In the flower hall, Madam Zhao sat at the head of the table, while Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun sat side-by-side on the lower left.
Madam Zhao looked at the young couple and said earnestly,
"I attended the banquet today and understood their intentions."
Madam Zhao paused, and Su Xiaoqi quickly poured her a cup of tea.
After taking a sip, Madam Zhao said, "I will not enter the Ning King's manor."
Su Xiaoqi felt a sense of relief and an inexplicable peace.
Before this, she had feared that Madam Zhao might still harbor feelings for Shen Zhongwen.
Or that she might impulsively decide to enter the Ning King's manor with the idea of Shen Yun inheriting the princely title.
Fortunately, she hadn't.
"This is my decision. My husband died fifteen years ago.
This is what I know, and I only need to know this.
But I will not interfere with your thoughts.
After all, he is Yun Ge'er's father."
Madam Zhao's words were clear.
As she had lived in the capital for a longer time, Madam Zhao's Bashu accent had faded to the point of being imperceptible.
She would not follow the Ning King into the Ning King's manor, nor did she ever consider fighting for anything that rightfully belonged to their family.
She felt that her current life was good.
All the bitterness had been tasted in the first half of her life.
Now was the time for sweetness.
Xiaoqi was right.
A woman's happiness did not stem from a man.
It originated from herself.
As long as she pursued happiness, happiness would eventually knock on her door.
Shen Yun caressed the teacup in his hand and said, "Mother, we think the same way."
He told Madam Zhao that he and Xiaoqi had never considered going to the Ning King's manor.
Just as Madam Zhao thought.
He felt that their family's current life was very good.
It did not require any external support.
Moreover, with Xiaoqi and himself, their future days would only get better.
The family had revealed their true thoughts, and everyone understood.
The solemn atmosphere vanished, and the mood became warm and harmonious again.
At the same time, it was decided that this matter should not be mentioned to Shen Mingzhu unless absolutely necessary, to avoid affecting her mood.
Shen Yun informed them that he would be very busy for the next few days.
This was because tomorrow was the formal enthronement ceremony.
The following days would be filled with banquets and arrangements for various programs for the envoys from foreign countries.
Su Xiaoqi thought of Shen Yun, such a refined and elegant gentleman, arranging things for people of various foreign appearances, and it felt incongruous.
She exclaimed that her husband was at a disadvantage.
"What about Wang Enze? He is so sociable and adaptable; he is more suited for this job."
"He is serving as an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Revenue," Shen Yun said meaningfully. "The Ministry of Revenue is more suitable for him."
Su Xiaoqi blinked, indicating that she didn't understand.
Shen Yun said, "Thanks to Assistant Minister Wang, after the events of Prince Ping's and the Emperor's enthronement,
the national treasury not only did not deplete but was actually replenished. The Tongzhou granary, which had never been full, was filled with 300,000 shi of grain this time."
Even if the weather was unfavorable this year, and another disaster struck, they would not have to worry for the time being.
Su Xiaoqi understood. So, this Wang Enze was a money-grabbing expert.
He was very good at accumulating wealth, managing to fill the national treasury even in these troubled times.
She was very curious about what methods he used.
Shen Yun smiled inscrutably, letting Su Xiaoqi guess.
Su Xiaoqi shook her head and said she couldn't guess.
She tugged on Shen Yun's arm, urging him to tell her, or she would get angry.
Shen Yun, knowing full well she was pretending, did not dare to ignore her. He came forward, held her, and coaxed her for a long time.
Madam Zhao, watching the couple's affection, was happy.
But for some reason, her mind suddenly recalled the scene when she encountered Shen Zhongwen deep in the Imperial Garden that day.
He hadn't changed at all.
Time had been too gentle to him.
Yet she had been worn down by life into an old woman.
Prematurely aged, nothing less.
Their relationship had been unequal from the moment he left.
She lowered her head, tears inexplicably welling up in her eyes.
Su Xiaoqi noticed Madam Zhao's unusual behavior and, recalling the day's events, she somewhat understood Madam Zhao's inner sadness.
She could see that Madam Zhao's resolute declaration that she would not enter the Ning King's manor.
was actually meant to solidify the status of Shen Yun and Shen Mingzhu.
Regardless of whether she or the Ning King's consort arrived first.
The current Ning King's consort was the legitimate wife.
And she, a wife married in the common folk, though having gone through the rituals of betrothal and marriage, was truly insignificant.
In any case, it was unnecessary to say that given her status and the current situation.
If she didn't enter the Ning King's manor, it was fine.
But if she did, she would be a concubine.
