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

Rulan: "Hmph, His Majesty must have favored Rong Feiyan. Ever since he returned from His Majesty's place, he's treated everyone except for my elder sister and you, Minglan, with utmost preciousness."

Hua Lan: "Don't talk nonsense. They've always been pretty good to you."

Mo Lan: "Eldest sister is right, but you should also be careful. This Rong family girl might be quite a character in the future, and could very well compete with you for favor. Ming Lan, what do you think?"

Minglan: "I think Fourth Sister is right."

Inside Qiuxiangzhai, the four Sheng sisters' private conversation was noted down word for word by a young eunuch and reported to the head eunuch.

At this moment, these words had already been prepared and were being carefully read by Liu Hong.

In fact, these idle chatter had been accumulating for some time. The chief eunuch transcribed all the interesting stories in detail, which became a spice in Liu Hong's daily life, making it somewhat as enjoyable to read as a picture book.

The folding book was set aside, and Liu Hong was currently in the military training ground outside the Wende Hall.

In the arena, Zhang Ben and Gu Tingye, who had returned to the capital, were practicing their spear techniques in pairs, displaying impressive skill and martial prowess.

Liu Hong sat upright in a square chair, with a specially made matchlock pistol placed beside him.

Originally, there was a flintlock pistol available, but the accuracy of the flintlock pistol's shrapnel was difficult to adjust, and the parts needed to be replaced frequently, so Liu Hong settled for a less suitable option.

Although matchlock pistols have more steps to operate, they are undoubtedly safer and less susceptible to damage from moisture.

After Gu Tingye and Zhang Ben finished their sparring match, at the signal from the crowd, Liu Hong raised his gun, aimed at the target in front of him, and gently pulled the trigger.

The next moment, with a loud "bang", the specially made steel-cast projectile shot out, shattering the bullseye of the target and piercing through a hole.

Liu Hong set the tinder aside, and a craftsman from the Imperial Workshop came forward to properly prepare the gunpowder pack and reload it into the gun, checking it several times in the process.

We must not harm His Majesty's health.

These craftsmen worked extremely fast, completing the task in just a few breaths, demonstrating their exceptional skill and mastery of the craft, which certainly wouldn't spoil Liu Hong's enjoyment.

As for the combined firearm, the current technical precision of the Tian Gong Yuan is far from being able to achieve it.

It is already extremely difficult to manufacture flintlock muskets, and Liu Hong is quite content for the time being.

"how?"

Liu Hong asked in a soft voice.

Gu Tingye's eyes widened slightly.

Zhang Ben, suppressing his shock, quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty's firearms are incredibly powerful; I am utterly inferior to you."

Only after Zhang Ben spoke did Gu Tingye belatedly realize what was happening.

Although he was from a noble family, he had never served in the military. Before, in Yuzhou, he had only been a wanderer in the martial arts world.

Therefore, although I had heard how the firearms of the Xinhai Army made deafening explosions, like thunder from the sky, I had never seen them with my own eyes.

The first time he had ever seen Liu Hong test a gun was when Liu Hong had just done so.

Gu Tingye estimated the shooting distance, which was far beyond what a bow and arrow could achieve.

His heart pounded with excitement, and he proclaimed loudly, "With these firearms, our Great Han will surely reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun and restore order to the empire! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Gu Tingye bowed deeply, his tone sincere and solemn.

He was always shrewd, but his words at this moment were sincere and heartfelt, perfectly aligning with Liu Hong's wishes.

Seeing the eagerness in their eyes, Liu Hong shook his head, chuckled, and waved his hand.

Soon, the craftsman beside them took out two brand-new muskets and placed them in front of Gu Tingye and Zhang Ben.

"Take these, they are a reward from me."

"Guards, announce the imperial decree!"

