My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"cooperate?"

Li Zhiwei looked up at Jiang Xiaobai, a hint of confusion in her expression: "What do you want to cooperate on?"

"No rush."

Jiang Xiaobai shook his head: "Let's get the things you promised to give me ready first, then we can talk about it later."

Ah!

Li Zhiwei then realized that the ink had been prepared without her noticing.

Li Zhiwei immediately took a blank sheet of Xuan paper, slowly unfolded it, and looked up at Jiang Xiaobai again, saying, "I wonder what Young Master Jiang... wants me to do?"

"Oh, let's draw a picture of mandarin ducks first," Jiang Xiaobai said with a smile.

A picture of mandarin ducks?

Li Zhiwei's face, which had finally calmed down, immediately regained a faint blush.

But she was no ordinary woman after all. After a brief hesitation, she softly replied, "Okay."

After saying that, she picked up her paintbrush, dipped it in ink, and started painting.

Soon, a pair of mandarin ducks, leaning on each other, gradually took shape on the rice paper.

The painting was so exquisite that even Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help but nod in approval.

After the drawing was completed, Jiang Xiaobai slowly spoke: "Next, I will talk, and you will write."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei nodded gently.

He then picked up his pen again and stood before the desk.

Jiang Xiaobai looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips, and slowly recited: "A song of kindred spirits before falling flowers, a light rain gently swaying the willows beyond the mist, I beckon the spring breeze to cut a piece of silk, and send the letter to you under the bright moon."

As these four lines of poetry came to a close.

Without much thought, Li Zhiwei followed Jiang Xiaobai's instructions, picked up her pen, and wrote down her thoughts, her expression showing some surprise.

This poem is good!

Just as she was praising him, Jiang Xiaobai's voice rang out: "Just one last step."

Li Zhiwei looked up at him: "What?"

"Naturally, it's Miss Li's seal."

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "You painted this picture, and you wrote the calligraphy, so how can it be done without your seal?"

After listening, Li Zhiwei nodded slightly.

Then, he took out his seal from the side, breathed on it gently, and solemnly pressed it onto the painting and calligraphy.

The red mark fell.

The entire painting seemed to instantly come to life.

Jiang Xiaobai stepped forward, gently picked up the calligraphy and painting, examined them carefully, and couldn't help but exclaim, "The calligraphy is beautiful, the painting is beautiful, and of course... the person is beautiful too."

Finally, Jiang Xiaobai's gaze fell on Li Zhiwei.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei immediately lowered her head again.

If it were her previous personality, she probably would have already lost her temper.

But for some reason, I feel both annoyed and ashamed right now!

The guard who was following Jiang Xiaobai was completely dumbfounded.

His own son...

When did you learn this?

However, just as the atmosphere inside the room became ambiguous again.

Li Zhiwei seemed to suddenly remember something and said softly, "The matter of cooperation that Prince Jiang just mentioned... he hasn't finished talking about yet."

"Oh, it's not a big deal, really. I just want to marry into your Prime Minister's household."

As soon as Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, the room fell silent.

The guard, who had been secretly sighing to himself, almost jumped up when he heard these words.

"Your Highness!"

The guard's eyes widened in shock.

Clearly, Jiang Xiaobai's words were something even he hadn't expected.

Li Zhiwei, on the other hand, was visibly distracted for a moment.

Yes, she also didn't expect Jiang Xiaobai to suddenly say such a surprising thing.

A moment later.

Li Zhiwei finally managed to calm herself down and looked at Jiang Xiaobai solemnly: "Young Master Jiang... what does this mean?"

Jiang Xiaobai did not answer immediately.

Instead, he slowly walked to the window and reached out to push it open halfway.

The night breeze blew in, slightly dispersing the somewhat stagnant atmosphere in the room.

Then, Jiang Xiaobai turned around and said calmly, "It's very simple."

"Your Prime Minister's residence needs an opportunity, and I... also need a way to survive."

"If I were to marry into the Prime Minister's household, it would bring you at least three major benefits."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei's expression hardened slightly: "What are the three major benefits?"

"First!"

Jiang Xiaobai slowly extended his first finger: "State your position."

"My Jiang family holds military power in the northern border, while the Prime Minister's office ranks first among civil officials. It has never been close to my Jiang family. In fact, it is known to outsiders that Prime Minister Li has always had some reservations about my Jiang family."

