Chapter 247 An Unexpected Gift
As the twelfth lunar month begins, all the prefectures become busy.
Shangguan Jin and her household staff were busy for several days receiving and giving gifts.
The New Year's gifts from the palace have also arrived, and they are even more generous than in previous years.
Shangguan Jin knew that all of this was handled by Empress Xu, which was also the beginning of her completely bringing the Duke of Dingguo's mansion under her control.
However, to Shangguan Jin's surprise, Consort Zheng also sent her head maid to deliver New Year's gifts.
This left Shangguan Jin somewhat puzzled.
Shangguan Jin sold all the rewards from last time.
They also sold quite a bit of silver, a full seven thousand taels.
Last time, it was because Shangguan Jin embarrassed Consort Die that she indirectly helped Consort Zheng vent her anger.
What about this time?
I didn't do anything this time!
Looking at the gifts sent by Consort Zheng, Shangguan Jin began to worry.
Throw it out?
I couldn't bear to part with her, nor did I dare to. After all, she was a Noble Consort. No matter how bad we were, I had to maintain appearances.
Keep it at home?
Hehe, she felt disgusted. Consort Zheng was the direct murderer who caused Consort Xian's death, and she still remembered it!
"Miss, these things are worth a lot of money. Why don't we sell them?"
"Why shouldn't we accept money when someone is offering it to us so readily?" Dongmai said from the side.
"Mother, you should go to the palace! See the Empress first and see what she has to say."
Furthermore, since the Imperial Concubine has bestowed New Year's gifts, you must go to the palace to express your gratitude.
"You should find out what Consort Zheng's attitude is," Shen Qingyue suggested from the side.
After thinking about it, Shangguan Jin realized that this was the only option.
Although she was very reluctant to see Consort Zheng.
Because if you were to meet Consort Zheng, you might have to kneel...
"Alright, you keep an eye on the mansion for Mother. Mother will go to the palace this afternoon."
......
In the afternoon, Shangguan Jin rode into the palace in a carriage.
As soon as she entered Empress Xu's palace, before she could even kneel, Empress Xu took her hand and sat her down on the couch.
"You've come to the palace at this hour, is there something you need?"
When I sent Jinxiu to deliver the gifts to your residence, I told her that it was the end of the year and everyone was busy, so there was no need for her to come in to express her gratitude.
"You suddenly want to enter the palace because..." Empress Xu looked at Shangguan Jin, waiting for Shangguan Jin to speak first.
"What else could it be? Isn't it that person?"
They inexplicably gave our household a New Year's gift.
"I thought her maid had been sent to the wrong residence!" Shangguan Jin said.
Empress Xu was very satisfied.
The fact that Consort Zheng suddenly sent New Year's gifts to the Duke of Ding's mansion truly shocked everyone.
Is this a desperate attempt to find a cure? Or is it simply a way to disgust the Zheng family? Or perhaps, to disgust herself, the Empress?
Could this be a malicious act of revenge against the Empress Dowager for taking the Eighth Prince into her care?
Nobody knows what Consort Zheng is thinking...
"Since she's giving it to you, just accept it. Your mother likes those things. You can always sell it if necessary."
She has quite a lot of good things in her palace!
I heard that eight eunuchs carried those things out of the palace gate.
"What? Haven't you shown the old lady your face yet?" Empress Xu asked with a smile.
Shangguan Jin smiled and quickly said, "We haven't had time yet. It's not good to keep those things in the mansion."
I've made up my mind. In a few days, I'll take it to an antique shop.
Our storeroom is too small to hold such a valuable gift.
Empress Xu's smile widened slightly.
Shangguan Jin understood that nothing in the palace could be hidden from Empress Xu.
Look, she even knows what Consort Zheng sent her...
"Actually, you don't need to worry too much. She's like a mad dog now, biting anyone she sees."
The day before yesterday, I caused a scene at the Empress Dowager's place and got slapped by her.
Yesterday, I had another big fight with Consort Die and even slapped her.
I'm too lazy to bother with their affairs now.
Anyway, it's all the Zheng family's business.
Let them make a fuss.
However, since she has given you a New Year's gift, you should still go and express your gratitude.
As long as the etiquette is acceptable, that's fine.
Anyway, His Majesty doesn't like her anymore, so he lets her cause trouble.
However, she was clever; at most, she would cause trouble in the inner palace, but never went to the Emperor's place to cause trouble.
Look, isn't this still planning for the King of Qin?
"They know perfectly well what's going on," Empress Xu comforted Shangguan Jin.
Shangguan Jin nodded. That's right. Consort Zheng may seem crazy, but she knows the bottom line better than anyone else.
She knew where the bottom line was, whether it was towards the Zheng family or Emperor Xiao Jing.
Perhaps, sometimes making a scene is the only way for her to survive in the palace...
"Then I will pay my respects to her in a moment; we must not neglect the proper etiquette."
"It's almost the end of the year, and I certainly don't want to cause any more trouble," Shangguan Jin said with a smile.
Empress Xu nodded, that's exactly what she meant.
After exchanging a few more casual words with Empress Xu, Shangguan Jin got up to take her leave.
Empress Xu breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Shangguan Jin leave the palace.
But soon, she couldn't be happy anymore.
"Is everything settled with the Crown Prince?" she asked the head palace maid, Jinxiu.
"Your Majesty, I have checked and everything is fine at the Crown Prince's residence. The Crown Princess has also settled down to rest as you instructed."
The imperial physician said that the Crown Princess's pregnancy was stable and she was in good health; all she needed to do was get through the year peacefully.
You just can't overwork yourself.
The two matrons you sent are helping to handle the affairs of the Crown Prince's residence.
"I didn't let Consort Xiao interfere," Jinxiu said.
Empress Xu breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, the Crown Princess was pregnant.
A weight was lifted off her shoulders.
Once the little prince is born, everything will be stable.
However, there is one thing that is currently worrying her.
"Did the Duchess of Qi really send all the rewards I gave her to the Prime Minister's residence?"
Sprinkled with brocade.
"Yes, the Duchess did not keep a single item."
Furthermore... the Duchess of Qi did not prepare any additional gifts for the Prime Minister's residence.
Instead, your reward was delivered to the Prime Minister's residence intact," Jinxiu said.
Empress Xu felt as if she had a lump of phlegm stuck in her throat.
Could it be that my sister discovered something...?
Otherwise, why would they do that?
In the past, as soon as December arrived, many New Year's gifts would be sent to the Empress's and the Crown Prince's residences.
And there was also my mother's birthday banquet a few days ago.
She only sent the congratulatory gift, then made an excuse that she was not feeling well and did not go to the Prime Minister's residence.
Empress Xu felt a little panicked. Could it be that her younger sister really knew about that matter...?
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