The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Qiao Qiu was woken up.

Completely listless, Qiao Qiu leaned against Hong Lan, letting the maid dress and groom her.

Honglan mustered all her strength to hug Qiao Qiu, supporting her to stand. She was both amused and exasperated. The talent show was a major event, an opportunity many women wouldn't even dream of, yet her mistress seemed to disregard it completely. All the lessons Madam had taught her last night had been for nothing. If Madam saw her mistress like this, she'd probably faint from anger.

"My lord, wake up! Madam will be here soon. How can she be at ease if she sees you like this?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Qiu opened her eyes, rubbed her temples, yawned, and sat down in front of the dressing table. "Bring me a basin of cold water."

"Master, although it's already May, it's still a bit cold. Honglan, please bring you some hot water."

"Just go when I tell you to, don't waste time. Cui'er, comb my hair."

Seeing that Qiao Qiu was somewhat angry, Hong Lan had no choice but to agree and leave.

Cui'er was a little scared, but she was still very skillful. Following Qiao Qiu's instructions, she quickly tied her hair into a hanging bun and simply put pearl flowers in her hair.

She wore blue crystal tassel earrings on her earlobes, and beneath her thin, neat bangs, her bright eyes shone like stars.

Although this hairstyle is simple, it perfectly highlights Qiao Qiu's best features, making her look cute and charming, and making people want to pamper her more.

Honglan brought in water and wrung out a handkerchief for Qiaoqiu.

Qiao Qiu wiped her face, the coldness washing over her skin instantly banishing any drowsiness she felt.

"Apply makeup."

"yes."

"Madam has arrived!"

Honglan had just picked up the rouge and face powder when the Prime Minister's wife walked in.

"lady."

"mother."

The Prime Minister's wife walked to Qiao Qiu's side with a kind smile, but when she saw the way Qiao Qiu was styled, her face immediately turned cold. "Who styled Qiu'er's hair?"

Cui'er was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Qiao Qiu held the Prime Minister's wife's hand and said coquettishly, "Mother, don't take your anger out on others. I asked Cui'er to comb my hair. If you want to change my hairstyle, I won't allow it."

The Prime Minister's wife patted her hand and smiled with satisfaction, "Good, good, my Qiu'er, you've grown up so much. I'll do as you say."

Qiao Qiuming's eyes curved into crescent moons. She was never a vicious person and always did things as she pleased. Moreover, this was her first life after gaining freedom, and she didn't want to make her life a mess.

The Prime Minister's wife dismissed Cui'er and the others, leaving only Honglan. She brought rouge and face powder and personally applied makeup to Qiao Qiu, saying, "Entering the palace is not like being at home. Don't be willful, understand?"

"How did Mother know I would definitely be chosen?" Qiao Qiu played with the hairpin, making playful remarks, but a dark glint flashed in her bright eyes.

"Silly child, given our family's status and the fact that you are your father's most beloved daughter, if the Emperor wishes to elevate his relationship with your father, he will bestow upon you the title of Consort." The Prime Minister's wife was nearly driven to despair by her daughter's behavior. She had long anticipated that her daughter would one day enter the palace, and she was determined to raise her well. How could she feel at ease letting her enter the palace with such a disrespectful attitude?

Qiao Qiu pointed the sharp end of the hairpin at the table, seemingly unintentionally saying, "Mother, so if the Emperor still wants to maintain his relationship with Father, even if he doesn't really dote on me, he'll pretend to, right?"

"Qiu'er, what did you say?" The Prime Minister's wife wondered if she had misheard. Could this really be the words of her good-for-nothing daughter?

Qiao Qiu threw away the hairpin, looked at herself in the mirror, took the eyebrow pencil from the Prime Minister's wife, added a couple of strokes, then took a piece of red paper from the table, smudged it, mixed the color with rouge, stood up, walked to the open space, and said, "Hong Lan, bring me my light blue dress."

"Yes." Honglan nodded and turned to get it.

Qiao Qiu turned her head and saw the completely bewildered Prime Minister's wife. She laughed and said, "Mother, I knew I could stir up trouble again."

"I'm afraid..." The Prime Minister's wife came to her senses and walked up to her in three steps, saying with a look of disappointment, "I thought you had finally come to your senses, but you're still like this. Are you trying to drive your mother to her death?"

Seeing that she was really angry, Qiao Qiu reached out and hugged her waist, rested her head on her shoulder, and whispered something.

The Prime Minister's wife's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and smiled with satisfaction, "Our daughter has grown up."

With Honglan's help, Qiao Qiu was quickly dressed.

Honglan helped Qiao Qiu out, and just before getting into the sedan chair, Qiao Qiu glanced at Qiao Dong.

Qiao Dong's eyes were a little red, clearly from crying last night. Even so, dressed up, she was still breathtakingly beautiful. In contrast, Qiao Qiu appeared much more ordinary.

Whether it was Qiao Dong sensing something or not, just as Qiao Qiu was about to look away, Qiao Dong looked over and gave her a provocative smile.

Qiao Qiu's lips twitched, she rolled her eyes at her, said two words, and got into the sedan chair.

Honglan helped her into the sedan chair and was very aware of her every move, so she clearly heard the word "childish" and almost burst out laughing.

Qiao Dong was furious at the glare he received and got into the sedan chair as well.

"Lift the sedan chair!"

The large group set off, with the two older brothers seeing their sister off displaying contrasting expressions. Qiao Liu was filled with reluctance, while Qiao Yang was genuinely happy.

Qiao Qiu sat in the sedan chair, propping her chin up with her hand, peeking through the crack at the scene outside. The talent show was a big event, and many ordinary people stood in the streets to watch, craning their necks as if they wanted to see what she looked like.

The Prime Minister's residence was not far from the capital city. Before long, the two sedan chairs left the bustling city and entered the palace gates.

The two were carried to a resting place specially prepared for the young ladies-in-waiting. They got off the sedan chair and saw many young ladies-in-waiting standing together. They were all dressed in their finest clothes and were all beautiful, dazzling to behold.

As soon as Qiao Qiu and Qiao Dong walked over, they were isolated by them.

Qiao Dong was famous because she was too beautiful, while Qiao Qiu was famous because she was "renowned". The Prime Minister's wife once took her to visit the homes of several high-ranking officials and nobles. Many young ladies knew her and had witnessed her power, so they dared not associate with her.

Qiao Qiu disliked forming cliques in the first place, and with a prime minister as her father, she had even more reason to ignore these people.

There were many candidates for this selection, and several were brought in shortly afterward. Qiao Qiu simply sat down in the pavilion and started drinking tea.

Half an hour later, several eunuchs came over. The one in the lead was holding a roster. He looked at the girls and said, "The Emperor has decreed that the selection of girls begins. Whoever I call out will come with me. Qiao Qiu, Qiao Dong, Pan Yueying, Liang Xiangxue, Tang Xuan."

Qiao Qiu stood up and, together with the person whose name was called, followed the eunuch to the main hall of Chengxiang Hall. They stood in a row and paid their respects to the people above.

"This humble woman pays her respects to Your Majesty and Empress Dowager."