The news that the landlord Fu Daguan had been ordered to take a concubine on September 18th had already spread throughout Linjiang.
Many wealthy merchants, officials and celebrities have already received invitations from the Fu Mansion. Many people are extremely envious. There are many men in the world who take concubines, but who has the ability to ask His Majesty to issue an imperial decree to take a concubine?
"Look at the Master Fu. He used to have only one concubine. We thought he was being low-key. My wife even said he was loyal and faithful. Now you all know, this guy is a man who will make a big splash if he doesn't make a name for himself. I'll ask my wife again, and guess what she will say?"
"She said...it's a skill for the great official Fu to take concubines. If you can also get the emperor's order, let alone five concubines, I can also arrange for ten concubines for you!"
Everyone burst into laughter and talked about various things about Official Fu in detail, and they were very happy.
"I think the Fu family's ancestral tomb is well-buried. Look, that young official Fu was really worthless before, and he really pissed off Old Fu, but what about him now? Putting aside his literary talent, you all know that guy took in over 30,000 refugees. We originally thought he was just being kind and helping those refugees, but now we know it was a brilliant move on his part."
Someone retorted, "Old Liu, your words are biased. Let me ask everyone here, who has the courage to accept more than 30,000 refugees? Who has the ability to relocate all those refugees in a few days? Besides, I, a humble official, have actually provided those refugees with food, shelter, and money."
Everyone was silent, thought carefully for a long time, and then nodded one by one.
This was on the top floor of the Linjiang Tower. The people sitting there were all the heads of the wealthy merchants in Linjiang, who had very good relations with Mr. Fu. They had a small gathering here, and while chatting, the topic turned to the father and son of the Fu family.
"So this kid is truly a genius. Also, I heard something, I don't know if it's true or not, so don't spread it." Yang Yishan, the head of the grain merchant Yang Ji, lowered his voice. "A few days ago, Dong Shulan, the daughter of Minister Dong, was at the Xishan Villa in the lower village!"
hiss……
Everyone gasped. They had dealt with Dong Shulan before when she came to Linjiang in May, but they had never expected that Fu Xiaoguan would climb up such a high branch.
However, Yang Yishan lowered his voice again, "That's nothing. There's another distinguished guest going to the West Mountain Villa with Miss Dong!"
"Who is it?"
Yang Yishan looked around and said, "Her Royal Highness the Ninth Princess!"
Everyone in the room was shocked and there was a sudden silence.
After a while, Huang Kaiyu, the head of the Huang family, asked in a low voice, "Are you serious?"
Yang Yishan spread his hands, "I've heard that too, but I believe it's true. My version of A Dream of Red Mansions first appeared in Shangjing. It's a fantastic book, and I think the nobles in the palace also enjoyed it. And then there's the Water Melody Song he wrote, which was a huge hit in the Lanting Collection on the Mid-Autumn Night. It's a legendary poem that's been listed in the first row of the Thousand Stele Stones. Think about it, how could anyone in the palace not know about this?"
"Think about it again. Imperial Concubine Shang returned to Qizhou to visit her relatives and stayed overnight in Shanglinzhou. Official Fu was invited to the banquet, and I heard he even wrote a couplet for one of Prince Xian's pavilions. This shows that Official Fu has caught the eye of the nobles in the palace. Honestly, who among us wouldn't want to marry our daughter to Official Fu? But why hasn't Official Fu expressed his feelings? I tell you, it's probably because the Ninth Princess has taken a fancy to him and is planning to become his consort. Otherwise, why do you think His Majesty would order Official Fu to take a concubine?"
The whole audience was in an uproar, with expressions of wonder on their faces.
But then Huang Kaiyu shook his head and sighed: "If this is true, it's a pity for this kid. Although he is a royal consort, he will never have the chance to serve as an official in the court again in his lifetime."
Yang Yishan immediately retorted, "Old Qu, you have to think about this this way. The Fu family is the richest in Linjiang. They have tons of money. Official Fu doesn't lack money at all. What does the Fu family lack the most? A backer!"
Yang Yishan paused, tapped his fingers on the table, and continued, "If I become the consort of the emperor, with the Princess's Mansion as my backing, I would like to ask you, who can shake the Fu family's status?"
Huang Kaiyu frowned for a moment and nodded, "Master Yang is absolutely right."
Huang Kaiyu then raised his glass and raised it to Qu Shanglai from a distance, "So, Old Qu, don't worry about your daughter anymore. Now that I think about it, your daughter's standards are no less than yours."
After Qu Shanglai heard these words, his idea became clear.
My daughter Qu Linglong married the great official Fu as a concubine. From now on, the Qu family and the Fu family will be relatives. If the little official Fu has the support of the princess's mansion, my Qu family will also benefit a lot.
For those who do business, they are not afraid of the dangers of the business world, but they are afraid of the chaos of the government.
So a smile appeared on his old face, and he raised his glass and said, "That was my daughter's own choice. As her father, I can't persuade her!"
Since this young man from the Fu family has climbed up the social ladder of Her Royal Highness the Princess and even caught the eye of His Majesty, then the matter of the Fu family taking a concubine is no small matter.
"I have a personal suggestion. We often deal with the official, and we all know him to be a kind and enthusiastic person. His taking a concubine this time is a great opportunity for Linjiang, so I'm afraid the gift money should be tripled from what we originally agreed upon. What do you think?"
"I agree!"
"I agree too!"
Zhang Jijia's Zhang Zhice also nodded.
Zhang Zhice has gotten over the incident of Zhang Pei'er jumping into the river to commit suicide. He knows that the cause of his daughter's death is Fu Xiaoguan. Now that he knows that Fu Xiaoguan was favored by the Ninth Princess, he feels that his daughter's death was not worth it.
But the dead cannot be resurrected, and I have no evidence at all, so I can only swallow the knocked out tooth.
…
Fu Xiaoguan is very idle.
He doesn't know what to do.
What should a son do if his father takes a concubine?
The Fu Mansion had already been filled with big red lanterns, big red wedding characters were posted everywhere, and the whole room was filled with fireworks and firecrackers, as if nothing had happened to them.
So he took Su Mo and Chunxiu away from the Fu Mansion and strolled around Linjiang City.
to date!
He hasn't really been shopping yet!
Linjiang is such a big city, and there are still many places he has not visited.
So today he decided to take a nice walk instead of riding in a carriage through the streets.
However……
When Fu Xiaoguan walked out of Xishui Lane and onto Dama Street, he saw many women.
Those women were dressed in gorgeous clothes, with their faces made up and embroidered fans in their hands. They stood tall and graceful in the autumn breeze, their colorful sleeves fluttering and their long hair flowing - each of them had their own unique charm.
Yao Xiaoman is also among them.
The news that Fu Xiaoguan returned to Linjiang swept by like an autumn breeze, but stirred the hearts of these girls like a spring breeze.
Qu Linglong is about to marry Fu Daguan now. Qu Linglong once said in Banshan Academy: Those men can compete for supremacy in the Central Plains, but can't we women chase our husbands under the moonlight?
The women all agreed with this.
Yao Xiaoman pursed her lips and raised the corners of her mouth, "Fu Xiaoguan, let's see where you can run this time!"
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