Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 138 Regent Sheng Hong finds himself in an awkward position.

As dusk fell, the officials bowed and took their leave from the Zichen Hall.

On the flat, wide bluestone road, Xu Pingyuan and Wei Ling walked side by side, when Sheng Hong stepped in front of them.

The two exchanged a glance, then bowed respectfully, saying, "Lord Sheng."

Sheng Hong stroked his beard and smiled, saying gently, "Pingyuan, the old lady has been quite concerned about you since she learned that you were serving in the Northwest Army. She keeps saying that she wants to see you in person to put her mind at ease."

"Why don't you stay at the Sheng residence for a couple of days first, so that the old lady can put her mind at ease about this matter?"

"At that time, I will personally send people to prepare ships and send you to Jinling."

Although the Western Xia has been recovered, a general is still needed to pacify the region in order to prevent any tribes from causing trouble.

After returning to the capital to receive his title and resting for a while, he will have to return to the northwestern border.

Xu Pingyuan remained calm and cupped his hands, saying, "Lord Sheng's arrangements are very thoughtful, so this junior will respectfully comply."

"Speaking of which, His Highness specifically instructed me to convey his regards to my great-aunt when I visit the Sheng residence."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong nodded with satisfaction.

He then turned his gaze to Wei Ling, and could sense that Wei Ling seemed quite dissatisfied with him...

"Sanlang, you should come along too."

"Your elder sister misses you very much. Ming'er and Liu'er also often talk about Uncle and hope that you will come to the mansion for a visit."

Wei Ling lowered his gaze slightly, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Sheng."

"It has been several years since I last visited my elder sister. It is only right and proper that I pay her a visit today."

Having known each other for many days in the Northwest Army, Xu Pingyuan was well aware of the grudges between Wei Ling and the Sheng family.

If his elder sister had been mistreated for many years after becoming a concubine, he would probably feel even more resentful than Wei Ling.

Sheng Hong nodded and smiled, "That's excellent."

Not far away, Gu Tingye patted Sheng Changbai on the shoulder and said quietly, "Zecheng, your family is going to have a good show to watch tonight."

Sheng Changbai shook his head and sighed softly, his face showing helplessness. He was unwilling and unable to get involved in this matter.

Ultimately, it was his father's past lax management of the household and indulgence of his concubines that caused this trouble, so it wasn't entirely unexpected that things had turned out this way.

So the topic shifted: "I heard from your third son that Lord Gu's health is deteriorating day by day. Your marriage to Miss Yuan should be arranged as soon as possible."

“My aunt came to my door herself a long time ago and took the initiative to arrange things for me. She used to look down on me the most.”

After saying that, Gu Tingye shook his head and chuckled.

Gu Tingye's aunt was Gu Yankai's younger sister. She married into the Yang family, a prominent clan that was a perfect match for the Ningyuan Marquis's family.

Life was going smoothly until the Gu family was nearly abandoned by the Yang family because of the huge deficit the Gu family owed to the Ministry of Revenue.

After the Gu family married Bai Shi and overcame their difficulties, her situation in the Yang family was naturally not as good as it had been before.

The aristocratic families have always looked down on merchant families, and having a sister-in-law from a merchant family inevitably leads to ridicule and mockery.

The old lady and Madam Qin had always been on good terms, and she knew that Gu Yankai had only married Madam Bai out of desperation.

Therefore, she vented her resentment on Bai Shi. Whenever she returned to the Marquis's mansion, she would join forces with the fourth and fifth branches to make things difficult for her, and she never gave Gu Tingye a kind look either.

They were fully aware of Xiao Qinshi's tactic of flattering them to their detriment.

She had no intention of interfering and could only watch helplessly as Gu Tingye became infamous and a notorious playboy in Bianjing.

Now that Gu Tingye is in power, this old lady can't help but feel a little regretful, for the sake of her son's future.

Without waiting for Gu Yankai to send someone to invite them, they took the initiative to come to his door to help with the wedding arrangements.

Sheng Changbai remained calm and said slowly, "This is only natural, there's no need to worry about it. The most important thing right now is to properly arrange your marriage."

"indeed."

Gu Tingye sighed softly, and the two walked together toward the palace gate.

Meanwhile, inside the Funing Palace.

Zhao Zhen lay on the soft couch, his face pale. After the imperial physician took his pulse with great concentration, his expression became even more solemn.

Empress Cao stood to one side with a worried expression, and asked impatiently, "How is His Majesty's health?"

The imperial physician frowned, unsure of what to say.

"Speak freely, I know what I'm doing."

After Zhao Zhen finished speaking, he turned to look at Zhao Han, who was standing to the side. He had been on the throne for more than forty years and he had asked himself if he had been conscientious and had a clear conscience.

Now that the throne has a successor, he has no worries.

After hesitating for a moment, the imperial physician knelt down and said, "If I were to use all my medical skills, I could at most save Your Majesty for a little over a month."