The chief eunuch nodded secretly, then stepped forward, took the prepared imperial edict, and read it aloud in the courtroom: "Zhang Ben, son of the Duke of Yingguo, at the beginning of the new dynasty, when everything was renewed, he blocked the Northern Liao tribe at the front line of Xiongzhou in the northern border, and his merit was not small."

"Now that you have returned to the court, you should be granted a title, but since you already have a hereditary title, I hereby appoint you as the Commander of the Palace Guard, leading a battalion of the Divine Martial Guard, and in charge of supervision. You must not make any mistakes."

"Your Majesty, I thank you."

Zhang Ben bowed deeply, his voice solemn and serious.

Liu Hong looked at Gu Tingye and said, "Gu Tingye, what reward do you want? Speak up."

"Your abilities were evident in the front hall of that northern frontier. Although your infamous reputation in Tokyo is not unfounded, you are still a young prodigy."

"You have done such a great thing for me, I will not be stingy."

Liu Hong adjusted his gold-embroidered robe, his smile bright. He called out "Please sit down" with a firm and resounding tone, showing no concern for Gu Tingye's past.

They were actually going to give him a very big reward.

This time, Liu Hong changed the dynasty.

The incident of Gu Tingye failing the imperial examination in the original storyline did not occur, which is why this question has arisen today.

Whether he is allowed to take the imperial examination and become an official, or is directly granted an official position as a favor, will have a great impact on Gu Tingye's future career path.

Liu Hong was willing to give this loyal minister of the future a second thought.

The story of Wu Zixu from the past is still fresh in our minds. We should learn from history, treat our ministers with sincerity, and let the ministers repay their rulers with loyalty. What is wrong with achieving such a harmonious relationship between ruler and minister?

Understanding the implied meaning in the Emperor's words, Gu Tingye was filled with gratitude and secretly resolved not to disappoint Liu Hong's expectations. He immediately bowed and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your kindness, but I also intend to take the imperial examination and enter officialdom. I will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty in next year's spring examination."

"good!"

Liu Hong nodded, "Then I will remember your merits in the Northern Frontier this time, and we will discuss and reward you another day."

"Now go back to your manor first, and also deal with the Gu family's shady affairs. Don't let that woman bewitch you, so that you can continue to serve the new dynasty."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Gu Tingye accepted the order and withdrew.

Watching the two leave, Liu Hong felt relieved; the matter of the Duke of Ying in the Northern Frontier was finally settled.

……

Time flies, and the years pass in the blink of an eye.

Before we knew it, nearly two months had passed since the ceremony of selecting the young ladies to enter the palace, and the selection process was about to come to an end.

The once bustling Xiunu Courtyard has now become extremely spacious, with only a few dozen people remaining.

In other courtyards, many of the young ladies-in-waiting had already been sent out of the palace for various reasons, such as incompatibility, inappropriate speech, lack of patience, competitiveness, a love of provocation and seduction, and gossip.

Or it could be due to irregular menstruation, in order to ensure the health of the selected individuals.

Only in Qiuxiangzhai, the four Sheng sisters, plus the newly moved-in Rong Feiyan, remained all there.

Such a prominent position made others dare not offend him openly, but behind his back, many whispers and rumors had already begun to circulate.

"The Sheng family is truly powerful; all their daughters have entered the palace and all of them have stayed."

"It's only temporary. Whether he will gain His Majesty's favor in the future is still unknown."

"The Sheng family only produced one Sheng Hualan; the others are probably just extras."

"Right now, in this Imperial Concubine's Chamber, the daughters of the Grand Commander, the Left Prime Minister, and the Commander are all of extremely noble status. Their future favor and fortunes are not yet fully determined; we'll just have to wait and see."

Ru Lanben paid no attention to these disputes within the inner quarters.

However, after several months in this deep palace, he has grown quite a bit and learned some manners.

She was no longer so reckless in her actions, and she was also aware that there were many women in the Imperial Concubine's Courtyard, among whom even she could not offend, otherwise it would surely bring great disaster to the Sheng family.

But once he returned to Qiuxiangzhai...

