Chapter Ninety-One: The Legend of Zhen Huan - An Lingrong 1

The other person's appearance is definitely a factor in the selection, and competing for favor with such a beauty makes one feel inexplicably powerless.

Seeing Shen Meizhuang's worry, Zhen Huan took her hand and gently comforted her with a smile:

"The beautiful Shen is dignified and serene, possessing both beauty and talent. How could she be inferior to that other lady? Besides, Sister Mei is a beauty of a different style from hers. What if the Emperor prefers Sister Mei?"

"We haven't been selected yet, so it's too early to talk about these things. Even if we are selected, who can say for sure who the Emperor will like? I'm just overthinking it."

Shen Meizhuang chuckled softly and shook her head, feeling somewhat relieved.

She was overly confident in her talent and looks, believing she was certain to be selected, but nothing is ever certain.

Besides, even if one is selected, there are still many concubines in the harem.

Whether the emperor cares about me is unknown, so why worry so much? Let's just take it one step at a time.

"Summon An Lingrong, He Xiaoqing, Wen Rufeng, Liu Ying, Huang Muran, and Jiang Nianjiao to an audience."

Inside the Tiyuan Hall, the emperor, having reviewed many batches of imperial concubines, irritably fiddled with the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand.

This group was originally intended to be a formality, but when they looked up, they saw a delicate, slender figure.

“An Lingrong, daughter of An Bihuai, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, is sixteen years old.”

That's right, "How to Cultivate a Great Minister Throughout the Ages" came into play again, and she stuffed it into Ambiya's mind.

Five years after she came into this world, An Bihai resigned from his official post and continued to take the imperial examinations. He became the top scholar in the imperial examinations and gradually climbed to this fourth-rank position.

Lin's mother's eyesight improved, and the power to manage the household was returned to her. Anbihai also respected and loved her very much.

There were originally four concubines in the family, but one was sold off because Anbihai caused too much trouble and even tried to drug Lin's mother.

The remaining three settled down and stayed obediently in the backyard, since Lin's mother was a gentle and kind-hearted matriarch.

"Your subject, An Lingrong, pays her respects to Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, and wishes Your Majesty and Empress Dowager a long and healthy life."

An Lingrong's voice was melodious and ethereal, very pleasant to the ear, and dispelled some of the Emperor's irritability.

"Raise your head." The emperor's eyes held a hint of expectation; a woman with such temperament and voice was likely to be beautiful as well.

An Lingrong raised her head as instructed. At this moment, her eyes were lowered, and she was fanning herself rather quickly, as if she were a little nervous. She was as delicate as a tender flower, which made people feel sorry for her.

With her exquisite features, fair skin, and delicate bones, she was so beautiful that I felt pity for her. She was like a goddess or a fairy, or Chang'e in the moon, stunningly beautiful.

"Her spirit is as clear as autumn water, her bones as fine as jade; her face is as beautiful as a lotus, her eyebrows as delicate as willow branches." The Emperor couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Keep the plaque."

"An Lingrong, leave the plaque and bestow a sachet upon her."

"This humble woman thanks Your Majesty and Empress Dowager." An Lingrong stood up and accepted the sachet.

The Empress Dowager was too stunned to stop it, and even if she wanted to, the Emperor probably wouldn't allow it.

All emperors are the same; they all hope to keep the most beautiful women in the world in their harem.

The Empress Dowager sighed and looked at An Lingrong again. The most beautiful women she had ever seen in her life were Consort Shu and Rouze.

This woman was even more beautiful than they were in their prime, which shows that she must have received a lot of favor later on.

If someone like that enters the harem, she will surely be able to do as she and the Empress wish, and take away Consort Hua's favor.

However, given the examples of Consort Shu and Rouze, it's unclear whether An Lingrong's entry into the harem will be a blessing or a curse for the Empress.

Only An Lingrong was selected from this group of candidates, and the last candidate was given flowers.

An Lingrong and her companions then walked out of the Tiyuan Hall with graceful bearing and headed out of the palace.