frightfiction Chapter 1455 The Xia Family, the Imperial Merchants, is the Best Choice (202 million reward points)
Chapter 1455 The Xia Family, the Imperial Merchants, is the Best Choice (202 million reward points)
Yongshou Palace.
Shen Zhinian sat on the soft couch by the window, listening to Yuanbao report that the Emperor had granted Shen Maoxue's request to see him.
Her voice was calm and even: "...Please ask Father to wait in the main hall for a moment."
"Handan, help me with my makeup."
Han Dan responded with a "Yes," and deftly combed Shen Zhinian's thick, black hair with gentle and skillful movements.
Fuqu then directed the palace maids to prepare tea and snacks.
The bronze mirror reflected Shen Zhinian's charming face.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw that the naivety she had shown when she first entered the palace three years ago had faded from her eyes, replaced by a mature and elegant demeanor.
Before long, Shen Maoxue was led to the main hall.
He was dressed in the official robes of a high-ranking official, and his steps were cautious. He did not dare to linger his gaze on Shen Zhinian at the head of the table for long before lifting the hem of his official robe and kneeling down properly, performing a perfectly standard salute.
"This old minister, Shen Maoxue, Minister of Personnel, pays respects to Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
Shen Zhinian lowered her eyes and looked at Shen Maoxue kneeling at her feet.
In her memory, during those gloomy years in the inner quarters of the Shen family, her father never looked at her directly.
Tortured by her stepmother and orphaned by her birth mother, she was left to fend for herself like a neglected weed in a corner.
At that time, her father probably couldn't even remember exactly what she looked like.
Now, this father, who once ignored her, is kneeling respectfully before her and performing a grand ceremony.
This is the taste of power!
Sad? Not at all.
There was never any real father-daughter affection between them; it was all just mutual exploitation.
This realization brought Shen Zhinian an unusually calm state of mind.
"Father, please rise."
Her tone was distant and authoritative: "Please take a seat."
"This old minister thanks Your Majesty the Imperial Noble Consort for your grace!"
Shen Maoxue then stood up, but dared not sit down completely. He only sat halfway on the edge of the brocade stool, his posture still extremely respectful.
Han Dan offered him fragrant tea, which he accepted with both hands: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Shen Maoxue held the teacup but didn't drink. His gaze fell on Shen Zhinian, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times, and his voice even trembled slightly: "In the blink of an eye, Your Majesty has been in the palace for almost three years..."
"This old minister...this old minister's heart is truly filled with longing whenever he thinks of Your Majesty..."
He raised his sleeve to wipe his eyes, his tone becoming increasingly sincere: "Imperial Noble Consort, are you doing well in the palace? Are you getting used to the food and daily life? The palace is full of rules and regulations, have you suffered any grievances?"
His demeanor, words, and eyes were earnest. If someone unaware of the true situation saw this, they would surely think he was a loving father who deeply cherished his daughter.
Shen Zhinian simply looked at Shen Maoxue quietly, her expression unwavering, and said calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Father. I am doing well."
Standing behind her was Granny Lin, her face calm and serene. Han Dan and Fu Qu, on the other hand, kept their eyes down, seemingly oblivious to everything.
Shen Maoxue acted for a while, and seeing that Shen Zhinian's attitude was indifferent, the palace servants serving in the hall were all like clay sculptures.
His sorrowful expression froze slightly, then he continued with a sigh, "The palace is not like home. Even for this old minister to see Her Majesty is so difficult..."
"Today I have the honor of seeing Your Majesty's radiant beauty, surpassing even the splendor of the past. This old minister is truly filled with both joy and..."
"Father."
Shen Zhinian spoke up, interrupting Shen Maoxue's long and slightly awkward emotional outpouring: "There are many rules in the palace, and our time to talk is limited. If there is anything important, please speak frankly."
"These are all my trusted confidants; there's no need for restraint."
Shen Maoxue's forced expression of kindness finally crumbled, and he awkwardly lowered his sleeve to wipe away his tears.
He cleared his throat, the lingering sadness on his face quickly fading away, replaced by a serious expression as if discussing important matters.
"Since Your Majesty has asked, this old minister will speak frankly."
Shen Maoxue sat up straighter and said, "The Shen family cannot be without a mistress. Having a concubine manage the household affairs is not a long-term solution and will only make us a laughing stock."
"At the previous lotus-viewing banquet, Your Majesty met several suitable noble ladies. I wonder if Your Majesty has someone in mind...?"
He stopped beating around the bush and brought up the matter of remarrying directly.
Shen Zhinian did not answer immediately, but looked directly at Shen Maoxue and asked in return, "Who does Father favor?"
The father and daughter's eyes met in mid-air.
At this moment, there was no feigned display of kinship, no superfluous pleasantries, only a tacit understanding.
Shen Maoxue looked into Shen Zhinian's eyes, which seemed to see right through people, and felt a chill run down his spine.
He knew that this daughter was no longer the obscure, easily ignored concubine's daughter she once was.
Her intellect and methods are far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Shen Maoxue stopped keeping him in suspense, leaned forward slightly, and whispered his analysis of the situation: "Your Majesty is wise."
"Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he first used swift and decisive measures to eliminate the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion, which had been entrenched for many years, and later the Dingguo Duke's Mansion also collapsed. His Majesty's intention to suppress powerful families and promote those from humble backgrounds is evident to all."
"The Shen family has been able to rise rapidly in recent years not only because of the Imperial Noble Consort's favor, but also because the Shen family's foundation is not deep and poses no threat to His Majesty at the moment. You can trust them."
At this point, he changed the subject, his tone becoming heavy: "However, today, the Empress holds the same position as the Vice Empress and wields great power over the six palaces. The Fourth Prince is intelligent and healthy, and is favored by the Emperor. The Shen family has also risen in status, with more and more disciples and old friends, and is showing a trend of developing into a powerful family."
Shen Maoxue raised his eyes and gave Shen Zhinian a meaningful look: "If the Shen family were to form marriage alliances with those deeply entrenched powerful families at this time, thus further expanding their influence... what would His Majesty think?"
"How can we allow others to snore on the side of the bed?"
"At that time, the Shen family and the Imperial Noble Consort will probably no longer be sharp blades in His Majesty's hands, but new and serious threats..."
This analysis is incisive and hits the nail on the head.
Shen Zhinian listened quietly.
What Shen Maoxue said was exactly what she had been thinking about these past few days.
The art of rulership lies in maintaining balance.
If Nangong Xuanyu could support the Shen family, he could also suppress them when they became too powerful.
Shen Zhinian already knew the answer, but still asked, "What does Father mean?"
A glint flashed in Shen Maoxue's eyes, and without further hesitation, he said directly, "In my opinion, the Xia family, the imperial merchant family, is the best choice."
Shen Zhinian raised an eyebrow slightly: "The Xia family?"
This answer coincided with her own thoughts.
"Exactly."
Shen Maoxue affirmed, "Although the Xia family comes from a merchant background and does not hold a high position, they are incredibly wealthy. Moreover, they have intricate connections with officials in various regions and even the military, and are well-informed."
"more importantly……"
At this point, Shen Maoxue's voice lowered even further: "His Majesty has been waging war for years, and with the Xiongnu and the war IOUs, the national treasury is already empty."