Chapter 16: Business as usual
As night fell, the atmosphere between the palaces became tense.
Today, all the palaces have paid their respects to the Empress Dowager. Except for Su Xiuyi who is under house arrest, everyone's nameplate will be presented to His Majesty by the people from the Jingshifang.
Tonight is the first time that His Majesty will flip the card after the new bride enters the palace.
Being one of the newlyweds to sleep with the emperor is considered a great honor.
Everyone is naturally looking forward to who will receive this flower.
But the feeling of expectation is different in each palace.
Some people saw His Majesty's true face in broad daylight and hoped to be favored with the heart of a young girl.
Some people know that they are not conspicuous and have a poor family background, so they will not be picked, so they wait to see who will win.
There is another type of people who have witnessed the tragic scene of Lu Cairen being beaten to death, and they are afraid of Your Majesty and dare not sleep with him. Naturally, this type of people hope that Your Majesty will not turn over someone else's card.
Soon, news came from the Changqing Palace that His Majesty had turned over the name card of Song Xiuyuan from the Roufu Palace.
The dust has settled, and the anticipation of everyone with different thoughts has finally come to an end.
Your Majesty flipping over Song Xiuyuan's card was a result that most concubines could have expected.
However, His Majesty seemed to be unhappy about the concubine entering the emperor's bedroom, Changyang Palace, and just like Concubine Jia did yesterday, he went to Song Xiuyuan's palace in person.
Su Xiuyi was under house arrest, and among the new people who could serve in the palace, Song Xiuyuan had the highest rank.
The Song family has produced many capable officials who have devoted themselves to the country of Daye. Your Majesty must of course give face to the Song family.
Thinking of this, many people secretly envied Song Xiuyuan's family background.
The news that Song Xiuyuan was chosen also reached Empress Dowager Xue's Wanshou Palace.
The Queen Mother turned the Buddhist beads in her hand, with contempt and dissatisfaction flashing in her eyes.
"The first chance for the newlyweds to sleep with the emperor should have fallen on Su Xiuyi, but the emperor confined her to the emperor's room, giving the opportunity to Song's maid."
Nanny Xia stood respectfully to the Empress Dowager's right and said, "Your Majesty's turning over Song Xiuyuan's name card shows that he has a clear mind and is not favoring concubines based on his own will. I believe those of lower status should also know their place. Before Su Xiuyi sleeps with you, they should not harbor any delusions of competing for favor. In this palace, family background has always been the key, and your Majesty's favor must also be based on family background."
Empress Dowager Xue felt relieved after hearing this. She closed her eyes and smiled. "The Emperor knows the importance of the Song family, and naturally understands that aristocratic families are more important to him. It is his duty to pamper the daughters of aristocratic families. The future empress must come from an aristocratic family."
After saying this, Empress Dowager Xue opened her eyes and asked, "Have you received any letter from my family? What has Ning'er been doing recently?"
Nanny Xia: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. The letter says that the Third Young Miss has completed the entire 'Essentials of Political Views' and has recently been improving her chess and zither skills."
Queen Mother Xue showed a relieved and loving smile.
"As expected of a daughter of the Xue family, she strives to be the best in everything. Ning'er's chess and piano skills are already among the best among the girls of aristocratic families, and she never slacks off. However, as a queen, one should be more strict with oneself."
Nanny Xia: "Yes, the Third Miss is so dazzling, she was born to be a dragon and phoenix among men."
Although Empress Dowager Xue said that the queen should be chosen from girls from aristocratic families, the only candidate in her mind was her brother's daughter, her niece Xue Ning.
Although Su Xiuyi is from the Su family and is very close to the Xue family, she is not a member of the family after all.
Moreover, in the heart of Empress Dowager Xue, no one can compare to Xue Ning.
Xue Ning is a true noble lady from an aristocratic family, and she has been trained since she was a child.
The Xue family trained her in all aspects, not only in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs, but also in political theory and economics, which was much better than that of ordinary noble ladies.
This is why Xue Ning did not enter the palace during the selection this time.
Empress Dowager Xue disdained to let her enter the palace through a selection like ordinary concubines. She wanted to let Xue Ning enter the palace in a grand manner through formal engagement.
