Zong Ruoan frowned as he looked at the election briefing his personal secretary, Fang Chenggong, had prepared for him. "This person is named Teng Pingmao. He comes from a commoner background and once entered Beichen University with the highest score in the Kanli Star National Higher Education Entrance Examination."
"Later, he excelled in both character and academics at the university, receiving full tuition waivers and scholarships. After graduation, he joined the First Interstellar Fleet, where he made many meritorious contributions and successfully upgraded to citizen status."
"He only recently retired from the military and immediately announced his candidacy for the lower house of parliament in Chaoruo City, Shaofu Star."
"Because he is a war hero and a scholar who got into Beichen University through his own efforts, he is very popular with grassroots commoner voters."
"Everyone knows that electing members to the Senate's lower house is completely different from electing members to the upper house."
"Electing lower house members requires votes from all commoners, citizens, and Nobles."
"In our Empire, there are over fifteen billion commoners, ten billion citizens, and only about one million eight hundred thousand people with noble titles."
"And it's one person, one vote, so as soon as Teng Pingmao ran, his campaign team put forward the slogan 'Commoners helping commoners,' which immediately overshadowed me."
No matter how rich their family was, they couldn't possibly throw money at buying off fifteen billion commoners.
Besides, if throwing money was all it took, why even hold elections? The Royal Family wouldn't let their Nobles have it all their own way.
Zong Ruoan shrugged with a wry smile and continued, "It's not my fault. Other candidates also have commoner backgrounds and upgraded to citizens, but their resumes aren't as impressive as his. They're no match for me."
The implication was that only this person had become his biggest stumbling block.
Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu said displeased, "No matter how commoner his background is, I don't believe he doesn't have any dirt on him! — What about our people? What about our investigation team? Are they all just freeloaders?!"
Zong Ruoan said, "This person emerged too recently. Our people are investigating, but it's not so easy to find out the truth in a short time."
Zong Qianxi also said, "Mommy, we have to be prepared. What if this person really doesn't have any dirt on him?"
Tantai Jinyu sneered, "If he doesn't have any dirt, we'll fabricate some for him! — If you can't even do this, what kind of politics are you doing?! Go home and be your noble sons and Noble Ladies!"
Zong Ruoan and Zong Qianxi exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly.
Zong Qianxi said, "Mommy, let's not think about fabricating dirt until the very last step."
"I was thinking, can we add some highlights to Second Young Master, highlights that are evenly matched with Teng Pingmao?"
Tantai Jinyu frowned. "What do you mean?"
Zong Qianxi said confidently, "Teng Pingmao's campaign team is attacking my brother, saying that he is the Zong Family's Second Young Master, out of touch with the common people, and doesn't understand the real needs of the commoner class."
"I was thinking of getting brother to get as close as possible to the commoner class..."
Tantai Jinyu flatly opposed, "That won't do! Your brother is the heir to my Zong Family and has half Royal Family blood. Why should he get close to the lowly commoner class!"
Zong Qianxi's mouth twitched. "Mommy, say that less often in the future. If someone records a video and puts it on the Star Network, brother can forget about the election and just withdraw."
Tantai Jinyu pursed her lips, fanned herself irritably with a jade bamboo fan, and said unwillingly, "I know, I'll pay attention in the future."
She was usually cautious in her words and actions, but this time, she was really angered by her son's election situation.
It was clearly a sure thing, but it capsized in the gutter.
Zong Ruoan also said in a low voice, "Mom, I'm not the Zong Family heir either. Where do you put Eldest Cousin when you say that?"
The Eldest Cousin he was talking about was the only son of the Zong Family's main branch, that is, his uncle Zong Weiping's Posthumous Child.
The Zong Family's main branch, counting up and down three generations each, has a total of seven generations.
Starting from the generation of Master Zong, Master Zong's great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, and then the nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren below.
Master Zong's generation had seven brothers, each with flourishing branches and leaves.
After he inherited the title, he himself had three sons, who all married and had children.
Not counting the collateral branches, the Zong Family's main branch alone is a large family.
Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu married Master Zong's second son, Zong Weiding.
She sneered and said lazily, "I know, you two are really something. Now, who in the Zong Family is more noble than you siblings? You just follow Master Zong and learn a bellyful of old-fashioned air..."
"Forget it, I won't say anymore. How do you want to solve this problem? Ruoan is just of noble status, how can he get in touch with the commoner... class?"
Zong Qianxi glanced at Zong Ruoan and said with a smile, "My brother is so good-looking, his status is so noble, and he is so gentle and refined. Which of our aristocratic Noble Ladies isn't moved by my brother?"
"If I weren't my brother's own sister, I would be moved too!"
She winked at Zong Ruoan.
