Do you know: I, a commoner prime minister

Chapter 90 Gu Tingye's Choice

Sheng Changbai said, "Actually, it's not entirely impossible. We could establish a special examination for military strategy, which would allow us to select talented individuals who are proficient in strategy. However, the officials in the court would not agree to that."

"This does have some effect." Zhou An pondered for a moment and nodded.

The so-called imperial examination system was also a way for the court to select talents.

The imperial examination was called the regular examination, and it selected a relatively comprehensive range of talents.

However, the subject-based system is different; it is a targeted selection of talent.

For example, if the imperial court needs talent in water management but there is no such talent in the court, it can establish a special examination to select such talent.

During the exams, the focus was almost always on flood control.

Sheng Changbai meant that the focus should be on strategy, and that civil officials skilled in military affairs should be selected through a special examination.

However, this method has a major problem: civil officials who want to serve as military supervisors in border troops or support military expeditions in the court need to be of a relatively high rank.

Even if we select civil officials who are proficient in both literary and military arts, we can't appoint them all without regard to seniority, can we?

"Another way is to let some ambitious noble sons pursue literature, especially those like Zhong Huai who have studied military strategy and martial arts since childhood."

"If there were some noble sons like Zhong Huai in the court, what would my brother-in-law think?" Sheng Changbai smiled.

"It's hard to say!"

Zhou An pondered for a moment and said, "They might find it difficult to be accepted by civil officials, and they might even forget their original intentions!"

"Um."

Sheng Changbai nodded in agreement, saying, "But there's no harm in trying, and it will only benefit Zhong Huai, not harm him!"

Studying literature and taking the imperial examinations did not prevent Gu Tingye from joining the army. Even if he became a civil official after passing the examinations, he could still be transferred to a military position.

It's not difficult for a civil official to become a military official, but it's almost impossible for a military official to become a civil official.

The government also needs to be wary of those who accumulate prestige in the military and then become civil officials.

"That's true!" Zhou An nodded slightly.

"Is brother-in-law hungry?"

Sheng Changbai said, "Shall I have someone send some food over?"

Zhou An could be considered both a guest and a member of the family.

There are too many guests today, and the Sheng family home is only so big, so it's not easy to make arrangements. Therefore, Zhou An was not invited to take a seat.

These younger generation members don't have to entertain guests, so they're actually quite free.

"I am a little hungry." Zhou An nodded.

Sheng Changbai summoned his servant and asked him to fetch some food from the kitchen and bring it over.

Zhou An and Sheng Changbai had lunch in the study and then took a nap on the soft couch there.

When he woke up, the betrothal banquet had already ended and the guests had all left.

The Sheng family booked an inn in advance to accommodate the Yuan family.

Yuan Wenchun and his wife have been taken to an inn to rest.

Zhou An went to Shou'an Hall to find Shulan, and the young couple went for a walk in the garden.

These past few days, the couple haven't been able to stay together. Shulan has been spending most of her time at Shou'an Hall, so there's no room for them to be intimate, or even to have private conversations.

With some rare free time and no one else in the garden, the two could finally catch up on everyday life.

"My lord, Second Sister had a huge fight with Second Uncle because Lord Yuan and his wife didn't come. She was insisting on canceling the marriage, and Second Uncle had to persuade her for a long time before calming her down!"

Shulan whispered, "As a result, today Brother Changfeng almost gambled away the betrothal goose again, and Second Aunt was furious again!"

"We younger generation shouldn't interfere in these matters, so please don't say anything!" Zhou An reminded him.

"I know!"

Shulan whispered, "I'm just worried about my second sister. With the Yuan family's way of doing things, she'll probably suffer if she marries into that family."

"There's nothing we can do about it, but eventually the clouds will part and the moon will shine through," Zhou An comforted him.

"My lord, do you know?"

Shulan looked up at Zhou An and smiled, "From a young age, I was taught that marriages were arranged by my parents and matchmakers. When I was about to come of age and learned that my parents had started talking about my marriage, I didn't think much of it."

I just felt that I would eventually get married, and it wouldn't matter who I lived with.

