Chapter 176 Zhao Xing’s Criteria for Selecting a Concubine
“Okay, you have already asked, so go ahead and let’s have a conversation.”
When they came to the main hall in the backyard and chatted for a while, Sheng Shulan The gifts brought back were distributed among the elders, the two sisters-in-law, and the younger sister.
The old lady started to chase people away.
She wanted to ask about Shulan's situation in the East Palace. It was naturally inconvenient for men like Sheng Wei and others to stay here.
After hearing this, Sheng Wei took his two sons and left.
"You also go back to your room." The old lady looked at Pinlan who was hiding behind Mrs. Li and said.
Hearing this, Pinlan muttered: "Grandma, I miss my sister too, and I won't interrupt when you are talking."
"Go back to your room quickly, what nonsense are you talking about." Ms. Li stood up and pushed her daughter.
Pinlan has just celebrated her fourteenth birthday and has not yet left the cabinet, so how can she be allowed to listen to this.
"Really, if you have anything to say, you have to avoid others."
Although Pinlan was unwilling, she had no choice but to mutter and walked out.
"Shulan, has His Royal Highness ever favored you?" the eldest lady asked.
After hearing this, Sheng Shulan lowered her head with a red face. Not to mention the elders in the house, there were also two sisters-in-law. This kind of thing really made it difficult for her to talk about it.
"Oh, why are you so shy at this time? Hurry up and say it! I'm really anxious." Sheng Yun said anxiously.
"Yes." Sheng Shulan nodded, her head lowered.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince does not dislike you because you have married someone before, right?" Ms. Li asked.
"No...no."
Sheng Shulan shook her head and told how Empress Cao sent her nanny to the palace to teach her the rules. After she was punished, Zhao Xing protected her. .
I was quite embarrassed at first, but the more I spoke, the smoother I became, with joy in my eyes.
Most women in this era don't actually have many requirements for their men.
After all, they are all blind marriages. Except for a few who are extremely favored like Mrs. Sheng and have a certain degree of autonomy in marriage, most of them follow the orders of their parents.
As long as the person they marry can be considerate and sympathetic to them, they will be full of joy and wholeheartedly.
Especially those with weak temperaments like Yu Yanran and Sheng Shulan are easily satisfied inside. As long as you treat them well, you will be submissive.
"That's good, I can go back to your hometown in Youyang with peace of mind." The old lady nodded happily.
"Grandma, why are you in such a hurry to go back?" Sheng Shulan asked anxiously.
"Brother Song wants to go back to take care of the business in Youyang. I can't get used to living in Bianjing, so I went back with them."
The old lady warned: " His Royal Highness is still young, and it is inevitable that he will be a little greedy. You should try to persuade His Highness and not let him do anything he wants."
"My granddaughter knows," Sheng Shulan lowered her head in shame.
After learning that Sheng Shulan was doing well in the East Palace, everyone felt relieved and burst into laughter.
Sheng Yun even pulled Sheng Shulan and asked in a low voice how many times she had been favored. Such words made people blush.
While we were chatting, a maid came in and saluted: "Old lady, eldest lady, the old lady and eldest lady from the second room are here. The master has already gone to greet them. Let the slaves come and let them know."
"Quick, let's go and greet him too." The old lady said anxiously.
"Grandma, don't worry." Sheng Shulan quickly supported her grandmother.
"Yes, mother, you are older, but not as good as before." Sheng Jun advised.
"If it weren't for your aunt, how would the big house be today?" The old lady shook her head and walked out.
After leaving the courtyard and walking halfway through the verandah connecting the outer courtyard, I saw a large group of Sheng Wei and Mrs. Sheng walking over from the corner gate.
"Sister-in-law, what are you doing here to greet me?" Old Mrs. Sheng stepped forward and grabbed the eldest lady's hand, complaining for a while.
"Haha, I just want to stretch my legs and feet." The old lady smiled.
“You.”
Mrs. Sheng glared at the eldest lady angrily. She also knew that the eldest lady respected her very much because of her help to Dafang in the early years.
It was not easy for her to say this in front of the younger generation, so she said slightly: "Hong'er is going to the palace for a banquet today, so I thought we might as well live together."
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the official family would hold a banquet and invite the ministers to enjoy the moon together. Sheng Hong was now a fourth-rank official, so he was naturally qualified to attend.
But the palace banquet was in the evening, and Sheng Hong also came with him.
"Haha, this is a great honor." The old lady smiled.
After chatting for a while, the group of people returned to the main hall.
Two old ladies sat at the top and chatted. Sheng Hong and Sheng Wei sat at the bottom on the left, talking quietly.
Ms. Wang on the right rarely took the initiative to chat with Mr. Li.
Mrs. Wang has always looked down on Dafang's side. She usually only says hello when she meets Li.
Mr. Li always ignored her when he wanted to talk to her, let alone took the initiative.
Today, Mrs. Sheng said she wanted to come to Dafang to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together, but she was not very willing.
Later, I heard that Sheng Shulan was back, and I wanted to inquire about the situation in the East Palace.
After all, Ru Lan will also enter the East Palace in the future.
Then he put down his posture and took the initiative to talk to Mr. Li.
While chatting, Mrs. Wang asked about Shulan’s situation in the East Palace.
With a smile on her face, Li told her what Shulan had said before.
Shu Lan is living well in the East Palace, and she, as a mother, is naturally very happy.
