Red Mansion: After being expelled from the family, I was granted the title of Marquis of Mobei

Chapter 45: The Crown Prince's Affairs, Ningguo Mansion Banquet
For this reason, the Queen personally asked someone to seek matchmaking from the Lady of the Duke of England, hoping that her brother would marry Zhang Guifen.

However, this marriage was politely rejected by the Duke and Lady of England.

First of all, the Duke of England had no intention of participating in the fight for the throne.

Given the current status of the Zhang family, no matter which prince finally takes the throne, it is impossible for him to openly attack the British.

After all, Duke Ying has been in charge of the Zhenbei Army for many years. He is highly respected in the court and is loyal to the emperor and the country. He is a first-class loyal and good minister.

Unless he was out of his mind, no emperor would take action against such a minister.

Secondly, General Shen Congxing of Weibei was also looked down upon by the Duke of Ying.

Apart from being the Queen's brother, he was just a mediocre man, and the Duke of England felt that he was not worthy of his precious daughter.

In addition, Shen Congxing's family had a concubine named Xiao Zou who was granted a title. If his daughter married into the family, there would be chaos all day long, and everyone would be competing for favor.

Therefore, the Duke and Duchess of England rejected the marriage.

As a result, the Duke of England is now eager to marry his daughter to Jia Jue. The two women will share one husband. If Empress Shen knew about this, she would definitely feel uncomfortable.

After listening to Xia Shouzhong's words, Emperor Yongping looked at Xia Shouzhong meaningfully and said.

"You've been very thoughtful. In your opinion, how should I appease the Queen? Should I simply appoint the eldest prince as the Crown Prince?"

Xia Shouzhong was so scared that he instantly knelt on the ground, trembling all over. He quickly slapped himself twice and said.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being too talkative."

Emperor Yongping snorted coldly and said.

"I am still alive and well. It is my sole decision to appoint someone as the Crown Prince."

"You think you can influence my thoughts by winning over a few court officials? How ridiculous."

"You are my servant. When will it be your turn to have other ideas?"

"I dare not, I dare not."

Xia Shouzhong then kowtowed like crazy, and soon blood began to flow from his forehead.

Seeing that the cooking time was almost right, Emperor Yongping waved his hand and said.

"Okay, stop dirtying my land."

"Go away, it won't happen again."

"I obey your command, I obey your command."

Xia Shouzhong hurriedly wiped the floor clean and then left the Qianqing Palace.

Looking at Xia Shouzhong's leaving back, Emperor Yongping felt a sense of helplessness in his heart.

Emperor Yongping is already in his forties this year, and the eldest and second princes are both adults.

Emperor Yongping was also extremely conflicted about the issue of appointing a crown prince.

According to common sense, the eldest prince is the eldest son of the Empress, and the position of crown prince should belong to the eldest prince.

But Emperor Yongping was really worried about his cowardly eldest son, fearing that he would not be able to support the foundation he had laid.

But if the second prince is made the heir, it will surely draw criticism from the court officials. If one is not careful, it will cause a stir in the court and the country, and there will be no peace.

Therefore, Emperor Yongping was also very troubled by the issue of appointing a crown prince.

Emperor Yongping usually only knew that the court officials were discussing the issue of choosing a crown prince, but he never thought that even Xia Shouzhong had accepted benefits from the queen.

Xia Shouzhong's remarks just now clearly showed his intention to speak up for the Queen, which made Emperor Yongping feel very disgusted.

When making decisions, you should always consider the Queen's feelings.

After expressing his feelings for a while, Emperor Yongping continued to review the memorials.

In the evening, in the boudoir of Zhang Guifen, the princess of Yong'an County in Yingzhou Prefecture, Lady Liu, the wife of the Duke of Yingzhou, was feeding porridge to her daughter.

Seeing that Zhang Guifen's eyes finally lit up, Liu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After drinking a bowl of porridge, Zhang Guifen's complexion looked much better. Then Zhang Guifen looked at her mother Liu with some guilt and said.

"Mom, I'm sorry for causing you and Dad so much trouble because of my daughter's matter. I'm really sorry for being unfilial."

Liu held Zhang Guifen's hand and patted it gently before saying.

"Silly child, don't say that."

"Everyone has been young, and it's inevitable to be trapped in love."

"As long as I help you and you get better, your father and I won't care about that so-called face."

"When Mom was pregnant with you, she was already over 40 years old. Do you know how many people laughed at her then?"

"They say my mother is a pearl born from an old clam."

"But I don't care. Let them laugh as much as they want. I know what I want."

"Mother doesn't want anything else, all she wants is you, her daughter."

