Only after the rebellion succeeded did they realize that this place was...

A night or a day passes in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Liu Hong was holding a memorial on his desk, a slight smile on his face.

"Regarding the selection of concubines for entry into the palace..."

He muttered to himself.

The eunuch attending to him heard everything clearly and immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the number of palace maids being dismissed is enormous. Even though we have tried our best to select them from respectable women in the capital, we must still verify their backgrounds to ensure they are innocent and not harbor any potential problems."

"Ordinary palace maids are fine, but for crucial places, such as the Imperial Study, the storeroom, and the female officials who will serve His Majesty and the concubines in the future, they are only temporarily borrowed from the homes of officials in various parts of the capital city."

"Only by holding imperial concubine selections can we enrich the harem and stabilize the inner court."

The Grand Eunuch was originally an old man from the inner quarters.

He seemed to have a thorough understanding of the key issues involved, and his words and actions were all reasonable.

Liu Hong nodded, thought it over carefully, and then gently touched the folded paper with his brush, creating a vigorous character "可" (ke).

Compared to eunuchs, palace maids provided more meticulous service.

Even if things aren't great, a beautiful sight can still lift one's spirits.

Liu Hong put down his vermilion brush, finished his official duties for the day, stretched his limbs, and stepped out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

We arrived at the nearby armory.

With a flick of his toe, Liu Hong sent the red-tasseled spear, which was displayed on the weapon rack, sliding smoothly down his arm and into his palm as he moved.

With a sudden swing, the gun trembled slightly, and the tip flashed with a cold light as it flew back and forth.

Liu Hong unleashed a set of spear techniques that were both powerful and impressive, highly entertaining to watch, and contained extraordinary power, with each move capable of killing.

After completing a set of marksmanship, I broke out in a light sweat, my blood was boiling, and all the fatigue from a day of handling government affairs disappeared.

Liu Hong's face regained its spirit and radiance, revealing the youthful vigor and pioneering ambition of a young man.

"Is the time here?"

He casually tossed the spear back to its original position, put one hand behind his back, and asked casually.

The chief eunuch chuckled and nodded, bowing as he replied, "Your Majesty, it is indeed time to go to the Wende Hall. Lord Sheng has certainly tasted the bitterness he deserved to suffer these past nights and days."

"Did you get the money?"

Liu Hong glanced at the chief eunuch indifferently.

The eunuch immediately looked terrified, his body trembling like a leaf, and he was about to kneel down: "Your Majesty, this servant is innocent. I was only thinking of Your Majesty and Miss Hualan. No matter what, Lord Sheng is still Miss Hualan's biological father, and he has always been very kind to her in the household."

"Even the marriage arranged for Miss Hualan back in Yangzhou..."

The chief eunuch stopped abruptly at this point, realizing something was wrong, and quickly shut his mouth.

But clearly, it was too late.

Liu Hong smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned, but his tone carried a hint of coldness: "The second young master of the Earl of Zhongqin's family?"

"All that glitters is not gold; all that's inside is rotten!"

Eight words, each one piercing to the heart.

The eunuch, who was about to get up, had a fawning smile on his face when he suddenly felt another chill run through his body, and his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Looking up again, she realized that Liu Hong had already hurried towards the Wende Hall, and her heart skipped a beat.

Given His Majesty's temperament, the Earl of Loyalty and Diligence's mansion is likely to be in trouble.

after all.

Their new emperor, the ruler of the Han dynasty, is truly not very magnanimous.

……

Clang!

With another loud bang, the heavy doors of Wende Hall, which had been closed for a day and a night, were pulled open by the palace servants.

The faint sunlight streamed in from outside, and as the night faded, the warm yellow lights along the long corridors of the palace lit up, dispelling some of the gloom inside.

At this moment, Sheng Hong inside the hall was already hungry, exhausted, and completely drained.

Upon hearing the commotion, he was momentarily stunned, then suddenly realized what was happening, struggled to get up from the cold ground, and repeatedly kowtowed to the handsome figure outside the hall.

His voice was so hoarse it was unrecognizable.

"Your Majesty! Your humble servant... Your humble servant is improperly dressed, please forgive me."

By this point, Liu Hong was already fully aware of the specific situation within the Sheng family.

