Chapter 226 I miss you when I walk and when I sit.

Imperial City.

Outside the Duanli Gate.

Sheng Hong walked briskly, following the crowd out of the palace.

At this time, the eunuch who had been waiting for a long time came out and stretched out his hand to lead Sheng Hong to the side.

"Master Sheng, please stay. His Majesty has asked me to pass on a message, asking you to stay in the palace for a while."

"what?"

Sheng Hong looked surprised.

Turning his head and looking around for a while, he found that several officials were also stopped not far away, which made Sheng Hong ask:

"Eunuch, do you know what this is about?"

The eunuchs who were sent to convey the emperor's oral instructions all understood that talking too much would lead to mistakes, so they did not reply and just said a simple sentence.

"I dare not ask that."

After saying this, he didn't worry that Sheng Hong wouldn't follow, and immediately turned around to lead the way.

Sheng Hong had no choice but to hurry up and catch up.

As he walked, Sheng Hong began to think:

"Since I came to the capital, I have never made a solo performance. Could it be that this solo meeting is to be taken as a close minister?"

Thinking of this, Sheng Hong became excited immediately and quickened his pace. He couldn't wait to show his loyalty to the emperor.

A side hall of the imperial study.

Sheng Hong was led into the house, but found that there was no one to greet him in the corridor, and even the doors and windows were all closed. He was suddenly confused.

He wanted to ask more, but he saw that the eunuch who led the way had gone out at some point, leaving him standing alone in the corridor.

Thinking of the appearance of those eunuchs looking for someone just now, Sheng Hong's heart immediately began to beat.

"It's okay, it's okay. I think it's something important, so I'll go find someone else first." Sheng Hong comforted himself.

However, comfort is comfort, but as time went by, Sheng Hong's worries grew heavier, he became so restless that he could not help but pace in the corridor.

After thinking for a while, he lay down on the door, and started to "Miao Renfeng" through the hair-thin gap. When he found that he could not see anything, he put his ear to the door, trying to get some information.

As a result, at this moment, an unfamiliar eunuch opened the door and the two men met face to face.

Facing the eunuch's stern expression, Sheng Hong smiled awkwardly, quickly took a step back, and then asked:
"When can I see His Majesty?"

"His Majesty has ordered that Lord Sheng wait here and not be allowed to leave even a step."

Sheng Hong wanted to ask two more questions.

As a result, the eunuch said nothing and closed the door tightly again.

Having been turned down, Sheng Hong did not dare to get angry, so he had to retreat again. He moved around the room with a frown on his face, secretly wondering what the government's sudden move was all about.

But this wait lasted for a full hour.

Sheng Hong really couldn't bear it any longer.

I had only eaten some snacks before going to court, and I didn't even dare drink much tea for fear of getting anxious. Now it was time for lunch, and I was exhausted.

He had no choice but to loosen his official uniform, take off his long-winged hat, rub his sore legs, and find a stool to sit down.

In the end, I waited until the sun set, but no one passed by, let alone His Majesty.

Sheng Hong couldn't wait any longer and was about to open the door to ask.

Who would have thought that when he pushed the door open, he would see a team of armored imperial guards standing guard at the door. Their majestic appearance under the candlelight, and the cold light emanating from them, made Sheng Hong feel cold inside.

No matter how optimistic he was, he felt something was wrong after seeing this scene.

However, Sheng Hong still asked with a hope:
"I wonder when His Majesty will summon me?"

The result was only a cold reply:
"His Majesty has ordered that Lord Sheng wait quietly and not to leave even a step."

Sheng Hong had heard of many stories about officials "staying overnight" in the palace, but the outcomes for those people were often not very good. The Lin family, to which his concubine Lin Qinshuang belonged, was one of them.

Feeling depressed for a day, Sheng Hong said with a little fear in his tone:
"I've been sitting here for a whole day. It's really inconvenient. I want to go home and change..."

"boom!"

The door was slammed shut.

Another rejection.

'In the morning I look at the sky, in the evening I look at the clouds. When I walk I miss you. When I sit I miss you.'

After waiting till late at night but still not seeing the official's robe, Sheng Hong finally understood another interpretation of this poem.

Finally, Sheng Hong couldn't bear it anymore. Exhausted, he could only hug the vase and fall asleep.

Sheng family.

Wang Ruofu waited and waited at home, but she didn't see Sheng Hong, who was supposed to be back home from work. She couldn't help but pace in front of the door, thinking to herself:
"On normal days, the court should have been dismissed by this time. Could it be that he was delayed on the way, or that he went out to socialize and drink?"

But after thinking about it, I felt it was impossible.

After all, if Sheng Hong went out for a social event, he would definitely send his follower Dong Rong back to report in advance, but now there is no sign of him at all.

