Chapter 306 I'm also going to hide in the mountains

Shangguan Jin quickly understood what those people were thinking.

This upheaval in the palace wiped out all the powerful figures in the harem.

Apart from a few concubines and imperial consorts who have been relocated to one place, there are no other people in the harem now.

Would those imperial concubines dare to object to Emperor Xiao Wu's marriage?

There definitely won't be any.

Anyone who dares to possess such a thing probably won't even be able to live in the palace anymore.

However, the appointment of an empress cannot be determined simply by the court officials arguing in court.

These matters were usually handled by the Empress Dowager in the inner palace or the emperor's birth mother.

Coincidentally, Emperor Xiao Wu's harem currently has neither an empress dowager nor his birth mother.

The only women he could talk to were from the Shangguan family and the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

"Where are your maternal grandmother and great-grandmother now?" Shangguan Jin suddenly asked.

"I'm staying at Bao'en Temple!"

"They said it was to pray for my aunt's well-being. Not only my maternal grandmother and great-grandmother went, but my paternal grandmother also went," Shen Qingyue said.

Shangguan Jin...

She almost forgot about the old lady of the Shen family.

Since those people could think of the two wives of the Shangguan family, they must also be thinking of the old lady of the Shen family.

After all, when Emperor Xiao Wu was still the seventh prince, he frequently visited these two residences.

"Sister Yao! Go and make the arrangements!"

"I'll go to Bao'en Temple to pray for blessings tomorrow too," Shangguan Jin said immediately.

Shen Qingyue...

“Mother, aren’t you going to see His Majesty? These past few days, His Majesty has been sending someone every two days to ask when you will return.” Shen Qingyue quickly said.

Shangguan Jin felt much better.

Not bad, it wasn't for nothing that I took care of that kid for the past few years; at least he still remembers me.

but......

Affection will eventually run out!

If I were to rely on this favor to persuade Emperor Xiao Wu to establish an empress, I would truly be ungrateful.

When His Majesty was the seventh prince, he could persuade him!

Later, when he became the Prince of Yan, he was able to offer advice himself!

Once he became emperor, she, as his aunt, could not offer him any advice.

Save your goodwill for when you need it most...

"Mother is going to pray for the people of the North, for the Weiyuan Army of Dayu, and for your father."

Alright, don't say anything more. You should stay in the manor and take care of things.

"As for the invitations that have been sent, just tell the truth," Shangguan Jin instructed.

Shen Qingyue understood that her mother was trying to hide.

Indeed, everyone in Da Yu knows that His Majesty respects Mother, but it is precisely because of this that Mother cannot stand against His Majesty.

It's clear that His Majesty doesn't want to bring this up right now.

If Mother were to enter the palace because of this, wouldn't she become His Majesty's adversary?

Therefore, it is a good choice for the mother to go to Bao'en Temple to pray for blessings.

"Mother, I'll make the arrangements right now!" Shen Qingyue agreed with a smile.

Shangguan Jin stretched and looked at Dongmai, who had tiptoed in.

"Have you met Aunt Xin?"

"Yes, I've seen her! She's happily looking at the gifts we brought her!"

She said she would come over later to pay her respects to the young lady.

Miss, I've asked the kitchen to boil some water. You can take a bath later; you must be tired after such a long journey.

Tonight I asked the kitchen to prepare all your favorite dishes, including Eight Treasure Gourd Duck, and I also asked the kitchen to prepare a pot, and...”

"Dongmai, we're going to Bao'en Temple tomorrow. We'll eat vegetarian food tonight."

Before Dongmai could finish speaking, Shangguan Jin interrupted her.

"Oh? Miss, aren't you going to rest for a few days?" Dongmai was very surprised.

Yesterday, while they were in the car, Miss Ming was talking to her and Wanli about what they wanted to eat when they got back.

Basically, everything that flies in the sky and swims in the water was included.

Now... I'm actually going to have to eat vegetarian food!

However, Dongmai is the best personal assistant; she will do whatever Shangguan Jin arranges.

"Okay! I'll go tell the kitchen right away to prepare a vegetarian meal for Miss!"

Seeing that Dongmai had made the arrangements, Shangguan Jin breathed a sigh of relief.

I'll take a hot shower first, and then have a nice good night's sleep.

I can go to Bao'en Temple tomorrow...

......

The next morning, Shangguan Jin took a carriage from the mansion to Bao'en Temple.

Shortly after she left, visiting cards and invitations began to arrive.

Almost all the noble ladies, led by the wife of Prime Minister Xu, sent their invitations.

Two other families sent invitations, citing their upcoming birthday celebrations.

Shen Qingyue then proceeded to the next step.

But she also smiled and said that Shangguan Jin had gone to Bao'en Temple early this morning to pray for the Weiyuan Army...

The ladies of various households, having come up empty-handed...

Shangguan Jin, an hour later, reunited with Madam Shangguan, Old Madam Shangguan, and Old Madam Shen, who had been staying at Bao'en Temple for almost half a month.

"Your mother-in-law was saying that yesterday!"

She said that as soon as you came back, you would definitely come here, and she wasn't wrong! Madam Shangguan couldn't stop smiling when she saw Shangguan Jin.

After greeting each of them, Shangguan Jin joined in their casual conversation.

"What are the grandmothers and mothers talking about? Buddhism?" Shangguan Jin asked.

"Listening to the abbot talk about Buddhism every day is enough; how can we continue to talk about it now!"

"We were talking about whose daughter is suitable to be the empress," Madam Shangguan said with a smile.

Upon hearing what they were saying, Shangguan Jin also became interested.

"Whose daughter would be suitable?"

"There are quite a few suitable ones! But the key now is whose family His Majesty will prefer."

The current emperor is not the same as the late emperor.

When the late emperor first ascended the throne, he faced many constraints, but His Majesty does not have as many constraints now.

"So, ultimately it depends on who His Majesty wants to appoint," said Madam Shangguan.

"His Majesty is only fifteen!" Shangguan Jin reminded him.

"Although he is only fifteen, our Emperor is very intelligent."

Your maternal grandfather said that His Majesty is well-informed about his marriage and knows what to do.

However, he also wanted to use the marriage to control certain things.

He said we don't need to worry about it; perhaps His Majesty will come to us in due time. 'Madam Shangguan' continued.

Shangguan Jin nodded.

Yes, it's better to wait for His Majesty to come to us!

As for other matters... she is practicing Buddhism and cannot be disturbed by worldly affairs...

Then Shangguan Jin told the three old ladies about her experiences in the north.

The three old ladies listened with their eyes shining...

......

In the palace, Emperor Xiao Wu had just finished reading the memorial submitted by Minister Shangguan, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

My aunt once said, a memorial is just a memorial! The people's livelihood isn't in the memorials, but under the feet of those in power...

"Your Majesty! Lady Shen has returned." Wu Youde ran over excitedly to report.

"Really? Summon Aunt to the palace tomorrow! Never mind, I'll go see Aunt tomorrow!" Emperor Xiaowu said with delight.

"Madam Shen went to Bao'en Temple to pray for blessings as soon as she returned! It is unknown when she will return," Wu Youde hurriedly said.

Emperor Xiao Wu was taken aback for a moment, but quickly smiled.

She really is my good aunt...