After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 653: Fundraising

Seeing the Empress had taken it to heart, Nanny Zhou felt slightly relieved.

Supporting the Empress, she walked forward.

This banquet was hosted by Consort Li, but the main seat was still held by the Empress.

This is the majesty befitting the mother of the nation.

Looking at Consort Li’s triumphant appearance, the Empress coldly smiled in her heart.

She thinks she can hold on to the Phoenix Seal forever, but this is her final moment of glory.

Before long, once she reclaims the Phoenix Seal, let’s see how arrogant she can still be.

The Empress sat down and glanced at Nanny Zhou.

Nanny Zhou nodded slightly.

That was a tacit understanding cultivated through years between master and servant.

The Empress sipped her tea gently, a trace of a mischievous look flashing in her eyes.

After strolling around the garden for a while, although there were ice blocks, it wasn’t too hot, but the sun still added a bit of irritation being shined upon.

After sitting down, a bowl of chilled snow fungus and lotus seed soup calmed her restless mind.

Consort Li laughed, "Actually, it was long overdue to invite all the Madams. Constant delays brought us to today. All the ministers are so loyal to the court, donating silver taels for disaster relief, which is truly commendable."

"I toast to everyone on behalf of the palace."

Consort Li drank fruit wine, as did Su Jin and the others.

The fragrant fruit wine was not intoxicating but had a sweet and lasting aftertaste.

It’s just that the donations came from the ministers, so why did Consort Li invite their wives to the palace?

Su Jin was somewhat puzzled.

She guessed Consort Li just needed a reason to throw a banquet, and this reason would do.

What Su Jin didn’t know was that Consort Li initially intended to invite the ladies to the palace to ask for donations, but before she could proceed with her plans, Marquis Dongxiang made a preemptive move.

He donated twenty thousand taels, and forced Duke Chong to donate twenty thousand taels as well, and many ministers followed suit, seizing a chance for Consort Li to take credit, though she couldn’t complain.

There was no benefit in opposing Marquis Dongxiang, especially since she had taken advantage of his daughter to get the Phoenix Seal.

The banquet was originally canceled, but a few days ago, some concubines brought up old matters, and Consort Li felt it was time to show off a bit.

To let these noblewomen know that the Empress had fallen out of favor while she was in favor, which would be beneficial for her and the Third Prince when they spoke to their husbands about it. Thus, this banquet was arranged.

The Empress didn’t say anything, but everyone glanced past her face whenever looking at Consort Li.

After all, Consort Li was stealing all her limelight.

But the Empress was truly not angry.

Not angry in the slightest.

"With Consort Li managing the harem for me these days, I have really been at ease. This banquet was organized so neatly, I’m ashamed to say I wouldn’t have done as well," praised the Empress.

"Your Majesty is too modest," a noble Madam said.

Consort Li praised Su Jin, "Speaking of ease in managing the harem, it’s all thanks to the Princess Consort Zhenbei. The Emperor is busy with state affairs and seldom visits the harem, and with so many concubines, it is thanks to having mahjong that the concubines get along so well."

No one would refute this statement.

With mahjong, not only did the concubines get along better, but the noblewomen also became closer.

Inviting each other to play mahjong, bathe in the Beauty Pavilion, knead shoulders, pound backs, and apply face masks—life couldn’t be more comfortable.

Everyone complimented Su Jin one after another, and she felt as if she could float.

But just then, a palace maid whispered a few words to a Madam’s ear.

The Madam paused, glanced towards Consort Li, and nodded slightly.

Soon after the palace maid left, the Madam spoke, "We are sitting here chatting and drinking tea, but thinking of those commoners still suffering in the scorching sun and hunger really makes me uneasy. I can’t help them much, but can only offer a bit of my goodwill."

Just then, a palace maid carrying a tray walked by, preparing to change her tea.

The Madam took off her jade bracelet and golden hairpin from her wrist and head, placing them on the tray.

It was evident that these were her donations.

Consort Li’s brow furrowed tightly.

What were his elder brother and sister-in-law doing?

