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

"This young marquis has been frail since childhood, and these past few days, the weather has been unpredictable during the hottest days of summer. I heard he has caught a cold. If it weren't for His Majesty's benevolence in sending a physician from Jinling to diagnose him and prepare medicine, he would probably be dead by now."

The chief eunuch stood bowing below the steps, his voice extremely respectful.

Liu Hong nodded slightly, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

He recalled the plot.

This former Song emperor had only this one young son, whom he had doted on greatly in the past. If nothing went wrong, he was destined to become the crown prince and the next emperor of the Song Dynasty.

Unfortunately, the child died young, which prompted the two powerful factions of the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Yong, who had long resided in the capital, to make their move.

This is not described much in the plot.

But now that he was in the royal family, Liu Hong would never believe that this matter had nothing to do with those two people.

For the sake of that supreme throne, fathers kill sons and sons kill fathers. No matter how immoral the act, people are capable of doing it, let alone killing a small child.

For them, it was far too easy.

Since this former Song emperor was so sensible as to surrender voluntarily, Liu Hong didn't mind giving him a son born in his old age and protecting the child as much as possible to help him grow up safely.

Even so...

Liu Hong's eyes flashed, but he still gave the order without hesitation: "Keep a close watch! If the Marquis of Shunming's residence shows the slightest sign of abnormality, immediately send a message to the palace."

"This matter is of utmost importance, and we must not allow any mistakes to occur."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The chief eunuch received the order once again.

……

The rain intensified, with large raindrops pounding against the jade steps and rolling down the eaves, splashing up droplets.

The chill brought by the slanting wind surged forth, almost penetrating through my clothes and piercing my bones.

Liu Hong turned and went back into the hall, where a bowl of freshly heated soup was carefully brought to him.

The person serving her at this moment was no longer the young female official Yu Yanran, but an old nanny who had lived in the palace for many years.

This old woman had always kept to her proper place in the palace and had never been involved in the affairs of the concubines. She usually managed the palace layout and the carriages and ceremonial guards in the Upper House.

It was precisely because of this calm and reliable nature that he was kept by Liu Hong's side to serve him.

Liu Hong took the soup bowl and sipped it slowly, not worried that someone might poison it.

If the food served to him could have such a flaw, everyone in the palace would probably lose their heads.

He casually asked, "Where is Grand Tutor Yu's granddaughter?"

"Your Majesty, that Miss Yanran was only temporarily serving as a lady-in-waiting. Now that the imperial concubine selection has begun, and the Yu family is a scholarly family, Miss Yu should naturally participate in this matter."

"In this way, if one is selected, one may one day become a concubine, which is far beyond what a mere female official can achieve."

The chief eunuch explained carefully.

Liu Hong raised an eyebrow, understanding the situation.

The selection ceremony was complicated.

In addition to the preliminary selections reported from various states within the new Han territory, the daughters of officials in the capital city of Tokyo alone had to undergo initial screening and detailed selection before being interviewed.

Those who entered the palace were either palace maids, prospective female officials, or candidates for imperial concubines. Only at the very last step would the emperor personally review their applications.

In most cases, the Empress Dowager or the Empress should be the first to examine the case.

However, since there is no female ruler in the inner court now, Liu Hong has to make the decision.

The selection of an empress is a major national event that requires consultation with the court officials. The final candidate must meet the standards of virtue, appearance, speech, and work, and family background is of paramount importance.

Although Liu Hong ultimately had the power to make the decision, he was still inevitably influenced by the court officials; but if it was just about choosing concubines, then it was almost entirely up to his personal preferences.

After the talent show ends, there will be six gifts.

The betrothal, name inquiry, auspicious date selection, gift presentation, date setting, and wedding ceremony were all handled by the Ministry of Rites' Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the ceremonies were quite grand.

Imperial concubines also had corresponding etiquette, but the standards were slightly lower. This was the mainstream path for daughters of officials to enter the palace during the new Han Dynasty, and everyone regarded it as an opportunity to rise to the top in one step.

