"I'll give you three thousand taels!"
"I'll give you four thousand!"
"Five thousand!"
"I'll give you two thousand plus a set of jade headwear!" The lady who said she would give you a set of jade headwear was very generous. She started taking off the accessories on her head and face and threw them all into the donation box.
Feng Tianyu was busy taking notes, but there were still many people who threw away too quickly and he couldn't remember them. But it didn't matter. Whether he remembered or not, it was just for show. Everyone who came to the mansion today could get a red string tied on their wrist, which was a beautiful meaning of blessing.
Under the leadership of these concubines and concubines, the mistresses and daughters could no longer sit still. They couldn't let concubines steal the limelight, could they? How could that be possible? Moreover, Princess Wuyang had made such a big hat, and it would be a shame for Dashun if they didn't bleed a little! But concubines and concubines had donated so much, and it was not good for people of their status to be suppressed by the little goblins below!
So, the mistress and the legitimate daughters also started to take action.
But after all, no one was mentally prepared for this, and the money they brought was not much, so someone shouted: "I'll offer 10,000 taels, but I don't have the banknote with me, let the maid get it now." The maid standing next to him immediately took the order and hurried to the gate of the mansion, ready to go home to get the money.
Xuan Tiange nodded, "I accept this lady's kindness on behalf of the Emperor. I will definitely keep it in mind and inform the Empress later."
Someone set a precedent of "going home to get money", and the others followed suit, and donated more than the others. Even the jewelry they gave was more expensive than those of the concubines and concubines. For a while, a "prayer event" turned into a competition of wealth between the mistress's legitimate daughter and the concubines and concubines. Seeing their fierce competition, Xuan Tiange and his friends were all very happy.
Just like that, one day passed, and Xuan Tiange announced that he would continue tomorrow.
When the guests heard that the meeting was going to continue, they all felt a little overwhelmed. When the meeting was over, they realized that they had almost lost all their savings because of their stubbornness. They all felt a little regretful and distressed. But the money spent is water that flows out, especially when it is in Xuan Tiange's hands, who dares to ask for it back? Everyone could only hold on to save face and endure it. It was not easy to endure until the end. What, there is another meeting tomorrow?
However, Xuan Tiange quickly gave an explanation: "There will be no donation activities tomorrow. Tomorrow we are inviting you all as a reward. Only the ladies who participated in today's donation are eligible to participate."
After hearing this, people felt relieved. Feedback! Feedback is a reward, right? At least they still had some conscience and didn't let them waste the money. So people decided to come tomorrow and make up for what they spent today.
So on the eleventh day of the first lunar month, the Wenxuan Palace was bustling with people. After arriving, people were discussing what kind of feedback they would get. However, they never expected that the so-called feedback would also come at a price! Because this feedback was actually an auction, and all the items auctioned were jewelry made by Bai Qiaojiang himself.
Bai Furong didn't have as much silver as Xuan Tiange and the others. One hundred thousand taels per person would not be worth it even if she sold her Bai Mansion. But fortunately, Bai Qiaojiang had this skill and reputation. His things were all made in the palace, so even if the ladies in the palace wanted them, it would not be easy. Except for Concubine Yun and the Queen, if other ladies wanted them, they had to apply to the Queen and get approval before they could get them, which was very difficult.
However, Bai Qiaojiang's craftsmanship was there. The jewelry he made was indeed unique in the whole Dashun. No one could imitate the craftsmanship he mastered. Someone once wanted to become his apprentice. He taught sincerely, but the other party could not learn it no matter what. Gradually, people stopped thinking about it. They just thought privately that Bai Qiaojiang was so old. If he was gone in the future, there would be no one who could inherit his legacy.
Although these ladies were somewhat disappointed and angry when they heard that the so-called feedback was actually an auction, when they heard that the items being auctioned were jewelry made by Bai Qiaojiang himself, unprecedented enthusiasm rose again. And no one doubted it. First, it was Princess Wuyang who said it, and second, Bai Furong was standing in front, she was Bai Qiaojiang's daughter. What's more, the maid in the palace was holding a tray to show everyone a set of headwear that was about to be auctioned. It was really ingenious and beautiful.
So these ladies regretted it again, because they didn't bring enough money today! Some immediately sent the maids back to get the banknotes, and some even asked, "Can we owe them first, and send someone back to get the things as soon as they are taken?"
Xuan Tiange nodded cheerfully: "Of course, ladies, don't worry about whether you have cash. You can just write a note or a receipt. We will send someone to collect it later."
After hearing this, people started bidding with peace of mind. A total of five items were auctioned, all of which were sold for more than 200,000 taels of silver. The last set of pink crystal headpieces was even bid for 3 million taels of silver.
It can be said that this prayer event was fruitful. Finally, Xuan Tiange announced that all the funds raised in the past two days would be used for the battle in the southern border.
