Looking at him, Zhao Yao saw that Fourth Brother had indeed lost considerable weight recently, with some darkness under his eyes – clearly he had been staying up late. For a moment her heart felt both joyful and sweet, yet also somewhat pained. After gazing at him for a while, she said: “Don’t just focus on studying all the time – be careful not to harm your health…”

Qi Le gave a simple smile, holding his sister’s small hand. All fatigue disappeared as he said: “No matter, no matter. My second brother stays up like this every day and he’s fine, isn’t he? This is nothing for me. No matter, no matter.”

Upon hearing mention of Qi Ying, Zhao Yao felt something strange in her heart.

It wasn’t that she still harbored special feelings for Second Brother, but he had been her childhood fantasy after all. Now hearing him mentioned again, she felt somewhat sentimental.

Qi Le actually knew that his sister Yao had liked his second brother as a child, but he didn’t mind much. Firstly, he felt those were merely childish feelings that couldn’t be taken seriously. Secondly, he had self-awareness and knew he truly wasn’t quite worthy of Zhao Yao. That she had originally liked Second Brother but now was willing to turn and look at him was already cause for joy – how could he spare energy to mind?

However, he realized he shouldn’t have mentioned Second Brother just now. As he was thinking of making amends, he heard Zhao Yao ask: “I heard from Father that Second Brother is chief examiner for this year’s spring examinations. Will he help you?”

Seeing that his sister Yao was still concerned about his examination matters at this moment and wasn’t dwelling on his second brother, Qi Le’s heart grew happy again. With great enthusiasm he said: “Second Brother is fair and upright – he probably won’t help me cheat. But as long as I prepare well, I can pass on my own ability. Sister, don’t worry – I absolutely won’t keep you waiting long!”

His words were quite forceful and moving, greatly touching Zhao Yao. The young couple lingered intimately until they absolutely had to part, reluctantly releasing each other’s hands.

The Qi family generally knew about the matter between Qi Le and Zhao Yao, and among those who knew, Qi Ning was the most informed.

Qi Le had the closest relationship with his third brother. Since the two were similar in age and had studied together since childhood, they were naturally closer. He told Qi Ning everything about his relationship with Zhao Yao, expressing the joy and excitement of young people falling in love.

Qi Ning was naturally happy that his fourth brother would achieve his heart’s desire, but at the same time felt somewhat melancholy for himself.

Eldest Brother was already married, Second Brother and the Sixth Princess would have a resolution sooner or later, and now Fourth Brother was about to marry Zhao Yao – among the brothers, only he remained without his marriage settled.

Qi Ning also had ambitions and was unwilling to carelessly marry just anyone. However, his circumstances were more difficult than Qi Le’s – not only was he a concubine’s son, but he also had no official title, making it even harder to marry a satisfactory wife.

Qi Ning inevitably felt vexed and depressed about this.

Coincidentally, during the polo match, his cousin Fu Rong had happened to inquire about his marriage. After learning of his distress, she privately gave him some guidance.

At that time, the Sixth Princess had already been injured and Second Brother had accompanied her to rest. With one fewer woman on the field, Fu Rong was no longer suitable to play. To keep the teams even, Qi Ning had also withdrawn, the sides were reorganized, and the game resumed. He and his cousin then chatted idly on the sidelines.

His cousin smiled and said: “In my opinion, Jing’an, you’re confused. An excellent marriage prospect sits right before you, yet you can’t see it yourself?”

Qi Ning was bewildered upon hearing this and replied with a bitter smile: “Cousin, please don’t tease me. Looking at my worthless state, what good marriage could I possibly have…”

“How could there not be one?” Fu Rong glanced at him with a smile. “Isn’t Miss Fang about to come of age?”

Qi Ning was stunned upon hearing this.

Sister Wenwen?

Seeing his surprise, Fu Rong smiled again and said: “When we used to study together, I could see you were quite fond of her. After all these years, have you changed your mind?”

These three years, Qi Ning had rarely seen his sister Wenwen again, only occasionally encountering her when visiting Second Brother at Fenghe Garden, or exchanging brief greetings during the annual flower festivals.

