Mistakenly recognized as a cousin, thousands of pampered

Tao Jiuxi ran back to the yard where he lived as if he had seen a ghost.

Her heartbeat hadn't yet calmed down, and Xie Yushu's crazy look kept appearing in her mind. She just thought Xie Yushu was talking nonsense because he couldn't accept that he was chosen to be a concubine.

However, a question always lingered in her mind: Did Xie Jinghuan really kneel in the ancestral hall?

Why?!

She had already rejected Xie Jinghuan, so why should he kneel? Could he use the trick of kneeling in the ancestral hall to force his aunt to convince her to marry him?

The more Tao Jiuxi thought about it, the more absurd it seemed to her. She secretly wondered when she could leave Xie's house.

She had to find a way to get out and go find Shen Zhiyi again. Even if she couldn't get her shop back, she had to ask for some money to buy a house.

She doesn't want to live in Xie Mansion for even a day longer!

Just when her thoughts were in a mess, Tao Qingwan came back at this time.

Tao Jiuxi immediately checked and found that no one was in the courtyard, so he pulled Tao Qingwan aside and asked, "Sister, why did Xie Yuhua marry and bring Xie Yushu with her as a concubine?"

"What? How did you know?" Tao Qingwan was surprised.

"I was just out for a walk and saw Xie Yushu crying. She said that herself. How disgusting is that? They are sisters, and how could Xie Yuhua accept this?" Tao Jiuxi said while making a nauseous expression.

She really couldn't understand this behavior. In her opinion, sisters should support each other, not get along in this way.

Tao Qingwan rubbed her back and said softly, "Sister Yuhua is marrying up this time. She's probably worried that she'll be pregnant or unable to... unable to... so she'll ask Sister Yushu to help her..."

"Stop, no more, sister."

Seeing that Tao Qingwan was too embarrassed to speak, Tao Jiuxi quickly stopped her.

She understood what her sister meant, but she still couldn't accept this approach.

"Jiuxi, you are simple-minded and don't know these things, but this is a private matter of my aunt's family, and we can't say anything." Tao Qingwan said helplessly. She knew that such things were not uncommon in this era, but she also understood her sister's feelings.

"Sister, I am not a simple-minded person. I also understand the relationship between men and women."

"I just think this behavior is disgusting. Putting aside the fact that the sisters share the same husband, even if Xie Yushu is just an accessory and given as a dowry, I still can't understand it."

Tao Jiuxi sighed, his eyes revealing sympathy for Xie Yushu.

Tao Qingwan knew that her sister's thoughts were very different from theirs, but she was powerless to do anything about it. She could only gently hold her sister's hand and offer her some comfort.

"Jiuxi, stay true to yourself, don't be afraid, and don't listen. Sister will protect you." Tao Qingwan said gently and firmly, holding Tao Jiuxi tightly in her arms.

She knew that Tao Jiuxi was trying very hard to be a good boy, listening to her, doing things she didn't like, and abiding by the strict rules that she thought were unnecessary. Tao Qingwan felt a pang of heartache.

Tao Jiuxi simply felt particularly powerless because she had witnessed these things that had destroyed her worldview.

When Tao Qingwan hugged him, he felt as if part of his heart was broken, and tears quietly flowed from the corners of his eyes.

In my sister's arms, the emotions that were suppressed in my heart were released at this moment.

It was a long time before Tao Qingwan let her go.

Tao Jiuxi took a deep breath, wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and became the talkative and cheerful Tao Jiuxi again.

Another day passed, and Tao Jiuxi was giving the old lady a massage at Cixinju when he heard the maid outside come in and announce, "The eldest young master is back! He's been rewarded and returned today!"

The old lady immediately stood up from the couch and ran out with her shoes on. She looked so anxious, as if she couldn't wait to see her grandson.

Today is the day of the palace examination. During the examination, Xie Jinghe was quick-witted and answered questions fluently.

With his outstanding talent and outstanding performance, he won the favor of the emperor.

The imperial edict was issued, and Xie Jinghe was designated as the top scholar and was appointed as an editor in the Hanlin Academy.

Xie Jinghuan, dressed in the clothes of the top scholar, had already ridden a tall horse around the street before returning to his mansion.

All the people in the mansion, about a hundred in number, knelt on the ground in a huge crowd. After the eunuch read out the imperial edict, Xie Mi personally stuffed a lot of reward silver into the pockets.

The entire Xie Mansion was decorated with lights and was very lively.

Tao Jiuxi always followed the old lady who was smiling from ear to ear, serving her busily.

The old lady didn't look uncomfortable at all. She looked so energetic that she seemed several years younger.

