The initial list of potential suitors in the palace has been drawn up, and Fan Lihua and several other unmarried young ladies are on it. In other words, these young ladies are the core figures in the circle of young ladies in the capital.

The Empress Dowager's intention was to tell these noble families that she would never mistreat anyone. Look how outstanding these girls are; as long as you are obedient, she will treat you the same way.

—Fan Mansion

"The Empress Dowager's actions are truly..." A young girl couldn't think of any words to describe it, and just clenched her handkerchief tightly, so angry that she couldn't speak.

"Insulting..."

Huo Xiaolong is very famous in the capital. This is why the "Border Town Women's Picture Book" was banned. Many young ladies from wealthy families regard her as a faith, as if their lives would change if they liked and supported her more.

Even in those poor, remote villages where people couldn't afford books, several girls would save up some money to buy a book and take turns reading it.

"I will not cause any trouble for Your Highness," Fan Lihua said firmly, sitting upright with her yellow silk robe trailing on the ground.

I won't go to this matchmaking event.

“But… this is the Empress Dowager’s flower appreciation banquet…” a young girl next to her said.

After the list was finalized, a flower-viewing banquet was held. If any young woman caught the Empress Dowager's eye, she would be betrothed to the Marquis of the Southwest as his concubine.

“Pear Blossom is unwell and cannot go, unless the Empress Dowager forces her to go,” another girl said.

“I do not want any of the young ladies in the capital to cause trouble for the Prince of Zhenbei. The Marquis of the Southwest is not a powerful figure. If anyone has the idea of ​​becoming the Marquis of the Southwest's concubine, don’t blame me, Fan Lihua, for disowning this friend.”

If the Empress Dowager really dares to carry Fan Lihua to the flower appreciation banquet, the moment she enters the palace, the Censorate will send a group to the palace to bang their heads against the pillars.

What does Your Majesty mean?

Why should I, a perfectly healthy legitimate daughter, be made a concubine? And I was even carried there by force, even though they said I was unwell. How can someone with such a character be worthy of being the mother of the nation?

Pear Blossom was very popular among the young ladies in the capital. No matter who had a conflict with whom, or who didn't get along with whom, it was not a problem with her. Right and wrong were clearly distinguished.

As for the illegitimate daughter...

The illegitimate daughters couldn't play with them or have any contact with them. They usually stayed at home and obediently listened to their elder sisters and parents.

If they upset Fan Lihua, these girls probably won't want to play with her anymore.

These young ladies from the center of power are still unmarried and their relationship with the palace is inextricably linked to their status as women in power.

The reason the Emperor has not yet appointed a Crown Prince is because he fears that once a Crown Prince is appointed, he will marry a bunch of women, with the Crown Princess being the legitimate daughter of one family and the concubine being the cousin of another. In that case, the court would become as tangled and chaotic as the roots of an old tree, making it difficult for the ruler to move forward.

But will things really be peaceful without an official title?

The current emperor has three sons.

He doesn't know that his three sons have fought so fiercely they're practically brain-dead?

It's the same as refining poisonous insects.

Therefore, he and the Empress Dowager wished they could marry off all these noble ladies at once, preferably not to princes.

"Your Majesty, do you think the Prince of Zhenbei will be angry and come to the palace with a sword?" Qingsong asked curiously, standing next to Xiao Lanhua.

"Probably not, the Empress Dowager's beauties can't be sent over." The languid beauty raised her head and said.

"What if the Emperor bestows a marriage upon us?"

"He can't grant a marriage decree either."

The beautiful woman, wearing armor, took a letter from under her pillow and handed it to the maid beside her, then said...

"Take a look."

Qingsong glanced at the text, then couldn't help but put her right hand to her mouth.

"The Marquis of the Southwest... he married into the family?"

"He...he's just a...just a man, powerful and influential..."

“But the Prince of Zhenbei is more capable than him. He earned his princely position through hard work and real effort.”

No wonder the master's mood has improved a lot since the Prince of Zhenbei came along. As long as you have enough power, people will be willing to submit to you.

The group from Fengyue Tower sat inside the carriage, with Qiu Shui and Wan Wan seeing them off below. Jiangnan always needed someone to stay and guide the women here to gradually awaken.

"Ah Zheng, I'm going to the capital in a while. You must take good care of yourself there, okay?"

"And you, worry about whatever you want, just don't worry about money. With me here, you can raise as many soldiers as you want without running out of food."

After giving her friend's instructions, the young girl then instructed Huo Xiaolong. These words were true; she would always be the Prince of Zhenbei's money bag.

"That would be too much trouble," Huo Xiaolong joked.

Xu Qiushui ignored her, only poked her forehead, and then said to Xiangxiang...

“Buy whatever you like in the capital, and pay for it on my tab. Our Xiangxiang is so beautiful, we can’t let those worldly things make people look down on us.”

"Da Ni'er too."

The two girls nodded.

Then Qiu Shui glanced at her father again, wanting to say something but holding it back.

Xu Zheng went with her again this time. Qiu Shui only hoped that when she arrived in the capital, she could rightfully call the Lady Hou "Mother".

Inside the pavilion, a couple stood together somewhat shyly, unsure of what to say when their eyes met.

"you……"

"Take care. If anyone bullies you, write to me first," Sixteen said first.

Yesterday, he went to his senior brother to ask how to strike up a conversation with a girl, but the advice his senior brother gave him wasn't really applicable to today's parting scene.

The two were not overly sad, but rather looked forward to the future.

"Be careful on the road," Li Wanwan said.

Shi Liu nodded and slipped a hairpin into her hand.

Neither of them spoke of the subtle feelings between them; now was not the time.

We are truly in love, and our hearts are truly connected.

But now is not the best time; we still have so much to accomplish.

Wanwan felt that she should at least be like the girls in the brothel, find something she liked, and work hard to achieve something in it.

She no longer wanted to be the mistress of the household.

She could also help her mother with the Li family's business.

The young lady, unaware of the hardships of life, wants to go out and see the world.

She didn't want to stand next to her beloved and look up at him; she wanted to travel with him and be his support if there were any difficulties to overcome.

Shi Liu thought so too. Right now, she was just an instructor. Once Huo Xiaolong truly ascended to that position, he would definitely be promoted and ennobled. When he achieved fame and success, if she still didn't have someone she loved, she would come back and marry her.

Everything in this world is subject to change. If we are destined to be together, we will surely have the opportunity to spend our lives hand in hand.

The young woman in the python robe rode a tall horse in front, with the back of her beloved following on either side of the carriage. Willow branches swayed in the wind, a warm breeze blew by, and the caravan went further and further away, gradually disappearing into the sunlight.

Longing is never something that happens every day or night.

The two young ladies exchanged a smile. Huo Xiaolong had opened the cage for them; whether they would fly away, and how high they would fly, was up to them.