Hua Lan is out of danger.

He didn't intend to kill Sheng Hong; it was merely a minor punishment to serve as a warning.

Especially after a night of reflection, Liu Hong's anger was no longer as intense as it had been the day before.

only……

"Your Excellency Sheng has quite the airs of an official; you don't even take my words to heart."

Liu Hong moved slowly, sitting down behind the imperial desk where he usually reviewed memorials, his gaze sweeping lightly over Sheng Hong, who was lying on the ground.

Sheng Hong kept his head down, not daring to raise it even slightly.

Now, as the Vice Minister of War, a high-ranking official of the third rank, his crimson official robes are stained black with dust and are wrinkled beyond recognition.

However, in the imperial court, he could certainly be considered a high-ranking official.

But at this moment, all he could do was cry out repeatedly, his voice filled with fear: "Your humble servant dares not. Your humble servant dares not."

"If you really didn't dare, the Sheng family mansion wouldn't have been in such a commotion these past few days."

Liu Hong's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority: "It was the same in Yangzhou, and now that we've entered Tokyo, it's still the same in Bianliang City."

"Sheng Qing, once you leave the Wende Hall, take a look at the person outside. See who is the considerate wife who will stay by your side if you, Lord Sheng, are exiled to the border; and who is the family who will pray to the gods and Buddhas and sincerely protect you if you, Lord Sheng, fall into trouble."

As Liu Hong finished speaking, the palace maids and eunuchs filed in and lit all the candles in the hall.

The dim yellow light flickered, easing the tense atmosphere between the two.

Liu Hong waved his hand, signaling Sheng Hong to step down.

Just as Sheng Hong was about to get up and step out of the Wende Hall, Liu Hong raised an eyebrow, as if he had remembered something, and spoke lightly, his tone carrying a hint of admonition: "By the way, Sheng Qing, don't forget the letter I asked you to find. If you can't find this letter, then you, Sheng Hong, don't need to serve in the court anymore! I can't accept that."

"Alright, get lost!"

"Your humble servant takes his leave."

Sheng Hong still wanted to maintain his last shred of dignity, but at this moment his steps were already frantic and he almost stumbled out of the Wende Hall.

As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, he saw that Wang Ruofu had been waiting for a long time in the long corridor outside.

Seeing Sheng Hong emerge, Wang Ruofu hurriedly stepped forward, handing him some pastries and water she had brought with her, her voice full of concern: "Here, my lord! Have some to tide you over, don't panic. Now that we're out of Wende Hall, everything will be alright. In any case, we've at least gotten through His Majesty's ordeal."

At this moment, seeing Wang Ruofu's anxious yet composed expression as he tried to calm him down, Sheng Hong felt a warmth in his heart. He also recalled what Liu Hong had said to him earlier, and his eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

He held Wang Ruofu's soft hand tightly, wolfing down the pastries in his mouth while choking back tears, and uttered the most simple words between an old married couple: "Only today do I truly understand who will be the real partner in times of trouble if things go wrong in the future."

"Madam, I have truly wronged you in the past."

The saying goes, "It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature."

But Sheng Hong had just crawled out of the gates of hell when he saw Lady Wang Ruofu waiting there.

Even the hardest heart should soften at this moment.

"Okay, that's enough."

Wang Ruofu's eyes reddened, and she bit her lip to suppress the bitterness in her heart, trying hard not to let the tears fall.

She supported Sheng Hong, whose legs were now weak and who had little strength left, and slowly walked towards the outside of the palace, step by step.

……

Liu Hong walked out of the Wende Hall, while the eunuchs and maids behind him were busy cleaning the dusty hall.

At this moment, a figure in a green robe walked slowly over.

The woman was an official, her face free of makeup, yet beautiful. Her delicate eyebrows were slightly raised, and she maintained a meek and obedient demeanor. Holding a cup of hot tea in both hands, she gracefully approached Liu Hong, curtsied, and said in a soft, melodious voice, "Your Majesty, please warm yourself with a cup of hot tea!"

Liu Hong glanced at the man while drinking tea and suddenly felt that he looked somewhat familiar.

He raised his head and asked calmly, "Who are you?"

