Chapter 311 Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace - Gao Xiyue 1
Four years later, Jiangxue Pavilion—
The young women entered the pavilion, stood in their positions, and respectfully bowed to the Noble Consort Xi at the head of the table, saying, "Greetings, Noble Consort Xi."
"Get up."
"Thank you, Your Highness." The young ladies-in-waiting rose.
"Those chosen as primary consorts today will be given a ruyi scepter; those chosen as secondary consorts will be given a purse; and those who are not chosen will be given one hundred taels of gold to return home."
The eunuch began reading the list, "Today's selected are: Fuca clan, Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, daughter of Li Rongbao, the Chahar General."
When the daughter of the Fucha family heard the eunuch announce her name, she stepped forward and bowed.
The daughter of the Fucha family was named Fucha Langhua. Her appearance was not outstanding, but her skin was fair, delicate and flawless.
As the saying goes, fair skin can cover up a hundred flaws, and Fucha Langhua was already a pretty woman, and her gentle and dignified temperament added even more to her beauty.
"Gao was a bondservant of the Bordered Yellow Banner and the daughter of Gao Bin, the Guangdong Provincial Governor."
Gao Xiyue also stepped forward, bowing slightly like a willow in the breeze. Today she was wearing a light purple cheongsam, with delicate magnolia flowers and butterflies embroidered on it.
She had fair skin and delicate features, with only light makeup on her exquisite face.
She was the most eye-catching among all the young ladies, ethereal and otherworldly, like a secluded orchid in a valley, elegant, serene, and noble, so beautiful that one could not look away.
Consort Xi looked at her stunning beauty and sighed with relief that the Emperor had previously exempted her from the imperial concubine selection because of Gao Bin.
Fortunately, Gao Bin was exceptionally talented, which led the Emperor to secretly designate her as Hongli's concubine. Otherwise, if she had entered the palace with such beauty, she would surely have been the most favored concubine.
Consort Xi shifted her gaze to the Fourth Prince Hongli sitting to the side. He had long since lost his anxiety and unease about Qingying's late arrival, and his eyes were fixed on Gao Xiyue.
His eyes held surprise, amazement, nostalgia, and a determination to succeed.
That look of seeing an old friend again—could it be that they've met before? If Qingying enters the Prince's mansion, things will get interesting.
Consort Xi smiled and no longer hesitated or resisted Qingying's entry into the palace.
Although Qingying is from one of the eight great Manchu clans, her father holds a low official position, and the Empress, who is her backer, is about to fall from grace. The Emperor will not allow her to become his primary consort.
Gao Xiyue's father, Gao Bin, was someone she had heard the Emperor repeatedly praise, saying he would be promoted soon.
Moreover, she had heard from Su Peisheng that the Gao family had offered some gifts, and the Emperor was considering elevating the family's banner, specifically the Manchu banner.
Therefore, Gao Xiyue will definitely not become Hongli's concubine; she's more like a secondary consort.
Qingying and Hongli spent a lot of time together and developed feelings for each other. If she were to become a princess, she would probably feel wronged.
However, Hongli can only have one concubine now, so he only has three choices.
One option was to abandon Gao Xiyue and marry Qingying as a secondary consort; the other option was to marry Qingying as a secondary consort and abandon Gao Xiyue.
The last one is that Gao Xiyue is a secondary consort, and Qingying is a princess.
But men, how could they choose to give up? They would definitely want both.
Consort Xi looked at Hongli and said, "Hongli, go and choose."
"Yes, Mother."
Upon seeing the white moonlight he thought he would never see again and who would eventually become another man's wife, Hongli no longer thought of Qingying and got up to walk in front of the young lady.
Turning her head to look at the ruyi scepter and purse in the eunuch's hand, she reached out to take the ruyi scepter, then hesitated and took the purse instead.
Gao Xiyue is different from Qingying. Although Qingying's Ulanara family has fallen on hard times, it is still an old Manchu noble family.
However, Gao Xiyue was only a bondservant of the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Han Army, and even if her father was capable, she could not become a prince's wife.
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