Chapter 17 Reactions from Various Prefectures
Madam Shangguan had just returned to the manor and hadn't even had time to change her clothes when she was summoned by Old Madam Shangguan.
As soon as Madam Shangguan entered the old lady's room, she saw her husband and Old Master Shangguan there.
As for the maids and servants who served them, they were all dismissed.
"What's going on? Why are you back so early? Is something wrong with Jin'er?" Old Madam Shangguan asked first.
Madam Shangguan quickly sat down to the left of the old lady.
"It's nothing serious. The Wu Ding Marquis's family didn't know their manners and made a scene, so they were kicked out by the Dingguo Duke's Mansion."
"It's gotten a bit too noisy and chaotic, so everyone's heading back to their residences," Madam Shangguan said with a smile.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Madam Shangguan could still smile.
It seems like the matter isn't serious.
“Father, Jin’er said some things today that I don’t quite understand, and I was just about to tell you!” Madam Shangguan suddenly said.
"Tell me, what did Jin'er say?" Old Master Shangguan immediately perked up.
Then Lady Shangguan recounted everything that had happened at the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
What about last year's aged tea? It all came down to Shangguan Jin's casual remark about the front lines being in dire need of supplies while the rear was in a rush to eat.
Then there was the wicked servant, and the fact that he didn't plan to send anyone to look for the Duke of Dingguo this year—he recounted all of that in detail.
The more Old Master Shangguan listened, the brighter his eyes became.
After Madam Shangguan finished speaking, Old Master Shangguan stroked his gray beard and began to nod.
"Jin'er has always been clever, and indeed she is! It seems that someone has really reassured her."
And the only one who could offer such reassurance is that person...
"Bo Li, your Inspectorate can get ready now," Old Master Shangguan said with a smile.
"Father, do you mean we should impeach someone at the next court session?" Shangguan Jin's father, Shangguan Boli, asked in a low voice.
Old Master Shangguan nodded.
"The imperial family has always advocated frugality, but the Empress Dowager preferred extravagance."
Although the border has been stable in recent years, the supply of food and military pay has always been the biggest burden on Dayu.
The imperial family has wanted to retaliate for quite some time now.
I just can't find a reason.
Since Jin'er brought it up this time, it must mean there's some movement at the border.
Otherwise, given Jin's meticulous personality, she certainly wouldn't have said something like, "The front is in dire straits, but the rear is in dire straits."
We can't help with border matters, but we can at least open a door for the imperial family.
Bo Li kept a close eye on the Marquis of Wuding's family. They imitated the Empress Dowager in everything, indulging in extravagance and practically throwing lavish banquets every day.
Lord Shangguan nodded, already thinking about what to start with regarding the Marquis of Wuding's family and which colleagues to involve.
Lady Qi, who returned from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, did not go back to the Duke of Qi's mansion.
Anyway, she had the waist token given to her by the Empress, so she could enter the palace at any time.
Upon entering the Empress's palace, the Crown Prince was also there.
"Aunt!" The Crown Prince respectfully bowed to the Duchess of Qi.
Lady Qi smiled and returned the greeting, then sat down to Empress Xu's left.
Lady Qi, the Duchess of Qi, also recounted in detail what had happened at the Duke of Ding's residence.
"Elder sister, what do you think the Duchess of Dingguo meant by that?"
The situation at the front is critical, while the rear is busy feasting; this should be a matter for the border regions!
What would a woman who has lived in the inner quarters for so long know?
"Furthermore, why bring up the matter of the wicked servants of the Marquis of Wuding's residence out of the blue? Doesn't this indicate that His Majesty is already dissatisfied with some of his ministers?" Lady Qi asked in a low voice.
The Empress remained silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Crown Prince Xiao Congzhang.
"My son, what do you say?"
The Crown Prince pondered for a moment before saying, "In the past, border affairs were handled by the Duke of Dingguo and the Duke of Anguo."
After the Duke of Dingguo disappeared, all the urgent documents from the border were handled by the Duke of Anguo.
There was nothing that could be done about my maternal grandfather's side either.
However, I've recently heard that there seem to be more people returning from the border to deliver messages.
I don't know the specifics of what happened.
Upon hearing what the Crown Prince said, Empress Xu and the Duchess of Qi were speechless for a moment.
Currently, there are three factions in the imperial court.
The military officers were led by the Empress Dowager's faction, headed by the Duke of Anguo.
The faction led by the civil official Xu Chengxiang, who was also the empress's father.
In addition, there were officials like the Shangguan family who spoke out against wrongdoing.
The Shangguan family appears to be neutral; regardless of which faction it belongs to, anyone who crosses their line will be impeached without exception.
Both the Duke of Anguo's side and the Prime Minister Xu's side have been impeached by the Shangguan family.
Even if the imperial family did something inappropriate, Shangguan Boli would submit a memorial.
"My son, if Lord Shangguan impeaches someone at the next court assembly, no matter who it is, remember, your people must second it," Empress Xu suddenly said.
The crown prince was taken aback at first, but quickly understood.
If the Shangguan family criticizes someone at the next court assembly, it's most likely the Emperor's will.
Whether his position as crown prince is secure or not depends entirely on his father's will!
"Mother, I understand," the Crown Prince said, bowing.
Empress Xu nodded.
"I've calculated that it's about time your father asked me to summon the Duchess of Dingguo to the palace."
"Having caused such a commotion, isn't it because they don't want to maintain that balance?" Empress Xu said calmly.
Both the Crown Prince and the Duchess of Qi were taken aback.
Yes, it is most appropriate for a noblewoman to be summoned by the Empress when she enters the palace.
"Mother, thank you for your help!" the Crown Prince said with a smile.
"You are my son. If I don't worry about you, who else will I worry about?"
It's getting late, you should go back now. Your aunt and I want to talk a few more words.
"Remember, go see your grandfather and tell him everything your aunt just said," Empress Xu instructed.
The crown prince agreed and withdrew.
Empress Xu then pulled the Duchess of Qi aside and asked her many more questions.
The situation with Lady Wuding was much more interesting.
She returned to the Marquis of Wuding's residence in a disheveled state.
Not only were her clothes dirty, but her jewelry was also in disarray.
"Madam, where is the hairpin from your ruby headdress?"
"And what about that pearl flower with the ruby as its center?" As soon as she entered the room, the head maidservant beside her exclaimed twice.
Lady Wuding took the bronze mirror and looked at it. She then removed all the other hairpins and ornaments from her head and carefully checked them.
Sure enough, a hairpin and a pearl flower were missing.
She felt her heart was bleeding.
The ruby set in that hairpin was as big as a thumb, a rare and exquisite piece.
The stone with the ruby as the center of the flower is even more vibrant, its bright red color resembling fresh pigeon blood.
"It must have been left at the Duke of Dingguo's residence!"
"I underestimated that shrew, Shangguan Jin," said the Lady of Wuding Marquis, annoyed.
The head maid sighed, about to offer a few words of comfort.
But then they heard a message coming from outside the window from a maid.
"Madam, the Marquis requests your presence in his study immediately."
"What's the rush? Let me change my clothes first," Lady Wuding said angrily.
"The Marquis wants you to go there now," the maidservant whispered.
Lady Wuding was so angry that she threw a phoenix-tail hairpin at her dressing table and grabbed all the ornaments off her head.
Then he walked toward the study of Marquis Wuding.
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