Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 190 The Position of Imperial Concubine, the Yu Family Arrives in the Capital

"Father...Father..." Changge'er called softly, cautiously raising his eyes to look at Gu Tingye.

Gu Tingye himself had a stigma that he couldn't shake off because of his unruly behavior in his childhood, so he naturally didn't want Changge to repeat the same mistake.

Moreover, he is his eldest son, the one who will inherit the title of Duke of Zhenguo and shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Gu family in the future.

"Please don't be angry, Duke Zhenguo. I wanted to see the fish swimming, so he came with me." As Jingge'er spoke, he unconsciously stepped forward to block Changge'er.

Zhao Han raised her hand and gently patted their heads, then turned to look at Gu Tingye: "Don't scare him."

"I have heard my late father mention several times that when you were a child, you killed quite a few fish in the Imperial Garden pond when you came to the palace."

"Chang-ge'er just followed behind Jing-ge'er and fiddled with things a few times. He's much more restrained than you were back then. Besides, children are naturally playful, so there's no need to be too harsh on him."

Gu Tingye sighed softly and said in a low voice, "To be honest, back then I just wanted to go against my father..."

“Before entering the palace, he warned me several times not to run around or cause trouble, otherwise he would beat me to death when we got home. I just wanted to see if he would really beat me to death.”

"The late emperor was benevolent. After a palace attendant informed him of this matter, he not only did not blame me, but also told my father not to reprimand me either."

“I think my father didn’t intend to hit me at first, but when he got home, he couldn’t resist a few words from Xiao Qinshi and flew into a rage, hitting me so hard that my back hurt for four or five days.”

Hearing his words, Zhao Han couldn't help but smile, and then said, "Chang-ge'er has your temperament, he's very tenacious."

"Instead of suppressing them, it's better to guide them more. Why make your child go through the same mistakes you made back then? Strict fathers are right in educating their children, but too much of a good thing can lead to a bad outcome."

"You and your son haven't seen each other for months. It's time to have a heart-to-heart talk and get closer."

"I see that Changge is very afraid of you. Be careful, he might turn against you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Gu Tingye frowned and remained silent for a long time.

He bowed respectfully and said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, Changbai has said the same thing."

"Now that I think about it carefully, there is indeed some truth to it. I will definitely reflect on my actions and never let my father cause such a rift between us, which I will regret later."

"Alright, take Chang-ge'er back home for a while and then send him over."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Gu Tingye said, a smile returning to his face.

Meanwhile, inside Ninghui Hall, laughter and chatter filled the air, the aroma of tea and various pastries mingling together, with bursts of cheerful laughter occasionally drifting out.

Minglan was dressed in a royal blue brocade dress with auspicious cloud patterns, which was simple yet luxurious. Her skin was as white as jade, her eyebrows were curved, and her lips were red.

She possesses both the gentle grace of a new mother and a touch of perfectly charming naiveté and liveliness.

The old lady was granted special permission to visit the palace today. After paying her respects to Hualan, she rushed over without stopping, supported by Mama Fang and Cuiwei.

“Your older sister knew that I had been thinking about you all along, so she let me come over after only a few words.”

The old lady looked kind and smiling as she took Minglan's delicate and slender hand in hers, her heart filled with emotion.

Now, the grandchildren she has watched grow up, except for Liu Ge'er who is still young and studying, all of the others have their own children, making the family quite prosperous and fulfilling.

"Big sister is the most understanding." Minglan smiled brightly and, as usual, snuggled into the old lady's arms.

“Grandmother, right now that I’m in the palace, you’re the one I’m most worried about.”

With his younger brother Wei Ling backing him up, and Liu Ge'er being a member of the Sheng family, along with his maternal grandfather Wei family looking after him, Wei Shuyi's future is secure.

The old lady was the only one without a single blood relative by her side. Although Xu Pingyuan respected the old lady quite a bit, there was still a distance between them.

The old lady understood Minglan's thoughts and gently patted her back.

“I’m an old man, and I’ve been through so much in my life. Don’t you know what kind of person your father is?”

"As long as I live, he will uphold filial piety and dignity. Everyone in Bianjing knows that he was born out of wedlock and was raised by my stepmother who lost her own child."

"I usually have my aunt and the others to keep me company and keep me company, so you can rest assured."

Standing to the side, Madam Fang smiled and chimed in, "Yes, Your Highness, there's no need to worry. Our old lady is perfectly fine."

"My second brother just said not long ago that once Madam Hai becomes pregnant again, he will hand Hui'er over to the old lady for education."

When Fang's mother was young, her family was poor, and when she was seven or eight years old, her parents sold her to a human broker for ten taels of silver.

Knowing that her future was entirely in the hands of human traffickers, she worked day and night doing needlework and secretly asked someone to sell her.

He gave all the copper coins and silver he had saved to the slave trader, begging her to find him a good family.

The human trafficker was quite kind; he resold her to the once extremely prestigious and powerful Marquis Yongyi's mansion.

