Chapter 54 The Draft (Part 2)

"Outrageous! Insolent! Qingying actually dared to feign infidelity and fail to be chosen when the Third Prince was selecting his consort!"

Yixiu was shocked and speechless. "Is this the result of the Empress Dowager's years of training? Does she think she's so smart?"

Jianqiu was also speechless, shocked by Qingying's behavior. She stammered, "Perhaps, perhaps Princess Qingying didn't do it on purpose."

Yi Xiu glanced at her. "Do you believe that?"

Rubbing her aching forehead, Yixiu sighed, "Qingying has taken a liking to Hongli and is determined to choose him as her consort. She's really pulling one stunt after another..."

Upon hearing this, Jianqiu quickly recalled the rumors circulating in the palace.

Initially, because the Empress did not take a liking to Princess Qingying, she sent her to Shou Kang Palace. The Empress Dowager was also shocked by Ulanara's teaching ability and tried to bring Princess Qingying back, so she would bring her into the palace every few days to train her.

However, because Qingying was so bloated, the Empress Dowager had been preventing her from meeting Hongli for the past two years.

After all, the Empress Dowager was also afraid of losing face, and it would be bad if Hongli doubted Ulanara's upbringing.

After two years of effort, the Empress Dowager chose to give up; there was simply no way to change her mind.

Unlike Yixiu, who didn't care much about her family, the Empress Dowager at least genuinely cared about family honor. Therefore, she decided that marrying Hongli off was out of the question, but she'd reluctantly marry Hongshi off instead.

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's plan, Yixiu did not refuse, as long as it wasn't Hongli, it was all negotiable.

Therefore, when Qingying was brought back to the palace, the intention was to cultivate her relationship with Hongshi, rather than keeping her confined in Shou Kang Palace.

As a result, the show was only shown twice, and Qingying watched the show with everyone in the harem twice. Then, she fell in love with Hongli like a young girl.

Hearing Qingying recite "We gaze at each other from afar, one glance and my heart breaks," the Empress Dowager nearly fainted.

Upon hearing rumors circulating in the palace that Qingying and Hongli were childhood sweethearts, the Empress Dowager was furious and joined forces with Yixiu to suppress them.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that it was actually done by someone from the Ulanara clan.

Although the harem was under the control of the Empress Dowager and the Empress, the people under their command were ultimately from the Uya and Ulanara clans. Therefore, only those within the clan who harbored ambitions would dare to cause trouble right under their noses.

It's obvious that the Ulanara clan has become too ambitious. They would much rather Qingying marry the "invisible crown prince" Hongli than Hongshi. It's unclear where their confidence comes from; even the Empress Dowager regrets summoning Qingying to the palace in the first place.

But no matter what dreams Ulanara had, the Empress Dowager and Yixiu were determined not to let Qingying marry Hongli, so they put her on the list of potential partners for the Third Prince.

Yixiu even gave a special hint to Consort Qi, but who knew that Qingying would be so bold?

Yixiu laughed in anger; she had been heartbroken by her family. Therefore, she didn't care about her family. Qingying, the princess supported by the entire Ulanara clan, cared nothing for the reputation of the other women in the family because of her own fantasies.

Really... she's exactly like Rouze! This aspect of her upbringing is really well done!

"Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

"What can we do?" Yixiu sneered. "Let Qingying dream on! She's fooling herself too. What feelings could Hongli possibly have for her? Just wait and see, Hongli will never choose her."

...

The next day, Jiangxue Pavilion was filled with concubines from the imperial harem early in the morning.

The Empress sat at the head of the table, and Consort Jing, Hongli's adoptive mother, sat to the Empress's right. Even Consort Hua, who usually stayed in the palace to recuperate, appeared with a pale face.

Yi Xiu glanced at Nian Shilan's expression. Qi Yuebin used to feign illness. Now Nian Shilan is feigning illness. You two mortal enemies are quite in sync.

"Consort Hua has arrived too?"

"The Fourth Prince is filial, so when he chooses a wife, I will naturally help him make an informed decision."

Nian Shilan touched her headdress, her face looked weak, but her tone was as arrogant as ever.

Feng Ruozhao glanced at her but didn't say anything more. In recent years, the Emperor had requested that Hongli visit Nian Shilan frequently, and considering that she had indeed treated Hongli well, Feng Ruozhao could tolerate her words.

After all, that's just Nian Shilan's style, and she's used to it.

The Empress and Consort Jing didn't care, and the imperial princesses accompanying the matchmakers naturally didn't say anything either. Consort Dun, thinking about what the Prince had said, realized that the Nian family had already submitted to the Fourth Prince, so Consort Hua's appearance was understandable.

Thinking of how the Emperor had ordered the three princes to meet at Jiangxue Pavilion, and how her own prince had reacted with fury and disgust, and then thinking of how he had been looking at her expectantly and curiously since early morning, as if he wished he could be there in her place, the comparison made the Princess Consort of Prince Dun unable to help but laugh.

Soon after, Hongli arrived.

"Hongli greets the Empress Dowager, greets Mother, greets Consort Hua."

"Get up quickly, today is the auspicious day for you to choose your consort."

Yixiu smiled and called Hongli to her side, gently instructing, "As for the people, I think you already know who they are. Your Majesty trusts you know how to choose them."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Yi Xiu said a few words and then let him go to talk to Feng Ruozhao.

"Your mother has nothing to tell you," Feng Ruozhao said gently, looking at her tall, handsome son. "Hongli is all grown up now, it's time for him to get married and have children. Just do as you please."

"Mother, don't worry. No matter how old Hongli is, he is still your son. Mother, do you not want to take care of me in the future?"

"How could your mother not care about you?"

Feng Ruozhao was amused by Hongli's words, and the sadness in her heart dissipated. Glancing at Nian Shilan, who was looking at her expectantly, Feng Ruozhao felt a little soft-hearted.

"Go, go see Consort Hua too. She's been truly sincere towards you these past few years."

Hongli nodded and walked towards Nian Shilan on the other side.

"It's just Hongli choosing a consort, why did it require Consort Hua to come out?"

"How could I not come on your big day? Don't you want to see me?"

Nian Shilan glared at him, feigning anger, while Hongli smiled and reassured her, "How could that be? Your Majesty knows that's not what I meant. Hongli was just worried about Your Majesty's health."

“Alright,” Nian Shilan laughed instantly, “I’m not joking with you anymore. According to the information I’ve gathered, Lady Fucha is dignified and composed, barely qualifying as a good match, while Lady Tongjia is gentle and considerate, and comes from a distinguished family…”

The imperial concubine sitting below, observing the Empress, Consort Jing, and Consort Hua's affectionate treatment of the Fourth Prince, sighed at his favored status while also worrying about her future. She'd be burdened with three mothers-in-law! Oh, and the Empress Dowager at Shou Kang Palace—the more she thought about it, the more she realized how difficult it would be to be the Fourth Prince's wife.

"Your Majesty, the auspicious hour is approaching. May the imperial concubine selection begin?"

Jiang Fuhai cautiously approached and asked. Yixiu and Feng Ruozhao exchanged a glance and smiled with joy. "Alright, Sister Hua, it's time to call Hongli to choose a consort."

Nian Shilan then stopped, still wanting more, and gave one last instruction: "Hongli, just open your eyes and choose whatever you like."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Hongli understands."

"The auspicious hour has arrived; the young ladies-in-waiting shall enter..."