Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 144 The Past of the Gu Family, Hua Lan Hosts a Banquet
"Qianfan, what are you standing there for? Come on, I'll take you to Fanlou to have some fun!"

"You must have had a very tough time these past few days!"

Gu Tingye smiled broadly as he turned to board the carriage.

Suddenly, Gu Qianfan said, "Brother Zhonghuai, I want to serve in the Imperial City Guard."

"What? What did you say?!" Gu Tingye turned his head, staring at him with shock in his eyes, his smile vanishing completely.

"Don't tell me you studied hard at home for years just to get into the Imperial City Guard?"

The duties of the Imperial City Guard were to manage the palace, provide security for the surrounding area, and gather intelligence.

The Imperial City Guard's spies had the privilege of reporting information based on hearsay; they could inform the Emperor of any information they had gathered without needing concrete evidence.

An official's private grumble at home could reach the ears of the emperor.

Once someone is targeted by the Imperial City Guard, the odds are mostly against them; at best, they will lose their official position or be dismissed, and at worst, their entire family will be implicated.

In the eyes of the upright civil officials, the Imperial City Guard had committed numerous evils and was an outcast that violated the laws of their ancestors.

In the public eye, his reputation was extremely poor; almost everyone hated him, treating him like a rat crossing the street.

Gu Qianfan nodded. In fact, he could have easily gotten into the Imperial City Guard through his family's connections.

However, the Great Zhou Dynasty valued literature over military affairs, and those who passed the imperial examination could join the ranks of upright civil officials.

Joining the Imperial City Guard with such a title not only sounds better, but also makes the civil officials more wary of an Imperial City Guard officer who comes from the imperial examination system and is familiar with the regulations.

"The Imperial City Guard can investigate lawbreakers and punish corrupt officials, thus ensuring the stability of the people and the nation."

As Gu Qianfan spoke, he looked at him with a solemn expression.

Gu Tingye was still somewhat surprised. "There are many ways to stabilize the people and the country. If Uncle Gu knew that you went to the Imperial City Guard, he would probably be furious and beat his chest in frustration."

As the Vice Minister of Rites, Gu Shenyan was rigid and serious, emphasizing rules and etiquette above all else, and would even sternly reprimand children for playing around.

When he was alive, he absolutely forbade Gu Qianfan to have any contact with Gu Tingye.

"My mind is made up, Brother Zhonghuai, please don't try to persuade me anymore." With that, Gu Qianfan left directly from there.

Watching his retreating figure, Gu Tingye took a deep breath and couldn't help but point with his finger.

"Heretical!"

The stone standing to one side scratched its head and chuckled twice.

"Speaking of which, the Marquis's past behavior was far more unconventional than that of Young Master Gu."

"You..." Gu Tingye was speechless for a moment.

After a moment, he shook his head and said, "Go to the Imperial City Guard if you want."

"Anyway, in the eyes of those civil officials, our Gu family has always been nothing but rough and uncouth soldiers. So, having another lackey from the Imperial City Guard is no big deal. We're always worried about having more debts!"

“You are right, Lord Marquis!” Stone bowed respectfully.

On the other side, in Jiying Lane, there is Shengfu and Shouan Hall.

Sheng Hong stroked his long beard, a smile in his eyes. This time, his student Wen Yanjing had also achieved the second-class honors in the imperial examination.

In this era, the teacher-student relationship is comparable to that of father and son.

Officials consolidated their positions through their protégés, while protégés relied on their mentors for promotion opportunities, forming one of the most stable networks in the imperial court.

People like Wen Yanjing came from humble backgrounds and had no power or influence in their families.

Moreover, it takes a lot of luck to accept a student with lofty ambitions and great potential as a student.

"Mother, Changfeng has lived up to expectations. He has made it onto the list of successful candidates in this year's imperial examination, ranking fifth in the top three," Sheng Hong said with a smile.

Sheng Changfeng stood in front of the crowd.

She wore an indigo brocade robe, a faint smile on her face, along with a hint of regret that was hard to detect.

