The selection of women for the imperial concubines in the Qin Dynasty usually began in the autumn of each year, selecting women from respectable families to serve as palace maids and concubines.

The selection criteria were women aged thirteen to twenty, with beautiful appearance, dignified features, and faces that conformed to the "auspicious" physiognomy.

Those selected were immediately put on a carriage and taken to the inner palace, from which the emperor would then choose the best to "ascend to the throne".

Those fortunate enough to receive the emperor's favor could be made into imperial concubines. Since the beginning of August was the day the court collected taxes from farmers, this system was called "tax collectors."

Another group of women selected for the imperial harem came from families of officials and nobles, and were chosen through their families' recommendations. These women came from higher social standing and were initially granted the title of concubines in the harem. Those who were not selected could marry freely and did not have to remain in the palace as maids.

The interval between imperial selections was generally three to five years, depending on the emperor's personal preferences. The last imperial selection during the reign of Emperor Jianwu was eight years prior.

When Liu Heng heard the Empress suggest selecting concubines in Kunning Palace, he felt a strange unease.

"Your Majesty is diligent in state affairs, and I am unable to share your burdens. I was thinking of holding a selection of concubines this year to bring in a few new women, so that Your Majesty can relax in the harem. Besides, the number of women in the harem is not large, and they are all old women from when you were a prince. This is inevitably an obstacle to the dignity of the royal family."

The Empress's words seemed reasonable, but in reality, they didn't resonate with Liu Heng at all.

In his view, it was not so much about the Empress choosing a consort for herself, but rather about her wanting to enhance her own reputation and take the opportunity to strike at the Lin family.

"I have just ascended the throne, and the affairs of the court are even more busy. How can I afford to waste time on women? Besides, the affairs of the harem are my family matters and have nothing to do with the dignity of the royal family. The selection of concubines is quite costly, and the palace maids are already too numerous. There is really no need to bring in any new ones."

Seeing that Liu Heng rejected all her reasons one by one, clearly indicating that he did not want to participate in the selection of concubines, the Empress was surprised, angry and annoyed.

She had already discussed the selection of concubines with everyone in the harem, but now it couldn't be carried out. In that case, where would His Majesty's authority be?

Besides, she considered herself generous, and the whole process of the talent show was complicated and tedious, requiring her to handle everything. She was willing to work harder herself, all for Liu Heng's sake, but he didn't appreciate it at all.

"Your Majesty has always been self-disciplined, and I believe you will not neglect your love of women. If Your Majesty feels that a large-scale selection of ladies is too costly, you can choose only eligible women from official families. Your Majesty's offspring are still too few, and I also hope that new sisters can bear children for Your Majesty."

Liu Heng's brows furrowed imperceptibly. He had already made it clear that he did not want to participate in the selection of concubines, so why was the Empress still so stubborn and insisting on making a fuss about it?

However, the Empress's words sounded reasonable and were all for the greater good. If he got angry and stormed off, it would only make him appear incapable of doing his job.

"Now that the Crown Prince has been established, I have no shortage of sons. As for the matter of selecting a consort, my mind is made up and there is no need to discuss it further."

Originally, Liu Heng wanted to discuss with the Empress that the annual expenses of the harem alone were enormous, and now that the national treasury was not full, it was time to cut spending. Therefore, he wanted to lower the age at which palace maids could leave the palace to twenty-five years old.

Moreover, the common people are suffering, but officials and noble families are living extravagantly. He wants to set an example by cutting the expenses of the harem, and spontaneously reverse this bad trend from top to bottom.

The Empress's proposed talent selection now runs counter to his original intentions. He wants to reduce the number of people, but she wants to increase it.

The Empress used to be kind and understanding, but now she keeps doing things he doesn't like.

Because of this incident, Liu Heng, who originally intended to stay at Kunning Palace to give the Empress some face, left after finishing his business.

When the Empress heard that he had gone in the direction of Yanqing Palace again, she clenched her teeth even tighter.

“Your Majesty, since His Majesty has said that there is no need for a selection of concubines, why do you continue to argue? There is still a long time ahead. In three to five years at most, even if you don’t bring it up, someone else will, and the palace will definitely still have people entering the palace.”

Granny Zhou looked at the Empress with some concern and offered some advice.