It's understandable that the daughter of Grand Tutor Yu would do this, and presumably the Yu family behind her would also be willing to give it a try.

"And how should I address this nanny?"

Liu Hong asked in a gentle tone with concern.

"This servant's surname is Kong!"

"That's what Granny Kong answered in a low voice."

He then recounted everything that had happened in the back courtyard, not daring to conceal anything.

Yu Yanran left, and Granny Kong came?

As they talked more, Liu Hong gradually remembered the identity of the old woman in front of him.

Come on.

She did have some connection with the Sheng family; she was an old acquaintance of the old lady of the Sheng family, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi.

Since that's the case, then let's not bother two different people for the same thing.

A thought suddenly occurred to Liu Hong.

"Since this daughter of the Sheng family is entering the palace, then I will trouble Granny Kong to make a trip to the Sheng family. The rules in the palace are complicated, and it is always better to learn them sooner rather than later."

His tone was neither too light nor too heavy, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"Yes, ma'am."

Granny Kong's expression remained calm and composed, showing no sign of emotion. It was clear at a glance that she was a person who followed the rules and knew proper etiquette.

Liu Hong felt at ease sending someone like that to the Sheng family.

"Once we arrive at the Sheng family, I will certainly take good care of Miss Hualan."

Granny Kong continued.

At present, everyone in the capital city knows about Liu Hong and Hua Lan's affair. As someone who is to serve the emperor, she must be clear about everything and pay attention to everything.

Seeing that Granny Kong had directly pointed out this point, Liu Hong was not displeased at all; on the contrary, he valued her even more.

People who are straightforward and decisive are generally reliable and trustworthy.

Liu Hong nodded slightly, which was considered tacit approval.

Before long, Granny Kong received Liu Hong's order and slowly withdrew to leave the palace on business.

"Your Majesty, this Miss Minglan..."

Seeing that Granny Kong had gone far away, the head eunuch came forward to greet her, his face beaming with joy, and couldn't help but ask a question.

He had been following Liu Hong for several years, and the only person he cared about so much, besides Hua Lan, with whom he had exchanged letters, was this sixth daughter of the Sheng family, who had just been mentioned.

Liu Hong rolled his eyes at him, then drank the soup in one gulp before closing his eyes to rest.

The eunuch smiled awkwardly and dared not say anything more, but he had already firmly remembered this sixth daughter of the Sheng family, Minglan.

The Sheng family is truly blessed.

It is quite remarkable that His Majesty has taken a liking to two women at the same time.

……

Meanwhile, accompanied by palace guards, Granny Kong arrived safely at the Sheng family residence.

She and the old lady of the Sheng family were old acquaintances, and upon seeing each other, she greeted her warmly, "Sister!"

"Why are you here?"

Although Old Madam Sheng had received advance notice, she still couldn't hide her surprise when she saw her dear old friend appear before her. "Did His Majesty in the palace send you? I was planning to send someone to pick you up in the next few days, but I didn't expect you to come first."

"Doesn't that further prove that you and I are destined to be together?"

Granny Kong chuckled and sat down beside Old Madam Sheng, reminiscing about the past. Gradually, the conversation turned to serious matters. "Right now, I'm afraid even the street urchins in the entire city of Bianliang know that the eldest daughter of the Sheng family and His Majesty are deeply in love."

"Now that the imperial concubine selection is underway, this young lady's character and manners must at least pass the scrutiny of you gentlemen. The Sheng family is a family of upright officials; although their social standing is not top-tier, it is not bad either."

"When the eldest daughter enters the inner palace in the future, it will be appropriate for her to be made a concubine or an empress."

After hearing this, Old Madam Sheng's expression remained calm: "Hua Lan is a gentle and kind girl. It is a match made in heaven for her to be with His Majesty, a perfect union."

"You've come at the right time."

