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

At this moment, inside the Wende Hall.

Although three others appeared to be on the list—Zhang Guifen, Sheng Hualan, and Sheng Minglan—the court officials already had a tacit understanding that the real contenders for the empress's position were the two daughters of the Sheng family.

Gongsun Yanran, daughter of the Left Chancellor Gongsun Bai, and Geng Fang, daughter of the Grand Commander, were both rejected by the ministers due to the potential threat of being related to the empress. Zhang Guifen, daughter of the Duke of Ying, came from a noble family and held military power. Wasn't she also suspected of being related to the empress?

If Zhang Guifen were made the first empress of the new Han dynasty, the power balance in the court would be disrupted, which would be contrary to the emperor's principles of balance and imperial power.

Therefore, of the three candidates on the surface, only Sheng Hualan and Sheng Minglan remain.

All the gentlemen couldn't help but think to themselves.

"The Sheng family has truly acquired immense wealth; such an opportunity has fallen solely into their hands."

……

Meanwhile, in Bianliang City, the scene inside and outside the Sheng Mansion was completely different.

The servants and maids in the mansion moved about, all standing on tiptoe to look around. News from the palace spread several times a day, with good news coming one after another.

All four daughters of the Sheng family made it into the final ten of the talent show.

Even though the selection ceremony is not yet over and there will be no grand bestowal of titles in the short term, she will definitely start with the rank of Zhaoyi or Jieyu in the future, and will never be a female official in the palace who is not even considered a concubine.

The Sheng family's status as members of the royal family is now a foregone conclusion.

Although everyone knew that Hua Lan and His Majesty were in love, it was only at this final step that the noble status of the imperial relatives truly put the Sheng family at ease.

The servants gathered together, chattering excitedly, their faces beaming with joy: "These young ladies are all so lucky; they were all chosen!"

"In my opinion, it's all thanks to the eldest daughter. I heard that the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice was also eliminated. This is all because His Majesty favors the eldest daughter, and that's why he extends his affection to her."

"If our eldest daughter were to give birth to a prince for His Majesty in the future, she would be a true member of the imperial family, a prince."

In the past few days, the Sheng family has become the most prestigious and influential family in Bianliang City.

Colleagues in the officialdom, street vendors, and ordinary people all talked about the Sheng family's daughter's talent show during their leisure time.

Within the Sheng family mansion, apart from Sheng Hong, who still leads the imperial guards to maintain order in the capital, and Wang Ruofu, who serves as the assistant wife in the palace, everyone else rarely leaves the mansion.

Even close friends and relatives have temporarily cut off contact, and can only resume their conversations, friendships, and gatherings after the talent show is concluded.

At least until then, the Sheng family must not make any mistakes in the family affairs. Otherwise, at the very least, it will jeopardize the future of the young ladies in the palace, and on a larger scale, the Sheng family's wealth and prosperity for the next hundred years will depend on this period of time.

No matter how cautious one is, it is all within reason.

When Sheng Hong returned to his residence from the Ministry of War, he rode in a carriage all the way, listening to the discussions about the Sheng family on the streets. His heart was already pounding, and even his fingertips were trembling.

Only by stepping into Shou'an Hall could one see Old Madam Sheng.

His restless heart calmed down a little, and he bowed and sighed, "Mother was right after all."

"Our Sheng family is already in a precarious situation. If we continue to associate with friends and nobles at this time, we will surely displease His Majesty and jeopardize the future of Hua'er, Mo'er, Ru'er, and Ming'er."

"Especially Hua'er, who has a deep friendship with His Majesty, having known him for several years. Perhaps, she even has a chance of becoming Empress."

Sheng Hong was always cautious, but when this matter was mentioned, he couldn't hide his joy. The corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, and there was a hint of smugness in his eyes.

Fortunately, whenever the Sheng family faces such a critical moment concerning its very survival, Old Madam Sheng, the pillar of stability, always steps in in time to calm the situation.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Old Madam Sheng put down her teacup, her voice deepening, "Establishing an empress is a major event for the nation. All the ministers are here in the Wende Hall to discuss it. How can we let personal feelings jeopardize the country and the people?"

You are now highly regarded by His Majesty, holding the title of Vice Minister of War, and commanding hundreds of imperial guards. How impressive! A civil official of integrity wielding military power—in this Bianliang city, apart from a few other ministers, you are probably unique in this regard.