"I know all of that, but..."

The Empress sat back on the couch and had the palace maid behind her massage her shoulders. She closed her eyes, a wave of weariness washing over her.

She understood the reasoning, but how could she bear to watch Consort Lin gain exclusive favor and her power grow stronger?

Before Lin Shi was born, she and Liu Heng were a loving and harmonious couple. But everything changed after Liu Heng was attacked in Chenliu.

From then on, the Empress felt that she and Liu Heng were growing further and further apart. Now, when they were together, they had nothing left to say to each other except for trivial matters of the palace.

"The old lady has already submitted her nameplate and will be able to come to the palace to see you tomorrow."

To cheer up the Empress, Granny Zhou quickly told her that the old lady of the Wang family was coming to see her.

The thought that her mother was coming to see her made the Empress feel a little better.

Then he remembered that he always followed the rules, and his mother had to give him a name tag before visiting him, and he dared not stay long.

Previously, when Lady Lin gave birth, she, a mere imperial concubine, dared to ask His Majesty to allow Lady Chenliang, the wife of Marquis Chenliang, to come to the palace to accompany her for a month. Moreover, Liu Heng actually gave her such respect, which made the Empress feel unhappy whenever she thought about it.

Logically speaking, Liu Heng should be the most law-abiding person, yet he was willing to make an exception for Lady Lin, which made the Empress even more confused about Liu Heng's intentions.

As for Liu Heng, once he entered Yanqing Palace, he went straight to his sleeping quarters.

Lin Yuqiao was lying on the tatami mat, rubbing Mengmeng's chubby belly with both hands, and taking the opportunity to lower her head and kiss his plump face.

Mengmeng turned her face away with a hint of disgust, waving her arms and legs around, but not with much strength. She slapped Lin Yuqiao's hand with her little hand, but it was caught instead. She put her soft, chubby little hand to her lips, wanting to take a bite.

The wet nurse takes care of the baby and feeds him, and she doesn't have to wash his diapers or change his clothes. She, as the biological mother, is incredibly free and only has to play with the baby.

"He's still young, don't keep disturbing his rest."

Seeing Mengmeng's chubby face drooling, Liu Heng's mood relaxed, and he stopped Lin Yuqiao from continuing to rub his hands.

Holding his son carefully in his arms and gently cupping his little hand in his palm, Liu Heng praised, "Mengmeng is such a good boy."

His impression of children was still that of Liu Ling when she was little. He remembered that Liu Ling was about the same age then, crying every night and never sleeping soundly. But Mengmeng was different; she was always well-behaved whenever he saw her.

Her eyes were dark and bright, so clear that they seemed to see right into a person's heart, which made Liu Heng love her even more.

"Yes, my mother also said that Mengmeng is very easy to take care of, and is the most well-behaved child she has ever seen."

When her son was praised, she felt a sense of pride, even more excited than when she herself was affirmed.

Then, she added proudly, "Like me, I was that well-behaved when I was little."

Liu Heng couldn't help but tap the tip of her nose, amused by the smug expression on her face.

"You're not as cute as Mengmeng now."

Now that she's a mother, she's still as lively as ever, let alone when she was a child. Liu Heng shook his head inwardly, not believing for a second that she was ever well-behaved as a child.

Lin Yuqiao stuck out her tongue and stopped arguing.

She was really well-behaved when she was little. After all, Xinzi wasn't a pure baby, so how could she really act like a child?

After letting Liu Heng play with Mengmeng for a while, seeing his sleepy little expression, Lin Yuqiao quickly handed him over to the wet nurse to coax him to sleep.

Basically, whenever Liu Heng comes over, she brings Mengmeng out so that the father and son can spend some time together. Affection needs to be cultivated from a young age.

In her previous life, Lin Yuqiao had read popular science books on psychology, and experts had also explained that for young boys, the father's influence is the greatest during childhood. Regardless of what happens in the future, she hoped that Mengmeng could grow up to be an outstanding man like Liu Heng.

Although she loves her child no matter what, she also has expectations for Mengmeng, hoping that he can become her pride and that he can have a bright future.

"Her Majesty the Empress said today that she wants to organize a talent selection. Ziping, did you agree?"

