The day after the wedding, His Highness Zhengtai issued an edict. The youngest son of the Shangguan family, Mingde, was "intelligent and virtuous, skilled in both civil and martial arts, and has the potential to become a pillar of the empire." The Emperor appointed him as the Minister of Revenue, bestowed him with the Imperial Censor Plate, and allowed him to attend court meetings.
The imperial court's ancestral teachings stated that a man could only become an official after reaching the age of twenty. Mingde attending court at the age of eighteen was already an exception.
Although he was only a small Minister, it was an unprecedented situation since the founding of the empire.
Moreover, he was personally appointed by the Emperor to attend court meetings. It went without saying that he was deeply favored by the Emperor.
Shangguan Shilang was so happy that he went crazy. He held a banquet at home for three days and three nights.
Madam Zhang was angry. Although her daughter, Shangguan Quan, entered the Dongyang Wangfu as she wished, she was only a concubine without a title. Her son, Shangguan Quan, originally participated in this year's Spring Imperial Examination, but because he caught fire, he didn't have any achievements.
She didn't know why the son of a concubine, who she had always trampled under her feet, had caught the Emperor's eye and was bestowed the title of Imperial Censor at such a young age. This made her want to grind her teeth.
Madam Zhang didn't dare to teach Mingde a lesson in public. She only dared to call him over and scold him behind his back. She held back her anger and righteously told him not to forget to be filial to his parents. In the end, she couldn't help but say a few harsh words.
Mingde only yawned as he listened. After she finished, he said flatly, "Madam is right.
I'm going to sleep. "
When Madam Zhang saw the bright red bead on his wrist, she felt that it was indescribably noble. Her face immediately darkened and she scolded with jealousy, "You're just a boy, but you don't know how to be filial to your parents. Instead, you put so much effort into dressing up!
It can be seen that the Emperor bestowing you an official position is not a blessing for the country!
— — Why haven't you taken it off yet? "
Ming De casually took it off and tossed it aside.
Madam Zhang shouted at him to leave. Seeing that there was no one around, she picked it up and carefully looked at it. She deeply felt that this bracelet was luxurious and exquisite, so she couldn't help but put it on herself.
Coincidentally, on the second day of the banquet, the palace had sent the Emperor's most favored person, Zhang Kuo, to deliver a congratulatory gift. Shangguan Shilang felt his face grow even brighter. He hurriedly opened the doors of his residence and personally welcomed Zhang Kuo in. Even the eunuchs and palace maids who followed behind Zhang Kuo were invited to the seats of honor as if they were honored guests.
Mingde leaned against the window and looked at them. A cold smile appeared on his lips. "He's just a eunuch. Why do you care so much about him?"
Shangguan Quan happened to pass by and couldn't help but stomp his feet. "What did you say?
Be careful not to let others hear you and beat you up again! "
Mingde glanced at him indifferently, then turned around and went back to sleep.
Shangguan Quan stared blankly at his back. He only felt that this younger brother of his was full of mysteries. It was as if he couldn't be touched and hung high in the sky. It was hard to describe what he felt.
If you said that he was arrogant, he could endure Madam Zhang's torment. If you said that he was humble, he could only say that Zhang Kuo, who everyone wanted to curry favor with, was just a eunuch.
That smile was incomparably disdainful.
Zhang Kuo saw Mingde walk away from the corner of his eyes. He thought that it was fortunate that this little noble didn't come up to mock and ridicule him today.
This little noble was beautiful, but his temper was not ordinary. He would often speak in a strange tone. It was fortunate that the Emperor could endure it.
Zhang Kuo withdrew his gaze. Who would have thought that he would see the phoenix pearl in Madam Zhang's hand. He was immediately shocked and quickly stood up. "Shangguan Shilang!"
Shangguan Shilang hurriedly went forward to greet him. "What orders does Gonggong have?"
Zhang Kuo pointed at the pearl and sternly asked, "Where did that come from?"
Madam Zhang was puzzled. She knelt down and flattered him. "Gonggong doesn't know. This servant bought it on the street a few days ago …"
A few days ago?
A few days ago, this pearl was still being treasured in Kun Ning Palace Hall. It was prepared for the Emperor to forcefully take it away and give it to Mingde like a treasure!
Little Book Pavilion
Zhang Kuo slammed the table and sternly said, "Madam Zhang, listen to the imperial decree!"
Everyone in the Shangguan Clan felt a chill run down their spines and knelt down on the ground.
"The Emperor has decreed that anyone who carries the phoenix pearl without an imperial decree will be flogged 30 times, regardless of their rank or position!
Imperial decree! "
This imperial decree was actually made up by Zhang Kuo at the last minute.
If it was a normal fake imperial decree, he wouldn't dare to do it even if he had the guts. However, with this imperial decree, if Qianwandi knew about it, he would only complain that the flogging was too small.
Madam Zhang was baffled. She couldn't even say a single word of injustice before she was dragged out by the imperial bodyguards.
A madam of an official's family who had been tyrannical for most of her life, who boasted of her peerless beauty, was pushed down and flogged 30 times in front of everyone.
The sound of flogging could be heard in the courtyard. Everyone in the Shangguan Family knelt down and trembled.
An imperial bodyguard held the phoenix pearl with both hands and handed it to Zhang Kuo. He asked in a low voice, "Gonggong, can you return to the palace and give it to the Emperor?"
Zhang Kuo originally thought that if he gave it to the Emperor, he would be angered again. It would be better to directly give it to the little noble lady to wear.
However, when he thought about it again, he had also been beaten 30 times by Mingde. He couldn't help but feel both new and old hatred in his heart.
Fine. You didn't even let off a castrated person in my family. Don't blame my family's Xiaoxiao for taking revenge.
In any case, you are deeply favored by the Emperor. At most, the Emperor will teach you a lesson.
Zhang Kuo folded his hands and closed his eyes to rest. "Why haven't you returned to the palace and given it to the Emperor?"