The banquet dispersed after noon, but the guests did not disperse just like that.
The male guests followed the emperor to sit in the side hall. The older generation reminisced about the past, and the young people chatted and showed off their talents in front of the emperor and princes.
Concubine Xian took the female guests to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the scenery.
Chu Xiurong stood in front of the main hall, watching the female guests go to the harem surrounded by the eunuchs and maids. Princess Jin Yao and Chen Danzhu walked together in the crowd. They didn't know what they said, and they laughed together.
Concubine Xu slowly walked out of the side hall where she was dressing. Her behavior was as decent as before, but her face was a little stiff.
"Mother Concubine." Chu Xiurong called and walked towards Concubine Xu.
Concubine Xu did not avoid her, but stopped to wait for her. The maids retreated to one side, avoiding her just right and then surrounding her.
"Concubine, you are really worrying too much." Chu Xiurong said helplessly, "Miss Danzhu will not do anything to me."
Concubine Xu was not surprised at all when Chu Xiurong found out that she was going to see Chen Danzhu. In other words, she just wanted him to find out that everything was as she expected, with only one small surprise——
Concubine Xu took a deep breath, recovered her distracted energy, and looked at him: "I'm not worrying too much about her, I'm worrying too much about you. She doesn't want to do more, don't you?"
Chu Xiurong thought for a while, yes, no matter what, when that moment came, he would not allow himself to choose anyone else.
Concubine Xu looked at him with an expression that I knew: "Instead of being embarrassed by her rejection in public, why don't I let you simply give up." Thinking of this, she thought of Chen Danzhu again, "Axiu, Chen Danzhu, this
people--"
She reached out and pressed her heart, took a deep breath, and seemed a little speechless.
Chen Danzhu can really make people angry. Chu Xiurong pursed his lips and smiled: "Did she quarrel with you?"
"It would be better if she quarreled with me." Concubine Xu said angrily, "When she asked me for money, she asked me for three million dollars."
Chu Xiurong laughed: "Then I'm really not cheap."
Of course it’s not cheap! Three million dollars, does this little girl know how much it means? How can she open her mouth!
Chen Danzhu opened her mouth nervously, she, Concubine Xu, is not at the mercy of others!
So she put aside the deep love between mother and son and talked about the importance of money first. Chen Danzhu also put aside the beauty of adulthood and started to settle accounts with her.
Concubine Xu said how poor the Xia court was, and she insinuated that Chen Danzhu, as the daughter of an evil minister of princes and kings, should also know that, so how could she, a concubine, have so much money.
Chen Danzhu complained that since the death of the Wu Kingdom, she had nothing, so she blocked the way to rob the sick, quarreled with the young palace eunuch, even the guards' salaries, and went to the guards' office to cause trouble, all because they had no money.
We also need to calculate the income of King Qi and Commandery of Qi——
She even bluntly said that she had a bad reputation, so King Qi treated her differently. If King Qi was wrong, she would probably be alone for the rest of her life - it costs a lot of money to support her in old age.
The two of them didn't look like they were talking about their children at all. It was as if they were buying and selling in the market.
Moreover, Concubine Xu could see that Chen Danzhu really wanted the money and was not joking. After some entanglement, Concubine Xu did not waste her words and finally lowered the price to two million yuan.
Thinking of this, Concubine Xu couldn't help but let out a long breath, and then took another breath. What's so happy about this!
She had truly seen how abominable Chen Danzhu was, no wonder everyone avoided mentioning her, even the emperor had a headache.
"And she wants me to pay it all in one lump sum." Concubine Xu endured her anger and looked at Chu Xiurong, "In addition to this woman, she has a good-looking face and such a perverse temper. How did you fall in love with her?"
Although Concubine Xu did not explain the process in detail, Chu Xiurong could imagine what Concubine Xu had gone through in front of Chen Danzhu, looking at her expression.
Lose your temper."
Concubine Xu sneered, not wanting to bring up this topic again. In any case, her goal was achieved - rather than convincing Chen Danzhu, it was to make Chu Xiurong see clearly.
"Ah Xiu, you have always been a sensible person." Concubine Xu said, "I went to tell Chen Danzhu about this. She didn't cry or argue with me, she didn't stay silent or reason, but she directly asked for money. This is what she said.
She doesn't care about you anymore, you should know it in your heart, so I won't say more."
Having said this, Concubine Xu clenched her hands again, gritted her teeth, and turned to look at the nearest eldest maid.
"Go tell my uncle and ask him to prepare the money, write the receipt, and give it to Chen Danzhu immediately."
