The other court officials also stepped forward and echoed his sentiments.
“Yes, even if His Majesty wanted to bestow a title upon her and bring her into the palace, he could simply make her a concubine. Why must he make her empress? Moreover, His Majesty is now the Son of Heaven, and the continuation of his lineage is of utmost importance. How can he have only one woman?”
"Your Majesty's marriage is different from that of ordinary people. It concerns relations with other countries and will inevitably involve alliances to consolidate power in the future. How can you make such a vow so casually?"
...
These words reached Fu Zhun's ears precisely.
No one noticed that his expression grew increasingly somber amidst the whispers.
"Enough!"
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and slammed his hand on the table, and only then did the surroundings fall silent.
He gritted his teeth, his gloomy gaze sweeping over the court officials one by one, then suddenly stood up, slammed his golden crown heavily onto the table, and said disdainfully.
"This throne was never what I wanted. It was forced upon me because none of you wanted to take responsibility."
"Since you are so dissatisfied with my decision, then I will return the throne to you. You may find another suitable candidate to ascend the throne! I am going to travel around with my queen and enjoy a carefree life!"
After saying this, he turned around and strode out of the hall, leaving the officials looking at each other in bewilderment.
What should we do?
The courtiers, still in shock, erupted into discussion once again.
For the next few days, Fu Zhun did not attend court, spending his days either feeding the fish or admiring the flowers.
The court officials were in a state of panic, but they were at a loss for what to do.
The palace was like a prison. Although it looked magnificent, living there for a long time inevitably made people feel depressed. After Li Guihua's injuries stabilized, Su An took the opportunity to suggest leaving the palace.
Fu Zhun knew her temperament and did not stop her, but had her safely escorted out of the palace.
In addition, they thoughtfully arranged for her to have a Beijing household registration.
Land in the capital is incredibly valuable, and she already has a household registration, so she naturally can't waste it.
So she decided to go back to her old profession.
"What? Eldest sister is planning to open a steamed bun shop in the capital again? But what haven't people in the capital tried? Will they even buy our steamed buns?"
Su Ting pursed his lips, scratched his head, and asked in confusion.
Hearing this, Su An gave him a light tap on the head, sounding annoyed.
"What do you mean by that? Are you doubting my cooking skills? As long as these buns are delicious, not only will they sell well, but they might even be in short supply!"
Moreover, the powerful and wealthy in the capital are foolish and rich, so in theory, business should be easier to do in other cities.
As she said this, Su An seemed to see countless gold and silver coins rushing towards her.
Gold and silver mountains, here I come!
Su Ting stuck out his tongue before nodding emphatically and offering a playful compliment.
"How could that be? Eldest sister's skills are superb. If she opened a steamed bun shop in the capital, there would definitely be plenty of people vying to buy from her. In the future, our steamed bun shop will surely become the number one steamed bun shop in the capital."
“I agree. I can also set up a small stall in front of the steamed bun shop to treat patients passing by and make money.”
Su Yue smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent shapes, and joined in with her support.
Since both little ones agreed, Su Jiang had no reason to refuse and nodded as well.
Su An chuckled and turned to look at Li Guihua.
"Mother, what do you think?"
“Of course I can, but in the past, I could have helped you. But now I can’t use my hands properly, so even if I could help, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to do much. I’d be the one holding you back.”
Li Guihua nodded with a smile, but a barely perceptible hint of disappointment filled her eyes as she looked down at her hands.
Sensing her emotions, Su An quickly took her hand and gently comforted her.
"Mom, what are you saying? Once the shop opens, you'll definitely be a huge help. At that point, the shop might not be able to function without you!"
Li Guihua looked at her with some skepticism, but a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
Without hesitation, Su An immediately selected a shop in a prime location in the capital and opened for business in a flurry of activity.
She already had a skill, and her three little children had also been trained by her to be very outgoing and not shy at all. While helping with the work, they stood at the door and sang the songs they had made up.
The steamed buns have thin skins and generous fillings, and their aroma is irresistible. Coupled with their unique way of hawking their wares, they quickly attracted many passersby to stop and buy.
The aroma of meat mixed with spices filled their nostrils, making their stomachs rumble.
The people in the capital were all rich and powerful, and they didn't care about such a small amount of money. They all took out their money to try it out.
Compared to Su An's steamed buns, the steamed buns they had eaten before tasted utterly bland.
Word spread like wildfire, and the reputation of the steamed bun shop quickly spread throughout the capital. Every day, customers flocked to the shop, sometimes even having to wait in line.
Su An was busy in the kitchen, while Li Guihua happily packed food in paper bags and greeted the guests.
The three children were also very busy, helping to carry and hand out buns while smiling and saying auspicious words.
"You're quite capable, young lady. Have you arranged a marriage?"
An elderly woman who frequented the steamed bun shop glanced at Su An in the kitchen and asked Li Guihua with a smile.
After saying this, she continued speaking to herself without waiting for Li Guihua's response.
"If not, my distant cousin's nephew is a very handsome man who just passed the imperial examination this year. How about I help you make an introduction and let them meet?"
Li Guihua paused for a moment, then smiled and shook her head in reply.
“These are all the children’s own business, I can’t make that decision. Besides, I’m just a country bumpkin with no ambition. I don’t ask them to be rich and powerful in this life, I just want them to be safe and happy.”
But the old lady didn't seem to agree with that.
She shook her head, pursed her lips, and sighed.
"That's not how it works. Young ladies should be kept in check. Have you heard about that one in the palace? I heard she's a country girl, but she's bewitched the Prince of Zhenbei. He insists on making her his empress and refuses to take any concubines."
"Isn't this ridiculous? We respectable women shouldn't be like those seductive bewitching women. When we reach a certain age, we should marry properly and be good wives and mothers."
Upon hearing her mention the alluring enchantress, the people around her immediately became interested and began to tease her.
"What you're saying makes no sense. To be able to bewitch the Prince of Zhenbei, she must be an extremely beautiful and charming woman. Even an ordinary woman would need to have the ability to become a seductive enchantress."
They didn't keep their voices down, so all their words reached Su An's ears.
A bewitching enchantress, and a stunningly beautiful woman with captivating charm.
When did she acquire this title?
Su An shook his head, both amused and exasperated, and carried a steamer of buns out of the kitchen and placed them on the table outside before explaining to the person.
Is it possible that she is actually quite ordinary-looking?
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