Do you know: I am the crown prince

Chapter 51 Sheng Changbai's Concerns
"Father, what did you say? The emperor said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to marry my fifth sister as his concubine?"

Sheng Changbai returned home after school and learned the news from his father. He looked at his father in shock.

"Well, this is what the emperor said to me in person when he summoned me to the palace today. The emperor said that after Rulan reaches the age of 15, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will take her into the palace." Sheng Hong said.

"Father, how can I agree to this?" Sheng Changbai, who has always been mature and steady, is no longer calm.

"Brother Bo, it is a great thing for the family to have Rulan become the prince's concubine. Why do you sound like it is a disaster?" Sheng Wei asked puzzledly.

When Sheng Hong came back, he learned the news and was happy for a long time.

"Uncle, you know my fifth sister's temperament. If her temperament was half as good as that of her elder sister, it would be a good thing. But my fifth sister is simple-minded and very spoiled. If she enters the palace, it would be a blessing rather than a curse." Sheng Changbai sighed.

Although Sheng Changbai is only thirteen years old now, he is precocious and knows many things about the family.

It's just that as a junior, there are many things that he is not comfortable talking about.

He knows very well the personality of his biological sister, who is from the same mother as him.

With Rulan's personality, once she enters the palace, not to mention the intrigues in the harem, her temper alone might cause her to cause any trouble.

"No way. Rulan is still young after all. It's normal for her to be spoiled. If you educate her well, she will naturally become sensible when she grows up." Sheng Wei retorted.

Because Madam Wang looked down on the eldest branch of the Sheng family, Rulan, influenced by her mother, only showed superficial respect to the people from the eldest branch of the Sheng family.

Children don't know how to hide their emotions, and Sheng Wei had already sensed it.

But he was very grateful for the kindness that Old Lady Sheng had shown to the first wife, and he didn't even take Madam Wang's contempt to heart, let alone a little girl.

He felt that Rulan was still young and things would get better when she grew up.

"Brother, I actually also feel that Rulan's personality is not suitable for entering the palace. But since the emperor has asked, how can I refuse?" Sheng Hong said.

Even Old Lady Sheng admired Sheng Hong's ability to judge people, so how could he not know his own daughter's personality?

Sheng Changbai sighed upon hearing this and said, "For now, when father returns, he should go and ask grandmother to take the trouble to teach Fifth Sister. I don't ask Fifth Sister to be like the eldest sister, but I hope she can control her temper and not cause any trouble in the future when she enters the palace."

"That's what I think too. Once the marriage with the Yuan family is settled in a few years, I will return to Yangzhou." Sheng Hong said.

"Brother, the situation is different now. Would you like to reconsider it?" Sheng Wei said.

Not long after Sheng Hong arrived in Bian Jing to report on his work, the Earl of Zhongqin came to the palace with his second son Yuan Wenshao, intending to ask for the eldest daughter of the Sheng family in marriage.

When Sheng Hong saw that Yuan Wenshao had a handsome appearance and came from a noble family, he was tempted, although he did not agree on the spot.

Afterwards, someone asked about Yuan Wenshao and learned that Yuan Wenshao was now working in the Wucheng Bingmasi and did not have a bad reputation.

So he wanted to agree to this marriage.

Sheng Wei hadn't said anything about this matter before. After all, it was Sheng Hong who was marrying off his daughter, and the Yuan family was a noble family, so the Sheng family was considered to be marrying up.

But the situation is different now. The emperor has asked Rulan to be the prince's concubine. Even if she has to wait until she reaches the age of 15 to enter the palace, the Sheng family is no longer in the same situation.

Once the news spreads, there will naturally be better families willing to marry into the Sheng family.

If Sheng Hong had already agreed, he would not have said this. Although Sheng Wei is a businessman, he values ​​integrity.

But before, Sheng Hong only had this intention and did not reply to the Yuan family, so it could not be considered as a breach of trust.

"Don't think about it. I've met Erlang of the Yuan family. He's a very nice person. He's honest and hardworking. He has an Earl's Mansion to rely on, so he has a bright future." Sheng Hong shook his head.