"He must have something urgent to do today, so he was delayed."

Thinking of this, Wang Ruofu knew that in recent days, only the imperial examinations and the military examinations could be considered big events.

Wang Ruofu thought to herself:

"Could it be that because the military exam is approaching, the time for the palace exam has been moved forward?"

Thinking of this, Wang Ruofu couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

God bless you, and I hope this will be safe soon!

But as the sun set, Wang Ruofu began to feel something was wrong.

After all, no matter how urgent the meeting or other important matters are, you should send someone home to inform them.

At this time, Sheng Hong's personal attendant Dong Rong finally arrived.

Wang Ruofu was very anxious and immediately asked:
"Where is your husband? Why haven't you come home yet?"

Dong Rong was also at a loss, and said honestly:

"My lady, I have been waiting outside the palace gates for a long time. I did not see the master come out, so I asked the masters who are on good terms with the master. They said that the master was summoned privately by the emperor, along with several other masters."

"The government has called you?"

Wang Ruofu frowned and murmured to himself:
"Then I guess there is something wrong, but you should also send the news home."

"So I saw that curfew was almost over and my master hadn't come out yet, so I came back to report."

Wang Ruofu had no choice but to nod and asked Dong Rong to go to bed early and wait outside the palace gate early tomorrow morning.

Looking at the sky outside, Wang Ruofu knew that it was too late to rush. She could only hope that she was making a fuss out of nothing and that the emperor was looking for her because of an urgent matter, not to hold her accountable.

"But my official is only a lowly fifth-rank official..."

The next morning.

Seeing that Sheng Hong hadn't come back yet, Wang Ruofu finally gave up and was sure that Sheng Hong was called in by the official to be held accountable, not to discuss court affairs. She immediately wanted to send someone to inquire, but immediately realized that Sheng Hong was going to the palace to attend court, not to the government office outside. She would definitely not be able to get in if she sent someone, so she could only ask someone who could enter the palace to help ask. "Hua'er!"

Wang Ruofu thought of her daughter Hualan, and immediately called over Mother Liu and asked her to go to Pingyang Marquis' Mansion to seek help.

"Go to Pingyang Marquis's Mansion quickly! Make sure she finds out what her father has done wrong!"

Pingyang Houfu.

As soon as Mother Liu got off the horse, she revealed her identity to the guards of the Marquis' Mansion.

Upon learning that it was their mistress's family, one person went in to report, while another took Mother Liu to a side hall to sit down.

Soon, Hua Lan came after hearing the news.

When Mother Liu saw her eldest daughter, she only bowed anxiously and immediately told her everything she knew.

"Girl, the lady is now only looking forward to your help to find out."

When her father was in trouble, Hualan naturally had the responsibility to help.

"Mother Liu, please go back and comfort my mother first. I will discuss this with the official. Once I find out the result, I will go back home immediately."

Mother Liu also knew that she could not help much even if she was anxious here, and it would be better for her to stay with Wang Ruofu at this time, so she took her leave immediately.

At this time, Yang Wenyuan, who had just been practicing martial arts in the martial arts field and was called back by the guards at home, also arrived home. Seeing Hua Lan's uneasy look, he couldn't help but ask about Yuan.

Hua Lan repeated it immediately and Yang Wenyuan listened quietly.

After Hua Lan finished speaking, she said softly:

"Official..."

Yang Wenyuan naturally understood what Hua Lan wanted to say, and immediately stroked her white jade hand and said softly:

"Ma'am, this is nothing to worry about."

Hua Landai frowned slightly:

"But it's all gone overnight..."

Hua Lan also complained:
"Mother, you're the same. Why did you send someone to talk to me after a day? It would be easier for me to ask you if you had told me earlier."

As she spoke, Hua Lan glanced at Yang Wenyuan carefully, obviously not meaning what she said, as she was observing his expression.

This playful little action made Yang Wenyuan laugh out loud.

"I'm afraid you'll worry."

Although Yang Wenyuan knew why Sheng Hong was kept in the palace, he couldn't explain it, so he just smiled and comforted him:
"My father-in-law has always been a cautious person. He is not a high-ranking official and would not make any big mistakes. Even if he made some small mistakes that made the official angry, it was just a temper tantrum."

"At worst..."

Yang Wenyuan winked at Hualan:

"Isn't it me?"

Yang Wenyuan has been waiting for something like this to happen to Changfeng.

When Yang Wenyuan saw Chang Feng and the retainer of Prince Yan, Sanlang of the Qiu family, going out for a drink together yesterday, he understood what was going on. However, he was not too bored to stop them. Instead, he was happy to see it happen.