Zong Ruoan chuckled and playfully tapped her. "Stop messing around, get to the point."
Zong Qianxi dropped her playful demeanor and said seriously, "My idea is to find a commoner girlfriend for Eldest Cousin."
Tantai Jinyu instinctively objected, "That won't do. I have plans for your Eldest Cousin's marriage. Marrying into the commoner class just for a lower house senator isn't worth it. It's a losing proposition. If that's the case, we might as well not choose this lower house senator."
Zong Qianxi said with a wry smile, "Mommy, what are you thinking?"
"Of course, we don't want Eldest Cousin to marry that commoner girlfriend... We just need to have this superficial relationship with her when Eldest Cousin is running for election, to offset Teng Pingmao's advantage and prevent his public opinion polls from rising so quickly..."
Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu understood. "So, you're saying find a fake girlfriend, right? That's no problem. However, you need to think clearly. With Ruoan's conditions, once those commoner women have a chance to latch on, they won't let go."
"So Ruoan, you must remember, dating is fine, but marriage is out of the question. And don't bring her home. I won't see her."
"Also, make sure this woman keeps her mouth shut and doesn't blab about everything online. I hate those internet celebrities who act like their parents died if no one pays attention to them. It's bad luck!"
Zong Qianxi covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking with laughter. "Mommy, that's their job. No one paying attention is like cutting off their livelihood."
"Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. Isn't that the same as their parents dying?"
As Zong Ruoan listened to his mother and sister chatting, a figure suddenly appeared in his mind: Xia Chujian.
But even among the commoners, she belonged to the lowest class, and, most regrettably, she wasn't a top student, but a poor one.
That top student status was too important and powerful for the fiercely competitive commoner class...
Too bad.
In this conflicting mood, Zong Ruoan finally had time to check the screenshot of Xia Chujian's National Higher Education Entrance Examination scores that Fang Chenggong had sent him.
"Xia Chujian, female, eighteen years old.
Literature: 149 points.
Mathematics: 150 points.
Physics: 150 points.
Chemistry: 150 points.
Total score: 599 points."
Ranking: First place on Guiyuan Star, first place in the Beichen Empire."
Zong Ruoan suddenly stood up, blurting out with slight excitement, "I have an idea!"
With that, he sent the screenshot of Xia Chujian's National Higher Education Entrance Examination scores to his family group of four.
Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu and Zong Qianxi both lowered their heads and looked at their Quantum Optical Brains.
Zong Ruoan simply pulled out a virtual display screen from the family group interface, showing Xia Chujian's National Higher Education Entrance Examination score screenshot at the top and his rational analysis below.
Zong Ruoan began to write on the virtual display screen.
[Zong Ruoan]: What do you think of her? Her name is Xia Chujian, she comes from the commoner class, and she's from the lowest level of commoners, but she's also a soldier and has just performed a great service. These are her National Higher Education Entrance Examination scores, even better than Teng Pingmao's!
Zong Qianxi roughly looked at Xia Chujian's general identity and conditions and replied below.
[Zong Qianxi]: These conditions are indeed good. She can perfectly offset Teng Pingmao's influence and has many additional advantages. However, she's only eighteen years old. Will this little girl be able to resist Eldest Cousin's charms? These commoner girls are all love-struck, which is quite a headache.
[Mommy]: Her external conditions are indeed excellent, almost perfectly countering Teng Pingmao's advantages. What does she look like? Zong Ruoan pulled up a photo of Xia Chujian and sent it to the family group.
Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu and Zong Qianxi were both silent.
Zong Qianxi's mouth twitched. "Eldest Cousin, how do you have this girl's photo? By the way, why are you suddenly paying attention to the National Higher Education Entrance Examination?"
As a top Noble Family, the Zong Family could choose any university they wanted, and they could get recommendation slots no matter which university it was.
They basically never paid attention to the National Higher Education Entrance Examination.
Although the National Higher Education Entrance Examination was the fairest and grandest way for commoners and citizens to change their fate.
Zong Ruoan smiled and said, "Wasn't I in the Special Security Bureau before? I met this girl when I went to Guiyuan Star that time, and I even saved her life. So we have a connection."
"Moreover, she's not the kind of person who likes to post everything online to seek attention. She's very low-key, and the key is that she keeps her mouth shut. If we explain to her that we need her help, she will definitely agree."
Zong Qianxi's eyes lit up. "That's great! This is a great story! The Noble Family's young master and the commoner girl's love that transcends classes, starting with a life-saving act!"
She snapped her fingers. "Brother, leave this to me. I'll stir up a romance for you online right away! She'll definitely go along with it!"
"Then, you can have her campaign for you at your rally!"
Zong Ruoan quickly said, "No! I haven't communicated with her yet. Don't rashly stir up any romance."