She hadn’t had time to react when the Empress laughed, "I was wondering why the Consort was suddenly hosting a banquet. It turns out it was for drought relief donations."

"Since my sister is so considerate, it wouldn’t be right for me as an elder sister not to support her."

Saying this, she took off a pair of mutton fat jade bracelets from her wrist.

Nanny Zhou took them and placed them on the tray held by the palace maid.

Consort Li’s face changed dramatically.

Since the Empress had removed her jade bracelets, how could the other noblewomen not follow suit?

However, removing their accessories was truly not done with a good grace.

They wore their most cherished jewelry for this visit to the palace, and now they had to donate them just like that—it was difficult to part with.

Though they said nothing, they harbored complaints against Consort Li at heart.

It wasn’t fair to fleece them once, only to do it again!

Though no one openly complained, the hall was filled with a suffocating air of resentment.

Su Jin had no particular opinion about the donations, but she thought Consort Li’s approach was foolish—was it worth offending so many noblewomen to please the Emperor?

The palace maid held the tray and collected jewelry one by one, and soon the tray was filled to overflowing.

The hairdos previously adorned with golden and jade hairpins were now almost bare.

Princess Fu Yun took off her hairpieces, but she hesitated to part with the jade hairpin given to her by Su Chong.

She brushed her hand past it several times without removing it.

The maid Shanhu noticed her reluctance and helped, taking the jade hairpin and slipping it into her sleeve.

With Xingxing’s help, Su Jin removed all her hairpieces, including her earrings.

Taking off the jewelry, her neck felt much lighter.

Not far away, a young lady from the Wenyuan Bo Mansion stared at Su Jin, her anger surging from her limbs to her face.

The return of the Wenyuan Bo Mansion was unfortunate. The day they returned to the Capital coincided with the day the palace invited each mansion to attend the banquet.

The palace didn’t know Wenyuan Bo had returned to the Capital, so naturally, she wasn’t invited.

To secure the chance to enter the palace, she specially went to Duke Chong’s Mansion the day before and gifted the set of hair ornaments she picked at Jinyu Pavilion to the eldest daughter of Duke Chong’s Mansion, Shangguan Feng’er.

Shangguan Feng’er then helped her obtain an invitation.

As a result!

The banquet was for donations.

The hair ornaments she wore were her absolute favorites!

And the Princess Consort Zhenbei, the one who made her a laughingstock, wore the ornaments she schemed away.

It wasn’t from spending money, donating it wasn’t painful at all, and that faint smile made her want to pounce and scratch her face.

Upon her return to the Capital, she had done nothing but almost lost ten thousand taels.

Her heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys burned in agony.

The most pained and angry was still Consort Li.

She was still bewildered at this point.

She hadn’t asked her elder brother and sister-in-law to lead in donating; what kind of mess were they making?

Did they think she wasn’t hated enough?!

It was enough to anger her to death!

The Empress watched Consort Li and said, "Sister, if the purpose of the banquet was for donations, it should have been mentioned beforehand. Everyone here is generous, and wouldn’t refuse to donate. By keeping it a secret, you put everyone in a difficult position with the cherished items they’re wearing."

Consort Li was at a loss for words.

Sitting with pent-up frustration, unsure of where to vent.

She looked at the Empress, straining to suppress her anger, speaking through clenched teeth, "Sister, how could you say such a thing?"

The Empress didn’t respond, only glanced at Xingxing.

Her glance drew everyone’s eyes over.

The golden hairpin in Xingxing’s hair was exceptionally conspicuous.

This gold hairpin was a birthday gift Su Jin gave Xingxing in the morning.

But people wouldn’t perceive it that way; they’d assume Su Jin was unwilling to donate the golden hairpin, having placed it in the maid’s hair to avoid the donation.

Su Jin felt very exasperated, as if trouble always found her in inexplicable ways.

Did they really think she was easy to bully!

Su Jin, unhurriedly, took her gaze from the golden hairpin in Xingxing’s hair and turned to the Empress, "Today is my maid’s birthday, and this golden hairpin is the birthday gift I gave her this morning. Is there something inappropriate about it?"