Shen Shen Shen doesn't pursue men, only money

Eunuch Liu bowed even lower: "The young eunuch didn't dare to get too close at that time. After listening to the general situation, he asked the guards of the Imperial Army guarding the door for more information. He came back and told me that the three adults seemed to be discussing marriage."

"Discussing marriage?" Emperor Huai Sheng became interested. He put down the memorial in his hand, leaned back in the large chair with a flying dragon carved on it, and stared at Eunuch Liu majestically.

"Your Majesty, it is said that the Prince Zhong and the second son of the Duke are both seeking to marry the second Miss Shen, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis An."

"Shen Qingming's second daughter? Why haven't I heard of her?"

"Um... I dare to tell you a few rumors I heard. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"I forgive you for not being guilty."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. As far as I know, the rumor in the capital is that the second daughter of Marquis Anbo is ordinary-looking, fat, dull, and even a little..." He raised his head slightly to glance at the emperor, and seeing that his master had no emotion, he mustered up his courage and bowed and said, "A little stupid."

Emperor Huai Sheng simply glanced at Eunuch Liu. Eunuch Liu immediately knelt down and explained in a shrill voice: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I also reported it truthfully. Otherwise, I would not dare to criticize the children of important officials in the court even if I had a hundred guts."

"Get up. I've said before, you are not guilty." Then, Emperor Huai Sheng frowned and said, "I have watched Ziyuan grow up. Prince Zhong made him the crown prince early because he is extremely smart and has some friendship with my third prince. No matter how you look at it, he doesn't seem to like stupid people. And it is said that the second lady is not beautiful?"

"Your Majesty, this is what I heard."

"As for Mu Sheng's second son, I don't know much about him, but I heard from the Queen that her nephew is handsome. Mu Sheng is also very concerned about his reputation. How could the Duke's Mansion be willing to accept the stupid Second Miss Shen?"

"Your Majesty, I think that in terms of appearance, Madam Shen of the Marquis's Mansion was a beauty as famous as the Empress, and Marquis Shen was also a handsome man. Their daughter should not be as coarse and ugly as the rumors say."

"Yes. Shen Qingming has some skills to be able to raise a daughter that both families fight for."

Eunuch Liu didn't dare to respond.

"Let's put it this way. At the end of this year, the four countries will gather to discuss border trade. The envoys and wives of Nanxiang, Xizhu, and Beiyan will all come to Dongxiang to discuss the distribution of trade harvests. The Queen will definitely hold a chrysanthemum viewing banquet to entertain the wives of the envoys from the three countries. Let the Queen invite Miss Shen Er. I am also a little curious about what Miss Shen Er is like."

"I obey your order." He bowed and left, telling the eunuch to pass on the message. After a while, Eunuch Liu came back, "Your Majesty, thank you for your audience, Master."

Emperor Huai Sheng said in a majestic voice: "Announce."

A young minister with an outstanding figure was led into the study by Eunuch Liu.

A young eunuch in the court had just received the emperor's oral order from the imperial study, and he quickly walked from the imperial study through the Qianqing Palace to the Kunning Palace, the symbol of the highest power in the harem.

Kunning Palace, located in the central palace of the inner court, is the sleeping palace of Empress Mu Yanran. This palace symbolizes the bright moon in the sky. Living here symbolizes the highest power and status among the women of Dongxiang.

When the young eunuch arrived at Kunning Palace, he explained his purpose to the palace maid on duty at the door and was then led into the main hall.

Queen Mu Yanran of Dongxiang seemed to be chatting with Concubine Qing about gossip in the palace.

After the maid informed her, Concubine Qing stood up and bowed to say goodbye: "Your Majesty, it is getting late. I will take my leave now and come to talk to you another day."

The queen, whose beauty was beyond compare, nodded and said gently, "Sister Qing Fei, there is no need to be so polite." She turned to the head maid Youlan and said, "See Qing Fei off for me."

