The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Her grandniece was so unruly, daring to blurt out anything. She didn't know where all the manners she'd learned had gone; she had no composure whatsoever. Her anger today was partly due to her grandniece's lack of self-control.

Seeing his sister-in-law's hands trembling, Wan Lianxing felt guilty but didn't want to compromise. He spoke the softest words, but showed no sign of weakness. "Sister-in-law, Lianxing has shown the utmost sincerity. If you don't care about our royal offspring, then Lianxing will immediately arrange for your grandniece to enter the palace, depose the empress, and make Han Muran the empress."

Madam Wan froze, her expression changing drastically. She nearly slapped Wan Lianxing's face with her prayer beads. "Lianxing, how can you, as the ruler of a nation, utter such reckless words! Deposing the empress would shake the foundations of the country and the hearts of the people. You can't lie like this, especially not in front of Siyu. Han Muran wants to enter the palace to accompany her, not to compete with Siyu for the empress's position! Lianxing, you were raised by your sister-in-law. You can't hide your little tricks from her. Now that my grandniece isn't entering the palace, you don't need to hide from me anymore."

After saying this, Madam Wan shook off Wan Lianxing and walked out. Zhong Siyu ran forward and helped Madam Wan up.

Wan Lianxing was prepared to be beaten. It wasn't that Madam Wan was too lazy to beat him; she was just saving face for him! Wan Lianxing felt a mix of emotions, mostly self-blame and helplessness. He didn't want to upset his sister-in-law, but unfortunately, he was destined to be alone and lonely.

Cheng Feng followed, then turned back and winked at Wan Lianxing, meaning that Wan Lianxing could rest assured that Shang Xi no longer cared about the pair of cat eyes that Wan Lianxing had promised her. The worst kind of commotion was the commotion inside the palace.

Wan Lianxing stared longingly in the direction his sister-in-law had left, his narrow eyes following her every move. After a long while, he turned and sat down. He pointed at Ge Dongqing with his fan, saying, "You've driven my sister-in-law away!"

"Brother, why are you turning the tables on me? I was just trying to help you out of this predicament because I saw that you didn't have any feelings for Han Muran!"

Seeing Ge Dongqi's self-righteous attitude, Wan Lianxing felt no gratitude whatsoever. If this man hadn't interfered, Huang Chenming would have successfully resolved the situation. His meddling only angered his sister-in-law and, worse, exacerbated the conflict between him and her.

"Huang Chenming and the old steward are enough to resolve this situation. You are just causing me trouble."

"Brother, your focused gaze just now was full of approval as you stared intently at your younger brother. That approval was impossible to hide!"

Such a shameless and powerful rebuttal would leave an ordinary person speechless, and Wan Lianxing was also helpless against Ge Dongqing, who had only made things worse.

"Even if I looked at you with approval, it was still a misjudgment. You deliberately led that perfectly good girl down the path of becoming a nun. How could my sister-in-law not take it out on me!" Wan Lianxing sighed. "My sister-in-law is easy to coax, but not easy to offend! Alas! I have completely offended her! But I knew this day would come sooner or later, so I have been avoiding her to delay it. I really don't want to make her angry!"

"My brother almost made the old lady faint from anger just now, and he even said he didn't want to upset her!"

When drunk, Ge Dongqing is straightforward and outspoken.

"What do you know? I said that to show my sister-in-law my determination. I had to let her see my sincere heart!"

"Brother, the old lady has been angered away by you, and the Empress has recovered from her illness. Let's go for a drink!"

Wan Lianxing suddenly remembered the Zhong family and asked Ge Dongqing, "Didn't I tell you to bring the ministers to accompany the Zhong family? By coming here, aren't you just leaving the Zhong family standing there!"

"Brother, the Zhong family's alcohol tolerance is terrible. None of them can hold their liquor like these people. Master Zhong was crying and sobbing when you drank him to the ground! He probably hasn't gotten up yet!"

"I told you to keep the person company, not to make them collapse!"

"Brother, that's far from enough. I came to you to invite them to my home. My younger brother has recently acquired a musician named Linglan. Not only is she an excellent pipa player, but Linglan also has a beautiful voice. Even the oriole can't sing as beautifully as her!"

"She must be a courtesan from the Sleeve Fairy Pavilion. I heard you took her into your room as your third concubine!"

Ge Dongqing sobered up a bit, his eyes clearing. "Big brother knows?"

"If you don't want others to know, don't do anything except yourself."

"My elder brother's detachment from worldly desires and purity of heart does not mean that I, your younger brother, can also have a heart as still as water."

"Can't you just marry a decent man?"

"Brother, my reputation has been ruined by Lu Si Niang."

"Alright, stop bringing up Lu Si Niang. Your unrestrained behavior is just your nature and has nothing to do with anyone else. I have a lot on my mind right now. Go and entertain the Zhong family."

After Ge Dongqing was driven away, the other people in the room also left one after another. Not long after, Zhong Siyu returned, and her face looked even paler than before.

"Has my sister-in-law calmed down yet?"

Zhong Siyu shook her head, "My sister-in-law said a few words to me and then left."

"We'll go to my sister-in-law's place to apologize after the Han family moves out of the palace."

Zhong Siyu shook her head again, "Your Majesty, my sister-in-law said that the Han family is a merchant family and cannot compare with the Zhong family, which are princes and ministers. I don't know what she means by that."

"Your Majesty need not worry. My sister-in-law was speaking to me. She wants the Han family to enter officialdom."

Zhong Siyu said, "Since this is my sister-in-law's wish, and you are now the emperor, in my opinion, we should grant your wish, otherwise she will not recognize me anymore."

After much deliberation, Wan Lianxing, in order to save face for his sister-in-law, finally gave Han Yuanqiao, the eldest son of Han and Han Muran's father, a nominal position as Minister of the Six Ministries, a third-rank official post with no real power or duties.

The imperial edict arrived the next day. Madam Wan, who was so angry that she didn't eat dinner the day before, smiled upon hearing it and said to Master Wan, "My trip yesterday wasn't in vain. Although Lianxing made me furious, he still cared about me as his sister-in-law and considered my feelings. This way, I can face the ancestors of the Han family with a clear conscience."

Even the frail Master Wan smiled, "The little thing you've been longing for has finally come true. Are you happy now? But Yuanqiao has been allocated a house and will have to move out soon. Once the Han family leaves, your courtyard will be quite deserted."

Mrs. Wan said with a smile, "It's good that they left. They should have moved out a long time ago."

As expected, within three days, the Han family moved out of the Prince's mansion, expressing their deepest gratitude to Madam Wan.

Although Han Yuanqiao, the eldest son of the Han family, obtained a sinecure as a third-rank official, he not only received a high salary but also gained fame and status.