She rose step by step from a third-class maid in the old lady's courtyard to a first-class maid, and then became a dowry maid who went to the Sheng family.

When she reached marriageable age, the old lady personally found a suitable husband for her and selected a kind, honest, and handsome steward from the household.

Not only did they release the two women from their indentures, but they also prepared a dowry and sent her off in a grand and glorious manner.

Although her husband died young, Fang's two sons, one of whom passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, served as an instructor at the Jinling County School.

He had been doing business in various places and had already accumulated four or five shops. His grandchildren were also well-behaved and often came to the capital to visit him.

With no worries about her family, Mrs. Fang naturally took great care of the old lady, attending to her every need with utmost devotion.

"Grandma~"

Minglan called out softly, her cheek pressed tightly against the old lady's clothes.

“You’re a mother now, yet you still act so spoiled and childish. Your mother set off for Yangzhou to pay respects to our ancestors a few days ago, otherwise I would have brought her with me today.”

Minglan nodded gently.

After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "Grandmother, the Emperor said the other day that when Rui-ge turns one year old, he will bestow upon me the title of Consort Chen."

"What?!" The old lady's eyes lit up, slightly surprised. She held Minglan's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Did I hear that right?"

Minglan sat up straight and smiled, "No, His Majesty always keeps his word."

As dusk approached, the old lady left Ninghui Palace amidst Minglan's reluctant gaze, heading straight towards the palace gate.

Upon returning to the Duke of Wei's residence, Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu immediately came to Shou'an Hall to pay their respects.

The old lady held a cup of hot tea, her expression still calm. She focused her gaze on Wang Ruofu and asked slowly, "How is Ru'er?"

"Don't worry, Mother, everything is fine. It was just a slight cold, but I'm much better now."

Wang Ruofu answered with a smile. She hadn't accompanied the old lady to the palace today; instead, she had taken Liu Mama to the Wen residence.

Since Wen Yanjing was no longer in the capital, his younger brother Wen Yanshe and his sister-in-law often urged the old lady Wen to bring Yun Ge'er to live with them.

In their view, if Rulan disagreed, they could then use the excuse of missing her grandson to let Old Madam Wen go to live in the Wen family mansion in Hanlin Lane.

They could also use the excuse of taking care of Old Mrs. Wen to move here and enjoy a life of luxury, benefiting from the Sheng family's influence, and would surely be looked up to wherever they went in the city.

Rulan knew their intentions. After the argument, she tried to cheer herself up by drinking cold wine, just like Minglan, but ended up catching a cold.

After visiting Rulan today, Wang Ruofu went to the Wen family in the suburbs and gave Wen Yanshe and his wife a good talking-to. "That's good."

"The funeral of Lord Yongchang will be held in a few days. After all, we are relatives by marriage, so don't forget to set up a roadside memorial outside."

Sheng Hong nodded repeatedly, "Mother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

When nobles and officials had a funeral, the procession would follow a pre-planned route to the cemetery.

Some relatives, colleagues, those who have received favors, and those who want to curry favor with the deceased will set up incense tables and offerings along the route of the funeral procession, and read and burn memorial texts.

Only after the filial sons and grandsons kowtow and express their gratitude will the funeral procession sound gongs and clear the way again.

The more roadside offerings a person makes, the more prominent their status and the wider their network of connections during their lifetime.

When Gu Yankai passed away, Gu Tingye had already begun to make a name for himself in the court, and many noble and official families, such as the Zhang, Sheng, Qi, and Liang families, held roadside memorial services for him.

After the mourning period ended, Gu Tingye and Yuan Wenying personally hosted a banquet to thank the family who had held the roadside memorial service.

The old lady did not mention to them that Minglan would be conferred the title of Consort Chen.

Before the imperial edict was officially read aloud, neither she nor her mother would reveal a single word to anyone else.

"Mother, has Yuan'er sent any message? How is Marquis Yongyi doing now?" Sheng Hong put down his teacup and asked softly.

"It's not good. He's on his deathbed and probably won't make it through the month."

The old lady shook her head. Once Xu Ji died, Xu Pingyuan would become the Marquis of Yongyi, and the revitalization of the family would be just around the corner.

-

Mid-May of the eighth year of the Hongwu reign.

The area outside the Duke of England's mansion had already been swept clean, with drums and gongs resounding, lanterns and decorations everywhere, and maids and servants standing with their hands at their sides, holding their breath in concentration.

The Zhang family had been waiting here for quite some time.

Zhang Fu was dressed in court attire, his posture upright. The Duchess of Yingguo and her eldest daughter-in-law, Lady Zhuang, wore jeweled crowns and imperial robes, their eyes filled with smiles and anticipation.

The Imperial Concubine's visit to her family home was not only a matter of prestige, but also a demonstration of Zhao Han's trust in the Zhang family.

Two months ago, Zhuang gave birth to a daughter for the Zhang family, named Zhang Miaoyi.

