Women dressed as men: powerful officials

Chapter 265 Losing is Losing

After a long while, amidst the endless chattering around him, Song Xiuwen bowed his head helplessly: "I lost, I admit it."

If you lose the competition, you lose.

Song Xiuwen didn't want to lose his reputation here.

Song Xiuwen's straightforwardness surprised Xu Yuan a little.

However, now that her goal had been achieved, she had no reason to care about it any further.

The servant took the bow and arrow with good sense.

When Xu Yuan passed by Song Xiuwen, he paused and said, "Mr. Song, when you drove me out of Wenhua Palace that day, you probably didn't think about this day."

Hearing this, Song Xiuwen said, "There is still a long way to go, let's wait and see."

Xuyuan didn't respond.

The morning ended with a competition between two people.

After the masters of Wenhua Palace learned about the competition between the two, they all advised Song Xiuwen not to be impulsive. Some disciples who were not members of the Song family also reminded Xu Yuan overtly or covertly not to anger the Song family.

Xuyuan ignored all of these.

Because, in the capital, there was another rumor that spread like wildfire.

-

After school, Qi Shengxin waited at the palace gate. When he saw Xu Yuan coming out, he immediately invited Xu Yuan to ride in his carriage back.

Xu Yuan originally didn't want to go, but when she saw the carriage from Prince Cheng's mansion was waiting outside, she thought about it and decided to get on Qi Shengxin's carriage.

On the other side, Cheng Xi saw Xu Yuan leaving, lifted the carriage curtain and said, "Your Highness, Master Xu got on the Qi family's carriage."

"Qi Shengxin."

The lighting in the car was poor, and Beiyao's tone was even worse.

Cheng Xi knew that Bei Yao was in a bad mood.

I don’t know why, but Xu Yuan always takes a detour when he sees Bei Yao today.

Not to mention talking, we didn't even make eye contact.

Cheng Xi couldn't help but sigh.

He and Beiyao grew up together and thought he knew Beiyao's temper very well. But after meeting Xu Yuan, Chengxi found that he was wrong.

Because he could no longer figure out Beiyao's mood.

Just like this moment.

Bei Yao was still angry about Xu Yuan's advance, and said with a smile: "Write a letter to Wu Shiming, saying that there is something important, and ask him and Xu Yuan to come to Cheng Wang Mansion tonight. If neither of them comes, ask Chen Shan to invite them."

Beiyao figured it out.

Instead of just guessing why making a wish is so elusive.

Why not talk about everything tonight?

Being procrastinating is not his character.

"Yes."

Cheng Xi responded, lowered the curtain, and drove the carriage away.

In the Qi family's carriage, seeing the Chengwangfu's carriage leaving, Xu Yuan lowered the curtain and said, "This place is not far from my home, I can walk back by myself. Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Qi."

Qi Shengxin understood: "I never thought that one day I could become Mr. Xu's shield."

"Master Qi, you are joking." Xu Yuan nodded and was about to leave.

Qi Shengxin said: "Wait, I have something else to tell you."

"What's the matter?" Xu Yuan was puzzled.

Her relationship with Qi Shengxin was not very good; at best they were just nodding acquaintances.

Qi Shengxin interacted with her because he cared more about her future prospects.

"I didn't know before. I just thought you had some talent but didn't understand the ways of the world. Therefore, I once thought you were reckless and that you wouldn't have achieved anything without the support of a noble family. Today I know that I am the reckless one."

Qi Shengxin looked at Xu Yuan and said frankly: "When you went to the horse farm just now, I thought I must apologize to you for what I said in the past."

Although the Qi family is not considered a prominent family in the capital, they are still a noble family.

As the legitimate son of the Prime Minister, Qi Shengxin has been highly praised since he was a child. At the same time, he also understands that no matter what he wants to do, no matter which path he wants to take, it will be easier to achieve than ordinary people.

Because his last name is Qi.

Therefore, if he wanted to enter the Wenhua Palace, he could enter; if he wanted to take the national examination, he could take the national examination; even if he did not want to take the national examination, he could enter the court by slightly smoothing over his connections.

Over the past twenty years, he has been doing well, and his only rival has been Shen Yichuan.

His family provided him with a favorable life, the best educational conditions and the widest network of contacts, but it also made him realize that the threshold of becoming a member of the gentry was insurmountable and that ordinary people could never be on par with them. If Xu Yuan wanted to gain a foothold in the capital and in the court, he could only rely on the powerful.

Based on this, and in order to protect his sister from the threat of the prince, he said those words to Xu Yuan...

Thinking about it now, Qi Shengxin regrets it very much.

Xu Yuan thought about it for a moment and then remembered what Qi Shengxin was talking about.

She smiled and said, "It's okay. Actually, what you said is not wrong. I am quite reckless. If it weren't for my good luck, I would have died countless times along the way."

"No, I know that you may seem reckless, but you actually know what you are doing. You will never risk your life just for the sake of a momentary pleasure. I admire you for that."

"Before, I didn't know why I lost to Shen Yichuan. Today, I realized that if I had always regarded Shen Yichuan as my opponent, I would never win. Only by abandoning the idea of ​​winning or losing can I truly improve myself."

As Qi Shengxin spoke, he felt infinite emotion in his heart.

"Xuyuan, my father once told me to learn from you. I didn't understand it before, but now I understand my father's good intentions. So, I have one more thing to tell you."

Although Xu Yuan didn't quite understand everything Qi Shengxin said, she nodded in agreement.

Xuyuan said, "You say."

"In order to compete with Shen Yichuan, I never took the national exam before. This year, I am going to take the national exam. I know that you are also going to take the national exam. So, whether you can pass the high school entrance exam depends on whether you can beat me."

"This is your freedom, you don't need to tell me specifically."

Qi Shengxin shook his head: "Official schools and private schools have different ways of taking the national exam. The assessment in Wenhua Palace is no easier than the provincial and state exams. In the end, only three people can take the national exam. In addition, they need to be recommended by ministers of the third rank or above. If I take the national exam, my father will not write a letter of recommendation for you. Have you ever thought about this problem?"

"If I didn't know Prime Minister Qi, I would still take the national exam, wouldn't I?" Xu Yuan smiled faintly, "What's more, I am now the prince's companion. If I want to take the national exam, the prince will make plans for me. Master Qi doesn't need to worry."

Xu Yuan never worried about the things that Qi Shengxin was worried about.

Those who can stand out from the Wenhua Palace and take part in the national examination are almost all ranked in the top ten in the national examination, and high-ranking officials and ministers will take the trouble to win them over and promote them.

"That's right." Qi Shengxin came back to his senses and felt that his worry was inexplicable.

But when Xu Yuan mentioned the Crown Prince, he still said, "Xu Yuan, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and I are relatives by marriage, so I shouldn't say bad things about him. But I still want to remind you that the Crown Prince is not easy to get along with. As the saying goes, being with the emperor is like being with a tiger, so you have to be careful."

"I understand, thank you for reminding me."

Seeing Xu Yuan preparing to leave, Qi Shengxin said, "Let the coachman take you there. A carriage is faster than walking. Besides, the test is coming soon. You should spend your time reviewing your lessons, right?"

Xu Yuan did not refuse Qi Shengxin's kindness again.

However, as soon as I got home, I saw a servant waiting at the door.

Qi Shengxin saw the servant's clothes and reminded him, "That's someone from Prince Cheng's Mansion. Do you need me to go with you?"

What is supposed to come will come.

Xu Yuan declined Qi Shengxin's kindness, and waited until the carriage turned around and left before he stepped forward and asked, "What's the matter, His Royal Highness the Third Prince?"