svetikya Chapter 153 Family Banquet
Chapter 153 Family Banquet
Wen Zongji was unaware of the cabinet's conversation. After Mao Zheng left with the permit, he went to the palace to see the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, this is the 200,000 for yesterday's auction slots."
The Crown Prince was surprised to learn from the Cabinet that Wen Zongji had delivered 200,000 taels of silver from yesterday's auction.
"Why did you bring it all? Doesn't the Beijing Gazette Bureau need money?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Zongji knew that the Crown Prince had already learned about yesterday's auction.
He wasn't surprised by this; although the Crown Prince was in the palace, he must have his own channels for understanding what was happening outside.
Wen Zongji said, "Now there are dozens more bookstores selling the Beijing Gazette, and the money earned from selling the Beijing Gazette every day is enough to meet the daily needs of the Beijing Gazette Office."
Instead, there will be a surplus on the books.
The Crown Prince nodded: "Since I've entrusted the Capital Gazette Bureau to you, I won't say anything more. Is there anything you need me to do regarding the Capital Gazette Bureau?"
"have!"
Wen Zongji said, "Your Highness, the Capital Gazette Bureau has too few people. Currently, it only publishes one issue of the Capital Gazette every half month. If we want to publish one issue of the Capital Gazette every day in the future, these people will definitely not be enough."
The Crown Prince had anticipated this: "How many more people do you think we need?"
"The main problem is that we don't have enough reviewers. We need at least another thirty, but whether that's enough remains to be seen."
The crown prince readily agreed: "It's just a minor official reviewing manuscripts; such a person is easy to choose."
A minor official is different from a high-ranking official!
Once an official was officially appointed, there was basically a fixed quota for each position, and any additions required the cabinet's approval.
But it's different for minor officials. They aren't considered official officials, so the Crown Prince can make the final decision.
Wen Zongji cupped his hands and said, "Your humble servant thanks the Crown Prince for his support."
The Crown Prince patted the two hundred thousand taels of silver notes in front of him and, unusually, made a joke: "There's a saying that you can't refuse someone who takes your money. I've taken two hundred thousand taels from you, so I have to do something about it."
Even for the Crown Prince, 200,000 taels of silver is not a small sum; it is enough for him to accomplish many things.
Wen Zongji smiled but didn't reply.
The Crown Prince could say such things, but Wen Zongji couldn't take advantage of the situation.
At this moment, a eunuch entered from outside the door; he was from the Linhua Palace.
"Your Highness, when His Majesty learned that Lord Wen had entered the palace, he said that the County Princess was also there, so he invited Lord Wen to have lunch at Fengyi Palace."
Wen Zongji was stunned; he really didn't know that Pei Rujing had also entered the palace today.
The crown prince remained expressionless: "I understand. You may leave."
"Yes, this servant takes his leave."
The eunuch withdrew.
The Crown Prince stood up and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to the Phoenix Palace."
Fengyi Palace is the Empress's sleeping quarters and also part of the inner palace. Without the Crown Prince's escort, Wen Zongji would never be able to get close.
Even the inner quarters of ordinary people's homes were not easily accessible, let alone the emperor's harem.
……
Phoenix Palace
Pei Rujing came to visit Emperor Shun'an today and told him about her recent interesting experiences. She thought she would have lunch at Linhua Palace, but Emperor Shun'an took her to Fengyi Palace instead.
At this moment, Pei Rujing learned that Wen Zongji had entered the palace and would be coming to Fengyi Palace for a meal soon.
"Uncle, you really know how to catch people off guard."
Emperor Shun'an laughed and said, "What? Can't I stand seeing your husband?"
Pei Rujing said, "That's not what I meant. You just wanted to invite my husband over for a meal. Why did you have to hide it from me?"
Emperor Shun'an looked at her with a half-smile: "Who knows if Anhe might be afraid that I'll bully that boy and deliberately ruin this meeting?"
Pei Rujing's eyes widened: "Why should I worry about my uncle bullying my husband? My husband is gentle, polite, talented, and capable—isn't he exactly the kind of person my uncle likes best?"
"You have a very high opinion of him."
Pei Rujing looked up: "That's the truth, my husband is really amazing."
Seeing the admiration and dependence in Pei Rujing's eyes, Emperor Shun'an felt very uncomfortable.
Although Pei Rujing was already married, Emperor Shun'an now truly felt like his own cabbage had been eaten by a pig.
Princess Changning nestled in Pei Rujing's arms and said, "Cousin, you haven't come to visit me in so long. After lunch today, can I go out of the palace with you?"
Pei Rujing turned to look at the Empress: "You should ask your aunt about this."
Princess Changning blinked her bright eyes: "Mother Empress~"
Considering that Princess Changning hadn't left the palace for several months, the Empress didn't want to restrict her too much, so she agreed: "Alright."
"Very good!"
Princess Changning jumped up happily, grabbed Pei Rujing's hand, and excitedly asked, "Cousin, where are we going to play later?"
The thought of being pestered by this troublesome person for several hours made Pei Rujing lose her enthusiasm: "Let's talk about it after we finish our meal."
Pei Rujing could take Wen Shuyu to a mahjong club, but not Princess Changning; she couldn't let her become obsessed with playing games.
Before long, the Crown Prince and Wen Zongji arrived.
Wen Zongji respectfully greeted the Emperor and Empress: "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
Emperor Shun'an raised his hand: "No need for formalities. Today is a family banquet, there's no need to stand on ceremony."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Pei Rujing stood up and walked to his side: "Why did you come to the palace today?"
Wen Zongji said gently, "I have important matters to report to the Crown Prince."
Pei Rujing turned to look at the Crown Prince: "I almost forgot, the Capital Gazette Office is under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Palace."
The Crown Prince chuckled: "My cousin has never cared about these things."
"But I care about my husband, and the Crown Prince cannot be allowed to bully him."
Princess Changning chimed in, "Yes, yes, listen to your cousin, otherwise neither my cousin nor I will play with my brother anymore."
The crown prince glanced at her: "What's it to you?"
Princess Changning declared confidently, "My cousin's affairs are my affairs."
Pei Rujing patted her head: "Good Changning, your cousin didn't spoil you for nothing."
Princess Changning beamed with joy, clearly pleased with the compliment.
The crown prince remained silent.
Wen Zongji said, "The Crown Prince has always been fair and just in rewarding and punishing, so how could he possibly bully me? You are overthinking it, Princess."
"That's good."
The Empress then spoke, "Lunch has been prepared. Please come and eat."
Looking at all the distinguished guests in the room, Wen Zongji felt a headache coming on. He really didn't want to attend this kind of family banquet.
But this matter obviously won't change according to his opinion.
Sitting down next to Pei Rujing, lunch officially began, and no one spoke at the table.
Just as Wen Zongji assumed there was a rule in the palace that one should not speak while eating or sleeping, Princess Changning couldn't hold back any longer: "Cousin, why aren't you all saying anything?"
Pei Rujing placed a piece of meat on her plate and put it in her mouth: "Quiet!"
Princess Changning wrinkled her face as she chewed the meat in her mouth, bit by bit.
The Empress glanced at Emperor Shun'an and said with a smile, "Zongji, don't be shy. Didn't His Majesty just say that this is a family banquet, and there are no rulers and subjects here, only family members?"
As expected of the Empress, who is the mother of the nation, she shortened the distance with just one sentence.
Wen Zongji smiled and said, "Your Majesty and the Empress are kind to me, so I will not be reserved."
"That's good."