If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

Chapter 524: Banquet at the Royal Palace (2 in 1)

No one expected that the first thing Fu Jinyuan did when he arrived in Suzhou was to issue a ban on land enclosure, and he also had to re-measure the land based on the land deeds retained by the Ministry of Households. Any land deeds that could not be produced to show a reasonable transaction between the two parties would be regarded as the seizure of official land and the theft of official land.

When the order was issued, the entire Suzhou was in an uproar.

The wealthy and powerful were furious and terrified, while the good common people cheered secretly.

The Regent's Palace seemed unaware of the turmoil outside and still held the banquet.

"Did the Regent Princess do this on purpose by sending us an invitation at this time? Could it be a Hongmen Banquet?" The various noble families felt incredible when they received the invitations sent by the Regent's Palace.

"I've sent my visiting card for so long but there's been no response. And now..."

"Alright, alright. We just have to go pay our respects to the princess. It's better than not being able to enter the palace. It doesn't matter what time it is." Madam Wei interrupted the ladies below.

"As for the enclosure ban, it is a matter between men. We are dealing with the princess."

"Mrs. Wei is calm and clear-headed. Maybe the Princess Regent is hosting the banquet at this time just for this matter." said Mrs. Zhang, who always follows Mrs. Wei's lead.

"Maybe he is testing us and trying to persuade us?"

Madam Wei raised her eyelids slightly, "What's there to persuade? Our family abides by the law and has never occupied good farmland."

"That's right, let's go to the banquet and see what the princess is going to do." Mrs. Zhang nodded.

When others heard this, they immediately followed suit.

In a blink of an eye, it was the day when Shen Sui'an was going to hold a banquet.

The Regent's Palace was decorated with lights and was bustling with activity.

In the garden of the palace, gorgeous curtains fluttered in the wind, and carpets embroidered with intricate patterns were laid all the way from the palace gate to the pavilion for banquets.

The pavilion was surrounded by flowers, and the fragrance of flowers and the aroma of delicious food intertwined and filled the air.

Shen Sui'an was wearing a light red double-breasted brocade gown with silver-threaded edges and symmetrical honeysuckle patterns embroidered on it. She had a warm jade pendant hanging around her waist, looking dignified and elegant.

She sat at the head seat with a smile on her face, looking at the female relatives who came to the banquet.

Each female member of the family was dressed up carefully, wearing silk and satin and precious jewelry. They first came to pay their respects to Shen Sui'an, and then were led to their seats by maids.

The banquet was held in the garden, which was filled with the fragrance of flowers. The heat was blocked by curtains and ice was placed around. The temperature in the entire garden was cool and the fragrance of flowers was refreshing.

As more and more guests arrived, greetings and pleasantries were heard one after another.

At this moment, a mother and daughter who looked similar and dazzling walked out from the Chuihua Gate.

"Princess, that's Madam Wei, and the one next to her is her daughter." Qing Su introduced to Shen Sui'an in a low voice.

Shen Suian raised his eyes and looked at the person who came.

The woman walking in front was well-maintained and still beautiful and charming, while the girl behind her in a light yellow dress...

Looks familiar.

Isn’t he the young man who was chatting in the teahouse two days ago?

Sure enough it was her.

That day she asked Ningshuang to check the boy's identity, and they met again today.

Wei Lichu walked obediently behind Mrs. Wei. She had an indifferent look, as if nothing caught her eye.

"Greetings, Her Majesty." Mrs. Wei's voice brought Wei Lichu back to his senses.

Wei Lichu followed suit and knelt down, looking up slightly at Shen Sui'an who was sitting above him.

Compared to the plain woman whom I caught a glimpse of in the teahouse that day, and compared to the gorgeous and elegant woman in front of me, they are like two different people.

"Mrs. Wei, please don't be so polite." Shen Sui'an smiled slightly.

Her eyes fell on Wei Lichu, "Is this Madam Wei's daughter?"

"That's right. My daughter is still young and has behaved in a rather rude manner. I hope Your Majesty will be magnanimous and not take it as an offense." Madam Wei said respectfully.

Seeing her daughter's reaction, Mrs. Wei guessed that the woman she met in the teahouse that day should be the princess.

The princess must have recognized her daughter.

Mrs. Wei did not want to offend the Regent Princess so quickly.

"Miss Wei is so talented that everyone who sees her will fall in love with her." Shen Sui'an said with a smile.

"Princess, you are as brilliant as spring flowers and as bright as the moon. Compared with you, I am just a common woman." Mrs. Wei said flatteringly.

"Mother, how can I be considered a vulgar woman?" Wei Lichu was displeased. Her appearance was second to none in Suzhou, and no one dared to say she was first.

Shen Sui'an chuckled, "Miss Wei is so cute and lovely, how could she be a vulgar woman?"

Mrs. Wei glanced at her daughter. Although she was still smiling, there was a strong warning in her eyes.

