Chapter 2: Being kicked out?
In the Yanchun Pavilion, the gilded Boshan furnace exudes a faint fragrance that is refreshing to the heart.
In addition to the six beautiful ladies, there were several palace maids standing with their heads bowed, each performing their own duties.
Yang Manyan couldn't help but raise his eyes quietly——
The woman sitting in the main seat was wearing a royal blue gown with floral patterns, her hair was in a high bun, and her face was covered with thick makeup.
When the phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, the lines carved by time could be vaguely seen.
Perhaps she was tired from the whole day of selecting, for Queen Mother Jiang was leaning on the armrest of the throne, letting the palace maid massage her shoulders and neck.
She looked at the first few batches carefully, but became more and more perfunctory towards the end. She didn't even bother to ask about their family background. She just glanced at them quickly and moved on to the next group.
Queen Mother Jiang was about to wave her hand to discard all the cards, but her eyes were suddenly caught by the plump girl on the far left.
"Let that girl come closer." The fingertips stained with bright red nail polish pointed far away.
The young eunuch immediately smiled and walked up to Yang Manyan: "The Queen Mother is summoning Miss."
Admonish her? Yang Manyan's breathing stagnated slightly, and his mind went blank for a moment.
She walked forward and the Queen Mother looked at her carefully from head to toe.
She has a face like a silver plate, eyes like bright apricots, and skin as smooth as freshly peeled lychees. She is a natural beauty.
It happened to be a sunset, with rays of light shining through the window onto Yang Manyan, giving her a hazy golden halo.
Queen Mother Jiang suddenly smiled and said, "This girl is very happy. Please record her name."
The chief eunuch sang loudly: "Yang Manyan, the daughter of Yang Qianxing, a fifth-rank councillor of the Silver Palace, is seventeen years old and is on the list for selection!"
Yang Manyan's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly bowed: "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your grace."
The Queen Mother no longer looked at her and waved her hand to signal the next group to come in.
Even when he returned to Duke Wei's mansion, Yang Manyan still felt as if he was in a dream.
It is a great honor to be named in the preliminary election. Even if you lose in the re-election, there will still be powerful families competing for your job.
She was actually selected...
She knew it would be difficult for her to enter the Eastern Palace. Although her father was a fifth-rank official, the Yang family was a family that passed down traditions of farming and studying, and her ancestors were all poor.
My father was able to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi thanks to the financial support of my maternal grandfather, the Xue family. And my maternal grandfather was only the magistrate of Gaoyang County, otherwise my aunt would not have become the concubine of the Duke of Wei.
Now that he has the favor of the empress dowager, he will be able to choose a son-in-law from a higher status in the future.
She didn't dare to dream of marrying up, but since there was an opportunity, why not do it?
Outside the gate of Duke Wei's mansion, Xingyun, with her hair in double buns, was already looking forward to it.
Seeing her young lady in a trance, Xingyun misunderstood that she was sad because of her failure in the selection, and hurriedly comforted her: "Young lady, don't be sad. I just heard that Miss Miaohua has been listed. If she can become the Crown Princess, young lady will also be able to find a good marriage..."
Yang Manyan was about to explain when he suddenly heard a sneer.
The visitor was wearing a bamboo green brocade robe and standing with his hands behind his back. His sword-like brows and eyes were full of sarcasm, and his black boots were stained with dust.
This person is none other than the eldest son of Duke Wei, Xu Chengzong, and the elder brother of Xu Miaohua.
Xingyun was immediately shocked and dumbfounded, and Yang Manyan also looked embarrassed.
Xu Chengzong suddenly remembered something and sneered, "Yang's wish is fulfilled. With your background and appearance, isn't it natural that you were not selected?"
"Besides, whether Miaohua is selected or not, what does it have to do with your Yang family?"
He is just a poor relative of Aunt Xue who came to beg for money. Is he worthy of using his sister to curry favor with the powerful?
Yang Manyan didn't expect him to be so mean. His face turned red and his fingertips trembled slightly.
When she first entered the mansion two months ago, she secretly drank a few glasses of plum wine at the welcoming banquet, and in her drunken state she bumped into Xu Chengzong's arms.
At that time, everyone had dispersed and no one else saw this scene.
But in Xu Chengzong's opinion, it was clearly Aunt Xue's niece who deliberately seduced him.
Xu Chengzong has been the prince's study companion since he was young. The emperor strictly forbids the prince to get close to women, and he has followed suit to this day.
That collision was the first time in his life that he had physical contact with a woman.
Since then, he has frequently dreamed of her...
He hated this behavior of currying favor with the powerful, but he had to admit that her every frown and smile made him obsessed.
But he is the son of a duke, how could he marry the girl from a poor family?
It would have been fine if she had been registered in the primary election, but she was eliminated.
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