Sister Wenwen had been so beautiful as a child she didn’t seem real, and now grown up she was so stunning as to be soul-stirring. Several times when he saw her, he couldn’t help but blush, and even after parting, he couldn’t forget her for a long time.

Such a beautiful sister Wenwen… he would naturally be willing to marry her.

But…

“However,” Qi Ning lowered his head, his tone dejected, “between sister Wenwen and Second Brother…”

Outsiders all said she was Second Brother’s little mistress. Though he didn’t quite believe it, the fact that they had lived together morning and evening for three whole years was undeniable – it was hard to guarantee there was nothing between them. Even if there truly wasn’t anything, Wenwen was still personally raised by Second Brother – would Second Brother allow him to marry her?

Qi Ning didn’t feel he had much hope.

Fu Rong perceived his dejection and glanced distantly at the figures of Xiao Ziyu and Qi Ying sitting shoulder to shoulder under the canopy. Her eyes deepened, then she turned back to Qi Ning and said: “Your second brother has upright character and would never act as scandalously as the rumors suggest – you needn’t worry about that. Miss Fang must marry someone eventually. If not you, she’ll marry someone else. If your second brother truly cares for her, he would naturally want her to marry someone familiar and trustworthy, lest she be bullied by strangers.”

Cousin Fu always spoke gently and reasonably. With just a few words, she made Qi Ning feel there was real hope.

Yes, Wenwen would have to marry someone eventually. Rather than marrying someone else, wouldn’t it be better for her to marry him? Keeping the good fortune within the family.

He was still wavering when he heard his cousin add: “Moreover, she was personally raised by your second brother and is the orphan of his benefactor – he naturally wants her to live well in the future. Even for her sake, your second brother would support you in the official arena afterward. Wouldn’t this kill two birds with one stone?”

This struck right at Qi Ning’s weakness.

Indeed! If he married sister Wenwen, he would not only gain a stunningly beautiful wife for nothing, but also receive Second Brother’s support in examinations and at court – truly killing two birds with one stone!

He was greatly inspired, and this thought took root in his heart. These past days at home, the more he contemplated, the more he felt this matter was promising. However, he had lacked courage to speak with Second Brother these past few days. Today, seeing Fourth Brother and Zhao Yao as sweet as honey, his heart also grew restless, thinking that if he and sister Wenwen could also be like this, then…

The more he thought, the more his heart wavered.

Qi Ning endured and endured, finally speaking with his second brother on New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Eve, the main residence was like every previous year – brilliant with lights, the whole clan gathered, displaying the grandeur and prosperity of Jiangzuo’s foremost family.

The children in the household were growing in number. Hui’er was already five years old, and several other uncles had added grandsons and granddaughters. During New Year, all the children gathered at home to play, creating great liveliness.

Hui’er had grown up and become more lively and talkative. Today being New Year’s Eve, she went around the reception hall speaking auspicious words to the elders and asking for red envelopes. Her father loved her most – normally he would watch over his daughter closely, not letting her leave his side even for a moment. However, these past days, due to his poor mood, he had been neglectful in caring for Hui’er. Today it was Han Ruohui who had been looking after her.

As soon as Qi Ying turned around the screen and entered the reception hall, he saw his eldest brother sitting in a corner with a poor complexion, drinking tea alone with an aloof demeanor that warned both strangers and acquaintances to keep away – completely at odds with the lively, festive atmosphere of the hall.

Qi Ying knew his elder brother was troubled by the reform matters.

Recently, uprisings had occurred in various prefectures and counties. Though all were suppressed by the Privy Council, they remained a hidden danger, constantly reminding the court that reforms were urgently needed.

Reform matters should properly be managed by the Imperial Secretariat, with proposals drafted and then debated by all officials at court, requiring His Majesty’s approval before implementation nationwide. Qi Yun was Right Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat, so reform policies were naturally within his duties. He had devoted all his energy to this, strongly advocating the abolition of the salary system, but progress wasn’t smooth – he faced numerous obstructions in court.

