Do you know: I am Qi Heng

If I had the most contact with them and knew them the best, they would be the three sisters from the Sheng family and the cousins ​​from the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence.

If Qi Heng really had to choose, Ru Lan or Ming Lan would be more to his liking.

Ru Lan is simple-minded and quite lively, making her easy to get along with.

Minglan is mature and intelligent enough that she wouldn't be tiring to be around, and she would be more suitable as the head of the household than Minglan.

However, the Sheng family was of too low social standing. Even though Rulan was the legitimate daughter, Princess Pingning looked down on her, let alone a concubine's daughter.

In fact, for families of Qi's social standing, the woman's social standing is no longer important.

However, the ancients' concept of social status was not simply a difference between classes.

If we compare getting married to finding a job, then for women, social status is like a diploma.

Students from ordinary schools are not necessarily inferior to those from top universities.

However, when a company is recruiting, it is facing a group of students who have just graduated from school. Looking at their diplomas and the universities they graduated from is undoubtedly the best choice.

Similarly, since women who are still unmarried cannot demonstrate their abilities, choosing a husband based on social status is naturally the best solution.

This is why even some of the most powerful and wealthy families, even if marriage brings little benefit to the family, still choose to marry someone of equal social standing.

The higher the social standing of a family, the more important the choice of the principal wife becomes.

The duties of the principal wife include receiving guests, managing household affairs, and raising children.

Qi Heng was lost in thought but didn't say anything. After finishing his meal, he chatted with his parents for a while before returning to his room.

"My lord, what exactly does Heng'er mean by this?"

Princess Pingning put down her teacup and said, "Does this mean he's letting us make the decisions for him?"

Actually, the couple had deliberately talked about those things in front of Qi Heng.

Over the years, Qi Heng has become very opinionated. Whenever it involves his own affairs, he will take the initiative to communicate with his parents.

Many people want to marry into the Qi family these days, and the couple naturally discuss it frequently in private.

Qi Xuan then suggested that they ask Qi Heng for his opinion.

However, Princess Pingning was not quite convinced. Qi Heng was opinionated and could persuade her, and she was willing to make concessions on many things.

But marriage is different. Not to mention that it has always been arranged by parents since ancient times, Qi Heng is too young to understand what marriage means.

How could Qi Heng make such a decision on his own?

Qi Xuan suggested that they could test Qi Heng's reaction. If the woman was someone Qi Heng was interested in, and also met Princess Pingning's wishes, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?

Princess Pingning thought about it carefully and also felt that it made sense.

She is currently interested in several companies, but has not yet made a decision.

If Qi Heng happens to choose one of these companies, she can readily agree.

If Qi Heng has other ideas, she can prepare a response in advance.

Then, during the meal, no matter what they talked about, Qi Heng didn't say a word.

But she couldn't ask Qi Heng, otherwise wouldn't that be tantamount to letting Qi Heng participate in the discussion of his marriage?

"Heng'er is focused on his studies and may not have figured things out yet. Other young men his age would have already taken their virginity by sleeping with the maids in their rooms, but Heng'er hasn't touched a single one."

Qi Xuan said with some concern, "Perhaps my wife should have someone give instructions to the maids in his room?"

Princess Pingning frowned slightly; she hadn't thought about this issue.

She was always worried that the maids in Qi Heng's courtyard would seduce Qi Heng, which would not only affect Qi Heng's studies but also ruin his health.

Therefore, Qi Heng did not touch the maids in the courtyard. In her opinion, it was because she was strict and the maids dared not do anything reckless.

But thinking about it carefully, even if she was strict, she could only control the maids.

Qi Heng is seventeen years old, so it's normal for him to have youthful impulsiveness.

But Qi Heng didn't. In fact, he didn't even allow his maids to warm his bed in the winters of the past few years, completely showing that he was indifferent to women.

Princess Pingning panicked at the thought.

She didn't want her maid to seduce Qi Heng and become addicted to women too early, thus harming her health.

But I don't want my son to become apathetic and indifferent in the future.

"I'll make arrangements for tomorrow!"

…………

Qi Heng returned to the courtyard, played with the bamboo shoots for a while, then went to the study to read for a while before washing up with the help of the maid and going to bed.

The maids who used to serve him have all been married off under the steward's arrangement.

Some married capable men from wealthy families, while others married the sons of those in charge of managing the estates.

Princess Pingning then arranged four maids for him, aged twelve or thirteen, named Mangzhong, Bailu, Shuangjiang, and Xiaoxue.

Qi Heng chose his own name, randomly selecting one from the twenty-four solar terms.

Tonight, Bailu and Shuangjiang kept watch. After helping Qi Heng to rest, the two carried the oil lamp back to their room.

The following day, the two of them, along with the Grain in Ear and Minor Snow solar terms, helped Qi Heng get up and wash.

After Qi Heng finished washing up, Mangzhong and Xiaoxue followed him to the main hall to pay their respects.

Bailu and Shuangjiang tidied up their bedrooms, went to have breakfast, and prepared to go back to their rooms to catch up on sleep.

The maids on night duty can catch up on sleep in the morning, since they can only take turns sleeping while on night duty, which is quite tiring.

"White Dew!"

Bai Lu was about to return to her room when she heard Granny Feng calling her, so she quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Granny Feng!"

"Wait a moment, you'll come with me to see the eldest mistress in a bit!"

"yes!"

Bai Lu responded, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Princess Pingning was known for her strictness; everyone in her household knew it.

She has been chosen to serve in Qi Heng's courtyard for nearly two years.

In her memory, Princess Pingning had never summoned any of them individually.

Suddenly, Granny Feng told her to go with her to see Princess Pingning. Her first thought was that she must have done something wrong.

"Don't overthink it, it's not a bad thing!"

Seeing that her expression was a little off, Granny Feng comforted her.

After Qi Heng returned from breakfast, Granny Feng called Bai Lu and they left Zizhu Courtyard.

…………

Granny Feng led Bailu to the main hall in the backyard and bowed, saying, "Madam, the person has been brought!"

Upon hearing this, Princess Pingning put down her teacup, looked at Bailu who had her head bowed, and said, "Raise your head!"

"yes!"

Bai Lu raised her head slightly, but lowered her gaze, not daring to meet Princess Pingning's eyes.

Princess Pingning glanced at her and waved her hand, saying, "Never mind, let her go back!"

"yes!"

Granny Feng quickly said, "You should go back now!"

Bai Lu breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and left.

"There are not enough maids in Heng'er's courtyard. Pick two more pretty ones to serve her."

Princess Pingning realized she had misunderstood; it wasn't that Qi Heng was apathetic, but rather that the maids in the courtyard were too ordinary-looking.

She asked Granny Feng to pick the prettiest one, but she still thought she was just average.

"Yes, this servant will go and choose right away!" Granny Feng replied.

Granny Feng was very efficient. That afternoon, she carefully selected two girls and handed them over to Bailu and the others to take care of.

When Qi Heng found out, he didn't think much of it, but he couldn't help but take a few more glances.

The two new maids, though young, were undeniably beautiful.

One is sweet and cute, while the other looks very innocent and gives off a pitiful feeling.

…………

The next day, Qi Heng left home early in the morning to study at the Sheng family's residence.

Originally, after the results of the provincial examination were announced, the Qi family should have held a banquet to thank their teacher.

But Zhuang Xuejiu refused, saying they would discuss it after the provincial examination.