Yu Yanran suppressed the pounding in her heart, lowered her head and lowered her eyes, trying her best to make her posture appear calm and proper, and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I, Yu Yanran, pay my respects."

Liu Hong remembered.

Yu Yanran is Sheng Minglan's close female friend.

His family, the Yu family, was a branch of the Yu family, which was associated with the Grand Tutor Yu during the Song Dynasty.

Unfortunately, Grand Tutor Yu had already retired during the old Song Dynasty, so although his name was on the list of officials, Liu Hong had overlooked it for a time.

The fact that Yu Yanran appeared in the palace meant that the Yu family had pledged allegiance to the new Han dynasty and to the emperor.

"Since that's the case..."

Liu Hong seemed to be deep in thought, his gaze lingering on Yu Yanran for a moment before he made a decision.

just.

It's best not to discuss court affairs with the women of the Yu family.

His mind raced, and he asked again, "Do you know the eldest daughter of the Sheng family, Hua Lan?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Yu Yanran's eyes, but she still kept her mother's instructions in mind and dared not overstep the bounds: "Your Majesty, I do indeed know him."

"I have seen him several times in the Wei Rui Xuan when I visited the Sheng family in the past."

"That's good."

Liu Hong nodded, a rare smile appearing on his face. He then instructed, "Go and fetch the physicians from the Imperial Hospital, and then go to the Sheng family to take good care of Miss Hualan's health."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Yu Yanran quickly responded, but her heart skipped a beat.

As I turned to leave, my steps were unsteady, and my mind was buzzing.

"Why would His Majesty specifically ask about the eldest daughter of the Sheng family?"

"Could it be that Minglan's elder sister has truly won His Majesty's favor? If so, then Hualan's sister is probably destined for great fortune."

As Yu Yanran walked, she couldn't help but look around at the palace buildings, with their flying eaves, brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters, all exuding royal majesty.

Her heart pounded, and she even felt a sense of joy in sharing in the glory.

……

After Yu Yanran left, Liu Hong continued his stroll in the imperial garden.

I am usually busy with political affairs, working from dawn till dusk. Now that I have some free time, I realize that this garden is indeed somewhat empty and desolate.

It seems that the matter of selecting concubines to enrich the harem is indeed imminent.

……

Night had fallen, and it was pitch black outside.

The Sheng family's carriage rumbled back to the mansion gate.

The mansion was not as chaotic as one might imagine.

With the message sent back from the palace by Wang Ruofu, and with Old Madam Sheng of Shou'an Hall personally overseeing things, the rumors and anxieties within the mansion were suppressed like a pillar of stability, and the Sheng family was finally able to settle down.

Upon returning to Wei Rui Xuan, Sheng Hong immediately changed into a long black casual outfit, but the weariness between his brows could not be dispelled.

Those nights and days in the Wende Hall were truly more unbearable than ten years of studying hard. The boundless darkness and deathly silence almost shattered his mind.

"Turning black into white and spreading rumors."

"I have spoiled you and your children far too much in the past, which has led to your arrogance and conceit. If I hadn't been so biased towards you, the Sheng family would not have almost fallen into utter ruin."

Inside the hall of Wei Rui Xuan, Lin Qinshuang, Sheng Changfeng, and Mo Lan, mother and son, were already kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear.

Ever since they learned that the emperor was furious in the palace and that Sheng Hong had almost been stripped of his official position, the Sheng family was completely thrown into a panic.

Especially Lin Qinshuang and her son, who were the instigators, were terrified.

That letter was actually written by His Majesty himself?!

The messenger was a member of the palace's imperial guards.

The burly man Wang Ruofu encountered on her first return home was a member of the Imperial Guard.

She felt a sense of familiarity because she had seen him once or twice when he was assisting with affairs in the palace.

With this clear and logical connection, the matter was definitively settled within the Sheng family. And it is precisely because of this that the current situation has arisen.

"My lord! I truly have no idea."

Lin Qinshuang wept bitterly, crawling a few steps to Sheng Hong's leg, pleading, "Hong Lang, I accept whatever punishment you deem fit. I only beg you not to drive me out of the manor. From now on, the power to manage the household, as well as my dowry and land, will all be at your disposal, Hong Lang and Madam. I will never again have the slightest thought of overstepping my bounds."

