On the day after the grand wedding, the Emperor issued an edict from the Zhengtai Palace, praising the youngest son of the Shangguan family, Mingde, as "wise, virtuous, well-versed in both literature and martial arts, and possessing the talent of a pillar of the state".

The Emperor appointed him as an assistant minister in the Ministry of Revenue, bestowed upon him the official censor's tablet, and allowed him to attend court to discuss state affairs.

According to the ancestral teachings of the imperial dynasty, a man could only become an official after coming of age. Mingde attending court at the age of eighteen was already a very exceptional move. Although he was just a minor assistant minister, it was an unprecedented situation since the founding of the current dynasty. Moreover, the Emperor personally designated him as "allowed to attend court to discuss state affairs", which spoke volumes about the depth of the imperial favor.

Minister Shangguan was overjoyed to the point of madness. He held a grand banquet at home for guests, with a continuous feast lasting for three days and three nights.

However, Madam Zhang was filled with resentment and dissatisfaction. Although her daughter, Shangguan Han, had entered Prince Dongyang's manor as she wished, she was only a concubine without an official title. Her son, Shangguan Quan, had originally participated in this year's imperial examinations, but failed to obtain any scholarly rank due to misfortune.

Yet this stepson, who had always been trampled under her feet, somehow caught the Emperor's attention and was even appointed as a censor at such a young age, making her so angry that she almost wanted to grind her teeth.

Madam Zhang did not dare to openly reprimand Mingde. She could only secretly summon him and scold him, reminding him not to forget to be filial to his parents. In the end, she couldn't help but reveal a few words of the sharp-tongued nature of a resentful woman. Mingde just listened while yawning, and after she finished, he calmly said, "Madam is right. I'm going to sleep."

Madam Zhang caught a glimpse of the bright red small round bead peeking out from his wrist. It looked dazzling yet understated, and priceless. Her face immediately darkened, and she scolded with jealousy and hatred, "A mere boy, instead of knowing how to be filial to his elders, you put so much effort into your appearance! It's clear that the Emperor appointing you as an official is not a blessing for the country! Take it off immediately!"

Mingde casually took it off and tossed it aside. Madam Zhang dismissed him, and seeing no one around, she picked it up and examined it carefully. Feeling that the bracelet was luxurious and exquisite, she couldn't help but put it on herself.

Coincidentally, the next day during the banquet, the palace sent Eunuch Zhang, the Emperor's most favored eunuch, to deliver congratulatory gifts. Minister Shangguan felt greatly honored. He immediately opened the manor gates and personally welcomed Zhang Kuo inside, treating even the eunuchs and palace maids following behind Zhang Kuo as distinguished guests and inviting them to take the upper seats.

Mingde leaned against the window frame and watched, a hint of a cold smile on his lips: "Just a eunuch, not worth being so attentive to."

It just so happened that Shangguan Quan passed by and couldn't help but stomp his feet: "What did you say? Be careful not to let others hear, or you'll be beaten again!"

Mingde glanced at him indifferently and turned around to go back to sleep.

Shangguan Quan stared blankly at his back, feeling that this younger brother was full of mystery, out of reach and high up in the sky, giving people an indescribable feeling. If you say he's arrogant, he endured Madam Zhang's mistreatment; if you say he's humble, he said of the highly sought-after Eunuch Zhang - just a eunuch. In that one smile, there was an incomparable disdain.

Zhang Kuo caught a glimpse of Mingde walking away from the corner of his eye, thinking to himself that it was a great blessing that this young noble didn't come up to sarcastically mock him today. This young noble was beautiful in appearance but had an unusually eccentric temperament, often being sarcastic and putting on airs. It was a wonder that the Emperor could tolerate him.

Zhang Kuo withdrew his gaze, but unexpectedly, he noticed the phoenix bead on Madam Zhang's hand. He was greatly shocked and abruptly stood up, saying, "Minister Shangguan!"

Minister Shangguan hurriedly stepped forward: "What are your instructions, Gong Gong?"

Zhang Kuo pointed at the bead and asked sternly, "Where did that come from?"

Madam Zhang was at a loss and could only kneel down and flatter with a smile, "Gong Gong, you may not know, but this was bought by this servant on the street the other day..."

The other day? The other day, this bead was still preciously kept in the Kunning Palace, waiting to be forcibly taken by the Emperor and then given to Mingde as a treasure!

Zhang Kuo slammed the table and said sternly, "Madam Zhang, listen to the imperial edict!"

The entire Shangguan family shivered and knelt down in a flurry.

"The Emperor decrees: Anyone who carries the phoenix bead without imperial favor, regardless of rank or official position, shall be punished with thirty strokes of the cane! Respect this!"

In fact, this edict was made up by Zhang Kuo on the spot. If it were a false imperial edict at any other time, he wouldn't dare even if given the courage; but for this edict, he was sure that the Qianwan Emperor would only think the number of strokes was too few if he found out.

Madam Zhang was dragged out by the guards in bewilderment, unable to even utter a word of grievance. A lady of an official family who had wielded power for most of her life, considering herself to be a peerless beauty, was pressed down and publicly caned thirty times.

The sound of the caning in the courtyard came one after another. Everyone in the Shangguan family knelt down, shaking like sieves. A guard held up the phoenix bead with both hands and handed it to Zhang Kuo, asking in a low voice, "Eunuch, shall we return to the palace and give it to the Emperor?"

Zhang Kuo originally thought that giving it to the Emperor would provoke another fit of anger, so it would be better to directly send it to the young noble to wear. But then he remembered that he had also been beaten thirty times because of Mingde's instigation, and old and new grudges surged in his heart.

So be it. You were ruthless to me, a mere eunuch, so don't blame me for taking a little revenge on you. Anyway, you are deeply favored by the Emperor, so at most, the Emperor will just reprimand you a little and that's it.

Zhang Kuo clasped his hands and closed his eyes to rest: "Why haven't you sent it back to the palace to give to the Emperor?"