In this state, he could run 800 meters around the playground without having to stop to breathe.

Tao Jiuxi looked at the old lady's excitement and couldn't help but feel happy for Xie Jinghuan.

After all, this honor not only belongs to Xie Jinghuan personally, but also brings supreme glory to the entire Xie family.

The whole family was busy all day, and it was not until the evening that Xie Jinghuan arrived at Cixinju.

Everyone in the family came together today, and the Tao sisters also stood in the corner.

Xie Jinghuan knelt upright and said, "I have lived up to your high expectations, Grandmother. I have come here today to express my gratitude for your guidance."

"My dear grandson, please get up soon." The old lady excitedly took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Ji Miaofu also shed tears of joy, and the whole family was happy for Xie Jinghuan.

After the show, Tao Jiuxi walked back holding Qingwan's arm: "Sister, what rank is the top scholar?"

"From the sixth grade."

"So powerful, yet he's only from the sixth rank?"

"You silly girl, it's been so long, how come you still don't understand these things? Although the top scholar is of the sixth rank, he holds a noble position and can be close to the emperor and the core decision-makers of the court. He has more opportunities to be promoted and appointed. Moreover, many prime ministers are from top scholars. Brother Jinghuan's years of hard work have finally paid off."

"Brother Jinghuan is really amazing. I racked my brains but still couldn't get into a 211 university." Tao Jiuxi sighed in a low voice.

"What is 211?" Tao Qingwan asked curiously.

“It’s also a very impressive institution.”

"Jiuxi, from now on, don't say these things except in front of me." Tao Qingwan frowned slightly, with a hint of worry in her tone.

She knew that in this era, Tao Jiuxi's words might cause unnecessary trouble.

"Don't worry, sister. I'm only like this in front of you." Tao Jiuxi held Tao Qingwan's arm tighter. She knew that her sister was doing this for her own good.

Tao Qingwan never questioned Tao Jiuxi about these strange words, but she understood them all in her heart.

The two returned to the yard and chatted for a while, then Xie Jinghuan came over again.

In the yard, Tao Jiuxi carried a teapot and two cups, walked slowly towards Xie Jinghe, and asked him to sit on the stone bench in the yard.

"I haven't congratulated you yet today. Now I'll offer you tea instead of wine. I offer my congratulations to you, brother. I wish you a bright future and success in everything you do."

Tao Jiuxi handed Xie Jinghe a teacup, raised his own cup, gently touched it to Xie Jinghe's cup, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Xie Jinghuan held the wine glass but did not drink it.

"Drink it? There's a tea in here that helps you sleep." As he said that, Tao Jiuxi reached out and pushed Xie Jinghe's cup.

Xie Jinghe didn't want to drink the tea at first because of Tao Jiuxi's word "little sister", but seeing that Tao Jiuxi didn't notice what he cared about at all, he just felt that he was too fussy, as Tao Jiuxi was careless by nature.

Then, Xie Jinghuan drank up the tea in the cup.

"Have another one. Drink this and go back to have a good sleep." Tao Jiuxi poured another glass.

Xie Jinghuan did not pick it up. He said seriously, "Xier, I passed the imperial examination today..."

"I saw it today. 'The spring breeze is blowing, the horse's hooves are galloping, and I can see all the flowers in Chang'an in one day.' Brother is very majestic." Tao Jiuxi responded with a smile, but there was no other emotion in his eyes.

"I beg my mother that if I pass the imperial examination and win the first place, she will help me propose to you." Xie Jinghe stared at Tao Jiuxi with full of expectation.

"Brother, are you afraid that you don't understand what I mean?" Tao Jiuxi didn't expect Xie Jinghe to be so impulsive, and he couldn't help feeling helpless.

"Mother has known my feelings for a long time, but when I came back from the polo match that day, Yuhua told her about you and Duke Shen. Mother was angry and no longer allowed me to get close to you. I knelt in the ancestral hall every day and begged her for many days before she relented and promised that as long as I passed the imperial examination and became the top scorer, she would ask for you in marriage on my behalf." Xie Jinghe said seriously, his tone full of persistence.

"Brother, if I didn't explain it clearly last time, I will say it again this time. If you want to say this to me again next time, please send me out of the house." Tao Jiuxi said decisively, but she knew that whether she could leave the house depended on Shen Zhiyi's consent.

She didn't want to give Xie Jinghuan any more hope, nor did she want to put herself in a more complicated situation.

Before Xie Jinghuan came, he thought of Tao Jiuxi's decisive words, but he didn't expect them to be so decisive.

He stood up and said, "I can wait."