Reborn as a Merchant Girl, the General's Beloved

Hongze's purple official robe was neat and clean without a wrinkle. The leopard patch on it was particularly bright and delicate. His black official boots were spotless. An emerald green and transparent jade pendant hung from his waist. He looked so rich and dazzling that ordinary people dared not look directly at him. He truly had the majesty and bearing that a close minister of the emperor should have.

Hong Shilang huddled in the shadow of the pillars, looking at his son with an obscure gaze. This was the first time in the Forbidden City that he had taken the initiative to meet him, and his purpose was unclear.

"Recently, the Ge family has been restless." Hong Ze did not turn around to look at him, but just said it lightly.

Hong Shilang frowned, and although he felt uncomfortable, he did not directly refute, as if he was thinking about the implication of his words.

"The court is in turmoil, but she always provokes people she shouldn't provoke." Hongze's voice was still soft.

Hong Shilang's heart skipped a beat, and he stared at Hong Ze without blinking. He knew very well that Ge was a bully, but he was not so naive and naturally would not ask such questions as who should not be provoked. Now the emperor is old, the crown prince has just passed away, the emperor's grandson is young, and there are many princes in the capital. Their strength is complex and chaotic. Now is the time to tread on thin ice. If you are not careful, you will be doomed. The danger is self-evident.

His eyes were fixed on Hong Ze, but he didn't seem to intend to say anything else. He turned his head to glance at Hong Shilang, nodded, and left, leaving Hong Shilang standing alone in the empty corridor.

Hong Ze has been wise and steady since he was a child. Ji Yunhe, the old gentleman, had only met him once at a palace banquet, but he liked him very much and praised him for the legacy of the Hong family's great ancestor. He took him in as his disciple and taught him carefully. He personally assisted him in entering the officialdom and even praised him in front of the current emperor for his "ability to decide the fate of the world with a pen and to pacify the world with a horse." However, he remained calm and composed, and guarded the border for several years, earning him great trust.

Rather than explaining everything clearly, Hong Ze's behavior of stopping immediately after saying just a few words made Hong Shilang more panicked.

Hongze never got involved in the internal house fights. Even when he discovered that the fourth child was being abused by Ge, he just took his younger brother and left home without wasting a single day at home.

Later, Ge ran to his house to make trouble and beat his wife, but her face was only ugly for those two days. He didn't say anything in the end. Why did he mention Ge at this time and in this situation?

This was both a threat from the emperor's close ministers and a warning from his son, telling him clearly that Ge could not be kept.

Hong Ze's precocity has always been the pride of the Earl's Mansion, but today it seems that he is even more of a disaster. This makes Hong Shilang very uneasy, and he can't help but feel surprised and confused in his heart. Did he know something?

Ge was totally unaware of this. She was looking at the things in the room with worry. When she saw her husband coming back from outside, she hurriedly poured tea with a smile, helped him take off his outer robe, fetched some water to wash his hands, and then said with a smile, "Chu'er's baby will be born in the next few days. I was thinking of bringing her back to raise her for a few days after she is one month old. I think the Wei family will not disagree, right, husband?"

Hong Shilang nodded silently, lowered his head to take a sip of tea, put the cup back on the table, and then looked up at Ge who was busy.

Compared to his wife who was beautiful and came from a prominent family, Ge was plain-looking and of ordinary family when she was young. She was the daughter of a concubine of a ninth-rank official who was exiled to the countryside. When she entered the Earl's Mansion, she was just a concubine. After Wanru passed away, he had no intention of remarrying, so he made Ge the mistress. She has been in charge of the Earl's Mansion for more than ten years. She has neither the courage to expand the territory like his wife Wanru, nor the foolishness and greed like the concubine Yang. She has neither merits nor faults.