"But what if I marry into the Prime Minister's household?"

"That would be tantamount to showing the entire court and His Majesty that the Jiang family is willing to bow down and willing to voluntarily give up their future."

"From now on, I am no longer the heir of the Jiang family, but the son-in-law of the Prime Minister's mansion."

"For His Majesty, this is appeasement and an explanation; for the Prime Minister's office, it is a meritorious service."

"Because in the eyes of outsiders, it was your Li family... who, on behalf of the court and His Majesty, took the lead in defusing the potential threat posed by our Jiang family."

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking.

Li Zhiwei's gaze suddenly changed slightly.

Jiang Xiaobai then held up a second finger: "Second, to get a name."

"Miss Li has already witnessed what happened tonight."

"If I were truly a useless good-for-nothing, that would be fine, but since I have revealed such talent, and with the title of top scholar... many things in this world will be different."

"What will the outside world think then? They will only think that the Prime Minister's Mansion has excellent judgment in recognizing talent, and that Miss Li has a discerning eye."

"The once despised playboy transformed into a true young prodigy after entering the Prime Minister's residence."

"At that time, it won't just be me who benefits; the reputation of your Prime Minister's Mansion will also rise to a new level."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai paused, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips: "After all, people always like to spread such wonderful stories."

"Especially, the tales of talented men and beautiful women."

These words made Li Zhiwei blush again.

But she didn't interrupt.

Because she understood that what Jiang Xiaobai said was not without reason.

At that moment, Jiang Xiaobai slowly extended his third finger.

Third, take the initiative.

Jiang Xiaobai continued, "Miss Li, have you considered what would happen if you actually filed a joint complaint with the emperor tonight, completely escalating the matter of buying an official position?"

"this……"

Before Li Zhiwei could speak, Jiang Xiaobai's voice continued, "Things are not as simple as you think. At best, there will be turmoil in the imperial examinations, but at worst... the entire court will likely be shaken."

"and……"

Jiang Xiaobai paused, then looked at Li Zhiwei and said, "If the person behind this has ulterior motives, then as the head of the civil officials, do you think Prime Minister Li can remain unscathed?!"

After Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, Li Zhiwei fell silent, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

Although Jiang Xiaobai exaggerated a bit, it's not impossible!

"But if I were to marry into the Prime Minister's household, things would be completely different."

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "If I, this so-called person who bought his official position, enter the Prime Minister's residence, I will become living evidence in your hands."

"Whether to advance or retreat, investigate or suppress, use it for political purposes or to counter others, the initiative is in your hands."

"In other words, my marriage into the Prime Minister's family is not a troublesome matter for the Prime Minister's household, but rather a card that allows you to advance or retreat as needed."

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking this last sentence.

The room fell silent once more.

This time, even the guard remained silent.

Because he suddenly realized.

The young master's words... don't seem to be nonsense after all!

No.

It's not nonsense at all.

On the contrary, every sentence he uttered revealed an indescribable shrewdness!

Li Zhiwei stood there, her eyes flashing, clearly processing everything Jiang Xiaobai had just said.

She initially thought Jiang Xiaobai was joking.

But now it seems that the other party was not joking at all, and even... had already thought through the pros and cons in advance.

A moment later.

Li Zhiwei finally slowly raised her head and looked at Jiang Xiaobai: "And what about you? You sacrificed so much, just to survive?"

That's right, if he marries into the family, Jiang Xiaobai will become a joke, a huge joke.

This is something no ordinary man could withstand!

"Isn't surviving enough?"

After hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai suddenly laughed: "Of course..."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai raised his gaze slightly and looked at Li Zhiwei, lowering his voice a few notches: "If you can also take the opportunity, marry the most talented woman in the capital."

"Then this deal... I'm even less at a loss."

"you!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei felt both embarrassed and angry again, and her face under the veil instantly turned red once more.

But when faced with Jiang Xiaobai's smiling face, she didn't know how to refute him.

Jiang Xiaobai chuckled softly, his expression turning serious again: "Miss Li, I'm not joking."

"You need time, and I need time too. Our cooperation is the best way to break this deadlock right now."

"If you are willing, you can go and discuss this matter with Prime Minister Li first."

"As for whether it will succeed or not, I'll await your answer."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai paused slightly, looking at the calligraphy and painting, and said, "However, I will accept this betrothal letter for now..."