The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 728 Fifth-Rank Lady
Gu Baishuang chatted with her son about everyday things.

Tong Huaqiong went to find her adopted son, Gu Jingzhe.

I was too tired yesterday to talk to Gu Jingzhe.

As usual, Tong Huaqiong first gave Gu Jingzhe a lecture on how to be more tolerant of Lu Zhaozhao, since pregnant women have a hard time carrying a child.

Gu Jingzhe studied at the Imperial Academy during the day and returned home in the evening to accompany Lu Zhaozhao. Every day, he would massage Lu Zhaozhao's feet and calves to relieve the discomfort of pregnancy. After doing all this, he would light a lamp to study and prepare for the imperial examinations the following year.

To be honest, it was very tough.

But Gu Jingzhe found joy even in hardship.

Hearing Tong Huaqiong's reprimand, he did not boast of his achievements, but instead listened to the instruction with a respectful expression.

Tong Huaqiong carefully examined Gu Jingzhe.

Feeling uneasy under Tong Huaqiong's gaze, Gu Jingzhe asked, "Mother, is there something on my face?"

Tong Huaqiong said, "You have such a handsome face. You've been in Shengjing for so long, hasn't any young lady taken a fancy to you?"

Gu Jingzhe was greatly alarmed.

Thinking to himself that his mother was trying to trick him into revealing information, he sweared to God that he had never cared about any other girl except for Lu Zhaozhao.

Why does my mother always look so certain that he's going to change his mind?

Gu Jingzhe said with a slightly aggrieved expression, "Mother, I don't have the time to care about other girls."

Tong Huaqiong said, "When the results of the imperial examinations are released next spring, with your abilities, you'll have no problem getting the top score or the third-highest score. When that happens, some princess or noble lady will be out on the street looking for a husband, and she might just take a fancy to your face and snatch you away."

Gu Jingzhe shook his head repeatedly and said, "No, that princess and the daughter of a noble family have their own marriage partners. I have no official title and I am already married, so no one will arrest me."

Tong Huaqiong said, "When Zhaoyang became the top scholar, he didn't have any official rank but he still got married. Didn't he also catch the eye of the princess?"

Moreover, his son's handsome face was even more eye-catching than Lu Zhaoyang's.

Gu Jingzhe raised his hands and said, "If that really happens, I will still refuse. I only have Zhaozhao as my wife in this life."

Tong Huaqiong said, "Alright, I believe you."

While saying this, she thought of Princess Tong Huaqiong, who forced Gu Jingzhe to divorce her in her previous life, and planned to meet her sometime.

"Alright, let's eat breakfast and go to the academy."

Gu Jingzhe felt as if he had been granted a pardon when he heard Tong Huaqiong finish the conversation.

After breakfast, Manager He went to the Tong residence to meet Tong Huaqiong.

The shop in Shengjing opened in just a few months, thanks in no small part to Manager He's efforts.

After Tong Huaqiong finished speaking with Manager He, she was led by Manager He, Gu Dashu, and Gu Taohua to check out the shops in Shengjing.

Before the person even left the house, people from the palace arrived.

The visitor was Eunuch Pan, the old emperor's most trusted advisor.

The whole family rushed to greet them.

Eunuch Pan came to read the imperial edict, which was addressed to Chen Su-fen.

In recognition of Chen Sufeng's meritorious service in raising the imperial grandson, she was granted the title of Fifth-Rank Lady.

Chen Sufen received the imperial edict, her hands trembling.

In addition to bestowing the title of Lady upon Chen Sufeng, the old emperor also bestowed generous gifts upon Tong Huaqiong and others.

Tong Huaqiong and the others expressed their gratitude.

"Uncle Pan, you've worked hard." After Eunuch Pan finished reading the imperial edict, Gu Dashu went up and took Eunuch Pan's hand, stuffing a thick red envelope into Eunuch Pan's sleeve.

“Nephew, there’s no need to be so polite,” Eunuch Pan declined.

Gu Dashu said, "You've already called him your nephew, so it's only right that a nephew should show filial piety to his uncle."

"Smooth-talking," Eunuch Pan chuckled as he accepted the red envelope. Tong Huaqiong clicked her tongue; Gu Dashu had only been in Shengjing for a short time, yet he and Eunuch Pan were already addressing each other as uncle and nephew.

