The sickly son died young? After the marriage exchange, I will bring prosperity to his entire clan f

Du Mingxian bowed slightly. "Father, my maid Chuntao went out with me today. Shiyan asked her to buy some things. After she finished buying them, she was deliberately taken out of the city and almost died at the hands of the other party. Someone wants to kill my maid."

Wen Yicheng frowned. "Could it be a mistake? She's just a little maid. Who would want to kill her, or what did she do that would require someone else to kill her?"

"This daughter is unaware of this matter, and she wishes to ask her father to investigate it."

Wen Yicheng stared at Du Mingxian, "Have you thought this through? Are you really going to investigate?"

"Of course, my daughter has always been protective of her own, so she naturally wouldn't let her own people suffer."

"Okay, I understand. You can go back to your own courtyard now."

"Yes, my daughter has left first."

In the study, Wen Yicheng sat idly, while Butler Wen stood beside him.

After Du Mingxian left, Wen Yicheng remained motionless. Butler Wen observed his expression for a long time before he whispered, "Master, should we investigate this matter concerning the eldest young lady?"

"Didn't you hear what she just said? Investigate. Since she's not afraid, investigate thoroughly. Maybe we'll find something else."

"Yes."

"Keep this matter discreet."

"Yes."

Du Mingxian walked slowly back to the courtyard in a very good mood, hoping that Wen Yicheng would not waste her good intentions.

At this very moment, the Feng family is in turmoil.

After having enough fun today, the first thing Feng Er did when he got home was to look for Madam Feng.

"Mother, I want to marry that girl from the Wen family who came back from the countryside."

Madam Feng frowned, stepped forward and touched his forehead, then muttered to herself, "He doesn't have a fever, so why is he talking nonsense?"

Feng Er shook his head, "Mother, I'm not talking nonsense. I want that girl the Wen family brought back from the countryside."

"You, you, you, you've gone mad!" Madam Feng's hands trembled with excitement. "Your father has finally stopped mentioning the marriage alliance with the Wen family, and now you're bringing it up again. Do you believe that your father will come knocking on your door tomorrow to propose marriage on your behalf?"

"Then go and pick her up. I've taken a fancy to that country girl." Feng Er was itching to get her to come out of the Wen family right now, just thinking about how Du Mingxian looked so charming in her light green dress and white veil during the day.

Madam Feng was not interested in having a daughter-in-law from the countryside. When she heard that the Wen family had brought back their eldest daughter from the countryside to marry into the family, she was almost furious. Fortunately, Feng Er himself was also unwilling and strongly opposed it. The Feng family had just lost a child not long ago, and seeing this, Lord Feng was unwilling to force his son, so the matter was dropped.

Now that Feng Er is willing and has taken the initiative to come back and bring up the matter, Madam Feng feels like she's about to die of anger. "No, I won't allow you to marry a woman like that."

“Mother, you don’t understand. I saw her today, and I’m going to marry someone like her.” Feng Er is now determined to marry a woman like Du Mingxian; no other woman can capture his heart.

Madam Feng frowned. "Are you really sure? You don't want that little vixen you're keeping outside anymore?"

Feng Er was slightly taken aback, then turned to look at Madam Feng, "Mother, is there any conflict between these two things?"

"How could there be no conflict? Don't you like that little vixen? If you want to marry that country bumpkin, Miss Wen, I'll immediately send someone to deal with that little vixen."

"Can't I have both? Do I have to choose one or the other?"

"Of course, you can only choose one of the two. Don't you think about it? If you marry another woman, what will happen when she finds out that you have a mistress who has even had a child? How will you handle that? If the Wen family finds out, will they let you off the hook?"

"Don't you think about it? Even if she grew up in the countryside, she's still the eldest daughter of the Wen family. She's not like those girls you keep outside who have no background and can be bullied at will."

Seeing his hesitation, Madam Feng immediately gave him an option, "It's actually quite simple. If you don't marry Miss Wen, I'll find you a good one later, someone with a gentle temperament. I'll support you no matter how many people you want to bring into the household. What do you think?"

“No matter what, I must marry Miss Wen.” Feng Er’s reaction was quite intense this time. “How can those kept outside compare to Miss Wen?”

Madam Feng's face turned cold. "So you don't want the child you're keeping outside?"

“There’s no legitimate son, so how can there be any child? This child can’t be acknowledged. Isn’t that what you told me back then?” Feng Er retorted.

Madam Feng was so angry she could hardly breathe. "You child, has that bitch from the Wen family bewitched you?"

"I don't care, I'm going to marry Miss Wen. It doesn't matter if you disagree, I'll just wait here for Father to come back, and Father will definitely agree with both of us."

"You...you..." Madam Feng felt dizzy.

“Mother, that Miss Feng is really good. You should trust your son’s judgment.”

"It's precisely because of your judgment that I can't believe what would happen if I married a shrew. How would we live like this?"

“Of course, I want my son to have a happy time.” Feng Er said and stood up. “Mother, please rest. I’ll go and pay my respects to my grandmother.”

Having already eaten and washed up, Du Mingxian, lying in bed unable to sleep, was unaware that the Feng family had had some arguments with her that afternoon. At this moment, she was wondering what method Ling Silang would use to come see her, or perhaps tell her his address so she could go there herself.

They're both in the capital now, but they know nothing about each other, can't even meet or talk, it's so frustrating.

The next day.

The capital city was bustling with activity, and rumors were flying everywhere.

Some say that the top three are all backed by powerful figures, with the aim of placing their own people in the imperial court, and that their identities and backgrounds are all fake.

Some say: If the rumors are untrue, how can the emperor allow evildoers to succeed?

Some people say that the second-place finisher should have been the top-ranked finisher, but because he was older than the top-ranked finisher, he became the second-place finisher. In fact, the top three were ranked according to age.

Some say that the princess took a liking to the third-ranked scholar, who originally couldn't even make it into the top three, but because of a single sentence from the princess, he ended up in the top three.

Some people say: ...

There are all sorts of rumors, and this version is spreading more and more, becoming more and more outrageous. In just one day, it has become uncontrollable.

At the grand court assembly, the emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation into how the news had leaked out. He had intended to appoint the third-ranked scholar as the top scholar, but because no one was qualified to take the position, he had wronged a talented person. Now, it was being spread that the palace examination had become a joke.

The final investigation revealed that the Minister of War's daughter, who had been in the palace for several years and was currently in favor, heard the news from a eunuch. On the same day, another daughter of the Minister of War was also present. This daughter told the news to the other noble ladies as a joke and asked them not to tell anyone else.

Other people's secrets are just other people's secrets, and then... that's how the secrets got out.