There is a large mansion covering an area of ​​more than 30 acres in Zhengpingfang, Luoyang. This is the family house of the Cui family in the capital. This is also because Luoyang is worth a thousand gold. Almost every county in the world buys land to build houses in the capital. This is a cultural tradition since ancient times. The proximity to the center of power allows them to obtain more resources, convey ideas from father to son, and inherit from generation to generation. ⊙,

As one of the five surnames and seven hopes in the world, the Boling Cui family naturally would not be willing to be left behind. They spent a lot of money near Tianjie in Luoyang and built this 30-acre mansion. In addition to the Cui family's children who were studying in Beijing, they also became the temporary residence of Cui family head Cui Zhao in the capital.

Although Cui Zhao was the head of the Cui family, he did not have much power in the family, and he was even just a head of a family with a reputation but no real power.

Due to the fact that the Cui family has been passed down for hundreds of years and has produced many talents, the Cui family's seven legitimate families are very strong, but the Cui family's real power organization is a clan elders composed of seven legitimate families recommended representatives. It is composed of seven respected elders who decide all the major affairs of the family.

Although the head of the family is only a representative of the family, its status is still very high. The head of the family is changed every ten years, but the head of the family is not necessarily taken turns by each house, but it is the result of the compromise between the clan elders.

For example, the previous head of the family was Cui Zhao's father Cui Zhenglian. As the largest legitimate wife of the Cui family in Boling, Cui Zhao of course hoped that his son Cui Wenxiang would be the next head of the family.

Cui Zhao has been the head of the family for five years, and a new head of the family will appear in five years. However, the heirs of the head of the family must be appointed four years in advance, and the family will use all resources for training.

So for Cui Zhao's wish, he actually only has one year. He must win the support of most elders of the clan before next spring, so that his son Cui Wenxiang will become the heir to the new head of the family.

To become the heir of the family head, you must meet some special conditions, such as being an official in the court. Cui Zhao has done this, his son has been admitted to the imperial examination, and he will use his personal resources to make his son serve as the county magistrate in Boling County.

Secondly, Cui Wenxiang must be recommended and recognized by famous scholars and wise men in the same county in terms of virtue, which is not a big problem. Cui Zhao was sure to let several famous scholars in the same county support his son.

Another thing is that Cui Wenxiang’s wife must be the daughter of a famous family in Hebei. This is the issue Cui Zhao is currently considering.

Cui Wenxiang is 25 years old this year and has not yet married. Several of his peers who compete with him for the position of head of the family have already started a family. There are the Gao family of Bohai, the Li family of Zhaojun, the Wang family of Taiyuan, etc., and the conditions of several legitimate sons are very good, and they all serve as officials in various parts of Hebei.

Cui Shirong, the legitimate son of Songshoutang, is currently the chief secretary of Zhao County. He was admitted to the imperial examination five years ago and was 33 years old. His wife is the daughter of the Wang family in Taiyuan. She has given birth to two sons. She is both good in character and talent. Currently, Cui Shirong has been unanimously recognized by the Old Clan Association.

Cui Zhao knew in his heart that if his son Cui Wenxiang wanted to defeat Cui Shirong, he could only make a fuss about marriage. If he could marry Lu Zhuo's daughter, with the support of the Lu family, the traditional ally of the Cui family, Cui Wenxiang surpassed Cui Shirong at least in terms of marriage.

But Lu Zhuo refused to let go of this, which really made Cui Zhao very worried. But fortunately, Lu Zhuo's wife is his sister, and he can promote this marriage through his sister.

In the study, Cui Zhaozheng walked back and forth with his hands behind his back. He was waiting for his sister's news. Not long ago, he wrote a handwritten letter to Lu Zhuo. He made a major concession on the relationship between Cui Lu and Lu families. He promised Lu Zhuo that as long as the two families marry, he promised that as long as the two families marry, he would ensure that the convincing clan elders would improve the status of the Lu family. The Cui Lu families were completely equal, and ended the tacit understanding between Cui and Lu families over the past century.

Judging from the time, Lu Zhuo should have news back, why is there no movement in his sister? Cui Zhao felt very anxious.

At this time, the butler's voice came from outside the door, "Master, Mrs. Lu is here!"

Cui Zhao was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "Please invite her to the inner hall."

The housekeeper quickly left, and Cui Zhao said to a maid: "Go and tell the second young master quickly and let him go to the inner hall."

Soon, Cui Zhao's sister Cui walked into the inner hall accompanied by his sister-in-law Wang. In fact, this was also a place where Lu Zhuo was dissatisfied with the Cui family. Cui Lu's two families had been married for generations. As the head of the family, Lu Zhuo married Cui's daughter as his wife, but Cui Zhao himself married the Wang family in Taiyuan, and his brother Cui Jin married the daughter of Lu. Invisibly, the Lu family was inferior to the Cui family.

Therefore, Cui Zhao wanted to marry Lu Qing for his son Cui Wenxiang on the excuse of making up for the relationship between Cui and Lu families, but Lu Zhuo saw through his hypocrisy and refused to agree.

