Chapter 291 My harem has no shortage of men.
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up!
Huang Mian, no longer looking dejected, straightened his back.
Li Yuanzhao did not refuse. He looked around and glanced at the faces that were either expectant, nervous, or pretending to be calm.
Jue La Yun Dan, who was standing beside him, was already filled with jealousy. She reached out to grab Li Yuan Zhao's sleeve to "intercept" him, but Pei Huai Jin calmly held her wrist down.
Pei Huaijin leaned close to his ear and said, "Yun Dan, I've got some new storybooks. Come back to the palace with me, and I'll give them to you."
Jue La Yun Dan instantly understood Pei Huai Jin's meaning. Although she was still somewhat unwilling, she obediently withdrew her hand.
Li Yuanzhao's gaze slowly swept over the people in the front row, finally landing on the very back of the crowd.
The person who was dressed in white from beginning to end, and whose aloofness and indifference made him seem out of place with his surroundings, was Wang Yanzhi.
"Let's choose him."
Nobody expected this outcome!
Huang Mian stood frozen in place, as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
The others were also completely taken aback.
Even Wang Yanzhi himself was stunned. He looked up at Li Yuanzhao, not quite understanding what was happening.
Some exchanged knowing glances: See! Everyone said he dressed like that to play hard to get! It seems the Emperor really falls for that.
“This is Wang Yanzhi, the eldest son of Wang Qiao, the Prefect of Taiyuan.” Pei Huaijin’s gentle voice broke the silence, then reminded him, “Yanzhi, why don’t you step forward and thank the Emperor?”
Li Yuanzhao's gaze narrowed slightly as it fell upon the white figure.
So you're from the Wang family, no wonder you look like that.
Wang Yanzhi then came to his senses, slowly stepped out of the ranks, and knelt before the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
Li Yuanzhao said nothing more, turned around and went straight to the imperial carriage.
Pei Huaijin and Jue La Yundan also left.
Following the palace attendants' directions, Wang Yanzhi boarded a blue-curtained carriage that followed closely behind the imperial carriage.
Only after watching the imperial carriage slowly disappear into the distance did the crowd dare to huddle together and discuss in hushed tones.
"I never expected that His Majesty would like someone like Wang Yanzhi!" a concubine exclaimed in surprise. "He didn't say a word the whole time, just stood there with a cold face, dressed like he was in mourning. How did he catch His Majesty's eye?"
Huang Mian stood to the side with a gloomy expression, and upon hearing this, he let out a cold snort.
"That's their cunning! They deliberately dressed differently from us, putting on an aloof and superior air. The Emperor noticed them the moment he glanced at them, didn't he? We went to all that trouble to dress up, only to look inferior!"
Just then, a beautiful woman in the crowd spoke up in a low voice: "You don't know this, do you? The Emperor doesn't like him for these reasons."
"What?"
"Then why?"
A crowd immediately gathered around, their eyes filled with curiosity.
The beautiful woman looked around to make sure no one was watching before whispering, "You probably don't know, but before His Majesty ascended the throne, he had a very favored attendant who was always by his side. But this man was not satisfied and betrayed His Highness, joining Zheng Wenkai in a rebellion."
"And then what?"
"After Zheng Wenkai's defeat, His Majesty couldn't bear to kill him, but instead imprisoned him in the dungeon. Who knew that not long after, feeling he had let His Majesty down, he committed suicide in the dungeon..."
Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock.
"My God! Is this for real?"
"The Emperor is too infatuated! He's betrayed us, yet he still can't bear to kill us!"
"If this person hadn't joined the rebellion, he would probably be even more favored than the current Imperial Nobleman Chen, right?"
Huang Mian couldn't help but press, "Then what does this have to do with Wang Yanzhi?"
The man glanced in the direction Wang Yanzhi had left and said meaningfully, "That attendant's name is Chen Yanqing. The character 'Yan' in his name is the same as the one in Wang Yanzhi's name!"
