Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 117: Conferred the title of Lady of Chu State, Xiaoliu is not yet of marriageable age
Bian Jing, northeast side of the imperial palace, Muqin’s residence.

It was built in the second year of Jingyou. Most of the people living here now are descendants of Taizu and Taizong.

The Dazong Zhengsi allocated houses according to blood relationship, and daily expenses were all provided by the court.

After Shen Congying took care of the funeral affairs of Zhao Zongquan and Zhao Ceying, he took his sister Shen Congrong to Beijing.

The Grand Master of the Imperial Clan settled the sisters in a three-story house here. Although it was not large, it was elegant.

Today, Shen Congying was summoned to the palace to meet the Emperor and Empress Cao.

She had a sad face, her eyes were slightly red, she was wearing a plain brocade dress without any pattern, and a white jade ruyi hairpin in her hair. She was dressed in plain clothes and her manners were dignified and proper.

Led by the eunuchs, Shen Congying passed through the numerous palace gates and stood outside the palace, unable to help wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes.

The thought of the two headless corpses made her heart ache.
I just wish I couldn't just die in front of the coffin and let them go.

"Announce, Shen enter the palace!"

The eunuch's voice sounded in his ears. Shen Congying nodded slightly and walked slowly into the hall.

Zhao Zhen was seen sitting upright on the throne, with Empress Cao on his right.

Zhao Han was wearing a red Ming Dynasty robe and standing at the foot of the imperial steps. The eyes of the three men fell on her almost at the same time.

"Your servant Shen pays homage to the emperor, the empress, and the crown prince." Shen Congying bowed gracefully, behaving respectfully.

Zhao Zhen looked at her and sighed softly, "No need to be polite, please take a seat."

Upon hearing this, the eunuch hurriedly brought a soft stool and gently placed it next to Shen Congying.

"I thank the emperor for his grace."

After Shen Congying sat down, Zhao Zhen said in a deep voice, "I am deeply saddened by the events in Yuzhou."

"Zhao Zongquan has been law-abiding these years, and everyone in Yuzhou praises him highly. I never expected that he would be brutally murdered by these thieves. This is all my fault, ahem…"

There are many descendants of the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty. To be honest, he can't even remember what Zhao Zongquan looks like.

But at this moment, I have to express my deep sorrow.

The reason why he was furious in Wenhua Hall was simply because the royal family's reputation was damaged.

A member of the royal family had his head cut off by the bandits and presented to the Nung bandits. This was a slap in the face of him as an official!
Empress Cao responded at the right moment, "Your Majesty, please do not blame yourself too much. If you want to blame someone, blame those traitors for their lack of conscience."

Then, she turned her gaze to Shen, "Don't worry, the government will definitely make the decision for you."

Shen Congying sobbed and bowed again.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have no other request but that the army destroy the Nong thieves' lair and recover the heads of my deceased husband and son."

"Let them be buried with their bodies intact, so they can rest in peace in the afterlife."

Because the head was lost, Zhao Zongquan and his son had to use official hats instead for burial.

Seeing this, Zhao Han had no choice but to step forward and help her up, saying softly, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. You are a thief who has committed so many evil deeds that even heaven cannot forgive you."

"The army to suppress the rebellion has arrived in Guangnan. They will definitely eradicate them completely and exterminate all nine generations of their clan to uphold the laws of the country."

According to the clan seniority, Zhao Han should call Zhao Zongquan his cousin, and Shen Congying would naturally be his sister-in-law.

Shen Congying glanced at him lightly, then immediately retracted his gaze and nodded slightly.

In a trance, he recalled that Zhao Zongquan once told him that although this prince came from the common people, he was a rare talent in both civil and military affairs, and his demeanor was not inferior to anyone in the royal family.

When I saw him today, it turned out to be true.

Empress Cao changed the subject and asked, "I heard that you have a younger sister who is going to the capital with you this time?"

"Your Majesty, both my parents passed away a few years ago. Although my brother, Shen Congxing, was lucky enough to escape the hands of the rebels, the doctor diagnosed that he will most likely become a disabled person in the future."

"My younger sister, whose maiden name is Congrong, is just about to reach marriage this year. I am really worried about leaving her alone in Yuzhou."

"Has she promised to marry someone?"

Shen Congying replied respectfully, "We haven't discussed marriage yet."

