Perhaps the emperor was impatient with the ministers' urging, so he called Jiang Zhiyu the next day to go and see the concubine together.

There is a pavilion in the inner courtyard, with the roof covered with golden glazed tiles. Behind the pavilion is a lake. The lake water is green and clear, reflecting the magnificent scene of the pavilion.

The emperor and Jiang Zhiyu waited in the pavilion for a while. Soon, the palace maids and eunuchs led the beautiful girls over.

The beauties were arranged according to their status, with Shang Anlan, the prime minister's daughter, at the head, followed by Hu Yue.

Stand in order from left to right.

A group of concubines had already been selected when the emperor was ill, and there were only twenty of them standing here at the moment.

The emperor glanced at it and couldn't help but pursed his lips slightly.

Those who passed the screening had good looks, but when the emperor looked at them, he always felt something was wrong.

Jiang Zhiyu keenly sensed his thoughts. She leaned closer to the emperor and whispered, "Don't you feel like something's missing? It's beautiful, but it lacks that feeling?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor looked at her deeply and nodded slightly.

Jiang Zhiyu sorted out her words: "Look, the harem is full of stunning women. Even if they are beautiful, they can't stir up any waves in your heart. You need something new."

The emperor had no intention of discussing this matter too deeply, and was only trying to get by with her. However, after hearing Jiang Zhiyu's words, his heart stirred slightly, and he became interested. "What's so new about this?"

"It's simple. You've seen enough stunning women. It's time to change gender."

Although Jiang Zhiyu whispered to the emperor, she did not lower her voice. The concubines could not hear it, but the eunuchs and palace maids of Fuping who were serving beside her could hear it clearly.

There was a sound of people gasping for air all around.

Alas, the emperor sighed in his heart.

I should have known long ago that with her personality, I can't expect her to give me serious advice.

"Stop talking nonsense and eat your smoothie."

"Don't be so resistant. Think about it, why is there Qingfeng Pavilion in Shengjing, and why is it comparable to Zuiyuelong? Doesn't it just prove that the people have a need for it?"

"Besides, I just let you take a look, I didn't ask you to do anything else."

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, and seeing Jiang Zhiyu smiling like a little fox stealing fish, he knew she was teasing him.

"If you don't want to eat anymore, I'll have them withdraw."

"No, eat, eat, eat."

Jiang Zhiyu took a big bite.

"That's too old-fashioned. Wouldn't it be better to have a little equality? If men can enter officialdom, so can women. And if women can enter the harem, then of course men can too."

"You're so old-fashioned! You have such high-speed equipment and you're entering Tianqi. If you don't abandon these old-fashioned ideas, how can Tianqi grow stronger?!"

The emperor was so annoyed by her nagging that he closed his eyes and pressed his brows together. Then, as if he had thought of something, he raised his eyes and locked them on Jiang Zhiyu: "Stunning man, do you want me to see you, or do you want to see you?"

The voice lingering in my ears suddenly stopped.

Jiang Zhiyu blinked her eyes, picked up the bowl which was just big enough to cover her face, and refused to answer.

Emperor: He knew it!

He narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Jiang Zhiyu sinisterly, his gaze seemed to be able to penetrate the bottom of the bowl.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't put down the bowl, but coughed lightly, "Everyone has a love for beauty."

【It’s fine if you just know it in your heart, why do you have to say it out loud? 】

How embarrassing! There's no sense of boundaries!

The emperor raised the corners of his lips slightly.

The intimacy revealed in their conversation made the neglected ladies beside them open their eyes wide.

They only knew a little about the affairs of the court, and had also heard from their fathers and brothers at home how the emperor doted on Jiang Zhiyu.

But what I heard was far less shocking than what I saw.

Even Xiao Qingwu, the emperor's most beloved girl at the time, had never seen the emperor in such an expression.

Everyone had different thoughts for a moment.

Shang Anlan gritted his teeth secretly.

Under the scorching sun, Shang Anlan tried her best to slow down her breathing. She had been weak since childhood, but because of her strong personality, she refused to show any sign of fatigue in front of others and held on no matter what.

So almost no one noticed her abnormality, except Hu Yue.

Because they were so close, and martial artists were extremely sensitive to auras, Hu Yue leaned over slightly and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

"No problem, it's just that the weather is a bit hot."

Shang Anlan raised the corner of his lips and said, "Don't speak, or you will lose your manners in front of the palace."

Hu Yue looked at her suspiciously.

She was about to speak when she heard the emperor cough lightly.

Seeing the emperor's gaze looking at him, Shang Anlan stood up straight, moved his sleeves slightly, revealing the emerald green jade bracelet.

It is particularly conspicuous in the sunlight.

"This bracelet suits you." The emperor said softly.

Shang Anlan stepped forward and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. Fortunately, I met Your Majesty that day and he sent someone to help me find the bracelet. Otherwise, I don't know what I would have done."

The emperor had long forgotten about finding the bracelet for her. After hearing her say this, he thought about it for a while and then remembered it.

He still vaguely remembered Zhiyu saying, "Shang Anlan wants to be the queen?"

The emperor does not hate ambitious people, of course, the premise is that your strength must match your ambition.

He smiled and said, "There's such a thing? Just find it and you'll be fine."

Shang Anlan didn't expect that the emperor had forgotten about this matter, and her smile suddenly became a little stiff. She pinched the hem of her skirt slightly, and felt that the looks from the concubines seemed to be laughing at her.

She stood back stiffly, listening to the emperor question each person, her breathing becoming heavier.

Her mind seemed to be covered with fog, but she was still thinking that such intimacy was definitely not the behavior of an emperor towards his subjects.

At least the emperor didn't treat her father like that.

The emperor must have intended to make Jiang Zhiyu his empress, which is why he was so indulgent towards her and also refused the selection of concubines in every possible way.

She had to hurry. The news from outside had told her that the emperor was impatient with the ministers' urging to appoint a queen. If one day the emperor didn't want to wait any longer and directly issued an imperial decree to appoint Jiang Zhiyu as queen, then all her plans would be in vain.

no!

She must quickly find a way to wake Jiang Zhiyu up!

His Majesty hates being forced the most. As long as Jiang Zhiyu is unwilling, His Majesty will never force her!

She was lost in thought. Hu Yue listened to the "wheezing" breathing sound coming from the side and couldn't help asking again: "Are you really okay?"

Who's talking? Who's free? Asking me?

Shang Anlan's mind was only filled with the thought of waking Jiang Zhiyu up. When she heard Hu Yue's words, her mind couldn't process the feedback to Hu Yue. She just opened her eyes wide and stared at her blankly.

Okay, no need to ask.

This is obviously not a good reaction.

Hu Yue took a step forward and was about to speak, but saw Shang Anlan falling towards her.

!!!

Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene. Jiang Zhiyu was the first to react and raised her voice: "Put her in the pavilion and lay her flat!"