Chapter 96 The Imperial Concubines' Audience
What could have caused Chu Huaiyu to become so exhausted?
Could it be...
"The day of the imperial concubine selection is approaching, and the Imperial Household Department is holding a talent show for the candidates. Your Majesty, please come and see the candidates with me."
If Chu Huaiyu takes a fancy to someone, he can decide for himself to bring that person into the palace, so that she won't have to bear the blame again.
"A talent show?"
Chu Huaiyu's eyes instantly regained their clarity.
He turned around and looked at Lu Zhaoxue with a deep gaze, as if trying to see through her eyes and understand her thoughts.
"good."
Chu Huaiyu's gaze was too intense, making Lu Zhaoxue feel somewhat uncomfortable.
She avoided his gaze, stepped forward to undress him, and her fingertips touched his slightly cool skin, but she felt inexplicably uneasy.
The weather was fine on the day of the audition.
Consort Xian, Liu Ruohua, was also invited and sat on either side of Chu Huaiyu with Lu Zhaoxue, watching the performances of the young ladies.
The first to appear was Feng Xin'er, the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
She has delicate features and a slender figure. Although she is only in her early twenties, she possesses a gentle and quiet temperament.
It is said that she should have been engaged long ago, but she has been so eager to enter the palace to serve His Majesty that she has delayed until now.
After entering the palace, apart from glancing at Chu Huaiyu briefly at their first meeting, she kept her head down and played a harp in a very proper manner.
After the music ended, she bowed again and stepped aside, not saying a word throughout, which made her seem very tactful.
Lu Zhaoxue thought that Chu Huaiyu always preferred women who knew how to behave properly, so she turned her head to look at Chu Huaiyu, wanting to ask him what he thought.
Chu Huaiyu seemed to notice her gaze, turned to look at her, and asked with a slight smile, "What does my beloved consort think of her?"
"What do you think is good?" Lu Zhaoxue didn't say much, knowing full well that she would make a mistake if she said too much.
Upon hearing this, Chu Huaiyu simply gave a faint "hmm" and then signaled Eunuch Wei to announce the next candidate to come forward.
At this moment, a woman dressed in a light pink, long, feather-trimmed dress stepped forward gracefully, her skirt trailing on the ground like flowing clouds. She carried no musical instruments, but simply knelt and bowed to Chu Huaiyu.
"Your subject, Su Miaoqing, wishes to offer a dance, 'The Dance of the Startled Swan,' to congratulate Your Majesty on Your Majesty's well-being."
Her dance steps were extremely graceful. When her toes touched the ground, it was like a startled swan stepping on water. She tilted her head back and spun around, her water sleeves suddenly unfurling and her skirt spreading out like a startled swan, creating a delightful contrast with the music.
Everyone in the hall held their breath, and Liu Ruohua even forgot to bring the teacup in her hand to her lips.
As the song ended, Su Wanqing lowered her eyes and gathered her sleeves, her breath slightly short, and said, "This humble woman has made a fool of herself."
After reading it, Chu Huaiyu raised his hand to signal her to leave, without making any other comment.
Her dance just now left Chu Huaiyu momentarily stunned.
In a daze, it seemed to overlap with the image of Lu Zhaoxue's stunning dance at the palace banquet many years ago.
"Lan Yanru, daughter of the Assistant Commander of Xuanji Prefecture, requests an audience—"
The sound of Eunuch Wei's greeting brought Chu Huaiyu back to reality.
Lan Yanru, dressed in a plain white dress and without any makeup, slowly walked forward, carrying a guqin.
Unlike the other candidates who were bright and flamboyant, Lan Yanru was exceptionally calm, and when she curtsied, her voice was clear and melodious, like jade striking each other.
"Your subject, Lan Yanru, is willing to play a tune on the zither for Your Majesty."
The strings are gently plucked, like a lone plume of smoke rising straight up in the desert, or a flock of geese flying low over the barren plain.
Lan Yan's fingers moved nimbly, and the music conveyed both the vastness of the frontier and the leisurely freedom of a flock of geese.
It made everyone forget that they were still in the deep palace, as if they were in the world at large.
