Following Princess Pingning to the Duke of Qi's Mansion, the Duke of Qi was anxiously wandering around in the front hall.

Speaking of which, the Duke of Qi is also a bit miserable. He was a good Duke, but he ended up marrying a powerful wife like Princess Pingning. She had the support of the Marquis of Xiangyang and was able to talk to the current officials, making him such a top-notch wife.

He was a noble man, but he didn't even have a room for concubines, and he had very few offspring, with only a single child like Qi Heng.

"I have met Duke Qi." Qin Hao bowed slightly and saluted.

Qi Guogong said quickly: "Brother Hao, there is no need to be polite. It's great that you are here. Go and help us persuade Brother Heng. You are usually the best friends, and only your words can be listened to by him."

Qin Hao couldn't help but feel guilty. Speaking of which, he was the initiator of this incident.

"Okay, I'm going to see Yuan Ruo right now."

Duke Guo of Qi hurriedly brought Qin Hao to Qi Heng's yard: "Nephew, please go in. This child has not eaten a drop of rice in three days. I'm really afraid that he won't be able to bear it."

Qin Hao entered the room as soon as he held his hand.

Outside the door, Qi Guogong looked at Princess Pingning with some complaints: "Why do you think this is so troublesome?"

Princess Pingning raised her chin and said arrogantly: "Why bother? Isn't it for the foundation of the Duke of Qi? It's not like you don't know what the situation is now. As a founding noble, you don't have military power in your hands. You, the salt envoy?

The transshipment envoy has aroused the jealousy of many people, and he may be kicked off one day. My father is old and the official's health is not good. At present, there is a turmoil in the city over the establishment of a heir. Who can the Duke of Qi count on in the future?

?”

"Are you willing to let Brother Heng just pick a common girl to be your eldest wife? Don't you want the nobles in Bianjing City to laugh at us in the future?"

Qi Guogong clasped his hands behind his back and said a little anxiously: "But if you do this, Brother Heng can't think about it for a while..."

"No, I know him, he won't do such a thing." Princess Pingning actually felt a little guilty when she said this, otherwise she wouldn't have let Qin Hao come to persuade Qi Heng, but she was strong.

For the rest of her life, she would never allow anyone in the Duke of Qi's palace to challenge her authority, not even her biological son.

In the room, the valet didn't expect to see Qin Hao coming, and wanted him to help persuade Qi Heng.

As a result, Qin Hao sat down on the dining table and picked up chopsticks.

"Well, this roasted goose is pretty good. You are worthy of being a chef from the Duke of Qi's palace. His cooking skills are much better than ours. It's really delicious."

Not because his face turned dark, he secretly cursed in his heart: Are you really our young master’s friend?

Qi Heng, who was on the bed, actually knew that Qin Hao was coming, and it was most likely that his parents had invited him to persuade him, so he kept lying on his side on the bed with his back on his back, preparing to ignore whatever Qin Hao said. This time he planned to

I will fight to the death to defend my right to marry freely.

However, after waiting for a long time, Qin Hao didn't say a word. He was still eating and drinking, and Qi Heng's mouth was watering.

"Zihan, you..."

When Qin Hao turned around, he saw that Qi Heng had sat up from the bed, his face was pale, and he was staring at him with resentful eyes.

"I didn't see that there are so many delicious things. It would be a waste if you just leave them alone." Qin Hao said with a smile.

Qi Heng was speechless for a while, then waved to Buwei: "You go down first, Zihan and I have something to say."

After a moment of hesitation, Buwei finally walked out of the room and closed the door.

When Qin Hao saw Qi Heng's appearance as a sick man, he couldn't help but shake his head and said with hatred: "Is this the way you came up with to fight?"

Qi Heng said feebly: "Otherwise, what else can we do?"

"What you do will only make Princess Pingning and Duke Qi more aware of your child's character. Which adult have you ever seen who would listen to a child?" Qin Hao said without stopping the movements of his hands. He was really a little hungry.

.

Qi Heng was startled, walked to the dining table with empty steps, sat down next to Qin Hao, and asked eagerly: "Then what should I do now?"

"Do you know what Princess Pingning is most worried about right now?" Qin Hao asked.

Qi Heng shook his head blankly.

Qin Hao spread his hands: "Look, you didn't even understand your opponent's needs, and you're just going on a hunger strike here. How can you fight Princess Pingning with this method?"

Qi Heng quickly grabbed Qin Hao: "Zihan, you are very resourceful, you must help me."

"Are you hungry?" Qin Hao scratched the table full of food with his chopsticks.

Qi Heng said resentfully: "Are you hungry? I haven't eaten in three days, so I just drank some water."

"No, help your young master prepare two bowls of white porridge."

"Why do you eat so much and I can only drink plain porridge?"

"You haven't eaten for three days, and your stomach can't stand eating such greasy food all at once. Drink some porridge to recuperate."

"...."

Outside the room, Duke Guo of Qi was overjoyed when he heard that Qi Heng was about to eat, and quickly asked the kitchen to prepare it.

Princess Pingning also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she looked indifferent on the surface, after all, she was her biological son, but she was actually very distressed.

Qi Heng finished the two bowls of white porridge quickly. Seeing Qin Hao feasting there, his throat squirmed and he had swallowed several times.

