"I'll pay 3000 taels!"
"I'll pay 4000!"
"5000!"
"I'll pay 2000 and add a set of jade head ornaments!" This young miss who said she would add a set of jade head ornaments was very bold, immediately starting to remove the ornaments on her head and face, throwing them all into the donation box.
Fung Tianyu hurriedly recorded it down, but there were still quite a few people who threw it too quickly and could not remember it. But it did not matter, whether they remembered it or not, it was just for show. Everyone who came to the manor today would receive a red string tied around their wrist, it could be considered a blessing.
Under the lead of these concubine mothers and daughters of concubines, the head wives and young misses of the first wife could no longer sit still. They could not let the daughters of concubines steal the limelight, right? How could that be allowed? Moreover, Palace Princess Wuyang had placed such a big hat on them, if they did not bleed a bit, they would be letting down Dashun! But the daughters of concubines and concubines had already donated so much, people of their status could not be suppressed by the little demons below!
Therefore, the head wives and daughters of the first wife also started to act.
But they were not mentally prepared for this and did not bring much money, so someone shouted: "I'll pay 10,000 taels, but I did not bring the banknotes with me, have a maidservant go and get it now." The maidservant standing at the side immediately received the order and rushed towards the entrance of the manor, preparing to return home to get the money.
Xuan Tiange nodded, "This princess will accept this madam's intentions on behalf of Uncle Emperor, I will definitely remember it and will inform Her Highness the Empress later."
Someone set the precedent of "returning home to get money", and the people behind followed suit, and each donated more than the last. Even the ornaments given were more valuable than those concubine mothers and daughters of concubines. In an instant, a "banquet to pray for blessings" turned into a competition of wealth between the head wives and daughters of the first wife and concubine mothers and daughters of concubines. Seeing them fight fiercely, Xuan Tiange and the others were overjoyed.
Like this, a day passed, but Xuan Tiange announced that it would continue tomorrow.
When the guests heard that it would continue, they all felt a bit of a mental breakdown. When the banquet ended, they found that because they tried to be brave for a moment, they had almost thrown away all of their savings, they all felt a bit regretful and their hearts ached. But the money that was spent was water that flowed out, especially when it landed in Xuan Tiange's hands, who dared to ask it back? All of them could only force themselves to keep up appearances and endure it. It wasn't easy for them to endure it until it was almost over. What's the matter? There's more tomorrow?
But Xuan Tian Ge very quickly gave an explanation: "There will not be any donation activities tomorrow. Tomorrow is an invitation to everyone as a reward. Only the madams and young misses who participated in today's donation activities have the right to participate."
Hearing this, everyone was relieved. Feedback! A reward is a reward, right? At least he still had some conscience and didn't let them spend this money in vain. Therefore, they decided that they had to come back the next day and make up for what they had spent today.
Therefore, on the eleventh day of the first month, Wen Xuan Palace was bustling with people again. After people came, they were all discussing what kind of reward they would get. But they never thought that the so-called reward also had a price to pay! This was because this auction was actually an auction, and the items being auctioned were all accessories personally made by Craftsman Bai.
Bai Fu Rong did not have as much money as Xuan Tian Ge's group. 100 thousand taels per person. Even if she sold her entire Bai manor, it would not be worth it. Fortunately, Craftsman Bai had this skill, and he had this reputation. His things were all made in the palace. Even if the imperial concubines in the palace wanted them, it would not be easy. Aside from Consort Yun and the Empress, if the other imperial concubines wanted them, they would need to apply to the Empress. Only after receiving approval would they be able to obtain them. It was very difficult.
But Craftsman Bai's skills were there for all to see. The accessories that were made by him were indeed unique in all of Dashun. The skills that he had mastered could not be copied by anyone. In the past, someone had wanted to take him as their master, and he had sincerely taught them; however, that person was unable to learn it no matter what. Slowly, the people stopped thinking about this. They just thought about it in private. Craftsman Bai was already at this age. In the future, if he was no longer around, they feared that there would be no one that could inherit his legacy.
Although these madams and young misses were a little disappointed when they heard that the so-called reward was actually an auction, and they were also a little angry, when they heard that the items being auctioned were accessories personally made by Craftsman Bai, their enthusiasm surged once more. Also, there was no one that doubted it. First, it was Palace Princess Wu Yang that had said it. Second, Bai Fu Rong was standing at the front. She was Craftsman Bai's daughter. Moreover, the palace's maidservants were holding trays to show off a set of head ornaments that were about to be auctioned. It was truly a work of art. It was so beautiful that it shocked everyone.
Thus these madams and young misses began to feel regret. They had brought too little money today! Even when someone sent a maidservant back to retrieve the banknotes, there was still someone that frankly asked: "Can we owe it for now. After the items are auctioned off, we'll immediately send someone back to retrieve them?"
Xuan Tian Ge happily nodded: "Of course you can. Madams and young misses, there is no need to worry about whether or not you have any cash. Just writing a note is fine. Later on, our palace will send someone to collect them."
With this being said, the people began to bid with peace of mind. A total of five items were auctioned off, and they were all sold for at least 200 thousand taels of silver. The final set of pink crystal head ornaments was even sold for three million taels.
It could be said that the gains from this grand banquet to pray for blessings were quite plentiful. In the end, Xuan Tian Ge announced that all of the funds raised over the past two days would be used on the battle in the South.
