Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 167 The Sheng Family's Grand Opening Banquet: A Glimpse into the Lives of People
Upon hearing this, Zhao Han smiled slightly at Minglan. If Zhang Guifen could successfully give birth to the fourth prince, then the position of Imperial Concubine would undoubtedly belong to her.

The Zhang family's title was hereditary and inviolable, making them one of the most prestigious families in Bianjing (Kaifeng).

If Zhang Fu's eldest son, Zhang Zheng, were to achieve military merit when Yanyun is recovered in the future, he might be posthumously granted the title of Prince after Zhang Fu's death.

After chatting and laughing with Minglan in the Wenhua Hall, as evening approached, Zhao Han went straight to the Xuanming Hall where Zhang Guifen lived.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Today, the Wei State Duke's Mansion, located at the foot of the imperial city, is exceptionally lively.

The vermilion gate was wide open, and the gilded plaque hanging above the lintel gleamed in the sunlight. Two majestic stone lions stood in front of the gate.

Several servants were wearing brand-new blue cloth jackets.

Under Dong Rong's direction, the carriages arriving for the banquet were being guided in an orderly manner, and the identities of the guests were being announced loudly.

"The Duchess of England has arrived!"

The servant's loud voice had barely faded when the Duchess of Yingguo, dressed in a brocade robe and smiling, stepped into the Duke of Wei's mansion, surrounded by several maids.

Upon seeing her, Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu hurried forward to greet her.

Although both families held the title of Duke, the Duke of England's mansion was a truly established noble family of the Great Zhou Dynasty, whose foundation and prestige far surpassed those of the Sheng family.

"Your presence is an honor to my humble abode, Madam," Sheng Hong said, stroking his beard with a ruddy complexion.

The Duchess of England nodded slightly.

"If the Duke of Wei's mansion is called a humble abode, then the mansions of most noble families in Bianjing must be lined up in thatched cottages."

Wang Ruofu chuckled and said softly, "Madam, you're really making us feel bad for saying that."

"It was just that I wanted the opening banquet to be more presentable, which is why I had my servants put in a lot of effort. It can't possibly match the scale of your esteemed residence."

The Duchess of England smiled and patted the back of her hand.

She already knew that Zhang Guifen was pregnant, and she was naturally overjoyed.

If it were a prince, even if he couldn't inherit the throne, being granted the title of Prince would ensure his daughter's lifelong security, and the Zhang family could also benefit from it.

"No matter how grand a mansion is, it is still a place for people to live. What matters is that the family is happy and harmonious."

"Your young master Sheng is highly valued by the Emperor, and his future will surely be more and more prosperous. This is more precious than any carved beams and painted rafters."

Wang Ruofu was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, gesturing to say, "What you say is true, Madam. Please come in quickly. Tea and snacks have been prepared in the flower hall."

After the Duchess of England walked away into the distance.

Then the servant announced loudly, "Madam Wu and Madam Sheng of the Yongchang Earl's Mansion have arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu exchanged a glance, and the smiles on their faces faded slightly.

Madam Wu, still with a cheerful demeanor, walked steadily towards the two of them.

"Congratulations, Duke of Wei! Congratulations, Lady Wang!"

"Look at how magnificent your mansion is today! It's been a long time since anyone in Bianjing has been able to enjoy such a grand display!"

Mo Lan followed beside Madam Wu.

She wore a light blue brocade dress, her face was covered with powder, and the hair ornament in her hair swayed gently. The weariness in her eyes was even greater than before.

She curtsied and said, "Mo'er greets Father and Mother."

Seeing her proper and dignified demeanor, Wang Ruofu smiled and said, "It's good that you're here. Go and rest in the backyard. Ru'er and your sister-in-law are there."

“Yes, Mother.” Mo Lan said, then glanced at Sheng Hong and walked straight to the backyard.

Wang Ruofu's face lit up with a smile again, and he continued to chat with Madam Wu.

In the backyard flower hall, a faint sandalwood fragrance wafted around.

Grandma Sheng and Grandma He were holding hands and talking.

He Hongwen has now entered the Imperial Medical Academy, married Cui, the daughter of the deputy commander of the South Gate of the Five Cities Garrison, and, following his mother's advice, taken Cao Jinxiu as a concubine.

Cui was known for her forthright and decisive nature, and was particularly skilled at managing her family business.

Without the intervention of Old Madam Sheng, this marriage might not have been arranged for the He family.

As for Cao Jinxiu, this cousin.

He Hongwen felt only pity, not any affection. He simply wanted to give her a place to stay because of their childhood relationship.

But Cao Jinxiu was ambitious and not satisfied with this at all. She tried every means to coax He Hongwen's mother.

Mother He was completely brainless and repeatedly forced He Hongwen to go to Cao Jinxiu's room.

Cui was well aware of Cao Jinxiu's tricks and didn't tolerate them at all. If anything displeased her, she would immediately take the dowry maids and give her a good beating.

Old Mrs. He had long disliked the Cao family, so she naturally turned a blind eye to their behavior.

