Do you know: I am Qi Heng

It's just that it's inappropriate to talk about the future when someone else's mother has passed away.

Qi Heng, however, felt that this was not a bad thing. It seemed inappropriate to think that way after someone's mother had passed away.

But from a rational perspective, Su Shi's life was too smooth.

Although the family wasn't extremely wealthy, they were still considered well-off.

They were famous throughout the land before taking the imperial examination for the first time, and both brothers passed with flying colors.

The ranking was a bit low, but it wasn't a big blow.

Su Shi was naturally somewhat unconventional, and as his fame grew, Qi Heng could clearly sense his smugness and self-satisfaction.

This is normal. It's not that Su Shi was vulgar; as long as you're human, you're bound to get carried away when you're transporting water with the wind at your back.

Qi Heng said he didn't like Li Bai's poems largely because while Li Bai's poems seemed unrestrained, he himself wasn't so carefree.

It's more like expressing unrequited love through a carefree attitude.

Similarly, Su Shi would not have been able to write his poems if he had not suffered those setbacks and blows.

With his literary talent, he could write words with ornate language, but he lacked the insight into the ups and downs of life.

The death of his mother and the several years of mourning were a good time for Su Shi to reflect.

Su Shi's departure from the capital did not have much of an impact.

After the New Year, Madam Wu had been organizing a polo tournament. After the imperial examination, all the newly appointed unmarried scholars received invitations to the polo tournament.

As a Duke's mansion, the Qi family naturally received the invitation as well.

The polo match organized by Madam Wu was more about socializing than having fun.

Inviting newly appointed scholars and prominent families in Bianjing (Kaifeng) also served as a bridge between the two sides.

Those who were caught for catching corrupt officials were mostly wealthy merchants and minor officials; truly powerful families would never stoop to such a thing.

Because they hold political resources, they are not afraid of not finding a good son-in-law; they are in a position of power.

Anyone with true ambition and self-confidence will not be easily swayed by wealthy businessmen and minor officials.

In the eyes of wealthy families, the process of selecting candidates from among the successful applicants is more like a selection process.

If someone can be easily swayed by wealthy merchants and minor officials, they are short-sighted and destined for a limited future.

"Heng'er, Madam Wu has sent someone with an invitation. Would you like to go and have some fun?" Princess Pingning asked.

"Mother, you go ahead. I'm not interested in this at all," Qi Heng said, shaking his head.

"In that case, I won't go."

Princess Pingning was too lazy to join in the fun.

"Since Mother isn't going, why not give the invitation to your child?"

Qi Heng said, "I'm studying at the Sheng family's place, so I owe them a favor. The Sheng family probably wouldn't have received an invitation, so they'd be very happy to go!"

Princess Pingning smiled upon hearing this and said, "What you say makes sense. However, this invitation is for the Duke of Qi's mansion. If it were sent to the Sheng family, it would be sent in the name of the Duke of Qi's mansion, which would be inappropriate. I will ask Madam Wu for an invitation later."

If Qi Heng were to go and say something like that, she would definitely overthink it.

But Qi Heng didn't go; instead, he asked the Sheng family for an invitation, which she saw as simply returning a favor.

"Mother is very thoughtful."

Qi Heng hadn't thought that much about it, but after hearing his mother's words, he realized that it was indeed somewhat inappropriate.

Princess Pingning acted quickly; when Qi Heng returned from school in the evening to pay his respects, she handed him the invitation.

Qi Heng glanced at the invitation; it read something like "Inviting Madam Wang to a polo match."

Logically, such a letter should have been sent directly to the Sheng family by Madam Wu, but this was requested by Princess Pingning. If she sent someone to deliver it, she couldn't let people say that she sent the letter to the Sheng family because Princess Pingning had asked her.

The fact that the Qi family sent someone to deliver it clearly indicates that the Sheng family would understand.

The next day, Qi Heng went to the Sheng family earlier than usual.

When he arrived, Sheng Changbai also came over as usual. Seeing Qi Heng, he asked with some surprise, "Yuan Ruo, why are you here so early today?"

Qi Heng took out the invitation and said with a smile, "Madam Wu from the Yongchang Earl's Mansion is going to hold a polo match soon and sent an invitation to my family."

I figured your mother and your sisters would like to go, so I got them an invitation!

"Yuan Ruo has a kind heart!"

Sheng Changbai thought that Qi Heng had asked for the invitation because Mo Lanrulan had mentioned wanting to go last time.

But now that Qi Heng has brought the invitation, it's hard to refuse, so he has no choice but to accept it.

"It's nothing!" Qi Heng waved his hand dismissively.

Sheng Changbai told Qi Heng to go to the school first, while he took the invitation to his mother.

Qi Heng walked into the school with a smile. The reason he asked for a letter was not because of Mo Lan and the others' previous request.

Because of what happened last time, Mo Lan and Ru Lan were unusually quiet, which made things much less fun.

With this post out, there's bound to be some interesting developments to come.

.........

When Madam Wang received the invitation, she was overjoyed.

Although it wasn't Madam Wu who invited her, being able to attend the polo match was itself a symbol of status.

In the future, when chatting with other officials' wives, they'll have something to brag about.

"Go, have the embroiderers at home make a dress for Ru'er, using the best fabric in the house!" Madam Wang ordered.

"Madam!"

Mother Liu reminded her, "You should also bring Liu Gu Ning along, otherwise if Linxi Pavilion finds out and makes a fuss, it won't be good for you!"

When she heard that Madam Wang had someone make clothes for Rulan without informing Shou'an Hall and Linxi Pavilion, she knew that Madam Wang did not intend to take Molan and Minglan with her.

If it were up to her, she would definitely have to bring them along, since Madam Wang was the legal mother, and on the surface, she still had to treat everyone equally.

Bringing only Rulan and not the other two is tantamount to actively giving Lin Xiaoniang an excuse.

But she knew Wang Da Niangzi's temperament too well; if she could have persuaded her, things wouldn't be in this situation now.

Knowing she couldn't persuade her, she didn't bring it up, but instead tried her best to minimize the impact on Madam Wang.

"Okay, then take it with you. Have someone inform them."

Madam Wang didn't hold any grudges against Minglan, and she also had to give face to the old lady.

"Madam."

Liu Mama sent a maid to inform her, and she whispered to Madam Wang, "This news definitely won't stay hidden from Linxi Pavilion, and then..."

Madam Wang's eyes lit up as she listened, and she laughed, "You've thought of everything so thoroughly!"

.........

The servants of Wei Rui Xuan were all brought by Madam Wang as part of her dowry. The younger ones were all born into the household. Madam Lin did not have the ability to interfere in Wei Rui Xuan's affairs.

But Madam Wang knew the news couldn't be kept secret, since she couldn't possibly keep it from Sheng Hong and go directly to the polo match herself.

Therefore, she had no intention of hiding it, and before long, Lin Xiaoniang learned of the unusual situation at Weiruixuan.

When Lin Xiaoniang learned of this, she naturally knew that it was impossible for Madam Wang to take Molan with her.

"This is what my Mo'er wanted!" Lin Xiaoniang said through gritted teeth.

That's right, she believes that Qi Heng sent the invitation because Mo Lan had spoken up last time.

It was just that Mo Lan was still young, and Qi Heng was a man from another family, so it wasn't appropriate to give the invitation to Mo Lan.

As a result, when her daughter asked for the invitation, Madam Wang wanted to keep it all for herself. How could she agree to that?