"Moreover, I heard that the Emperor fell in love at first sight with that attendant Chen, dressed in white, on Zhuque Street, and then brought him back to the palace..."
"!!!" Everyone's eyes widened instantly, and an astonishing thought popped into their minds.
"You mean... when His Majesty saw Wang Yanzhi in white today, he was reminded of that close attendant?"
"So His Majesty is treating Wang Yanzhi as a substitute for Chen Yanqing?"
"That's right!" the beauty nodded firmly.
"Oh my god, so that's how it is..."
"Your Majesty is so pitiful. He gained the throne, but lost the one he loved most. He can only find traces of his beloved in others..."
The faces of the crowd were filled with shock and disbelief.
"No wonder the Emperor chose him..."
"Wang Yanzhi really got lucky."
Upon hearing this, Huang Mian's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and a smile even appeared on her lips.
"Whether it's good luck or bad luck, it's hard to say!"
Inside Qiushui Residence, the atmosphere was so suffocating it was almost unbearable.
Li Yuanzhao leaned back on the couch, casually twirling a jade pendant in his hand. He frowned as he looked at Wang Yanzhi, who stood motionless not far away.
"Your father sent you to the palace so that you could be my ornament?"
Her tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority, breaking the silence in the hall.
Today, among the group of people, everyone hoped for her mercy, but he was different.
She thought he was a sensible person, but after returning to the palace, he just stood there, motionless!
What a disappointment!
Wang Yanzhi took a deep breath and finally moved forward a few steps, getting a little closer.
Li Yuanzhao: "If I remember correctly, you failed the imperial examination this spring!"
Wang Yanzhi was surprised that she actually knew.
Because he failed the imperial examination this year, his father saw no hope for him to become an official, so he sent him to the imperial examination.
Although the Wang family is still a prominent family, it has long lost its former glory and urgently needs a "consort" to solidify its position.
But why would he agree?
He didn't pass this year, but he can try again next year.
He studied diligently for over ten years, hoping to pass the imperial examination with flying colors, enter the government as an official, and restore his family's reputation on his own.
Instead of being trapped in this deep palace, becoming someone who can only wait for the emperor's favor.
The father, however, pressured him with the idea of family responsibility and even threatened him with the future of his younger siblings.
Despite his reluctance, he could only suppress his inner turmoil, put on his fine clothes, and step into this magnificent cage.
At this moment, Li Yuanzhao pointed out the truth, and Wang Yanzhi felt his throat tighten. He managed to utter a few words with difficulty: "It is my incompetence that I failed to pass the exam."
Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying an unspeakable humiliation.
"Since you are incompetent, you should accept it." Li Yuanzhao's tone turned colder, his gaze falling on his tense profile. "Now that your father has sent you to the palace, you cannot refuse, yet you act aggrieved in front of me?"
Wang Yanzhi's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly knelt down on both knees, "Your subject dares not!"
Li Yuanzhao sneered, "Then put away your scholar's arrogance. Who are you trying to impress by giving me such attitude?"
These words struck Wang Yanzhi like a hammer blow, shattering his illusions.
He knew that he had already entered the palace and could not change his fate.
It was his duty to serve the emperor in bed, and he shouldn't have shown such resistance.
The honor and disgrace of the Wang family rest entirely on his shoulders. If he were to truly anger His Majesty, not only would he be in grave danger, but the entire Wang family might also suffer.
He crawled forward on his knees, his fingertips trembling slightly, as he tried to help her change her clothes.
Just as his fingertips were about to touch the jade belt, Li Yuanzhao stood up abruptly, avoiding his touch.
She looked down at him and said, "Since you are unwilling, I am not the kind of person who likes to force things."
Wang Yanzhi's hand froze in mid-air, and he looked up at her in astonishment.
Li Yuanzhao's icy voice rang out, "What my harem has in abundance is men."
After saying that, she didn't look at him again and left.
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