The more this is the case, the more cautious and prudent one should be, so as not to be caught out by others for making mistakes.

If, in the future, an imperial censor were to file a complaint at the Chuigong Hall and present it before His Majesty, your official position, and even the future of your daughter, would be irrevocably lost.

Despite the well-intentioned advice, Sheng Hong outwardly complied, but inwardly he did not truly heed it.

His mind was filled with the thought that "the daughter of the Sheng family is going to be the empress," which meant he would be the emperor's father-in-law. This extremely prestigious position had already made him somewhat oblivious to his surroundings.

Seeing his appearance, Old Madam Sheng's heart skipped a beat. Knowing that gentle persuasion would be useless, she had no choice but to harden her heart and bring up the old story she had previously been reluctant to mention, resorting to drastic measures to address this serious illness: "Do you know why His Majesty specifically appointed you to this position of Vice Minister, placing you in charge of three hundred imperial guards to maintain order and discipline in Bianliang City?"

This matter concerned his future career, so Sheng Hong naturally took it very seriously. He immediately composed himself, frowned, and pondered for a long time before replying hesitantly, "Perhaps... my luck is better than others?"

"absurd!"

Old Madam Sheng's voice was icy as she harshly rebuked, "Just a bit of luck, and you think you can become a third-rank Vice Minister of War? Do you even believe that yourself?"

Sheng Hong was taken aback by the reprimand. He racked his brains and realized that his previous answer was indeed too simplistic.

He calmed himself down, pondered carefully, and replied again, "I suppose... it has something to do with my status in Yangzhou? Your Majesty was in Yangzhou in your early years, and I had some minor favors with you."

"At least you know something."

Old Madam Sheng's expression softened slightly, but she still earnestly advised, "In the current court, there are two factions: the important officials of Nanjing and the old officials of Bianliang. Tell me, which faction do you belong to?"

Having spent many years in officialdom, Sheng Hong had learned a great deal about how to be an official, but precisely because he had learned so many different things, he couldn't come up with any truly insightful or wise words.

Although Minglan was also studying at the prefectural school, she did not receive instruction from a great Confucian scholar like Zhuang Xuejiu. Although the teachers at the prefectural school were quite knowledgeable, they always kept their distance from her because she was a woman.

Therefore, there was never any talk of her being a "pure minister".

A true man should be loyal to his ruler and love his country, remaining impartial and impartial, and serving as a loyal subject.

There is no fixed rule on whether to establish the heir or the virtuous, and often, the lack of a fixed rule is itself the rule.

This pure minister's argument teaches people to remain neutral, not to get involved in factional disputes, and not to do things that displease the emperor. This in itself is the basis for the emperor's great pleasure.

But Sheng Hong at this moment could never conceive of such a non-competitive thought.

After pondering for a long time, he felt that he was now trusted by the emperor and had a friendship with the emperor in Yangzhou, so he said with certainty: "Although I am an old official of Bianliang, I have now been promoted by the emperor and should be... among the important officials of Jinling."

Old Madam Sheng knew the temperament of the child she had raised, so she was not surprised to hear this. She just sighed heavily, her brows furrowed with worry: "You say you are an important official in Jinling, but where were you when His Majesty raised an army to establish the new Han Dynasty?"

At that time, you were still in Bianliang, holding onto your official position of a sixth-rank official, without having made any contributions.

Do you think those important officials in Nanjing who risked their lives alongside His Majesty to conquer the country would acknowledge you, a newcomer to the Ministry of War?

Grandma Sheng frowned deeply, her words gentle and persuasive.

She ultimately didn't want to explain the reasoning too bluntly, because if she did, Sheng Hong might listen on the surface, but his mind would remain blank, and it would ultimately be useless.

Only by letting him figure it out himself can he truly remember it and put his restless mind to rest.

Shouan Hall fell silent for a moment.

Sheng Hong stood frozen in place, his smugness completely gone. The restlessness in his heart caused by his dream of becoming the "father-in-law of the emperor" was utterly extinguished by the old lady's words.

He opened his mouth, but found himself speechless, feeling that his previous certainty had now become a complete joke.