Upon hearing this, Empress Cao staggered back a step, and a palace maid nearby rushed forward to support her.

"For more than a month..." Empress Cao muttered to herself, her eyes gradually reddening.

Zhao Zhen smiled with relief, "Dan Shu need not be sad. A month or so is more than enough time for me."

"To be able to witness the expansion of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the prosperity of the nation, Heaven has ultimately been kind to me."

Although Zhao Han had anticipated this day, he still couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. "Father, your son..."

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said gently, "No need for further words."

"When you recover the land of Yan and Yun, you must come to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and tell me in person."

"Your subject will keep this in mind."

A moment later, Zhao Zhen forced himself to sit up, composed himself, and looked intently at Zhao Han.

"Your Highness, heed my decree."

"From this day forward, you shall oversee the administration of the country. All matters concerning state affairs shall be handled by you first, and then you shall report back to me."

"I am unwell, but the affairs of state cannot be neglected for a single day. You must always remember that the heavy responsibility of the nation rests on your shoulders."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Han's heart trembled, and he bowed deeply, saying, "Your subject will obey Your Majesty's decree and will certainly do his utmost to handle state affairs and live up to Your Majesty's trust."

Zhao Zhen nodded with great satisfaction.

"Send the Crown Prince and the Princess to me later. I have already entrusted the affairs of state to you."

"For the rest of my days, I should enjoy the pleasures of family life."

-

In Jiying Lane, inside the Sheng Mansion and Shou'an Hall, the aroma of tea wafts through the air.

The entire Sheng family was gathered here. Liu Yufu sat gracefully on a soft stool to one side, a faint smile on her face, displaying the demeanor of a noble lady from a prominent family.

Sheng Changfeng glanced at her sideways, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

As the mother-in-law, Wang Ruofu realized she couldn't control Hai Chaoyun, so she turned to Liu Yufu to assert her authority.

As it turned out, Liu Yufu was no pushover either; she endured Liu Yufu's deliberate provocations without retaliating.

Moreover, in front of all the female servants and maids of the Sheng family, she gave Wang Ruofu face, kneeling down without hesitation, and even deliberately letting Sheng Hong see it several times.

They served as officials in the same court and were also friends for many years.

Sheng Hong once personally promised Lord Liu that the Sheng family would never mistreat the Liu family's daughter in the future.

Seeing Wang Ruofu turn around and do this, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. If this got back to the Liu family, how would he explain it to Lord Liu?

Moreover, he was already quite satisfied with this daughter-in-law. So he personally stepped forward and reprimanded Wang Ruofu, forbidding her from interfering in the affairs of Sheng Changfeng's courtyard again.

Upon seeing this, Sheng Changfeng couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Liu Yufu.

Xu Pingyuan and Wei Ling stood in the hall, respectfully bowing and greeting the old lady.

The old lady gazed at them intently, then smiled and said, "We're all family, no need for formalities, please sit down and let's talk."

After Wei Ling sat down, he immediately turned his gaze to Wei Shuyi and Minglan, and a slight thought crossed his mind.

After many years, my elder sister is still as gentle and warm as ever, with a composed demeanor.

I remember the last time I saw Minglan, she was wearing old clothes that had been washed until they were faded, and she looked dull and lifeless, not at all like a girl from an official family.

Now, looking at her again, she is dressed in a light blue brocade dress, with delicate and beautiful eyes, and a charming and graceful appearance, much like the Fifth Sister beside her.

It possesses a clear and transparent quality, pure yet strong, gentle yet resilient.

Several days ago, he learned from Zhao Han that Minglan had been living with Old Madam Sheng all these years.

Therefore, he was quite grateful to the old lady who sat in the head seat.

Liu Ge'er, with his chubby face, stood beside Wei Shuyi, occasionally glancing furtively at Wei Ling.

When all eyes met, he lowered his head sheepishly.

“Grandmother, your grand-nephew has come to visit today with another request.” Xu Pingyuan looked at the old lady solemnly.

"Madam Xu was jealous and mean-spirited, and her nephew's concubine, Madam Mei, had endured humiliation and hardship for many years, and was in a difficult situation."

“Three years ago, my father stayed in her courtyard for a few more days, and the eldest lady accused him of theft and forced him to drink a bowl of poison, which killed him. My nephew also lived in constant fear in the Marquis’s mansion and had no other choice but to leave the mansion to join the army.”

"I hope my great-aunt will have mercy and uphold justice for her grand-nephew."

Although it is said that a woman should not frequently interfere in her natal family's affairs after marriage, the current head of the Marquis's mansion is not Old Madam Sheng's direct nephew.

But the old lady's status as the only daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi's family will never change, no matter when or where.

The two families have had little contact over the years, but many of the elders in the Xu family clan still cherish the old friendship.

Today, Wei Ling took the initiative to come to her, and even if word gets out in the future, no one will dare to criticize the old lady for overstepping her bounds.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong couldn't help but sigh softly, deeply moved.

