Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

Gong Peilan took the letter and read it; her face immediately darkened.

"What a terrible Meng family! They dared to scheme against our family's marriage and treat Wanli so cruelly."

Gong Peilan had met Meng Wanli before, and she had a very good impression of the girl. She was gentle and beautiful, yet resilient and principled.

Moreover, Meng Wanli's parents had done a great favor for the Shangguan family. In their early years, when the southwestern border suffered from floods, it was Meng Zhenzhong who risked his life to deliver grain and supplies to the southwest, relieving the region from its predicament.

Meng Zhenzhong is Meng Wanli's father.

Gong Peilan's eyes flashed with a cold, sharp light as she said in a deep voice, "Give the order: if anyone from the Meng family comes, do not see them!"

The servant immediately relayed the order.

Therefore, when the Meng family came to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to request an audience early the next morning, they were stopped outside and not allowed to enter.

Today, Meng Dongying is dressed up carefully. At the age of budding flowers, she looks charming and beautiful, and is very lovable.

She stood beside Madam Meng, full of confidence, with anticipation and shyness in her heart.

Seeing her grandfather and father being stopped, her face turned pale.

Meng Huaran said, "The Meng family has a marriage agreement with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Today, my Meng family has come to discuss this matter. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is not allowing us to enter. Could it be that they want to break off the engagement?"

The door belongs to an old soldier who retired from the southwestern border and served the Duke of Zhenguo his entire life.

Hearing that these people were actually turning the tables and slandering the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, his face immediately turned cold.

"The First Madam has ordered that the Duke of Zhenguo's residence is not suitable to receive guests today. The marriage arrangements will be discussed at the Duke of Zhenguo's residence on another day. You—please leave!"

The gatekeeper stood in front of the door, while the guards on both sides gleamed with cold light, gripping their swords tightly and staring menacingly at the Meng family.

Meng Huaran was extremely embarrassed. The officials living nearby and their servants were pointing and whispering, secretly watching.

Meng Huaran glanced around with a grim face, then flicked his sleeve and said, "Let's go!"

The Meng family members left, looking disheveled and in a sorry state.

After the Meng family left, the gatekeeper went in to report.

"Everyone's gone?" Shangguan Hu asked fiercely.

"Your Excellency, they've all left. The Meng family actually accused us of trying to break off the engagement."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Hu flew into a rage. He slammed his fist on the table, exclaiming, "What a blatant attempt to bite back!"

The old lady glanced at him and said, "At your age, why are you so hot-tempered? Take it easy, don't startle your second son's wife!"

Ms. Yuan was more than eight months pregnant with twins. Her belly was round and bulging like a big ball, making her figure appear even thinner and weaker.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Hu's fierce spirit subsided, and he said to the gatekeeper, "It's good that the person has been driven away."

The doorman bowed, then turned and left.

Shangguan Hu stared at the door. "Hey, will my Fu'er be back soon? That girl is so busy these days. I finally managed to get back to the capital, but she's been running around everywhere. I haven't seen her at all."

The old lady glanced at him again. "Fu'er will be back soon. If you really want to see Fu'er every day, then you shouldn't go to the southwest. Go and ask His Majesty for permission to resign and stay in the capital to retire."

Shangguan Hu's face stiffened instantly. He turned back and smiled ingratiatingly at the old lady, "Xiuqing, you know I've been locked up over there my whole life. I can't leave."

Besides, with that precious fruit that Fu'er gave me, I could fight for another twenty years without a problem. You want me to retire in the capital? You might as well kill me!

The old lady rolled her eyes at him.

Shangguan Hu's fawning expression deepened. "Xiuqing, how about this? After the children get married, you can come with me to the Southwest!"

The children are all grown up now, we don't need to worry about them. You come with me to the southwest, let's see the border scenery together.

The old lady remained silent for a moment, clearly somewhat tempted.

Shangguan Jian, who was standing to the side, immediately clapped his hands and cheered, "Father is right. Mother also lived in the southwest in her early years. If it weren't for the circumstances at the time, she would not have been able to return to the capital."

I know that my mother has always been thinking about the Southwest.

Shangguan Jian still remembers his childhood, when his father and mother had just arrived in the southwest, when he was still young and his younger siblings had not yet been born.

He misses it dearly whenever he thinks about it now.

Some childhood memories can always be revisited at some point in life, but for some people they are filled with bitterness, while for others they are filled with nostalgia.

The old lady couldn't help but smile slightly, saying, "Everyone else is fine, but my second son's wife is about to give birth, and I'm also worried about A-Tang."

Shangguan Hu said, "We're not leaving now, are we? Second Brother's wife is still two months away from giving birth. We can always wait until the baby is born before returning to the Southwest."

As for Ah Tang…”

The Duke of Zhenguo stroked his beard and said, "I think A-Tang is living quite comfortably. Yesterday I even saw her having tea with the Eldest Princess at the Red Sleeve Pavilion, surrounded by several handsome young men!"

"puff!"

Shangguan Cheng spat out a mouthful of tea, his eyes widening. "Father, how did you know?"

My sister has always been well-behaved and followed the rules. When has she ever done anything so outrageous?

The old lady also looked at the Duke of Zhenguo, her eyes turning dangerous: "Old man, why don't you tell the truth quickly, how did you know that A-Tang went to Hongxiu Pavilion?"

"Did you go too?"

Shangguan Hu felt a chill run down his spine. He had never been so terrified even when he was on the battlefield. He repeatedly raised his hands in surrender, "It was Your Majesty, Your Majesty dragged me there..."

"Achoo!"

In the Hall of Diligent Governance, Emperor Cangxuan, who was reviewing memorials, suddenly sneezed several times in a row. He rubbed his nose and looked up. "Why bother returning it? Do you think that old bastard Meng Huaran is cursing me?"

Why bother smiling and saying, "Your Majesty, let him curse. You can't deal with him anyway, can you?"

"Hmm, you're right. Once Xu'er and Fu'er return, bring back the evidence of their oppression of the people and their treason. I'll show them how they deserve to die!"

On February 29th, Ying Yufu and her party finally returned to the capital.

They rested at a post station twenty miles outside the imperial city. Ahead of them, many young people from other places were already resting and drinking tea.

"Brother Tong, you're sure to pass the imperial examination this spring! I'm sending you my congratulations in advance!"

A young man in a blue shirt held up a flower-covered cup and spoke to a man in a green shirt at the same table.

The man in the blue robe smiled modestly and said, "Not at all, Brother Sun, you flatter me. I've heard that there are many outstanding talents in this year's imperial examinations. His Majesty has been very lenient, and there are many scholars from all over the country. I really dare not presume to be so arrogant."

As for Brother Sun, I heard that you studied at Huangqi Academy in your early years. I think you would definitely be among the top three in the imperial examinations.

"Brother Tong and Brother Sun, there's no need for you to be modest. I think you two are both capable of making it into the top three. On the contrary, some people..."

One of the scholars accompanying them spoke in a sarcastic tone, and as they talked, they noticed a young man sitting in an empty seat not far away.

The young man sat alone at the empty table, with only a cup of food and a bowl of noodles in front of him.

At that moment, the young man was slowly eating his noodles, completely ignoring the conversation of the others.

"Oh, isn't this Young Master Mei? I heard your pigsty burned down? Besides the people inside, there wasn't even a scrap of cloth left?"