At this time, Cui Zhao also rushed to the inner hall and greeted his sister Cui. The family sat down. After a moment, Cui Wenxiang rushed over and kowtowed to her parents and aunts.

Cui smiled and said, "Look, this child is anxious, don't worry! There is good news."

Cui Wenxiang was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed to her aunt again, got up and stood behind her father.

Cui Zhao picked up the tea bowl and asked with a smile: "Is it Hantao's letter?"

Han Tao is Lu Zhuo's word for prose, Cui nodded, "I just received his letter in the afternoon. He said he could agree to the marriage between Cui Lu's two families, but the condition was that the brother must fulfill his promise and he must raise the position of the Lu family one more."

The expression of Wang, the wife of Cui Zhao, was a little unnatural. Of course, she understood what it means to raise the position of the Lu family, which means to surpass the position of the Wang family in the Boling Cui family. Even if it does not surpass it, at least it must be on par with the Wang family.

Although she felt a little uncomfortable, she knew that this was related to whether her son could get the position of the heir to the head of the Cui family. Of course, Wen Xiang could also marry the daughter of the Wang family, and her status was not bad. However, there was no suitable candidate for the Wang family's legitimate daughter for the time being, so she could only consider the Lu family.

Cui Zhao felt really relieved in his heart. His concessions were not in vain and he finally received a response from Lu Zhuo.

At this time, Cui Wenxiang next to him asked carefully: "Auntie, I wonder when will my uncle come back?"

For some reason, Cui Wenxiang felt an inexplicable anxiety in her heart. Perhaps it was because her cousin liked Zhang Xuan, but Zhang Xuan's existence put a huge pressure on him. He wanted to settle the marriage first so that he would not have too many dreams.

Cui Zhao of course also understood his son's thoughts. He heard his son talk about his experience in Chanlin Temple. As the Minister of Works, Cui Zhao of course knew what would happen to heroes recently. Zhang Xuan was very popular and even the emperor valued him very much.

Despite this, Cui Zhao was not worried that the marriage between aristocratic families was passed down for hundreds of years and no one could interfere. Even the emperor could not do it. What is a small general?

However, he didn't want his son to be anxious, so he asked with a smile: "This is a question. When will Hantao come back?"

Cui understood what her brother meant. Of course, she also wanted to settle the marriage as soon as possible. The rice was made into a mature meal. No matter how stubborn her daughter was, it was useless. She could only accept the arrangements of her parents.

Cui smiled and said, "Although Hantao will not come back in twenty days, since he has agreed, some of the steps in the Six Leaves can be done first, as long as he can catch up when he goes out to get married in the end, I can make decisions on other things."

"Okay! We'll decide on this matter. We'll find a matchmaker first, and then come to ask for a marriage proposal."

Cui Zhao said to his wife again: "I will trouble my good wife for this matter."

Wang nodded, and Cui Wenxiang couldn't help asking, "Auntie, do you want to tell Qingmei about this?"

Cui said lightly: "She doesn't need to know so much. She just needs to get married at that time."

Cui Wenxiang's heart fell. As long as Qingmei didn't know, she could win the beauty's return. Cui Wenxiang was so happy that her heart was about to explode. If it weren't for her parents here, he would have shouted to the sky.

......

Cui said goodbye and left. Cui Wenxiang gave a gift to his parents and was about to go back to his room, but Cui Zhao called him, "Wenxiang, come with me to the study!"

"Yes! The boy understands."

Cui Wenxiang followed his father to the study. Cui Zhao sat down and asked, "I found out that you are not at home these two days, where have you been?"

Cui Wenxiang hurriedly said, "I'm with Qingyuan and Qingming these days."

Cui Zhao nodded, "Make more friends and make connections is a good thing, but I want to remind you that the Ministry of Personnel may have interviews in the past two days, so you'd better wait at home to avoid missing major issues."

Cui Wenxiang was shocked, "Father, has the Ministry of Personnel started the interview?"

"It has begun. Although this is just a form of walking, without this form, the Ministry of Personnel cannot appoint you. Let me tell you for your father that you will be the magistrate of Tang County. This is the highest official position among the imperial examination scholars today, and it has been decided."

Cui Wenxiang was overjoyed and quickly knelt down and kowtowed, "I thank my father for being kind!"

Cui Zhao was very satisfied with his son's attitude, and stroked his beard and smiled, "Get up!"

Cui Wenxiang stood up and stood with her hands down. Cui Zhao pondered for a while and asked again: "For my father, I feel that you don't have enough confidence in this marriage, why?"

"The father should know that the child told him."

"Zhang Xuan?"

Cui Wenxiang nodded, "He puts a lot of pressure on the child."

Cui Zhao couldn't help but sneer, "A martial man will actually put pressure on you. Wen Xiang, you are a little disappointed to your father!"

Cui Wenxiang did not dare to say anything, lowered her head and said slowly, "You must remember that this world is still the world of aristocratic families. The marriage between aristocratic families will never be interfered with by external forces. Even if he has the support of the emperor, it is useless. As long as the Cui Lu family decides this marriage, it will be a foregone conclusion. No one can change it. Do you understand?"
Chapter completed!