Not only Lin Qinshuang, but Mo Lan and Sheng Changfeng also kept kowtowing, their foreheads covered in red marks, crying and pleading, "Father, please forgive us, Madam."

Seeing Sheng Hong's cold and unmoved expression, Lin Qinshuang had no intention of giving up.

Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly changed her tune, her voice choked with emotion, tinged with hope: "Honglang, even if this matter causes a great uproar, it also proves that His Majesty's feelings for our eldest daughter are truly sincere. Now that this matter is settled, won't our Sheng family become imperial relatives in the future?"

Where will things be like before, where the reflection in a mirror or the moon in the water is unclear?

As the saying goes, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. While I have indeed erred greatly in this matter, I have at least brought immense blessings to the Sheng family. I beg your forgiveness, Honglang, and for the sake of the Sheng family's future, please pardon me this time.

Seeing that Sheng Hong remained silent, Lin Qinshuang turned her gaze to Wang Ruofu beside her, her eyes full of pleading.

Wang Ruofu sneered, his tone mocking: "Lin Qinshuang, you have quite the sharp tongue. I'm afraid even the officials in the Censorate can't match your ability to distort the truth."

Even at this point, Lin Qinshuang still has no intention of giving up.

Her eyes flickered, tears welled up, and she continued speaking through sobs, each word striking at Sheng Hong's weak spot: "Honglang! Right now, our eldest daughter will definitely enter the palace to accompany the emperor, but the Sheng family doesn't only have our eldest daughter. There's also Mo'er. After all, there's a big difference between entering the palace and entering the palace."

"Please, Honglang, for the sake of the Sheng family's future, spare me this time!"

When it came to the future of the Sheng family, Sheng Hong's expression finally softened slightly.

Since things have already come to this point, no amount of accountability can change what has already happened. Instead, it might be better to go with the flow and use this match made in heaven to elevate the Sheng family to a higher level.

A few sharp glints flashed in Sheng Hong's eyes, and his thoughts were already subtly shifting.

But if we just let it go so easily...

His resentment was so intense that even the old lady beside him probably wouldn't be satisfied.

Sheng Hong narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and finally made a decision.

He snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "Don't think that this matter can be so easily dismissed. His Majesty's anger is not so easily quelled. The most important thing for the Sheng family now is to find that letter. If we find it, for Hua'er's sake, this matter will end here. But if we don't find it..."

Sheng Hong's voice suddenly turned stern, his gaze sharp as a knife as he swept over the three kneeling men: "Your husband's newly acquired imperial favor is about to be completely ruined. This official robe will also be stripped away, reducing him to a commoner."

After saying this, Sheng Hong stood up abruptly, not even glancing at the three of them, and continued to coldly shout, "If you find the letter, all will be well. But if you don't, don't blame me for being ruthless. If you really sell him off, you will have to bear the enormous disaster that has befallen you. From now on, you will have nothing to do with the Sheng family, not even a severance of ties."

With those merciless words, Sheng Hong turned and left, never to be seen again.

This was the most appropriate decision he could make while he was in this house.

……

Within the Sheng family, one wave subsides only for another to rise.

Just as Sheng Hong finished dealing with the affairs of the inner quarters and made a decision, he heard that a physician from the palace had arrived and, led by a female official, had reached Hua Lan's bedroom.

Sheng Hong rushed over and, upon learning that Hua Lan was not seriously ill but was simply suffering from excessive worry and weakness, he gently comforted her, patted his chest, and promised to avenge her and punish those gossipy servants in the mansion. Only then did he drag his exhausted body away to rest.

present.

His body is about to give out.

As he left, the physician had also finished his treatment and left the Sheng residence.

Only the female official Yu Yanran, who was ordered to come, will stay at the Sheng family's residence tonight.

She was led to the courtyard on the east side of Shou'an Hall.

The territory of Mu Cang Zhai.

At the courtyard gate, a slender figure was eagerly waiting. Upon seeing her arrive, she quickly stepped forward, her face full of joy: "Yanran, you've finally arrived."

It was Sheng Minglan.

"Minglan!"

Yu Yanran quickly stepped forward, grasped her hand, her eyes filled with excitement, and lowered her voice, saying, "Minglan, let me tell you, your eldest sister is truly remarkable..."