Reborn as a Merchant Girl, the General's Beloved

The crown prince had just passed away and the whole country was in mourning. Some court officials were trembling with fear, while others fainted in the Golden Palace from crying. However, the emperor, who had seen off his eldest grandson and eldest son in succession, did not stop attending court. He sat upright on the dragon throne, like an outsider who had escaped from this long catastrophe. He was frighteningly calm, except for a hint of fatigue in his occasionally lowered eyes, which betrayed his sorrow.

Hong Shilang stood in the hall, sweating profusely.

As an official who has always accompanied the prince when he went out to patrol the river, the emperor has not summoned him since the prince returned to Kyoto to seek medical treatment, nor has he asked a single question about the prince's situation away. A single word can decide life or death, but it is still unpredictable. This is the most terrifying thing about the emperor's wrath.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Hongze, who was standing beside the emperor with a stern face.

When Hongze insisted on taking his infant brother to study at Xianyuntai, he did not try to stop him. People outside said that he was as heartless as a wolf and treated his biological son left by his ex-wife harshly after he had a stepmother.

Only he knew in his heart that although Ge looked smart, she was actually too ostentatious and foolish. If Hongze saw through her, the consequences would be far more terrible than just a few words of criticism from others.

This son of his is very similar to his biological mother in both personality and appearance. He has been calm, intelligent, and low-key since he was a child. Even his bad habit of being soft-hearted is the same. He planned to marry him to a sickly merchant girl, but he treated her like a treasure and spoiled and protected her, even risking his life to save the merchant girl's family.

It's all crazy and yet makes sense.

Perhaps it was because of his sincere character that both the crown prince and the emperor trusted him. Even today when the emperor was facing a catastrophic disaster, he could still stand firmly by the emperor's side.

From the day Hongze left home and entered Xianyuntai, he had no expectations for Hongze, so he never visited him once.

Who made his son only have that carefree prince and a playboy who didn't do his job properly around him? Hong Shilang felt that even if he really entered the officialdom from Xianyuntai, he would be just a minor official at best. But at this moment, he had to admit that Hongze had already grown up without him noticing. So grown up that even he couldn't help but want to ask him for help at this moment.

But soon, Hong Shilang calmed down, lowered his head silently, and chose to do the same as the other dukes and marquises beside him. Even if the emperor was really furious and wanted to hold the person responsible afterwards, the red seal of the Hong family was not made of paper.

The morning court session ended in a daze. When the emperor's dragon chariot went away, everyone dared to breathe loudly. However, they still did not dare to gather in one place to talk, and they dispersed.

However, Hong Ze took the initiative to find Hong Shilang, who was busy leaving the palace at that time.

"Are you free?" Hong Ze did not address him, and there was not even much emotion in his eyes. His voice was low and serious. He was dressed in military uniform and had a cold iron sword at his side, so beautiful that even Hong Shilang was shocked.

"Is there something wrong?" Hong Shilang was angry and responded unhappily.

"Yeah." Hong Ze didn't give any further explanation or greetings, he just replied sullenly, and then he walked straight out of the palace gate without even looking at him.

Although Hong Shilang had never been to the battlefield, he had been in official circles for many years and was well aware of the ways of the matter. Even if the man was not his own son but just an official who came to chat with him, he could not keep him away. After all, if they could not be friends, they could never be enemies.

In a side hall, there was a guard post every ten steps and a sentry every five steps. Hongze stood in front of the hall, with his hands behind his back, looking into the distance. The sun was shining brightly, outlining a golden halo along his tall and handsome outline. Although they were both official uniforms issued by the court, they were different for different people. Very few people could wear official uniforms so outstandingly.