Chapter 308 Manage it well
Shangguan Jin stayed at Bao'en Temple for a few days before returning home.
The day after returning to his residence, he sent out invitations to all the noble families in the capital to a banquet at his residence.
As for the name of the banquet... let's celebrate Madam Shen's birthday in advance!
Although there are still more than half a year until the old lady's birthday banquet.
However, Shangguan Jin still spread the word that this was an auspicious day chosen by the master of Bao'en Temple, which would bless Old Madam Shen with good health and a long life.
Madam Shen was very pleased.
Look how good the daughter-in-law is, always seizing every opportunity to get herself something good.
The Duke of Dingguo's mansion held a grand banquet for guests again after several years, which surprised everyone.
The invited families were abuzz with gossip about this banquet, which was clearly just a formality.
In the Chunbuwan Teahouse, a group of people were drinking tea in the lobby on the first floor.
"I heard that as soon as Madam Shen returned to the capital, she heard the news that His Majesty would not hold his wedding for another six years, and she was so angry that she collapsed."
"Then the next day they went to Bao'en Temple," someone whispered.
"What are you going to Bao'en Temple for? To pray for the Great Yu?" Someone immediately approached.
The official explanation given was that it was to pray for the Weiyuan Army.
However, one of my servants knew another servant from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
People say that Madam Shen went to Bao'en Temple with a sullen face.
They also said that as soon as Madam Shen arrived at Bao'en Temple, she went into a side room and was heard to be crying while reminiscing about her birth mother, Empress Xiaohui! The first person to speak immediately added the information.
"Why is Madam Shen crying for no reason? Is she upset that her rank is too low?"
Didn't His Majesty bestow upon Lady Shen the title of Lady of Wei, a title of the highest rank?
This is the first time in the Great Yu Dynasty! Which lady has received this honor?
"Even the Xu family doesn't have such a rank?" someone continued to ask.
The person who had spoken earlier immediately gave the person who asked the question a disdainful look.
"Is that all the world you've got?"
Who is Madam Shen? Is she an ordinary person? She is the wife of the Duke of Dingguo.
Do they really care so much about a person's social status?
Lady Shen was heartbroken. His Majesty was unwilling to hold a grand wedding and to establish an empress. Lady Shen felt sorry for Empress Xiaohui.
Feeling that she hadn't taken good care of His Majesty, she cried while reminiscing about Empress Xiaohui.
The person who asked the question thought about it and realized it made a lot of sense.
"Then...and then what happened? Madam Shen cried for a few days and then came back?"
"Never mind, it's normal that you don't know a lot of things."
Let me tell you, as soon as Madam Shen returned, she went straight to Bao'en Temple without even taking a break. When our emperor found out, he was extremely anxious.
Just two days ago, His Majesty personally led a group to Bao'en Temple to see Lady Shen.
Didn't you notice? A couple of days ago, one afternoon, the streets were suddenly under lockdown.
Then, that night, martial law was imposed again?
That was when our young emperor went to Bao'en Temple and then came back.
I heard that Lady Shen and His Majesty embraced and wept bitterly.
His Majesty was also persuaded by Lady Shen and agreed to decide on the selection of empresses and consorts now, while the wedding would be held three years later.
"And we even had Madam Shen personally take charge of this matter!" the first person continued to explain.
Those who had been listening intently listened carefully, and upon further reflection, it seemed there might be some truth to it...
After the news of Chun Buwan spread, it quickly reached the ears of various noble families.
Many people began to inquire, both openly and secretly, to see if it was true.
The more they inquired, the more it seemed to be true.
It was true that martial law was suddenly imposed on the streets twice in the afternoon; it was directed by the palace guards themselves.
At the city gate, a luxurious carriage drove out of the city in the afternoon, carrying a palace pass.
That waist tag clearly belongs to the Grand Eunuch Wu Youde.
Also, the people who went to Bao'en Temple to investigate have returned.
It is said that a distinguished person did indeed visit two days ago, and after the distinguished person entered Bao'en Temple, the abbot immediately closed the mountain gate...
Everything seems to be falling into place...
It seems that those leaving the palace that day were members of the imperial family...
All the noble families firmly believed this rumor.
Back when the emperor was still the seventh prince, he would always run to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion whenever he left the palace.
I heard that Madam Shen treats the Seventh Prince like her own child.
Some say that Consort Shen bears a 70% resemblance to the late Empress Xiaohui, and that the imperial family treats Consort Shen as a mother figure...
The more the news spread, the more people looked at Madam Shen with new respect.
The emperor wouldn't listen to a single word from the important ministers in the court.
But he listened to Madam Shen's every word.
Look, Lady Shen has returned from the north, but instead of going to the palace to pay her respects first, she made the Emperor himself go to Bao'en Temple to pay his respects...
Tsk tsk tsk...
This Lady Shen's status is even higher than that of Empress Dowager Zheng during the reign of the late emperor!
It seems that which family's daughter the imperial family will choose as empress is actually decided by Madam Shen...
Upon realizing this, the various noble families immediately doubled the amount of gifts they had prepared.
I heard that Madam Shen's favorite Buddha and Guanyin statues were made of gold and jade...
For a time, gold and jade products were selling like hotcakes in antique shops all over the capital.
Aunt Xin's antique shop sells whatever is expensive.
Whenever a gift is prepared for Madam Shen, the shopkeeper simply points to the most expensive item and tells the customer, "Madam Shen likes this kind!"
No matter how much silver it was, they took it immediately.
......
Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Prime Minister Xu also wore a solemn expression.
He hadn't expected that the Duchess of Dingguo would have such a great influence on the imperial family.
Just look at how the young emperor was arguing with everyone during the court assembly.
Then look at what everyone is saying, it's because Madam Shen went to Bao'en Temple as soon as she returned that the imperial family rushed over there.
"Sir! Would you like to take another look at the gift list for Madam Shen?" Madam Xu handed a list to Prime Minister Xu.
Prime Minister Xu was taken aback.
Seeing this list, he suddenly remembered that three years ago, Madam Shen held her first grand banquet after the Duke of Dingguo's disappearance...
At that time, Lady Wuding was humiliated by Lady Shen because of her congratulatory gift.
It was from that time that the once-depressed Duke Dingguo Mansion reappeared in the public eye.
"Just decide for yourself! Give Madam Shen whatever she likes!"
"Are you taking Roujia with you this time?" Prime Minister Xu asked.
Madam Xu nodded.
"In the invitation, Madam Shen said that Princess Pingning had not seen Roujia for many days and wanted to see her."
I asked around, and all the families with girls of marriageable age were allowed to bring them!
Prime Minister Xu stroked his beard and remained silent for a while.
"Madam, do you think... the imperial family really values Madam Shen that much?" Prime Minister Xu suddenly asked.
Madam Xu was taken aback, but she quickly understood what Prime Minister Xu was thinking.
"Sir, perhaps you are overthinking it!"
I have observed it.
When the Seventh Prince visited the manor last time, the purses, fan covers, and handkerchiefs he wore were not made by the Imperial Household Department.
It seems that most of them were made by the Shen family.
Perhaps His Majesty views Lady Shen as a loving elder.
"It's perfectly reasonable for elders to arrange marriages for their juniors," Madam Xu said with a smile.
Prime Minister Xu nodded.
Yes, it is reasonable for elders to arrange marriages for their juniors!
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