When the government sent people to Yangzhou to summon Sheng Changbai to Beijing as his study companion, officials from Yangzhou, both big and small, came to propose marriage.

Old Madam Sheng once said that those who wanted to marry at this time were all opportunists.

Sheng Hong agreed with what Old Lady Sheng said.

……

"What... ahem..."

In the evening, Zhao Xing came to Renming Palace and had dinner with his father, the emperor and his mother.

When I heard what my father said, I was so nervous that I choked.

"Fu'er, are you okay?" Empress Cao hurried forward to smooth Zhao Xing's back and said, "Why are you so anxious, kid? Drink some soup and you'll be fine." "Mother, I'm fine."

Zhao Xingduan drank a few sips of the soup and felt much better.

The emperor was also very nervous. He was relieved to see that Zhao Xing was fine. He scolded him, "How did you learn etiquette? Don't you know the principle of not talking while eating?"

Not talking while eating does not mean not talking while eating. After all, the Han Dynasty's drinking table culture has been passed down for thousands of years.

Don't talk when eating means don't talk when there is food in your mouth.

"Father, I know I was wrong." Zhao Xing admitted his mistake honestly, then asked, "Father, were you talking about the second daughter of the Sheng family?"

"Yes." The official nodded and said, "Why are you so excited? Could it be that you want to marry the eldest daughter of the Sheng family? The eldest daughter of the Sheng family is much older than you, so it's not suitable."

Zhao Xing: "..."

The emperor spoke as if the Sheng family only had two girls.

But this is normal, as illegitimate sons and daughters had an extremely low status in ancient times.

Some families who care about their reputation would even find a man of low status for their concubine's daughter to marry.

If one does not care about her reputation, a concubine's daughter can only become someone's concubine, or even follow the legitimate daughter as a dowry.

With Zhao Xing's status, he would not consider a concubine when choosing a concubine, let alone a concubine's daughter of a sixth-rank official.

Over the years, his father and Empress Cao have also helped him choose several concubines.

Among them is Mr. Yu’s granddaughter Yu Yanran.

At first, the government asked Mr. Yu to be in charge of a thorough investigation of the salt business, and many people secretly approached Mr. Yu to plead for mercy.

However, Mr. Yu was ruthless and showed no mercy.

During the thorough investigation alone, there were several assassination attempts.

Fortunately, the emperor had been prepared and ordered Gu Yankai to lead soldiers to protect him, so that nothing happened to Yu Xianggong.

Even so, Mr. Yu offended many people.

In order to reassure Prime Minister Yu, the emperor conferred the title of Prince's Consort on Prime Minister Yu's granddaughter Yu Yanran as the fourth rank.

Yu Yanran will enter the palace after she reaches the age of 15.

In addition, Queen Cao also helped Zhao Xing select several concubines.

Including the Crown Princess and Rulan, who was recently chosen by the Emperor, Zhao Xing now has six candidates for concubines.

Even in this situation, Zhao Xing did not mention Minglan to Queen Cao.

Firstly, he has no contact with Minglan now, so he can't explain it clearly.

The second is Minglan’s identity.

Zhao Xing was not in a hurry before. After all, Minglan was still young. He would wait for the Sheng family to come to Bian Jing and then slowly find a solution.

Who would have thought that my father would do such a thing.

Over the years, Zhao Xing has gradually accepted his fate of having his father and mother arrange women for him.

Those who have a little bit of wealth have several concubines. He is a prince and the only son, so how could he have few concubines?

It would be useless even if he objected to this.

But the emperor has chosen Rulan, what should Minglan do?
He can’t marry Rulan and then Minglan, right?
But my father has already made the decision, and it is his word, and there is no room for change.

The emperor did not know what Zhao Xing was thinking, and he also told Zhao Xing the purpose of his doing so.

Thanks to book friends 2021...2566, Kai~xin, Qiao Buling, and Leos for their monthly ticket support.

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(End of this chapter)