Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 237: First Update

Chapter 237: Chapter 237: First Update

Noble Consort Wen was momentarily stunned. There were many matters requiring planning, and with all the powerful aristocratic families of Nanzheng State now in Zheng Capital, if not now, when?

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager approved the birthday banquet menu. Her Majesty added a few dishes and removed a few," Nanny Leng, holding a long booklet in her hands, respectfully presented it to her.

Noble Consort Wen flipped through it, feeling somewhat annoyed. Just this one matter required her to consult several times a day, not to mention the arrangement of the night banquet, the variety of flowers to be displayed, and the organization of the dances—a mountain of tasks that left Noble Consort Wen completely overwhelmed.

"Your Majesty, the day after tomorrow, the Empress Dowager has scheduled a flower appreciation event. There are still a few varieties of Blessings and Longevity Cakes and Pinecone Chrysanthemums that haven’t arrived. Eunuch Kang came to ask if we should use the Pinecone Chrysanthemums first?" Nanny Hai also hurried in.

"Let’s do that for now. Ask Kang Ning if the Lotus Pond has been cleaned out. The appreciation of the lotus flowers is essential the day after tomorrow." Noble Consort Wen thought about it—the birthday was just a few days away, and the Empress Dowager was also organizing a flower appreciation event, which, although not complicated, merely involved assigning more servants to assist.

However, it was clear what the Empress Dowager intended—it was obviously for the Crown Prince’s marriage alliance with the Shiping Aristocratic Clan. She, however, was not tired of it, repeatedly dealing with it over and over again.

Noble Consort Wen snorted coldly; the Crown Prince connecting with the Shiping Aristocratic Clan, the currently most powerful among the aristocratic families. The Empress Dowager’s move was beautifully calculated, pulling another significant force for their Xiao clan. Not only that, even with the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family involved in such an issue, they had already planned their next move.

If the offspring of Prince Duan really married Heir Zong, with the Crown Prince now very keen on courting Prince Duan, outwardly feigning harmony within the Imperial Palace while her hidden agendas were not unknown to her, this would mean drawing both the Shiping Aristocratic Clan and the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family into their fold—a masterfully played hand indeed.

And those minor gentry, none of them were easy to deal with. Noble Consort Wen thought carefully, the only ones they could now pull to their side were the Wuxing Aristocratic Family and the Nanan Aristocratic Family, after all, they had not managed to form a marriage alliance with the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family and still had a chance.

If she could pull these two families over, that would not be a loss of the advantage.

...

The first to hear the whispers was Eldest Madam Zhang of the Hejian Aristocratic Family, who had been ordered to go to Xingqing Hall that day to accompany the Empress Dowager in idle chit-chat, but unexpectedly ran into Old Lady Zong coming out, seeing Old Lady Zong’s distressed expression and even unwilling to maintain surface-level pleasantries, she immediately knew something significant had happened.

Empress Dowager Yan Ping did not intend to hide it either: in a few brief sentences, she laid out the issue, which, though hard to keep secret concerning its authenticity, Empress Dowager Yan Ping had no intention to explore further. Heir Zong was the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family’s sole heir, treated like a precious child by Old Lady Zong, who would not have used such a relationship as an excuse without any benefit.

Eldest Madam Zhang, coming out from the palace, was in a daze. These days not knowing the absurdity that had transpired with Heir Zong, all the aristocratic families felt as if Heir Zong had suddenly gone crazy.

But now it seemed that Heir Zong must have known something. Yes, as a direct disciple of Qiandao Temple, he naturally knew more about taking the initiative than the average person.

Eldest Madam Zhang did not think much of it. Besides, she was not close with the Wuxing Aristocratic Family and the Nanan Aristocratic Family, and the right and wrong of the Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family were not something anyone could openly discuss. She simply quietly shared the news with Madam Ma of the Fu Feng Aristocratic Family, a friend since childhood.

However, the matter simply couldn’t be kept secret; the very next day, an Imperial Edict issued personally by the Empress Dowager directly reached the Zong Sheng Residence and Prince Duan’s Mansion.