Wen Yanjing's mother sat upright to one side, looking at the ladies and wives of various families, adorned with jewels and surrounded by attendants, and couldn't help but feel a little reserved.

Before coming today, Wen Yanjing had specifically instructed her.

Those who associate with the Sheng family are either rich or noble, so refrain from speaking carelessly lest you lose face and jeopardize your family's future.

Although she favored her second son, she also knew that her family's success today was entirely due to the Sheng family.

If she angered the Sheng family, the entire Wen family would be reduced to its original state, and she could no longer live a life where she had to calculate money everywhere.

"Mother, please have some tea." At Hai's prompting, Rulan smiled and personally brought a teacup to Wen's mother.

Upon seeing this, the officials' families all praised Rulan for being filial to her mother-in-law, well-mannered, and reasonable.

Kang Yuan'er stared intently at Ru Lan with her beautiful eyes and couldn't help but let out a soft hum.

Wang Ruo sat next to Old Mrs. Wang with a forced smile, her heart filled with jealousy and resentment.

They were both daughters of the Wang family, yet their lives were worlds apart.

"Your elder brother has been pulling strings and making connections around the country a few days ago regarding Jin'er's admission to the Imperial Academy."

"But the information I've heard is that the number of places at the Imperial College is extremely limited this year, with many sons of noble families lining up to get in. I'm afraid he won't be able to squeeze in."

Grandma Wang whispered in her ear.

Wang Ruoyu's gaze suddenly darkened, and she grabbed Old Mrs. Wang's arm directly.

“Mother, Jin’er is my only son. Don’t you know what kind of person Kang Haifeng is?”

"If he doesn't have a bright future, who will protect his daughter in the future?"

"Mother, please think of another way! Jin'er is your own grandson!"

Grandma Wang sighed softly.

His arm ached from her grip, but he didn't push her away. A look of heartache and helplessness flashed across his eyes. "I know you're anxious, but your brother has already done his best."

"How did You-ge get into the Imperial Academy? Mother, aren't you the one who loves me the most? Why can't you think of a better way when it comes to Jin-er?"

"This..." Old Mrs. Wang was speechless for a moment when she was asked this question.

Wang You is her grandson. No matter how much she loves her daughter, Kang Jin is ultimately a descendant of the Kang family.

She frowned, then turned her gaze to Wang Ruofu, who was chatting with a group of officials' wives not far away, and whispered, "I'll find a chance to talk to Fu'er later and see if she can get Sheng Hong to come up with a solution." "A spot in the Imperial Academy shouldn't be too difficult for him now."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ruoyu loosened her grip on Old Mrs. Wang's arm slightly.

"Mother, you must tell my sister that Jin'er cannot be without a future..."

“I know,” Old Mrs. Wang interrupted her, and said in a low voice, “But you also have to be prepared. If Sheng Hong is unwilling to help, then don’t force him.”

"Let Jin-ge study hard at home, grit his teeth and pass the imperial examination, and he might be able to get a government position."

If Kang Jin were truly a scholar, she wouldn't be in such a hurry.

Why is it that my sister is the only one who can give birth to a good son, even though he is an illegitimate son who has become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations)?
Thinking of this, Wang Ruoyu's jealousy intensified, and she nodded through gritted teeth.

Before long, Wei Shuyi brought Xiaodie to the crowd.

Concubines were divided into noble concubines, good concubines, and lowly concubines, and their circumstances were vastly different.

A concubine may help manage household affairs, but she must not be beaten or scolded at will, and everyone in the household must show her some respect.

Originally, Xiao Zou, the younger sister of Shen Congxing's deceased wife, married into the Shen family as a concubine. To repay the life-saving grace of Da Zou, Shen Congying even made an exception and requested that she be granted the title of a third-rank noblewoman.

Her daily life was more comfortable than that of the principal wife, and she could openly accompany her husband to other people's banquets and sit at the same table with the wives of nobles.

However, although Lady Zou died to save Shen Congying, Shen Congying, given his current status, has no right to request an imperial title for Lady Zou.

Shen Congxing is already a useless person.

Therefore, Shen Congying personally helped her find a marriage in Yuzhou last year and added a lot of extra dowry to repay the kindness of Da Zou.

"After not seeing her for many days, Wei Xiaoniang looks even more radiant than before."

A woman from an official's family smiled and took Wei Shuyi's hand. Her second son served under Wei Ling, so she was naturally very polite to Wei Shuyi.

Yu Yanrong then stood up and came to Wei Shuyi's side, bowing gracefully and saying, "Greetings, elder sister."

Wei Shuyi smiled gently, took Yu Yanrong's hand, and said softly, "Thanks to the old lady and madam, life is peaceful, so your complexion is naturally better."

"Pretentious!" Wang Ruoyu couldn't help but mutter.

Ever since that humiliation, she has completely hated Wei Shuyi and Minglan.

“My third son told me that the seventh son of the Sheng family is outstanding in martial arts, especially in horsemanship and archery. No wonder he is General Wei’s nephew, he is just different.” Another official’s wife chimed in.