For the sake of his future plans, Yang Wenyuan wanted to establish a relationship with the Queen in advance, but he couldn't do it at the last minute. Therefore, it was not enough to just communicate with the Cao family, which was not very powerful. He also needed to have his own family members familiar with the Queen.

The Queen was in the palace, so it was difficult to meet her normally, let alone make friends with her.

Although Hualan was able to enter the palace as the wife of Marquis Pingyang, the relationship between the Yang family and the queen was not that good before, and her presence would only arouse more vigilance.

But it just so happened that Changfeng had caused this incident, which was a perfect opportunity for Hualan to enter the palace and meet the queen!
One of the best ways to build relationships is to ask for small favors.

With a small favor in hand, plus her own sufficient strength and belonging to the emperor's faction, it would not be awkward for Hualan to meet the queen in the future.

Hualan didn't know what Yang Wenyuan was planning.

However, after listening to Yang Wenyuan's analysis, she felt that it made sense, but she still rolled her eyes at Yang Wenyuan in annoyance and said coquettishly:
"Okay, okay, you are a marquis, and my father is just a lowly official. I think you are capable."

Yang Wenyuan quickly waved his hands and begged for mercy:
"Madam, you are really embarrassing me. Don't blame me. I should find someone to help me and go to the palace to question him."

Yang Wenyuan hoped that Hualan would act faster, in case Qi Heng, that bootlicker, would bring Princess Pingning to the palace for questioning in advance and ruin his plans.

"what?"

Hua Lan opened her round little mouth, pointed her slender index finger at herself, and said in disbelief:

"You...you want me to go to the palace to ask?"

Hualan had been married into the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion for less than a year, and she had never been to the palace to pay homage during the New Year holidays. In addition, due to her family background, she was full of awe for the imperial city, so it was really difficult for her to go to the palace where she was unfamiliar with asking questions.

Yang Wenyuan had already made plans and explained:
"I have just inherited the title, and I went to the palace to thank you not long ago. I will be taking the imperial examination soon, so I still have to be more cautious."

Yang Wenyuan was afraid that Hualan would think of her aunt, Madam Chen, so he blocked her way in advance:

"Besides, this is our own in-laws' business, so it's not good for my uncle and aunt to intervene. You are the best person to deal with this."

"But……"

Seeing Hualan still hesitating, Yang Wenyuan immediately presented the proposal he had already thought of:
"If you don't dare to go alone, then go find Princess Pingning to come to the palace with you. She is the adopted daughter of His Majesty and the Queen, and has been raised by their side since she was a child. They are the closest to each other. Since you come in person and Qi Heng is studying at the Sheng family, Princess Pingning will not refuse."

Because of her status as the wife of Marquis Pingyang, Princess Pingning treated Hualan in a very peaceful manner, unlike other outsiders, so although Hualan was a little scared, she had no choice but to nod in agreement.

After all, it was my father who caused the trouble.

"All right!"

Seeing Hualan's weak and pitiful expression, Yang Wenyuan's heart softened:
"Okay, then I'll go with you and wait for you outside the palace."

Hualan's face immediately blossomed like a flower:
"I knew you were the best!"

The Duke's Mansion of Qi.

Upon learning that Yang Wenyuan and Hua Lan were coming, Princess Pingning glanced at Qi Heng, who had been chattering beside her since early morning, and thought to herself:

"Finally, you're here!"

If it weren't for the relationship with Yang Wenyuan, Princess Pingning would naturally go to the palace to help ask, but since Yang Wenyuan was there, Princess Pingning ignored Qi Heng's pleading and had to wait for Yang Wenyuan to come and ask for a favor.

And it could also be a good opportunity to repay Qi Heng's kindness by allowing him to study at the Sheng family.

Kill two birds with one stone!
"You don't have to be so cautious when you speak or act in the future." Looking at Qi Heng, Princess Pingning thought silently in her heart.

After entering the door, the process of seeking help was very smooth.

Princess Pingning changed her calmness in front of Qi Heng just now. When she learned that Hualan asked her to help introduce the queen and asked what mistake Sheng Hong had made, she immediately agreed with a smile.

"This love can also be passed on to the Queen!"

Thinking of this, the smile on Princess Pingning's face became even more friendly.

Qi Heng, who was standing by, immediately noticed the completely different face before and after.

I’ve been begging for so long but haven’t gotten what I want, but as soon as someone else comes, they happily agree!
'Mother, you make me feel strange!'

Inside the palace.

The queen's bedroom.

The emperor and the empress had a very close relationship, so the emperor never concealed the empress's thoughts in anything he did.

Therefore, when Empress Cao received the news that Princess Pingning and the wife of Marquis Pingyang had come to the palace to seek a meeting, she knew the reason behind it.

(End of this chapter)