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

"Forget about the title."

Old Madam Sheng took a deep breath, her face unusually solemn and serious. "Since ancient times, noble titles have mostly been bestowed upon those of high rank and honor."

"Now that you have been appointed as the Vice Minister of War, you are in charge of the affairs of the court and the military. Moreover, being promoted to the position of Vice Minister of War may not necessarily be a good thing."

"At present, in this capital city of Tokyo, His Majesty has issued an edict that has stripped all titles of nobility."

"They will surely rise again, and perhaps the various earls' mansions, marquises' mansions, and even dukes' mansions will be able to return to their original positions, but in the end, they will be extremely rare."

"At present, you are serving as the Vice Minister of War, managing various military affairs in the capital city of Tokyo. Although you are assisting him, the Minister of War has not yet arrived in the capital. In the meantime, if any trouble arises in the city involving the former officials of the previous dynasty or the troops of the new dynasty, even if His Majesty intends to protect you, there will definitely be a lot of trouble behind the scenes."

"If you can't handle things, this position of vice minister will come quickly and go just as fast."

Although Old Madam Sheng had been in charge of the Sheng family for many years, she had served in the palace in the past, and her analysis of the current situation in Tokyo was insightful and profound.

Sheng Hong had also considered these things, which is why he felt so preoccupied.

"Then, as Mother wishes..."

Sheng Hong asked the question again.

After pondering for a long time, Old Madam Sheng said, "Impartial and impartial in handling affairs."

"Now that you are His Majesty's official, all you need to do is be loyal to the Emperor."

"I observe that every household in the capital is at peace and the people are living happily. This shows that the new emperor is a man of both military and civil affairs. The storms will not be too great."

With these words from Old Madam Sheng, Sheng Hong felt much more at ease and nodded again, saying, "I understand, Mother."

Afterwards, Sheng Hong inquired again with concern whether anything needed to be added to Shou'an Hall, and what was still missing.

He wanted to do his best as a son to show his filial piety.

"Everything is fine inside Shou'an Hall."

After hearing this, Old Madam Sheng hesitated for a moment, then looked at Sheng Hong in front of her and said, "I shouldn't have troubled you, after all, you already have a lot on your shoulders."

"But Hualan has stayed with this old woman in Shou'an Hall for so many years. Now she is over twenty years old. If she doesn't get married soon, she will really become a laughing stock in the city of Tokyo."

"this……"

Sheng Hong was truly stumped for a moment, and glanced at Wang Ruofu beside him.

Wang Ruofu understood immediately. Although she knew she would lose face, for the sake of her children, she still braced herself and slowly said, "Please rest assured, Mother. I will go back to my room and talk to Hualan about it in detail."

"This marriage can't be delayed any longer. The Sheng family has already had a happy occasion, so it's time to add another one. Whether it's the young man from outside or an old friend of your husband from Yangzhou, we certainly won't let you worry any more."

What Wang Ruofu said at this moment was not bad. Old Madam Sheng nodded and then waved her hand, and the group of people in Shou'an Hall dispersed.

"Is Ming'er coming?"

"grandmother!"

As Hualan grew older, she no longer stayed in Shou'an Hall to accompany the old lady, but returned to her own mother's home.

Therefore, in recent years.

There is now another person who can best please Old Madam Sheng and pass on this bond between grandmother and grandson.

……

"Honglang, Honglang..."

Outside Shou'an Hall, as Wang Ruofu returned to Weirui Pavilion to persuade Hualan, Lin Qinshuang's soft and sweet voice echoed incessantly.

Lin Qinshuang stood in front of Sheng Hong, appearing weak and vulnerable, and said in a sweet voice, "Hong Lang, I was wrong in my words and actions. I am just a woman in this household, and I do not have much knowledge, but I only care about you, Hong Lang."

"Since Honglang left home to become a monk, my heart has been aching as if it were being cut by a knife."

Lin Qinshuang was indeed a vixen; her smooth maneuvering softened the heart of Sheng Hong, who was already quite fond of her.