"There has been a recent death in the family, and I think we should wait until the mourning period is over before we take care of this matter."

"That's right. You can live peacefully in Bianjing from now on."

"If there is a family you like in the future, please feel free to let me know." Queen Cao said with a gentle expression.

Zhao Ceying has not yet married and had children, and Zhao Zongquan has no other children.

Therefore, Zhao Zhen sent other officials to take over the post of Yuzhou Tuanlianshi a few days ago.

As for Shen, they had no choice but to arrange for her to go to Beijing and be properly placed by the Dazong Zhengsi.

Moreover, in order not to cause panic and dissatisfaction among other members of the royal family, their family must be treated well no matter what.

Soon, an eunuch came forward holding an imperial edict and read it out: "Your Highness, the decree says:

Zhao Zongquan, the commander of the Yuzhou militia, was loyal by nature and had both civil and military talents. He was posthumously named the Loyal and Brave Prince. His son Zhao Ceying was brave and resolute at a young age, but died in the service of the king. He was posthumously named the Yunhui General and buried in the king's tomb.

His wife, Shen, was given the title of Lady of the State of Chu, and was granted imperial decree, a crown and clothing, and an annual salary of 1,000 dan.

Shen Congying suppressed her grief and took the imperial edict with trembling hands, saying respectfully, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

At the same time, at the Duke of Qi’s Mansion.

Ever since Minglan followed the old lady south, Qi Heng locked himself in his room.

Food was not allowed to be brought in for more than one person, and even the window frames were closed tightly.

He couldn't understand why Minglan looked down on him.

No matter in appearance, family background, talent or feelings, there are very few people in Bianjing City who can surpass him.

Princess Pingning couldn't stand Qi Heng's appearance anymore and ordered the servant to kick the door open.

Now she has learned from Buwei that her son wants to marry the sixth daughter of the Sheng family.

Princess Pingning walked into the room, her face gloomy, and she gritted her teeth and said, "Yuan Ruo, look at what you look like now!"

"If you like Rulan from the Sheng family, your father and I will propose marriage immediately."

"Even if the Sheng family doesn't agree, I can still ask to enter the palace."

"But you have your eyes on the Sixth Daughter of his family. Our family's foundation is unstable and our descendants are dwindling, but at least we are a Duke's mansion."

"Your father and I are counting on you."

Princess Pingning attaches the most importance to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children.

In her opinion, the only ones who can directly benefit from the glory brought by the position of Crown Princess Hualan are Sheng Changbai and Rulan.

Sheng Hong has now changed from a member of the Qing Dynasty to a relative of the emperor. Not to mention that he is only a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel, even if he holds the first or second rank in the future, how much real power can he control?
This is the situation of the Qi family today. The Duke of Qi holds the highest official rank, and the title is hereditary.

Although he holds a prominent position and is surrounded by honors, he actually has little say in the government affairs.

Minglan is a illegitimate girl, how much help can Qi Heng get from the Sheng family?

After a concubine's daughter gets married, whether her parents' family can support her depends on whether the concubine's daughter is favored and the value of her son-in-law.

She sent someone to secretly inquire and found out that among the two concubine daughters of the Sheng family, Sheng Hong obviously favored the fourth daughter.

Instead of this, it would be better to marry the legitimate daughter of a noble official in the court.

As long as his family does not lose face, Qi Heng can also get the wholehearted support of the Yue family.

Given his family background, it would be very easy for Qi Heng to marry a legitimate daughter of a noble family of the third rank or above as long as he passed the imperial examination.

Moreover, if Hualan falls out of favor and is deposed in the future, how much power will the Sheng family have? It's not like the emperor has deposed the queen before.

The glory gained by relying on the royal family is nothing but a mirage. It may be booming today but may fall apart tomorrow.

If a family wants to remain prominent for a long time, it will ultimately rely on its children to pass the imperial examinations, enter officialdom, and make great achievements.

As the queen's adopted daughter, she had long been aware of this, otherwise she would not have controlled Qi Heng in every way and insisted that he take the imperial examination and enter the officialdom.

Therefore, Qi Heng’s dream of marrying the illegitimate daughter of the Sheng family was impossible!
Qi Heng glanced at her, then stood up in despair, his voice a little hoarse, "Mother, I understand."

"After a while, I will stay indoors and devote myself to preparing for the next spring exam."