His birth mother, Chun Xiaoniang, was also forced by that vile woman to drink a bowl of poison and died with resentment.

The old lady slowly turned the prayer beads in her hand, weighed them carefully, and then said, "I have already heard about this matter."

"Since you've come to me for help today, I'll naturally help you with this."

"Tomorrow I will personally write a letter and send it to the Xu family, asking the elders of the clan to step forward and uphold justice."

Upon hearing this, Xu Pingyuan couldn't help but show his excitement and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, great-aunt, for your kindness. If my mother's innocence can be restored, I will have no regrets in this life, and my mother's spirit in heaven can finally rest in peace."

He now holds official rank and title, and the old lady herself is putting pressure on him.

Even if the father had the intention to favor her, he would never dare to openly protect that wicked woman again. Otherwise, he would not mind giving up his official career and pleading with the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

"Pingyuan, you're over twenty now, are you engaged?" The old lady looked at him with great interest.

Xu Pingyuan scratched his head somewhat awkwardly, "To be honest, my birth mother is from Qiantang, Hangzhou."

“She used to have a close female friend, and the two families were very close. That woman’s daughter, Dong, had known her nephew since childhood.”

"Although she comes from a humble background, she is gentle and polite. My nephew plans to formally propose marriage to her family after returning to Jinling this time."

A fleeting hint of regret crossed the old lady's eyes, but she said gently, "One's background is not important; what matters in choosing a wife is her virtue."

"It is truly a good thing that you have found such a good match."

At this moment, Wei Ling looked at Sheng Hong and suddenly asked, "Lord Sheng, I remember there used to be a young lady surnamed Lin in the manor. Why is she nowhere to be seen today?"

Upon hearing this, the old lady frowned slightly.

Sheng Hong forced himself to remain calm, "Two years ago, Madam Lin unfortunately caught a cold, her condition worsened, and she has passed away."

"I see." Wei Ling nodded thoughtfully, then said, "Back then, my elder sister almost died during childbirth, along with her unborn child. I've always been quite suspicious about this matter. To this day, I wonder if Lord Sheng has investigated and found out the truth?"

The family's scandal was exposed in public, and to make matters worse, it involved Wei Shuyi's younger brother, a newly risen court official who had returned after achieving merit.

Sheng Hong choked up.

Sheng Changbai and Hai Chaoyun exchanged a glance and shook their heads helplessly.

Wang Ruofu was about to speak, but Liu Mama, seeing that the situation was not right, quickly tugged at her sleeve.

The atmosphere in the hall was tense, and the old lady showed no intention of trying to smooth things over.

Wei Shuyi could only frown and say softly, "Third brother, these are all old stories, why bring them up again?"

Seeing that Wei Ling had no intention of giving up, Sheng Hong knew that if this matter got out, the Sheng family would be the only ones to suffer.

So he forced a smile, his tone heavy with a hint of deliberate guilt.

"Speaking of which, if I hadn't gone to Runzhou with Madam, this wouldn't have happened."

“Those who should have been punished have already been dealt with. The past is the past. My brother has returned in triumph. We should celebrate properly. It would be better not to let the past ruin our harmony.”

"I hope that you will consider the close relationship between our two families and let this matter rest."

Wei Ling snorted lightly, and with Wei Shuyi's suggestive look, prevented Sheng Hong from further embarrassment.

It wasn't until 7 PM that everyone left Shou'an Hall. Xu Pingyuan, led by a servant, went to the guest rooms in the second courtyard to settle in.

Inside Tingxue Residence, the lights were on.

Wei Ling looked at Wei Shuyi with a serious expression, "Elder sister, how have you been doing in the Sheng family these past few years?"

Did Lin really die from an illness?

Minglan stood to one side, about to speak, but was stopped by a look from Wei Shuyi.

"However the lord says Lin will die, that's how she will die."

“You can tell from my clothes and living conditions that the Sheng family is not treating me badly.”

"You don't need to show off for me; your own future is more important," Wei Shuyi said in a low voice.

Wei Ling snorted coldly, "Just because we haven't mistreated you now doesn't mean that all the past grievances can be wiped clean."

"Elder sister, if one day I take you away from the Sheng family, would you be willing?"

Upon hearing this, Minglan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she looked at Wei Ling with considerable surprise.

Wei Shuyi was even more shocked and left the Sheng family...

In her original plan, she could only leave and live out her old age peacefully after Liu Ge'er got married and the Sheng family divided their property.

"Third brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Brother Liu is still young. If I leave the manor now, how will he live?"

"My lord values ​​the family's reputation above all else. If you force him to write a letter of renunciation, it may affect your future."

"There is absolutely no benefit in falling out with the Sheng family."

As Wei Shuyi spoke, his expression was more solemn than ever before, as if he was afraid that Wei Ling might impulsively offend Sheng Hong.

Minglan hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Uncle, although I also want my mother to leave the Sheng family as soon as possible and gain her freedom."

“But what you said makes sense. This matter needs to be considered carefully.”

(End of this chapter)