Her aunt was a high-ranking imperial concubine, her father was a candidate to inherit the title of Duke of England, and her mother came from a family of military generals. Countless families in Bianjing City had their eyes on her.

As the hour of Chen approached, melodious music and the rhythmic clatter of horses' hooves could be heard from not far away.

The Duchess of England's hands trembled slightly as she entered the palace to see her daughter and her daughter returned home for a visit—these were two completely different things.

As the sedan chair stopped outside the mansion, Zhang Guifen, supported by her trusted palace maid Hongying, gracefully approached them.

The Duke of England led the Zhang family in bowing respectfully, while Zhuang glanced at Zhang Guifen discreetly out of the corner of her eye.

She was tall and slender, with a steady and graceful gait. She wore a crimson brocade skirt and was adorned with pearls and jade.

Bathed in the morning light, her face shimmered with brilliance. A light layer of powder adorned her delicate and spirited cheeks, making her so radiant that it was impossible to look away.

When Zhuang married into the Zhang family, Zhang Guifen was only two or three years old. They watched her grow up, and she followed her older brothers around all day, wielding knives and spears, just like a tomboy.

Seeing how much she has changed, I can't help but feel a little emotional.

Zhang Guifen took a deep breath and personally helped the Duchess of Yingguo up. Zhang Fu and Zhuang Shi and others also got up.

"Mother……"

"Let's talk inside the house, and please don't be rude," the Duchess of England whispered to her.

After nodding, Zhang Guifen walked towards the main hall of the Zhang family, surrounded by the crowd and palace maids.

"Sister-in-law, how is eldest brother?" Zhang Guifen asked Zhuang Shi after taking her seat.

Lady Zhuang, who also held an imperial title, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, my husband is doing well in the army."

"I have always been thinking of the Empress, but I am too busy with military affairs to send letters to inquire about her often."

The Duke of England's mansion was already extremely wealthy and had a substantial fortune. Zhang Fu, holding a high position, was upright and honest, and he was particularly strict with the behavior of his eldest son, who would inherit his title.

Zhang Zheng was also aware of his own identity and had no need to profit from the matter of military registration.

Although several of his close associates did similar things, they did not affect him.

After all, this had become a common practice in the military. Firing hundreds of military officers served two purposes: first, to set an example for others, and second, to appease some soldiers who had had their pay and rations withheld for many years.

Zhang Guifen nodded, then instructed the wet nurse to bring Yi Jie'er to her. Looking at her little niece with her round, bright eyes and exquisitely beautiful face, she couldn't help but smile.

It wasn't until the hour of You (5-7 PM) that night fell and the city lights began to come on.

Zhang Guifen reluctantly returned to the palace in a sedan chair.

It was already early September. Three months ago, Yanran gave birth to the sixth prince, whom Zhao Han named Zhao Xuan.

Grand Tutor Yu and his wife had already arrived at the Yu residence in the capital and settled down.

Firstly, he wanted to visit Yanran in the palace; secondly, Yanran's father's new wife, Madam Hong, was about to give birth and had just given birth to a son a few days ago.

Grand Tutor Yu was overjoyed and personally consulted a book to name him Yu Shuhuai.

The second son of the Fan family, who was mentioned earlier, has only managed to secure a minor post as a registrar. He shows no ambition whatsoever and spends his free time drinking and seeking pleasure.

At first glance, it's clear he's not destined for greatness.

Now that the family has Silang, and Hongshi is well-mannered, efficient and capable, if she is properly raised, she may well be able to uphold the Yu family's reputation in the future.

Today, on the west side of the palace, in the Baoci Palace, the air is filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood, creating a serene and solemn atmosphere.

Consort Rong leaned against the pillows, reclining on the soft couch. Nearly fifty years old, she already had a few strands of white hair in her hair bun, and the wrinkles on her face were clearly visible.

However, his eyes still retained a hint of his former glory.

Rong Feiyan sat to the side with her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes full of helplessness. Seeing that Consort Rong did not speak, she looked up to the sky and sighed.

Zhao Han already has six children, and she has been in the palace for quite some time, but her belly is still flat, which inevitably makes her anxious and helpless.

"Elder sister, do you think I might also be destined to be childless?"

Consort Rong glanced at her sideways, raised her hand and furrowed her brow. "What nonsense are you talking about? How many times a month does the Emperor come to your palace?"

Rong Feiyan counted on her fingers and said, "About three or five times, I served them with all my heart, every single time..."

"Alright, alright, stop talking." Before she could finish, Consort Rong raised her hand to interrupt her. "You're perfectly healthy, it's probably just that the time isn't right yet."

"In a few days, I will ask the Empress Dowager for a chance to leave the palace and go to Yuqing Temple to burn incense and pray for you to have an heir as soon as possible."

Rong Feiyan grabbed her arm and shook it, muttering, "Thank you, elder sister. Consort Xian and Consort Sheng are so lucky. I envy them in my dreams."

(End of this chapter)