After Mengmeng was taken away, Lin Yuqiao sat in Liu Heng's arms, hugged his neck, blew air into his clothes, and watched with satisfaction as the skin on his neck began to tremble.

Do you think I'll agree?

Liu Heng's eyes were deep and unfathomable. He grabbed her waist with one hand and pulled her forward, bringing their bodies closer together.

I don't think so!

Biting her lower lip, Lin Yuqiao smiled slyly, sliding her fair hand down his ear to his Adam's apple, tracing his neck back and forth, and feeling the blood rushing through his carotid artery.

Why not?

He took her hand down and intertwined his fingers with hers. Liu Heng pressed his face close to hers, so close that they could hear each other's breaths.

Lin Yuqiao leaned even closer, their noses rubbing together, and she said with obvious delight, "Because..."

She drew out her words, creating distance between them, "Because no one else is as good-looking as me, why waste the palace's rice and grain by bringing in more people!"

"Yes, no one else can compare to you!"

Liu Heng smiled broadly, his eyes seemingly filled with gentle starlight.

Hearing sweet words from his mouth for the first time, Lin Yuqiao felt both curious and sweet. Before she could respond, he silenced her with a kiss.

After kissing for a while, Liu Heng picked her up and carried her a few steps before placing her on the couch.

For someone who doesn't often use sweet words, once they launch this offensive, the effect is incredibly powerful, making them a five-star force.

Lin Yuqiao felt as if her heart was filled with pink bubbles, and she succumbed to his next move, becoming intoxicated by his rare passion.

He turned the person beneath him over, making them kneel and crawl on the bed, and then leaned over to cover them again. Waves of pleasure washed over him again and again, and in the intense rhythm, sweat trickled from his forehead into his eyes.

Upon reaching his climax, Liu Heng's mind went blank for a few seconds. Panting, he rolled over and withdrew, his body feeling incredibly refreshed after the release.

Many people consider this kind of sexual pleasure to be the ultimate bliss, but he tries his best to control himself because he doesn't like the feeling of being on the verge of losing control during the process.

Moreover, once he gets fully committed, he often forgets everything else when it comes to the crucial moment, and his face becomes somewhat ferocious in his indulgence, which he is unwilling to show in front of others.

But no matter how strong his willpower was, it crumbled completely when he met her.

Lin Yuqiao lay there for a while before recovering, then rolled over to the side. The rhythm just now was like a whirlwind, too intense, too passionate, and too exhilarating.

"They were all flattened."

She mumbled as she pulled the blanket over the two naked people facing each other.

"No, it's still round."

Liu Heng's hand wandered erratically on the ground, tracing over the pair of undulating snow rabbits, pausing there, kneading them.

"Ziping, you've gone astray."

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," Lin Yuqiao said, puffing out her cheeks. "The person next to me seems more relaxed now."

Don't you like it?

The skin beneath his palm was soft and tender, like flower petals just blooming in the morning. Liu Heng's body became eager again, and before she could answer, he pressed down on her again.

Before she could even say no, her body betrayed her. Lin Yuqiao vaguely remembered something, but quickly lost herself in pleasure.

Once it was over, she nestled in Liu Heng's arms, recalling her earlier question, and whispered in his ear, "Didn't you think about it before?"

Quickly realizing the meaning behind her words, Liu Heng chuckled, "I can control it if I want to."

His self-control has always been outstanding, which Lin Yuqiao greatly admires. It is precisely because of this that he was able to have the last laugh and achieve imperial power.

Exhausted, she quickly fell asleep. Liu Heng listened to her steady breathing and felt a sense of peace.

The next day, the Empress met with the old lady of the Wang family at Kunning Palace.

After chatting for a while, Chen tentatively asked, "Does the Imperial Concubine in the palace still observe proper etiquette?"

The Empress's smile turned bitter. "She hasn't done anything outrageous. Mother, don't worry, my position is secure. Besides, there's still the Crown Prince."

"That's right, as long as the Crown Prince is safe, you'll be able to get ahead."

After persuading the Empress for a while, Lady Chen hesitantly revealed her purpose.

“Your father and uncles are thinking that now that you are getting older, it would be better to select a clever girl from the family and send her in, so as to prevent the Consort from monopolizing the harem. In addition, the Crown Prince is about to come of age, and the Third Prince is the youngest. We cannot let him enjoy all the favor.”