The two old friends chatted more and more enthusiastically, their former awkwardness completely gone, and they became increasingly close and lively.

Just then, the maidservant led Minglan in from outside, softly calling, "Grandmother!"

Minglan stepped forward and obediently bowed to Granny Kong.

"Greetings, Granny!"

Looking at the girl's gentle features and slender figure, Granny Kong's heart stirred, and she couldn't help but ask, "Which daughter of the Sheng family is this?"

"It's my son Ming'er. He's been raised by me all these years, keeping this old woman company every day."

As she spoke, Old Madam Sheng leaned forward slightly, pulled Minglan to her side, and gently patted the back of her hand, her tone full of tenderness.

Upon hearing this, Granny Kong abandoned her earlier friendly chatter with Old Madam Sheng, her expression suddenly becoming serious and stern, her eyes displaying a certain dignity cultivated within the palace. Her gaze fell upon Minglan, scrutinizing her closely: "She's quite beautiful, but I wonder what her character and temperament are like?"

Grandma Sheng didn't mince words, saying calmly, "Over the next few days, with flower arranging, tea tasting, incense burning, and the palace etiquette, after spending so much time together, how could you, a palace maid, not see things clearly?"

Seeing that Old Madam Sheng was protective of Minglan, Granny Kong nodded to herself and temporarily put aside her other thoughts, simply replying, "Sister is right."

then.

In the following days, the small courtyard of the Sheng family's inner residence was transformed into a school, where the four young ladies, Hualan, Molan, Rulan, and Minglan, all studied diligently under the guidance of Granny Kong.

Granny Kong taught them in great detail, and every word and phrase contained the secrets of how to get along with the noble ladies in the palace.

"The most important thing about flower arrangement is to adapt to the season. There are four major solar terms in a year: the spring equinox, the summer solstice, the autumn equinox, and the winter solstice. Under each solar term, there are also smaller 'little poems'. The flowers of each season are either elegant or gorgeous, simple or bright, each with its own rules."

"People love all kinds of flowers. Peonies, roses and chrysanthemums are the most complicated, but they are also the most taboo to pile up. Their value lies in their hidden charm."

……

"Drinking tea is never a solitary activity; it is mostly used for social interaction. Although it cannot be considered a skill for making a living, it is certainly a refined pursuit. Even if you are not involved in external affairs in the future, you must not be ignorant of this when socializing with other ladies and friends. Otherwise, you will be seen as lacking refinement, which would be unseemly."

"Today we will not discuss tea sets, but only the act of drinking tea."

"There are three kinds of tea. The most important is washing the tea. There is also a method of frying tea. It is divided into light tea and strong tea. Your Majesty's favorite is light and mild tea."

……

"The key to burning incense is to keep it concentrated and not dissipate. Once the fragrance dissipates, it loses its charm and becomes utterly useless. Today, I will burn incense, specifically ambergris. Remember, do not inhale too much of it, as it is harmful to your health."

After several classes.

Granny Kong only talked about three main categories: flower arranging, tea tasting, and incense burning, but the details within each category are complex and involve many other aspects.

Hua Lan and the others were all noble ladies of the Sheng family. They had been exposed to such things since childhood and had also read some books. They knew the common ways of dealing among these noble families, which was why they were able to keep up with the pace.

They studied diligently every day, never daring to slack off in the slightest, and they all understood the good intentions of Granny Kong, who was entrusted by His Majesty to come to the Sheng family.

After practicing like this every day, the day for implementation and inspection arrived in the blink of an eye.

Granny Kong had already given instructions that one did not need to be proficient in everything, but only needed to be good at one thing, and the rest would be enough.

The daughters of the Sheng family each chose a specialty.

Some people choose to taste tea, while others choose to arrange flowers, each displaying their talents.

Granny Kong walked up to Hua Lan first, looked at the basket of crabapple and orchids she had arranged, and nodded in praise: "The flowers arranged by Miss Hua Lan are the most elegant and graceful, with a graceful opening and closing, and a myriad of appearances. They are very good and can be considered top-grade."