Upon hearing this, Wei Shuyi's smile deepened.

"Brother Liu is just naturally active, like a mischievous monkey, he really doesn't deserve the title of being outstanding in everything."

With Old Madam Wang around, Wang Ruoyu rolled her eyes and teased, "Miss Wei is being too modest."

"Among the concubines and illegitimate sons in Bianjing, you are the first to have this kind of respectability."

Wei Shuyi's smile remained unchanged as he turned to look at her and said slowly, "Aunt Kang has come today too."

"I heard that at the beginning of the year, things were not peaceful in the Kang family's inner quarters. A young lady named You died along with her unborn child, and there was a lot of gossip going around."

"What exactly happened? Has it been investigated?"

As soon as he said this, several pairs of eyes fell on Wang Ruoyu.

Wang Ruoyu clenched her fists, her heart pounding slightly. She hadn't expected Wei Shuyi to dare bring this up in public.

She twitched her lips and gritted her teeth, saying, "It was just her bad luck. The roads were slippery in the snow, and she insisted on taking her maid to the courtyard to admire the plum blossoms. She accidentally slipped and fell."

“I happened to be at my parents’ home that day. By the time I heard the news and rushed back, she was already dead. I still feel sad when I think about it now.”

After saying that, Wang Ruo deliberately touched the corner of her eye with a handkerchief.

"But I heard that he accidentally fell into the pond and died?" A family member of an official craned her neck and said with curiosity in her eyes.

Grandma Wang's eyes narrowed slightly. "In the dead of winter, the pond is frozen. There's no way someone could have fallen. It's just a rumor, don't take it seriously."

Five years ago, Wang Ruo poisoned a concubine, two years ago she beat another to death, and now at the beginning of the year, she has been the one who helped take care of both the mother and child.

If any members of the concubines' families came to their door, they would either threaten them or bribe them with money.

Hai Chaoyun had also heard about the Wang family's affairs, and in her opinion, this aunt from the Kang family was definitely not a kind person.

So she smoothed things over, saying, "On such a joyous occasion, why bring up such irrelevant matters? The banquet outside is ready; ladies, please move along."

Wang Ruo glared at Wei Shuyi with resentment, then calmly helped Old Madam Wang to her feet and leave.

Seeing this, several officials' wives quickly smiled and echoed, getting up to follow.

"Little Mother..." Xiao Die looked at Wei Shuyi and called out softly, feeling a little worried.

Wei Shuyi's gaze darkened slightly, and he patted the back of her hand. "It's alright. I've never provoked her, yet she keeps coming to me."

“If I continue to swallow my anger, she will definitely take advantage of me in the future. Tomorrow, having a mother like me will also be a disgrace.”

Xiaodie nodded solemnly.

In the front hall, Wen Yanjing bowed respectfully to Sheng Changbai, saying, "Second brother-in-law."

Sheng Changbai nodded slightly.

Wen Yanjing was cautious, upright, and courteous, and had a very good reputation in the Hanlin Academy. He was naturally very satisfied with his brother-in-law's scholarship and character.

"Changbai!" Gu Tingye and Wei Ling approached him with smiles.

With a smile on his face, Sheng Changbai bowed to Wei Ling. Although the two were not much different in age, they were still of different generations.

“From now on, we’ll have to call you Young Master Changbai,” Gu Tingye said, leaning closer and teasingly whispering.

Sheng Changbai patted him heavily on the shoulder, "Don't be like that. My family's title was obtained through the Empress. How can we act so ostentatiously?"

"If possible, I would rather rely on my actions in the court to earn dignity and honor for my family."

Gu Tingye pursed his lips and laughed, "You're the most honest person in the world!"

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore. The banquet inside is about to start. Come on, let's go in and have a couple of drinks!"

After saying that, he grabbed Sheng Changbai's sleeve and walked inside. Wei Ling and the others exchanged smiles and followed closely behind them.

As dusk settled, Wang Ruoyu, with a gloomy face, got into the carriage to return home with Old Madam Wang.

As soon as Wang Ruofu brought up the matter of helping Kang Jin enter the Imperial Academy, Sheng Hong immediately refused.

Firstly, he looked down on the Kang family from the bottom of his heart.

Secondly, he knew that Zhao Han was determined to reduce the number of officials with hereditary privileges, and there was no room for argument.

Many officials in the court had enjoyed a comfortable life for most of their lives and had strong opinions about the performance evaluation system. Sheng Changbai was also working in the performance evaluation department.

He had just been granted the title of Duke when he helped the Kang family's sons enter the Imperial Academy.

Those officials who oppose the new policies will surely seize the opportunity to accuse the Sheng family of being hypocritical, corrupt, and even impeach Sheng Changbai.

Since it concerned the future of the entire Sheng family, Wang Ruofu had no choice but to truthfully refuse them.

Inside the carriage, Old Mrs. Wang sighed deeply, feeling that her son-in-law, Sheng Hong, was heartless and ungrateful.

Wang Ruoyu was filled with boundless hatred.

(End of this chapter)