A concubine enters the mansion? Reborn, three matchmakers and six engagements to marry the Prime Min

In the following days, Shen Yue rarely returned to the Shen family.

Su Yuanzhou was like a hungry wolf that had tasted the sweetness of marrow, so much so that she had to lie down during the day to recuperate for several days.

On the sixth day of May, the Shen family welcomed Miss Xie Huanci from the Xie family with great fanfare.

After a period of time, the capital returned to peace again.

In the blink of an eye, it was August, and Song Hongshen had been crowned the crown prince for more than half a year.

In the past six months, Song Hongshen has demonstrated extraordinary abilities, and several senior cabinet ministers have nodded in praise.

Three months ago, Emperor Xuande ordered the Crown Prince to assist in managing state affairs.

Song Hongshen's insights and methods on many matters made it impossible for Emperor Xuande and a group of veteran ministers to find fault with him.

But the more outstanding his abilities were, the more arguments there were in the court about the selection of a princess for the crown prince.

After all, no one can predict who the next queen will be, or which lady will be favored by the prince.

After all, as long as the prince chooses a concubine, everyone has a chance.

Just after August 15th, the Minister of Works Rong Hai submitted a memorial to the emperor at the morning court.

"Your Majesty, the East Palace has been renovated. All arrangements are in accordance with the Crown Prince's preferences."

As soon as Rong Hai finished speaking, court officials came to make memorials one after another.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is not young anymore. Logically, he should have married by now. I think it's time to choose a concubine for him."

"Your Majesty, I second the motion. As the crown prince, you are responsible for the expansion of the royal family. If you don't choose a concubine and fill the East Palace, how can the royal family continue?"

This kind of scene would happen at court meetings every few days.

The previous several proposals were all rejected by Emperor Xuande.

He still remembered the conditions that Song Hongshen agreed to when he accepted his ancestry, one of which was that he was not allowed to interfere in his marriage affairs. He was not allowed to send people to him in the name of expanding the royal family.

At that time, Song Hongshen was just a prince, not a crown prince, so it was not a big deal for him not to take concubines or even have a legitimate son.

But now he is the crown prince, and these matters are both his private affairs and state affairs.

The father and son had a quarrel in the imperial study yesterday about this matter.

When the court officials brought it up again today, Emperor Xuande did not fight back on behalf of Song Hongshen as he had done before.

Instead, he looked at him and said, "Now that the Eastern Palace has been repaired, the Crown Prince should move into the palace. It is not in accordance with etiquette for him to always live in the Prince of Loyalty's Mansion and the Prince of Gong's Mansion."

In fact, Song Hongshen's Prince Gong's Mansion was just a decoration. Apart from supporting a few people, he himself rarely went there.

Even after becoming the crown prince, he still lived in the outer courtyard of the Song family as before.

After hearing what Emperor Xuande said, Song Hongshen bowed and said, "Yes, I understand."

He also knew that it was not appropriate to live in the Prince of Loyalty's Palace forever.

Emperor Xuande added: "If you live in the Eastern Palace, you will need someone to serve you. The Ministry of Rites should prepare to select a concubine for the Crown Prince. Everything should be done according to the rules of our ancestors."

Song Hongshen raised his eyelids slightly, thinking that his father was using the ancestral rules to pressure him.

They wanted to tell him that what they said before was not valid and they could not go against the ancestral rules.

The Minister of Rites glanced at the Crown Prince before saying, "Yes, I obey your order."

Ever since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince performed the enthronement ceremony, the Ministry of Rites has already begun preparations for the selection of a concubine for the Crown Prince.

It is no exaggeration to say that His Majesty said that the Ministry of Rites could come up with the rules and regulations when selecting a concubine for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince today, and there would be absolutely no panic.

Song Hongshen knew that he couldn't avoid this matter. Now that he hadn't gotten married yet, all the contradictions were still on him.

If he delays in choosing a concubine when he gets married, Su Zhilan will be under great pressure.

But he already had a plan in mind for this matter.

Not to mention the ancestral system, even if his ancestors got up, he would not be willing to compromise.

However, we must find a way to suppress these "covetous" court officials first.

Song Hongshen did not force his way with Emperor Xuande and the court officials today. After thinking for a moment, he said, "You can choose someone, but how can I have the final say in the selection?"

Emperor Xuande naturally agreed and said, "Of course, when I choose someone for you, I have to choose someone you like."

The several ministers who had made the proposal before all had daughters of marriageable age at home.

Hearing this, he made another memorial: "Your Majesty, although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been engaged, the fifth daughter of the Su family is still young and has not yet reached the age of marriage. In my opinion, it would be better to select someone to serve His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in the East Palace first."

"We have to consider His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the royal family."

Many people present agreed with this statement.

It would be even better if the Crown Prince could give birth to an heir before the Crown Princess enters the palace.

When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne, it is still unknown who will sit on the throne.

Song Hongshen looked at these people coldly, and only saw two words on their faces: greed.

Emperor Xuande looked at Song Hongshen, "What did the prince say?"

Song Hong thought for a moment and said, "Why not get married at the end of the year? But we won't consummate the marriage before the Crown Princess reaches the age of 15. As for the other concubines who enter the palace, they can only serve me after the Crown Princess reaches the age of 15."

After saying these two sentences, Song Hongshen walked up to Su Chengxun and said, "This matter still depends on Lord Su's opinion. If the Su family agrees, then we will do it."

Su Chengxun has been worried these days. As long as his daughter doesn't get married, there will be many variables in this matter.

He was not eyeing the position of Crown Princess, but he was really afraid that the ghostly tricks in the capital would hurt his daughter.

So when the prince said this, Su Chengxun thought about it and nodded in agreement.

"I will obey your Highness the Crown Prince."

After half a year, the matter of the prince's selection of a concubine was finally settled.

Many people in the hall were thinking about how to send their daughters to the Eastern Palace.

The Minister of Rites stepped forward and said, "Tomorrow I will select all the unmarried young ladies of marriageable age from each family and compile them into a book. It will take three rounds of screening..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Song Hongshen.

"Don't bother. Just put them into a book and number the ladies."

"When the time comes, I will randomly say four numbers, and whoever gets chosen will be the one."

"I have just arrived at the Eastern Palace, so I don't need so many people to serve me. Two concubines and two concubines will do."

The Minister of Rites was stunned for a moment and said, "Your Highness, I have never chosen like this before."

Even when wealthy families buy maids, they still look at their appearance and behavior.

Why is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince choosing a concubine as casually as buying livestock?

Emperor Xuande also said, "Nonsense, this is a concubine selection for you, shouldn't you like her?"

Song Hongshen chuckled and said, "I believe that the daughter you have taught will be virtuous and kind."

"I understand the principle of watching over the pig pen when selling it."

The court officials who had daughters of marriageable age all blushed.

So His Royal Highness really thought he was buying livestock? Should they still thank His Royal Highness for his compliments?

Emperor Xuande knew that he was holding a grudge, so he didn't say much, let alone scold him.

This son is very stubborn, so he is willing to go along with him on unimportant matters.

"In that case, let's do as the prince says."

After everyone filed out of Qianyang Hall, Song Hongshen walked up to Shen Zhixiu and said.

"Teacher, we have almost finished investigating the matter of General Fuguo taking a salary without doing anything."

"Generally speaking, matters involving military commanders should be handled after the New Year in order to stabilize the winter border defense, right?"

Shen Zhixiu nodded and said, "It will be done next year. I still need to collect some more evidence. A second-rank general guarding the border involves the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. I have to have solid evidence before I can report it."

Song Hongshen thought for a moment and said, "I'll look at the files again tonight."