"Please take a seat, Mrs. Wei." Shen Sui'an didn't want to argue with Wei Lichu about what they said in the teahouse.

The banquet started and everyone took their seats. The table was filled with delicacies and fine wines from all over the world.

Shen Sui'an raised his glass and said with a smile: "Thank you all for your kindness today. The prince and I have just arrived in Suzhou, and there are still many unfamiliar things. I will need your guidance in the future."

Everyone responded and raised their glasses to drink together.

"I heard that the Empress Dowager has also come to Suzhou. Should we go and pay our respects to her?" Mrs. Wei said with a smile.

Originally, they sent a visiting card to Shen Sui'an in order to meet the Grand Empress Dowager, but they did not expect that the Grand Empress Dowager did not show up at the banquet in the palace today.

Shen Sui'an: "The Empress Dowager likes quietness. She knows that you are thoughtful."

After hearing this, Mrs. Wei had to temporarily give up the idea of ​​asking to see the Empress Dowager.

"Princess, are you used to living in Suzhou?" Mrs. Wei asked again.

"Suzhou is a place of outstanding people. Although I have only been here for a few days, I feel like I have lived here for most of my life." Shen Sui'an replied.

Madam Wei smiled and said, "It is Suzhou's honor that the princess likes Suzhou."

"This Suzhou is already the prince's fiefdom. In the future, this will be my and the prince's home. Naturally, I like it." Shen Sui'an glanced at Madam Wei.

Shen Sui'an was reminding everyone that she and Fu Jinyuan were now the masters of Suzhou.

Even if the Wei family is a big noble family in Suzhou, it is just a noble family.

They should all recognize one thing: Suzhou is Fu Jinyuan's fiefdom.

"Does the princess really want to open a port in Eagle Bay?" someone suddenly asked.

"That's right. Not only will we open a port, we will also build a trading house nearby. By then, the royal palace will buy the large piece of wasteland there." Shen Suian said with a smile.

"Princess, there are only wastelands over there, what use are they?" Madam Sun asked in surprise.

"It would be better if it were a wasteland," said Shen Sui'an.

"Now the Regent has issued a ban on enclosure, hindering the development of the aristocratic families. Is it just for the princess's trading company?" Wei Lichu's crisp voice sounded.

"With this ban, the family's industry has been damaged, and our lives will not be easy either."

Mrs. Wei turned and frowned at her.

The enclosure ban will definitely hurt the interests of the nobles, but no one wants to bring this matter up in the open today. This damn girl, why can't she keep her cool?

Shen Sui'an's eyes turned cold. He didn't expect that Wei Lichu would dare to openly question Fu Jinyuan's decision at this banquet.

Seeing that other women from aristocratic families also showed expressions of approval, Shen Suian looked at Wei Lichu coldly.

"The enclosure ban is for the benefit of the people, to prevent some noble families from excessively annexing land and leaving the people homeless. The regent is doing this for the long-term stability of the country."

"As for building ports and trading companies, how do you know that it is the place where the land is enclosed? Miss Wei, do you only speak and act based on guesswork?"

"Isn't the noble family also the country..."

Before Wei Lichu could open her mouth to refute, Shen Suian interrupted her forcefully.

"Today's banquet was supposed to be a day for sisters to get together, but it turned into a place for arguing about court affairs. If Miss Wei has any opinions about the prince's decision, you might as well find a suitable time to go to the government office to make your opinions, and don't spoil everyone's fun at this banquet."

It was the first time that Wei Lichu was left speechless by someone. She felt indignant, but in the end she did not dare to continue to act rashly.

The other women from the noble families all tried to smooth things over, and the atmosphere at the banquet eased a little.

Madam Wei apologized repeatedly, "Princess, I am sorry for speaking without restraint."

Shen Sui'an glanced at Madam Wei calmly, "Madam Wei must have educated her daughter very well. She is not young after reaching the age of marriage. It doesn't matter if she speaks without restraint in front of me, but if she speaks without restraint in other places, it will easily lead to trouble."

"..." Wei Lichu's face turned red instantly. She had never been humiliated like this before.

She stood up suddenly and was about to open her mouth to argue, but was pulled back by Mrs. Wei.

"What the princess said is true. I spoiled the child too much. I will teach her a lesson when I get back."

Wei Lichu's eyes were red and tears flashed across her eyes.

The other female members of the family smiled and changed the subject. Except for Wei Lichu's rudeness at the beginning, everyone got along harmoniously afterwards at the banquet.

After the meeting, Mrs. Wei immediately said goodbye and left with her daughter.

Her hurried footsteps showed that she was in a bad mood.

"Princess, I'll take my leave." Madam Sun walked in front of Shen Sui'an and bowed respectfully.

Shen Sui'an knew that the young woman in front of him was the new mistress of the Sun family. Just now, when everyone else was following Madam Wei's lead, she was the rare one who remained silent and did not conform.

