After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Jiang Lan'er's first thought was that the Tan family had leaked the news of her family's move and the new address of their house.

It's understandable that she thought that way, since apart from the Tan family, her family had no contact with anyone in the capital.

The only in-laws the Jiang family had any connection with were the Liu family, a prominent family in the capital. They wouldn't go out of their way to curry favor with them.

After all, they were relatives of her great-uncle's family, not hers, so there was a certain distance between them.

The Liu family has a concubine in the inner palace. The head of the Liu family, who is also the concubine's father and the emperor's father-in-law, holds the highest official rank.

Given the vast difference in social standing, it's best not to try to ingratiate yourself with them as soon as you arrive in Beijing.

Once their family produces a scholar who has passed the imperial examination, their close relatives will naturally become closer to them. Why bother flattering them now?

It must be said that Jiang Lan'er's years of education have not been in vain. As a woman confined to the inner quarters, she has indeed developed a mindset and foresight that most young ladies lack.

A person with a wealth of knowledge naturally exudes elegance. While others were confined to the rules and precepts for women, they were already reading the Four Books and Five Classics and even travelogues about the world.

The younger brother would often find many good books, and although they didn't go out much, they felt as if they had traveled thousands of miles with him.

As Jiang Lan'er was pondering to herself, the maidservant rushed over and said, "Miss, a young master has come outside. He claims to be the young master of the Tan family and says he has come to apologize."

Jiang Lan'er raised an eyebrow slightly. This young master of the Tan family does have some sense of responsibility, but she wondered how much of it was genuine.

“Since he is an outsider and a junior, let Mingfei come and entertain him. Lian’er, let’s go back to the backyard.”

Just as Jiang Xiaoqi was about to relax and try writing a few exam papers to clear her head, she was pulled out by the female nurse from her sister's courtyard to greet Tan Hao.

Reluctantly, he put down the ink he had just ground, straightened his clothes, and went out to greet them.

"Mingfei, your sudden arrival has disturbed us!"

It certainly caused a disturbance, and it was quite sudden.

However, given the relationship they had built through the sale of the house, Jiang Xiaoqi didn't say anything, only wondering about the purpose of the other party's sudden visit.

"To my shame, it was my mother who couldn't resist the persistent pleading of Miss Feng and Miss Wu, and leaked your new address. I'm here to apologize on behalf of my mother."

"Of course, this is also a reminder to your family that the Feng and Wu families may be sending visiting cards soon."

Well, that's definitely hindsight.

It's not Tan Hao's fault, it's just that the Feng and Wu families acted too quickly.

They had barely moved in when they sent out their visiting cards. They're really something!

Although Jiang Xiaoqi felt a sense of irony in his heart, he still responded politely, "Brother Tan is very kind, but why are the Feng and Wu families in such a hurry?"

Why? Jiang Xiaoqi certainly had his guesses, but he still wanted to ask Tan Hao, just in case the other party knew more details.

Tan Hao scratched his head sheepishly, "To be honest, that Miss Feng is determined to marry a talented young man. She's heard that your family has many scholars who passed the imperial examinations, so she's probably thinking that even if she can't marry into your family, she'll still have your family act as a matchmaker..."

Miss Wu searched everywhere for women of high social standing for her brother, but the steward looked down on him because he was only a scholar. So she set her sights on the candidates who were about to take the imperial examinations.

In the capital, almost every scholar with a daughter of marriageable age is under the Wu family's surveillance. Her actions suggest she's targeting one of your older sisters, Mingfei.

Jiang Xiaoqi sneered, "Such thoughts, so blatantly undisguised. Just because someone is a scholar doesn't mean their family can choose their daughter at will."

The Wu family has such a big face!

Tan Hao sighed, "Mingfei, don't be angry. In this capital city, interests always come first. Even marriage alliances are based on weighing the pros and cons of each party."

Officials did this, and so did the powerful and wealthy. Families of scholars who hadn't yet entered officialdom had to scheme and plot even more; the Feng and Wu families exemplified this.

Jiang Xiaoqi nodded, "Brother Tan is right, but such behavior is really annoying."

Just then, a servant came to report that another visiting card had arrived.

Jiang Xiaoqi took the visiting card and glanced at it, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes. "From this day forward, my Jiang family will close its doors to all visitors!"

"This……"

Tan Hao was at a loss for words, unsure whether he should take his leave now, immediately, or at any moment.

"Oh, except for Brother Tan. You can come anytime you want. Anyway, neither of us needs to participate in the imperial examinations. We can get together privately."

Although Jiang Xiaoqi said that, he knew that Tan Hao wouldn't be coming often anymore.

Firstly, the two were not that close, and secondly, she felt guilty, believing that her mother had brought trouble and distress to the Jiang family.

Tan Hao looked at Jiang Xiaoqi and said, "That's one way. Close the door to visitors to avoid disturbing the elders. After all, preparing for the imperial examination is the most important thing right now."

After Tan Hao took his leave, Jiang Xiaoqi immediately gave instructions. The main gate of the Jiang family was tightly closed, leaving only a side gate for servants to enter and exit to make purchases.

The guards took turns guarding the gate, which was locked and had been hung up again with thick iron chains.

This scene reminded Jiang Wenqing and Landlord Jiang of what it was like before the imperial examinations...

Fortunately, Master Lin and Master Zhao are not here now, otherwise just locking the door wouldn't be enough, and those of them who were preparing for the exam would have gotten a beating if they wanted to go out for some fresh air.

Seeing the two elders breathe a sigh of relief for some reason, Dong Jin and Li Haisheng expressed their confusion.

Xue Xu then realized from the Jiang family's emphasis on the imperial examination that he shouldn't have done that!

Why are you still thinking about romance at a time like this? You can just talk to your elders about this kind of thing. Why create such a silly chance encounter?

I've already spoken to the elders, and they'll make the decision. I just need to focus on preparing for the exams. If I pass the provincial examinations and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), I'll have more confidence to propose marriage to the Jiang family.

After a moment of frustration, he decided to confess his true feelings to Landlord Jiang.

"What! You've taken a liking to my third daughter!"

Landlord Jiang's beard bristled, and at that moment, whether surprised or delighted, he uttered a shout that immediately silenced Xue Xu.

Xue Xu wiped the sweat from his forehead and mustered his courage to repeat himself.

"Yes, I am in love with Miss Jiang. I hope that Old Master Jiang will grant my request. I, Xue Xu, will never fail Miss Jiang. I will only have her as my wife and will never take a concubine!"

Before coming, Xue Xu shrewdly went to Dong Jin and Li Haisheng, two "experienced people," hoping to learn from their experience.

After spending some time together, Dong Jin and Li Haisheng felt that Xue Xu was a decent person, and since they were both scholars, he was qualified to be their third sister's husband.

The two then shared their experiences without reservation, the most important of which was "not taking a concubine," which would greatly impress the elders of the Jiang family and put the beloved at ease.

"Oh? You're saying this? You think you can be the head of the family?"

Jiang Di was interested, but that wasn't enough; he needed the same promise from the other party's parents!

"Yes! I'll write home right away and ask my mother to come to the capital to propose marriage!"