"Okay, I understand. If that's the case, then let's start with you. You're also a child who grew up in the Gu family, so it's just right for you to take the surname Gu! As for the position of young master, doesn't your nephew still have it? He's also a legitimate bloodline, so he should take the position."

Hearing this, Shang Ji was overjoyed, but he had to appear very embarrassed on the surface. After all, Shang Yukuan next to him looked like he was struck by lightning, and it was a bit heartbreaking to watch.

He never thought that after his grandson changed his surname, his son would also have to change his surname!

Isn't this putting their Duke's Mansion on fire? So, with tears and snot, he hurriedly said.

"Your Majesty, please have mercy! Changing your surname is a big deal, and we must not be so careless. Yun Zhan and Liu Lang are both from the merchants of our Duke's Mansion!"

"Both? Shang Yukuan, I am the Son of Heaven, do you still have the right to speak in front of me? I have discussed with you and your son in a friendly way, and you refused to obey, and you also accuse me of everything. The implication is that I am incompetent or unfair. In this case, I will directly issue an edict to see whether you want to obey the order and change your surname, or have your entire family confiscated for disobeying the order!"

After saying this, he spoke loudly to the eunuch Liu beside him.

"Pass on my decree. The General's Mansion has a new son who is the bloodline of the Shang and Gu families. I am grateful that the entire Gu family died for their loyalty to the emperor and their country but have no heirs to carry on the family line, so I specially name the new son Gu Yunzhan. From now on, he will inherit the title of the Gu family."

"As for Liu Lang, he was raised in the Gu family in his early years and was given the surname Gu, but titles and the like have nothing to do with him. If he wants military merit and titles, go and fight for them yourself! Otherwise, he will become so powerful now that he dares to contradict me!"

Having said this, Shang Ji quickly leaned over and said.

"I dare not."

He put on a good show and successfully achieved all his desired goals.

The only surprise was that his son, who was only born a little over half a month ago, was of a higher rank than him.

From what the emperor said, although both father and son took the surname Gu, it would be his son, not him, who would be the head of the family in the future.

The little boy is the heir to the title of Gu family. Anyone who sees him outside has to respectfully call him Grandpa Gu.

After all, the title left by Marshal Gu was that of a first-rank military officer, which was much higher than his position as a second-rank general.

I couldn't help but smile bitterly in my heart. This little brat is lucky.

While Shang Ji was thinking about it, he heard the emperor speak again.

"Isn't the Duke worried about the lack of successors in his Shang family? How old is Shang Dalang's son now?"

"Your Majesty, I am over fourteen."

Eunuch Liu knew the situation of everyone in these families very well, so he knew it naturally.

"Fourteen, not too old or too young, just right. I think Lord Shang may be a little confused, why not abdicate and let your grandson inherit the position of Duke? Didn't you just shout about the family's honor and disgrace? Let me see your determination!"

With just a few words, Shang Yukuan's path was blocked.

Not only did he lose his position as Duke, but the position actually fell to his grandson, whom he used to care very little about. In this case, is it really necessary for the Duke's Mansion to have a young child to take over, and he will become the "carefree" grandfather?

Shang Yukuan couldn't even speak clearly, and he didn't say anything until the emperor left.

Queen Guo took a look and then gave instructions to the people outside.

"Master Fuguo, please go to the side hall to rest for a while and then be escorted out of the palace. As for the decree His Majesty just issued..."

Upon hearing this, Duke Shang Yukuan looked up with a pleading look.

Unfortunately, Queen Guo remained unmoved in her reply.

"Draft an order immediately and do it without delay!"

"Yes, madam."

Seeing this, Shang Yukuan knew that he was powerless to save the situation. If he had known that this trip to the palace would lead to such a catastrophic disaster, he should have claimed to be sick and not come out.

Even he himself didn't remember how he got out of the palace.

All he knew was that halfway through the journey, the horse got frightened and he fell out of the carriage, injuring his arms and face. He truly became a "shameless" person.

Finally, he was hurriedly sent back to the Duke's Mansion.

In the Duke's Mansion, Mrs. Wei felt a chill down her spine when she heard that it was the royal carriage that had injured the Duke.

Which of these royal horses is not well-trained?

Could it be that this was because his master offended His Majesty or other nobles in the palace, which led to this misfortune? Looking at the palace doctor treating him, Madam Wei had a complicated expression.

In the palace.

After returning to his bedroom, the Emperor flew into a rage, muttering all the time that the Duke's Mansion was ungrateful and Shang Yukuan was so audacious.

Queen Guo felt much more at ease only after she came to comfort her. Then, after hearing about Shang Yukuan's fall from a horse and breaking his cheek, she snorted coldly, and all the anger in her heart disappeared.

There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!

Eunuch Liu hurriedly spoke up.

"Your Majesty, the Dance and Music Department reported that they have arranged a new dance and are planning to show it to you. Should we send them over now?"

When the emperor saw this, he asked Empress Guo.

"Would the Queen like to enjoy it together?"

"Your Majesty, I still have some affairs to attend to in the palace, so I won't disturb your Majesty's leisure time."

After hearing this, the emperor's expression became much better.

In the past, the queen always had a stern face and preached, sometimes this was not good, sometimes that was not good. But now, perhaps because she is old, she is not so nagging anymore, so she turns a blind eye to some of the things he does in the harem.

The emperor was satisfied with the queen's attitude. After all, being knowledgeable and tactful was the magnanimity that a queen should have.

So he nodded to Eunuch Liu.

As the singing and dancing began, the Emperor's temper disappeared completely, and when he was distracted occasionally, he would just recite silently in his heart.

Father, oh, father, I have done everything according to your request. Please don't come into my dreams to scare me again.

While he was praying with all his heart, he did not notice the eunuch Liu beside him, who looked calm as if he already knew the result would be like this.

Three consecutive imperial edicts were issued from the palace later that day, which shifted the focus of recent days from Prime Minister Guo's reorganization of the Salt Transport Bureau to the family affairs of the Shang and Gu families.

Shang Ji and his son changed their names and surnames and followed the Gu family.

One is Gu Shaoyu and the other is Gu Yunzhan.

However, Shang Zhiping, who was far away in Jinling City, inexplicably went from being a mere son of Dalang to the newly promoted Duke of Shang’s Mansion.

Such bombshell news hit Sui'an City, and many families were so upset that they couldn't eat or sleep.

The first to bear the brunt was Madam Wei, who had been planning for half her life. She watched her husband become a useless waste, and the position of Duke that she had longed for became Shang Zhiping's! (End of this chapter)