You Certainly Know How to Scheme!

"Of course, I know this is risky, but the Jiang Family can't just sit here waiting to die!"

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, his gaze darkened. "So rather than wait for death, we might as well step into the game ourselves!"

After those words, Jiang Jingcheng sat at the head of the hall without speaking for a long time.

Yes, at this moment, he finally understood why Jiang Xiaobai had chosen this path.

It wasn't reckless fooling around.

Nor was it a greedy pursuit of merit.

He had simply... been driven into a corner!

At that thought, a complicated expression surfaced on Jiang Jingcheng's already stern face.

This little brat... had actually thought that far ahead!

Shen Yun's eyes reddened as she looked at Jiang Xiaobai, her heart aching for him.

She suddenly realized that her son seemed to have truly grown up overnight.

And that growth had been brutally forced upon him by the storm raging through the city, by deadly traps closing in at every step.

For a time, the entire hall fell silent again.

No one spoke.

Yet the atmosphere felt even heavier than before.

Just then, Lin Fengshuo slowly spoke.

"So you lured me here with half an essay because you wanted to borrow the weight of my visit today to hold the line for the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate!"

Indeed, his visit had, in an intangible way, offered the Jiang Family a measure of protection.

If nothing else, it would keep some of the fence-sitters in the Imperial Court from choosing sides too readily!

Beyond that, it would probably strengthen Li Bingzhang's resolve to take this step as well!

"Yes, that is indeed the case!"

As Jiang Xiaobai nodded, Jiang Jingcheng couldn't help feeling a jolt.

Yes.

Had Lin Fengshuo not said it himself, he might still not have fully grasped it.

Everything today seemed to be the circumstances pushing them along.

But on closer reflection, wasn't Jiang Xiaobai also using each successive situation to pull everyone into precisely the positions he wanted?

At that thought, Jiang Jingcheng's gaze grew even more complicated as he looked at Jiang Xiaobai.

"You certainly know how to scheme!"

Lin Fengshuo frowned, looking slightly displeased, but a moment later, he laughed again. "Still, for the sake of your essay, I'll let it pass!"

"But you little brat, you must write the second half for me. I... want it today!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Xiaobai nodded respectfully, then slowly turned his gaze to Li Bingzhang. "Chancellor Li, I believe Miss Li has already told you what I said?"

"If this Official-Purchase Scandal is fully exposed, especially since it concerns the Top Rank, the consequences won't affect only the Jiang Family. They will affect you as well."

"After all, as the head of the civil officials, whether the examinations are clean or corrupt falls squarely under your faction's watch."

"If someone with ulterior motives exploits this and blows it up, scholars across the realm will rise in outrage. When that happens... the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate may not be the first thing people think of. Instead, they'll ask what on earth the Chancellor's Residence has been doing to earn its keep!"

He delivered that last sentence without much force.

Yet after hearing it, Li Bingzhang's expression visibly darkened.

He knew perfectly well that Jiang Xiaobai was absolutely right.

The Civil Service Examinations were precisely what the civil officials valued most.

If this affair ultimately spiraled out of control, those who had purchased office wouldn't be the only ones to bear the brunt. The prestige of the entire civil administration would suffer too.

As the chancellor, he could never stand apart and keep his own hands clean!

Of course, that was also exactly why he had agreed to this marriage.

And he had certainly made the right decision in coming this time. Otherwise, he would never have discovered what an exceptional talent Jiang Xiaobai was!

"Then, while Teacher is here, let's settle this marriage between our Jiang and Li families once and for all!"

As Jiang Xiaobai spoke again, Jiang Jingcheng's expression tightened, and his fingers involuntarily clenched around his teacup.

Yes, he had long suspected that this moment would come sooner or later.

But when Jiang Xiaobai actually laid it out in the open, he still felt an indescribable discomfort.

After all, he was a military commander. Forming a marriage alliance with a civil official inevitably left him with some reservations.

