Having said that, without caring what Li Zhaoxian thought behind him, he called Haitang and left.
As the future Crown Princess, Song Tangxue had her own palace. No sooner had she returned to her palace than several eunuchs rushed into the main gate.
They were all from Empress Cheng's side, carrying over three vermilion sandalwood chests, each more than half a person tall.
It was filled with the rare and unusual items that had been given to the Empress before.
Now it's been returned to its rightful owner.
Song Tangxue didn't stand on ceremony and had the people take inventory, finding nothing missing.
He then summoned Haitang and instructed her to dismantle the large items, destroy the small ones, and sell the valuables to various pawnshops in the capital. They made a fortune again.
However, Haitang was somewhat hesitant before doing these things:
"Miss, what if Her Majesty the Empress finds out and blames you for doing this?"
Although it belonged to Song Tangxue, it had passed through the Empress's hands, and I'm afraid that if word got out, it would give those people something to gossip about.
Originally, Song Tangxue's life in the Song family was not easy. If the madam found out, she would inevitably scold her again.
"If Her Majesty the Empress needs it, then let her find it herself." Song Tangxue curled the corners of her lips, her eyes sparkling. "What's wrong with us selling the inheritance left to me by my grandmother?"
Haitang suddenly realized: "Miss, you're so smart!"
Song Tangxue smiled slightly and called Uncle Kui over again.
Uncle Kui was the housekeeper left to her by her grandmother. He was specially transferred from the shop to her side three days ago. This was the first time Song Tangxue had met him since returning from her engagement.
When Uncle Kui saw her appearance, he couldn't help but tear up.
"Miss has lost weight."
Uncle Kui watched Song Tangxue grow up. She had only been in the capital for a short time, but her round face had become thin and sharp, and she had also lost a lot of weight.
“Uncle Kui,” Song Tangxue called out, her voice suddenly choked with emotion.
In her previous life, she was never allowed to see her family because of the Crown Prince, and the Song family kept quiet about Uncle Kui and the others. In this new life, when she saw these people again, Song Tangxue felt a great sense of kinship.
Even my restless heart calmed down.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Song Tangxue took out a small piece of Xuan paper from her sleeve and handed it to Uncle Kui.
"Uncle Kui, these are the things I'm looking for. Please make sure you check them carefully, one by one."
Song Tangxue repeatedly gave instructions.
This was her secret investigation of the shops selling nitrate powder in the ghost market.
Nitrate powder is a forbidden substance in the current dynasty. Even the powerful Ghost Market doesn't dare to sell it openly. Her disfigurement in her previous life was inextricably linked to these things.
If we follow this lead, we might actually find the source.
Once the source is found, all problems can be solved.
Uncle Kui looked at what she had written on the Xuan paper in her hand and nodded to Song Tangxue.
"Young Miss, don't worry. It's just that you..."
Uncle Kui's face showed a hint of something he wanted to say but couldn't.
Song Tangxue knew what he was going to say, and smiled at him: "Don't worry, Uncle Kui, I know what I'm doing. The Crown Prince is not a good man. I'm looking for a way to break off the engagement."
"Then I'm relieved." Hearing Song Tangxue say that, Uncle Kui's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
He seemed extremely pleased: "Back then, the old lady always wanted the eldest young lady to marry into an ordinary family, firstly to protect her safety, and secondly to make it easier for her to control her."
"But..." The words were tinged with deep sorrow.
Song Tangxue forced herself to cheer up and comforted Uncle Kui: "It's not too late to regret it now, there's still time."
"Yes, yes, yes, Miss is incredibly intelligent and will surely be able to turn the tide," Uncle Kui said sincerely.
After everyone talked for a while, Uncle Kui, still preoccupied with the matter of saltpeter powder, took the initiative to resign.
In the evening, Song Tangxue specially invited Haitang to go to Qiankun Palace together.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress." Song Tangxue said with a smile.
Empress Cheng had just returned from worshipping Buddha at Baoling Palace and was somewhat surprised to see Song Tangxue.
Song Tangxue stepped forward and bowed deeply. She looked up and smiled, "Your Majesty, I have come here to request an imperial decree from you."
"It is springtime now, and all the flowers in the Imperial Garden are in bloom. Why not hold a half-flower banquet? It would be festive, and it would also be a way to pray for His Majesty and the Empress, and let the court officials inside and outside the palace know the Emperor's boundless grace."
Song Tangxue spoke with perfect composure, but Empress Cheng frowned.
"With war raging outside the capital, it would be extravagant to hold a Hundred Flowers Banquet now."
It wasn't that she didn't want to do it, but she was afraid of spending too much money.
Song Tangxue had anticipated her response and continued:
"Your Majesty, the Hundred Flowers Banquet is just a pretext. The most important thing is to let His Highness the Crown Prince get to know the powerful and influential in advance."
"Although the Crown Prince holds absolute power in the palace, since the imperial examination system was reformed, the new top scholars and members of the Hanlin Academy are all selected from below."
"His Highness the Crown Prince will inherit the throne in the future, so we can take this opportunity to win people's hearts."
Empress Cheng was overjoyed to hear this.
Song Tangxue was right. Compared to the Crown Prince's future, what was a mere palace banquet? So she agreed immediately.
After receiving the imperial decree from the Empress, the smile on his face instantly froze on the way back.
She stared at the bright red, gold-embossed characters on the imperial edict and sneered.
In his previous life, Li Zhaoxian also used the Hundred Flowers Banquet as a pretext to win people's hearts.
However, he did not have control over the banquet; instead, he listened to the words of his good sister, Song Tangli.
She was determined not to let this happen again. It was impossible for Li Zhaoxian to win people's hearts at the palace banquet.
–
The palace banquet will be held three days later.
Using her status as the Crown Prince's prospective consort, Song Tangxue invited high-ranking officials and dignitaries to participate.
The location is in the back garden.
The winding stream flows with wine cups, and the flowers are in full bloom, but no one appreciates this beautiful scene.
Everyone wanted to take advantage of this palace banquet to see what the future crown princess looked like.
"Congratulations, Sister Song, on finding a good husband. It seems His Highness the Crown Prince treats people very well. I see that all the hardships that once afflicted you have vanished, leaving only your radiant beauty."
The speaker was Lu Jiaojiao, the daughter of Zuo Sima. Although it was meant as a congratulatory message, it took on a different flavor when it came out of her mouth.
She usually got along well with Song Tangli, but her flattery of Song Tangxue was just a veiled insult, implying that Song Tangxue was a person who couldn't be presented in public.
The noble ladies all laughed along, pretending not to understand what she meant, but they were all waiting to see Song Tangxue make a fool of herself.
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