Chapter 150 The Draft Begins
As soon as news of the talent show broke, the Ministry of Rites became very busy.
Lists of eligible daughters of officials from all over the country were sent to the capital like snowflakes, and the palace began preparations in earnest.
Huo Lin deliberately kept himself busy, as if trying to drown out the inexplicable restlessness in his heart with government affairs.
He spent more time reviewing memorials than before, summoned ministers more frequently, and even took the initiative to inquire about the details of the imperial concubine selection process.
Wang Degui saw this and was very anxious.
The Emperor's posture makes it seem as if he's challenging someone, or perhaps running away from something.
Jiang Huan's life wasn't easy either at Weiyang Palace.
Xiao Zhao tried every trick in the book to cheer her up, changing the storybooks to the most fashionable ones and even asking someone to bring some interesting trinkets from outside the palace, but Jiang Huan just couldn't muster any interest.
That afternoon, Jiang Huan was gazing out the window in a daze when Wang Degui arrived at Weiyang Palace.
"This servant greets Your Majesty." Wang Degui's attitude remained respectful.
"You may rise, Eunuch Wang." Jiang Huan straightened up. "Does His Majesty have any orders?"
The palace has been in an uproar these past few days, and even if Jiang Huan didn't want to listen, she had heard quite a bit about it.
She wondered to herself, "Could it be that he's finally remembered to explain?"
Or... has the draft list been released?
Wang Degui bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor is currently reviewing the portraits of the newly selected candidates in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The Emperor has asked that Your Majesty also come and give his opinion."
Let's discuss this together?
Jiang Huan suddenly clenched her handkerchief, her fingertips turning slightly white.
The pent-up soreness in her chest that had been building up for days suddenly surged up, making her eyes well up with tears.
That bastard Huo Lin, not content with choosing his own concubine, he had to drag her along to be a judge?
Isn't this like killing someone by attacking their spirit?
The little voice inside her was already furious, wishing she could rush over and grab Huo Lin by the collar to ask him what he meant.
But Jiang Huan ultimately restrained herself; Huo Lin's mind was not functioning properly, so she had to endure it!
It's just a talent show, just treat it as a chance to see beautiful women.
"Okay, let's go."
"Yes." Wang Degui lowered his head, feeling sorry for Jiang Huan.
The Emperor's amnesia is truly... sigh.
The two arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation together, where it was bustling with activity.
Huo Lin, dressed in a black casual suit, sat upright in the main seat with a blank expression on his face, flipping through a thick booklet.
The Empress Dowager sat beside him, a long-lost smile on her face, and was whispering something to a head maid next to her.
Jiang Huan bowed respectfully: "This concubine greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
The eyes of everyone in the hall instantly focused on Jiang Huan.
Huo Lin's fingers, which were turning the page, paused almost imperceptibly. He raised his eyes and his gaze fell on Jiang Huan.
She was dressed simply today, and her face seemed paler than the previous two days. She bowed respectfully with her head bowed, her posture impeccable, yet exuding a sense of aloofness.
She arrived, but why does she still look unwell?
Huo Lin's heart skipped a beat for a moment for no apparent reason.
The Empress Dowager was very pleased, and her smile deepened.
"Consort Zhuang has arrived! Quickly, someone, bring her a seat."
Immediately, palace servants brought over a stool. Jiang Huan thanked them and sat down, keeping her eyes down and her mind at ease.
"Your Majesty has been diligent in governing recently, which pleases me greatly. Now you have taken the initiative to propose a selection of consorts to produce offspring for the royal family. It seems that this unexpected event has made Your Majesty much more sober."
As the Empress Dowager spoke, she glanced at Jiang Huan with a seemingly casual look.
Jiang Huan lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes.
Doesn't this mean that the emperor used to favor her so much because he was blinded by greed and didn't see things clearly?
Jiang Huan did not respond. The Empress Dowager seemed quite pleased with Jiang Huan's demeanor and took a sip of tea.
"Consort Zhuang, you must remember that the most taboo thing in the harem is to monopolize the emperor's favor. It is the right thing to distribute the emperor's favor equally. This time, you must assist the emperor well and set an example for the sisters in the harem. Do not lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small things and lose the virtue that a concubine should have."
These words were a warning, reminding her to remember her place and not to try to monopolize the emperor's favor.
Jiang Huan's hands, resting on her knees, gradually tightened as she barely managed to maintain a calm expression on her face.
She took a deep breath, about to speak, when a soft sound broke the silence.
Huo Lin tossed the roster back onto the table and looked up.
He summoned Jiang Huan to help with the deliberations, not to have her listen to the Empress Dowager's admonitions.
"Since Consort Zhuang entered the palace, her words and deeds have always conformed to the palace rules and there has been no overstepping of them. Whether she is virtuous or not is my own judgment, and there is no need for others to comment."
"As for matters concerning the harem, I will make the decisions myself." Huo Lin's tone was calm but carried an unquestionable authority. "I have my own plan for the selection of women, so Your Majesty need not worry about it."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the brightly colored portraits on the table before quickly looking away.
"The selection of concubines is merely a matter of following precedent and balancing the needs of the court. Your Majesty is of good health and should simply enjoy your retirement. There is no need to trouble yourself with such trivial matters."
The Empress Dowager's smile froze instantly, her hand holding the teacup stopped in mid-air, her fingernails scraping against the porcelain wall, making a piercing sound.
She never expected that the emperor, after losing his memory, would still protect Jiang Huan so much, not even giving her, the empress dowager, any face.
Jiang Huan lowered her eyes, somewhat bewildered.
Before she could even process the grievances brought by the Empress Dowager, Huo Lin's sudden, direct attack left her completely disoriented.
Her mind went blank, and all that remained was the frantic pounding of her heart in her chest.
What did Huo Lin just say? To balance the court? To follow precedent?
So the talent show wasn't because the harem was empty?
Also, is he protecting her?
She stole a glance at Huo Lin's still expressionless face, and her eyes suddenly felt hot.
The atmosphere inside the hall became extremely awkward for a moment.
The Empress Dowager's face turned pale and then red, but she finally suppressed her anger and forced a smile.
"Your Majesty is right. I was too talkative. The selection of candidates is a major event. Your Majesty should take a closer look at the portraits."
She abruptly steered the conversation back to the talent show, but her apprehension towards Jiang Huan deepened.
This Consort Zhuang is indeed a source of trouble. Even the emperor has forgotten about her, yet he still sides with her.
We still need to replenish the emperor's harem as soon as possible. When new beauties arrive, there's no need to worry about them overshadowing Consort Zhuang.
Huo Lin seemed to realize that his reaction just now was a bit off. He withdrew his gaze and looked back at the portrait on the table, but his eyes were even colder and more impatient, and he turned the pages much faster.
bother.
What kind of rubbish is this? Not a single one of them is pleasing to the eye. It's even worse than...
He subconsciously wanted to glance to the side again, but his gaze stopped abruptly halfway through, forcing himself to focus on the woman's face in the painting.
Jiang Huan's mind wasn't on the talent show at all. Thinking about what Huo Lin had said earlier, a faint smile quietly curved her lips.
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