On one side, Song Xibai had arranged things for Consort Du, while on the other side, inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yuan Shen was also meeting someone.

Meng Liang, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard, was brought here. As soon as he entered the palace, he knelt down.

Yuan Shen stood on the high place, looking down at him.

"I have heard about what happened yesterday. Meng Liang, as a guard of the Imperial Guard, you saved the First Princess, which can be considered a meritorious service. I intend to transfer you out of the Imperial Guard, appoint you as a fifth-rank Martial General, and send you to the Northern Frontier. What do you think?"

When Meng Liang entered the room, he felt uneasy. After a day and a night, he had figured out what had happened yesterday.

Originally, I thought the emperor would reprimand or severely punish me, but to my surprise, the emperor actually wanted to reward me!

He could not hide his joy.

Although General Wuyi is only a fifth-rank official, he can go to the border, which means he has real power!

For an ordinary imperial guard with no background or connections to receive such an honor is nothing short of meteoric.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

He raised his arms high and shouted with all his heart.

Yuan Shen waved his hand: "You didn't come home last night, your family must be very worried. You don't need to be on duty today, go home!"

Meng Liang kowtowed again before leaving.

He left the palace and returned home with a joyful heart.

As soon as he entered the house, everyone came out to greet him, especially Meng Liang's mother, who almost threw herself into her son's arms.

"Son! You're finally back! Where did you go yesterday? I didn't hear from you all night, and it worried me sick. Did the palace assign you a new task? Is it dangerous?"

The Meng family was small, with Meng Liang having only one mother. She was widowed young and raised Meng Liang alone, who was exceptionally filial to her.

Meng Liang's wife, Guan, was the daughter of a small merchant in the capital. She was literate and a master at managing the household. At this moment, her mother-in-law beat her to it, but she was not angry. She stood behind her mother-in-law and looked at her husband with concern.

Meng Liang comforted his mother for a few words before telling her about what happened yesterday.

After hearing this, both Meng's mother and Guan's expression changed.

Both of them were women, so they naturally guessed the princess's intentions.

Guan gritted her teeth, and seeing her husband's clear eyes, immersed in the joy of his upcoming promotion, she felt a little relieved.

My husband has no interest in that princess.

But Mencius' mother didn't think so.

She suddenly punched Meng Liang in the chest and cursed.

"You idiot! You didn't seize such a good opportunity! That's a princess! A princess!"

Meng Liang scratched his head.

"Mother, what are you saying? Even if she is a princess, what does she have to do with our family? Your son is now a fifth-rank general. Aren't you happy for your son? The Marquis of Zhongyong, who is also the Xuanwei General, is only a fourth-rank general!"

Mencius' mother slapped her son's shoulder again.

"He's just a fifth-rank general, what are you so happy about? Not to mention he's going to the border... The border is so dangerous, what if something happens to you?"

Meng Liang opened his mouth, wanting to say that he would be fine, but how could one be 100% safe in the army? There would always be some danger.

But fortune favors the bold, and for someone like him with no connections, this was the only path to upward mobility.

Therefore, Meng Liang didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

But clearly, Mencius' mother did not think so.

She felt that there was a better path right in front of her, so why not take that dangerous one?

Her face darkened, and she turned to instruct Guan Shi.

"Go to the kitchen and see if lunch is ready. Liang'er and I need to talk."

Guan felt a bad premonition, but she dared not oppose her mother-in-law and could only look at Meng Liang with hopeful eyes.

Meng Liang didn't understand, and even smiled at her.

"Go ahead! I'll talk to my mother for a bit."

Guan squeezed the handkerchief, but said nothing, and turned to go to the kitchen.