"Yes, your majesty." She stepped forward to lead Concubine Qing out of the palace.

As Concubine Qing left, she pretended to glance casually at the young eunuch waiting on the side, without saying much, and walked out of Kunning Palace swaying her slender waist.

"Tell me, Your Majesty, what do you want me to do?" the Queen asked as she held up an exquisite tea bowl, the lid gently sweeping away the foam on the tea leaves.

The young eunuch bowed respectfully and said, "In reply to the Queen, His Majesty has ordered that the ladies of the three kingdoms will have a chrysanthemum-viewing banquet in the second half of the month. Please invite the second daughter of Anbo Hou Shen Qingming to attend as well."

"The second daughter of Marquis Anbo?" Queen Mu was alert: she was not familiar with this daughter of the Marquis. Why would His Majesty suddenly pay attention to the daughter of a minister? Would he take her into the palace again?

When she thought of this possibility, Empress Mu's face darkened: "Do you know why His Majesty suddenly wanted the second daughter of the Shen family to accompany him to the palace?"

The young eunuch was also a shrewd man. Of course he knew what the queen meant by that. He said respectfully in a shrill voice, "I only know that it seems that the prince Zhong and the second son of the Duke's Mansion are going to discuss marriage with Miss Shen from the Marquis' Mansion. I don't know anything else. I hope your majesty will forgive me."

This information is enough. "I understand. You can leave now. Reward."

The young eunuch was overjoyed. He bowed respectfully and followed the palace maid out.

As long as it wasn't a new person being admitted into the palace, Queen Mu would be relieved. But since it involved her natal family, the Duke's Mansion, it seemed necessary to make some inquiries.

"Red sandalwood."

"I'm here." Another pretty palace maid who served closely stepped forward and saluted immediately.

"Go and find out what happened to the second daughter of the Marquis of Anbo. Also, go and tell Lord Mu Yun, how long has it been since my niece came to pay her respects to me? Does she still have eyes for me, her aunt?"

"Yes, your majesty." After saying this, she walked out of the main hall quickly.

Seeing that there were no outsiders in the room, Queen Mu leaned on the beauty couch. She was extremely beautiful, with fair and translucent skin that seemed to glow, thin eyebrows, red lips, and upturned eyes. She naturally exuded a noble aura of a superior looking down on others.

Prince Zhong's Mansion

After dinner, the prince called Zhu Yanxiao to his study.

"Father, are you looking for me here because the marriage proposal with the Marquis's Mansion has come to a conclusion?" Zhu Yanxiao asked directly while bowing and talking to the prince.

Prince Zhong was still sitting in the armchair behind the desk, looking at his eldest son in front of him and said, "I mentioned this matter to Marquis Anbo today, but the marriage proposal was not finalized."

Zhu Yanxiao's heart sank, and he asked tentatively, "Father, did Marquis An refuse?"

"That's not the case. It's just that when my father was talking to Marquis An, that old man Mu Sheng suddenly interrupted and said that the Marquis An was interested in marrying the Duke's Mansion, so why did our Prince Zhong's Mansion interfere? Ziyuan, explain to me clearly, what is going on?"

Zhu Yanxiao felt relieved when he saw his father's expression, which showed no emotion. Although his father's tone was questioning, he still understood his father, and this expression meant that everything was still under his father's control.

So he did not hide anything and briefly told Prince Zhong the whole cause and effect of yesterday's events.

After hearing this, Prince Zhong glared at his eldest son angrily and said, "Ziyuan, ah Ziyuan, your father is really like what Mu Sheng said. Prince Zhong's Mansion has stolen your love and forced his way into the marriage between the Duke's Mansion and the Anbo Marquis' Mansion."

Zhu Yanxiao knelt down quickly and said, "Father, it is indeed my fault for not explaining it to you in advance. Please punish me."

Prince Zhong did not speak. He waited for more than ten breaths before he said, "Get up."

Zhu Yanxiao quickly stood up, bowed respectfully and spoke.