"Regarding this marriage, no one, including me, your father, and your brothers and sisters-in-law, blames you."

"It's just that everyone couldn't bear to see you so depressed, so they took the initiative to discuss this matter with the Sheng family."

"Fen'er, although it's done now, there's one thing you need to know."

"Champion Marquis Keng nodded, not because he was afraid of our family, but because your father had done him a favor, and he didn't want your father to suffer the pain of losing his daughter, to see his son die young."

"The Sheng family agreed because Sixth Miss Sheng wanted to help Marquis Guanjun in the court, so she sacrificed herself."

"The Champion Marquis himself doesn't have much affection for you. Emotionally, you are far, far inferior to Miss Sheng Liu."

"Whether you can live a happy and comfortable life in the future when you enter the Marquis' Mansion will depend on how you get along with Marquis Guanjun and Miss Sheng Liu."

"You must remember, don't think of yourself as a noble lady or a princess. You must get along well with Miss Sheng Liu from the bottom of your heart. Only in this way can you win your husband's heart."

"Don't even think of any messy tricks. Champion Hou is a man who doesn't tolerate any sand in his eyes. Do you understand what I mean?"

Zhang Guifen nodded shyly and said.

"Don't worry, mother. I've never been one to engage in intrigue or scheme."

"I just don't know if Miss Sheng Liu is easy to get along with."

Liu said after a gentle smile.

"Don't worry about that. I've made inquiries."

"Sixth Miss Sheng is a gentle and virtuous person, not the kind of person who likes to be bossed around."

"Of course, she must have some resentment towards you, but it doesn't matter. As long as you treat her sincerely, I believe she won't deliberately go against you."

"If we really lower our stance and she still refuses to give in, then don't worry about the rest. Mother has her reasons."

Zhang Guifen was so moved after hearing this that she hugged her mother.

"Mother, you and father have been so kind to your daughter. If there is an afterlife, I will still be your daughter."

Mrs. Liu patted Zhang Guifen's back gently and said.

"Okay, we will be mother and daughter for the rest of our lives."

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Have some more porridge."

"You've been in poor health recently, you need to replenish your body."

"If you get married looking so pale and thin, your mother would be worried that you would faint in the sedan chair." Zhang Guifen said shyly.

"Mom, you're making fun of your daughter again."

Seeing the genuine smile on Zhang Guifen's face, Liu felt very relieved.

Although the process was a bit bumpy, my daughter finally got through it.

While Liu and Zhang Guifen were having a heart-to-heart talk with each other, the atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious, but the Kunning Palace was in chaos.

After learning the reasons and consequences of Emperor Yongping's decree to grant Princess Yong'an a marriage, Empress Shen angrily picked up the teacup beside her and threw it to the ground, smashing it to pieces. Her face turned ashen with anger.

"Well, well, well, you, the Duke of England, Zhang Bi, are so ungrateful."

"I sincerely asked my brother to marry your daughter, but you refused."

"And now you're eager to let your daughter share a husband with the concubine's daughter of a minor official."

"That slap you gave was really loud."

"We'll see. Let's wait and see."

Everyone in Kunning Palace was instantly terrified and knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.

The next day, in the Marquis of Guanjun's mansion, Jia Jue was chatting with Wang Xifeng.

Wang Xifeng looked at Jia Jue cautiously and said.

"My Lord, your wedding is coming soon. Shouldn't I also make some preparations?"

Jia Jue said after smiling calmly.

"That's a matter between you and the two ladies in the future. You can decide it yourselves."

"If they want to be the housekeepers, just hand over the power to them without hesitation."

"Anyway, the Wang family has sent all your dowry, so you're a wealthy woman."

"Plus, I'm here, so your daily expenses can be reduced."

Wang Xifeng said with some reluctance.

"I'm not talking about food, clothing, and other expenses. I'm, yes..."

After hearing this, Jia Jue lifted Wang Xifeng's chin slightly, looked at her beautiful face and said meaningfully.

"Why, you are reluctant to give up the power of steward."

Wang Xifeng said shyly.

"Not really. I just feel that the Marquis will be very busy with official duties in the future, plus there are two wives. I have to find something to do in the future, otherwise I will be very bored in this Marquis's mansion."

Jia Jue said after giving Wang Xifeng a light kiss.

"You, what a life of toil! Why don't you just do your own thing steadily? Why bother managing these trivial matters? Others would be too bothered by them, yet you rush in to take care of them."

Wang Xifeng said with a shy smile.

"My Lord, please stop making fun of me."

"You are a marshal commanding thousands of troops, so you will definitely not care about such a small matter in the mansion."