Sheng Hong frowned, his brows furrowing into several vertical lines, but then relaxed as he sorted out the situation. He then said in a deep voice, "I was originally a minister of the former Song Dynasty. In the past, when I served as an official in Yangzhou, many important ministers in Jinling were my close friends."

The Vice Minister of Rites, Xu, the Minister of Personnel, Zhuang, and the Sheng family have always had a close relationship.

Looking across the officials of the former Song Dynasty, I fear only a handful are capable of handling this position. Furthermore, considering the affection between His Majesty and Hua'er, the post of Vice Minister of War has fallen to someone like me who seems the most suitable."

He was appointed Vice Minister of War a few months ago.

Today, thanks to the guidance of Old Madam Sheng, Sheng Hong finally understood the schemes behind the emperor's rise to power, sobered up from the joy of his promotion, and truly understood not only what happened but also why, thus gaining insight into Liu Hong's deeper thoughts.

"No wonder...no wonder."

Sheng Hong suddenly realized, his forehead beaded with cold sweat, his body trembling slightly. He muttered to himself about his experiences over the past few months, "The descendants of those important officials in Jinling, as well as all the ministers, have all been kind and gentle to me. In addition, I have always handled my duties impartially and upheld the principles of fairness in accordance with the Emperor's orders, which is why I have been able to live in peace until now."

I initially thought it was due to my own proper actions, but now I realize it's definitely inseparable from my former identity as the Vice Prefect of Yangzhou.

As he finished speaking, Sheng Hong's pupils suddenly contracted, and he suddenly recalled the scene when he met Liu Hong in the Chuigong Hall that day—the first person His Majesty asked was never him, Sheng Hong, but "the Vice Prefect of Yangzhou".

In an instant, Sheng Hong's back was soaked with cold sweat, and a chill spread through his limbs and bones.

He should have realized this sooner, instead of needing his mother's prompting to finally understand.

Compared to Old Madam Sheng, who had experienced the palace and seen through the ways of the world.

His understanding of the Dao is truly shallow.

Having calmed down somewhat, Sheng Hong looked at the matriarch sitting in the hall, his tone becoming increasingly cautious as he bowed and asked, "Then, in Mother's opinion, who should ultimately occupy the position of Empress? If not our Hua'er, then who?"

"How can one presume to fathom the thoughts of the emperor?"

Old Madam Sheng took a deep breath, her eyes filled with deep worry. She waved her hand and said, "You really overestimate this old woman. The thoughts of several ministers, the political situation in the court, the remnants of the rebellion of the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Yong, and the covetous eyes of the Northern Liao and Western Xia—these things seem far away, but in reality, they are all intricately connected to the matter of establishing an empress. How could anyone easily see through them?"

"Mother is right."

Sheng Hong bowed and agreed.

These heartfelt words spoken in Shou'an Hall were known only to the mother and son, and would never be circulated among their family.

However, the scene at Linxi Pavilion, another residence of the Sheng family, was quite different.

Lin Qinshuang, dressed in a pink gown that accentuated her snow-white skin, possessed an alluring charm even more pronounced than before. She held a pale white fan in her hand, its gentle sway revealing the anticipation and excitement in her eyes. A smug smile played on her lips: "Now that Mo'er has caught His Majesty's eye, I know that my Mo'er is exceptionally talented and beautiful, comparable to Xie Daoyun. How could His Majesty not favor her?"

Zhou Xueniang, who was standing beside her, quickly chimed in, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "Don't worry, my lady. Our fourth young lady's talent is no less than that of the eldest young lady. She has also inherited your true skills. She will surely win His Majesty's favor."

"I hope so."

Lin Qinshuang nodded slightly, but waved the fan in her hand even more rapidly, her anticipation surging even stronger.

Hearing footsteps, Lin Qinshuang saw Sheng Changfeng leisurely approaching, holding snacks in his hand, seemingly still in the mood to eat and drink. Her face immediately darkened, and she stepped forward to complain, "Right now, your sister is vying for the position of Empress in the palace, competing with others. As her brother, instead of offering her assistance, you could at least try to find some friends to gather information. Why are you so indifferent?"

Sheng Changfeng waved his hand, continued stuffing pastries into his mouth, and mumbled, "Mother is joking. This is the imperial city. Moreover, the Imperial Concubine's Courtyard is now heavily guarded by the Imperial Guards, and I heard that it is also protected by the Divine Martial Guards. It is likely that a future empress will emerge from inside. Not even a fly can get in."

