Poor Lady

With the remaining money, Qi Surong set aside part of it, changed all the family's sheets and bedding, and opened two plots in the front yard to grow some vegetables.

The days passed in a busy and peaceful way. Before I knew it, the golden autumn came, and Xu Chen, whom Qi Surong had been waiting for, finally entered the capital.

At the same time, someone recommended Baiyang Academy to Qi's father. The scale of this academy is second only to the official school. The branch has a special children's school, and many rich children and talented people study here.

Qi's father was quite moved, and Qi Surong immediately found his father and persuaded him to let Subao worship Xu Chen.

"Xu Chen?" Father Qi had been in contact with Xu Chen, and he did not speak highly of this person. He was worried that he would miss Su Bao's studies and did not agree with his daughter's proposal.

Qi Surong said: "Baiyang Academy is located in the mountains and forests, far from home. Su Bao is young, and if he encounters trouble, he will be out of reach."

In the last life, Su Bao entered Baiyang Academy, and he was bullied a lot later. Among them, the people who Qi Surong had once offended helped fuel the flames.

"A man always needs to be independent. We will buy him an older book boy to take care of his daily life. With this arrangement, there should be no worries." Father Qi didn't care about these trivial matters.

Qi Surong smiled bitterly and continued to persuade: "Father, Baiyang Academy is very famous, with complicated students and many factions. The Qi family is not as good as before, and Subao is in it, so it is inevitable that people will not look down upon him."

Father Qi's face sank, and anger flashed in his eyes.

Qi Surong knew that he didn't like to hear this, but he had to say: "Dad, no matter what you decide, my daughter hopes that you will first consider the current situation of the Qi family."

Qi's father pursed his lips tightly, the veins on his fisted arm were exposed, and after a long silence he said in a fit of anger, "Then let Subao decide for himself."

Let Su Bao decide for himself? Qi Surong was sure that Subao would definitely choose Baiyang Academy.

Compared with a stranger who has never heard of it, Baiyang Academy's name is obviously more attractive.

Qi Surong remembered that Su Bao met Xu Chen on the way to accompany his mother to the temple to worship incense in the previous life. The mother did not refuse at that time, went home to discuss with Qi's father, and finally gave up for various reasons.

In one's life, there are often all kinds of opportunities, those who are wise are good at it, those who are fair are ignoring them, and those who are foolish are abandoning them.

One step away, a thousand miles wrong.

Although she could not guarantee that Su Bao would have a good future if she joined Xu Chen's door, at least she would not be implicated due to various open and secret struggles and power struggles.

"Subao, how about going out with my sister?" Qi Surong leaned against the window of the study and smiled at the little boy who was practicing calligraphy.

"Don't go." Su Bao gave his sister a sideways glance, and buried his head in writing.

"I'll buy you a thousand-layer cake." Qi Surong made persistent efforts.

Su Bao's hand paused for a moment, then continued to wave.

"And Su Zhazi, mincemeat cake and jujube cake."

Su Bao raised his head and said solemnly, "Add another roast duck."

"make a deal."

After the kidnapping was successful, Qi Surong immediately dressed up and set off, planning to persuade Su Bao to try his luck while playing to see if he could meet Xu Chen.

"Subao, have you heard of Xu Chen?" In the temple, Qi Surong asked while taking Subao touring the scenery.

"Who is he?"

"Eight years ago, he was famous as the champion of the world."

"Why did my sister suddenly mention this person?"

"This person is very talented at a young age. He is diligent in learning and reading. He is well-known and strong in memorizing. He wrote poetry at the age of six, composed a composition at the age of nine, was a student at the age of eleven, won the first prize at the age of fourteen, and was the champion at the age of seventeen. Number one, the name moves the world."

Su Bao's eyes flashed brightly, and then he said suspiciously: "But there seems to be no such person in the court. If he is really talented, how can he be unknown?"

"Because he resigned after less than two years in office."

"Why?"

"Do you still remember Prince Duan?" Qi Surong asked.

"My sister is talking about the Prince Duan who was banished from the capital two years ago?"

"Exactly." Qi Surong said, "He is lustful, and likes to disguise himself to molest good women or beautiful married women. Our mother was almost taken lightly by him."

"That's right." Su Bao clenched his fists and said angrily, "That man is a prince, but his behavior is so unruly, it's really hateful."

Qi Surong nodded and continued: "At that time, Xu Chen had a confidante, and he was not too worried, and he was afraid of his identity, so he didn't dare to resist. Xu Chen asked: 'Why don't you dare to resist.' The woman said: 'He belongs to the prince. Respect, how can you offend?' Xu Chen replied: 'Does he have a name?' The woman said: 'No.' Xu ​​Chen said: 'Since this is the case, you have the right to treat him as a shameless person, I can do whatever I want.' Later, when the woman met Prince Duan again, thinking about Xu Chen's words, she could no longer bear it, and ordered the prince to be beaten. The prince called out his name aloud, and the woman scolded: ' As a prince, how can you do such a thing? You are not only dissolute and shameless, but you dare to slander the name of the prince, and the crime is added." After saying that, he was beaten again, and the prince Duan was bruised and bruised. Duan Wangye was beaten so badly that he felt ashamed, and Yueyu never showed up again."

