Chapter 317 Consort Yan's Plans
Here, Xie Shang met with Imperial Censor Zhu, who said, "I have obtained conclusive evidence proving that Qin Tai, the prefect of Quanzhou, has embezzled and accepted bribes. He can be arrested today."
Xie Shang said, "The Marquis of Wu'an will assist; we're just waiting for the fish to fall into the net." He also wanted to use today's banquet to give everyone a warning.
Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet held by the royal family this time not only invited officials from the capital, but also officials of the rank of Prefect Qin, and everything was in his plan.
Imperial Censor Zhu explained further, "I couldn't find His Highness earlier, so I wanted to send Zhenzhen to find him..."
Before he could speak, Xie Shang, with a gentle expression, said in a deep voice, "Zhenzhen suddenly had a stomachache, and I was in a hurry to see Imperial Censor Zhu. I have already arranged for someone to take care of her, so please rest assured, sir!"
Imperial Censor Zhu already knows that the Crown Prince has favored his daughter, which means that her future depends on her fate. Zhenzhen has always had high aspirations since she was a child, and she will not marry anyone but an outstanding person. Now she has finally achieved her wish.
"Please grant my request, Censor Zhu."
"Your Highness, please." Imperial Censor Zhu stepped back half a step to let the Crown Prince go first.
At the banquet, Jiang Fenghua was chatting happily with everyone. She had her own set of methods and techniques for dealing with the women in the court, and she was able to talk to everyone with ease.
At this moment, Consort Yan and Consort Zhao arrived at the banquet hall surrounded by people, and everyone went to pay their respects.
Jiang Fenghua and several princesses sat together and also looked in that direction.
Several well-behaved and beautiful daughters of the Zhao family were seen accompanying Consort Zhao. Consort Yan's face lit up with a smile, as she had already looked around at the Zhao family daughters.
She was most satisfied with her legitimate daughter, but now she wanted to change her son's wife, and since her legitimate daughter was unwilling to marry her, she had no choice but to settle for the second best and choose the concubine's daughter from the Zhao family.
She was thinking that once things were settled here, she would divorce Luo Ziqiong there. Seven years without children was enough to warrant divorce, and there was no way she could have a divorce.
Luo Ziqiong and Yu'er are cousins. It is said that cousins are the most compatible. She consulted a fortune teller and found out that she had been the one who had brought misfortune to Yu'er all these years, causing her son to not only not have a legitimate son, but also to have a bad career.
Consort Yan found the Zhao family's daughter increasingly pleasing to the eye, and Consort Zhao also intended to marry the Zhao family's illegitimate daughter to Prince Yu as his princess consort. However, the Zhao family would only discuss this matter if the current Princess Yu was divorced first.
Consort Yan had already discussed this matter with Consort Zhao, and it was also a good opportunity to have the Zhao family bring their daughter into the palace today to vet her, otherwise she wouldn't feel at ease, fearing that Prince Yu would marry a woman who was neither beautiful nor good-looking. Consort Yan took one look at the girl and immediately took a liking to her. She was gentle and delicate, beautiful, and had a dignified and graceful demeanor. She was just waiting for Prince Yu to nod in approval after he had seen her.
Jiang Fenghua and Luo Ziqiong also looked at the Zhao family's daughters. Luo Ziqiong curled her lips and sneered, "They really are beautiful." She had already received news that Consort Yan was going to divorce her, and she was waiting for this day to come. She didn't want to live with Xie Yu for even a day longer.
The Third Princess took her hand and whispered, "Some people have a sharp and mean face, and such people will not have a good ending, believe me."
Luo Ziqiong was stunned. In fact, as long as she could leave Xie Yu, she would accept being divorced by him. She also knew that Consort Yan had people spreading rumors that she was a jinx to her husbands and that she had not conceived for seven years.
Jiang Fenghua was also puzzled; perhaps the Third Princess knew some inside information! Today was just too lively, which was why Jiang Fenghua hadn't prepared any performances.
They sat together and chatted quietly.
Today, Michelle Luo's parents also came to the banquet. Although Earl Luo has a noble title, Xie Yu is a prince. Knowing that their daughter is suffering in the Prince Yu's mansion, they are powerless to help.
