She mistakenly got into the bridal sedan chair and married a sickly but powerful minister, becoming

Shen Qingtan looked somewhat innocent: "It really is true that whatever I say comes true."

"It's alright." Zhao Yi picked up the bound book: "What's meant to happen will happen eventually."

The couple went to the main hall together.

-

After successfully bribing the clan elder, Zhao Jue felt confident of victory.

Therefore, upon returning to the manor, after discussing it with the second master and second mistress, he went to find Duke Zhao and moved the election date forward to today, catching Zhao Yi off guard.

Seeing that Zhao Jue was confident of victory, Shen Mingzhu wrote to invite Madam Shen to come and witness her most glorious moment.

Upon receiving the letter, Madam Shen rushed over without stopping. She found an excuse, saying that Shen Mingzhu had offended a noble person in the palace and was too unruly. So she personally brought a nanny to teach Shen Mingzhu manners, and then stayed in the second house to wait for news.

The entire household was alarmed by the commotion caused by the second branch of the family, and everyone was speculating that the title was going to fall to them.

“I heard that when the Duke was testing him, the Second Master gave an answer, but the Third Master couldn’t answer and then postponed submitting his strategy for half a month. Now the Third Master has brought forward the date, which means he has come prepared.”

"Third Master is busy with strategy, leaving early and returning late every day, while Second Master has been recuperating at Lanxue Garden without making any moves. I'm afraid he can't compete with Third Master?"

"I'm worried that Second Master isn't prepared and will probably lose to Third Master this time."

When the Second Master, Second Madam, Zhao Jue, and Shen Mingzhu went to the main hall, they overheard the servants' conversation and finally let out the pent-up frustration they had been holding in for days.

When they arrived at the entrance of the main hall, they met Shen Qingtan, Zhao Yi, the First Madam, and the Master.

"Elder brother, elder sister-in-law, the sudden early submission of the strategy today shouldn't affect my nephew, right? When the Duke asked the question that day, my nephew was able to improvise. On the contrary, our Jue'er is not very knowledgeable and has no clue at all."

The second wife said with a worried expression, "Jue'er originally wanted to prepare even more thoroughly, but the elders of the clan have taken time out of their busy schedules to come to the capital, and I was afraid of delaying their affairs."

Hearing her pretentious words, the First Madam raised an eyebrow: "A few days earlier or a few days later, the result will be the same for you. There is indeed no need to waste time."

“What my elder sister-in-law says is true.” The second wife deliberately took the elder wife’s words as flattery, and smiled warmly. “We are family. We are all the same family. It doesn’t matter who gets the title. No matter what the result is today, the other one must not turn against us and damage our brotherly harmony just because he was not elected.”

The First Madam glanced at her and said, "It's rare that you've finally come to your senses for once."

The second wife's expression changed, but thinking of the scene to come, she suppressed her anger: Let her be smug for a while!

The group stepped into the main hall and took their respective seats.

Duke Zhao, his wife, and four clan elders arrived and sat down with solemn expressions.

Zhao Jue glanced at Zhao Enhong first, and seeing that he still had a smile on his face, as if to tell him that everything was in good condition, he became even more calm and composed.

This time, the extravagance was deliberately made in order to avenge the previous humiliation.

In the last examination, he was outshone by Zhao Yi, and the rumors in the mansion were that he was inferior to Zhao Yi.

Now that he has taken the initiative, the situation in the mansion is tilting in his favor.

Zhao Jue handed the plan to the Duke of Zhao first: "Grandfather, this is the strategy I wrote."

Duke Zhao took the thick stack of Xuan paper, frowned at first glance, and looked at Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi was drinking water, seemingly unconcerned about the outcome.

Duke Zhao couldn't quite figure out Zhao Yi's thoughts. These past few days, Zhao Jue had been busy coming and going, while Zhao Yi hadn't even left the courtyard.

Yesterday, he sent someone to question him, but Zhao Yi said, "You can do as my third brother wishes, and I will cooperate at any time."

Duke Zhao suspected he was wrong. That day, Zhao Yi hadn't intended to compete for the title; he was just giving him face and showing support. He didn't take the title seriously at all.

He frowned as he read the strategy, then casually handed it to the clan elder beside him.

The clan elders all had stern faces, looking very serious and unapproachable.

Only Zhao Enhong was approachable, and the strategy was only passed on to him last.

After he finished reading it, he placed it on the coffee table next to him.

It took about an incense stick's time to circulate Zhao Jue's strategy.

The second master and his wife were in great turmoil, constantly observing the expressions of the others, but none of them showed any emotion.

Zhao Jue wasn't too worried. The clan elders were a close-knit group, and with Zhao Enhong smoothing things over for him, the title was undoubtedly going to the second branch of the family.

Zhao Enhong spent his whole life striving, but in the end, wasn't all he wanted to be surrounded by a house full of children and grandchildren?

If the only grandson is unwilling to seek medical treatment, then the family line will be broken.

Zhao Jue had grasped Zhao Enhong's weakness and wasn't afraid that he wouldn't take the bait.

Even if Zhao Enhong didn't help him, his strategy was precisely to develop his argument based on Zhao Yi's suggestion, thus seizing the initiative and gaining the upper hand.

If Zhao Yi cannot come up with an amazing strategy, he will inevitably be overshadowed.

Duke Zhao was growing anxious. After they finished reading, he said to Zhao Yi, "Yi'er, what's your strategy?"

Zhao Yi gave Jiang Mu a look.

Jiang Mu held the booklet and presented it to the Duke of Zhao with both hands.

When Duke Zhao saw that it was a booklet, he frowned, suspecting that Zhao Yi was trying to fool him.

But when he opened the cover and saw the preface, his eyes were immediately drawn to it, and he couldn't help but read on.

The people of the second branch were all on tenterhooks. Seeing the Duke of Zhao frowning, squinting, or looking solemn, they couldn't help but wonder: Is he dissatisfied with the strategy?

Sure enough, as if confirming their suspicions, the Duke of Zhao handed the booklet to the clan elder, still with a furrowed brow.

If you were satisfied, your brow should have relaxed long ago.

They glanced at the clan elders again, and saw that the elders slowed down more and more as they looked at them, their expressions as solemn as those of the Duke of Zhao, which made them feel more at ease.

After all the copies had been circulated, the main hall fell silent.

Duke Zhao did not offer his opinion, but instead looked at the clan elders beside him: "Brothers, what are your thoughts?"

The first elder put it very tactfully: "You two have different strategies. One is to mobilize the entire clan to develop the family business, while the other is to have each person use their expertise to cultivate the clan's children. We cannot judge which one is better; we can only see which one is more suitable for the Zhao clan."

The second elder said, "Our original intention was to develop the collateral branches of the clan. We need practical methods, and I have marked the strategies that we intend to implement."

The third elder chimed in, "I share their opinion, so let the fourth elder reveal the result."

Everyone turned to look at Zhao Enhong, then shifted their gaze to the two strategy books, seemingly trying to discern from them who the elders had chosen.

Upon seeing that it was Zhao Enhong who revealed it, Zhao Jue leaned back in his chair in a relaxed posture, looking at Shen Qingtan with deep eyes.

He was eager to see how Shen Qingtan would react after he became the heir to the Duke's mansion.

Shen Qingtan glanced at the confident Zhao Jue, then turned to look at Zhao Enhong.

The atmosphere was heavy, and everyone in the hall held their breath involuntarily.

Zhao Enhong picked up one of the strategy books and said, "The four of us are all optimistic about this strategy."