Chapter 532 Entering the Palace for a Banquet
The aristocratic families are different from the royal family. The closeness between the major aristocratic families and mansions and the royal family is also accompanied by caution. Therefore, if Emperor Longxing issues an order, each family will also contribute, but mostly to cope with the situation.
With the connections behind the women, Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue all worked hard to form the foundation of this matter! The other prefectures all helped, and with the power of each prefecture in various places as branches, they formed an unimaginable collective.
This incident seemed to be a fight between the women and the Cao Gang, but in fact it was the royal family and some wealthy families joining forces to compete with the power behind the Cao Gang. All the grain deliveries were just superficial.
However, this does not mean that the women have no contribution. On the contrary, if there were no women, or if any one of them was missing, this matter would have been difficult to accomplish.
Or it can be said that it was the power gathered by the women that gave Emperor Longxing an opportunity to suppress the power represented by the Cao Gang.
"Your Majesty, after the New Year, shouldn't we put the matter of 'asking for one's name' on the agenda?"
Emperor Longxing nodded and said, "Don't worry, Empress. I had the Imperial Astronomical Observatory calculate the date a few days ago. It's January 17th!"
"Then all necessary etiquette and things to bring must be prepared in advance. Even though Xiao He'er isn't here, we can't let those two girls suffer!"
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Your Majesty, the ladies of the Jia family have arrived at the front hall!" Zhou Gui came in to report.
Emperor Longxing stood up and said, "Then I will go and get busy. I will leave the little girls to the Empress to entertain!"
After escorting Emperor Longxing out of the hall, the Queen asked Zhou Gui to bring Daiyu and others over.
Needless to say, Yuanyang and the other two have entered the palace several times. It is not the first time for Daiyu, Baochai and Tanchun. Xiangyun has also entered the palace for a banquet with her aunt before. As a person with imperial decree, Youshi has also entered the palace to express gratitude before.
Wang Xifeng and Keqing seldom came, and only came to the banquet once, when Jia Cong was given a birthday reward!
Li Wan and Keqing were both nervous and behaved very properly. Yingchun also did not dare to overstep the line even a little when standing next to Tanchun!
Wang Xifeng would occasionally glance around furtively. "This royal palace is so grand and magnificent! It's far superior to any noble mansion...Are these the palace maids and eunuchs? They're about the same as Jia Zhong and the others. No matter how respectable the maids and servants in the palace are, they can't compare to them!"
"Did that villain stay in the palace before? I wonder if Second Madam will have the same blessing in the future. If she could stay in the palace for a night, and be waited on by these female officials and eunuchs, wouldn't that be a great honor?"
The two younger ones, Baoqin and Xichun, did not have too many concerns. Although they were restrained by Tanchun, they still could not help but look around curiously.
After the eunuch took them to the front hall of Fengzao Palace, he went to report, and female officials were waiting around to serve tea.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, footsteps were finally heard again outside the quiet hall. After a moment, Zhou Gui came over.
Everyone had seen Mr. Zhou before in the mansion, so they were not unfamiliar with him. They hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Mr. Zhong!"
"Hey, ladies, please get up quickly. With my low status, how can I be worthy of receiving your greetings?" Zhou Gui dodged and did not dare to accept the greetings, and quickly spoke respectfully.
"The Queen is waiting in the back hall. Please follow me! "
Baochai and Tanchun both knew Zhou Gui's attitude very well. Zhou Gui was the general manager of Fengzao Palace and a trusted eunuch of the Queen. How could he not know Jia Cong's identity?
Afterwards, Zhou Gui led the way sideways, with Baochai and Daiyu in front, followed by Yuanyang, Muring and Xiuyan. Beside Yuanyang, Youshi followed closely, half a body length behind.
Yingchun and Tanchun walked side by side, Xiangyun was on the left, and little Xichun and Baoqin were on the right, being pulled by Tanchun.
Wang Xifeng, Li Wan and Keqing were the last to fall.
There were more than a dozen female officials accompanying the crowd on both sides!
After walking for about a cup of tea, everyone followed Zhou Gui into the back hall of Fengzao Palace!
"Your Majesty, the ladies of the Jia Mansion have arrived!"
When Zhou Gui finished speaking, Daiyu and Baochai led the other women in paying respects, "Greetings to the Empress!"
Seeing these dozen women of different sizes and appearances but all extraordinary kneeling before her definitely made the Queen happier than if all the imperial edicts came to express their gratitude.
With this glance, the first five were undoubtedly destined to be her daughters-in-law. Could the remaining maids still escape in the future? Add to that Wang Xifeng and Keqing, who knew full well that, with the exception of Youshi and Li Wan, almost all of them were considered her daughters-in-law in the Empress's heart...
As she watched, the queen counted on her fingers, and then frowned.
I was thinking about two principal wives, four concubines, and eight concubines, but there are already twelve of them here. Add in Yuanchun, and the number I had planned seems a bit too few! I have to discuss this with the emperor later. How about eight concubines and sixteen concubines?
Although it's a bit beyond the rules , it's not necessarily wrong...
After the ladies paid their respects, they waited for the Queen to speak, but they waited and waited, but the Queen didn't say a word... Who would have thought that the Queen was planning the number of wives for her son?
"Empress!"
Seeing that the queen was a little distracted, Yuanchun leaned over and whispered something in her ear.
"Haha, get up quickly!" The queen came back to her senses and said with a smile, "Please take a seat!"
"Daiyu, Baochai, you two girls, come forward!"
A female official brought a brocade cushion for the ladies to sit on, while Daiyu and the other two walked up to the Queen's side with lotus steps.
The Queen pulled her two daughters-in-law to sit beside her and said with a smile, "You little girls have accomplished something really big this time. I asked you to come here because, firstly, I haven't seen you for a long time, and I wanted to talk to you. Secondly, I want to treat you to a banquet on behalf of His Majesty."
"Although it's not appropriate to reward you with official titles now, your great achievements are well known to His Majesty and me!"
The two stood up and said in unison, "Thank you, my lady!"
Looking at her two daughters-in-law, the queen was even more delighted. "Tell me, how did you come up with the idea of doing such a big thing?"
Daiyu said shyly, "I heard father mention the grain price issue. Not only is the capital in turmoil, but it could also affect my third brother's military campaigns. That's why I asked all the sisters for help. Besides, father always said that even though we are women in the harem, we have received the emperor's grace and should contribute to the country."
Baochai, standing by, also said respectfully, "It is precisely because of the imperial family's favor that our families have achieved glory. The prosperity of the nation is also our wish. Moreover, we acted recklessly. Without the help of the Empress, how could we have managed to do so well? Although we were the first to do this, the real effort was still put in by the imperial court. We were merely leveraging their power, and that's how we took advantage."