Just then, Jiang Fenghua spotted a familiar figure in the crowd, Qin Yunyan, from her past life. She suddenly stood up from her seat and scanned the crowd. Qin Yunyan must be entering the palace with Prefect Qin and his wife!
It's unclear why Qin Yunyan missed the palace selection in this life, even though she was already chosen by the Empress. In her previous life, she successfully entered the Eastern Palace and quickly won over Xie Shang with her shrewd methods, giving birth to a boy. After Xie Shang ascended the throne, she was also granted the title of Consort De, one of the four consorts.
Today, not only Beijing officials are attending the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, but also many unfamiliar faces. The invitation list for the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is also drafted by the Ministry of Rites and then submitted to the Emperor or Crown Prince for review. According to custom, local officials from various prefectures and counties are not invited to the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, regardless of their rank, but today is different.
Her mind raced. She noticed that Jiang Jinyan was chatting with a group of officials, and there was nothing unusual about him. She clearly remembered that her elder brother had told her that Xie Shang wanted to find a typical example to intimidate the entire court, and he had mentioned the Qin family, the prefect of Quanzhou. The reason Jiang Fenghua cared about this was because Qin Yunyan had been one of the four imperial concubines in her previous life.
Jiang Jinyan told Jiang Fenghua that the Crown Prince was going to target the prefect of Quanzhou, but he didn't tell her that Xiao Yu had been sent to Quanzhou to investigate and punish corrupt officials. The reason why Qin Yunyan missed the time to enter the palace was also because Xiao Yu had interfered. Firstly, it was to help Jiang Fenghua get rid of a powerful opponent, and secondly, Xiao Yu had long disliked the prefect of Quanzhou who had been corrupt for many years.
"What is the Crown Princess looking at?" the Third Princess asked her.
Jiang Fenghua composed herself and said calmly, "It seemed like I saw a familiar face, but it turns out I was mistaken."
The Third Princess teased her again, "One-third of the noble ladies who entered the palace today will be selected for the imperial concubine selection. In the future, they will all be His Highness the Crown Prince's women, with three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines, filling the palace to the brim."
Jiang Fenghua felt that the Third Princess was gloating. Although it was said that the emperor had three thousand beauties in his harem, to be honest, Xie Shang in the previous life was not that exaggerated. He was a good emperor who cared for the country and its people. He had countless concubines in his harem, but he was not obsessed with women. Under his rule, the Great Zhou Kingdom prospered. At least the people of the Great Zhou Kingdom enjoyed more than ten years of peace under his protection. She didn't know what happened after that.
"Greetings to the Crown Princess." Jiang Zhiqin suddenly ran up to her and bowed respectfully.
"Fourth brother, what are you doing here?"
"I came here to tell Third Sister that I have set a goal for myself: I want to become a great general in the future." Jiang Zhiqin reported to her, "I got third place in the martial arts examination. I am not very satisfied with this ranking, but there is always a long way to go."
Jiang Fenghua smiled. She was already tall, just like her father, but Jiang Zhiqin was already more than half a head taller than her. He was only fifteen years old and would grow taller for several more years.
Jiang Fenghua did not go to see her mother. As the mistress of the Eastern Palace, it would be against the rules for her to frequently visit her parents' home.
At this moment, Xie Shang walked towards them, glanced at Jiang Zhiqin, and said, "I think I just heard someone say that they wanted to be a great general."
"Zhiqin greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Jiang Zhiqin bowed respectfully.
He usually called him brother-in-law, but seeing him suddenly become so composed, he said, "Do a good job, and I'll make you a great general." He was about to form several troops, and Jiang Zhiqin was one of the soldiers he wanted to recruit.
“Zhiqin will become a great general through his own abilities. I don’t need Your Highness to give me any special treatment. A man keeps his word.” His eyes were firm. “I didn’t tell the Crown Princess and my elder brother about this military examination. I got third place through my own efforts. Although I’m not very satisfied with this ranking, I’m still young and will have many more opportunities to serve the country.”
Xie Shang was already on the battlefield at that age. He patted Jiang Zhiqin on the shoulder and said, "You have ambition. I'm waiting for the day you serve your country."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