Princess Pingning was a little surprised to hear such an answer. She turned her head to look at Buwei, who immediately shrank his neck.

"My son, I hope you can think it through."

"Your father and I are both hoping that you can settle down and get into high school with one stroke next time."

When she left the room, she was forced to reveal that it was the Sixth Miss who looked down on Qi Heng.

Princess Pingning snorted coldly, and immediately gave Minglan the impression that she was playing hard to get.

The Earl of Yongchang's Mansion. Chun Ke is nearly three months pregnant, and the pregnancy is particularly stable. She spends her days lording it over everyone in the inner quarters.

When Mrs. Wu learned that Minglan had gone to Youyang with the old lady, she couldn't help but feel anxious and hoped that she could come back soon.

The fifth lady of the Sheng family is too high for her sixth son to reach, and she can't stand the fourth lady's frowning behavior.

Only the Sixth Miss, no matter her appearance or demeanor, she was very satisfied.

What's more, he was raised by the old lady since he was a child, so he must have learned a lot of skills as a housekeeper.

She had already decided that no matter whether her own doctor Liu was satisfied or not, the only girl she could marry among the two concubines of the Sheng family was Minglan.

It is not really unfair for the Crown Princess's concubine sister to marry the Earl's legitimate son and become his wife.

Besides, her Liang family is one of the richest families in Bian Jing.

-

In mid-June, Guangnan received frequent good news, and the chronic poison against Western Xia was gradually taking effect.

Li Liangzuo is a smart kid. Although he is only thirteen years old now, he had already recruited the great general Manmie as his own two years ago.

When Mo Zang Epang was still alive, he wanted to keep track of the movements of Mo Zang's family at any time.

Last year, he had an affair with Liang, the daughter-in-law of Mo Zang Epang, who was his cousin-in-law who was seven years older than him.

With the help of Liang, the entire family of Mo Zang Epang, including Queen Mo Zang, has been completely killed by Li Liangzuo.

However, the Mei Zang clan has been in power for many years, and its members and followers are spread throughout the government and the country. The remaining forces are still lurking in the dark, frequently causing trouble.

In order to stabilize the political situation, Li Liangzuo was thinking about finding a suitable time to make Liang the queen.

The daughter of a Han Chinese general, Liang represents the Han Chinese forces in Western Xia.

If he wanted to form a new alliance, the Liang family was the best choice. It just so happened that he was currently obsessed with his cousin's wife.

It can be seen that the Xixia court was still in chaos and had no time to care about the people raising sheep.

In Zhao Han's opinion, relying solely on this chronic poison is far from enough to pacify Xixia as soon as possible.

Last year, the Imperial City Administration confiscated 80 million taels of silver from the Yongwang Palace and the Yanwang Palace alone, which was more than the annual income of the national treasury.

When forming a new army, hot weapons must also be put on the agenda!

At present, cold weapons are still the mainstream in the imperial army, and firearms are mostly auxiliary and only used for attacking or defending cities.

It will take at least a hundred years for truly mature thermal weapons to emerge.

In this era, it is indeed quite difficult to directly build a red cannon and a flintlock rifle.

East Palace, inside Mingde Hall.

Zhao Han sat at the desk, thought about it for a while, and decided to start by improving the gunpowder.

The existing gunpowder formula has a saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal ratio of 2:1:1.

The explosion is weak and soft, only suitable for incendiary weapons such as fireballs and smoke bombs
He knew the proportion of black powder very well. To purify saltpeter, he just had to write down the detailed steps and any craftsman in the Armoury could do it.

The combination of the Thunder Bomb and the Tiger Cannon with the Divine Arm Bow and black gunpowder has both range and explosion capability, which is enough to deal with the Western Xia.

Especially the Tiger Cannon, in addition to gunpowder, you can also put some croton, wolfsbane, arsenic and other substances inside.

If the enemy inhales the explosives during the explosion, they may bleed from the mouth and nose.

Thinking of this, Zhao Han picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and under the candlelight, wrote down the recrystallization method of extracting saltpeter in great detail on paper.

In order to prevent the gunpowder from getting damp and causing incomplete combustion, its form had to be changed from powder to granules.

As the moon reached the zenith, Hualan, wearing a honey-colored chest-length skirt, walked slowly towards them, holding a cup of almond tea.

"Your Highness." After entering the hall, she called softly.

