Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World.

Chapter 146 Gu Er Enters the Capital, Mo Lan's Operation!
The stars gradually disappeared, and the first rays of dawn appeared.

"when!"

A resounding bell tolled, echoing across the heavens.

The lamplight flickers red, and the tassels sway in the light.

The sound of footsteps gradually rose as officials filed through the left side gate to enter the palace for court discussions.

They might wear purple robes and jade belts with xiezhi (mythical beast) accessories, or red robes and leather belts with black gauze hats. Occasionally, a few would wear green robes and square headscarves.

Jiang Zhao, dressed in a purple robe and jade belt, wearing a gold talisman and fish-shaped pouch, and holding a scepter, walked slowly with his hands behind his back.

"Zichuan."

At a call, Jiang Zhao stopped and turned around.

A man dressed in a red robe, with a strong and imposing physique, exuded a heroic and resolute air.

Gu Tingye!
"Zhonghuai." Jiang Zhao cupped his hands in greeting, not surprised.

The suppression of the rebellion in Guangnan took half a year, and the situation has been completely stabilized.

Gu Tingye had already entered the capital half a month ago.

Holding a ceremonial tablet, Gu Tingye strode closer.

"How's it going?" Jiang Zhao asked.

Since the founding of the nation, successive emperors have always held a policy of reliance, trust, and suspicion towards military generals.

When military generals lead troops to quell a rebellion, victory is only one part of the process.

Upon entering the capital, the primary task of military officers was to enter the palace for an audience, relinquish their military power, and demonstrate their loyalty.

Furthermore, they had to submit relevant documents to the government and the Privy Council, detailing the process of suppressing the rebellion, the loss of troops and supplies, the results of the suppression, and the situation at the front.

The spears, armor, bows and crossbows, and other heavy weapons of the soldiers under his command who were suppressing the rebellion were also confiscated and put into storage.

In fact, apart from the Palace Guards who protected the emperor, most soldiers in the capital were not allowed to wear armor, let alone spears and crossbows.

Conventional weapons still consist of a knife and a shield.

In addition, documents concerning soldiers' merits, rewards, and pensions had to be submitted to the Ministry of War and the Privy Council.

Therefore, even after arriving in the capital, Gu Tingye remained quite busy.

"I've been busy for about half the time."

The two walked side by side, and Gu Tingye said slowly, "The documents for suppressing the rebellion, the soldiers' merits, rewards, and pensions have all been submitted. If there are no doubts from above, I guess we can have some free time for a while."

It has almost become the norm for military generals to keep a low profile for a while after returning with their troops.

Of course, after leading troops for a long time, under high tension and fatigue, military officers do need to rest and recuperate.

Jiang Zhao nodded: "What about Guangnan West Road?"

"The rebels called themselves the 'Emperor Zhaode,' and their army once numbered over five thousand." Gu Tingye waved his hand and said, "However, their military discipline was lax, and they were not a force to be reckoned with."

"The two armies clashed, and more than 3,000 people were killed, while nearly 2,000 people fled."

“Since July, we have been dealing with the fleeing rebels. Finally, we found the rebel leader in the Huainan area and executed him.”

As he spoke, Gu Tingye's expression changed, and he glanced at her, saying, "Speaking of which, I also saved your sixth sister-in-law's life."

"Sixth sister-in-law?"

Jiang Zhao's eyes flickered slightly: "What do you mean?"

A few days ago, Old Madam Sheng and Sheng Minglan arrived in Beijing.

"It's best not to go into details," Gu Tingye shook his head and said, "Anyway, I saved her life."

"After strangling the bandit leader, the remaining months were spent pacifying the Baiyue people."

Gu Tingye explained, "Compared to the Tibetans, the Baiyue people were much smaller in number, but they were very good at fighting in the mountains and forests."

"The issues of appeasement and suppression are the most mentally taxing. If it weren't for my experience in the border regions of Xihe and the integration of Han and non-Han peoples, I'm afraid I might not have been able to control them."

Jiang Zhao understood.

Compared to the Tibetans, the Baiyue people were like "savages".

