activa-t Chapter 150 Congratulations
Chapter 150 Congratulations
There were many people in the room. If only Shen Tang was there, Jiang Li would definitely tease Jiang Ning.
The Jiang family had two successful Jinshi in one exam. If they could have another son-in-law who was the top scorer, she was sure that the whole of Kyoto would be talking about the Jiang family for the next two months.
Even at this moment, people in teahouses and taverns were already discussing the Jiang family. There were families with two Jinshi (imperial jinshi) and even seven Jinshi (imperial jinshi) in the same family, but having two Jinshi in the same list was extremely rare. Even though the Jiang family was not of high status, it was still enough to be envied by the aristocratic families.
It is not enough for the ancestors to be powerful, the descendants must also be powerful, otherwise if a prodigal son appears, he will squander all the ancestral property.
Old Madam Jiang was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. She picked up the chopsticks and picked up a chicken leg and put it in Shen Tang's bowl. Madam Jiang's first and second wives also picked up some food for Shen Tang.
To repeat, if Shen Tang had not gone to take the exam that day and stopped Jiang Mingxiu and Jiang Mingyuan in time to check the things they brought into the examination room, not only would they not have passed the high school entrance exam, but if they were found to have cheating cheats, even Old Master Jiang's reputation would have been ruined.
Old Madam Jiang sincerely believed that Shen Tang was a lucky star for the Pingyuan Marquisate and the Jiang family.
The meal lasted for more than half an hour. All the rules of not talking while eating and not talking while sleeping were forgotten, and there was constant laughter and joy.
After lunch, Shen Tang sat with Old Madam Jiang for another quarter of an hour before saying goodbye. Jiang Ning sprained her ankle, so Jiang Li escorted Shen Tang out of the house.
After leaving the Jiang family's gate, Shen Tang said to Jiang Li, "From now on, you and your cousin can go to Pingyuan Marquis Mansion to find me without any worries. No one will dare to embarrass you."
Jiang Li leaned close to Shen Tang and asked in a low voice, "Did something happen that I don't know about?"
The last time my uncle, Marquis Pingyuan, came to the house and had lunch with my grandparents. After my uncle left, my grandfather said that they could go to Marquis Pingyuan's Mansion if they wanted to, but she and her elder sister had rarely been there for so many years that they really didn't dare. Now that Shen Tang said so, Jiang Li felt that something good must have happened.
Ever since her uncle came, her grandparents have been in a particularly good mood, as if a stone that had been pressing on their hearts for years has been removed. She vaguely felt that her cousin who had been missing for more than ten years might have been found, but since he had not returned to his ancestral home, she did not dare to guess.
Shen Tang smiled and said, "You will know later."
Although Jiang Li's curiosity was piqued, Shen Tang said that he had told her a long time ago, so she stopped asking and watched Shen Tang leave in the carriage.
After returning to the Marquis' Mansion, Shen Tang did not go directly back to Qingyi Garden, but went to Songhe Hall.
The news that the two young masters of the Jiang family were on the list had already spread back to the Marquis' Mansion. When she saw Shen Tang, the Fourth Madam smiled and said, "Both young masters of the Jiang family have passed the exam. This is truly a cause for celebration."
Shen Tang was also happy. The old lady instructed Mother Wang, "Please prepare some generous gifts and send them to the Jiang family for me tomorrow."
Shen Tang said, "Today is just the announcement of the results of the provincial examination. The gifts should be given after the palace examination..."
The old lady laughed, "If you are not eliminated in the palace examination, you are on the list today, which means you have already passed the exam. If you give it this time, you can give it next time as well."
People do not blame.
Thinking of the complaints and estrangement towards the Jiang family over the years, the old lady felt guilty. She would naturally cherish the opportunity to ease the relationship. Besides, even if she didn't send it, Shen Sui would still send it.
After the old lady said this, Shen Tang did not stop her. The second wife walked to the screen and just heard what the old lady said.