But after marrying the official, I realized that it wasn't like that at all.

As Shulan spoke, her face flushed red with embarrassment, but she still looked at Zhou An without flinching.

"Is this my wife's way of affirming me?" Zhou An smiled and reached out to pull her into his arms.

"Ah~"

Shulan said urgently, "My lord, please let go quickly. It would be so embarrassing if someone saw this."

"We're husband and wife, what's there to be ashamed of?"

Although Zhou An said that, he still loosened his grip on Shulan.

"My father-in-law is going to the capital to escort the bride, and I also need to study with my uncle-in-law for a while, so I'm afraid I'll have to stay in Yangzhou for some time. I'm thinking of renting a courtyard nearby, as living here isn't very convenient," Zhou An said.

"Did any servants give the master a hard time?" Shulan asked hurriedly upon hearing this.

"What are you thinking!"

Zhou An said, "I was thinking of staying at Uncle Yue's house, but it's inconvenient since we have to sleep in separate rooms."

Upon hearing this, Shulan lowered her head in embarrassment and whispered, "But wouldn't Uncle and the others be able to guess?"

"What's the big deal?"

Zhou An said nonchalantly, "Even Confucius said that food and sex are human nature. It's inconvenient for us as husband and wife to be like this. Don't worry, my wife, I'll talk to Uncle Yue about this after my father and the others go to the capital."

"Um."

Shulan responded shyly; in fact, she also wanted to fall asleep in Zhou An's arms every night.

If Zhou An were studying away from home, it wouldn't be a problem. But now that they can see each other, they have to sleep in separate rooms.

.........

The next day, the Yuan family set off back to Bianjing, but Gu Tingye did not leave.

Instead, he would go to the Sheng family every day to chat with Sheng Changbai and Zhou An.

That day, Gu Tingye chatted idly in Sheng Changbai's courtyard until evening, and then invited them to go boating and dining on Baozhang Lake outside the city.

Baozhang Lake is the later Shouxi Lake, but it is not called Shouxi Lake yet.

There are many large boats on the lake, where you can enjoy the scenery and have a meal.

"Since Zhong Huai has extended such a warm invitation, I won't stand on ceremony. I'll be setting off for Bianjing in a few days anyway!" Sheng Changbai said with a smile.

"Zhonghuai!"

Zhou An looked at Gu Tingye seriously and asked, "Are you really just inviting us for a boat trip and a meal?"

"Brother-in-law, you..."

"Zecheng, don't speak yet!"

Sheng Changbai sensed something was off about Zhou An's tone and was about to try to dissuade him when Zhou An interrupted him.

Zhou An just stared at Gu Tingye, waiting for his answer.

He has figured it out in the last few days: the assassination attempt on Gu Tingye in Yangzhou was probably not an accident.

Gu Tingye came to Yangzhou to inherit the Bai family business, but he hasn't visited the Bai family in the past few days.

Gu Tingye hasn't offered to treat them to a meal in the past few days, and tomorrow is the day of Old Master Bai's funeral.

The reason Gu Tingye didn't go to the Bai family was that he wanted to show up on the day of Old Master Bai's funeral.

Because Old Master Bai was a well-known philanthropist in Yangzhou, officials of all ranks in Yangzhou would come to see him off.

When Gu Tingye produces his will, with so many officials as witnesses, the Bai family will be unable to stop him from inheriting the family business.

It was quite unusual that he would invite the two of them to dinner and a boat trip on the lake the day before his maternal grandfather's funeral.

In other words, Gu Tingye likely knew that leaving the city would lead to assassination attempts, yet he still invited the two of them to go together.

Although the Bai family knew Sheng Changbai and his identity, they dared not take action against them.

But in chaos, anything can happen.

He just wanted to see if Gu Tingye would confess.

If Gu Tingye can be honest, it means he is a person worth befriending.

If Gu Tingye continues to conceal it, he will never have anything to do with him again.

Gu Tingye's gaze was somewhat evasive. He felt as if Zhou An had seen right through him, but Zhou An couldn't possibly know that.