Tianliangyuan

Chapter 238: He's definitely not bad looking!

Chang Yuande was still in a daze when he was sent to study at the Imperial Academy.

This time, Master Chang was truly convinced.

Even when his father was alive, he wasn't this powerful.

So, they are ultimately different.

Don't underestimate the Marquis of Anxin's mansion just because it's a marquis's mansion. In the entire capital, who would dare to look down on it?

Leaving aside Xu Han's position in His Majesty's heart, just the mention of Xu Zhaozhao is enough to make all the young ladies in the capital envious and jealous.

So power is a good thing, but how to use power, how to acquire power, and how to control power are all things to learn!

Trust doesn't come from nowhere.

This is true.

If Xu Han hadn't consistently refused to take up a concurrent post in the Ministry of War, how could he have gained the Emperor's trust?

If Xu Zhaozhao hadn't given up such a huge benefit, why would His Majesty have granted her the title of County Princess?

Ultimately, it all came down to exchanging things for it.

Master Chang could see clearly and knew that there must be someone or something in the Chang family that caught the eye of this county princess; otherwise, why would she be willing to lend a helping hand?

As for Xu Zhuzi's request that day, he believed it at the time, but upon reflection, he realized that the reason was completely invalid.

As a county magistrate with a real fiefdom, how could they not find a skill for them to learn?

It's just a pretext.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Master Chang sent a visiting card, hoping to meet the heir of the Marquis's mansion.

After receiving the invitation, Xu Junan pondered it for a moment and realized that it was most likely aimed at Zhaozhao.

When Xu Junan arrived at Ziyuan, Xu Zhaozhao was watching cats and dogs fight.

There's nothing special about these cats and dogs; they're just a big yellow dog and a tabby cat.

However, the tabby cat was quite fat, but when it fought the big yellow dog, it was not at all at a disadvantage, and the speed at which its paws swung out was really fast!

"You seem to be quite relaxed."

Xu Zhaozhao turned her head and saw it was him. Without getting up, she simply gestured for him to sit down on the chair next to her.

"Aren't you busy today, brother?"

"No matter how busy I am, I still have to keep an eye on you."

Xu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow: "Is Big Brother here to teach me a lesson?"

Helpless, Xu Junan handed the note to her.

Xu Zhaozhao glanced at it briefly and said dismissively, "He can come whenever he wants."

"It's them, father and son."

"Oh, the same."

Xu Jun'an sighed: "Zhao Zhao, why did you suddenly help Chang Yuande? You have to give me a reason!"

"I find him pleasing to the eye now."

Although Xu Zhaozhao didn't know much about the Chang family before, she had secretly sent someone to contact Chang Yuande.

Moreover, she even had Chen Xiangxiang's maid test Chang Yuande and found him to be a young man of good character.

"Zhaozhao, you have a fiancé!"

One sentence made Xu Zhaozhao, who had just taken a sip of tea, spit it out immediately.

Fortunately, she turned her head away when she sprayed, so she only got her own clothes dirty.

Xu Junan frowned: "What kind of behavior is this!"

Xu Zhaozhao coughed a few times before complaining, "Big brother, are you scaring me with your words? What do you mean I have a fiancé? You don't think I've taken a fancy to that Chang Yuande, do you? I'm not blind. Although he's handsome, I still prefer Sanlang's type. Don't try to play matchmaker."

Xu Jun'an was so angry that he wanted to cover her mouth.

Is this just nonsense?

"outrageous!"

After catching her breath, Xu Zhaozhao drank a few sips of tea and finally recovered.

"Brother, Grandmother is looking for a husband for Xiangxiang."

"Well, I know that."

Xu Jun'an's eyes widened: "You mean Chang Yuande and Chen Xiangxiang?"

"Xiangxiang's father has been transferred back to the capital, and his official position won't be very high. Moreover, he has been away from the capital for too long, and our Marquis's family's connections alone are not enough for him to gain a foothold in the court. Grandmother is ambitious and always feels that Xiangxiang can be married to a noble son, so that she can use his influence to help her uncle."

Ultimately, however, marriage between two families is about matching social status. The Chen family is weak; how could Xiangxiang possibly have a real chance of marrying into a noble family? Even if she did marry into one, she would only be an unfavored offspring, possibly even an illegitimate son.

Seeing that her brother was indeed deep in thought, Xu Zhaozhao knew that he had taken her words to heart.

“Brother, I don’t mean to look down on children born out of wedlock, it’s just that the ethical and moral principles are what they are. Some things, once you make a mistake, can last a lifetime. My mother and I have seen the husbands that Grandmother has chosen for my cousin Xiangxiang. They are either playboys or fools who have lost their wives because of family matters. If my cousin really marries into such a family, in the end, it will be our Xu family who will have to help her.”

Xu Junan sighed and nodded slightly.

Ultimately, they are relatives, and if something really happens, the Xu family cannot just sit idly by.

"The Chang family is quite prestigious, and I received news today that Lord Chang's position may also be reassigned."

Xu Zhaozhao nodded: "He has always been a down-to-earth person. He was in mourning for his father for three years. Now that he has returned to officialdom, he has finally managed to do things well, and he has also taken care of the family matters. Naturally, the people above him are willing to use him."

Xu Junan was taken aback; he had never thought about this question before.

But who is Xu Zhaozhao?

In her past life, she was someone in a position of power.

Therefore, those in positions of power naturally have that perspective when it comes to hiring people.

Think carefully about why the Chang family has been declining for more than ten years.

Why is His Majesty unwilling to give important positions to the deceased Earl?

I just look down on him because he's such a fool!

Moreover, with family affairs being so complicated and disorganized, how can those in positions of power trust you to handle political affairs well?

Now, Third Master Chang has readily divided the family property, sending Kong Shi to First Master Chang's house as well. Third Master Chang is a self-disciplined man, and there is no fighting among his wives and concubines, nor any petty thoughts among his illegitimate children. With this simpler life, he can devote more energy to official business.

Therefore, those in positions of power naturally prefer to employ such reliable and hardworking individuals who are easy to manage.

Having figured out the key point, Xu Jun'an nodded: "Sister is indeed farsighted. Father is right. If you had been born a man, you would definitely have a place in the court."

Xu Zhaozhao rolled her eyes: "Give me a break! Do you really think being an official is a good thing? Even if I were a man, I wouldn't be an official, it's too tiring! I just want to live the life I have now, lazing around like a lazy bum, with food, drink and money, isn't that great!"

Xu Jun'an's lips twitched. He had to use a lot of effort to suppress his anger. Why was his younger sister so unambitious?

But then I thought, she's already a county princess, how much more ambitious can she be?

Is she hoping to be granted the title of Princess again?

Xu Jun'an deliberately chose to meet the Chang family father and son in a pavilion near Ziyuan.

Because of the many people's praise for Chang Yuande, Xu Jun'an naturally had to take a few more glances at him.

I must say, she's definitely not bad looking!