The charity sale was a large-scale event involving many people, and it received personal approval from the Emperor and Empress. The Princess Consort of Prince Jing was put in charge of the preparations.
This has attracted much attention from the very beginning.
However, at present, these rumors are only circulating among the families of officials in the court.
But Wang Xiuxiu wanted far more than that.
Firstly, the large families in Beijing have substantial businesses and wealth.
They have no shortage of royal items, and even if they are of the best quality, they are not necessarily willing to spend a lot of money to buy them for their collection.
Secondly, these families have many members, and it is not always easy for them to obtain money.
Therefore, to make this charity sale even more successful, we should target wealthy merchants and business owners.
Wang Xiuxiu used Lu Jingze's men to spread the news throughout the city.
Merchants are the most well-informed.
Upon hearing of this opportunity, he was overjoyed.
Some, being cautious, fearing it was just hearsay, searched everywhere for useful connections to ascertain the truth of the information.
Upon learning that the rumors were true, they scrambled to get in touch with all sides, hoping to secure an invitation.
At this point, Wang Xiuxiu's plan could be considered to have succeeded by a small part.
Wang Xiuxiu put a lot of effort into this invitation.
She personally conceived and designed the style of the invitation, while Su Yingxue went to the palace to ask the Empress for help, borrowing skilled craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department to be responsible for its production.
The invitation uses premium Chengxin paper as its main material, and is carefully wrapped with a layer of luxurious silk, making it even more distinguished and elegant.
Moreover, even the handwriting inside was specially commissioned by Lu Jingze from the most accomplished calligrapher in the Hanlin Academy, who used gold-sprinkled ink to write it.
Upon opening the door, you can even smell its faint fragrance.
Wang Xiuxiu put a lot of thought into the invitation, and fortunately the result was quite satisfactory.
This lavish invitation is more than just a simple invitation to the attendees; it is a symbol of status and prestige.
Therefore, Wang Xiuxiu is determined to make sure that everyone who comes to participate in the event can truly feel that unparalleled sense of honor!
These exquisite invitations were first sent to several prominent families in the capital.
Then, it must circulate among the people, whetting their appetites, before slowly appearing before them.
Within just a few days, the families of officials throughout the capital were discussing this matter.
If any family is fortunate enough to see this invitation in person, it would be an extremely prestigious thing!
The officials and their families in the capital were relatively calm, but the merchants from various states and regions were much more impatient.
They were extremely anxious, using every means to inquire about information and try to build connections and favors, all in order to get an invitation before others.
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The matter eventually even reached Lu Nancheng's ears.
It was inconvenient to summon the female relatives of Prince Jing's residence to inquire about the specific situation, so Lu Nancheng decisively used his authority and issued an imperial edict ordering Lu Jingze to enter the palace immediately to meet the emperor.
The emperor, it must be said, is the kind of person who occasionally likes to take advantage of his elder brother's reputation.
Although she was curious, she was too embarrassed to say it directly, so she pretended to be reserved and put on airs, saying, "Your princess is really amazing! She organized an event called an auction and even managed to take away the craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department!"
Lu Jingze knew his elder brother's temperament perfectly well.
Seeing his feigned concern, Lu Jingze could only echo his elder brother's words, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty, I was also quite surprised when I heard about this. Although Her Majesty the Empress has granted permission to seek help from the palace, the Princess's actions are still a bit excessive. I will definitely give her a good scolding when I return!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Lu Nancheng unconsciously touched his nose, a hint of guilt creeping onto his face. "No need...no need. I was just saying it casually. Please don't take it seriously. Perhaps the Princess Consort has a deeper meaning behind her actions?"
Upon learning of this from the Empress that day, he immediately boasted that he would give his full support.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to satisfy my curiosity, but I didn't expect to be rebuffed by my younger brother.
This is truly a situation where one is caught in a dilemma.
Lu Nancheng couldn't help but curse inwardly: This damn brother! Let whoever wants him have him!
Nevertheless, he forced himself to remain calm and said magnanimously, "I am not a stingy person. Since Princess Jing likes to use it, let her have it. However, I have heard that the invitation is now being sold for ten thousand taels of silver on the black market. I don't want the money to end up in someone else's hands and no one to buy it, which would make things difficult to handle!"
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, the Princess Consort will handle this matter properly."
"Oh? How to handle it? How to deal with it?"
Seeing Lu Jingze's mysterious and unspeakable demeanor, Lu Nancheng's interest grew even stronger.
"Stop joking around! Will you still need my presence in the future?"
Lu Jingze didn't keep them in suspense any longer and explained, "The invitations sent out may seem to look the same on the surface, but in reality, each one has subtle differences."
"What do you mean? You tampered with the invitations?"
Lu Jingze nodded. "Each invitation has a tiny fluorite, no bigger than a little finger, attached to it."
"fluorite?"
At first, Lu Nancheng looked blank, seemingly having no clue what to do.
However, after a moment's thought, it dawned on me.
Fluorite comes in a variety of colors and is crystal clear, making it an extremely beautiful stone.
Each piece of fluorite has its own unique characteristics, and compared to gemstones like jade, it is extremely inexpensive, making it a very suitable choice.
Thinking of the key to it, Lu Nancheng couldn't help but laugh and said, "I heard the Empress mention that your concubine is quick-witted and very opinionated. Isn't this another idea she came up with?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Jingze's slightly mocking smile vanished, replaced by a serious and respectful expression: "Please forgive her, Your Majesty, she has always been mischievous."
Lu Nancheng didn't seem to care much and comforted her, "Hey! I don't blame you at all. On the contrary, I think it's a brilliant idea. Go back and tell her and Princess Jing that I fully support this charity sale!"
"I know you care a lot about your concubine. I am not an unreasonable person. Since she is sensible and reasonable, I have no reason to make things difficult for her." Although Lu Nancheng was joking, his words had a hidden meaning.
In response, Lu Jingze simply bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Lu Nancheng stepped forward and helped the person up.
At this moment, the emperor, who was above all others, reprimanded his ministers, but also did not forget to care about his younger brother and put his mind at ease.
"I know that after all these years, you finally met someone you truly love. You two were forced to marry Yingxue back then, but now that you've married her, you have to take responsibility for her for the rest of your life and give her honor."
After a pause, Lu Nancheng continued, "This is not only your promise to Yingxue, but also your and my promise to Mingxuan, and the promise of our entire Daxi."
"Your subject understands. Your subject will respect Yingxue for the rest of his life and will never fail Mingxuan's dying wish!"
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