strictlysupreme Chapter 353 Family Banquet
Chapter 353 Family Banquet
Shen Yanfeng and Jiang Sujin took the children and walked leisurely for more than a month before arriving in the capital.
On the first day they returned to the capital, the emperor specially held a family banquet.
At the family dinner, there were people from the Jiang and Shen families, as well as some royal relatives.
The emperor is now an adult. Although he is only eighteen years old, he is as tall as Shen Yanfeng.
After all, she grew up under Shen Yanfeng's care, and has a deep relationship with Jiang Sujin, so the emperor could not hide his joy that day.
Emperor: "I am very happy that Prince Yong'an has returned to the capital. Come, I will offer a toast to Prince Yong'an."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yanfeng quickly picked up his wine glass and stood up: "This humble official toasts to His Majesty, long live the emperor."
The Emperor: "Prince Yong'an is one of us, there is no need to pay attention to so many etiquettes."
Shen Yanfeng: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for your grace!"
Emperor: "Cheers!"
Shen Yanfeng quickly bowed and then drank the wine in the glass.
After the emperor finished drinking, he couldn't help but look at Jiang Sujin: "Second Madam is still as beautiful as a flower. You haven't changed at all from the impression I have of you."
Jiang Sujin heard this and naturally smiled gently and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am almost thirty years old, so it is natural that I have changed."
Emperor: "No change, but more charming than before."
Jiang Sujin: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise."
The Emperor: "The ministers have been urging me to select concubines, but I really have no interest in selecting concubines. Since Second Lady is here, you can help me choose one!"
Jiang Sujin heard this and said in fear, "Your Majesty, how can I interfere in this matter?"
The Emperor: "The Empress Dowager has always been in poor health and is indeed old. Consort Shu and others are only in their teens and are not up to the task."
"Second Mother has always been smart. You can sit next to me and help me with my opinion."
Since the emperor had said so, Jiang Sujin naturally couldn't refuse.
"Your Majesty obeys your command!"
Emperor: "I should have gotten married a long time ago, but Prince Yong'an and Second Lady are not coming. I always feel uneasy."
"Now that you are all back, it's time to put these things on the agenda."
Shen Yanfeng: "I deserve to die. I and Susu have always wanted to come back, but it happened that Luosha Country provoked us and Susu had to give birth, so we haven't come back yet. I hope the emperor will forgive me!"
The Emperor: "Hey, Prince Yong'an's victory over the Luosha Kingdom is a great achievement. I can't reward you soon enough!"
Shen Yanfeng: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am grateful for your trust. I am already in tears."
The emperor smiled and nodded, saying, "Only with Prince Yong'an here can Dawei enjoy peace and prosperity."
"The country of Dawei is peaceful and prosperous, long live the emperor."
The emperor smiled and said, "My dear ministers, please stand up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The family dinner lasted until the afternoon. After the guests left, the emperor specially kept Prince Yong'an and Jiang Sujin to chat.
The Emperor: "Prince Yong'an, I will not hide anything from you."
"There are several shortlists for the queen right now."
"The first to bear the brunt is the Empress Dowager's princess in-laws, the fourth son of the Dong family, the legitimate granddaughter, Dong Ying'er."
"The second is the great-granddaughter of Duke Rong, Shen Yueqing of the Shen family."
Jiang Sujin and Shen Yanfeng's expressions instantly became complicated when they heard this.
The emperor looked at the two and said, "Of course, I naturally hope to pick one from the Duke of Rong's Mansion. After all, I grew up in the Duke's Mansion and have feelings for it."
Shen Yanfeng: "Your Majesty, I feel that although Yue Qing has been well-behaved and sensible since she was a child, her personality is too simple and she is not qualified to be the mother of the country."
The emperor's brows relaxed instantly when he heard this: "Prince Yong'an is worrying too much. From the bottom of my heart, I also hope to see the Shen family prosper."
Jiang Sujin: "Your Majesty, you must be cautious when choosing a queen mother, but you cannot use any backdoors."
After hearing Jiang Sujin's words, the emperor smiled even more relaxed.
"Second Mother is too serious."
Jiang Sujin and Shen Yanfeng both realized that the emperor was testing them. After all, they now occupied a fiefdom and were the only king of a different surname in Dawei. Naturally, their strength should not be underestimated.
If at this time, the Shen family produces another queen mother and then gives birth to a prince, there will inevitably be covetous hearts.
The emperor is now an adult, so naturally he has more things to consider.
In fact, it is understandable. After all, everyone desires power.
It is lonely at the top. Once you reach a high place, you will definitely have many doubts.
Jiang Sujin: "Your Majesty, who else is there?"
Emperor: "There is also Su Xi, the second daughter of the Grand Secretary, Guo Shuzhen, the eldest daughter of the Minister of War, and Lin Huairou, the granddaughter of the three-dynasty elder."
"Secondly, I have several concubines around me, but they are not of high birth. Only the Shufei is more noble, but her temper is too impatient, not qualified to be the mother of the country."
Jiang Sujin: "I feel that since she is the mother of the country, the first thing to consider is her intelligence, followed by her character, and then her appearance."
Emperor: "What Second Lady thinks is exactly what I think."
Jiang Sujin: "Of course, another very important point is that you must have a good impression of the emperor."
The emperor sighed and said, "To be honest with you, I don't think anyone is pretty now. No one is even one tenth as pretty as you."
Jiang Sujin: "Your Majesty is finding all kinds of ways to praise me!"
The emperor looked at Jiang Sujin and smiled, and he couldn't help but laugh too.
This was really his true feelings. These women really could not compare to Er Niang's beauty.
Emperor: "I want to choose someone from the Prime Minister's family who looks a bit like Second Mother, but the Prime Minister keeps saying there is no one, which is really disappointing."
Jiang Sujin: "Dad is a very cautious person. The emperor has already given him a high position, so he naturally dare not covet anything else."
The Emperor: "Well, the Prime Minister is indeed loyal."
The two of them chatted with the emperor for a while, and then took a carriage back to the Shen Mansion.
In the carriage, Jiang Sujin looked at Shen Yanfeng and said, "The emperor asked me to help with the selection. Isn't that the same as asking me to be the bad guy?"
Shen Yanfeng: "The Empress Dowager is indeed old, and the Emperor does not have anyone who can take charge of the harem."
"And he also knows that if you make the final decision, with my support, no one will dare to complain."
Jiang Sujin: "These people are all daughters or granddaughters of ministers. Even if they are not good-looking, they must stay!"
Shen Yanfeng: "Don't take it too seriously. The harem and the previous dynasty have always been inextricably linked, and the emperor often has no choice."
Jiang Sujin: "The Shen family sent Shen Yueqing, what do you think?"
Shen Yanfeng: "The Shen family has already gained enough. The daughter of the Shen family can enter the palace, but she must not be the queen."
Jiang Sujin: "Emperors of all dynasties were not necessarily the sons of the queen. As long as they entered the palace, the emperor would favor them. When they had a prince, the emperor would definitely be wary."
Shen Yanfeng: "Then what do you say we should do? You can't just kick them down, right?"
Jiang Sujin raised her eyebrows, her eyes revealing something ambiguous.