The second round of selection has begun.

There was no fixed procedure; the six concubines asked questions entirely on their own.

"What's your name? Where are you from? What did you do before?" Qian Xiaoxiao first pointed to a girl who looked rather arrogant.

The girl quickly and respectfully replied, "Reporting to Lady Qian, my name is Zhao Lin, and I come from the 'Tian Shu Star Region'. My father is the director of the 'Tian Shu Energy Group'. I graduated from the top business school on Earth."

"Oh? A rich young lady, huh?" Qian Xiaoxiao's tone was ambiguous, neither praising nor criticizing. "Then what do you think makes you so deserving of His Majesty's favor?"

Zhao Lin had clearly prepared for this question, and she confidently puffed out her chest: "Your Majesty, I believe that my privileged family background can provide assistance to His Majesty. My business knowledge can also alleviate the burdens of Your Majesty. Most importantly, I..."

"Alright, alright, next one." Qian Xiaoxiao interrupted her impatiently, showing no interest in such a standard answer.

Next, they asked several more girls. Some were talented singers and dancers, some were proficient in poetry, and some had achieved success in scientific research...

Each one is perfect.

However, the six empresses did not show much satisfaction on their faces.

They've seen far too many so-called "perfect" women. None of them could truly move the man who already stood at the pinnacle of the world.

Finally, Qin Lan's gaze fell on Meng Yao, who was standing quietly in the corner.

"You are the girl who drew 'The Descent of the Gods'?" Her voice was as cold and aloof as ever.

Meng Yao's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped forward, bowing and saying, "Yes, Your Highness Qin. My name is Meng Yao."

“Raise your head.”

Meng Yao slowly raised her head and met Qin Lan's sharp eyes, which seemed to see through everything.

Qin Lan's gaze lingered on her face for a good ten seconds.

"Do you hate this world?" she suddenly asked.

This question stunned everyone.

Meng Yao was also stunned. She did not expect that the legendary "Goddess of War" who wielded the kingdom's sharpest weapon would ask such a question.

She was silent for a moment, then gently shook her head.

"No."

Her voice was soft, yet firm: "I don't hate it. I just...revere it."

"Respect?" Qin Lan raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Yes.” Meng Yao mustered her courage and looked directly into her eyes. “I revere its cruelty because it taught me how fragile life is. I also revere its mercy because it allowed me to meet Your Majesty.”

Her answer was devoid of flowery language or deliberate flattery.

Yes, but only the most sincere and heartfelt feelings.

Inside the main hall, all was silent.

Qian Xiaoxiao dropped her nonchalant expression and, for the first time, seriously examined the girl.

A strange light also flashed in Ruan Mengtian's big eyes.

Shen Jiaqi, who had been resting with her eyes closed, slowly opened them and turned her gaze to Meng Yao.

Only Su Wanqing's smile remained unchanged. But the approval deep in her eyes deepened.

"Well said."

A calm yet supremely authoritative male voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of the hall.

The moment that voice appeared, all the girls present, including Meng Yao, trembled violently, and their hearts skipped a beat.

Almost simultaneously, they looked in the direction of the sound.

Then, a figure slowly walked into the entrance of the main hall, which was made of light and shadow.

He was dressed in what appeared to be a simple black casual outfit, without any unnecessary embellishments.

He didn't ride in any vehicle; he simply walked casually, barefoot, on the shimmering carpet.

There were no guards or attendants behind him.

He walked in alone.

But the moment he appeared, all the light in the entire hall paled in comparison.

It was as if the whole world had only him left.

He is Lin Feng.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The six high-ranking concubines immediately rose and bowed upon seeing him. Their faces revealed a genuine mixture of admiration, respect, and joy.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Dozens of exceptionally talented women were already overwhelmed by that invisible, domineering aura, and they all knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Only Meng Yao stood there blankly.

She forgot to bow, forgot to breathe, forgot everything.

In her eyes, there was only the man who was walking towards her step by step.

He was even more handsome and taller than in the photos.

His brows held a faint, indifferent air, as if looking down upon all living beings.

This is the man who single-handedly created a legend.

This is the god who saved her from hell.

Lin Feng ignored everyone and walked straight up to Meng Yao.

He looked down at the girl, who seemed somewhat stunned by the shock.

"Your name is... Meng Yao?" His voice was very calm.

"I... am..." Meng Yao's voice trembled slightly.

A barely perceptible, playful smile appeared on Lin Feng's lips.

He reached out and gently lifted her chin.

His fingers were very cold.

But Meng Yao felt as if her cheeks were being burned by flames, instantly becoming scalding hot.

“I really like your painting ‘Divine Descent’.” He looked into her eyes and said slowly, “That painting is now hanging in my study.”

boom!

These words struck Meng Yao like a thunderbolt.

Her mind went completely blank for a moment.

"Come to my chambers tonight. I want to hear you tell me the story behind that painting yourself."

After saying that, he let go of her hand, as if he had only done a trivial thing.

He turned around, glanced at the six concubines who had already stood up, and casually waved his hand: "I'll leave this to you. Just pick a few that you find pleasing to the eye."

Then, amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of everyone, he turned and left.

From the moment he appeared until the moment he left, it took no more than a minute.

But this one minute completely changed Meng Yao's fate.

The deathly silence inside the hall was broken only after Lin Feng's figure disappeared at the entrance.

All the girls looked at Meng Yao, who was still standing there, with a mixture of jealousy, envy, and disbelief in their eyes.

They knew that the selection of imperial concubines was actually over.

That night, Meng Yao became Lin Feng's woman.

The process was not as romantic and heartwarming as she had imagined.

But Meng Yao had no complaints.

Yes, there was only the endless honor and satisfaction of serving the king.

The next day, she awoke from a huge bed, large enough to hold dozens of people, covered with the fur of a "velvet" mythical beast.

Lin Feng has already left.

She became the newest and most watched concubine in the empire—Consort Yao.

She possessed her own independent palace, "Yaoguang Palace," which was a hundred times more luxurious than "Jingxin Garden."

She had hundreds of maids and servants, as well as inexhaustible wealth and resources.

Her life took an instant leap to the top.