She then let down her guard, her eyes suddenly reddening, and a thick layer of tears welled up between her dark eyelashes, as if golden tears were about to fall.

"Those people are really bullying us. When my eldest sister becomes empress, she will definitely teach them a lesson and spank them. I heard that the caning in the palace is really painful, much more painful than the stick Dongrong used to beat us at home."

Rulan didn't say much before she started to vent her anger, muttering fiercely.

"Alright, Fifth Sister."

Minglan was already walking on thin ice in the Sheng family, and she became even more cautious in the palace.

Aside from the necessary morning and evening greetings, he rarely even left the courtyard of Qiuxiangzhai.

Anyway, this was how she interacted with the Sheng family. It was just a matter of following the rules in a different place, so it didn't make much difference to her, and she adapted to it easily.

"There are only one or two days left. Once the ladies of the palace come to assess us, the number of people who will be retained will be so small that we can only count them on our palms. Then the gossip will naturally disappear."

Minglan was well-versed in the rules of the palace and knew the procedures of each stage of the selection process by heart. Her words reassured Rulan.

"Uh-huh."

Rulan felt much better after receiving comfort.

……

The next day or two passed by in a flash; almost without a second thought, the day of the final assessment arrived.

Early that morning, a series of urgent thumping sounds suddenly rang out in the courtyard of the imperial concubines, as if they were being struck by gongs and drums. The remaining thirty or so women filed out one after another and gathered in the main courtyard.

The winter chill is growing stronger, and the surroundings are covered in snow. The few fine pine and osmanthus trees in the yard have been buried by the snow, and only their white and green branches can offer a little comfort.

Several palace maids were already waiting in the main courtyard, and the noblewomen who came for the assessment were all present.

These people are all veterans of the palace, but they are not old comrades from the Bianliang Imperial Palace. Instead, they came from the Jinling Imperial Palace with the emperor. Now, in this new palace, they are the truly established veterans.

"Minglan, look! Granny Kong is here too."

Rulan leaned close to Minglan and whispered something furtively.

Before Minglan could respond, Hualan gave her a cold, sharp look, and Rulan was so frightened that she swallowed the rest of her words.

Having spent several months in the palace, receiving instruction in etiquette and being deliberately cultivated by the palace matrons and female officials, Hua Lan was being molded into a noble consort and virtuous empress, her majesty growing stronger day by day.

Although he couldn't intimidate the court officials, he could easily subdue a mere Rulan.

Mo Lan glanced at the scene out of the corner of her eye and sneered inwardly.

The subtle actions of the Sheng family's young ladies were all observed by Granny Kong and the other nannies around them. Some frowned slightly, while others smiled knowingly.

In the past few months, His Majesty has given special instructions: the palace rules are indeed strict, but do not stick to them rigidly, otherwise the women raised in this inner palace will no longer be vibrant and lively, but will all become wooden blocks.

That's why these nannies chose to turn a blind eye at this moment.

They were also aware that His Majesty Liu Hong had always been very kind to the girls of the Sheng family.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached, and someone else entered the Imperial Concubine's quarters, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Many of the young ladies were surprised to see the newcomers. Rong Feiyan from Qiuxiangzhai quickly understood the reason after a moment's thought, while the young ladies from the Sheng family all looked bewildered.

The people who came were the newly appointed assistant wives in the palace, who were headed by the old lady of the Duke of Yingguo, with Princess Pingning and Wang Ruofu as their assistants.

The three stood side by side in front of the main courtyard, their noble bearing making all the noblewomen in the palace feel inferior.

"In the last day or two, a dozen or so of the thirty-odd women will be selected. In the end, only a handful will be able to meet His Majesty and be chosen by His Majesty to stay in the palace."

It's not enough to avoid making mistakes to stay; only the best of the best, those who rank at the top, can meet the requirements.

The Duchess of England was mature and composed; she spoke slowly and deliberately, yet every word carried weight.

