Lu Ding gritted his teeth, "You little rascal, you always get on my nerves. Don't laugh, you are the same too."

Lu Yin Xue smiled sweetly, "Grandfather, I'm being wrongly accused. Where did I offend you? I haven't said a word."

"You two are the same, both dazzled by that brat from the Fu family."

"That means my brother and I have good taste, right?" Lu Yinxue smiled sweetly. "I'd already set my sights on the new top scholar, so it saved you the trouble of having to snatch him afterwards."

Lao Lu twitched his lips, that's true.

Although he hasn't officially met Fu Liujin yet, many people have whispered in his ear that the new champion is exceptionally talented.

The most important thing is that he also praised his good eye for talent. He saw potential in him even when he was just a poor kid.

He was a bit embarrassed at the time, but seeing those old fellows' envious eyes, he smiled along with them too, it was pretty nice.

"You're looking rather smug, aren't you?" Old Master Lu said with a playful scold.

Lu Yin Xue blinked her eyes, "Of course I'm beautiful. You know, so many young ladies envy me. Just say when the results were released, I saw many envious glances from the young ladies. Grandfather, my eyesight is so good, you deserve all the credit."

"Stop flattering me, it's useless. You think he's so great just because he's a new top scholar? Look at you all, acting like you've never seen an official before."

Lu Ding smirked. Their family was still in office.

Isn't that amazing?

Now the Fu family is vastly different from what it once was. It has become a prominent family in Beijing, with a top scholar, a general, a royal merchant and even a princess as members. They are incredibly wealthy and powerful, but even more importantly, they are about to have a queen join their ranks.

Just as it is said, the Fu family was aloof before, but now they are beyond our reach.

Fu Liujin and Lu Yinxue's marriage has been dragging on for a long time. The two people like each other and there are no major issues. Fu Baimian and Tian Guihua brought a heavy dowry to propose.

Lu Ding's grandfather was indeed trying to cause trouble, but upon thinking of his grandson's threats, he gave up.

This Fu family, they're really evil.

The marriage arrangements have been made. They will wait for Fu Sanjin and Fu Sijin to return, then they will choose an auspicious day for the wedding.

Lu Yinxue knew that the Fu family valued family unity above all else. Missing even one member would be a regret, and she naturally felt that this was a good thing.

A family that looks after each other will share in happiness and burdens.

Besides, if she refuses, it would make her seem like a desperate woman who wants to get married.

Anyway, the matter is settled. Everyone in the capital knows about her and Fu Liujin's relationship, there's no escaping it.

While Old Master Lu appeared to be tough-talking, how could he not know just how difficult the imperial examinations were? Even for these wealthy young men in the capital, becoming a top scholar was incredibly difficult.

Those who, like Fu Liujin, have come step by step from the countryside face even greater difficulties.

As for the Fu family, they had lived a difficult life before and also wanted their son to study. This shows that they were far-sighted people, not narrow-minded.

And over the years, even though he hadn't been in close contact with them, he had still heard about how outstanding the Fu family's sons were. He had been paying attention to them all along.

He had already accepted this marriage in his heart, but he just couldn't get past face.

"Liujin, can you play chess?" Lu Ding asked in a deep voice.

Fu Liujin quickly got up, “I'll be there in a bit.”

"Just a little bit won't do, in two days, some old friends of mine are going to play chess with me, you go learn together."

Fu Liujin understood his grandfather's meaning, "Yes, grandpa."

"Ahem... Should I call you Grandpa...? "

"Grandpa?"

"Alright, alright. Let's just call him grandpa for now. It was bound to happen anyway." Old Master Lu waved his hand. "If you don't do well, practice these next few days. Don't embarrass yourself."

Yes, Grandfather.

Fu Liujin's chess skills are indeed average. These years, he has put all his energy into studying. However, he has a brilliant military advisor!

Fu JiuJiu immediately handed him a chess game that night, "Sixth Brother, take it. Sharpen your skills before the battle, don't let those old geezers get ahead of you."

Fu Liujin stayed up all night to make up for his sleep and, on the day of the game, he dominated everyone, leaving a group of old men cursing.

Old Lu was delighted. He patted his friend's shoulder and said, "Child, child, you don't know any better."

But he was happier than anyone else.

Fu Liujin also knew how to let someone win. When he played chess with Old Lu, he lost.

The old man was even happier.

Lu Yinxue held the tea over and the two looked at each other and smiled.

Lu Ding also patted Fu Liujin's shoulder, "This kid is clueless, fresh out of the gate. You guys have to watch over him for my sake in the future, or else, I'll make things difficult for you."

Only then did Fu Liujin understand that the game of chess was just an excuse. The old man was paving the way for him.

All of them were the old master's close friends and now held important positions in court. Although the old master was saddened by his daughter's affair and no longer interfered with court affairs, his influence reached throughout the government.

I said to Lao Lu, "Can you stop taking advantage and acting smug?"

Lu Ding looked at Sun Ge Lao, "How can you say that? What benefits did I receive? Didn't I just fancy a son-in-law, and now I have a jinshi?" Look at you all.

Show off.

Flaunting in the open.

Mr. Sun and the others were envious, but not hateful. "Yes, you have good taste," they said, "We can't compare."

"That's right, my eyesight is unmatched by ordinary people. You should learn from me. Of course, your granddaughters and grandsons also need to be attractive. Look at our Silver Snow, she's so pretty."

Lucy Silver's face flushed slightly, "Grandpa, you shouldn't exaggerate like that. If you praise me any more, I'll be considered too extravagant compared to Liu Jin."

"They won't be able to," Old Master Lu said, then burst into laughter.

……

Although Tang Xian had asked two sisters-in-law to help, Bai Ruozhuang and Du Xiyue felt that this matter still needed to call upon Fu Jiujiu.

Thus, Fu Jiujiu was pulled over.

Looking at the little girl so lazy, Bai Ruozhuang and Du Xiyue couldn't help but laugh and cry.

"Chirp chirp, how about this?"

Fu Jiujiu had begun to doze off, “Big sister-in-law, I’ll listen to you about this. You make the arrangements.”

Bai Ruozhuang, seeing her like this, could only take out a notebook. Fu Jiujiu was astonished, "What is this?"

Bai Ruozhang and Du Xiyue smiled knowingly. "This, ah, is what my sister-in-law and I prepared for you. This contains information about all officials of rank two or higher and their spouses in the capital."

"Wow, you guys are amazing!"

She wanted to say that was so impressive.

Forget it.

"What's this about? Actually, everyone has such a book in their heart, they just haven't written it down."

Fujujiao absolutely believes, “Being a woman is so hard.”

When women are difficult, but Fu JiuJiu is an exception. It's not that she isn't a woman, it's just that Tang Xian could solve all her troubles, so he solved them for her.

"You won't be able to for long anyway. Once you enter the palace, will you still need to arrange things?"

Du Xiuyue replied, "Even if it's arranged, it's up to Jiujiu how she speaks, how she sits, and who dares to talk nonsense? As for everything else, elder sister-in-law, I think our extra preparations are unnecessary."

Fu Jiujiu shook her head and quickly put the book away, "This thing can be very useful."

First published on [Traditional Chinese] Novel Network

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