At this moment, Song Wanyan of Roufu Palace was ready to receive the emperor.
Although she said she was prepared, she actually didn't prepare anything. Song Wanyan was very calm.
She knew very well that the sign His Majesty was referring not to her, Song Xiuyuan, but to the Song family.
This is good. She entered the palace because the Song family wanted to show their loyalty to the new emperor.
The Song family was willing to do so, and His Majesty also accepted the offer and gave her the honor of being the first to serve in the emperor's bedchamber.
Win-win.
but...
Song Wanyan still felt a little depressed.
There are many people from the Song family who serve as officials in the court. Even if Your Majesty was unknown in the past, many people in the family have seen him.
Before His Majesty ascended the throne, the elders of the Song family called together the women of marriageable age and tried their best to describe to them how handsome His Majesty was and how outstanding his temperament was.
She ignored the sisters' disdain when she heard them wavering.
However, she was the one chosen to enter the palace in the end.
That day, Song Wanyan went to the Song family study, and her uncle and father explained to her that -
The daughters of the Song family entered the palace not as concubines but as ministers.
This is an errand.
Being obsessed with your boss's beauty will not only fail to do your job well, but will also hurt yourself.
This is absolutely unacceptable.
"Song Xiuyuan, what are you thinking about?"
A slightly cold voice suddenly sounded, and Song Wanyan quickly came back to her senses.
At this moment, the emperor with handsome appearance and extraordinary temperament was standing in front of her, looking at her with his eyes lowered.
Song Wanyan quickly saluted.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you! I was so overjoyed that I was a little lost in thought because of your coming."
"Get up." Xiao Chenglan glanced at her and ignored her fake-sounding explanation. He walked straight to the chair in the hall and sat down.
Song Wanyan stood up and followed him, looking at his tall back.
It’s not that she doesn’t like handsomeness, His Majesty is indeed worthy of the word handsome, but she feels that her aura is a little incompatible with His Majesty’s.
In her opinion, the fact that a prince who could be considered an abandoned child could ascend to the throne must have unfathomable scheming and methods.
She doesn't like dealing with people who appear gentle but are actually scheming. She likes the kind of fool like her fifth sister who means what she says and it's easy to get along with her.
"Please sit down." Xiao Chenglan said.
Song Xiuyuan sat down opposite him.
"How is Old Master Song's health these days?" Xiao Chenglan asked.
Grand Tutor Song, Song Wanyan's grandfather, had long since retired and was recuperating at home. However, whenever the late emperor encountered political difficulties, he would personally write to Grand Tutor Song for advice. Grand Tutor Song was highly respected.
"Your Majesty, before I entered the palace, I accompanied my grandfather fishing. He is in good health. Thank you for your concern."
"That's good. I deeply regret not having the opportunity to receive instruction from the old Grand Tutor. I only hope that the old Grand Tutor is in good health. I will visit him in person when I have time."
Song Wanyan said in panic, "Your Majesty is so busy with affairs of state that how could you possibly trouble yourself to come to the Song household? If Your Majesty is concerned about Grandfather, simply summon him to the palace."
Xiao Chenglan: "I'm not being polite. The Song family is a century-old clan, with many famous ministers and wise men who have dedicated themselves to the country of Daye. I respect the Song family very much."
His Majesty was expressing his opinion, and Song Wanyan also quickly expressed her opinion.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your kind words. The children of the Song family have been taught since childhood to be loyal to the emperor and love the people. In a family of wealth and prosperity, we must not shy away from important responsibilities, accepting advice from the emperor and working for the well-being of the people. Before I entered the palace, my grandfather and father also taught me to be a good consort and a good subject to your majesty."
The two men spoke some words of condolence and loyalty in a serious manner, as if they were doing their job properly.
After greeting several respected elders of the Song family, the hall fell silent for a while.
Song Wanyan realized that Xiao Chenglan had no intention of letting her sleep with him.
She felt a little surprised and suspicious.
Is he simply tired, or does he not want her to sleep with him?
So, Song Wanyan tentatively said, "Your Majesty, I am a little sleepy. Your Majesty has also been busy with state affairs all day. Why don't you... go to bed early?"
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