At most, a secondary consort!
But that was still a concubine.
Proud as Madam Zhao was, she could starve to death or die of poverty, but she would absolutely not allow herself to act as a concubine.
Nor would she allow her son and daughter to become illegitimate children.
Even though the original heir of the Ning King had long been incapacitated.
Some things could be conceded, but some things absolutely could not be retreated from.
Otherwise, it would be eternal damnation.
Su Xiaoqi felt sorry for her and sighed inwardly, saying softly,
"Husband, Mother is tired. Let's escort Mother back."
After seeing Madam Zhao off, the couple also returned to their room.
After washing up, Su Xiaoqi recalled the unfinished conversation they had earlier.
"By the way, how exactly did Wang Enze fill the national treasury?"
Su Xiaoqi was very curious about what kind of business he was in to earn so much money.
Shen Yun pulled her towards the bed.
After both lay down, he propped his head with one hand and turned to look at her:
"It's nothing. It's just that with the new Emperor ascending the throne, some of Prince Ping's former subordinates were not compliant. He went with the Embroidered Uniform Guard to confiscate several mansions, the Yong'an Marquisate, the Duke of Huang's estate...
and all the silver and valuables found in their residences were confiscated."
"Yong'an Marquisate?" Su Xiaoqi vaguely remembered hearing at the banquet today that the Yong'an Marquisate had been raided.
The Liu family was already a legend in the capital.
"More than that, also the Su family, the Huang family, the Li family, the Jia family..." In short, all the staunch supporters of Prince Ping before.
In total, over a dozen families had been raided.
However, the Yong'an Marquisate, the Duke of Huang's estate, and the Su family had the most money.
Su Xiaoqi knew about the first two families, and their daily extravagance was enough to tell.
Moreover, both families were notoriously corrupt.
They owned many residences in the southern suburbs.
They didn't acquire land through normal sales or mutual agreement.
Instead, they forcibly seized land.
Wherever they saw fertile fields, they would directly build manors there and forcibly enclose the surrounding land.
Turning the farmers into tenant farmers.
They also saw any shops and businesses doing well in the capital and forcibly joined their profit-sharing.
Their methods were extremely crude and disgusting.
But it had to be said that through such a highly profitable method, they had accumulated a large sum of money.
However, it now seemed that it was all for the benefit of others. These confiscated families had filled the national treasury.
"The Su family is gone just like that?" Su Xiaoqi didn't have any strong feelings about the other families.
She only cared about the Su family.
Actually, the Su family's connection with the Crown Prince was not very long.
They hadn't had time to participate in many affairs.
But it was because Su Jiamo had saved the Crown Prince.
With this connection.
At that time, it truly provided Su Jiamo with a channel for rapid promotion in the shortest possible time.
If the Crown Prince had ascended the throne, Su Jiamo would have risen rapidly as written in the books.
Unfortunately, history had been rewritten ahead of time this time.
Shen Yun said, "The Su family was only raided; the people are fine."
Before Su Xiaoqi could ask, Shen Yun volunteered, "Su Yuru has a close relationship with the First Prince."
Su Xiaoqi's mind raced, and she understood.
The current First Prince was the former heir of Prince Duan.
Su Yuru, with the help of Zhao Xiaohua, had hooked up with him early on.
The two had even discussed marriage at one point.
However, after these series of events, their marriage was definitely impossible.
But Liang Jingning had still shone brightly and protected the people of the Su family.
"It seems the Emperor still values this former heir greatly."
Shen Yun, hearing a hint of regret in Su Xiaoqi's tone, tapped her nose and smiled:
"My dear, you think too much. If the Emperor truly valued the First Prince, he would have directly made him the Crown Prince.
Instead of just enfeoffing him as Prince Zhou."
Su Xiaoqi hesitated for a moment, thinking of Liang Jingchen.
Shen Yun, being considerate, said before she could ask, "The Second Prince will be enfeoffed as Prince Chen."
This was an imperial decree that Shen Yun had personally drafted at the Imperial Palace earlier, following Emperor Yongxing's command.
The Emperor's imperial seal had already been affixed.
It was only waiting to be announced at the enthronement ceremony tomorrow.
Su Xiaoqi blinked and looked at Shen Yun: "It seems he has hope."
Shen Yun said impassively, "Does my wife hope for it?"
Su Xiaoqi replied without hesitation, "Naturally!"
Between Liang Jingchen and Liang Jingning, she had to choose Liang Jingchen.
The former had such a close relationship with her!
The latter, moreover, was involved with her mortal enemy, Su Yuru.
If he ascended the throne, she might be close to death.