Every year during the major examinations, not only did wealthy merchants keep their eyes on the successful candidates on the list, but high officials like Assistant Minister Xu couldn’t avoid this custom either.

Every family had daughters and granddaughters. Being an elder wasn’t easy—to prevent the girls in their families from marrying incompetent wastrel sons, the talented young men from the examination results were still more reliable.

“Fourth Girl is not young anymore; it’s time to settle her marriage.” Assistant Minister Xu thought of his fourth granddaughter, his brow relaxing.

His fourth granddaughter was among the finest of the capital’s noble daughters—there was no fear that others would look down on her.

“Does the master have someone in mind?” As a matter concerning her granddaughter’s marriage, the grandmother naturally cared, so she asked again.

“What does Madam think of that child from the Qiao family?”

The Assistant Minister’s wife was stunned.

Assistant Minister Xu sighed: “After all, he’s Qiao Zhuo’s grandson—the moment he took the examination, he became the top scholar.”

Both having fought their way through the imperial examinations, he only admired Qiao Zhuo.

Looking at it now, it was bad enough that he couldn’t compare to Qiao Zhuo back then, but now even the younger generation couldn’t match that man’s grandson. It truly was “comparing people leads to death, comparing goods leads to disposal.”

Fortunately, while he couldn’t produce such a grandson, he could marry his granddaughter to one. His granddaughter was also a famous, talented woman in the capital.

“If the master says it’s good, then naturally it’s good. It’s just that Young Master Qiao’s parents died only a year ago, and he’s still in the mourning period,” Assistant Minister’s wife never opposed Xu Mingda’s decisions, but she raised a concern.

“I naturally know this. That His Majesty specially permitted Qiao Mo to participate in the imperial examination was already an exception—Qiao Mo definitely wouldn’t consider betrothal matters during the mourning period.”

According to Great Liang’s customs, marriage discussions were forbidden during the period of deep mourning. However, he had already completed one year of mourning, and while it was said to be three years total, there was only about one year left. At this time, while marriage wasn’t possible, betrothal was acceptable.

But Xu Mingda knew in his heart that with Qiao Mo taking the imperial examination first, marriage matters would not be considered. Otherwise, having both examinations and marriage discussions during the mourning period would invite criticism from everyone, even with imperial permission.

“If that’s the case, then why does the master still—”

Xu Mingda smiled: “Even without discussing marriage, we can at least sound things out privately first. If Qiao Mo has such intentions, Fourth Girl would only need to wait one year.”

Assistant Minister’s wife smiled along: “The master is right—it would be a pity to miss such a fine young man.”

Xu Mingda calmly took a sip of tea.

Qiao Zhuo once had students throughout the realm. If Qiao Mo didn’t enter officialdom, that would be one thing, but once he took office, those who had once been Qiao Zhuo’s students would certainly open doors of convenience for him.

His granddaughter’s betrothal to Qiao Mo would invisibly pull over the network Qiao Zhuo had left behind.

However, Qiao Mo was a thorn in the side of the Lan father and son. Discussing marriage with Qiao Mo at this time would certainly arouse Lan Shan’s displeasure—waiting one year was just right.

Next year was originally the good opportunity he had been waiting for years to make his move.

When Qiao Mo received Xu Mingda’s invitation to meet at an inconspicuous teahouse, his mood was quite complex.

He hadn’t even taken the palace examination yet, but these past few days had already seen undercurrents surging. The invitations he received piled up on his desk like snowflakes, giving him a real taste of the vast difference between holding office and remaining in private life.

Without holding office, no matter how great one’s reputation, one could only enjoy the world’s admiration but couldn’t influence government policy in the slightest.

But having achieved first place in the metropolitan examination, barring any accidents, he would rank in the first tier of the palace examination and become a prestigious Hanlin scholar. After another ten or twenty years, he might become a force to be reckoned with in officialdom.

Civil officials were different from military officers—they all climbed up step by step, and the courting of a future high minister often began when he first entered officialdom.

Xu Mingda looked at Qiao Mo sitting properly across from him, secretly satisfied.

He had long known that Qiao Mo was mentioned in the same breath as the son of the Eldest Princess Changrong in the capital. At their age, while they didn’t take such things to heart, being close up, one couldn’t help but sigh that Heaven had been particularly kind to the Qiao family boy—he was truly blessed with spiritual beauty, pleasing to behold.

First mentioning his friendship with Qiao Zhuo, then lamenting the Qiao family’s misfortune, after some pleasantries, Xu Mingda finally got to the point: “This old man has a granddaughter, fourth in the family ranking, not ugly, and literate. What does Mo think of this?”

Qiao Mo paused.

With his good memory, he naturally knew which young lady was Assistant Minister Xu’s fourth granddaughter. Because that young lady had quite a reputation, he even knew her given name—surnamed Xu, named Jinghong.

Being in the same social circle, he had met Miss Xu before. His impression was of a cool and dignified girl.

Such people usually had decent character.

Qiao Mo’s mind turned, and he understood Xu Mingda’s meaning, politely declining: “This student is in mourning and finds it inappropriate to comment.”

Xu Mingda was silent for a moment, picked up his teacup for a sip, and smiled: “Let this old man speak plainly. My granddaughter has reached marriageable age, and looking around, only Mo catches this old man’s eye. If you are also interested, then after you complete your mourning period next year, we’ll settle the marriage. If you’re not interested, this old man will find another good husband for his granddaughter—after all, young ladies are different from men and cannot wait.”

“This student—”

Seeing Qiao Mo about to speak without hesitation, Xu Mingda interrupted: “Don’t rush to answer me. Young people are always impatient and often don’t know what they want. How about this—give me your answer after the palace examination.”

Hearing Xu Mingda say this, Qiao Mo couldn’t refuse again and lightly nodded.

Returning to Marquis Guanjun’s residence, Qiao Mo thought seriously.

He was already over twenty. As the Qiao family’s only male heir, continuing the bloodline was a necessary responsibility. After completing the mourning period, marriage matters were indeed urgent.

Xu Mingda’s granddaughter—

With his excellent memory, Qiao Mo clearly recalled Xu Jinghong’s appearance in his mind, but what rang in his ears were his father’s words.

“Assistant Minister Xu is patient and low-key. Many people think he’s incompetent, completely suppressed by the Chief Minister Lan. Just watch—in the future, this person will bite Lan Shan hard and replace him as chief minister.”

This being the case, the Xu and Qiao families’ goals were originally aligned. If he formed a marriage alliance with the Xu family, at least he wouldn’t need to worry about future awkwardness due to conflicting positions.

Thinking this far, Qiao Mo didn’t delve deeper.

Forget it—he’d find a chance to discuss it with his sister.

“Young Master, someone from the Kou residence has come to invite you and Second Miss to dinner,” a servant came in to report.

An invitation from his maternal family, and right when Qiao Mo had just achieved first place in the metropolitan examination, for both emotional and practical reasons, it would be improper to refuse. Qiao Mo tidied himself up and took Qiao Wan in the Minister’s residence carriage to the Kou residence.

On the way, Qiao Wan was glumly unhappy.

“Why is Wan Wan unhappy?” Toward this sister, though not from the same mother, because of their large age difference, Qiao Mo inevitably showed extra affection.

Qiao Wan was naturally lively and couldn’t hide her thoughts in front of her closest brother, complaining: “I feel comfortable at the marquis’ residence. Though I’m happy to see my female cousins when I go to our maternal grandparents’, just thinking about having to speak quietly in front of grandmother and the others makes me feel so annoyed.”

Qiao Mo smiled and rubbed Qiao Wan’s head: “Be good, Wan Wan. Just bear with it.”