Started as a thatched house and ended up as a female figure

In the back garden of Duke Cheng'en's mansion, a pool of clear water was wrinkled by fish food.

Willows from the south scattered fish food into the pond. The red sunset was still emitting heat, but it could not dispel the coldness in his eyes.

"It's a good thing that Cheng Wan passed the college entrance examination. It proves that our emperor was not wrong."

Liu Congnan put the gilded lacquer box aside, clapped his hands, stood up and looked at Wei Hufeng: "Sir Wei, why do you have to make things difficult for a little girl?"

"Sir!" Wei Hufeng didn't care if his voice would scare the fish in the pond, and said excitedly: "As a woman, Cheng Wan not only entered the officialdom and was conferred a title of nobility, but now she has entered the imperial examination hall. She is about to take the provincial examination and become a juren. Sir! This kind of trouble really can't be allowed to continue!"

Liu Congnan was not affected by Wei Hufeng's roar at all. He slowly smoothed the cloud pattern on his sleeves and said, "Sir Wei, let me remind you that the 'disaster' you mentioned is a blessing to both the emperor and the people."

Wei Hufeng's face froze for a moment and then became even more ferocious: "Cheng Wan is indeed quite capable. Originally, based on her merits, she could have been awarded the title of county lady, or even princess, and enjoyed endless wealth and glory for the rest of her life! But she chose the wrong path!"

Wei Hufeng narrowed his eyes, and a vicious look flashed through his eyelids.

Liu Congnan glanced at Wei Hufeng: "What do you want?"

"Of course, we should kill Cheng Wan! We should restore peace to the officialdom and the imperial examinations!"

"What happens after killing Cheng Wan?"

"After killing Cheng Wan, it will be natural, naturally..." Wei Hufeng was a little confused: "It will be the same as before."

Liu Congnan and Wei Hufeng looked at each other with cold eyes: "Did you forget what the emperor said at the court this morning, Lord Wei?"

Wei Hufeng was stunned.

What did the emperor say?

"I have allowed Marquis Zhaoping to take the imperial examination. I want him to return to the capital smoothly."

Liu Congnan looked at Wei Hufeng's face which suddenly turned extremely ugly, and said lightly: "It seems that Lord Wei has remembered everything."

"So what? The emperor is so busy, how could he have the time to pay attention to a little Cheng Wan?" Wei Hufeng clenched his fists, his face was livid, and his words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth: "Once Cheng Wan is eliminated, there will be no evidence. Even if the emperor is a little angry, he will soon forget about Cheng Wan. By then, everything will be back on track!"

"Ha!" Liu Congnan glanced at Wei Hufeng's head and sneered, "Sir Wei can decide whether to keep the official hat or not, but I have no intention of retiring for the time being, so I won't join in the fun."

"It's just a woman, she..."

"But this woman is someone the emperor wants to protect!" Liu Congnan interrupted Wei Hufeng's words, his face stern: "Sir Wei, I don't need to emphasize to you what kind of temperament our emperor has, right?"

Wei Hufeng's pupils suddenly shrank and his face turned pale.

"To get rid of Cheng Wan at this time is to disobey the emperor's order. Lord Wei, are you sure you can afford the price of disobeying the emperor's order?"

Wei Hufeng's Adam's apple rolled violently and cold sweat instantly broke out on the back of his neck.

He recalled the scene not long ago where the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works was beaten to death in court by the Emperor for embezzling money for building a cement road.

When the minister was dragged out, the blood on his back splattered on the white marble steps, just like the koi carp floating in the pond.

"I, I naturally know the emperor's thunderous methods..." Wei Hufeng subconsciously tightened his belt, but found that his fingers were shaking due to excessive force: "But if Cheng Wan really passes the imperial examination, in the future..."

"So what if she passed the exam and became the top scholar?" Liu Congnan suddenly approached, his eyes fierce and intimidating: "In the big melting pot of officialdom, there are plenty of opportunities for her to make mistakes."

Wei Hufeng looked up suddenly and met the sinister look in Liu Congnan's eyes.

Wei Hufeng suddenly realized that the Duke Cheng'en in front of him was not really protecting Cheng Wan, but was using the imperial power to suppress his recklessness, just like a cat playing with a mouse, to make him see his place clearly.

"My lord, you mean... wait until Cheng Wan officially enters the officialdom, then, then..." Wei Hufeng's voice was muffled, as if someone was strangling his throat.

Liu Congnan turned around and stroked the wooden railing beside the pool, his fingers rubbing back and forth on the carvings: "Tell me, if Cheng Wan always makes mistakes in officialdom, how long will the emperor tolerate her?"

Wei Hufeng on the side was already sweating profusely.

He finally understood Liu Congnan's real intention, which was not to stop the killing of Cheng Wan, but to let Cheng Wan "die" in the officialdom in full view of the public. This would not offend the imperial power, but would also let everyone in the world know the consequences of "women interfering in politics."

"Cheng Wan wants to be a role model, and she will get her wish."

Liu Congnan's voice was calm, yet contained a frightening cruelty and coldness.

"Your Excellency's advice is great..." When Wei Hufeng clasped his fists, his elbow hit the wooden railing, making a dull sound. "I am so stupid that I didn't think of such a comprehensive method."

After Wei Hufeng left, Liu Congnan pinched some fish food and sprinkled it into the pond, and the koi in the pond gathered again.

"Master, do you really want to keep Cheng Wan?" Liu Congnan's confidant frowned, "Cheng Wan is not easy to deal with. I'm afraid it will be more difficult to take her life as time goes on."

Liu Congnan observed the koi carp eating and chuckled, "Why would I want Cheng Wan's life? Going against the emperor is not a smart move."

Liu Congnan saw clearly that the emperor obviously wanted to protect Cheng Wan.

He never doubted the emperor's insight and control over state affairs. Any inappropriate action at this time would most likely be caught by the emperor.

It's not worth it to displease the emperor just for Cheng Wan.

Besides, Liu Congnan really didn't want to take Cheng Wan's life, he recognized Cheng Wan's talent.

Liu Congnan narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking back to the last time he tested Cheng Wan, he unexpectedly involved Wu Liangcai, which still puzzled him to this day.

There is also the murder case of former Shangshu Ling Zhou Yizhong and others which remains unsolved. Liu Congnan always feels that Cheng Wan is involved.

Whether Cheng Wan had help or did it alone, it was still horrifying.

Cheng Wan is not simple.

"With Cheng Wan's ability, it would be useful to keep her."

"The master has always been the most calculating, and I will follow his orders.

The master said to keep Cheng Wan, so let's keep her. It won't be too late to get rid of her when she is no longer useful."

Liu Congnan snorted and laughed, then his face straightened: "Cheng Wan is nothing to worry about. The most urgent thing is that Yun'er's pregnancy must be safe and smooth!"

"My dear young lady, you are the Empress of the Central Palace, you are smart and clever, and you have experience in giving birth to Princess Yaolin. This time, you will definitely give birth to a prince smoothly!"

"I thought Yun'er had no hope, but I didn't expect that God would still favor my Liu family!" Liu Congnan's eyes were filled with ambition: "Send someone to tell Yun'er to take care of herself and protect the baby in her belly!"