He originally thought he could make it into the second-tier league this time.

Wang Ruofu glanced at Sheng Changfeng sideways, thinking to himself: This little brat actually passed the exam!
"Yeah!"

"Changfeng's success in passing the imperial examination is largely due to Yufu's efforts." The old lady nodded with satisfaction.

Although they are only among the top three, they are still from the right path, and with the support of the Sheng and Liu families, they will have a bright future.

Liu Yufu stood up, her posture gentle and dignified, and said softly, "Grandmother, you flatter me."

"Yu Fu was merely doing her duty. Your success in passing the imperial examination is entirely due to your own diligence and hard work, which allowed you to accumulate knowledge and skills before making a breakthrough."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong and the old lady exchanged a glance, both agreeing in their hearts.

Changfeng really married a good wife.

After the results of the provincial examination were announced, the palace examination followed. Zhao Han did not change the rankings of the candidates.

The top scholar's name was Xu Jiang, courtesy name Chongyuan, a native of Min County, Fuzhou.

This person's cousin is Lord Huang Zhongyong, who passed the imperial examination in the second year of the Huangyou reign and ranked first in the second class. He has now entered the cabinet.

The second-place winner was Peng Ruli, courtesy name Qizi, from Poyang, Raozhou. The third-place winner was He Xunzhi, courtesy name Bangyan, from Daozhou.

By the end of April, the successful candidates had been successively appointed to official positions.

Among them, Wen Yanjing ranked among the top in the imperial examination and was appointed as a junior compiler in the Hanlin Academy.

Today, Gu Tingye personally led Gu Qianfan into the palace to meet the emperor. Inside the Wenhua Hall, the two bowed respectfully.

When Gu Qianfan revealed that he wanted to join the Imperial City Guard, Zhao Han was not surprised.

"Your Majesty, although Qianfan is young, he is quite skilled. He is a disciple of Lord Gu, the Deputy Commander of Jingyuan Road."

"He is only slightly inferior to me. If he were to serve in the Imperial City Guard, he would certainly not disappoint His Majesty." Gu Tingye said calmly, cupping his hands in greeting.

Zhao Han chuckled lightly, "It's the first time someone who passed the imperial examination has entered the Imperial City Guard."

"Your Majesty, the court has civil officials to govern the country and military generals to stabilize it, while the Imperial City Guard is in charge of the safety of the capital region and serves as Your Majesty's eyes and ears."

"This is my ambition, and I hope Your Majesty will grant it." Gu Qianfan's eyes were piercing, and his words showed no hesitation.

Zhao Han knew a little about why he wanted to join the Imperial City Guard.

Although Gu Qianfan's surname is Gu, he is not of the Gu family bloodline. His biological father is Xiao Qinyan, the current prefect of Suzhou.

This man came from a poor family and studied under Gu Shenyan in his early years. After passing the imperial examination, he married Gu Shenyan's only daughter, Gu Shuniang.

It was originally a good match.

However, Xiao Qinyan gradually began to reveal his true nature after he entered the court as an official.

He resorted to any means to get promoted, framed his colleagues, and formed cliques for personal gain, a style of behavior that was completely different from Gu Shenyan's.

Not long after Gu Shuniang gave birth to Gu Qianfan, Xiao Qinyan was caught having an affair with a courtesan.

She shared a husband with a prostitute.

Gu Shuniang, who came from a scholarly family, could no longer tolerate this. Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, she decided to divorce Xiao Qinyan.

Gu Shenyan had been displeased with Xiao Qinyan for a long time, so he naturally agreed to the matter.

As for Gu Qianfan, logically speaking, he should be raised by the Xiao family.

At that time, Xiao Qinyan was only a seventh-rank official, and with his eldest son by his side, no noble lady would be willing to marry him.

For the sake of his own future, Xiao Qinyan took the initiative to let Gu Shuniang take Gu Qianfan away.

Within six months, he married Qi Changbo's daughter.

After learning of this, Gu Shuniang died of grief. Coincidentally, her uncle Gu Mingjing had been married for several years but had no legitimate son.