As for Shen Yun, her gaze moved back and forth between Jiang Xiaobai and Li Zhiwei, unmistakable anticipation already gathering in her eyes.

Li Zhiwei... lowered her head, her cheeks beneath her veil flushing beyond her control.

Although she had known all along that they would almost certainly discuss the marriage openly.

She still hadn't expected Jiang Xiaobai to be so direct, so decisive.

"Then what do you have to say about this marriage?"

Li Bingzhang looked at Jiang Xiaobai as he asked.

"Quite a lot, actually!"

Smiling, Jiang Xiaobai glanced at Li Zhiwei. "First, our families are arranging this engagement because Miss Li fell for me at first sight!"

"Pfft..."

The moment Jiang Xiaobai said that, Jiang Jingcheng nearly choked to death on his tea!

Yes, even as Jiang Xiaobai's father, he felt that this unfilial son was utterly shameless!

Ignoring Jiang Jingcheng, Jiang Xiaobai continued, "Second, you, Chancellor Li, came to threaten the Jiang Family. If I, Jiang Xiaobai, refused to comply with your wishes, you would move against us!"

"Third, for the sake of the bigger picture, and because I didn't want to put my father in a difficult position, I reluctantly agreed to marry into your family!"

"Fourth, the benefits you promised me included allowing me to become Elder Lin's disciple. Of course... I believe Miss Li had the same idea, so that part... holds together!"

"Fifth..."

As Jiang Xiaobai listed his conditions one by one, Jiang Jingcheng's face turned red from holding himself back.

If things really played out that way, the Jiang Family would certainly preserve its dignity.

After all, that bastard Li Bingzhang would shoulder all the infamy!

Sure enough.

By now, Li Bingzhang's face had visibly darkened.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaobai seemed to gain momentum as he spoke. Finally, his expression became serious, and his voice lowered with it.

"Tenth, and most importantly!"

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai grew more solemn. Then he turned his gaze to Li Zhiwei, the corners of his mouth slowly rising.

"On the wedding day, the spectacle must be grand!"

"Even though I'm marrying into your family, the Chancellor's Residence must still come for me with an eight-bearer bridal sedan, music blaring, and all the pomp and glory!"

"The sedan can't be small, none of the formalities can be skipped, and there must be plenty of guests!"

"Ideally, half the Capital City should see your people forcibly pressing me into the sedan!"

"Hahaha!"

At that final sentence, Jiang Jingcheng could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter on the spot.

Yes.

If Jiang Xiaobai really was forced into the sedan, combined with the earlier conditions.

Then the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate would not only keep its dignity, but even draw some sympathy.

For a time, the more Jiang Jingcheng thought about it, the more delighted he became, and his gaze toward Jiang Xiaobai gained a measure of satisfaction.

Li Bingzhang sat there, his face already taking on a faint greenish tinge.

In truth, he understood Jiang Xiaobai's intentions too.

First, this way, even if Jiang Xiaobai secured his standing as the Top Graduate, it wouldn't beat the grass and startle the snake!

Second, he knew all too well how wary His Majesty was of the Jiang Family. Now that Jiang Xiaobai would marry into the Chancellor's Residence, even if their residence was pushed into the spotlight, the affair would ultimately be whittled down from a major issue to a minor one, and then to nothing at all!

After all, once Jiang Xiaobai married into their family, the Jiang Family would have no heir to carry on its line. For His Majesty, that was undoubtedly a pleasing outcome.

He had to admit that this boy... had considered everything thoroughly.

But the sacrifice demanded of the Chancellor's Residence was a little too great, a little too galling!

He was the chancellor, after all! With this arrangement, he, a civil official, would be made out to be a barbarian!

If word of this spread, wouldn't the scholars of the realm laugh themselves to death?

"All right!"

After finishing, Jiang Xiaobai lightly clapped his hands, his expression relaxing again. "I've said everything I needed to say!"

"Now, let's hear... what the Chancellor's Residence has to say!"