Hearing this, Xiao Hanzhi sat down beside Concubine Chen. "Is Mother Concubine worrying about something again?"
Concubine Chen wore a kind - faced smile. "What else could I worry about other than your marriage? What else is worth my concern?"
"Mother Concubine has been troubled these days!"
"Hanzhi, there's no need for you and me to be so polite! Regarding your marriage, Mother will surely make good plans for you! Come, take a look at these young ladies. These are all carefully selected candidates I've picked in recent days!"
As Concubine Chen said, she picked up the scrolls on the table and unrolled them one by one for Xiao Hanzhi to see.
"This is the daughter of Assistant Minister Duan of the Ministry of Revenue. You saw her today. She was right behind He Yuan during the competition!" The first candidate Concubine Chen introduced to Xiao Hanzhi was the one that Emperor Dongling had once hinted at.
Xiao Hanzhi also looked at the scroll in Concubine Chen's hand. Combining his memories of Duan Chuchu in the past two days, he pondered for a while and said, "She knows how to behave properly and is very graceful. She's okay!"
"I also think this Miss Duan is good. She has good upbringing!" At this time, everyone in the room were Concubine Chen's confidants, so she said without worry, "Moreover, Assistant Minister Duan is a man your father values, and he's in the Ministry of Revenue. With his support, you can hold back those people to some extent."
"Minister Guo of the Ministry of Revenue has now sided with them. At present, only Assistant Minister Duan can hold him back in the Ministry of Revenue. We mustn't let them completely control the Ministry of Revenue."
Xiao Hanzhi nodded in agreement. "Last time, Mother Concubine also said that this Miss Duan was suggested by Father. It seems that Father also doesn't want to see them become too powerful! Since Father has agreed, let her be the main wife!"
"Be the main wife? Assistant Minister Duan's official rank is only the third - highest grade. As your father - in - law, his rank is a bit low!" Concubine Chen hesitated and disagreed.
"Han'er, Mother actually thinks that Miss He from Prime Minister He's family is quite good today. Prime Minister He has always had a good reputation in the court and is well - supported by those upright officials. If we can get Prime Minister He's support, it will be greatly beneficial to you!"
Xiao Hanzhi thought about He Yimeng's performance today in his mind and shook his head to refuse. "Mother Concubine, Miss He has a rather weak personality. I'm afraid she won't be able to stand up to the responsibilities. She may not be able to hold the position of the main wife. If something unexpected happens to her in the future, we may turn from relatives to enemies with Prime Minister He! Moreover, Mother Concubine, Prime Minister He is getting old!"
Hearing this, Concubine Chen thought for a while. He Yimeng did seem timid today. Even when she was bullied by Wu Qihuan, she didn't have the courage to speak up. With such a weak personality, she really couldn't manage the household affairs for her son, nor was she suitable for the position of the main wife.
Moreover, the backyard was always a battlefield for women. Her son was already busy with court affairs. He really didn't have the energy to take care of things in the backyard. She was afraid that He Yimeng would be harmed by others, and they would accidentally offend Prime Minister He.
"Then in this case, she's not suitable either!" Concubine Chen quickly thought in her mind. "Han'er, even so, we can't give up on Prime Minister He. We can't let him become our enemy. I think it's okay to marry Miss He to the tenth prince as his main wife!"
"Mother Concubine, it's better for you to ask Father's opinion about the tenth brother's marriage before making any arrangements. Even if we really want to marry Miss He to the tenth brother as his main wife, this matter should be handled by the tenth brother himself! We'd better not get involved for now!"
Concubine Chen nodded and said with a sigh, "Mother knows! After all, there's a certain distance. No matter what Mother does, people will suspect her motives. Your father values his offspring very much, and he will surely inquire about such matters personally!"
Concubine Chen could only relax in front of her own son. After a while, when she calmed down a bit, she then said to Xiao Hanzhi, "Whether it's Miss Duan or Miss He, in Mother's heart, neither of them is as important as her!"
As she said this, Concubine Chen opened a scroll beside her with a beaming smile. There was a woman in red painted on it. She was standing in front of a green tree, looking relaxed, with a confident and assertive look between her eyebrows. Even through the paper, her eyes showed a firm and unyielding look.
Xiao Hanzhi had to admit that the painter was extremely skilled. He had painted Shen Li vividly. With her beautiful face and unique charm, she was truly a rare woman in the world.
Concubine Chen watched coldly from the side. Xiao Hanzhi had been looking at Shen Li's portrait for quite a while. She thought he was satisfied, so she continued, "The Shen family has had two generations of fathers and sons in charge of the Night Shade Division. This has never happened in the history of the Dongling Kingdom. The power of the Shen family is so great that few families in Dongling can compare with it! What's even more commendable is that your father trusts the Shen family!"
"Originally, Mother thought that Shen Li was just a brainless fool as the outside world said. But seeing her today, it's completely different. You also saw that Shen Li is outstanding in both intelligence and martial arts, and she was praised by your father!"
"If you marry her, you'll be able to take control of the Night Shade Division. Then... those people won't be a threat!"
Xiao Hanzhi knew in his heart that Concubine Chen's analysis was correct. If he married Shen Li, he would have the power to compete with Xiao Yujin and the Queen. But every time he thought about how Shen Li had shown disdain for the position of his main wife during the conversation with Wu Qihuan just now, he felt a faint anger in his heart.
Why should he offer something that others didn't even care about, only to make others annoyed?
"Mother Concubine, Shen Li is not suitable!"
Xiao Hanzhi had already put away his smile. He said seriously, "Mother Concubine also said that Shen Li is very intelligent. How could she not see the reason why I want to marry her! I'm afraid that with the current status of the Shen family, they can't wait to stay away from people like us!"
After seeing Concubine Chen frown tightly with a disapproving look on her face, Xiao Hanzhi continued to persuade, "Mother Concubine, have you forgotten about the Shen Junhong couple who have disappeared for many years?"
Hearing this, Concubine Chen immediately looked up at Xiao Hanzhi and asked, "Han'er, what do you mean? Do you have any news about them?"
Xiao Hanzhi didn't answer directly. He just said vaguely, "They've been away for so many years. There are many people in the capital who want to know their whereabouts. But over the years, Mother Concubine, have you seen anyone find out any news?"
Concubine Chen naturally shook her head. "Back then, your father suddenly sent them out of the capital without revealing any information to the outside world."
"My child, over the years, the information I've sent people to gather only tells me that they're no longer in the Dongling Kingdom! I don't have any more information."