Chapter 2676 Staring
Mingda and Changyu were stunned. This was not what they had discussed at the beginning.
Is this possible?
It is really possible. They can still afford dozens of taels of silver. They don’t even have to discuss it with their husbands at home. The wives can make the decision themselves.
However, when donating incense money to Huguo Temple or performing rituals at Xuandu Temple, the maximum amount is twenty taels at a time.
Many people just need to follow this standard and raise it a little bit.
It's much less than what the Duke of Zhao and his wife donated, but there are so many of them, and when a little bit adds up...
Manbao couldn't help but sit up straight, leaning over to look at the number recorded by the female official, his heart pounding.
But that’s not all.
It was almost time, and a palace maid came to invite the Crown Princess and everyone to take their seats.
Everyone stood up and went to the main hall.
There is an empty space in the middle of the hall, and the surrounding areas are filled with low tables and low seats. Two people sit together, and there is a second seat behind them, which is usually prepared for family members.
Manbao only remembered after entering the hall that she had lost both of her family members, so she looked around.
Mingda said to her, "Just sit down and take your seat. When they arrive, the palace maids will lead them over."
Manbao thought so too, and went to find his own place.
She was a fourth-rank editor, of upper-middle status, and she simply skipped the first few rows and looked towards the back. She didn't even have to look for it, as a eunuch immediately came forward, bowed, and led her to a seat.
Manbao lifted up his official robe and sat down cross-legged, exhaled, and noticed that there was a person sitting on his left, so he turned his head to look.
Minister Liu sat down and saw that it was Zhou Man. After thinking for a moment, he simply stood up and sat a seat higher. Seeing his wife being led over by a palace maid, he immediately waved and pointed to the seat where he had just sat, saying, "Madam, please sit down."
Mrs. Liu Shangshu smiled at him, then saw Zhou Man, her eyes brightening slightly. She immediately stepped forward and said with a smile, "It's my aunt-in-law. It was difficult to talk in the hall just now. I heard that my aunt-in-law brought Li Ru with her."
Manbao responded, "I just ran into Liu Huan. I don't know where he went to play."
"Children are always a little naughty." Mrs. Liu Shangshu smiled.
She sat down below Minister Liu, and happened to be sitting next to Zhou Man.
Man Bao was wondering why Minister Liu wanted to sit down just now. When he looked up, he saw Duke Su sitting on the other side of him.
Manbao instantly withdrew his gaze. He had heard that Minister Liu and Duke Su had a very bad relationship. Once, there was a fight in the court, and when Duke Su kicked someone, his boot flew out and hit Minister Liu directly in the face.
That incident caused Minister Liu to be ridiculed for several years.
Manbao was able to hear about this because it was still a joke until now. Occasionally, when the arguments at the court became too intense and some court officials could not help but make personal attacks on each other, as long as the target was Liu Shangshu, he would be ridiculed in a subtle way.
It's not very harmful, but it's extremely insulting.
Duke Su obviously knew this as well. In fact, this was not a good thing for him, so after thinking about it, he turned his head to look the other way, not intending to meet Minister Liu's eyes.
Minister Liu: ...
I was furious, but I had to keep smiling.
Manbao withdrew her gaze, and Bai Shan and the others came in, so she waved to them.
Bai Shan led the group forward and asked her, "I can't find you. Did you go to the garden?"
Manbao nodded: "I'm playing with Mingda and the others, why don't you come find me in the garden?"
There are only women in there, so they won't go there.
Bai Shan glanced around, pointed to a place and said to Yin Huo, "Master Yin is over there."
Yin Huo nodded at them and went upstairs to find his father.
Bai Shan and his colleagues bowed, then sat down below Zhou Man, while Zhou Liru sat behind them.
Liu Huan also happily sat behind his grandparents and leaned over to talk to her quietly, "The palace arranged a good seat this time. I thought we had to sit a few tables apart."
Mrs. Liu Shangshu looked at them with a smile. Zhou Liru blushed slightly and bowed to Mrs. Liu Shangshu and his wife before sitting down.
Mrs. Liu Shangshu was very happy and even pulled Zhou Liru aside to talk for a while.
Lord Tang and his wife came forward and sat down below Bai Shan.
When they saw him, Zhou Man and the others were stunned and turned to look at him.
After sitting down, Master Tang tilted his head to meet their gaze, narrowed his eyes slightly, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Manbao asked, "Brother Tang, why are you sitting here?"
She pointed diagonally across and asked, "Why don't you sit with Old Master Tang?"
Lord Tang raised his chin proudly and said, "I have my own seat, why should I sit second?"
That’s right. He is now the Shaoyin of Jingzhao, a fourth-rank official. He is qualified to attend the palace banquet on his own. Why does he have to rely on his father to get in?
that is……
Manbao looked at Old Lord Tang across from him. He was sitting on half of the seat, leaving the other half empty, looking a bit pitiful.
Lord Tang also looked across at the table, puzzled. "Strange, Lord Yin and my father always sat together in previous years. Where is Lord Yin?"
Bai Shan said, "Lord Yin has his family this year, and they are up there."
Lord Tang saw that Yin Huo had unexpectedly attended the palace banquet for the first time, and even Old Madam Yin, who seldom came to the palace, came with him.
Madam Tang raised her eyebrows slightly, turned her head and said to Zhou Man, "Speaking of which, Yin Huo's health has indeed improved a lot. He went to the Western Regions first, and he was able to return safely from such a long distance. With you accompanying him on this Eastern Expedition, it shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Manbao said, "Yin may not go again."
"Yin may not go, but Lord Yin must go. Moreover, His Majesty has brought many important officials with him on this eastern expedition, and each of them is very valuable."
Especially his immediate superior, Lord Yin. Lord Tang is currently very happy working under him and has no plans to change his immediate superior for the time being.
Yin Li was in charge of the public security and politics of Jingzhao Prefecture, as well as the imperial guards. Generally speaking, unless the emperor changed or he committed an unforgivable crime, this position would be almost lifelong for him.
Lord Tang and Manbao said, "Please protect our Lord Yin."
After all, swords have no eyes on the battlefield.
Manbao nodded, "I will." If there is a chance.
While the emperor was away, officials exchanged some political views and the ladies also exchanged gossip, so the rumor of "worshiping Zhou Man, donating military funds, and gaining merit" spread at a very fast speed in the most honorable palace banquet of the Great Jin Dynasty.
Manbao felt like someone was always looking at her and keeping their gaze focused.
Manbao picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea to cover up the problem. He asked Keke, "Is someone saying something bad about me?"
Koko: "...Host, do you want to spend points to listen?"
“Can’t it be free?”
Koko: “No.”
"Oh, then it's not a bad thing, at least it doesn't hurt me too much." Otherwise, if it was a life-threatening situation, Ke Ke would have taken the initiative to report it without using points.
Koko: ...
Bai Shan also noticed it and asked her quietly, "Were you arguing and fighting with someone in the garden just now?"
Otherwise, why would so many ladies be secretly staring at them?
See you at 7pm
(End of this chapter)
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