By a twist of fate, the illegitimate son of the Marquis's family marries the county princess.

Chapter 177 Lu Nian's Engagement

With the publication of four issues of the Beijing Daily, its position in the capital has become increasingly secure.

Most importantly, with the release of the third and fourth issues of the Beijing Daily, anyone with a brain could see the terrifying influence of the Beijing Daily.

You can elevate someone to heaven, or you can plunge someone into hell.

The most frightening thing was that the people believed the contents of the Beijing Gazette without question.

Just like what Zhou Fangguang and others did, none of the people who saw the Beijing Daily questioned the truth of the matter. They all cursed Zhou Fangguang and others for trying to undermine the fairness of the Beijing Daily.

That's terrifying!

Immediately, the public's assessment of the status of the Beijing Gazette Bureau rose again, and Wen Zongji, the chief editor of the Beijing Gazette Bureau, was valued even more.

That day, after finishing his shift, Wen Zongji received invitations from several officials of the Office of Transmission, but he declined them.

It wasn't that he didn't want to befriend the officials of the Office of Transmission, but rather that he already had an agreement with them.

Wangchun Tower

Upon seeing Wen Zongji walk in, Wu Fengyuan stood up with his wine cup in hand: "Come, let's toast our rising star, Lord Wen."

Wu Fengyuan shoved the wine glass into Wen Zongji's hand, clinked glasses with him, and then drank it all himself after saying his piece.

Wen Zongji was speechless: "You invited me to a banquet just to get me drunk?"

Even so, he still drank the wine.

Lu Nian'an, who was standing to the side, was the same.

After they sat down together, Wu Fengyuan said, "Of course I have to get you drunk. We both passed the imperial examination, and we're still stuck in the Hanlin Academy while you've already achieved something. It makes us look like such useless people. How can we not get you drunk to vent our frustration?"

Wen Zongji retorted, "If you want a job, isn't that easy?"

Wu Fengyuan smiled wryly: "It's really not easy. My father is an old-fashioned man. He always says that you should only do what you are capable of. I'm just glad he doesn't deliberately suppress me, let alone let me benefit from his influence."

To be honest, it's impossible not to feel envious when you see Wen Zongji so far ahead of them.

Wu Fengyuan actually went to Wu Yangeng to ask for a job, and the result was obvious.

Wen Zongji poured wine for the two of them: "That should be soon."

"Thank you for your kind words, Brother Wen."

The three of them drank another cup.

Then Wu Fengyuan said, "I'm inviting Brother Wen to drink today for two reasons: first, to catch up, and second, because I'm getting married in five days, and I'd like to invite you to attend the ceremony."

Wen Zongji immediately cupped his hands in congratulations: "Congratulations!"

Lu Nian'an chimed in from the side, "I'm getting married soon too."

Wen Zongji offered his congratulations again and asked, "Which family's daughter is she?"

Wu Fengyuan chuckled and said, "My sister."

Wen Zongji was stunned: "You have a younger sister?"

He remembered that Wu Yangeng only had two legitimate sons, but no legitimate daughters.

Wu Fengyuan said, "She is my fifth younger sister."

Wen Zongji understood; it was her half-sister.

He realized he was overthinking things. Given Lu Nian'an's family background, he was not even qualified to marry the Grand Secretary's legitimate daughter. Even marrying a concubine's daughter would be a stretch. Wu Fengyuan was probably involved in pushing him along.

Wen Zongji looked at the two of them and said, "So, Brother Wu is going to become Brother Lu's brother-in-law."

Wu Fengyuan smiled smugly and turned to Lu Nian'an: "Come on, call me Sixth Brother."

Wu Fengyuan was the sixth son in the Wu family.

Lu Nian'an glanced at him: "I'm not married yet."

"It's only a matter of time."

"We'll talk about it sooner or later."

"Brother Wen, I'll let you hear it then."

So what if he outperformed him in the imperial examination? He still had to obediently call him Sixth Brother.

Wu Fengyuan felt he had managed to salvage the situation.

Wen Zongji recalled how Lu Nian'an had envied him when they first met.

He knew at that time that Lu Nian'an intended to marry a woman who could help him, but he never expected that he would end up marrying into the Wu family.

For Lu Nian'an, his wish had come true.

If one wants to go far in officialdom, the Wu family is indeed a very good backer and helper.

Wen Zongji raised his glass: "Congratulations, Brother Lu, on finding your beautiful wife."

The two exchanged a glance and understood each other's thoughts. Lu Nian'an clinked glasses with him, saying, "Thank you, Brother Wen."

Wu Fengyuan forced his way in: "Together, together."

The three then got down to business, sharing their recent experiences, and then started drinking.

By the time the dinner ended, Wen Zongji was not drunk yet, but his mind was already a little hazy.

After watching the two get into the carriage, he then boarded the Marquis's carriage and returned to Yunguang Courtyard.

Seeing that he was drunk again, Pei Rujing was too lazy to say anything. She had Qinghe bring over the hangover soup and personally drank it for him.

Wen Zongji took her hand and kissed it: "Thank you, my wife."

Pei Rujing rolled her eyes at him: "Why did you drink so much again?"

"Brother Lu and Brother Wu are getting married, it wouldn't be right to refuse."

Wen Zongji laughed and said, "My wife would never guess which girl Brother Lu will marry."

"The Fifth Daughter of the Wu Family".

Pei Rujing said directly.

Wen Zongji was stunned. His mind was already foggy, and it took him a while to react: "How did you know, my wife?"

Pei Rujing took a damp handkerchief and wiped his face: "Have you forgotten what kind of place our mahjong club is? The fact that the Wu family's daughter is engaged to the new top scholar has been known in the club for a long time."

"Why didn't you tell me, my wife?"

"It's not an important matter."

The county princess has never paid attention to idle people. Even though Lu Nian'an and Wen Zongji have a good relationship, she still doesn't care about Lu Nian'an.

Wen Zongji shook his head: "I just heard this news today, and I was really shocked."

Pei Rujing added, "Indeed. Even if she's an illegitimate daughter, she's still the Grand Secretary's illegitimate daughter. Given Grand Secretary Wu's age, he can stay in the cabinet for at least another ten years. Ten years is enough time to support the next generation of the Wu family. Many people didn't expect Lu Nian'an to be able to marry into the Wu family."

Wen Zongji said, "Brother Lu is capable and talented, and now with the Wu family as his support, he will surely go even further in the court in the future."

"You are the same age and have a good relationship. The further he goes, the more he and her husband can support each other in the court."

Wen Zongji looked at her and praised, "My wife is truly clever."

Pei Rujing said proudly, "Of course. My older brother intended to maintain his relationship with his classmates from the beginning, and I even helped him choose a gift."

This is the insight that comes with status and position.

There are some things that Pei Rujing doesn't need to specifically look into; she already knows them.

The only difference is whether she's willing to use her brain to think.

Clearly, she was willing to think more about things for Wen Zongji's sake.

After sobering up for a while, Wen Zongji went to take a bath.

Pei Rujing had already finished showering while waiting for him, and her hair was almost dry by now.

After bathing and changing, the two lay snuggled together on the bed. Wen Zongji said, "My wife is so well-informed; she must know that Brother Wu's wedding is in five days, right?"

"Know."

"I have accepted Brother Wu's invitation. Would you like to go, my wife?"

Pei Rujing thought for a moment and said, "I'll see if Zuo San goes or not. If she goes, I'll go too, otherwise it'll be too boring."

"OK."

After saying that, the two embraced and drifted off to sleep.