The Empress Dowager's gaze lingered on Li Yunyan for a couple of seconds, then she said to Aunt Jiang, "Let them call out the names!"
"yes."
Aunt Jiang took two steps forward, opened the roster in her hand, and read out the first name on it.
"Zhao Yueyan!"
The woman standing first in the first row took a step forward and bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager.
"My daughter, Zhao Yueyan, is sixteen years old this year. She is the daughter of the Director of the Guangyi Temple..."
"Wen Siling!"
"My daughter, Wen Siling, is sixteen years old this year. She is the daughter of an official in the Censorate..."
"Li Yunyan!"
"My daughter, Li Yunyan, is sixteen years old and is the daughter of the Prime Minister!"
When Li Yunyan's sweet voice came, Chu Xingmo's hand, which was playing with the beads, suddenly paused.
That voice belonged to the woman who threw him a steamed bun in the villa the night before last!
I never imagined she was actually Li Xiang's daughter!
How could such a shrewd man as Prime Minister Li have such an honest and simple-minded daughter?
Liu Yuan, Chu Xingmo's trusted eunuch, was surprised by his master's unexpected behavior.
This is the first time in all his years by His Majesty's side that he has ever shown interest in a woman's voice!
Does this mean His Majesty can be saved?!
His eyes were fixed on his emperor, as if afraid of missing any of his smallest movements.
At that moment, the Empress Dowager spoke up.
"Are you Prime Minister Li's daughter?"
Li Yunyan bowed again and replied calmly, "Your Majesty! My daughter is indeed Li Bieshan's daughter, named Li Yunyan!"
"Hmm, come up here and let me see you!"
"yes!"
Li Yunyan raised a sweet smile, slightly lifted the hem of her skirt that reached the ground with both hands, and walked step by step toward the Empress Dowager.
Approaching the Empress Dowager, Li Yunyan curtsied and greeted her, "Empress Dowager."
"Raise your head and let me see you!"
Without hesitation, Li Yunyan raised her head and smiled at the Empress Dowager with her eyes crinkling.
"You're not afraid of me?" the Empress Dowager teased gently.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has a kind and gentle face, not scary at all. How could Yunyan be afraid of you! Yunyan respects you very much!"
The Empress Dowager was amused by her! She had only given birth to Chu Xingmo, and had always regretted not having a daughter. Seeing Li Yunyan like this, she thought that if she had a daughter like this, she would definitely have a lot of family happiness!
Prime Minister Le is truly blessed!
She smiled and said, "Then tell me, why do you respect me?"
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is a model of virtue for all women, and Yunyan naturally holds her in high esteem! Also, um..."
Li Yunyan suddenly became shy, and her pretty face turned slightly red, as if she was embarrassed.
"What else?" The Empress Dowager's voice was kind and gentle, coaxing her to continue.
"Furthermore," Li Yunyan took a deep breath and mustered her courage to say, "The Empress Dowager is His Majesty's mother, and Yunyan will be His Majesty's woman in the future, so the Empress Dowager will also be Yunyan's mother! Therefore, Yunyan is not afraid of the Empress Dowager!"
A gasp filled the hall.
Li Yunyan's words were too blunt and somewhat disrespectful. Only the Empress had the right to call the Empress Dowager "Mother Empress," while other concubines could only address her as Empress Dowager!
Could it be that Li Yunyan's goal is actually the position of Empress?
Chu Xingmo had been listening intently to the conversation between Li Yunyan and the Empress Dowager, and his fingers trembled slightly when he heard her say this.
The beads in my hand made a soft, clinking sound.
The sound wasn't loud, and none of the people below the stage could hear it, but the Empress Dowager, who was closest to him, could.
Looking into Li Yunyan's clear eyes, the Empress Dowager thought that if she could truly persuade her son to stay away from women, it wouldn't be impossible to grant her the position of Empress!
She kindly helped Li Yunyan up, patted her hand gently, and said to Aunt Jiang, "I have placed a string of beads behind the screen. Go and fetch it for me as a reward!"
"yes."
As instructed, Aunt Jiang went behind the screen and saw Chu Xingmo sitting behind it, looking astonished.
There's only His Majesty behind him, where are the beads?
Just as she was at a loss, Chu Xingmo helplessly handed the beaded string in his hand to Liu Yuan, indicating that he should give it to Aunt Jiang.
I see!
Aunt Jiang accepted it with both hands and then walked to the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, the beaded string has been brought."
"Hmm." The Empress Dowager smiled, picked up the bracelet that still carried the warmth of her son's body, and placed it in Li Yunyan's hand. "Take it."
Li Yunyan's tone was cheerful, and you could tell how happy she was just by listening to her voice. "This humble girl thanks the Empress Dowager!"
After receiving the bracelet, Li Yunyan walked down and continued to stand with her eyes lowered.
She appeared to be listening to the other contestants announce their names, but in reality, she was gently stroking the still-warm bracelet in her hand.
This bracelet is clearly a men's style, with each of the white jade beads being large and smooth, as if it were something that is often held and played with in the hand.
The system had already warned her that Chu Xingmo was behind the screen. She had been standing in front of the Empress Dowager and had heard the faint sounds he made from behind.
He must have recognized me by now, right?
Continue calling out names.
The Empress Dowager listened intently to Chu Xingmo's every move, while Liu Yuan kept his eyes fixed on Chu Xingmo.
Unfortunately, apart from Li Yunyan, no matter how the other women spoke or how melodious their voices were, our Emperor never raised his eyes again.
The announcement of the twenty candidates' names was completed quickly. To Li Yunyan's surprise, Meng Qingyu did not cause any trouble and politely announced her family name.
She was the daughter of a high-ranking official, and the Empress Dowager showed no favoritism on the surface, only asking her a couple of questions in a rather indifferent manner.
An hour later, the Empress Dowager was tired, and Li Yunyan and the others, led by Aunt Jiang, returned to Chuxiu Palace.
Although the Empress Dowager spoke a few words to each of the selected ladies today, Li Yunyan was the only one who received a special reward. The other ladies received rewards such as cloth and jewelry.
The only one that Li Yunyan received was a large and valuable bracelet that was different from the others.
Li Yunyan showed no arrogance or complacency. Just like yesterday, she went back to her room to rest as soon as she returned to Chuxiu Palace.
Inside the Cining Palace.
After the young ladies-in-waiting left, the three concubines all looked expectantly at the Empress Dowager.
They knew His Majesty was here. Now that the ladies-in-waiting have all left, shouldn't His Majesty show himself?
The Empress Dowager could tell what they were thinking just by looking at their expressions.
In the past, she might have tried to find a way, but today she had promised Mo'er that she wouldn't let anyone see him.
"I am tired. You may all kneel and leave!"
"Yes! I take my leave!"
The three concubines left reluctantly. His Majesty is truly heartless! They're already in Cining Palace, yet he still won't come out to see them!
Could it be that His Majesty is truly as rumored?
He didn't like women, but...
Consort Ji gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand. No matter what, she was determined to give birth to His Majesty's eldest son!
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