The old lady had mentioned the two young masters of the Jiang family this morning, and now she was sending a gift to the Jiang family, and she even asked Mother Wang to go on her behalf. This was the first time since Shen Yan disappeared for sixteen years...
The uneasiness in the second wife's heart once again crept up in her mind. She was eager to know what had happened that made the old lady change her opinion of the Jiang family and even made the old lady take the initiative to ease the relationship with the Jiang family.
Is there any news about the prince?
But if she were to get pregnant, Shen Sui would not be able to hide it, and the old lady would not hide it from her and the second master.
But the old lady distanced herself from the Jiang family because of Shen Yan. Unless she finds Shen Yan, the old lady will not change her attitude towards the Jiang family.
My intuition tells me that the second wife is related to Shen Yan.
This intuition made her feel even more uneasy. The second branch had been planning for so many years. Now that the missing prince was found, the title would be gone for the second branch!
But she couldn't take care of Shen Yan at the moment, Shen Xi's lifelong affairs were the top priority.
The second wife walked in and insincerely congratulated the Jiang family, and Shen Tang also responded perfunctorily.
Shen Tang was feeling a little tired and was about to return to Qingyi Garden. Just as she was about to get up, a maid came in and reported, "Madam, there's news from the palace that the Queen's birthday is coming soon. The Emperor is planning to hold a grand banquet for her this year, and he's inviting all civil and military officials to the palace with their families to attend the banquet."
Shen Tang, “…???”
Shen Tang was a little confused.
The emperor has been doting on Concubine Ye for more than ten years, but he is cold towards the queen.
The palace has always held grand birthday banquets only for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, so why are they suddenly holding a birthday banquet for the Empress this year?
Moreover, it was arranged in such a hurry that the Queen’s birthday banquet was just a few days away. This had never happened in my previous life.
Shen Tang felt strange, and the old lady also felt something was wrong. This matter came too suddenly. Even if the Marquis' Mansion held a birthday banquet for her, it would have to be scheduled and prepared one or two months in advance. Even if there were enough people in the palace, it would still take time for the civil and military officials to prepare birthday gifts for the queen. At least they would have to be informed half a month in advance.
But such news should not be false. The old lady instructed the fourth wife, "No matter whether this news is true or not, prepare the birthday gifts first."
The fourth wife agreed.
Chenxiang Pavilion.
Xie Guimo was reading a military book.
Chen Qi brought in tea and said, "Master, the palace will hold a birthday banquet for the Queen in a few days."
Xie Guimo was flipping through a military manual when he heard this. He paused and ordered, "Go and find out why the Emperor is suddenly holding a birthday banquet for the Empress."
Chen Qi went to do this. It was estimated that all the civil and military officials in the court were wondering at this time and were trying to find out. The emperor's sudden change of attitude towards the queen might be related to the succession of the crown prince, so they had to pay attention to it.
After reading a military book, the person sent to inquire returned and reported to Xie Guimo, "It was Concubine Ye who proposed to hold a grand birthday banquet for the Queen. She said that there has been no birthday banquet for the Queen in so many years, and it is right to hold a grand one and let all the civil and military officials congratulate the Queen on her birthday."
Does Concubine Ye have such good intentions?
Xie Guimo didn't believe it.
If you really have this intention, you wouldn't have proposed it to the Emperor only on the Queen's birthday.
For so many years, the palace has never held a grand birthday banquet for the Queen, and naturally has never held one for Concubine Ye. Even if Concubine Ye is favored by the Emperor, she cannot surpass the Queen.
This time, Concubine Ye proposed that the Emperor hold a birthday banquet for the Empress. Either she wanted to have a grand birthday banquet herself, or she wanted to use the guise of the Empress' birthday to achieve some ulterior motive.
Thinking of the plans of the Marquis of Changping and Shen Xian in his mind, Xie Guimo's eyes turned cold.