Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 185 Gu Qianfan's Marriage: Princess Pingning Paves the Way
After receiving the worship of the people below the city gate, it was already 7:45 PM.

Hua Lan led Ling Jie'er, Shu Lan, and the others to the warm pavilion on the west side, where a banquet had already been set up and the floor heating made it warm and cozy.

All the ladies of the court and the imperial family were already seated according to their rank and status. The one who could sit in the head seat today was naturally Empress Dowager Cao.

She was over fifty years old, wearing a dark purple brocade jacket with cloud patterns, and her gray hair was neatly combed.

Fine, noticeable wrinkles have appeared at the corners of her eyes, but her overall demeanor remains elegant and dignified, even more so than before.

Upon seeing Hua Lan arrive, the ladies of the court and the inner court all rose to pay their respects. Wei Shuyi was also present today.

Although the title of a fourth-rank lady-in-waiting is not high, as long as Wei Ling and Ming Lan are around, it is still a good title.

Whether it was a banquet for noblewomen during festivals or a private banquet held by various mansions in the city, she was always invited to attend.

When Wei Ling takes Yu Yanrong with him to his post in the future, the officials' wives who want to build a good relationship with the Wei family will have no choice but to curry favor with Wei Shuyi.

Hua Lan's gaze swept lightly over them, then she stepped forward, curtsied to Empress Dowager Cao, and said gently, "Thank you for waiting, Your Majesty."

Empress Cao smiled and nodded slightly. "Sit down, no need for formalities."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After Hua Lan took her seat, Empress Dowager Cao beckoned to Ling Jie'er, signaling her to come to her side.

"Did you see anything interesting outside just now?" Empress Dowager Cao embraced Ling'er, looking down at her with loving eyes.

Having lost all her children, she now grows older and, seeing the princes and princesses in her harem, inevitably yearns for the joys of family life.

Lingjie'er's face was rosy and her eyes were curved as she excitedly gestured, "There's a very tall and big Aoshan Mountain, and a dragon lantern that can blink."

"It was full of candles, all sparkling. My father even taught me riddles, and I guessed them all right!"

The childish voice made all the noblewomen laugh.

The Duchess of England chimed in, "Princess Zhaoyang is so intelligent and quick-witted at such a young age; no wonder the ladies all adore her so much."

Empress Dowager Cao listened to her words and smiled calmly.

No matter how close she was to the princess, the empress dowager, who had no blood relation to Zhao Han, would not cause any other controversy.

Huirou's eyes flickered slightly, and she said softly, "Your Majesty, when it comes to intelligence and agility, who was more outstanding between me and Ling'er when we were young?"

Empress Dowager Cao shook her head, feigning disdain.

"How can you compare to our Ling'er? You're such a grown-up, yet you're still fighting with a child over a girl's affections. Aren't you ashamed?"

Huirou gave a soft hum, feigning grievance, but the corners of her lips couldn't help but turn up.

At this time, she had been promoted to the title of Princess of Jin, which was incomparable to the auspicious title of Fukang in terms of both status and honor.

Old Mrs. Wang saw that Old Mrs. Sheng and the Duchess of England were chatting and laughing happily.

So he turned to look at Wang Ruofu, his eyebrows furrowing involuntarily.

Ever since Wang Ruoyu entered the inner prison, she has lost her appetite and been unable to sleep at night. She has become much thinner and no longer has the spirit she once had.

“Fu’er, look at this Lantern Festival, every family is reunited and happy, but your sister is still suffering in that dark and sunless prison.”

"I went to see her the other day. She was almost tortured to the point of being unrecognizable by those ruthless female officials. It must be the Wei family secretly using money to deliberately torment her."

"Your sister was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, a noble lady from a prestigious family, so pampered and elegant, yet she ended up in such a state."

After saying this, Old Mrs. Wang was filled with pain, her mind filled with the image of Wang Ruoyu begging her to save her.

Wang Ruofu forced a smile.

"My sister brought this on herself. It's one thing to be arrogant and domineering in her own home, but she had to stick her hands out to the outside."

"Even officials have to give Wei Ling some face. She's really daring. Right now, the Wei family is rising in status. Mother should think more about herself."

Sheng Hong knew Wang Ruofu's easily swayed and clueless nature.

She was warned more than once not to get involved in anything related to Wang Ruoyu, or else she would be sent back to her hometown of Youyang and never be allowed to return to the capital until her death.

As for not mentioning divorce, the main reason is that it is a very important matter. If he divorces his wife, it will not only affect his own reputation, but also all the children in the family.

Minglan and Changliu are now registered under Wang Ruofu's name.

Grandma Wang felt a lump in her throat upon hearing this.

"But what if she's tortured to death in prison? Am I, an old man, supposed to bury my daughter?"

Wang Ruofu's expression was complicated. He said in a low voice, "If it really comes to that, we can only give her a proper burial. We can't sacrifice the future of our family for her sake."

"You..." Old Mrs. Wang snorted heavily through her nostrils, still determined to rescue Wang Ruoyu.

