66How did my house become a bare shell?
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Chapter 66 Why is my house now a bare shell?
Shen Yulou's demeanor as a host, if outsiders saw it, they might even think he was the Lord Minister!
Hu Jianye rolled his eyes, gave some instructions to the head steward, Hu Bai, and then left with a flick of his sleeves.
Hu Bai was a middle-aged man in his forties, looking honest and simple.
He had followed Hu Jianye for many years, so he was granted the surname and was already considered a member of the Hu Family.
While waiting for dinner, Shen Yulou and the others entered a room and began to look around.
As expected of a Lord Minister, his house was extremely luxurious; not to mention many small-leaf red sandalwood furniture pieces, there were even many made of huanghuali wood.
Shen Yulou touched the Grand Tutor chair that the Lord Minister usually sat in and said,
"This set of tables and chairs is really good, Princess. What do you think if it were placed in your hall?"
Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess nodded, "Good, it deeply pleases me."
Shen Yulou looked at Hu Bai and said,
"Steward Hu, since the Princess likes it, please ask Lord Minister to be magnanimous and gift it to us, how about that?"
Hu Bai's face immediately showed some difficulty.
"This... this is Master's favorite chair…"
Hu Bai felt a bit speechless in his heart. Why were these two so shameless?
Was this called being magnanimous? This was called benefiting oneself at others' expense!
Shen Yulou frowned and looked at the Princess.
Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess said, "If it's a bother, then forget it. Perhaps I am not worthy.
When I was young, I remember my late father once had a set of furniture like this. Now I am left alone and helpless, and whenever I see things like this, I miss my late father.
Never mind, I will go ask His Majesty for a set later. At worst, I will go cry to His Majesty, and he will surely bestow upon me an identical set."
After the Princess finished speaking, Hu Bai broke out in a cold sweat.
If the Princess were to go cry to the Emperor, saying that she asked for a set of furniture at the Lord Minister's house and was not given it, what would Emperor Ren think?
Wouldn't this be slapping the royal family's face?
Shen Yulou, on the other hand, secretly gave a thumbs-up. The Princess understood the art of insinuation; their cooperation was quite tacit.
Hu Bai wiped his sweat and said,
"Since the Princess likes it, then take it."
"Good, thank you, Head Steward Hu. I have no one in my residence, so you can send it over later."
Hu Bai:...When did he say he would send it over?
Giving you furniture also includes delivery, right?
Shen Yulou said to Zhang Xinjie, "Director Zhang, these are some of the arrangements Minister Hu made for our wedding. You must record them and report them to the Emperor later, so as not to conceal Minister Hu's merits."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinjie nodded, "Good, I will definitely report truthfully later."
Hu Bai's face turned ugly again. With Zhang Xinjie recording this, the Hu Residence could no longer renege.
Otherwise, if the Princess were to complain to Emperor Ren, saying that it was promised but not given, Emperor Ren's face would be even harder to maintain.
Hu Bai said, "Someone, send these tables and chairs to the Princess's Residence right now."
Shen Yulou spotted a vase, "Princess, look how beautiful this vase is. It would look very grand at the entrance."
Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess nodded, "Indeed, this vase deeply pleases me. However, I have already asked for furniture and now a vase; it might seem a bit thick-skinned."
Shen Yulou said, "Minister Hu will not blame us. Lord Minister has a large family and great wealth, and moreover, he is utterly loyal to the royal family. Even if one were to question the Lord Minister's ability, it's impossible to question the Lord Minister's loyalty to the royal family, right, Steward Hu?"
Hu Bai was startled. He dared not respond carelessly to that statement.
"My master is utterly devoted and loyal to the royal family; heaven and earth can bear witness!"
Shen Yulou said, "Princess, you see, I told you so. Alright, these two vases at the entrance, and the four outside, send them all to the Princess's Residence."
Hu Bai:...Hu Bai's face was even whiter than his name.
"Lord Shen, Princess, this might be a bit inappropriate. These vases are all antiques, usually Master's most cherished possessions…"
Shen Yulou was startled, "Hmm? Just now Steward Hu said he was utterly loyal to the royal family. Was that merely flattery?"
The Princess pulled Shen Yulou and said,
"Forget it. These are, after all, Lord Minister's personal possessions. Even if they were bestowed by the royal family, it's not right for us to demand them. It is true that all land under heaven belongs to the King, but in reality, there is still a distinction between public and private.
Since these antique treasures are the Lord Minister's private collection, we naturally cannot forcibly demand them for the sake of the royal family's reputation."
After the Princess finished speaking, Hu Bai was even more drenched in sweat.
"Someone, quickly send these vases to the Princess's Residence."
After speaking, Hu Bai respectfully said to Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess,
"Princess, I will go see if the dishes in the back kitchen are ready. Please wait a moment."
Hu Bai quickly ran to Minister Hu's study and excitedly said,
"Master! Please come out and see! If you don't come out, the house will be emptied by them!"
...Qingqing and Song Hu stood behind, a bit bewildered.
What was going on?
They had only chatted for a few sentences, how could the Lord Minister's house be empty?
The things that were just taken away were worth at least a thousand taels of silver, weren't they? This was even worse than bandits!
When Hu Jianye came out, his face was also extremely grim. He touched his head.
He remembered this was his family's central hall, how did it become a bare shell?
"Princess, you all…"
Shen Yulou saw a string of beads on Hu Jianye's wrist and said,
"Princess, look at the beads on Lord Hu's hand. Don't they resemble the string the Princess Consort once wore?"
Although Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess's father was killed by Emperor Ren, after his death, to preserve his reputation, he was posthumously enfeoffed as a Prince, and the Princess's mother naturally became the Princess Consort.
Shen Yulou was, of course, talking nonsense at this moment; he had never even seen the Princess Consort.
But if the Lord Minister asked, he would say that the Princess had described it to him, and the Lord Minister wouldn't be able to find fault.
As soon as Shen Yulou said this, Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess immediately began to wipe away tears.
"It does look very similar. Mother used to wear such a bracelet often, but later she accidentally lost it.
Later, I will go kneel before His Majesty for three days and three nights, shamelessly asking him to bestow one upon me, so I can see it and remember her."
Shen Yulou sighed, saying with a look of melancholy,
"I only regret that my official position is too low and my financial resources are insufficient. If I could also achieve the position of Lord Minister, rich enough to rival a nation, a mere bracelet, I could easily buy one for you."
Hu Jianye only felt his scalp tingle. What were these two doing? Were they impeaching him here?
If these words got out, then Hu Jianye, as Lord Minister, would not be able to continue in his position.
He was already a high official, holding great power, the head of the Six Ministries' Lord Ministers.
He was usually cautious and still easily gossiped about. If words like 'rich enough to rival a nation' came from the Princess's mouth, the impact on him would be too great.
Hu Jianye reluctantly took off the bracelet and handed it over.
"If the Princess likes it, it's a small item; consider it a gift. Are the dishes ready? Let's eat quickly!"
Minister Hu's implication was already very clear: eat quickly, and then send these two plagues away!
Shen Yulou said, "Lord Minister, why not invite your wife and other family members to dine together, so we can also witness the elegance of the Lord Minister's wife."
Minister Hu's beard twitched with anger.
Damn it, you still want my wife's jewelry