After hearing this, Mrs. Wang felt in her heart that Shulan, a divorced woman, could be favored because of her own family.
After all, my official is now a fourth-grade official, with a high official position. He is still the Shaoyin of Kaifeng Prefecture, handling the affairs of Kaifeng Prefecture for His Highness the Crown Prince.
My son Sheng Changbai is very valued by His Royal Highness.
When an official prince dotes on a certain concubine, in addition to love, sometimes there are also political factors. She didn't think there was anything about Shulan that His Highness the Crown Prince liked. The reason why he doted on her was just to give the Sheng family dignity.
And this Sheng family naturally has two bedrooms, not a large one.
When she thought of this, Mrs. Wang felt confident.
The prince loves Shulan so much. Rulan is the real legitimate daughter of the Sheng family, and she will be loved even more when she enters the palace.
Maybe she will be the most favored next to the Crown Princess in the future.
"What's so happy about is that we have benefited from our family."
Madam Wang looked at Mrs. Li and smiled very happily, with wrinkles on her face like blooming daisies. I muttered in my heart.
On the other side, Rulan and Shulan were inquiring about the situation in the East Palace.
She and Minglan also celebrated their birthdays not long ago, and they are now fourteen years old.
In another year it will be time for her haircut, which means she will also enter the Eastern Palace.
At this time, Rulan was much more sensible than before and knew what it meant.
Shulan didn't hide anything and told Rulan everything she knew.
Minglan was talking to Pinlan, but her ears were listening to the conversation between Shulan and Rulan.
Pin Lan complained a few times when she saw that she was always distracted.
"That's right." Shulan finished telling Rulan about the situation in the East Palace. Seeing that she didn't ask any questions, she turned to look at Minglan and said, "Minglan, why didn't you tell me that Yanran is your good friend. She was in the East Palace. But she took good care of me."
"Sister Shulan, I forgot about it before," Minglan said apologetically.
Actually, she didn't mention it on purpose. After all, she didn't know the true situation of Yu Yanran in the East Palace and didn't want to cause trouble to Yu Yanran.
Shulan didn’t think much and said with a smile: “Sister Yanran also said that after the Mid-Autumn Festival, she would invite you and Rulan to the East Palace to enjoy the flowers.”
“Sister, what can I do? Are you going?" Pinlan said excitedly.
"What are you going to do?" Shulan frowned.
The identity of Prince Rulan’s concubine has long been decided, and Minglan will also marry into the East Palace.
Speaking of which, both of them will enter the East Palace in the future, so it’s naturally okay to visit the East Palace.
But Pinlan is different, and what if Zhao Xing falls in love with Pinlan?
Although she thinks Zhao Xing is very good, she doesn’t want Pinlan to follow him into the East Palace.
Firstly, it's Pinlan's temperament, and secondly, the prince is destined to have many concubines. I don't know what will happen in the future.
She and the divorced person can serve the prince, even if she is only pampered for a period of time, she will be very satisfied.
Even if she is ignored in the future, she can accept it.
But I don’t want my sister to be like this.
If Zhao Xing knew Shulan’s thoughts, he would definitely cry out that he was wronged.
Although he is lustful, he doesn't just go to the East Palace to get a woman when he sees her.
In Zhao Xing’s standards, appearance is only one of them.
Character is the most important thing.
This character does not require how virtuous, but refers to different personalities.
Different personalities have different moods and feelings.
Pinlan's character has a lot of overlap with Rulan's. They are both innocent and straightforward.
There are no two identical leaves in the world, and naturally there are no two people with exactly the same personalities.
But their personalities are roughly the same.
Speaking of which, Shulan and Yu Yanran’s personalities also overlap. Her advantage lies in age.
Otherwise Zhao Xing would not have let her enter the East Palace.
However, Rulan Pinlan not only has a similar personality but also a similar age, so he naturally has little interest in her.
"I just want to see what the East Palace is like. Sister, just take me with you." Pinlan begged coquettishly.
"I'll ask later." Quang said perfunctorily.
She made up her mind not to take Pinlan to the East Palace. She was just afraid that Pinlan would keep telling her about it.
…………
Imperial Palace
The square outside Jiying Palace was brightly lit and tables were placed on both sides.
The officials of fourth grade and above in the court, as well as the lords, were all sitting at their desks, talking quietly to the people around them.
"Your Majesty, the Queen, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are here!"
Suddenly, the eunuch shouted, causing the originally noisy square to instantly become quiet.
All civil and military officials stood up one after another, bowed to the high platform directly above, and shouted in unison: "Welcome Your Majesty, the Queen, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
The officials and Empress Cao stood side by side, and Zhao Xing followed his father. Beside the emperor, behind him were several favored concubines of the official family.
The group of people climbed onto the high platform, and the officials stood in front of the dragon chair, waving their hands and saying: "All the ministers are safe!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Hundred officials After thanking him, he waited until all the officials, queens and princes were seated before sitting down.
The officials first said some festive words, drank a drink with the officials, and then announced the start of the banquet.
The music sounded, and a group of dancers filed out and came to the middle stage to dance.
The civil and military officials were very comfortable drinking fine wine, tasting delicious food, and admiring the graceful dancing.
"Father, please go down here."
Zhao Xing looked at it for a while and then withdrew his gaze. He looked towards the audience, stayed on one person, and said to his father. With a sound, he got off the high platform with the wine glass in hand.
(End of this chapter)