At first, Madam Chen disagreed, since sending someone into the palace would diminish her daughter's favor. However, considering the age difference between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, she reconsidered for a long time.

The Empress knew she would have no more children, but loving her youngest son was a natural human instinct. Therefore, she needed a child of similar age to the Third Prince to share the Emperor's favor with him; otherwise, the Consort would become even more emboldened.

Upon hearing her mother's words, the Empress's initial joy at seeing her mother vanished completely.

"What does Father mean? Isn't it safe enough that our family has produced an Empress and a Crown Prince? If we send in a favored concubine, and she has children, will Father and the others switch their support to her?"

As she spoke, the Empress could no longer conceal her anger! Her family's actions were like a knife to her heart, and she felt betrayed.

"What are you saying, child! You can't think like that. Of course we're on your and the Crown Prince's side. Besides, the Crown Prince's position is secure, so what are you worried about? The people sent in are your sisters from the same family. They're here to help you secure the Emperor's favor, so how could they have any disloyalty? Furthermore, His Majesty is in his prime. The palace will always hold a selection of new women. Rather than letting someone else benefit, it's better to find someone who's on your side."

Seeing that the Empress did not agree, Chen was somewhat displeased and tried her best to persuade her.

"There are no sisters in this palace. Once you're in, you have to climb over others to get ahead. Go back and tell Father. I know what he's thinking. There's no such thing as a perfect solution in this world. He can send someone in, but they have to be drugged first. My Kang'er doesn't need a brother from the same maternal family!"

The Empress spoke with absolute certainty, and seeing her resolute attitude, Chen's expression became somewhat awkward.

"Why can't you understand? Even if the cousin sent in has a child, she's still much older than the Crown Prince. How could she possibly compete with him for anything? She'd only become his ally! You're the one who came from my womb. Do you think I'd side with someone else? Rather than having another woman give birth to the Fourth Prince and not be of one mind with the Crown Prince, it's better to give the Crown Prince a brother who's closer by blood."

Since their statuses had changed, Madam Chen dared not continue to pressure the Empress. She could only patiently persuade her to consider the pros and cons.

“Mother, there’s no need to say anything more. The Crown Prince doesn’t need a brother from the same maternal family. Even if the family sends someone in, I will take action even if you don’t. I will make sure she doesn’t give birth to any children.”

Although Chen's words were tempting, the Empress remained clear-headed. Deep down, she wasn't entirely certain about the Crown Prince's future; there were simply too many uncertainties. And the older the Crown Prince got, the more uneasy she became.

The Crown Prince has to wait too long, and his only path is to inherit the throne in the future. The Second and Third Princes, on the other hand, will be mature enough by then, but as the more favored younger sons, they can advance or retreat at will.

The Third Prince, in particular, was rumored to be the Emperor's most favored son, a title even the Empress had heard of. With a capable maternal uncle in court and a favored concubine as his mother, he was truly the biggest source of future uncertainty.

In such an environment, she dared not gamble on any opportunity that might fail. Human hearts are the most unpredictable; fame and fortune are what truly move people.

What if the cousin who comes in gives birth to a child, and that child is resentful and stabs them in the back? Wouldn't that be like raising a tiger to cause trouble?

Moreover, his cousin was from the same clan as him. Even if the crown prince fell, the rest of the family could still rely on the young prince. With this second option, they would certainly not be willing to go all out for the crown prince anymore and would always leave some room for maneuver.

For her, this kind of thing was far more harmful than beneficial. It would be better if a concubine of lower status had a prince in the future, and she would have the right to win him over, so that he could also become an ally of the crown prince.

After Chen left, the Empress remained silent for a long while. Suddenly, she felt that in this vast world, only she and her two children were truly of one mind. Even the family she thought she could rely on had its own plans.

Besides their own efforts to establish themselves, who else can they rely on?

"Send someone to inform Granny Bai that we should put more effort into Baili's side."

The Empress's voice was somewhat hoarse as she gave instructions to Granny Zhou.

After responding, Granny Zhou looked up and felt that something about the Empress was different.

Although her face remained dignified and calm, her eyes held a hint of ruthlessness and coldness.