"You...you..."

Sheng Hong pointed at Lin Qinshuang with a look of disappointment and frustration.

Lin Qinshuang quickly bit her lower lip, putting on a pitiful look that said, "This servant knows she was wrong," which was indeed very deceptive.

Just as Sheng Hong was about to say something more, a hurried voice suddenly appeared in the inner courtyard. The person rushed over, taking three steps at a time: "Young lady, my lord! People from the palace have arrived! There are so many people surrounding our Sheng family! My lord, you'd better go and see!"

The person who came was a rough old woman from Lin Qinshuang's courtyard, who spoke loudly and urgently.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong frowned, then disregarded the warm and soft woman in his arms and quickly left.

Upon seeing this, a hint of worry flashed in Lin Qinshuang's eyes.

She wasn't worried about Sheng Hong, but about her own future and that of her children.

He gestured to the old woman who was doing odd jobs, and when she approached, he quickly whispered, "Go and check if the jewelry and silver in the courtyard have been exchanged properly."

"The Sheng family is in a mess right now. If things go wrong, at least we can still escape and have some valuables to rely on, so we won't end up on the streets."

"Yes, young lady."

The old woman quickly agreed and then hurried away.

The news couldn't be kept secret from the Sheng family. Before long, Shou'an Hall, Weirui Pavilion, and all the courtyards knew about it.

However, before receiving Sheng Hong's summons, they could only keep to their duties and stay in their respective places.

"Your Excellency has come on imperial orders; I have truly failed to greet you properly."

Sheng Hong stood with his hands clasped in respect.

He dared not show the slightest disrespect to the chief eunuch serving the emperor.

"Lord Sheng is joking."

The chief eunuch spoke gently and acted with great care and consideration: "I'm not here today for anything major, just to assign the three hundred imperial guards in the palace to Lord Sheng. Otherwise, many matters in the capital city cannot be resolved simply by Lord Sheng showing his face; often, it's necessary to maintain order and composure."

After hearing the chief eunuch's words, Sheng Hong felt relieved and understood which faction the people outside the Sheng family belonged to.

They were not his enemies, but rather his reinforcements.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. His Majesty's consideration is indeed thorough."

Sheng Hong quickly said.

Upon hearing this, the chief eunuch chuckled again, looked around to make sure no one was coming, and then said, "Lord Sheng, please bring all your family members here. His Majesty has another decree."

"Yes, Father-in-law."

Sheng Hong quickly replied.

Under his arrangement, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the entire Sheng family had gathered in the front hall.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

The chief eunuch cleared his throat, his voice suddenly becoming solemn. "Within the palace, there is a shortage of manpower, and no reliable female relatives to instigate this."

The Inner Court Affairs Department was temporarily established, and three assistant wives were appointed by imperial decree.

When I was in Yangzhou, I had long heard of the wife of Magistrate Sheng's household, who was very good at managing her family. Now I have specially appointed her as the second assistant wife in the palace to temporarily manage the affairs of the palace.

So be it!

After the decree was read, the chief eunuch's voice was no longer as solemn as before, but as approachable as ever: "Your Excellency, please accept the decree."

Sheng Hong accepted the imperial edict with both hands, looking at Wang Ruofu with a complicated expression. He really hadn't expected that his wife would have such good fortune.

"Madam, please remember that you must arrive at the palace within two hours at most. Do not delay."

"After all, Your Majesty is in the palace today, and apart from this old servant and a few palace servants, most of them are in Jinling and have not come to this capital city. We cannot delay Your Majesty's rest."

The chief eunuch kindly offered this reminder.

"Understood, Father-in-law."

Wang Ruofu possessed the decorum and manners of a noblewoman, and her behavior was always impeccable.

The chief eunuch was even more satisfied upon seeing this.

The eunuch looked around again, but his gaze quietly settled on Hua Lan, the eldest daughter of Wang Ruofu, who was standing next to him. He then nodded secretly once more.