Finally, Qi Heng couldn't help it anymore and held down Qin Hao's hand holding the chopsticks: "Zihan, you have been betrayed. If you have any ideas, please tell me quickly."

Qin Hao put down his chopsticks and said seriously: "What Princess Pingning is most worried about is the future of the Duke of Qi's Palace. Unless you can prove to Princess Pingning that you can shoulder the glory of the Duke of Qi's Palace on your own, she will definitely help."

Find a good in-law to pave the way for you."

Qi Heng was stunned when he heard this, but hesitated a little: "But how can I prove it?"

"The only way is to take the imperial examination. You might as well make a bet with Princess Pingning. If you can go to high school next spring, you will be allowed to choose your wife. If you can't, just accept your fate." Qin Hao said.

Qi Heng asked doubtfully: "What if mother doesn't agree?"

"Then you just show off. Just do what my cousin Gu Tingye did before he was twelve years old. Who is not a playboy?" Qin Hao unkindly used Gu Tingye as a negative example.

Qi Heng's eyes lit up: "This is a good method!"

With the mission completed, Qin Hao no longer needs to stay any longer, lest the city gate catches fire and harms the fish, and the remaining problems can be left to Princess Pingning to worry about.

At night, Princess Pingning was not only distressed, she was so angry that she almost demolished the house.

After venting her anger, Princess Pingning shouted at Duke Qi: "Look at your good son! If I don't obey his will, he will be like that libertine Gu Tingye. He doesn't take scientific examinations and sleeps in flowers and willows. He

Who is this threatening?"

The corners of Qi Guogong's mouth twitched and he secretly cursed: You are not the same. If I don't obey you, I will not suffer the consequences.

Princess Pingning sat down on the edge of the bed angrily, and Duke Qi asked cautiously: "Then, why don't we just go along with his wishes?"

"What can we do now? If he is really as promiscuous as that Gu Tingye, which noble girl will be willing to marry him? This traitor really makes me mad!"

Two days later, Qi Heng came back to class happily. Apart from his face being slightly pale, he was more energetic than before.

Sheng Changbai thought Qi Heng was really sick, so he asked with concern.

Qi Heng secretly pulled Qin Hao aside and said excitedly: "My mother has promised me that as long as I am on the subject list, I will be allowed to choose among the officials."

Qin Hao nodded. This should be the biggest concession Princess Pingning can make. Her daughter-in-law must at least not be a commoner.

"Don't be too happy too early. There is only half a year until Spring Festival. If you don't pass the exam this time..." Qin Hao reminded.

Qi Heng's face was a little solemn. Although he was confident in his talent, the examination was after all an examination where talents from all over the country gathered together. There was no fixed standard for grading papers. It also depended on whether the article he wrote was to the examiner's taste. Who could

Are you absolutely sure?

Thinking of this, Qi Heng completely focused on his studies. In order to save time at noon, he didn't even go back home and stayed in Sheng Mansion to eat.

Wang Ruofu is naturally happy. How much is a meal worth? This is a huge favor.

Mo Lan was also very happy, and from time to time he would give excuses to his brothers Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changfeng, which was similar to Qi Heng's trick.

Speaking of which, Mo Lan was also 12 years old at this time, and would be 13 after the Chinese New Year. She was getting more and more graceful. Unfortunately, Qi Heng only had scientific examinations in his eyes now. Women would only affect the speed of his drawing the sword. For Mo Lan,

Lan's enthusiasm turned a blind eye.

At this time, Ru Lan would take the opportunity to taunt Mo Lan, which made Mo Lan very angry. The two of them often quarreled over this. Every time, Mo Lan would pretend to be pitiful to win the sympathy of her father Sheng Hong, and Sheng Hong subconsciously felt that

It must be Ru Lan who bullied Mo Lan because of her status as a legitimate daughter, and she often got on the wrong side of things.

This also exacerbated the deterioration of the relationship between Mo Lan and Ru Lan.

Minglan was forced to witness the whole process of their struggle, and was often implicated by them. In addition, Minglan changed drastically and became the most beautiful of the three daughters of the Sheng family. This made Mo Lan greatly afraid.

The old lady of the Sheng family was looking after her from behind, and Minglan's life was not easy either.

Amid all these disturbances, time soon came to the eleventh month of the lunar calendar.

As the winter solstice approaches, the weather in Bianjing City also begins to get colder. On this day, a carriage from the Marquis of Dongchang suddenly arrives at the pier, and the people nearby turn their attention to it.

Almost half an hour later, a merchant ship docked, and a tall, handsome young man walked towards the carriage.

This person was naturally Gu Tingye. Qin Hao stepped forward and cupped his hands: "Cousin, welcome back."

Gu Tingye said with some emotion: "It's been five years, and I'm finally back!"

Gu Tingye was only 16 years old when he left Bianjing, and is now 21 years old.

Fan Lou is the first restaurant in Bianjing. Restaurants in the Song Dynasty usually functioned as hotels in addition to restaurants. Gu Tingye didn't want to go home yet, so he stayed in Fan Lou and treated Qin Hao to a meal.

A big meal.

Qin Hao was not polite. Anyway, Gu Tingye's family was rich. The property left to him by Mr. Bai alone was enough for him to spend his entire life.
To be continued...