At Gu Shenyan's suggestion, Gu Qianfan was adopted into his family, becoming a legitimate child of the Gu family.

From then on, Gu Qianfan called his mother "aunt".

However, very few people know about this matter, and even Gu Tingye is not very clear about the inside story.

Because Gu Shuniang returned home after a divorce, she could not be buried in the Gu family ancestral graveyard. Gu Qianfan was determined to earn an imperial title for his mother so that she could be properly worshipped.

Given his background as a second-class Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), if he followed the ordinary path of a civil official, his starting rank would be at most the eighth grade, and even if he were to reach the fifth grade smoothly, it would take at least seven or eight years.

Promotions within the Imperial City Guard were not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, but were directly under the Emperor's command.

If you can solve a major case and make meritorious contributions to the protection, you will be promoted to the seventh rank this year and the fifth rank next year.

Furthermore, he loathed Xiao Qinyan to the extreme. By entering the Imperial City Guard, he could monitor all officials and reach the Emperor directly. In the future, he might be able to find something to use against Xiao Qinyan and ruin his reputation.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Han said in a deep voice, "Are you capable of serving as the Commander of the Imperial City Guard's Investigation Division?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Gu Qianfan's eyes.

This official position is of the seventh rank, responsible for monitoring officials and collecting intelligence. They wield real power and are truly close advisors to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I, Gu Qianfan, kowtow to express my gratitude and promise to do my utmost to repay Your Majesty's kindness!"

"No need for formalities," Zhao Han waved his hand.

-

In mid-June of the first year of the Hongwu reign, it was Hua Lan's birthday.

As the Empress, she specially hosted a banquet at Renming Hall this year, inviting ladies from both inside and outside the court.

All those who held imperial decrees were listed in the register.

There are usually two types of banquets hosted by the Empress: one is a regular banquet that follows etiquette, such as banquets held on New Year's Day and Mid-Autumn Festival.

Secondly, there were special banquets held for specific occasions, where entertaining noblewomen could indirectly influence officials of the previous dynasty.

The banquet was ostensibly to celebrate his birthday.

In reality, it was to establish authority, demonstrate one's virtue and ability to the people, and appease the imperial family and former officials of the previous dynasty.

Outside the palace gates, carriages and horses gathered, and several imperial guards stood watch.

Wang Ruofu wore a dark green brocade dress, her hair was piled high in a bun, and she had several inconspicuous but clearly valuable jade hairpins inserted at an angle.

After stepping off the carriage on a footstool, he hurriedly helped the old lady, his every move quite different from when he was at home.

"Mother, watch your step," Wang Ruofu whispered a reminder.

Although the old lady was somewhat surprised, she still smiled slightly and patted the back of her hand. When you're out in public, you have to maintain a certain level of decorum.

Not far away, Princess Pingning saw them, took a deep breath, and took the initiative to come over and greet them.

Even today, in terms of status and real power, the Sheng family far surpasses the Qi family.

"It's been many days. Is the Dowager Madam still in good health?"

Grandma Sheng nodded slightly, her tone gentle, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am doing well."

"Oh my, Your Highness, you are truly radiant today! Your young master has now entered the Hanlin Academy; his future is limitless!"

Wang Ruofu looked at her with a smile.

She couldn't help but recall the arrogant demeanor she displayed when she came to the Sheng family years ago to enroll the young master in the academy.

"Madam Wang is too kind. Heng'er's talent is mediocre. He is far inferior to your Bai'er."

After saying that, Princess Pingning turned her gaze to Rulan and Minglan standing to the side.

Minglan was dressed in a light green brocade dress, exuding elegance and a touch of nobility.

Her cheeks have completely lost their baby fat, making her even more delicate and beautiful, making the orchid next to her pale in comparison.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Rulan and Minglan bowed in unison. Hualan had specifically instructed Wang Ruofu to bring them along today.

Princess Pingning nodded and smiled, then went with them to Renming Palace.