Your Majesty has excellent judgment.

The magnolia in front of me was bright and beautiful, elegant and noble, with a heroic spirit between her brows. Overall, her temperament was even more gorgeous and outstanding, as bright and vivid as a white magnolia bud.

Today she wore a light blue and smoky green tight-fitting short jacket, paired with a light green and turquoise willow-patterned long skirt, and her hair was styled in a crescent-shaped bun.

Although she may indeed be getting on in years, she still has the charming and innocent demeanor of a young girl.

Whether she enters the palace as a concubine or an empress in the future, it will likely be a good thing for the palace servants. Serving such a lady will ensure their peace and stability for a long time.

"Madam Sheng, who is this?"

After regaining his senses, the chief eunuch noticed that the Sheng family members were looking at him strangely, but he didn't pay much attention to it. However, he still asked one more question.

Wang Ruofu dared not be presumptuous, nor did she dare to look down on the Grand Eunuch in the slightest just because she was now the wife of the Assistant Minister. She quickly replied.

"Reporting to Father-in-law, this is my daughter, Hualan."

"Tsk tsk, she is indeed a beauty of unparalleled grace. The Sheng family is certainly well-off."

The chief eunuch praised him, but felt that his words were not clear enough. So he thought for a moment and continued, "Your Majesty has only established our new Han dynasty for a short time, only seven years, yet you have already built such a great foundation."

But in the end, he was all alone. The new dynasty had just been established, and although there were still wars on all sides, those were merely things in His Majesty's hands and were nothing to fear.

However, many matters concerning the inner palace still require your assistance, Madam.

Leaving behind these meaningful words, the chief eunuch led several palace servants away.

"My lord, does this eunuch mean... that His Majesty has feelings for our Hua'er?"

Watching the eunuch's departing figure, Wang Ruofu's heart was filled with turbulent emotions, and she inexplicably uttered those words.

"How could that be?"

Sheng Hong had also had such a foolish thought for a moment, but then he thought about it again and found it ridiculous. "What kind of person is His Majesty? He has the qualities of a dragon and phoenix, and is accomplished in both literature and martial arts. Moreover, he hasn't even seen my Hua'er's face yet, so how can you say that he has any interest in her?"

"That's not necessarily true."

Old Madam Sheng's voice suddenly rang out, opening up a completely new line of thought within the Sheng family's hall: "With the new dynasty newly established, the imperial palace should take in more virtuous concubines in order to bring peace to the four directions."

Although the Sheng family was not much in the capital city of Tokyo, which was full of nobles, they still had some reputation in Yangzhou.

Therefore, if a daughter of the Sheng family could become one of His Majesty's concubines, there would indeed be a sliver of a chance.

"What Mother said makes sense."

Sheng Hong nodded thoughtfully.

At this moment, Liu Mama, who was next to Wang Ruofu, tugged at her sleeve, and then the two of them, mistress and servant, whispered a few words to each other.

Then, Wang Ruofu's eyes shone brighter in front of everyone, and she was so excited that she couldn't help but say in public, "Hey! Aunt Liu, you have such a good memory."

"How could I, such a fool, have forgotten even this completely?"

Wang Ruofu's sudden shouting startled everyone present.

Sheng Hong gave her a disapproving look, but Wang Ruofu didn't care at all. She tugged at his clothes tightly and said with a happy expression, "My lord, do you still remember the pen pal that Hua Lan met by chance outside?"

"He hasn't forgotten that he was just a poor boy."

Although Sheng Hong didn't seem to dislike it much, he also lacked the willingness to make things happen out of helplessness that he had shown before.

On that day, the future of the Sheng family was uncertain. They thought that by arranging a marriage with that poor young man, they could sever some unnecessary entanglements and preserve their bloodline. It was another way out for the Sheng family.

Although the Sheng family is still facing many crises, Sheng Hong is at least a third-rank official in the current court and is favored by the new emperor. In addition, he has the help of many colleagues in Yangzhou.