Only at this time did people react. The military power in the South had already been given to the Ninth Prince, Xuan Tianming. Even if there was to be a battle on that side, it would be fought by the Ninth Prince. Put plainly, these past two days were all for the sake of raising funds for the Ninth Prince! War required money, this was something that they all understood, but should it not come from the national treasury? Why did they need to raise funds from them? The people did not understand. As for the madams and young misses from the Eighth Prince's faction, they basically did not come because their families did not have any money left. All of their valuables had been taken away by Feng Yu Heng. Even the things in their bedrooms had been stolen. How could they dare to come and participate in the grand banquet to pray for blessings?
Even if they did not come, Xuan Tian Ge would make a note of it. On the 12th day of the first month, she sent someone to inform them that they did not participate in the grand banquet to pray for blessings for Dashun, the Emperor and the Empress. In a few days, Palace Princess Wu Yang would enter the palace and hand the list of participants to the Emperor. Those that did not participate were left to be dealt with as they saw fit. There was nothing that those madams and young misses could do. Fearing that they would offend the Emperor, they could only grit their teeth and gather the remaining accessories, handing them over to the servants of the Wen Xuan Palace. Only then did they manage to get their names off the list.
It had to be said that Feng Fendai had also participated in this donation banquet, but Xuan Tian Ge did not send an invitation to Xiang Rong. Instead, she sent a maidservant to tell her that she was worried that she would spend money.
Fendai did not have much money on her own, but she had the powerful support of the fifth prince. Although she was very disdainful of this sort of donation, it was done in the name of Dashun, the Emperor and the Empress. She could not go too far, so she could only donate one thousand taels. In truth, she was very interested in the items auctioned on the second day. After all, there were not many women that could resist such beautiful accessories, but those madams had raised the price too high. She had the heart but was powerless.
But after returning to the Feng manor, Fendai was a little unable to remain calm. The more she thought about that set of pink crystal head ornaments, the more she liked them. This angered her so much that she threw a tantrum in the manor, smashing things again. This continued until Dong Ying reminded her: "Young Miss, you must not think about that set of pink crystal head ornaments! You must remember that His Highness the fifth prince likes white crystal. Only white crystal can move him. Even if we have money, it needs to be spent where it is needed most. "
Feng Fendai immediately reacted and nodded repeatedly, no longer smashing things.
But she was still depressed. Over the past few days, she had wanted to enter the palace to visit Noble Lady Li. This Sixth Prince had also returned, and she had some ideas that required Noble Lady Li's cooperation. Unfortunately, she could not enter the Imperial Palace at all. Even if she could enter, Noble Lady Li's Jing Si Palace might not necessarily allow her to enter. Currently, the Eighth Prince was in control of the Imperial Palace. Apparently, the atmosphere in the Imperial Palace was very serious. She did not know just how serious it was. She asked the fifth prince, but the fifth prince could not explain it clearly. Helpless, she could only be left alone in the manor to let her imagination run wild.
"Damn." The more Fendai thought, the angrier she became. She could not help but begin cursing: "I thought that His Highness the eighth prince was smart. Who knew that he would also be an idiot! With just a few words, he lost control of the troops in the South. What exactly is he doing? He worked so hard for so many years. That's 300 thousand troops, yet he just gave it away like that? He really is an idiot! "
Dong Ying's forehead was covered in sweat from fear. She quickly waved her hand and dismissed the maidservants in the room. She then bitterly begged: "My good young miss! You absolutely must not say it like that! The walls have ears. Although you are the only master in the manor, who can guarantee that there are no spies or spies? If word of this were to get out, you would … "
"But what?" Fendai snorted coldly, "Could that idiot still be able to kill me?" She was referring to the Eighth Prince, "Someone that can't even control his own troops, what ability does he have to kill me? To speak of hidden guards, our manor also has some. They were sent over by His Highness the fifth prince. I don't believe that anyone has the ability to do anything to me here. I just want to curse! His imperial concubine mother is currently nothing more than a lowly noble lady. What sort of foolish dreams is he having? He returned to the capital in a dignified manner, but he lost control of his troops. How could he not die of frustration? Even like this, he still managed to stir up a mess in the capital. Now, he even controls the imperial palace. It really is infuriating! "
Dong Ying knew about Fendai's temper. She could not advise her. There was nothing that she could do. She could only stand to the side. But she was thinking differently from Fendai. On the day of the banquet, she had taken a few glances at the Eighth Prince from afar. She always felt that this person was very fickle. He was not as stupid as her young miss had described him to be. Giving up 300 thousand troops in exchange for the position of commander of the Imperial Guard? There was most likely going to be a story here!
But she could not say this to Fendai. Her young miss' temper was not good, and her mind was simple. After she found out, who knew what she would do. She could not follow along and eat her cake.
"Say, Noble Lady Li stabs a small person with a needle. Is that thing effective?" Fendai began to ponder, "If it's effective, I will also stab two. One will be for the Eighth Prince. The other will be for Feng Yu Heng. It would be best if both of them could be stabbed to death. This large capital will belong to me in the future! "
Dong Ying's face turned white with fear. Had her young miss gone crazy? The next time she met with the fifth prince, she would have to properly speak with him. She would have the fifth prince advise her young miss. How could this continue!
Fendai was currently fuming. Not long later, she heard the sound of something being struck outside. There were gongs being struck, and it was very lively. She was puzzled: "What sound is it?"
Dong Ying opened the door and listened then replied: "Young miss, it seems that the sound came from the Lian residence next door!"
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