"He even dared to beat the prince?" Su Bao looked surprised, and in his surprise he was filled with admiration.

"The so-called ignorant person is innocent. The prince changed his clothes and did not want to reveal his identity. Xu Chen's proposal is also a follow-up."

"He seems to be a little deviant." Su Bao said solemnly.

Qi Surong smiled and said, "You are right. Xu Chen has a free and easy temperament, acts eclectic, and acts daringly. He is regarded as an outlier by other ministers in the court."

"So he resigned?"

"He resigned because of a friend." Qi Surong had specifically inquired about it before, and now he slowly said, "It is said that when the late emperor was still alive, he suffered from depression and lost weight, and the imperial physicians were helpless. Xu Chen has a good friend who is It was one of the imperial physicians. He had a cure, but he did not dare to use it. Xu Chen asked the reason, and the imperial physician said: 'Melancholy can be relieved by the method of anger, but the patient is the current emperor, how can I dare to do this? The law.' Xu ​​Chen suggested to him that before casting the spell, he should seek the right to avoid death from the queen and the prince. However, the empress and the prince did not fulfill their promises, and the imperial doctor was eventually beheaded by the emperor. Xu Chen felt ashamed of his friends and disappointed with the empress and prince, so he resigned from the official position. , from now on at ease in the rivers and lakes."

"So it is." Su Bao murmured, frowning and showing a thoughtful expression, which was very cute.

"Although Xu Chen has only been an official for two short years, he has made the ministers in the DPRK very jealous, and his talent is beyond doubt."

"Sister spoke highly of him?" Qi Surong's words successfully aroused Subao's curiosity about Xu Chen.

Qi Surong asked, "Subao, if you let such a talented person be your teacher, would you be willing?"

Subao rolled his eyes a few times, nodded and said, "Well, I will."

Qi Surong showed a happy smile.

While the siblings were chatting and laughing in the temple, Gu Jinyun and his father visited Qi's house.

Qi's father reunited with his old friend, and he was so happy that he immediately set up a wine reception.

After the two talked about the past, they naturally mentioned the marriage of the Qi and Gu families.

"I'm dissatisfied with Qi, my son is cold-tempered and ill-tempered. He was admitted as a scholar at the age of sixteen. There was some regret on his face, but he still couldn't hide his love for his son.

"Business?" Qi's father looked at Gu Jinyun, and saw that he was handsome and imposing. Although his expression was a little cold, his eyes were bright and he had the quality of a general. He was so talented, why did he choose to be in business?

"Why doesn't my nephew want to be an official?" he asked.

"Official affairs are complicated, not as comfortable as shopping malls." Gu Jinyun replied succinctly.

Father Gu glared at him and said, "Brother Qi, Jin Yun's business career was actually forced by the situation."

"Oh? How do you say this?"

"At that time, I was injured in my right leg, so I was discharged from the army early and returned to my hometown. The emperor gave me a lot of silver taels. I bought a house and land in my hometown, and I planned to enjoy the rest of my life. I didn't want my mother to suddenly become seriously ill and almost spent all my savings I couldn't save her. My wife cared about my foot injury, so I worked alone to support the family, and finally became ill from exhaustion. I had to sell the house to fill the family. Jin Yun was also admitted as a scholar at that time. I had a chance. Recommended for the test, but for the sake of family, I gave up writing and started business."

"So it is." Father Qi's eyes showed some approval.

Gu Jinyun sat aside with a cold expression, but his thoughts were already wandering in the sky. His father always likes to praise his son in front of outsiders, and when he comes home, he is full of hatred.

The two pulled and pulled and finally got to the point.

"What's your brother's opinion on the marriage of our two families?"

Qi's father pondered for a moment and said, "I have to ask Su Rong's meaning on this matter. After all, marriage is an important matter, and it cannot be sloppy."

"Brother Qi said, I don't know where Miss Qi is now? Can you come out and see me?" Gu Chang is a rude man who always speaks straight and doesn't take into account the rules of a big family.

Fortunately, Father Qi knew the temperament of this friend of life and death very well, but he was not angry, he just said: "Today, unfortunately, Su Rong brought Su Bao to the temple to worship incense."

"Oh." Father Gu glanced at his son.

Gu Jinyun stood still.

Qi's father said again: "Brother Gu, will you stay for dinner later? Surong will come back before dinner, and let her meet her nephew at that time."

"That's why it bothers me." Father Gu laughed.

Then, Father Qi and Gu Chang set up a chessboard in the yard and started to play the game.