The Zong Sheng Aristocratic Family tearfully received the Imperial Edict; at this point, they could no longer care about anything else.

A stir erupted among the aristocratic families, who really didn’t want to be involved at this time, especially among the womenfolk, who were all glaring and speechless. The men of the aristocratic families might not even know who Princess Chao Ren was, but the ladies and young misses had heard of Princess Chao Ren at the two significant gatherings; how could Old Lady Zong have agreed to this?

It wasn’t right, last time, the Empress Dowager had personally inquired about Heir Zong’s matters, and even praised Princess Helin.

Could it have been a misunderstanding, could it be that last time she praised Princess Chao Ren?

At that moment, all kinds of guesses flew around; more people were looking at what the Wuxing Aristocratic Family and the Nanan Aristocratic Family would do.

The Wuxing aristocratic family was shocked and took a moment to process the news. Eldest Madam Tang immediately dispatched someone to call her son back. At that moment, Heir Chen was drinking with a few young masters. Hearing that his mother had sent someone for him, he did not overstay and returned first.

Eldest Madam Tang was already weeping uncontrollably, and the old women around her could not stop her.

"This, this is clearly bullying our Tang family," Eldest Madam Tang said, sobbing as she spoke.

"Mother, it’s not the Nanan aristocratic family’s doing," Heir Chen helplessly tried to console her, glancing at his lazily sprawled sister at the table and gesturing with his eyes for her to go and try to persuade her.

Tang Wei glanced at her mother, shook her head, and knew she could not be persuaded. These last few days, her mother had been incessantly reminding her, hoping she would marry Heir Zong.

"Mother, the Empress Dowager’s decree is immutable."

"That shouldn’t mean that person, that person..." Eldest Madam Tang, who was usually not very talkative, merely listened to others and had never expected that Heir Zong would truly take a fancy to that person.

"Does mother wish for Heir Zong to marry Princess Helin?" Heir Chen immediately interjected. Today he had heard of a beauty, but that day on Lake Heart Island, he did not recognize the lady’s identity, catching only a fleeting glimpse. Fueled by the effects of alcohol, he regretted it even more.

Eldest Madam Tang gave her son a look. If Heir Zong were to marry Princess Helin, didn’t that outright imply her daughter was inferior to the Nanan aristocratic family’s daughter? Why should it be so? She would rather it be Commandery Princess Chao Ren.

"Mother, your son also finds this matter suspicious. How about I investigate further? Perhaps there’s more news."

Seeing this, Eldest Madam Tang could only nod her head, and Heir Chen stepped out once more.

Finding out was not difficult; there was no need for Heir Chen to inquire, as the news of Heir Zong’s terminal illness had already spread to all aristocratic families. This was the cause for their shock, the cause of their simmering indignation, as everyone stood by, astounded.

Meanwhile, in the Zong Sheng Residence, Heir Zong could already sit up, recovering visibly fast, though his complexion remained pale and he was still weak.

Gu Dao reluctantly handed the soup to his young master. Such a bold act was really too frivolous for the young master.

Heir Zong, knowing he was at fault, had not yet shared everything with Gu Dao. Now that things had transpired, he could speak of them.

Just as Heir Zong was about to speak, Old Lady Zong already trembled into the room.

"Grandmother, I have worried you; it is my unfilial conduct," Heir Zong said, his remorse genuine, and he immediately tried to get up.

"Stay lying down, you child, why didn’t you say earlier?" Old Lady Zong’s eyes reddened, and she grabbed Yunqian’s hand, followed by Eldest Madam Zong who also wiped her tears.

"Grandson merely did not want to worry you, Grandmother. Besides, the prophecy came from a dream, and its truth is unknown to me. I had intended to meet the Commandery Princess to see if I could..."

Old Lady Zong nodded her head.

"No more talk, no more talk, just rest; to wake is good, to wake is good." It was only a Commandery Princess, and since she was raised by the Empress Dowager’s side, other matters could not be managed anymore.

"Rest assured, now that it’s decided, we should handle it well."

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