It can be said that he has already established a stable foothold in both the government and the public.

Times have changed, and those from poor families naturally no longer catch his eye.

"That day it was just my imagination, but now that I think about it carefully, it may not be true. Especially this person's name, which is worth pondering."

Wang Ruofu spoke again.

Sheng Hong then became interested and looked at her with a strange gaze, unable to help but say, "What? Could it be that this person's name is somehow connected to the heavens?"

At the end, Sheng Hong couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head as he said, "Could this person really be His Majesty? So he's decided on our Hua Lan and doesn't want to marry anyone else?"

"My lady, my silly lady, how could such a coincidence happen in this world?"

Considering that Wang Ruofu was acting in the best interests of the entire Sheng family, Sheng Hong did not mock her further. Instead, he took her hand and spoke with a hint of coaxing.

"My lord, my lord, that's not how it is."

The more anxious Wang Ruofu became, the more incoherent his words became. "Sir, you might as well think about it. As the former prefect of Yangzhou, it is still understandable that His Majesty would value you so highly."

However, I am but a woman of humble origins, what virtue or ability do I possess to assume the position of Assistant Lady and manage the affairs of the harem for Your Majesty?

And what that palace eunuch said earlier.

Just now, as he was leaving, he stared at our Hua Lan like that. What exceptionally beautiful women hasn't His Majesty seen among his close associates? Why would he treat our Hua Lan with such special regard?

Wang Ruofu's words had reached this point, and others might not have understood yet, but how could Hua Lan, who was already in the know and had experienced it firsthand, not know?

She grabbed her mother's sleeve, staring intently at her, her voice trembling as she spoke: "Mother... Mother means... that person is him?"

"My dear child, perhaps it really is him, who knows?"

"Although your mother isn't entirely certain yet, she's somewhat confident. Otherwise, if your father could still be trusted with important responsibilities, what merit do I, your mother, possess?"

At this point, Wang Ruofu still possessed some self-awareness.

The phrase she used to always say, "My father deserves to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple," is now completely useless.

All she could rely on were her children and her husband's family.

But now, just when you think you've reached a dead end, a new path opens up before you.

Her Hualan actually became her biggest supporter.

Although she is not entirely certain yet, once this thought popped into her head, Wang Ruofu, as a mother, could no longer stop it.

only.

The mother and daughter's agitated and out-of-control behavior left onlookers completely baffled.

"Madam, what has happened?"

Lin Qinshuang urged him directly, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction.

Grandma Sheng seemed to have sensed something amiss, but without further evidence, she couldn't bring herself to speak.

And those who are elders remain silent.

The younger generation of the Sheng family dared not interfere in matters involving the royal family, otherwise, the Sheng family's rules would not be taken lightly.

At this moment, Liu's mother was also extremely happy.

If this is true, then the young lady will truly enjoy wealth and honor in the future, and even the Sheng family mansion will be safe and secure. Even the master will have to show her some respect.

So she urged, "Young lady! You should quickly speak to the master and the old lady. The whole family is waiting for you."

"Uh-huh."

With tears of emotion welling in Wang Ruofu's eyes, she tightly grasped her beloved Hualan's delicate, fair hand. After glancing at her, she turned to Sheng Hong, facing the gazes of the crowd, and continued, "My lord, do you know the name of His Majesty?"

Sheng Hong frowned again: "I'm sure everyone in Tokyo knows this. Why is Madam bringing it up?"

"My lord."

Wang Ruofu, no longer concerned about Sheng Hong's doubts, suppressed his joy and patted Hua Lan's hand before saying, word by word, "The young man Hua Lan exchanged letters with before has the same name as His Majesty. Moreover, he is also from Yangzhou."

"My lord, do you understand now?"

"What you mean, Madam, is..."

Sheng Hong's pupils suddenly contracted, his smile froze instantly, and he stood there stunned, looking at Hua Lan in disbelief.