This salary system was quite something to discuss.

Great Liang used the rent-and-corvée system for taxation. All farming households receiving land had to bear certain rent and corvée duties. Since they were currently at war, to ensure military supplies, the pressure of rent and corvée was heavy – each household needed to provide twenty shi of grain, two bolts of silk, and two jin of cotton wadding, sometimes also conscripting one jin of thread as extra expense. The salary system meant that beyond rent and corvée, each household had to provide an additional three bolts of silk and 209 dou of grain for court officials’ salary expenses, making the people’s suffering even more unbearable.

Jiangzuo had been wealthy since ancient times and had been carefully managed for over thirty years since moving south. Though in wartime, the granaries weren’t empty. Qi Yun advocated abolishing the salary system while reducing farmers’ rent and corvée to prevent people from abandoning their fields and homes to wander in foreign lands. After all, once people became displaced due to excessive taxation and were separated from the land, firstly the state could no longer collect taxes, and secondly it would more easily trigger revolts – great harm to both state and people.

Qi Yun had been raising this matter since entering the Imperial Secretariat. Recently, due to uprisings everywhere, it had been put back on the agenda. However, documents had gone up and down several times without approval.

The officials naturally understood this was a matter of national importance and knew the Right Vice Director’s words were very reasonable, but because it involved aristocratic interests, there was much resistance: once farmers’ taxes were reduced and household registrations recounted, the false registrations previously made by aristocratic families would be exposed. Wealthy families could no longer transfer their tax burdens to farmers, and their profits would be greatly reduced.

How could this be allowed!

The officials panicked and all opposed Qi Yun. The Imperial Secretariat’s policies couldn’t be pushed through no matter what – the Chancellery and various department heads were unwilling to cooperate, playing bureaucratic games back and forth. At the last court session before the rest period, the officials had a heated argument with Qi Yun before His Majesty – truly a case of everyone attacking together. Though Qi Yun held the moral high ground, he was outnumbered and was besieged quite wretchedly.

Of course, not everyone opposed Qi Yun: many officials from commoner backgrounds supported this proposal, but most held low positions and carried little weight in court – speaking was like not speaking at all, drawing no attention.

The difficulty was that opinions within the Imperial Secretariat itself weren’t unified.

Officials within the Imperial Secretariat almost all came from aristocratic families, and the Director himself was an uncle from the Fu family – how could they truly support abolishing the salary system and reducing taxes? The Imperial Secretariat only reluctantly pushed out this proposal out of deference to the Left Chancellor, letting officials from the Chancellery and other departments play the villain.

That day in court, Qi Ying watched helplessly as his elder brother was besieged by all officials. Though he felt sympathy, he was head of the Privy Council – despite his high position and great authority, he theoretically had no right to interfere in Imperial Secretariat matters.

He had to consider the family. If he had forcibly intervened then, it would inevitably leave the Qi family with a reputation for arrogance and tyranny.

The result was that Qi Yun was isolated and came to a wretched end, with His Majesty only saying that abolishing the salary system would be reconsidered after New Year.

Qi Ying knew his elder brother was very displeased about this, but he also knew that what made him maintain a cold face even on New Year’s Eve wasn’t anything else, but their father’s attitude toward this matter.

Father also didn’t support this.

Father had his own considerations: he was head of Jiangzuo’s foremost family and was viewed as leader of Great Liang’s aristocracy. Once the salary system was abolished, countless noble families would suffer financial damage. The Qi family itself was deeply rooted with vast wealth and naturally didn’t need to exploit farmers for money and silk, but just because they disdained such methods didn’t mean other families also disdained them.

Once this policy was implemented, the state and people would have good days, but what about the great families? The aristocracy? Though the Qi family was powerful, they couldn’t contend against all aristocratic families – so why insist on their own way and disregard the family for the sake of idealistic loyalty to country?

Author’s Note: Qi Ning: Go for broke – turn sister-in-law into wife! Next update I’m going to find my second brother to discuss marrying his wife! Also, thank you angels for the birthday wishes, I saw them all~ Thank you everyone! Happy heart!