Chuxiu Palace.

Because of Li Yunyan's background and Aunt Jiang's deliberate favoritism, Li Yunyan was assigned a separate room.

The room wasn't large, but it had everything one could need. Li Yunyan especially thanked Aunt Jiang profusely, and even declared that if she gained His Majesty's favor in the future, she would often bring her delicious food!

Aunt Jiang smiled helplessly. The phrase "being favored by His Majesty" would sound arrogant coming from any other candidate, but when Li Yunyan said it, it sounded perfectly normal, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Even she likes this girl. The Empress Dowager is eager to have a grandson, so she will probably like her too!

As for His Majesty, that depends on this girl's fate!

Meng Qingyu is no longer crazy. She has been arranged to live with two other candidates and has remained silent, not causing any more trouble. No one knows what kind of wicked ideas she is thinking.

Li Yunyan didn't bother with her. She would deal with whatever came her way. Her top priority right now was to win over Chu Xingmo.

Fortunately, she had her chance on the second day after entering the palace!

The Empress Dowager had high hopes for this year's candidates for the imperial concubine selection. After they had rested for a day, she couldn't wait to summon them to the Cining Palace for an audience.

She even specifically asked Chu Xingmo to put aside his official duties and come over so that he could meet with the young ladies-in-waiting together.

Chu Xingmo was unwilling, but he knew in his heart that even if his mother selected more and more concubines for him, he would not have any feelings for them.

The Empress Dowager pleaded earnestly, "Mo'er! Think of it as the sake of all the people! If you have no heir, who will inherit the Chu Kang Dynasty? Is the Chu family's empire going to be lost in your hands?"

"Your Majesty, you are overthinking it! Your son has already made up his mind. In a few years, your son will select a child from the imperial clan to raise, and will never allow the empire to be without a successor!"

"How can that be the same!" The Empress Dowager said, somewhat exasperated. "What I want are your offspring! Your own children!"

Chu Xingmo remained calm, "I am afraid I cannot comply."

Seeing his indifferent expression, the Empress Dowager was both angry and helpless. If it weren't for him, why would she have fought to the death with others back then?

At this moment, the Empress Dowager felt an intense hatred for the wet nurse from back then, wishing she could dig her out and grind her bones to dust!

Now that things have been settled, what needs to be done is to get Mo'er to accept women as soon as possible!

Even just one would be fine!

The Empress Dowager pounded her chest, feeling that she would be driven to death by this son sooner or later!

With tears in her eyes, she said to Chu Xingmo, "Mo'er, is this all for your mother's sake? If you continue like this, I won't have the face to face your father even after I die! After I pass away, just throw me into the mass grave and let me keep company with the wandering ghosts!"

"Why do you say that, Mother?" Chu Xingmo had a headache. Every time this matter came up, his mother would use it to threaten him.

He had already listened to his mother and taken three concubines into the palace, but he felt uncomfortable whenever he saw them. It was an instinctive reaction that he couldn't control!

Chu Xingmo wanted to say something more, but when he looked up and saw the Empress Dowager's obviously aged face and a few strands of silver hair at her temples, he couldn't speak anymore.

So be it! It's just a trip. Anyway, once the young ladies enter the palace, he'll have the final say!

He softened his tone, "Mother, I don't want to look them in the eye. Please don't let them know I'm here!"

"Excellent, excellent!" The Empress Dowager's worry turned to joy. "I'll have someone arrange it right away! I'll make sure they can't see you, but you can see them clearly!"

"Thank you for your trouble, Mother!"

*

The time for the audience arrived, and all twenty young women changed into matching outfits and stood outside the Cining Palace awaiting their summons.

Chu Xingmo's only three concubines also came: Consort Xia, Consort Lu, and Consort Ji.

At the time, the Empress Dowager gave him three women and asked Chu Xingmo to bestow titles upon them. Chu Xingmo, too lazy to think, simply made all three of them concubines, using their surnames as their titles. It was an extremely perfunctory act.

The three concubines got along well in the harem. After all, they were all of the same rank, with no distinction between them. Chu Xingmo never entered the harem and there was no competition for favor between them. They lived peacefully all the time.

Today was the day the Empress Dowager was to meet with the imperial concubines. Others might not know this, but the three of them knew that His Majesty would also be there today! So they dressed up in their finest attire and came to the palace.

They only caught a fleeting glimpse of His Majesty on the day they entered the palace, and were captivated by his handsome appearance. They have been longing to see him ever since, and have not yet seen him a second time!

The three concubines were the first to enter Cining Palace.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects and wish you good health and happiness."

"Yes, please sit down!"

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

After the three sat down, their postures were dignified and quiet, but their eyes were actually looking around, wondering where His Majesty was.

Chu Xingmo sat behind the Empress Dowager, separated by a large screen of huanghuali wood with carved dragon patterns, and was idly playing with the beads in his hand.

After the Empress Dowager signaled for the summons, Aunt Jiang led twenty young women, all neatly lined up, over.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty, wishing you boundless blessings and peace!"

The Empress Dowager was overjoyed to see so many beautiful women at once, and said kindly, "Rise, all of you! Stand closer so I can have a good look at you!"

"Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Aunt Jiang gestured for them to take a few more steps forward, while she herself walked to the Empress Dowager's side and stood with her hands at her sides, awaiting her orders.

The Empress Dowager carefully examined them for a while and felt that each of these women looked so beautiful and charming. If the late Emperor were still alive, he would definitely not be willing to let any of them go!

But when it came to his own son, however...

well!

It's truly a case of some people dying from drought while others are drowning from floods!

The Empress Dowager turned her head and asked Aunt Jiang in a low voice, "Is there anyone particularly outstanding?"

Aunt Jiang nodded slightly, glanced at Li Yunyan's position, and whispered in the Empress Dowager's ear, "Your Majesty, the third one from the left in the first row, this servant thinks it's acceptable."

"oh?"

Following her gaze, the Empress Dowager saw Li Yunyan standing there with her head bowed. Her figure was slender, her skin was like jade, and her features were exquisite and refined, making her unforgettable.

"She certainly has a handsome face!"

Aunt Jiang smiled slightly, "This girl is named Li Yunyan. She is the eldest daughter of the Li family. She has a simple and innocent personality. I think she is somewhat different from others."

"So she's the daughter of Prime Minister Li!" The Empress Dowager was slightly surprised. "That old-fashioned Prime Minister Li actually allowed his daughter to enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection?"

Aunt Jiang whispered in the Empress Dowager's ear, "Your Majesty, last night someone outside her room overheard her talking to someone, saying that she was in love with His Majesty and that's why she voluntarily entered the palace!"

"Is this true?"

"Your Majesty, it's absolutely true! She said it herself!"

No one would dislike their son being admired by others, not even if her son was the emperor! After hearing that Li Yunyan liked Chu Xingmo, the Empress Dowager developed a natural fondness for her.

A woman with such good taste must be excellent in other aspects as well!