At this time, some people realized that the military power of the Southern Realm had now been given to the Ninth Prince Xuan Tianming. If there was a war, it would be the Ninth Prince who would fight. To put it bluntly, these two days were to raise money for the Ninth Prince! They all knew that war required money, but shouldn't the national treasury allocate funds? Why did they raise money from them? People didn't understand. However, the wives and young ladies in the Eighth Prince's faction basically didn't come, because their families had no money. All the valuables were emptied by Feng Yuheng, and even the things in their bedrooms were stolen. How could they dare to come to participate in the blessing event?
Xuan Tiange, who would not miss the event, would also make a note of them. On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, he sent someone to inform them that they did not attend the grand event to pray for Dashun, the emperor, and the queen. Princess Wuyang would come to the palace in the near future to hand over the list of participants to the emperor, and let them handle the matter if they did not attend. Those ladies had no choice but to bite their teeth and collect some remaining jewelry and hand it to the servants of Prince Wenxuan's mansion for fear of offending the emperor. Only then did the other party remove their names from the list.
Speaking of this donation meeting, Feng Fendai actually also participated, but Xuan Tiange did not give Xiangrong a note, but sent a maid to tell her, because he was afraid that she would spend money.
Fen Dai herself didn't have much money, but she had the Fifth Prince as a strong backer. Although she despised this kind of indirect donation, she couldn't go too far in the name of Dashun and the Emperor and Empress, so she had to donate one thousand taels. In fact, she was very interested in the items on the second day's auction, after all, no woman could resist such beautiful jewelry, but those ladies raised the price too high, and she was powerless.
But after returning to Feng Mansion, Fendai couldn't hold back her temper. The more she thought about the pink headdress, the more she liked it. She was so angry that she lost her temper in the mansion and threw things around again. Until Dongying reminded her: "Miss, don't think about the pink crystal headdress! You must remember that the Fifth Prince likes white crystal. Only white crystal can impress him. Even if we have money, we have to spend it wisely."
Feng Fendai reacted instantly, nodded repeatedly, and stopped throwing things.
But she was still depressed. She had been wanting to go to the palace to see Concubine Li these days. The Sixth Prince had also returned, and she needed Concubine Li's cooperation on some of her ideas. Unfortunately, she couldn't get into the palace at all. Even if she did, she might not be able to go to Concubine Li's Jingsi Palace. Now the Eighth Prince controlled the palace, and it was said that the atmosphere in the palace was very serious. She didn't know how serious it was. When she asked the Fifth Prince, he couldn't explain it clearly, so she had no choice but to leave her alone in the mansion to think about it.
"Damn it." Fen Dai became angrier and angrier as she thought about it. She couldn't help but curse, "I thought the Eighth Prince was smart, but he's actually an idiot! He lost the military power of the Southern Territory with just a few words. What on earth does he do for a living? He worked hard for so many years to build up 300,000 troops, and he just gave them away? What an idiot!"
Dong Ying was so scared that she broke out in a sweat. She quickly waved her hand to ask all the maids in the room to leave, and then pleaded bitterly: "My dear lady! You must not say that! Walls have ears. Although you are the only master in our house now, who can guarantee that someone with ulterior motives will not plant spies or something? If this word gets out, you will..."
"But what?" Fendai snorted coldly, "Can that idiot kill me?" She was referring to the Eighth Prince, "How can he kill me when he can't even hold his own military power? As for secret guards, we have them in our house, sent by the Fifth Prince. I don't believe anyone has the ability to do anything to me here. I just want to scold him! His mother is just a little noble now, what foolish dream is he still having? He returned to the capital in a proper manner, but ended up losing his military power. How could he not die of cowardice? He still stirred up a mess in the capital, and now he is even controlling the palace. It's really infuriating!"
Dongying knew Fendai's temper and could not persuade her. She had no choice but to stand by. But she thought differently from Fendai. During the palace banquet, she had seen the Eighth Prince from afar and felt that he was very fickle and not as stupid as her young lady said. Giving up 300,000 troops just to become the commander of the Imperial Guards? There must be something behind this!
But she couldn't tell this to Fendai. Her young lady had a bad temper and a simple mind. Who knows what she would do after knowing this. She couldn't just follow suit.
"You said that Concubine Li pierced a little man by poking the needle upwards. Does that thing work?" Fendai began to ponder. "If it works, I will pierce two of them, one for the Eighth Prince, and the other for Feng Yuheng. It would be best if I could kill them both. This huge capital city will be mine from now on!"
Dong Ying was so scared that her face turned pale. Was her daughter crazy? The next time she met the Fifth Prince, she would have to talk to him and ask him to persuade her daughter. How could she go on like this?
Fendai was angry, and soon she heard a loud banging sound outside. There were gongs and drums, and it was very lively. She was puzzled: "What's the noise?"
Dongying opened the door and listened, then answered, "Miss, it seems that the sound came from the Lian Mansion next door!"
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