The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

Xie Yuzhen glanced at Jun Yuexin, who was a little annoyed, and a thought came to his mind: "Ayue, tell me, did he anticipate He Sangrou's self-destructive behavior, or even secretly push it?"

"Maybe he had expected it, but pushing it forward... not necessarily." Jun Yuexin thought for a while before slowly saying, "But in any case, he made good use of his daughter's death, didn't he?"

"That's right. I think His Majesty will definitely play a good game with him this time. Without him in the court, you may not be able to take over the military power more smoothly than when he took the initiative to endorse you. But - only if he withdraws, we will have more room for advancement. Especially if he withdraws, those who used to be his vassal will be even more unstable."

"In that case, our chance will come." Jun Yuexin looked at Xie Yuzhen steadily, "The female military generals started with me, and the female civil officials...the key point is Guanying."

Xie Yuzhen looked back at her: "Don't worry, I have already dealt with the most difficult one. The rest is just a matter of wrangling with those 'gentlemen' in the former court and sharing the benefits."

No matter how chaotic the situation was outside, the marking of the Spring Examination papers was still carried out in an orderly manner.

As Zeng Fu expected, he failed the exam. Because he did not take the proper imperial examination, he had only this one exceptional opportunity in his life. If he failed this time, unless he returned to his hometown and took the exams step by step like everyone else, he would forever lose this most correct way to become a superior person.

But how could he have the ability and time to study for the imperial examination step by step?

The day before the spring exam results came out.

Although he was reluctant and depressed, Zeng Fu finally decided to give it a try and follow the path of "selecting filial and honest people" as Huang Ming said. Especially after learning about the horrible things that happened in Yao San's family, he became more eager to become an official. In his opinion, the He family and Yao San might have completely torn their faces apart this time, and General He would certainly not continue to protect Yao San, his son-in-law.

The biggest guarantee for what he and others were planning was this old general.

Zeng Fu thought that he had to quickly gain a certain amount of power before leaving the capital - after all, although he was one of the sources among so many people targeting Lin Qiao, compared with those who got involved later, he was just a small shrimp in terms of identity and status.

It’s best...it’s best to ignore the past.

Zeng Fu could not sleep every night during the two days of waiting for the results. Perhaps he had actually realized that he was walking on the edge of a cliff with no way back. However, the terror of facing a dead end made him instinctively start to escape, and then he turned to deceiving himself repeatedly, thinking that there was still a glimmer of hope.

After asking Doctor Zeng for a large sum of money to bribe the officials who were selected as filial and honest officials, Zeng returned home.

Tomorrow was the day for the imperial examination results to be announced. That afternoon, Madam Zeng came to visit her only son as usual. Before the mother and son could say a few words, Doctor Zeng came angrily to Zeng Fu's study, drove Madam Zeng out with a cold face, closed the door, and shouted, "Rebellious son! Kneel down!"

For a moment, Zeng Fu even thought that this cheap father knew that he had given him sterilization drugs.

He knelt down quickly: "Father, what's wrong with you?"

"The account books and some letters in my study are missing. You were the only one who went there these days. Did you take them?"

Zeng Fu was stunned and said quickly: "No!"

He felt relieved at first, then tensed up: "I have only been to your study twice, both times I was looking for serious books to read. If you don't believe me, you can ask the servants around me..."

Doctor Zeng stared at him suspiciously.

Zeng Fu said earnestly, "Father, I don't know where your account books and letters are. What's the use of taking them? We are father and son..." He lowered his voice, "Prosperity and adversity are common. I have turned over a new leaf now. Don't you think about me? I have to steal those important things... Is it to threaten you?"

Doctor Zeng opened his mouth, then closed it again. After thinking for a long time, he threw his sleeves and said, "Forget it, get up. You'd better tell the truth. That thing is extremely important to our family and must not be leaked out."

"Son, I understand. But father, think carefully about that thing, who would want it the most?" Zeng Fu reminded.

Doctor Zeng stroked his beard, his face becoming darker and darker. He flung open the door and shouted to Madam Zeng who was waiting outside, "Has the rebellious girl come back in the past few days?"

Mrs. Zeng quickly replied: "I have been back twice, Master..."

"Hurry up and have someone surround her yard and search it thoroughly!"

"But, Master, she...if she knew that we searched her yard, would she..." After her miscarriage, Madam Zeng no longer had the privilege of being "treated gently" by Fu Qingsu. No one in the mansion was not afraid of Fu Qingsu when she was "possessed by a ghost".

"Why are you still caring about this at this time!" Doctor Zeng glared and was about to personally take people to search Zeng Suqiu's yard.

Mrs. Zeng didn't care about anything else and quickly followed him upstairs.

Zeng Fu hesitated for a long time and had not decided whether to follow or not, when he saw an unfamiliar old woman sneaking towards the small door.

The woman was wearing coarse linen clothes, and she was skinny with gray hair. As all the servants in the yard had been taken away by Doctor Zeng, no one came out to stop her from rushing towards Zeng Fu.

Zeng Fu could only dodge quickly. Then, he heard the old woman's voice: "My son, I finally have the chance to come out and see you..."

Zeng Fu was shocked: "You are my mother?!"

The old woman was stunned and burst into tears: "You really know that too?"

She wiped her tears and said, "My son, the Madam and the Master are both cruel. You were just born and I didn't even hold you in my arms before they took you away... Now is not the time to talk about this. Listen to me, leave the Zeng family as soon as possible. The Zeng family is about to face a disaster!"

Zeng Fu looked at her and could not see any trace of his fantasy about this body being his biological mother in the old woman.

In his imagination, since his biological mother could become Doctor Zeng's concubine, although she did not live a good life, this was after all an official residence. She should have been a beautiful woman who was a little older, either plump or weak. How could she look like the withered old woman in front of him!

Especially when compared with Mrs. Zeng, who lived a life of luxury, she looked even more miserable.

Subconsciously, Zeng Fu was reluctant to acknowledge this biological mother.

"What disaster is coming? You... don't talk nonsense!"