With this deal, she was completely relieved. No matter whether it was intercession or reasoning, Chen Danzhu was not qualified to be her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law anymore. Concubine Xu said and walked away with the maid.
Chu Xiurong looked at Concubine Xu's figure and stood there without calling her again, silent and speechless.
Xiaoqu stood a few steps away and did not dare to disturb him. When he was helpless, the prince led King Yan and King Lu out of the main hall. At this time, most of the guests in the hall had left.
"Third brother," the prince called, "What are you still doing standing there? Go to Father's house quickly."
King Yan followed Chu Xiurong's gaze and looked at the female guests walking towards the harem, and said with a smile, "Third brother, I just want to take a few more glances."
King Lu nodded hurriedly and followed the female guest over there with his eyes: "Yes, we should follow the mother and concubine and go to the father's place. What's there to see in a group of men?"
The prince turned around and yelled: "Don't talk nonsense!"
King Lu hurriedly shrank his head and talked.
The prince softened his expression and said comfortingly: "I know that today is your big day, and it also affects your whole life." He said with a smile, "Listen to brother, my father has already made arrangements and will let you see clearly.
"
King Lu was happy and curious: "Is it true? Your Royal Highness, how did your father arrange it? What did you arrange?"
But when he asked again, the prince didn't say anything. He only said that he would know after a while, and then called Chu Xiurong.
"Come on, everyone is waiting to hear what you have to say about using strategies to win soldiers. Don't let down your father's high hopes."
The people who came this time were all nobles, and the nobles were still very dissatisfied with the use of tactics to win scholars.
Chu Xiurong responded and followed them to the side hall.
There were no tables for singing and dancing in the side hall. The emperor was leaning on the table. The nobles, dignitaries and officials were seated on both sides. Compared with the banquet, everyone was closer and the atmosphere was much more relaxed. When the prince came in with the three princes, they were
A young prince blushed and read an article he had written in front of the emperor. The emperor nodded with a smile, which made the young people around him even more eager to try.
Seeing the prince and the others coming in, everyone hurriedly saluted. The emperor waved to the three princes, "You can sit wherever you like. Sit among everyone."
So the three kings of Yan, Qi, and Lu sat separately in the crowd. The emperor looked at the prince again, but did not let him sit down, and asked: "How are the preparations at Tingyun Temple?"
The prince said: "It should be ready. I will ask someone to get it now." He turned around and went out.
People around were curious about what the emperor said.
"The imperial master has prepared some gifts to congratulate the new king on his conferment." The emperor smiled and said without further mention, he motioned to the young man in front of him, "Come on, Mr. Xue family, you continue."
The young master's melodious voice sounded in the side hall. The prince stood outside the hall and looked at the several eunuchs standing beside the emperor.
"Go." He said, his eyes falling on one of the eunuchs, "Ask the Imperial Master if he is ready."
The eunuch who was looked at by the prince did not raise his head, as if he didn't know that the prince was looking at him. He just lowered his body and followed the others in saluting and saying yes.
.....
.....
When the eunuchs from the palace came to Dingyun Temple, there were monks waiting for them.
"Master has prepared it," the monk said. "Please wait a moment, please, father-in-law. I will go get it."
Tingyun Temple was no other place, and the eunuchs around the emperor did not dare to be rude. They responded by sitting down. Only one eunuch said: "Slave, please help me get it."
The monk did not refuse and took him to where Master Huizhi was.
Master Huizhi was meditating in the Buddhist hall. Hearing his purpose, he pointed to a square box placed in front of the Buddha.
The monk understood and came forward to hold it. The waiting eunuch hurriedly reached out to take it, but did not say goodbye and left. He closed his eyes and bowed to Master Huizhi.
"National Master." He whispered, "His Royal Highness, I have something to ask of you."
Master Huizhi opened his eyes: "What's the matter?"
The eunuch glanced at the box: "Your Highness would like to ask for a lucky bag for the fifth prince."
The fifth prince, as a guilty person, has been forgotten by the emperor. As a fellow brother, it is not surprising that the prince secretly thinks about him. Master Huizhi recited the Buddha's name: "Okay, I will also write a Buddhist verse for the fifth prince."
The eunuch said: "Two pieces."
One person, one lucky bag, but he wants two Buddhist verses? Master Huizhi paused and looked at the eunuch.
The eunuch lowered his head and said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's wishes will be fulfilled by the Imperial Master. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will also bear in mind the Imperial Master's kindness."
