Yun Xiangrong's smile was forced but she didn't show it, displaying the demeanor of a noble lady from a prominent family:
"Since Miss Yunshu has said so, cousin, you should let Miss Yunshu drink first. I will give my cup to you."
Shang Rui was very satisfied with Yun Xiangrong's magnanimity; he hadn't misjudged her.
Whether in her past life or this life, Xiangrong is the best candidate for the principal wife and the most suitable woman to rule the world in the future.
Ge Yunshu scoffed inwardly, snatched Shang Rui's tea, took a small sip, and presented it with both hands, praising Tianzhen playfully:
"Thank you, sister. You're so good at making tea! Unlike me, I can't do anything."
"It's all because Father spoils me too much. Husband, you won't hate me just because I don't know anything about you, will you?"
Shang Rui was still hoping that Ge Family Village would get rid of a few troublesome people for him, and he flicked Ge Yunshu's nose.
"Of course not. By the way, where did you go having fun the night before last? I heard from the servants that you came back very late."
Ge Yunshu tossed a piece of sweet and sour candied fruit into her mouth, chewed it, let out a soft "ah," tilted her head, and said in a light and nonchalant tone:
"I went to take care of something; it was something my father had instructed them to do before they came to the capital."
Shang Rui: "Is it all done? Do you need any help?"
Since it was instructed by the head of the Ge family, it must be an internal matter of Ge Family Village.
Shang Rui had no intention of getting involved, but he still had to show some concern on the surface.
As expected, Ge Yunshu was very receptive to this, nodding and then shaking her head, feeling secretly pleased.
She leaned against Shang Rui, hugging his arm and speaking in a coquettish voice as if no one else was around:
"It's all taken care of, it's all taken care of. It's a trivial matter, why would my husband need to do it?"
My dear husband, you are so good to me. When my father and uncles come, I will definitely tell them all how wonderful you are!
As Shang Changge had predicted, after the Southern Liang envoy left, Emperor Mingde took the opportunity to formally allow Shang Rui to participate in the court.
This morning at the imperial court, Shang Rui proposed the idea of offering amnesty to the Ge family village.
Throughout history, the relationship between the imperial court and the martial arts world has always been delicate.
Especially in the last two months, several factions in the martial arts world have suddenly become more rampant in their actions.
Taking advantage of the fact that the emperor was far away, they disregarded local officials and repeatedly defied the authority of the imperial court.
The imperial court sent people to suppress them, but these forces were very cunning.
When the imperial officials arrived, they scattered and hid, some hiding in the deep mountains and forests, and others blending into the crowds of ordinary people.
As soon as the court officials left, they would resurface, gathering in groups or small groups to steal, kill, and commit arson, starting to do evil.
The number of people in each faction is actually not large, some have a dozen or so people, some have twenty or so people, and the largest faction only has fifty people.
There were few people and no fixed dwellings; there were no hilltops or mountain strongholds.
This is precisely what gives the imperial court and local officials a headache; otherwise, they would have sent troops to wipe them out long ago.
Just as the imperial court has an emperor, martial arts sects also have leaders.
The head of the Ge family of Gejiazhuang is currently the most powerful figure in the martial arts world. If he were to submit to the imperial court...
It's naturally a good thing that someone else is taking over and handling these troublesome matters that are difficult for the imperial court to deal with.
and,
If this attempt to secure amnesty succeeds, it will be a significant achievement for Shang Rui upon his entry into the imperial court.
This achievement is enough to quell the discontent among Murong Yu and others who are dissatisfied with Shang Rui's involvement in the court.
As the daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue, Yun Xiangrong, like her elder brother Yun Luobai, was well-educated from a young age.
Knowing the crucial role of Gejiazhuang, he was not annoyed by Ge Yunshu's deliberate flirtation with Shang Rui.
Add water and brew tea.
He personally poured a cup of tea and gently pushed it in front of Ge Yunshu, smiling softly.
"This teapot is too small today; it's only enough for two cups of tea. Please give the first cup of this second pot to my sister."
Ge Yunshu was very surprised by Yun Xiangrong's tolerance, a young lady from a prominent family, and accepted the gift, saying, "Thank you, sister."
The two were evenly matched, with only Chu Yue standing guard behind Shang Rui, clutching her sword.
I don't even have the right to say a single word in this situation. I can only feel lost and sad alone, and I feel increasingly inferior.
Afternoon, tranquility, Princess's residence.
Shang Changge had just learned from the beautiful man's younger brother that the imperial court planned to offer amnesty to the Ge family village; the intricacies of the scheme were all too obvious.
Shang Changge understood without even thinking, and after a long silence, she offered her solution:
"Before they arrive, I will lead a group of men and kill them all."
Shang Changze: "I share the same idea as my sister, but the people of Gejiazhuang are skilled in using poison, so they may not be easy to deal with."
Shang Changge thought for a while, then smiled mysteriously and strangely:
"Don't we have the Red Pill that can cure all poisons? Just have everyone take one before we start."
This was a method that Shang Changze never expected. Shang Changze decided to adopt it, but he didn't want Shang Changge to take any risks.
Shang Changze: "I'll handle this. Sister, just wait for my good news."
Shang Changge waved his hand, completely disagreeing: "You should keep your men to kill those troublemakers who are causing trouble."
Mentioning Shang Changge elicited disdain. "Our Qingyan is, after all, a powerful and prosperous dynasty."
"They can't even handle a few petty thugs now. If word gets back to those vassal states, they'll be laughed to death."
Shang Changze pursed his lips, remaining silent.
Shang Changze has always given people the impression of a gentleman, never showing his emotions.
He was extremely kind and generous, and it was rare to see anger on his refined and noble face.
But today, at this very moment.
Upon seeing this, Shang Changge almost immediately had a guess forming in her mind, and with a twitch of her lips, she uttered a soft sound:
"Could it be that those few thugs are deliberately left unchecked, as if someone instructed them to do so and pretend there's no way to catch them?"
As for who has such great power, it can only be the old emperor.
Shang Changze: "Father is really getting senile."
They just wanted their third brother to have a place in the imperial court; there were other ways to achieve that.
However, the emperor, driven by short-sighted ambition, chose the most hateful option, while the common people were utterly innocent.
Shang Changge sneered, thinking that today was another day when Xiao Dao had opened his eyes to the world:
"No, you're wrong, Aze."
"My father is only 50 years old this year, how could he be senile? He did this on purpose."
"I'm afraid they've tried to kill me time and again, only to lose a life-saving charm in the process. They're getting desperate."
Mentioning the old emperor reminded Shang Changge of something, something she hadn't yet mentioned to Shang Changze:
"Aze, my older sister got something good the other day."
Shang Changze: ?
A moment later, in the study.
Shang Changge gave Shang Changze the palace route map she had obtained from Jing Xiuming, explained what the map was, and then added:
“I followed the route on this map three days ago, and it’s true.”
It was an extremely narrow tunnel that led from a dry well in a deserted palace to a dilapidated, overgrown temple outside the city.
The tunnel is very narrow; it's okay for one person to walk through, but don't even think about it if two people are walking through it, and they would have to be quite thin.
Shang Changze: "Where did you get this, sister?"
Shang Changze stared at the map that Shang Changge had enlarged and marked, his eyes deep and his heart churning with turmoil.
No one understood better than him what this map represented, and what it meant for the struggle for the throne.
At least, if one day it really comes to that point and a forced resignation is unavoidable...
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