Zhao Han put down his brush and looked up at her.

Hua Lan smiled gently, put the almond tea on the table, walked around behind Zhao Han, and massaged his shoulders just right.

After a moment, she said softly, "Sister Shulan sent a message today saying they have arrived safely in Youyang."

"Only when we were halfway there, we encountered a group of pirates. Fortunately, we had enough guards with us, so nothing happened."

"Xiao Liu has always been timid. I don't know if this scared her."

Zhao Han raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and asked with a half-smile, "Is she timid?"

"Yes, in the past, whenever the sisters had a quarrel, she would always hide at the back and even speak in a soft voice."

"I think she was probably frightened by the sight of Wei Xiaoniang hanging by a thread in her death in Yangzhou."

"It would be great if my fifth sister could be like her."

Zhao Han shook his head. "You still don't really understand this Xiaoliu."

"When I played polo with her, she whipped the horse more skillfully than any other soldier in the army."

"The third daughter of the Yu family has been left far behind. With such a magnanimous demeanor, you actually think she's timid?"

In his eyes, Minglan was just a little fox in rabbit skin, and she pretended to be better than anyone else.

Hua Lan frowned slightly, then after thinking carefully, she smiled and said, "Playing polo is playing polo. That's what my grandmother taught me."

"In short, Xiaoliu is the most timid and docile sister in my eyes."

"Speaking of which, when Your Highness went out to play polo that day, was it for Xiaoliu or for Miss Yu?"

Zhao Han stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes, "Of course I have both."

"Ah?" Hua Lan blinked, a little surprised.

Then, she said slowly, "I was thinking that if Your Highness wanted to take care of Miss Yu, you could choose an auspicious day to welcome her into the Eastern Palace."

"As for Xiaoliu, she hasn't even reached the age of marriage yet, so Your Highness, please don't worry about her for now."

Zhao Han smiled slightly, pulled her into his arms, and the sisters went into the house together to serve.

Not to mention him as the crown prince, even in the families of those civil servants who claim to be upright, this is a very common thing.

Besides, Minglan's appearance is beyond words. She is also intelligent, measured and cautious. If such a girl is given to others,

It's not just a pity, it's a lifelong regret!
"By the way, how is the old lady in the eldest house doing?"

Hualan put away her smile and sighed softly, "Sister Shulan said in her letter that she is not well anymore. I'm afraid she will die in the next few days."

"It's a rare achievement for the old lady to be able to hold on until she sees the marriage between Changwu and Aunt Kang's daughter."

Now the Kang family's reputation is ruined and Kang Haifeng's career is completely hopeless.

Although Kang Yun'er is the eldest daughter, not only is she not a good match for the other family, but even families of lower status avoid her.

Wang Ruoyu knew that he could not marry into Changbai, but he was too embarrassed to go to the Sheng family in person to ask for a marriage for him.

Although she was not a good person, she loved her three biological children very much and could only write letters to Mrs. Wang to cry out her feelings.

Old Lady Wang had always favored Wang Ruoyu, so she put aside her pride and wrote a letter personally to Old Lady Sheng to ask for this.

Old Lady Sheng took into consideration the relationship between them and the Wang family for many years, and although Kang Yuner was born in the Kang family, she was well-educated, beautiful, intelligent, and had a rare good character.

He personally acted as a matchmaker and betrothed her to Sheng Changwu, the second son of the eldest son.

Although the eldest son's family is a merchant family, Shulan's status is very different now, and Kang Yuner is still marrying up.

-

The next day, after the court meeting ended.

Just as Zhao Han was about to go to the Military Equipment Bureau in person, Old Master Yu sent a visiting card.

Although Grand Tutor Yu has retired, his students and former officials are spread all over the country. Nearly 30% of the officials in the six ministries of the court are from his school.

Old Madam Sheng and Old Madam Yu are close friends.

When the Sheng family first came to the capital, the old lady had thought of letting Changbai marry Yanran into the mansion in the future.

After all, Yanran is the old master's most beloved granddaughter, and she will definitely do her best to support Changbai in the future.

But at that time, Yanran's father looked down on the Sheng family.

In his eyes, Yanran marrying into the Sheng family would not bring him any benefits, so he told them to give up the idea.

After all, as the eldest daughter of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, there are many noble families who want to marry her.

(End of this chapter)