The beloved baby has a space

Chapter 231 Speculating on the Reasons
In Baihua County, the Murong family was a large family, but compared to the entire Dachang, they were nothing special.

Because of Old Master Qiu's connections, ordinary nobles were relatively polite to their family, but the old-established nobles would not associate with them.

Their family belonged to the imperial merchants. As the saying goes, "scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants," merchants had a very low social status. Moreover, merchants could not take the imperial examinations for three generations. It was not easy to enter the merchant register, and it was even more difficult to leave it.

Once you've earned a certain amount of money and gained a certain social status, you'll become a merchant.

Opening a small street stall is for ordinary people, as is opening a small shop. But if you want to make a big business, you have to go to the government to get official documents, so you have to change your business registration.

But imperial merchants were different. They were not restricted from participating in the imperial examinations, but they paid 20% more taxes than ordinary merchants. Even so, they could still make a fortune.

Murong Run couldn't make up his mind, so he simply took the invitation to his father.

"Father, I received this invitation, but I don't know how to respond." Murong Run handed the invitation to Master Murong.

“You’re all grown up now, you should be sensible. You should be able to handle this small matter of an invitation yourself. Why are you asking your father?” As he spoke, Master Murong took the invitation, but when he saw the large gold characters at the top, he almost dropped it.

"The Duke of Yong's Mansion?! Run'er, why would the Duke of Yong's Mansion send you an invitation?"

Murong Run shook his head: "I don't know either."

This was a very simple invitation, inviting Murong Run to Wanning City for a chrysanthemum banquet scheduled for two months later.

The invitation was dated several months ago, so it must have been delivered by express courier, with plenty of time to spare.

There was no specific inviter; it was only said that it invited Murong Run, the young master of the Murong family, and the signature was the official seal of the Duke of Yong's mansion.

It was like an invitation from the Duke's mansion to him.

Master Murong felt a toothache: "Is this fake?"

Murong Run was even more undecided.

"You should take it and ask your grandfather," said Master Murong.

So, Murong Run took the invitation to the Qiu residence. Old Master Qiu looked at the invitation for a while. His expression towards Murong Run was somewhat complicated: "Run'er, think carefully, when you went to Nanhe Town before, did you encounter any special people or things?"

Murong Run thought for a long time, then shook his head: "There really aren't any more, except for the ones I told you about before. Grandfather, is there a problem with these invitations?"

"There's no problem. This is the seal of the Duke of Yong's mansion, and the handwriting is the same as that used by their steward. It wasn't just a random imitation." That's what puzzled Old Master Qiu.

Unlike other noble families, the Duke of Yongguo's family generally did not associate with other noble families and kept a low profile.

In particular, their family had produced two empresses, yet there had never been any instances of relatives interfering in politics, nor had any of them held important positions in the court.

Duke Yong was once a great general who fought on the battlefield. After retiring, he devoted himself to raising flowers and birds. Some children had never even heard of him.

The Murong family also kept a low profile, especially after Old Master Qiu's admonition, they did not get too involved with those princes and nobles.

If that's the case, why would the Duke of Yong's mansion send out invitations?

Or should it be given to Murong Run, who is far away in Baihua County?

Murong Run suddenly widened his eyes: "Grandpa, could it be—"

Old Master Qiu also realized that if there was anything they had done that could attract the attention of the nobles outside, it was only the fruit that Murong Run had brought back earlier.

Old Master Qiu packed two portions, one of which was given to the Grand Tutor who is still in office today, a former colleague of his.

The other gift was given to Old Master Qiu's youngest daughter, who was in the palace at the time, and is now Consort Jing.

Previously, Consort Jing had written home saying that she had a poor appetite and wanted to eat something from her hometown.

Old Master Qiu, feeling sorry for his daughter, asked Old Madam Qiu to take a portion of it to the palace.

(End of this chapter)