The talent show controversy: some are happy, some are sad.
Prince Yi Zhao Jingyi's groundbreaking request was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, making the atmosphere of the originally solemn selection ceremony subtle and complex.
With the Emperor's word spoken, the marriage between Qin Yuti and Zhao Jingyi was a done deal. Several princes who harbored feelings for Qin Yuti, such as the Second Prince Huai, who had always admired her talent, and the Fourth Prince Rui, who had once exchanged poems with her at a poetry gathering and whom she admired, couldn't help but feel regret. However, since the Emperor's mind was made up, they could only suppress their thoughts.
The imperial concubine selection continued. The emperor's gaze swept over the beautiful noble ladies below, then turned to his other sons who had already been granted titles and residences but had not yet married, and he made a decision. Taking advantage of the atmosphere today, he decided to settle their marriages all at once, thus creating a beautiful story.
Crown Prince Zhao Jingchen was the first to rise. As the heir apparent, the selection of a consort was of paramount importance, concerning the very foundation of the nation. His expression was composed as his gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on a woman of dignified composure, whose eyes shone with wisdom. That was Xu Nianchu, the eldest daughter of the Grand Tutor.
“Father, Mother,” the Crown Prince said in a clear and resolute voice, “I have long admired Xu Taifu’s daughter, Nianchu. She is dignified, virtuous, intelligent, and kind-hearted, and is suitable to be the mistress of the Eastern Palace. I humbly request that Father and Mother grant me this marriage.”
The Emperor and the current Empress exchanged a glance, both satisfied. The Xu family was of noble birth, and Xu Nianchu was renowned as "the most talented woman in the capital," making her the perfect choice for Crown Princess. The decree was immediately issued. Xu Nianchu calmly bowed in gratitude, her posture perfect, revealing to no one her inner prudent plans and considerations for the future.
Next, the Second Prince, Prince Huai, Zhao Jingxuan, stepped forward. He was gentle in nature, disliked fighting, and his beloved was a quiet and beautiful woman from a scholarly family, Li Jingshu, the daughter of a Hanlin Academy scholar. His reason for proposing marriage was simple and direct: "Your Majesty, I find Miss Li to be gentle and virtuous, and to share the same interests as me." The Emperor gladly agreed, thus concluding an elegant affair.
The fourth prince, Prince Rui, Zhao Jingming, proposed to marry Su Wanqing, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Anguo's family. This woman was beautiful and forthright, a perfect match for Prince Rui's quick wit. However, no one knew that Su Wanqing had long harbored feelings for the dashing young general Lu Beichen. Upon receiving the imperial decree, a hint of bitterness inevitably lingered beneath her smile.
The Fifth Prince, Prince Yi, Zhao Jinglan's choice surprised some; he actually proposed to Qin Yuti's elder sister, Qin Shuhua, the eldest daughter of the Qin family. Qin Shuhua was gentle and tender, a stark contrast to Prince Yi's fierce and ruthless nature. It is said that Prince Yi had once caught a glimpse of Qin Shuhua's gentle yet resolute demeanor while training horses at a polo match in the outskirts of the capital, and had been captivated by her ever since. This imperial decree, however, allowed the Qin family, which had just suffered a "severe blow," to regain some face.
Thus, a single talent selection process resulted in marriages for five princes, a remarkably efficient outcome. Only the marriage of the sixth prince, Zhao Jingyi, carried a strong comedic element of "enemies meeting on a narrow road."
However, beneath the grand feast, there are also regrets and uncertainties.
Shen Anci, the only daughter of the Grand General, was not present at the imperial concubine selection. Due to her grandmother's serious illness, she had taken leave a month prior to return to her hometown in Jiangnan with her mother, thus missing the selection. This unexpected turn of events allowed her to avoid a potential betrothal to a prince, foreshadowing her eventual, albeit antagonistic, encounter with the young general Lu Beichen, who was also not in the capital. At this moment, Lu Beichen was honing his skills in the northern frontier, completely unaware of the selection taking place in the capital.
Meanwhile, Liu Mianying, the eldest daughter of the Liu family, a prominent merchant clan, was far away. Her father was traveling with her to inspect his properties in Jiangnan and Lingnan this year, hoping to broaden his horizons, and his return date was uncertain. This shrewd and intelligent young lady was probably currently on an elegant pleasure boat, fiddling with her abacus and calculating accounts, completely unaware that what she had missed in the capital was not only a talent show, but also an impending "love at first sight" with her old-fashioned cousin, Feng Yanshu. Feng Yanshu, meanwhile, was engrossed in his studies at an academy on the outskirts of the capital, oblivious to everything else.
With the talent show over, imperial edicts were issued one after another, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others in and around the capital.
Inside Prince Yi's residence, Zhao Jingyi was already rubbing his hands together, fantasizing about how to "educate" his future princess.
Meanwhile, atop the embroidered tower of the Qin residence, Qin Yuti gazed at the bright moon outside the window, her heart filled with icy desolation. But she was no ordinary, weak woman; after the initial shock and anger, a tenacious spirit of defiance arose within her.
Zhao Jingyi, do you want to marry me and "teach me a lesson"?
Alright, let's see who can make whom submit!
Meanwhile, inside the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Zhao Jingchen looked out at the deep night and casually instructed the eunuch beside him: "Go and find out which eligible young ladies are absent from today's selection of concubines for various reasons. Especially... those who are on good terms with Miss Qin."
He seemed to have a premonition that the turmoil stirred up by his self-important sixth brother was probably only just beginning. And the capital city was about to become even more interesting because of these unexpected marriages.
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