inspire-indiana Chapter 65 Do You Know? 19
Chapter 65 Do You Know? 19
Sheng Hong dealt with Wen Yanjing very quickly.
He deeply resented Wen Yanjing for his audacity in scheming against the Sheng family's daughter, which nearly ruined the Sheng family's reputation.
After confirming that his daughter had no connection with Wen Yanjing and that the man had no leverage over the Sheng family, Sheng Hong ordered his men to throw Wen Yanjing's sack into the ground, give him a severe beating, strip him naked, and throw him in front of a brothel, making it seem as if he had been thrown out because he had no money.
After the imperial court learned of this, it felt that he was morally corrupt and had flaws in his character, so it stripped him of his existing academic titles and ordered that he be barred from taking the imperial examinations for twenty years.
Wen Yanjing, who had been stripped of his official title, made a fuss several times, but Sheng Hong suppressed it each time. Helpless, he could only leave the capital in disgrace.
After the Wen Yanjing incident, Sheng Hong became even stricter with his two unmarried daughters, especially Minglan, who had a 'previous record' with Qi Heng.
He informed Old Madam Sheng and Madam Wang about the matter, reminding them to keep a close eye on the two girls, and gave them a strict order that the two girls were not allowed to leave the house under any circumstances unless he gave permission.
Old Madam Sheng and Madam Wang were terrified after hearing about Wen Yanjing's situation, so they naturally had no objection to Sheng Hong's words.
Especially Madam Wang, who wished she could be tied to Rulan every day, never daring to take her eyes off her for a moment, for fear that another Wen Yanjing or Wu Yanjing would come and harm her daughter.
Time flies, and before we knew it, it was time for Mo Lan to get married.
Because she was marrying into the imperial family, the wedding was naturally officiated by officials from the court. The wedding was a grand affair, and Sheng Hong was all smiles. However, Lin Xiaoniang was crying uncontrollably again and again. After the wedding banquet, she took Sheng Changfeng back to Linxi Pavilion.
On her third wedding anniversary, accompanied by her new husband, Mo Lan shyly returned to the Sheng family home.
Only Sheng Hong and his wife, Hua Lan and her husband, their daughter-in-law Hai Shi, and Mo Lan and her husband were present at the table. Ru Lan and Ming Lan were not yet married, so it was inappropriate for them to dine at the same table. The atmosphere at the table was extremely harmonious, as if the previous discord in the family had not existed.
After the meal, Mo Lan and her husband went to Linxi Pavilion to see Lin Xiaoniang. Lin Xiaoniang saw that Mo Lan had a rosy complexion and looked well, and inquired in detail about her husband's family and whether her parents-in-law had made things difficult for her. Mo Lan answered all her questions, saying that everything was fine, which finally put Lin Xiaoniang at ease.
After Mo Lan left, she took Sheng Changfeng to Linxi Pavilion, prepared a large table of dishes for him, and while serving him food, said with a happy smile:
“The Prince Xin’s family is small, well-mannered, and the parents-in-law are kind. They are from a distinguished family. My son is really capable. He actually managed to marry your sister into such a good family. Now your mother can finally rest easy!”
Sheng Changfeng smiled without saying a word.
Even the slow-witted Lin Xiaoniang sensed that her son had changed. He was no longer the boastful and dissolute playboy he used to be. He used to frequently harass the maids in the courtyard, and if it weren't for her constant mediation and cover-ups, Sheng Hong would probably have dealt with him severely long ago.
But ever since that serious illness, he seems like a completely different person. He never speaks carelessly, and he always keeps his word. There's nothing he can't do if he says something.
Just like Mo Lan's marriage, she never imagined that Chang Feng could actually get the Prince and his wife to personally come and ask for her hand in marriage, and no one would discover his behind-the-scenes manipulation. Sheng Hong still thinks it's because he himself is capable that the Prince and his wife are willing to let their son marry their fourth daughter.
It has to be said that sometimes ignorance is bliss!
On the other hand, after learning that Changfeng was behind this marriage, Lin Xiaoniang began to worry about him silently.
What is it about her son that makes him so desirable? And what did he do to earn the respect and deference of the royal family?
Moreover, he seemed to have a lot to do, often going out alone early in the morning and returning very late. Even at home, he was always busy, never having a moment's rest.
She wanted to help him share some of the burden, but as a woman, she could only say a few words about matters within the Sheng family, and couldn't offer any help to those outside the Sheng family. All she could do was tell him some interesting stories when he came back to help him relax.
Sheng Changfeng had already realized that Lin Xiaoniang had noticed something was wrong with him, but he was too busy to care about it now.
The struggle for the throne between the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Yong has reached a fever pitch, and the situation in the capital is becoming increasingly tense. The Prince of Yan's mansion is always busy, and as the Prince of Yan's most trusted confidant, he naturally has no choice but to take on the responsibility.
Sheng Changfeng was also speechless. He had used the original owner's memories and his own abilities to help the Prince of Yan avoid many things that were not good for him, and he had also exposed many things about the Prince of Yong, causing his reputation and power to be greatly damaged.
It can be said that the Prince of Yan is far superior to the Prince of Yong in terms of reputation, prestige, manpower, and power. However, it is unknown what kind of spell the Prince of Yong has cast on the emperor. Even now, with such a huge disparity between the two, the emperor still prefers the Prince of Yong as the crown prince. He even secretly sent a letter to Zhao Zongquan of Yuzhou, asking him to assist in protecting the crown prince.
At first, Sheng Changfeng thought he had changed a lot of things and guessed that the secret letter had been lost by Butterfly. However, just in case, he still asked the Prince of Yan to send people to keep an eye on Yuzhou to prevent the emperor from contacting Zhao Zongquan in private.
Although the King of Yan thought it was unlikely, he still obediently sent someone to Yuzhou, and the person who went there successfully retrieved the secret letter.
After that, the King of Yan fell silent.
He truly hadn't expected that, even now, the emperor would still want to pass the throne to the Prince of Yong.
Despite his inferior abilities, Prince Yong was arrogant and domineering, committing numerous crimes including embezzlement, bribery, deceiving the emperor, forming cliques, harming the people, and persecuting loyal officials.
Besides having many children, what else could the Prince of Yong compare to him?
why!
The Prince of Yan desperately wanted to rush into the palace, grab the emperor by the collar, and ask him if he had lost his mind, still wanting to make the Prince of Yong the crown prince in this situation.
"We absolutely cannot allow the Emperor to appoint the Prince of Yong as Crown Prince!" the Prince of Yan said through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot.
He and the Prince of Yong are now irreconcilable enemies. The final outcome will be either him or the Prince of Yong. Once the Prince of Yong ascends the throne, everyone in his Prince of Yan's household will die, and even his loyal subjects will not escape death.
He absolutely cannot lose!
"You all need to think of a way! Everyone, go and think of a way!"
“The Emperor has made up his mind to pass the throne to the Prince of Yong. If Your Highness wants to survive, I'm afraid that's the only way.” Sheng Changfeng said calmly.
His tone was so casual, as if he were simply asking, "Have you eaten?"
However, the deeper meaning in his words startled the crazed King of Yan.
At this moment, Jing Wangqiu paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and as if making a major decision, stood up, lifted his robe, knelt down, and bowed respectfully.
Although he didn't say a word, his actions spoke louder than words.