Miss Truth

"Why would the Cui Family consider proposing marriage?" Ran Yan remembered she had made it crystal clear to Sang Chen. Even if he always seemed to live in his own world, he wasn’t foolish; how could he misunderstand such straightforward words? Moreover, a prominent clan like the Cui Family might not readily accept her since Sang Chen was nothing like Xiao Song, who had a reputation for causing his wife’s death.

Ran Pingyu sighed, "It is for Mr. Sang too! Originally, when Sang Suiyuan resigned from his position, the Emperor consented, and given that he had vanished from the public eye in recent years, the Cui Family’s urgency for him to acknowledge and return to his clan had diminished a lot. Recently, the Emperor summoned him again and even granted him the position of Doctor at the Imperial Academy. Although it’s a minor official position, it signifies the Emperor’s approval. Therefore..."

Therefore, to bring Sang Chen back, they orchestrated a grand gesture to save face for the Ran family, leaving Sang Chen with no choice but to accept and letting everyone know that Sang Chen was their descendant.

"The Cui Family, aside from the Imperial Family and their descendants, is the most illustrious family listed in the ’Clan Chronicles’; how could they do such a thing?" Ran Yan wondered aloud. In fact, the Cui Family was the foremost clan, but since the imperial authority was supreme, Sang Chen’s talents alone would not draw such efforts from them, right?

Seeing her confusion, Ran Pingyu enlightened her, "Where do you think such glory comes from? During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Cui Family had ten ministers and twenty-six nobles, with over one hundred officials of the fifth rank and above throughout the court and government. Even now, they are bursting with talent. It is said, ’one general’s success is built on the bones of thousands,’ and the lasting glory of a noble scholar family is forged by such sacrifices."

When the Wang family of Langya produced Wang Xizhi, it significantly enhanced their reputation, enduring and prestigious, so these great families never miss out on a promising talent. Moreover, Sang Chen indeed has the potential of a "sage."

Ran Pingyu sighed, "You probably know about Assistant Minister Xiao’s past conduct; how come a reckless young man has become so composed and now holds a high position?"

Unaware of the reasons, Ran Yan casually asked, "Why?"

Ran Pingyu intended only to illustrate the ruthless severity of large families and didn’t plan to elaborate; thus, he merely said, "He got into some trouble, was taken back to his clan home by the Duke of Song, and was almost beaten to death in front of the ancestral temple. After recovering, he was sent to the battlefield as a mere soldier."

They say the rich and powerful often raise problem children, yet, indeed, the real noble scholar families impose extremely stern demands on their direct descendants, rarely producing ill-educated fools.