Lu Zhaoxue closed her eyes and listened intently to the music, her fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on the armrest of her seat in time with the rhythm.
The music ended, but the lingering melody remained.
Lan Yanru folded her hands and stood up, her eyes filled with determination.
“I have loved the guqin since I was a child. I often play it in my home for my own enjoyment. I do not seek fame or fortune. I only wish to use the music to convey a sense of tranquility and detachment from worldly desires.”
Lu Zhaoxue thought to herself: She really is a wonderful person.
What's so great about this palace? Just four squares of sky and four squares of walls. Nothing is more boring than this place. Once you're trapped here, it's for life.
Chu Huaiyu also understood the implied meaning in the young lady's words, and gently raised his hand to signal her to step back.
The subsequent candidates for the imperial concubine selection were all outstanding in their own way, with excellent looks and talents.
Even though it was their first time meeting the emperor, they were all calm and composed, showing no sign of restraint.
Lu Zhaoxue couldn't help but admire it in her heart after reading it.
"The next candidate for the imperial concubine is Huo Chengbi, the daughter of the General of the Army."
As the eunuchs announced his arrival in a high-pitched voice, Huo Chengbi, surrounded by a group of dancers, gracefully entered the main hall.
She wore a white pearl veil and a floor-length, pleated phoenix-tail dress with flowing sleeves. Her slender waist swayed gently to the music, revealing her beautiful features.
Especially her eyes, which seemed to hold a pool of autumn water, were extremely captivating.
Huo Chengbi exuded an amber fragrance, a unique and profound aroma.
Even in a crowd, she remains the most eye-catching presence.
She is the most watched contestant in this year's talent show.
Long before Huo Chengbi entered the palace, many people predicted that if she could enter the palace, she would surely win the emperor's favor.
Some officials even privately discussed that they hoped she could divert Chu Huaiyu's attention away from Consort Chen, Lu Zhaoxue.
Lu Zhaoxue had heard these rumors before, but she didn't care much about Chu Huaiyu's favor towards her.
After the dance ended, Huo Chengbi slowly removed her veil and gracefully bowed to Chu Huaiyu.
Even Lu Zhaoxue, a woman herself, couldn't help but secretly marvel at her exquisite and beautiful face.
She is beautiful without being vulgar, and her elegant and charming appearance is a perfect match for her name.
Lu Zhaoxue turned to look at Chu Huaiyu, only to see his eyes widen in surprise, as if he was stunned by Huo Chengbi's beauty.
A faint smile crept onto her lips.
She leaned slightly forward and asked Chu Huaiyu softly:
"Your Majesty, what do you think of her?"
Chu Huaiyu turned to look at her and said in a flat tone, "Hmm, not bad either."
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhaoxue smiled thoughtfully and said no more.
After all the young women finished their performances, they bowed and took their leave.
After all the young ladies-in-waiting had left, Liu Ruohua, who had remained silent all along, slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, I am a little tired and would like to take my leave first."
"Mm," Chu Huaiyu responded, without trying to persuade him to stay any longer.
Liu Ruohua got up and left. As she passed Lu Zhaoxue, she paused slightly and looked down at Lu Zhaoxue.
Liu Ruohua's eyes were filled with complex emotions, as if she had a thousand words to say, but in the end she just snorted coldly and left without looking back.
Lu Zhaoxue watched her departing figure, pondering to herself:
Liu Ruohua seemed to have something to say to him?
At this moment, Chu Huaiyu suddenly reached out and gently embraced Lu Zhaoxue's waist.
His tone carried a hint of warmth: "I specially had someone bring back pomegranates from the Western Regions that you used to love. I'll enjoy them with you later."
"The Western Regions?" Lu Zhaoxue was somewhat surprised.
"Yes, it was just sent to the palace not long ago, it's still fresh."
Seeing the surprise in her eyes, Chu Huaiyu felt quite pleased.
"Your Majesty is very kind." Lu Zhaoxue smiled faintly, but her heart was not much turmoil.
Seeing that she was happy, Chu Huaiyu breathed a slight sigh of relief.
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