Chapter 9: Seductive and charming, with evil intentions
But before he could finish his words, Xu Chengzong suddenly stopped.
Being addicted to beauty is not what a gentleman does.
As the eldest son of a noble family, he actually had feelings for a beautiful girl from a poor family. Even he himself felt disgusted, so how could he say it out loud?
He lowered his eyes and changed the subject: "Your Highness, there is a girl named Yang among the concubines. Her aunt is my father's aunt. Her family is currently living in the Duke of Wei's mansion."
"As far as I know, although Yang is born charming and seductive, she has evil intentions and is very cunning. She only wants to cling to the rich and powerful. I hope Your Highness will be able to see clearly and not be fooled by her appearance."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan raised his eyes, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Among the seven registered beauties, there was only one named Yang.
Yang Manyan, the daughter of Yang Qianxing, a fifth-rank Silver Palace councilor, was his designated candidate for Crown Princess.
On that day, the emperor had carefully analyzed the reasons why he chose Yang: Yang Qianxing came from a humble background, but he proposed a very far-sighted tax reform strategy.
Today, the world is peaceful, the rivers are clear and the seas are calm, and the population is growing rapidly.
However, many people hid their household registration to avoid corvée and taxes, making it difficult for the court to control them. Local officials and gentry took the opportunity to exploit them, resulting in the rise of refugees.
Yang Qianxing's proposal of "equalizing the poll tax by land" was intended to abolish the poll tax that had existed for a thousand years and incorporate it into the land tax.
Levying taxes based on land can not only simplify the tax system, but also reduce the burden on poor people. This is a long-term plan that benefits both the country and the people.
Unfortunately, Yang Qianxing came from a humble background, and his reforms were bound to affect the interests of powerful families, making implementation difficult.
If his daughter became the Crown Princess, many obstacles would be solved.
Xiao Yan had no favorite person, but knowing that this matter concerned the foundation of the country, he naturally understood the importance of it.
At this moment, hearing Xu Chengzong's evaluation of her future Crown Princess, she couldn't help but feel unhappy.
"The beauties are all girls from the boudoir, so don't judge them rashly, Boxuan." He said calmly.
Xiao Yan has a handsome face and a tall figure. His eyes and brows are gentle and peaceful, yet there is a kind of invisible pressure.
Every gesture and movement revealed his innate bearing as a crown prince.
Xu Chengzong's heart tightened, and he hurriedly bowed his hands to apologize: "Your Highness is right, I spoke out of turn."
"Okay, you go back first. Tomorrow my father and I will go hunting in the Western Garden, so you don't have to enter the palace." Xiao Ying's tone was distant, no longer as gentle and elegant as before.
After saying this, he signaled to the eunuch Shu Qing who was accompanying him and set off for the Cining Palace.
Xu Chengzong was shocked and thought something was wrong, so he bowed and left immediately.
After leaving the East Palace, he was still puzzled.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has always been kind and tolerant, so why did he suddenly get angry today? Did he hate others gossiping?
Xu Chengzong was filled with regret and only hoped that this incident would not implicate his sister Miaohua...
Inside the main hall of the Cining Palace, seven beauties in their best attire stood in two neat rows.
Green smoke curls up from the gilded Boshan furnace, and the scent of sandalwood is faint.
Empress Dowager Jiang sat on a large carved nanmu chair, wearing heavy makeup, a head full of pearls and jade, and dressed in a gorgeous gold satin palace dress. She had a smile on her lips and looked very interested.
She had already made plans for these beautiful girls: Xu Miaohua, the daughter of Duke of Wei, would be the Crown Princess, Song Minghui, the daughter of Marquis Wuding, would be the Lady of the Eastern Palace, and the other four noble ladies from aristocratic families would also be brought into the Eastern Palace.
The daughter of a minor official who was listed as an extra person, Yang, was a "gift" she prepared for the emperor, and was to be conferred the title of noble lady.
Since she took the throne of Queen Mother, the Jiang family has become more and more reckless, occupying people's land, abusing their power, bullying men and women, and doing all kinds of evil.
The previous emperor, Yongshun, was kind and gentle, and was tolerant of his relatives by marriage. However, the new emperor, Xiao Ke, was ruthless and impartial. At the beginning of his reign, he severely punished the lawless elements of the Jiang family, either stripping them of their titles and dismissing them from office, or beheading them in public.
After this incident, Queen Mother Jiang completely broke off relations with her second son, with whom she had no feelings to begin with.
More than a decade later, although Queen Mother Jiang wanted to ease the relationship, she couldn't bring herself to do it, so she wanted to send a beautiful woman to test the situation.
Queen Mother Jiang had seen countless men and many beauties, but during the preliminary selection, she had a vague feeling that Yang Manyan could capture the emperor's heart.
Although she did not raise the emperor personally, he was born to her after ten months of pregnancy. It is true that no one knows a child better than his mother.
As the time for the re-election approached, the prince hurried over and saluted in a dignified manner: "Grandmother, I hope you will forgive me for being late."
"Qiang'er, please don't be polite. You've arrived just in time." Queen Mother Jiang smiled kindly and ordered her attendants, "Hurry up and give the prince a seat."
Yang Manyan's heart moved slightly, and he secretly looked up.
The man was wearing a crimson purple round-necked brocade robe, a jade crown on his hair, and had a tall and thin figure with an extraordinarily handsome face. He was indeed as clear and outstanding as the rumors said, and as serene as a god.
But she knows her own limitations, so she remains calm.
Queen Mother Jiang took her grandson's hand and asked him about his well-being, from his diet to his daily life and studies, as if no one was around.
She had wanted to raise her eldest grandson by her side back then, but unfortunately the emperor refused to give in on this matter and insisted on raising the prince in the Qianqing Palace and educating him personally.
It was rare for grandparents and grandchildren to get together, so Queen Mother Jiang tried her best to play the role of a loving grandmother.
Xiao Yan answered patiently with a gentle smile on his handsome face.
After a while, Queen Mother Jiang remembered the beauties in the palace and signaled the palace servant to hand the list to the prince.
"Qian'er, do you still remember what the Queen Mother said?" She put down the teacup and hinted again.
Xiao Yan's eyes flickered as he looked up at the woman on the far left of the queue.
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