"But I'm just a little girl, and I don't have any grand ambitions. I just think it's good to have something to do."

Jia Jue said after a moment of thought.

"Okay, let's put it this way. After the two ladies marry into the family, they should both bring their dowry maids with them."

"I'll discuss it with them when the time comes. They'll take charge of the household affairs, and you'll be in charge of the specific matters. Just arrange for the dowry maids to handle them."

"As for the future, that depends on how you get along with the two ladies, okay."

Jia Jue could see through Wang Xifeng's little thoughts.

Wang Xifeng was reluctant to give up the power of housekeeper, simply because she wanted to improve her status in Jia Jue's heart.

After all, after Sheng Minglan and Zhang Guifen got married, her life as a concubine would definitely not be as good as before. Even if Sheng Minglan and Zhang Guifen would not make things difficult for her, she would have two more people above her, so she would have to pay more attention on a daily basis.

Wang Xifeng has no other talents, but she is quite experienced in housekeeping.

So she was unwilling to give up all these and simply be a canary for Jia Jue. Wang Xifeng was very clear that those who use their beauty to please men will lose their love as their beauty fades.

Wang Xifeng hopes to demonstrate her value and gain Jia Jue's attention.

Jia Jue naturally understood this.

After hearing Jia Jue's promise, Wang Xifeng smiled brightly on her beautiful face. She kissed Jia Jue and said.

"Thank you, my Lord, for your understanding of me."

Jia Jue chuckled, then put his arms around Wang Xifeng's soft waist and said.

"I am so considerate of you, so you should also be considerate of me."

Feeling the warmth coming from her body, Wang Xifeng's pretty face turned red and she lowered her head shyly and said.

"My Lord, it's daytime now. Please wait until night. I will serve you well at night."

As soon as Wang Xifeng finished speaking, she couldn't help but let out a cry.

I saw Jia Jue had already picked up Wang Xifeng.

"It will be dark once the curtains are drawn. Come on, come in."

After hearing this, Wang Xifeng became even more shy and buried her head in Jia Jue's arms.

Soon after the two entered the bedroom, the primitive rhythm echoed in the room.

(PS: You guys are all staunch proletarian fighters, and you definitely don’t like reading these detailed descriptions, so ten chapters are omitted here.)
In the evening, the lights in Ningguo Mansion gradually lit up, making the carved beams and painted buildings, pavilions and towers look magnificent.

In front of Tianxiang Tower, servants stood with their hands hanging down, respectfully welcoming the children of noble families from all sides.

Not long after, Jia Zhen and Jia Lian came out in gorgeous clothes, looking very happy. They exchanged greetings with the young men from the aristocratic families and then went into the building together.

As you step into Tianxiang Tower, the sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras are endless, like the floating music of heaven.

Inside the hall, several round sandalwood tables were already filled with delicacies. On the porcelain plates with auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes, there were rare birds and beasts hunted from the deep mountains and old forests, carefully cooked by famous chefs, exuding an enticing aroma; there were also fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, skillfully arranged on the plates, like works of art.

On the central platform, more than a dozen gorgeous dancers danced with long sleeves and graceful postures. As they spun, colorful ribbons flew, like clouds from the sky drifting down to the earth, drawing cheers from the audience.

Just when the atmosphere was getting heated, Jia Zhen picked up his wine glass and said with a smile.

"Everyone, I'm hosting a banquet at my residence today. I've prepared some light wine as a token of my appreciation."

"It's rare for you brothers to show such support. I am deeply grateful and have no way to repay you."

"For this purpose, I have specially invited Miss Zhang Haohao, the top courtesan of Shuangxilou, to perform for you."

"Today everyone drinks heartily and does not leave until drunk."

Upon hearing this, the young men from the noble families in the field instantly became excited.

You know, Zhang Haohao is the number one courtesan in the capital and is famous throughout the capital.

Even in Shuangxi Tower, it is difficult to see Zhang Haohao easily. Unless you are a wealthy man who can spend a lot of money, it is impossible to catch a glimpse of her beauty.

Moreover, these children of aristocratic families are basically all wives of officials, and they rarely go to places like Shuangxi Tower for fear of breaking the law and causing trouble for their families.

(PS: The first eighty chapters of A Dream of Red Mansions describe various romantic affairs, but never describe a nobleman from an aristocratic family going to a brothel. Even a lustful man like Jia Lian, when he couldn't hold back his lust, if there were no women around, would not go to a brothel even if he used a servant to relieve his sexual desire. Only sons of merchants like Xue Pan and people from the market like Liu Xianglian went to brothels, because it was illegal for officials and nobles to go to brothels, brothels and other places of private prostitution.)
(End of this chapter)