Especially now, the British Duke and his son Zhang Ben in the northern frontier.

One remained a pillar of the army, while the other had been appointed Commander of the Palace Guard, leading a battalion of the Divine Martial Guard. This showed that the Duke of Ying's mansion, like Sheng Hong's, enjoyed the Emperor's favor.

In Bianliang City, such a family held an unshakeable position, and the Duchess of Yingguo was naturally still among the most noble of all.

"Have you written it down?"

Suddenly, the Duchess of England asked in a deep voice.

The numerous young women immediately bowed and replied, "As you command, Madam."

The Duchess of England nodded slightly and sat down with Princess Pingning and Wang Ruofu to prepare for the assessment.

After the three assistant wives took their seats, Rulan kept winking at her mother, Wang Ruofu, but Wang Ruofu didn't even glance at her, and Rulan was immediately filled with disappointment.

This low mood persisted until noon, when Wang Ruofu took some time to visit Qiuxiangzhai, which gradually eased his mind.

Upon seeing her mother, Rulan's eyes reddened, and she was about to pour out all her grievances.

Before she could even utter a word, Wang Ruofu glared at her fiercely, her eyes practically screaming that she was about to slap her head hard with a ruler.

"You stupid girl, how could you be so stupid?"

Wang Ruofu was exasperated. "There are so many maids and noblewomen in the palace, as well as the old lady of the Duke of Yingguo and the two ladies of Pingyang watching. It's only because you didn't go too far that you behaved so improperly in public. Otherwise, you would have been kicked out of the Imperial Concubine's quarters on the spot."

Rulan pouted and said defiantly, "If you're going to be kicked out, then be kicked out. There's nothing to be proud of in staying here."

"And His Majesty is a lecherous man. Mother, you don't know, but on her very first day in the Imperial Concubine Academy, Rong Feiyan from the Marquis of Shunming's residence was summoned by His Majesty..."

As she spoke, Rulan became very interested in discussing these gossips within the palace.

Seeing this, Wang Ruofu took out a ruler from his sleeve and struck Rulan's hand with great speed, though the force was not heavy.

"You stupid girl, how dare you say such nonsense."

Wang Ruofu rebuked sharply, "When Miss Rong went to see His Majesty, the palace doors were wide open. She was only in the palace for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. What could possibly have happened?"

"Your brain, all you do is think about some kind of crooked and unorthodox ideas all day long."

Wang Ruofu's lecture left Rulan speechless, leaving her only able to puff out her cheeks and sulk pitifully.

After instructing Rulan, Wang Ruofu solemnly instructed the other girls: "Now that you've reached this final hurdle, you must not make any mistakes. Otherwise, even if you manage to stay in the palace by chance, your future will certainly not be as bright as before."

"Especially Hua'er, although His Majesty has feelings for you, you must not take advantage of his favor and become arrogant, and you must not act on your own initiative."

"Don't worry, Mother, I will remember this."

Hua Lan nodded solemnly, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Then, Wang Ruofu looked at Minglan and Molan: "As for the two of you, you must also remember that the last day or two are the most crucial."

"The remaining thirty or so people are neither too many nor too few. Among them, only one or two are women from various prefectures, while the rest are mostly noble ladies from the capital, especially the daughters of the Left Prime Minister and the Grand Commander. We must not offend them."

It is extremely rare for Wang Ruofu to be able to offer such heartfelt advice to Minglan and Molan at this moment.

After all, these two are not her biological daughters.

Mo Lan and Ming Lan nodded slightly, agreeing to the instructions.

Finally, Wang Ruofu gently reminded Rong Feiyan, who was standing beside her, thus forging a good relationship for the Sheng family in the palace.

Although Wang Ruofu had many shortcomings, and was sometimes even a little dull and unaware of her own, she was always clear-headed and insightful when it came to important matters concerning her children's lives.

For a mother to do this much is already quite remarkable.

Parents who love their children should plan far ahead for them!