Inside the Renming Hall, several palace maids, with smiles on their faces and in unison, gently placed various dishes on the table.

Consorts Shulan and Yanran, the Duchess of Yingguo, Madam Gan, the Old Madam Yu, Zhao Zongquan's widow Shen Congying, and forty or fifty other ladies of high rank and family were all present.

As the banquet time approached, a palace attendant's loud voice rang out from outside the hall, "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects and wish you a long and peaceful life."

The ladies stood up in unison, respectfully carrying their belongings in accordance with etiquette.

Hua Lan sat upright in the seat of honor and said softly, "No need for formalities. Today is my birthday, and I have specially invited you all to the palace for a gathering and to chat. Please do not be too reserved."

"Thank you, empress!"

After everyone was seated again, Hua Lan turned her gaze to the Duchess of Yingguo, "Why didn't you bring any of your daughters with you today, Madam?"

"Your Majesty, that girl knows she will soon be entering the palace to serve the Emperor, and fearing she won't have the chance to cause trouble anymore, she has been following her brother around all day. Yesterday, she caught a slight cold."

"I was worried that her illness might offend Your Majesty, so I ordered her to stay home and rest. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

The Duchess of England replied respectfully, her tone tinged with a hint of helplessness.

Hua Lan smiled gently. She had heard about Zhang Guifen's personality, the only daughter of the Duke of England, through Minglan and Rulan.

So she said softly, "In that case, I will send two imperial physicians to her residence to see her later."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." The Duchess of Yingguo narrowed her eyes slightly, subtly observing Hua Lan.

He thought to himself: Although this empress does not come from a prominent family, she has a composed demeanor and an air of undeniable grace. She is in no way inferior to Empress Dowager Cao back then.

Several noblewomen cast envious glances at the Duchess of England.

When a new emperor ascends the throne, he will inevitably expand his harem and select concubines.

However, the selection process in the Great Zhou Dynasty was very small, with most participants being the families of officials in the court, and only a very small number being women from the common people.

Upon entering the palace, he became one of the four imperial concubines; only his family could enjoy such an honor.

A moment later, Hua Lan turned to look at Shen Congying.

"Madam Shen, after discussing with His Majesty the other day, I intend to select from this year's newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)."

"What do you think about choosing a virtuous and handsome man for your sister?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Congying quickly stood up to reply.

"Your Majesty and the Emperor have gone to such lengths for my sister's marriage, and I am deeply grateful. How could I possibly have any objections? I leave it entirely to Your Majesty's decision."

Hua Lan said softly, "Don't worry, I will personally do her makeup and I will never make her feel wronged."

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your great kindness." Shen Congying said, her expression moved.

Since arriving in Bianjing, she has been taken care of in all her needs, but she occasionally thinks of her deceased husband and son.

My younger brother, Shen Congxing, has been recuperating in Yuzhou for the past few years, and now, with the help of servants, he can barely walk.

Right now, she is only hoping that her younger sister can find a suitable match.

Xiao Shen's personality is similar to Pin Lan's; she is easygoing and doesn't care about details.

She also has many shortcomings. In the past, she was too foolish and could not bear the slightest grievance because she was spoiled by Shen Congying and Shen Congxing.

The old lady sat upright on the left side of the table, looking at Hualan with eyes full of satisfaction.

Seeing how outstanding his granddaughter is, he was filled with emotion.

Grandma Yu's gaze remained fixed on Yanran.

Seeing her gentle features, no longer displaying her former timidity, I couldn't help but smile.

She and Grand Tutor Yu have re-selected a new wife for the imperial clan, namely the niece of Hong, the registrar of the Imperial Observatory.

Hong was widowed just a few months after her marriage, and has been widowed for seven or eight years now. If her father hadn't been in poor health, he would never have agreed to remarry.

Hong is virtuous, generous, and kind. In the days since she entered the family, she has managed the Yu family's inner quarters in an orderly manner.

Although Lord Yu was dissatisfied, without Fang's instigation, he ultimately dared not oppose Grand Tutor Yu any further.

(End of this chapter)