"Thank you, Granny."

Hua Lan smiled faintly, her oval face radiating a gentle smile. Her personality, like her flower arranging, was considerate of the overall situation and gentle and thoughtful.

But in Granny Kong's eyes, she seemed to have lost three parts of her ambition and gained four parts of her fragility.

If things don't change in the future, even if she enters the palace, she may find it difficult to secure the position of Empress.

Granny Kong looks ordinary; she's just a female official in the Imperial Household Department. Yet, she has been in the palace for decades, serving three emperors and five empresses.

Now that Liu Hong has ascended the throne, he will be the fourth emperor.

She had seen more than a hundred concubines in the imperial harem, and her ability to recognize and judge people was already superb; she could tell a lot about a person's character at a glance.

Then, she walked up to Mo Lan.

Today, Mo Lan wore a bright pink and white dress, with a hint of deliberate coquetry in her eyes, which was too strong and lost her elegance.

She chose to light incense, and the ash was very dense, but too tight. She only knew how to make it dense, but didn't know how to leave any residue. Although the incense stick burned for a long time, it also had a lot of off-flavors, which was a bit of a flaw.

"The fragrance of the Mo Lan girl can reach this quality in just two or three days, which is quite rare. However, the ash is too dense and has an off-putting smell, so it is not a top-grade fragrance, but rather a medium-to-high-grade one."

Granny Kong offered her honest evaluation.

"Thank you for your guidance, Granny."

Mo Lan felt defeated, but she still put on a grateful expression, her fingers secretly clenching the handkerchief, quite unwilling to give up.

Then there's Rulan.

She also chose flower arrangement, but the branches were arranged in a conventional way, and even a little messy and without any rules. Only the daisies among the branches showed a bit of freshness and spirit.

"Medium grade".

Granny Kong simply uttered two words.

But Rulan was overjoyed. She was already very fortunate to have managed to learn and pass the test despite her difficulties, and she did not feel wronged at all.

"Fifth Sister is quite pleased. It's probably only because the nanny is concerned about the Sheng family's reputation that it's a middle-grade item; otherwise, it might have been a low-grade, or even the lowest-grade, item."

Mo Lan glanced at Ru Lan, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Rulan was not one to swallow her anger, and she was about to retort when she was interrupted by Granny Kong's cold shout: "Silence! How dare you make noise in the classroom? Such a lack of manners, do we need to re-establish the rules?"

"You can still be tolerated in the Sheng family for now, but if you continue to act so recklessly in the palace, being flogged and having your skin torn open will be the least of your worries. It wouldn't be surprising if you lost your lives."

These words silenced Mo Lan and Ru Lan, who lowered their heads and dared not speak again. The hall fell silent instantly.

Finally, Granny Kong walked up to Minglan.

Minglan chose to taste tea.

She has always been active, and is good at playing polo and pitch-pot. She was unfamiliar with these slow and elegant pursuits. Not to mention tasting tea and appreciating its flavor, she even wrote the character for "tea" like a chicken claw in her early years.

The tea she had brewed was laid out on the table, and her posture and the way she held the cup were quite proper.

However, the strength and temperature of the tea were unremarkable, neither strong nor weak, and so bland that it lacked any distinctive features. Like an orchid arrangement, it was merely pleasing to the eye.

"Is this Sixth Miss's homework?"

Granny Kong remained calm, her gaze fixed on the cup of weak tea.

Minglan carefully rose, curtsied, and said softly, without any hint of bravado, "Thank you for your trouble, Granny! I am not very bright, and I have only learned this much in the past few days. I am far inferior to my elder sisters."

She lowered her eyes, her expression gentle, without a trace of competitiveness, as if she were truly just an ordinary, obedient concubine's daughter.

Yet, deep within his eyes, there was a subtle clarity that was hard to detect.

She didn't want to get involved in this situation.