"It's better to be cautious."
Zong Qianxi regretfully blew on her newly done manicure, and said, "I have a lot of writers who are experts at writing these kinds of little essays."
"Brother, can't you just send her a message? Does it have to be so troublesome?"
Zong Ruoan said seriously, "Yes, it does. Xia Chujian is a little different from other girls. She's a bit... meticulous."
What he actually wanted to say was that Xia Chujian was more likely to cause trouble.
But thinking of the recent storms Xia Chujian had stirred up, he was worried that saying it would make his mother and sister have an even worse impression of Xia Chujian, so he subconsciously chose to hide it, using the neutral word "meticulous."
Zong Qianxi frowned. "Meticulous? Would she be stubborn? Would she think you are her... ideal man, and refuse to let go even after the election is over?"
Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu also said, "Ruoan, don't underestimate yourself. Even if you weren't my son, and weren't born into the Zong Family, just you as a person, you know those young ladies wouldn't let go."
Zong Ruoan said unhappily, "Sister, Mommy, don't be like this. In your eyes, I'm perfect in every way, but Xia Chujian, she's different."
He couldn't say what was different, but he had a feeling that Xia Chujian was different.
She didn't look at him with the kind of meaningful eyes that those women did.
She didn't agree with his views every time either.
Although she didn't say it, Zong Ruoan could feel it.
However, he felt that it was because she didn't understand him enough.
If she knew that he was sincerely doing it for her own good, she would understand.
Zong Ruoan continued, "Xia Chujian is a very reasonable person. As long as you explain the reasoning to her, she will listen."
"So don't worry, she responds to gentle persuasion, not force."
Zong Qianxi and Tantai Jinyu laughed together.
Zong Qianxi even said meaningfully, "Brother, it seems you know this girl very well. You even know that she responds to gentle persuasion, not force..."
The tips of Zong Ruoan's ears turned red, but he didn't realize it.
Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu saw it, but she didn't say much.
Such a girl, although not suitable to be directly married as a wife, but if Ruoan likes her, keeping her outside as a mistress is not impossible.
Moreover, this girl can get the top score in the Empire's National Higher Education Entrance Examination, her IQ must be high.
Children born to such women are definitely intelligent.
At that time, with some nurturing, they will also be a great help to the family.
Which of the small Noble families below doesn't have mistresses and illegitimate children outside?
These are their periphery, and Nobles are at risk of having their homes confiscated, their titles taken away, and even being exterminated.
Once this happens, those illegitimate children raised outside are the continuation of their bloodline.
This is also a risk diversification version of not putting all your eggs in one basket.
Although their four top Nobles don't have the risk of having their titles taken away and being exterminated, there are also people who have mistresses and illegitimate children outside.
This phenomenon is a tacitly approved legal behavior for the Nobles and the Royal Family of the Beichen Empire.
It's just that Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu was a little disgusted with Xia Chujian's appearance, saying, "If she could be a little better looking, it would be more suitable."
She is a looks-oriented person, and she is too lazy to even glance at people who are not good-looking.
Zong Qianxi said, "Mommy, think about it from another perspective. With her appearance, even if Brother announces that he has broken up with her in the future, it won't cause a bigger public opinion storm."
"And because of her appearance, she won't think too much. As long as you give enough money, it's completely no problem to silence her."
Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu nodded with satisfaction, and said, "I'm very satisfied that you siblings can help each other and be of one heart."
Then she said disdainfully, "That good-for-nothing scion of the main branch, not to mention comparing with your brother, even our Qianxi is stronger than him. But the one who is going to inherit the title is actually that trash!"
Neither Zong Qianxi nor Zong Ruoan wanted to talk about that topic.
They exchanged a look, and tacitly diverted Tantai Jinyu's attention.
Zong Qianxi stood up and said, "Mommy, I have a few promotional plans. Can you help me take a look?"
Zong Ruoan stood up as well, saying, "Mom, I need to have a meeting with my subordinates to hear their opinions."
How could Grand Princess Tantai Jinyu not see what these siblings were up to? She didn't call them out on it, and said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Alright, I won't get in your way. I'll go back to Shaofu Star now. I don't like living on Beichen Star, so you guys handle it."
"And don't put too much effort into it. Even if you don't get chosen, it doesn't matter."
She waved at them, turned around gracefully, and left.
Zong Qianxi followed her out.
Zong Ruoan looked at the virtual display in front of him again, and slowly frowned.
Although he planned to find Xia Chujian to be his contract girlfriend to help with the election, he couldn't just make such a hasty decision.
This is the second large chapter, including the Moon Tickets for September 600+.
There will be a new update at 00:05 tonight.
PS: A man who is 1.8 meters tall, 150 pounds is the standard weight. Please be aware. (^▽^)
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