qi would condescend to visit them.

Grandma Sheng couldn't figure it out, so she didn't bother to think about it anymore.

The Qi family sent their visiting card with impeccable manners, clearly not intending to cause trouble.

As for their true purpose, we'll find out when they arrive.

However, the purpose of the Qi family's visit soon became clear.

After Sheng Changbai found out, he went to Madam Wang and told her about it.

When Sheng Changbai returned from Fanlou last night, Sheng Hong and the others had already rested, so he didn't bother them.

This morning I went to see Gu Tingye off again, and only after I returned did I learn the news, and then I told Madam Wang the reason behind it.

Although Madam Wang was somewhat disappointed when she learned about it, it was still a good thing that the only son of the Duke of Qi could come to the Sheng family to study, and that her son could also befriend him.

However, at Liu's mother's urging, she went to Shou'an Hall to inquire about Old Madam Sheng's opinion.

Grandma Sheng had no objection to this; it wasn't a big deal for the son of the Duke of Qi to come to the Sheng family to study.

If we refuse all of these, wouldn't we offend people?

If Qi Heng were the kind of spoiled brat, one would refuse even if it meant offending him.

But she had someone inquire about him, and Qi Heng was considered an anomaly among the noble sons of Bianjing.

During his studies at the Imperial College, he achieved excellent grades and performance, and was well-liked by the teachers.