Unfortunately, Wang Shiping and his daughter-in-law kept making excuses, either saying they didn't have enough manpower or complaining about a lack of money to bribe officials.

Now that even her usually soft-hearted and easily fooled youngest daughter has said such cold-hearted things, she is becoming increasingly anxious.

"Alas, it seems I am unlucky in having children." Old Mrs. Wang glanced at Wei Shuyi and shook her head repeatedly.

Wang Ruofu was at a loss for words. After glancing at Liu's mother out of the corner of his eye, he could only pick up his wine glass and take a small sip.

the other side.

Several court officials and members of the imperial family were already seated at the banquet. The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and the guests clinked glasses and chatted merrily.

Faced with his colleagues who came to flatter him, Sheng Hong stroked his beard and smiled, handling the situation with ease.

A few days ago, Wang Ruofu arranged for a young woman named Xiang to enter the mansion. He originally had no intention of taking a concubine.

But there had to be someone in the mansion to maintain appearances, and even Wang Ruofu himself wasn't entirely comfortable with someone else putting in the position.

Moreover, the woman Wang Ruofu chose not only had a respectable family background and excellent looks and figure, but also knew a little about poetry and literature, which suited his taste perfectly.

"Your Majesty, I offer you a toast, wishing our dynasty prosperity and peace year after year!" Gu Tingye raised his wine cup, looking intently at Zhao Han with a frank smile on his face.

"Your Majesty, I also respect you!"

"..." Zheng Xiao, Sheng Changbai and others followed suit and stood up to speak.

Zhao Han smiled slightly and said loudly, "My dear ministers, you are very kind. Today is the Lantern Festival. Let us not discuss politics, but only enjoy ourselves together."

"Come, let us drink this cup together!"

After saying this, he picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, and everyone at the table followed suit.

After a few rounds of drinks, Gu Tingye's face was flushed. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, there's a hint of marriage in Gu Qianfan's life."

Zhao Han raised an eyebrow, unable to help but feel curious about the matter.

At this moment, Gu Qianfan was leading the Imperial City Guard on a patrol. During his years in the south, he had also taken in a follower named Chen Lian, who seemed to be clever and reliable.

"Which family is the girl from?"

Gu Tingye raised his hand and touched his chin, saying quietly, "The legitimate daughter of Rongxian of the Earl of Fuchang."

"At Chang'er's first birthday banquet, she followed behind Rongxian. I happened to see her once. In terms of appearance, she and Qianfan are quite a good match."

During Emperor Renzong's reign, Rongxian held the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard.

As the saying goes, "a new emperor brings a new court," and he almost made a grave mistake. Now he only holds a sinecure in the Five Cities Military Command, and he is quite well-behaved.

Rong Xian and Gu Qianfan's uncle, Gu Mingjing, also had some connection.

He knew that it would be incredibly difficult for his family to regain its former glory, so he took the initiative to bring up the matter with Gu Mingjing. For the Rong family, being able to form a marriage alliance with the Gu family was undoubtedly a good thing.

Gu Qianfan was to marry Rong Xian's eldest daughter, Rong Anyi, who was of dignified character and had a very good reputation.

"As long as we're a good match," Zhao Han said calmly with a composed smile.

Just then, with a crisp crack, a dazzling firework suddenly pierced the night sky, exploding into layers of intertwined sparks, and everyone couldn't help but turn their heads to look.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, setting off fireworks and firecrackers during festivals had long been a tradition, and some noble families would even spend money to hire fireworks performers to perform at their doorsteps.

Gu Tingye took a deep breath, his heart overflowing with poetic inspiration.

After a moment of contemplation, he recited in a loud voice: "The night of the Lantern Festival in the capital is deep and colorful, with thousands of lanterns vying for beauty, silver flowers covering the ground and connecting with the Milky Way, and precious torches reaching the heavens."

"Dancing sleeves flutter in the wind, captivating the drunken guests; music and songs chase the waves, rising like swimming dragons. Who can bear such peaceful and joyous times? I lean drunkenly against the carved railing as the moon shines brightly!"

Upon hearing this, the civil officials opposite immediately clapped their hands and exclaimed, "What a fine poem! The Duke of Zhenguo is truly a man of both literary and military talent!"

"Yes, yes, I've long heard that the Duke of Zhenguo is quite talented in poetry, and today I can confirm it's true!"

"Gu Erlang is truly talented!"

"..."

Although the Zhou dynasty's emphasis on civil officials over military officials had improved somewhat, the status of military officers of the same rank still could not compare with that of civil officials.

Ever since the news spread that Gu Tingye failed the imperial examination because of his arrogant remarks, many officials began to change their opinion of him.

A person who can excel in both the civil service examinations and military affairs, and who can charge into battle and achieve great military exploits, is truly a rare talent.

The only downside was that he was too mischievous as a child.

"Your Majesty, how is my poem?" Gu Tingye put down his wine cup and asked with expectant eyes.

Zhao Han smiled and nodded, saying, "Not bad, full of momentum, truly a masterpiece."

