At this moment, Yuan Huai's heart jumped into his throat. He rushed over as fast as he could and barely caught the jade pendant.
However, before he could breathe a sigh of relief, his vision blurred and when he looked again, the jade pendant in his hand had disappeared!
Wu Qi took the jade pendant in his hand and tossed it up and down, making Yuan Huai's heart go up and down as well.
"What's going on with this piece of jade? It actually glows?"
Yuan Huai looked at Wu Qi with an expression that was hard to describe. There were so many women in front of him, including some with outstanding looks and beautiful faces, but none of them could make Yu Jue react at all. However, this ugly woman made Yu Jue shine!
She is obviously the person His Majesty is looking for.
Looking at her dignified appearance, Yuan Huai couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for the emperor. Facing such a face, it would probably be difficult to bring oneself to eat, right?
However, he is only responsible for bringing back those who meet the requirements. Others are not within his consideration.
"Miss, this jade pendant is a magical instrument refined by the Imperial Master. If someone with a special physique touches it, the jade pendant will emit light. Your physique is water, so the jade pendant emits a dark light. This means that you meet the requirements to become a sacrificial girl. If there is no other person who meets the requirements, then you will be the sacrificial girl."
Wu Qi stopped throwing the jade pendant and asked, "Really?"
Yuan Huai nodded, "Really? Please return the jade pendant to me, young lady."
Thinking that he would have to deal with this person in the future, Wu Qi handed the jade pendant over. After all, it was just a piece of glowing jade pendant, nothing special.
Holding the jade pendant in his hand again, Yuan Huai finally felt relieved.
"What's your name, young lady?"
"My name is Wu Qi. Am I a candidate for the Sacrificial Daughter now?"
Yuan Huai: “…Not bad.”
"Then go get me something to eat. I'm hungry." Wu Qi rubbed her stomach. Everything she bought here required money, and she didn't have a single penny on her. If it weren't for the money, she wouldn't have come to choose this priestess.
It was the first time that Yuan Huai met someone who spoke to him so rudely. Even in the palace, he, Eunuch Yuan, was a top figure wherever he went. Who would not give him some face when they met him?
Outside the palace, he was treated with great respect. Even though the officials looked down on him, they were afraid that he would humiliate them in front of the emperor after he returned, so they all treated him with great respect.
This ugly woman treated him like a servant at home, but Yuan Huai strangely did not feel offended. Instead, he felt a sense of novelty.
Well, considering that she is the candidate for the spiritual practice, I will just go along with her.
Yuan Huai sent for food, and Wu Qi sat down to eat. She ate with no womanly reserve or grace, and even couldn't use her chopsticks properly, ultimately eating with her bare hands.
Yuan Huai was simply disgusted. Where on earth did this ugly woman come from? Could she be a wild person living in the deep mountains and forests?
It was just this kind of woman who made Yu Jue shine.
After sitting behind the table for the entire morning, Yuan Huai didn't see anyone else except Wu Qi who could make the jade pendant shine.
Isn't it said that Fengchi is a land of outstanding people and beautiful women? Up to now, he hasn't seen many good-looking people. Where are all those beauties? Where have they gone?
A plump eunuch from the Flower and Bird Envoys approached him and said, "Sir, most of the women who came here before were from commoner families. The daughters of truly wealthy families are usually kept in seclusion and rarely come out to see the public. Aside from the requirement to see His Majesty, the other two conditions in the notice probably wouldn't be very appealing to them."
Yuan Huai glanced at him and said, "Then tell me, how can we lure them out?"
It sounds glorious for these flower and bird envoys to come to the people to search for beauties for His Majesty, but they have to strike a balance. If their methods are too drastic and cause strong resistance from the local people, it is not certain whether they can leave the entire state.
Even if they finally get out safely, the news will be reported back to the capital and reported to the old stubborn people in the court. At that time, the emperor will not speak for them, but will most likely push them out as scapegoats.
Before he came out, his godfather repeatedly warned him not to take himself too seriously. If he relied on the little power in his hands to do whatever he wanted, he would not know how he died.
So even when Yuan Huai was ordered to go out on a mission, he did not raise his chin to the sky and look down on others.
Instead, they always maintain the false illusion of harmony with local officials, where everyone is happy.
The round eunuch was called Wu Fei, the one bribed by Concubine Ying. He revealed the whole plan he had prepared long ago.
His idea was simple, but it was actually derived from the method of sacrificing a maiden.
“Tomorrow, on the Shangsi Festival, all the young ladies from wealthy families and common people will come out to play. When the sacrificial ceremony is held for the female deity, we will lead those women to us in the name of blessing them.
"If someone could make the jade pendant glow, wouldn't that be a sign of the river god's blessing to those who don't know the truth? If the jade pendant doesn't react, then it can only be said that they themselves are unlucky, and no one would suspect us."
After all, their purpose is to find qualified candidates for the ceremony of collecting essences. Whether it is selecting sacrificial maidens or bestowing blessings, these are just means for them to achieve their goals.
Yuan Huai looked at Wu Fei with some surprise. He didn't expect that Wu Fei was so capable.
Yes, if you don’t have some skills, you can’t get such a lucrative job as a flower and bird keeper, right?
"Okay, let's do it."
*
March 3rd is also known as Girls' Day because it is the day when girls have their coming-of-age ceremony. After the ceremony, it means that the girl has reached adulthood and can be engaged.
However, girls do not necessarily have to have the coming-of-age ceremony at the age of fifteen. They can be between fifteen and twenty years old, depending on the specific circumstances.
At this time, the Xue family was holding a coming-of-age ceremony for Xue Huan.
At this time last year, Xue's father had an accident and Xue's mother was immersed in grief, so she neglected her daughter's coming-of-age ceremony. She blamed herself very much for this, so she decided to hold a good coming-of-age ceremony for her daughter this year.
Madam Qiao had received a letter of resignation from Xue's mother three days ago, inviting her to be the main guest at her daughter's coming-of-age ceremony.
"I have a daughter named Huan, who will soon reach the age of marriage. I hope my daughter will teach her."
The main guest is usually a talented and virtuous female elder of the person who has reached the age of 15. Madam Qiao did not expect to be invited. She felt happy and honored and came early on this day.
In the room, Xue Jun came to the dressing table with a tray. Xue Huan was sitting on a stool, wearing only a snow-white undergarment, putting on makeup in front of the mirror.
Although her makeup is only half done, she is already so beautiful that people can't take their eyes off her.
Xue Jun stood aside holding a tray, looking at his sister without blinking, his eyes full of admiration.
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