"By the way, Uncle Pan, how are my niece, cousin, and son doing in the palace?" Gu Dashu asked.

Eunuch Pan smiled and said, "All is well, all is well."

Gu Dashu said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Pan. The three children are from the countryside and don't know the rules of the palace. The family is worried that they might offend someone important, so please take good care of them, Eunuch Pan."

Gu Dashu meant whether he could help send the three children out of the palace.

There's no comfort in the palace compared to home.

Gu Dashu was granted an official title and attended two palace banquets and met the emperor three times. The emperor met the emperor mainly because he was a fresh face from the countryside and liked Gu Dashu's straightforwardness, so he summoned him to join in the fun.

Gu Dashu knew that the reason the old emperor had summoned him to speak was mainly because he had no requests of the old emperor.

The old emperor felt safe.

After a while, Gu Dashu and Eunuch Pan hit it off, and Gu Dashu won Eunuch Pan over to treat him like a nephew.

Eunuch Pan understood what Gu Dashu meant and said in a low voice, "His Highness the Crown Prince has just returned to the palace. The Emperor left Man'er and the others in the palace because he was afraid that the Crown Prince would be lonely. They will be sent out in a while."

Eunuch Pan's words were not only for Gu Dashu's ears, but also for Tong Huaqiong, Chen Sufeng, and others.

Everyone was relieved to hear this.

Liu Yue'e, in particular, had not seen her son for several months. Yesterday, she suddenly heard that her son had been left in the palace by the old emperor. She imagined all sorts of terrifying scenes in the palace, which frightened her so much that she couldn't sleep well all night.

He cursed the old emperor inwardly for being so inhuman, detaining someone's child for no reason.

After Eunuch Pan left, Zhao went to Chen Sufeng's side to look at Chen Sufeng's imperial edict.

“Su Fen is lucky; she’s already a lady,” Zhao said.

"That's because Su Fen is kind-hearted. Back then, a child suddenly appeared, said to be Da Han's illegitimate son. Who could stand that? Even outsiders' gossip could drown them. Fortunately, Su Fen didn't mind and doted on the Crown Prince. That's called good deeds being rewarded," said Madam Hong.

“From now on, Su Fen will be able to sit on equal footing with some of the ladies in Shengjing,” said Old Madam Huang.

She's a fifth-rank lady; her husband, Jingshan, is also a fifth-rank lady.

Tong Pandi touched the imperial edict, her face full of envy.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Your tutor, Master Su, is now the Crown Prince's teacher. Sooner or later, you will also receive an imperial title."

Tong Pandi said, "I'll be grateful as long as my family is all together. But if you want me to be granted an imperial title, I'll take that too."

Tong Huaqiong smiled; she loved the way Tong Pandi looked so pleased with himself.

"Congratulations, Grandma."

The servants who were serving her surrounded Chen Sufeng to congratulate her.

Liu Yue'e felt a little uncomfortable. She hadn't even managed to get a wife from Guan Dujian, who was under the protection of Gu Dashu, while Chen Sufen had already gotten one, and she was even a fifth-rank official, which was higher than her mother-in-law's rank of Xiangjun.

In a few years, Gu Jingzhe will be able to earn Lu Zhaozhao an imperial title.

There's also Peach Blossom. It seems she and Su Chengmin are mutually attracted to each other. Su Chengmin is a top favorite of the Crown Prince, and Peach Blossom will eventually become his wife after they get married.

All the women in the family had ranks, except for hers, which was low.

If only she had known, she would have eagerly sought to adopt the grandson of the emperor back then.

But who could have known that the child was the crown prince?

When Liu Yue'e was feeling down, Tong Huaqiong ordered people to bring the gifts bestowed by the emperor into the house and instructed Chen Sufeng to reward the servants.

It is something to celebrate that Chen Su-fen has been made a lady.

Gu Dahan wasn't granted an official title because he was in Qinghewan. Tong Huaqiong thought to herself that she had lost out big time. If Gu Dahan had come to Shengjing as the adoptive father of the Crown Prince, he would have been given an official position.

However, given Gu Dahan's personality, he was not suited to be an official at all; he was better suited to studying plant seeds at the Agricultural Department.

Tong Huaqiong went out to inspect the shop, and Zhao tugged at Liu Yue'e's sleeve, telling her to go back inside.