"To receive praise from the Emperor, it seems that my poetry skills have not declined over the years."

Gu Tingye chuckled, feeling extremely pleased. If he could, he would love to be a scholar-general.

As night deepened, the moon rose high in the sky.

It was already the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), but Bianjing (Kaifeng) was still brightly lit and bustling with activity.

Surrounded by a group of eunuchs, Zhao Han went straight to Hua Lan's Renming Hall. It was the fifteenth day of the month, and he should be there to accompany Hua Lan.

After exchanging a few pleasantries and bowing to each other, the officials left the palace and boarded their carriages to return home.

Inside the carriage of the Duke of Qi's mansion.

Princess Pingning sat upright on the cushion, her gaze slightly narrowed, and a few strands of white hair had already appeared in her hair.

The arrogance that once made her look down on everyone had lessened considerably; she hadn't looked down on anyone for a long time.

Duke Qi stroked his beard, still maintaining his gentle and refined demeanor.

He glanced at Princess Pingning and said softly, "What's wrong with you? You seem distracted. Did someone upset you at the banquet just now?"

"With the Empress Dowager here, who dares to mess with me?"

"I'm thinking about whether we should send Han-ge'er to the palace as a companion scholar in the future," Princess Pingning said, her brows furrowing slightly.

The Qi family has had few descendants for generations, and Han Ge'er is their only grandson.

Now that Qi Heng has a promising future, Princess Pingning naturally began to worry about Han Ge'er again.

After pondering silently for a moment, the Duke of Qi said, "Entering the palace as a companion to the prince is a good idea. He can stay by the prince's side often and forge a bond early on."

"It may be helpful to his future career."

"But this means we won't be able to see Han Ge'er every day anymore, and the palace isn't as comfortable as home."

"In my opinion, we should find him a mentor first."

Princess Pingning glanced at him and said, “That may be true, but aren’t Sheng’s Quan’er and Gu’s Chang’er both in the palace now?”

"Unlike the late Emperor, Your Majesty already has three sons. If nothing unexpected happens, Your Majesty should know in your heart who will be the crown prince in the future."

"It's important to build a good relationship as soon as possible. Besides, a spot for a companion student isn't something you can just get whenever you want. I need to find a day to go to the Grand Madam and ask for one. Whether it will work out is still unknown."

Duke Qi sighed softly, a look of understanding on his face.

He knew Princess Pingning's temperament all too well. If she could bring up this matter, she must have already made up her mind and was just informing him.

"Let's do as you say, but will Heng'er and the others agree?"

"It concerns the future of the family, so Heng'er will definitely agree. As for Shen Shi, Yu Jie'er can stay by her side to be raised and educated. She should be content."

Having said that, Princess Pingning straightened her back slightly. In her lifetime, the last thing she wanted to see was the Qi family begin to decline.

-

Two days later, Wei Ling, Wen Yanjing, and Han Zhang's eldest son and grandson Han Cheng, along with several other officials, boarded an official boat and set off south.

Han Zhang had two sons and two daughters. His eldest son was mild-mannered and not particularly capable.

Now he serves as a fifth-rank official in a local post, with mediocre political achievements and little to show for it.

The second son had no interest in an official career from a young age and focused on managing the family business as he grew up.

They also managed their various farm properties and shops very well, accumulating a considerable amount of private wealth for the Han family.

Therefore, Han Zhang had no choice but to entrust the heavy responsibility of the family's future to his grandchildren.

Han Cheng, as the eldest grandson of the eldest son's lineage, was kept by his side and carefully raised since childhood. He passed the imperial examination in the same year as Sheng Changfeng and ranked second.

Although Han Zhang was reluctant to part with Han Cheng on this trip south, he knew that he would have to retire in two or three years, and it would be too late if he didn't find a way to pave the way for Han Cheng.

Although the ancient land of Jiaozhi was harsh, it was a good place to achieve political success and hone one's talents.

With Wei Ling and the Imperial Guards around, he wasn't too worried about Han Cheng's safety.

After reviewing the memorials in the palace, Zhao Han was already in the twilight. He went straight to Ninghui Hall.

At this moment, Minglan was leaning against the soft couch, holding needle and thread in her hand, her eyes and brows showing a gentler side than usual.

Her moon-white brocade jacket made her skin look even whiter than snow, and her complexion radiant.

Xiaotao and Danju stood to one side, both with unprecedented smiles on their faces.

Upon seeing Zhao Han arrive, Minglan quickly put down her silver needles, stood up, and gracefully bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

"No need for formalities." Zhao Han personally helped her up and said gently, "Wei Ling has already gone south. I instructed him to send someone to deliver a letter to you after he arrives in Thang Long."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Minglan smiled brightly, a gleam appearing in her dark, doe-like eyes.

She turned to look at Xiao Tao, then stammered and whispered, "I have some good news that I haven't told Your Majesty yet."

"The imperial physician just came by, Your Majesty..." Before she could finish speaking, Minglan's cheeks suddenly flushed red with embarrassment.

(End of this chapter)