"How could I possibly have such ability to investigate?"

These words infuriated Lin Qinshuang, who raised her eyebrows and slapped his arm with her fan, saying irritably, "He's useless too. His usual friends are all useless when it comes to a crucial moment."

"Mother, that's not right."

Sheng Changfeng was displeased. He put down the pastries, wiped his mouth, and said, "After the New Year, when the imperial examinations are held, and my son passes and obtains an official position, that will be my mother's true support."

As for my younger sister, it is already a good thing that Her Majesty has taken a liking to her. Now that the situation is almost settled, I really don't know what Mother is worried about.

Could it be that Mother truly believes that my younger sister will be chosen by His Majesty and become the new Empress of this new Han Dynasty?

Sheng Changfeng was well-versed in history and knew the history of the early Han Dynasty.

His Majesty values ​​the balance of power in the court and is aware of Liu Hong's great strategic vision and magnanimous character.

Mo Lan was born out of wedlock and had no powerful family to support her. From the perspective of the country and the court, she had no chance of becoming empress.

But Lin Qinshuang didn't see it that way. Her eyes reddened, and her tone was filled with resentment: "What? Is my Mo'er any less than the ladies from the Pang and Gongsun families?"

He said this without waiting for Sheng Changfeng's reply.

Instead, her eyes dimmed, and she began to feel sorry for herself: "In the end, it's me, her mother, who has dragged her down. If only my Mo'er were born a legitimate daughter..."

"So what if she's born a legitimate daughter?"

Sheng Changfeng chuckled, "I think it's not certain that eldest sister will be able to take the position of empress."

"Mother, don't forget that among the last ten people, there is the daughter of the Left Prime Minister, the daughter of the Grand Commander, and the daughter of the Duke of Ying, who is stationed in the northern frontier. They all come from distinguished families."

"It is already an immense favor that the eldest sister was granted the title of Consort. As for the younger sister, it is already a rare honor that she was granted the title of Zhaoyi."

The truth is always harsh, and Lin Qinshuang immediately glared at him and scolded him sharply: "Don't talk nonsense! Your sister should at least be given the honor of being a concubine."

"There are only four imperial concubine positions in total, so no matter how you arrange it, it won't be your sister's turn."

Sheng Changfeng shrugged, feeling that his mother had been blinded by greed and was completely confused.

Lin Qinshuang was speechless, and could only turn her head away resentfully, but a sliver of hope still lingered in her heart.

……

The sun was beginning to set, and noon was not far off.

Inside the Wende Hall of the Imperial Palace, the debate over who should become empress continues.

After the heated discussion, Zhang Guifen, the daughter of the Duke of Yingguo, was also excluded from the list of candidates for empress by a joint petition of court officials to avoid suspicion of interference in politics by her father and brothers who held military power.

As a result, the only remaining candidates for the empress's position were the two daughters of the Sheng family.

The legitimate daughter is Sheng Hualan, and the illegitimate daughter is Sheng Minglan.

Logically speaking, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is a matter of course and is determined by etiquette and law. As the eldest legitimate daughter of the Sheng family and having a past relationship with His Majesty, Sheng Hualan was the obvious choice.

After all, the position of empress is related to the foundation of the country and is also closely related to the legitimacy of subsequent imperial heirs.

The distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children has always been a top priority for court officials.

But at this moment, Zhuang Xuejiu, the Minister of Personnel, suddenly stepped forward and said something astonishing: "Your Majesty, I have something to say. This sixth daughter of the Sheng family is actually the legitimate daughter of the Sheng family, not a concubine's daughter."

"In that case, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children needs to be reconsidered."

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall.

Liu Hong also looked surprised, raising an eyebrow slightly. His gaze immediately fell on Scholar Zhuang below the steps, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry: "Sheng Minglan, the legitimate daughter? Lord Zhuang, what do you mean by that?"

no doubt.

When Zhuang Xuejiu brought up this matter, it instantly disrupted the already settled situation regarding the selection of an empress, adding another variable to the already deadlocked debate.

In an instant!

All eyes of the court officials were on Zhuang Xuejiu, waiting for him to give a reasonable explanation.

The atmosphere inside the Wende Hall became extremely heavy once again, so heavy that even the sound of a pin dropping could be clearly heard.