Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2516 Reconciliation 58.0

"In fact, it is human nature and understandable that Concubine Hui has such considerations and takes such actions."

"That's right, sister!" Shen Jiu agreed with Shen Cha, nodded at her, and said, "Although the porcelain merchant had his own thoughts when he first extended a helping hand to Concubine Hui's family, he ultimately helped them when they were in the most desperate and difficult time. It's not wrong to say that he saved their lives."

"It is indeed as General Xiao Shen said. My cousin did think so. Even if it was to let her replace the daughter of the porcelain merchant and enter the palace, it would not be a bad choice for a family like theirs." Mian Bai chuckled. "The porcelain merchant gave her family hope to survive. She didn't want to implicate them because of such a thing. She didn't want to repay kindness with enmity, so she chose to conceal it."

"What the class owner said is correct, but." Jin Miaomiao smiled, "I'm afraid it's not just because of this."

"Not just for the sake of repaying a favor?" Hongye looked at Jin Miaomiao curiously, then looked at Shen Cha and Shen Jiu who nodded in agreement, "Is there any other reason?"

"Of course." Jin Miaomiao sighed, "What's the saying? When you find a bug in your house, it's possible that the bug has already set up camp in your house."

"You mean." Hongye thought for a moment, "This kind of impersonation by Concubine Hui should have happened more than once?"

"At least in Jiangnan, it is not uncommon."

"Why?" Hongye was puzzled, "Isn't this a good thing?"

"How should I put it? It's good for some people, but not so good for others." Mianbai looked at Hongye. "Compared to other places, Jiangnan is richer. Because of the ancestral system of this dynasty, except for special reasons, the royal family must choose a good family when choosing a bride. Generally speaking, local prominent families and large clans are not included in this list. Therefore, the only ones who can be chosen are merchants or noble families, but no family members can serve as officials in the court for more than three generations. But whether it is merchants or noble families, there are indeed many families who are unwilling to send their pampered girls to the palace, but my family is indeed on the list. If I want to avoid this, I have to use my brain."

"Indeed, in fact, not ordinary people would think this way when doing such a thing." Jin Miaomiao smiled and said, "To put it bluntly, this is the same as the marriage of peace. You know the previous dynasty? There were many marriages of peace, but each time they were not really princesses or princesses sent to marry. Sometimes they were not even daughters of the royal family, but girls who had been raised in the palace since childhood, with clean backgrounds, and were raised according to the standards of princesses and princesses. When the time came to marry, they would be given a title and sent out in a grand manner."

"I see." Ying Wu sighed and said, "The same principle applies to selecting female officials. Not all families are willing to have their daughters enter the palace. Those who are capable, such as porcelain merchants, will make a move in advance. When their daughters are very young, they will choose one or two girls who are about the same age as their daughters and raise them in the mansion. When the time is right, they will send them to participate in the selection as their own daughters."

"That being said," Hongye and Meilin looked at each other, "there should be many families who would be happy to do something like this, right? After all, when one person is in power, everyone in the family will benefit. If my daughter is successful, they will be able to benefit from it."

"There are such situations, and they are not few, but the situation we are talking about also exists. But if you want to replace successfully, you need the cooperation of many people, not only the local government offices, but also the people in the palace who are responsible for the selection, including the people in the Ministry of Rites. There are probably dozens or even hundreds of people involved." Jin Miaomiao sighed, helpless, and said, "Empress Dowager Hui should be very clear about the situation here and know how big a storm it will stir up, so she decided to conceal her background and the true relationship between herself and the owner of Mianbai." "Yes!" Mianbai nodded, "My cousin said that this process is very cumbersome. Officials in Jiangnan are more or less involved, not just for her, but also for many other girls. Some of them were selected. Although they did not become concubines, they eventually married princes or royal family members. The number of people involved is more than a hundred. What's more."

"This situation is not limited to Concubine Hui. It has probably existed since the founding of this dynasty."

"Yes!" Mian Bai sighed, "In addition to what I said above, there is another more important reason."

"Prince Su and Princess Changle." Shen Cha smiled. "She can make her relationship with the class owner public, but her two children will be implicated. Although Concubine Hui's family background is not bad, she is still using someone else's name, which will damage her reputation to some extent. She and her children will become the topic of conversation among the dignitaries and the common people in the capital. Therefore, for the sake of her children, she will definitely keep it a secret if possible."

"Not only for the prince and princess, but also for the late emperor, His Majesty, and the empress dowager. They are all very kind to my cousin and take good care of her, so."

"After weighing the pros and cons, this will indeed affect fewer people. As long as we keep those people in the palace under control, no one will know." Shen Cha glanced at Mian Bai, "Does your majesty know about this?"

"I don't know. The late emperor knew about it, so he only imprisoned my cousin. He didn't abolish her title, nor did he publicize it." Mian Bai sighed, "Later, we found out that it was a female official around my cousin who had wrong thoughts and deliberately framed her, so he took the opportunity to silence that female official."

"Since it turns out to be a false accusation, why do you still..."

"Since I've already been punished, there's no need to explain. My cousin has her own plans, and I'm not sure." Mianbai thought for a moment, then turned to Ying Er and Ying Wu and said, "Have you seen a small red sandalwood box in the guest room where I'm staying? It's about this size." He gestured, "If you have seen it, please bring it here. There's something in it that I want to present to the general."

Ying Wu glanced at Shen Cha, and when he saw her nod, he stood up and left the court.

All the things that were not confiscated from the theater were piled up in the small warehouse at the back, which temporarily served as the evidence room. Yingwu was going there to find the small rosewood box that Mianbai mentioned.

Shen Cha watched Ying Wu leave, then turned his gaze to Mian Bai and said, "Is this something you prepared long ago, or do you want to hand it over at the last minute?"