"The sun is shining brightly outside. Madam Sun, why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea and go back later?" Shen Sui'an said with a smile.

Madam Sun smiled, "It is better to obey than to be respectful."

"I heard that Madam Sun opened a private school for girls on the outskirts of the city, and sometimes she went there to teach those little girls herself?" Shen Suian asked with a smile.

The Madam Sun in front of her is from the branch of the Ye family. She married far away in Suzhou. Although she is low-key and introverted, she was also a well-known talented woman when she was in Yunzhou.

Madam Sun was surprised, "How did the princess know?"

Shen Sui'an smiled. Since she was going to live in Suzhou in the future, she naturally had to investigate some of the women from the noble families in Suzhou first so that she would know how to get along with them.

So when she learned that Madam Sun was from a branch of the Ye family of the Yong Dynasty and had some relationship with the Princess Zhennan of the Yong Dynasty, she was quite surprised.

"Before my mother-in-law was in charge, I was idle at home and found that only the children of noble families and officials in Suzhou could enter the academy, so I opened a private school. I am sorry to make the princess laugh."

Both men and women can study at Suzhou Academy, but admission is limited to people from aristocratic families; ordinary people cannot enter at all.

Mrs. Sun had been married to the Sun family for three years and had not been pregnant. Although her husband did not say anything and did not take a concubine, she still felt uncomfortable with the increasingly cold attitude of her parents-in-law.

Once when she went out to pray to Guanyin for a child, she met a little girl who was molested by a bully. She helped her and sent the little girl home. The little girl's grandmother was a female doctor.

Knowing that it was difficult for her to have a child, he gave her a formula, and three months later, she actually became pregnant.

In order to express her gratitude, when she heard that she hoped her granddaughter could go to school, Mrs. Sun opened a private school outside the city. At the beginning, there were only two or three little girls studying.

Now there are more than thirty children.

"This is a good thing that benefits the people. How can it be embarrassing?" Shen Sui'an said.

"The practice of Suzhou Academy to only accept children from aristocratic families is really not good."

Madam Sun whispered, "Princess, Suzhou Academy is run by the Wei family. The Wei family has such a request, and it is difficult for others to change it even if they have opinions."

Shen Sui'an raised his eyebrows, "The Wei family's influence in Suzhou is deeply rooted."

"It's strange. Miss Wei is usually generous and proud, and she speaks with moderation. It's the first time I've seen her be so reckless and impulsive. I feel like she has become a different person." Mrs. Sun said.

Seeing Wei Lichu verbally provoking Shen Sui'an today, Mrs. Sun was very surprised. She thought that a smart person like Wei Lichu would not do such a stupid thing.

Shen Sui'an raised his eyebrows when he heard this, "I heard that Miss Wei is quite famous in Suzhou Academy."

"Yes, all the nobles in Suzhou know that Miss Wei is a talented woman. I heard that she once aspired to become a female official." Mrs. Sun said.

"So that's how it is. Maybe she doesn't like me, so she made those remarks today." Shen Sui'an smiled indifferently.

Whether Wei Lichu was deliberately pretending to be impulsive and arrogant, whatever the reason, it didn't matter to Shen Sui'an. No one could stop her from doing what she wanted to do in Suzhou.

Madam Sun felt that Wei Lichu might have been too clever this time. She had always believed that she was different from the women in the inner court and had more vision and ambition than them, so it was inevitable that she looked down on other women.

Today, she saw the Regent Princess's words, actions, and demeanor. She was not a woman who only focused on the trivial matters in the royal harem. Wei Lichu would pay the price for her contempt.

It was not until the servants came to tell her that Chao Ge'er was making a fuss looking for his mother that Madam Sun said goodbye and left.

"I had a very pleasant conversation with the princess. I hope I will have the opportunity to visit you again in the future." Mrs. Sun said with a smile.

"I don't have many people I can talk to in Suzhou. If you have time, Madam Sun, please take me to see your private school." Shen Sui'an also extended an olive branch to Madam Sun.

She wanted to win over the women from the noble families in Suzhou.

Mrs. Sun agreed with a smile.

Shen Sui'an turned around and saw Xue Jing, who had been standing behind her today, lost in thought about something.

"What's wrong?" she asked with a smile.

Xue Jingshu came back to her senses. She looked at Shen Sui'an with admiration, "Princess, there is something I don't understand. Miss Wei offended you at the banquet. Why didn't you reprimand her?"

"Why scold her? We should let her be more proud." Shen Sui'an smiled faintly.

"Look at her madness, look at her pride."

She hasn't fully seen through Wei Lichu's true thoughts, so let this girl be a little more arrogant.

Sometimes you don't have to rush to establish your authority.

"However, I can hear today that the nobles are still somewhat resistant to my plan to build a port and a trading company in Suzhou." Shen Sui'an said with a smile.