In terms of fighting strength, the Baiyue people are certainly not very good, but when it comes to appeasement and communication, the difficulty is much greater.

"How is Lord Gu?"

The two walked slowly, and Jiang Zhao asked curiously.

As far as he knew, Gu Yankai's health had not deteriorated overnight; the long-term damage from the medicinal diet was absolutely incurable.

"Ugh!"

Gu Tingye sighed: "His hidden injuries keep recurring, and his leg has become infected. Soldiers took turns carrying him into the capital."

"That's it!"

Jiang Zhao understood and laughed, "Now that you mention it, you'd better get married as soon as possible. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until you're at least thirty." Gu Tingye is currently twenty-six years old.

Once Gu Yankai passes away, he will have to observe a three-year mourning period.

At that time, he will be twenty-nine years old.

If it involves marriage, the marriage process must be followed, which takes at least six months.

Therefore, if Gu Tingye did not get married before Gu Yankai's death, it would mean that he would have to be at least thirty years old to start a family.

Originally, being twenty-five and still unmarried was already considered old.

If you wait until you're thirty, that's really too late.

Gu Tingye nodded.

He was aware of this as well.

“However…” Gu Tingye hesitated, then fell silent.

"But what?" Jiang Zhao asked.

Gu Tingye smiled meaningfully and said slowly, "I have already made some plans about this matter."

"when!"

A bell tolls, its sound echoing across the heavens.

"It's good that you have a plan."

Jiang Zhao adjusted his purple robe and said calmly, "Let's go."

Gu Tingye nodded.

Civil and military officials lined up in succession.

Shengfu.

Mu Cang Zhai.

Sheng Minglan held a clay doll the size of her palm, with the words "Yuan Ruo" engraved on it, her thoughts swirling.

Young Master!
A name flashed through her mind, and Sheng Minglan sighed inwardly.

From the moment the young master promised to marry no one but her, she completely saw through him.

No matter what, even if she becomes a nun at Yuqing Temple, she will never choose the young master again.

There's no other reason than that the young master has no say!

The day the young master begged Princess Pingning to come to his door, she was both the most excited and the most disappointed.

Instead of a marriage proposal, they were met with ridicule and mockery.

From that moment on, she understood the young master's temperament and what the so-called "Princess Pingning's arrogance" really meant.

The passing of the eldest wife, the farewell before leaving for Youyang, and the promises made by the young master bring joy, but also unease.

Promises are made too easily.

Anyone can make promises, but only promises that can actually be kept have meaning.

As for the young master, he clearly had no chance to fulfill his promise.

For ordinary families, a scholar who passed the imperial examination at the provincial level undoubtedly wielded considerable influence.

But that's the Duke's mansion!

Princess Pingning is proud and arrogant, and the young master has no say in the matter. How could he possibly achieve the so-called "I will marry no one but her"?
Sheng Minglan sighed softly.

Perhaps, once the young master passes the imperial examination and becomes a Jinshi, he will have some say in the matter.

In reality, the imperial examinations were held only once every three years. The young master could endure the ordeal, but she couldn't.

Besides, who can guarantee that the person making the promise won't change their mind?
Let's return this clay doll to it when the time is right.

The clay doll was put back into the wooden box. Sheng Minglan stood up and looked towards the direction of Linxi Pavilion.

It's time to avenge my mother!

Once she had avenged her mother's death, she would accept whatever marriage she had to do, whether she married someone or no one wanted to marry her and she had no choice but to become a nun!
In less than half a day, Sheng Minglan had drawn up a plan for revenge.

In fact, the plan is not complicated, it is even very simple.

Lately, it is clear from Sheng Molan's behavior that she intends to marry into the Yongchang Earl's Mansion.

The first step to revenge is to actively showcase herself and make Madam Wu favor her over Mo Lan.

This will definitely make Sheng Molan anxious!
Given the personalities of Lin Qinshuang and her son, they would undoubtedly take any risks in order to rise to power.

The second step in revenge was to make the eldest daughter-in-law discover Mo Lan's affair.

In this way, everything will fall into place naturally.

(End of this chapter)