The young women were housed in the palace to await selection.
Xiao Qingyin learned from the whispering palace servants that Princess Xilin usually lived in this palace, but due to the need for the imperial concubine selection, she vacated her usual courtyard and moved to the northernmost part of the palace.
This has both advantages and disadvantages for her.
The advantage is that it makes it easier to get close to Princess Xilin and find the dzi bead.
The downside is that since they are not in the capital, it is difficult to find out news about Fu Junshi.
But since we're already here, let's make the best of it, settle down and take it one step at a time.
On her first night in the palace, being unfamiliar with the place, she did not act rashly. Like the other young ladies-in-waiting, she ate dinner, washed up, and went to bed early.
The next day, a palace maid delivered a set of clothes, saying that all the candidates for the imperial concubines should wear the same clothes.
This is a very loose, moon-white robe, embroidered with flowers, plants, birds and animals unique to the North, as well as some symbols that Xiao Qingyin couldn't understand, giving it a rather mysterious feel.
She couldn't help but think of the Southern Dan Holy Sect, and inexplicably felt that the robe was a bit of an eyesore.
Upon receiving it, she immediately realized that the robe had been tampered with.
But she didn't show any sign of anything amiss and obediently changed her clothes.
Afterwards, the palace attendants led her and all the other young ladies-in-waiting to the largest palace in the imperial palace.
Everyone lined up in a long queue. After about fifteen minutes, an elderly man walked in, with a reindeer skull on his head, long hair flowing down his back, wearing a black robe embroidered with a gold sun, several necklaces of agate, wolf teeth, and shells, and holding a scepter.
The old man had prominent brow bones, deep-set eyes, a high nose with a tip that curved like an eagle's beak.
He had a stern face, his lips drooping downwards, and he looked very unapproachable.
Xiao Qingyin immediately knew who this was.
The shaman Wuli of Xilin Kingdom.
He was like a national advisor.
Wu Li stopped at the very front of the palace, glanced expressionlessly at the assembled women, and said indifferently, "Let's begin."
As soon as the sound faded, a palace maid brought in a basin of water and walked to the girl at the front of the line, asking her to put her hands in the water to soak.
After the candidate did this, the palace attendant went to the next candidate and asked her to repeat the previous candidate's actions.
About half an hour later, all the young ladies had soaked their hands.
During this time, Wu Li stood motionless, supporting himself with his scepter and half-lowering his eyes.
After the young women finished soaking their hands, he raised his head and said in a detached tone, "The gods have chosen ninety-nine people, those whose hands will turn blue. From this day forward, you will fast for nine days to purify yourselves in order to serve the gods."
The young women immediately looked down at their hands, and those whose hands had turned blue paled.
Those whose colors hadn't changed couldn't help but show a hint of joy.
Xiao Qingyin was completely numb.
I've seen outrageous things, but I've never seen anything this outrageous. What kind of talent show is this?!
Using tricks she's long since tired of to impersonate a deity—are the people of Xilin really that easy to fool?
As it turns out, they were indeed quite easy to fool.
Apart from her, none of the other women in the imperial harem showed any doubt.
Whether they were selected or not, they accepted their fate with equanimity.
After Wu Li left, those who were not chosen were taken back to their rooms, but they could not leave for the time being, as they were told they could only leave after the investiture ceremony.
Those who were selected stayed to listen to some precautions regarding fasting.
Xiao Qingyin was among the ninety-nine people selected.
Her face turned green when she heard the words "Bigu" (a traditional Chinese fasting practice).
They won't even give him food. Is Yelü Zheng so poor that he can't afford to support his concubine?
If you can't afford to raise them, don't choose so many.
He is seriously ill.
All day long, they were required to sit in meditation in the hall, and were not given anything to eat except tea.
Everyone's stomachs were growling with hunger.
Those with weaker constitutions have already started to feel dizzy.
They were only allowed to return to their rooms to rest after nightfall.
The rooms have been rearranged; two people share a room, and the extra person has a room to themselves.
Xiao Qingyin used some tricks to make herself the lucky one who got a private room.
To conserve her energy, she went to bed early and waited until late at night before getting out of bed, sneaking out the window, and following the aroma to find the kitchen.
Just as I was about to reach my destination, someone suddenly tapped me on the shoulder.
She was horrified and almost wanted to give that person a packet of powder.
Fortunately, the other party spoke up first: "It's me."
It is Yi Shui Han.
Xiao Qingyin breathed a sigh of relief.
How did you get in?
After Yi Shuihan escorted the young ladies to the palace with Yelü Ang, they camped on the west side of the palace, where a large-scale construction project seemed to be underway.
I came to see you.
Yi Shuihan whispered in her ear.
What are you doing?
"Looking for food."
"?"
After listening to her explanation, Yi Shuihan frowned.
"This doesn't look like a talent show for girls."
Xiao Qingyin nodded: "It certainly doesn't look like it. What's being built next to the palace?"
"Altar".
Xiao Qingyin was taken aback.
"Why build this?"
"In the past two years, Xilin Kingdom has suffered defeats in war and natural disasters. Yelü Zheng feels that the country's fortune is in trouble and wants to build a shrine to pray for blessings."
Xiao Qingyin: "..."
If they spend money building altars but don't help the people, it's no wonder the country's fortunes are not good.
She stroked her chin thoughtfully, "Could it be that the selection of imperial concubines is for them to perform blessing dances?"
No wonder they chose people from small tribes rather than nobles.
"Possibly."
Yi Shuihan replied.
"However, the altar has not yet been built, and the blessing ceremony has not been announced."
As they spoke, the two walked to the edge of the kitchen.
The kitchen was lit up, and through the open window, you could see that it was a large space with a wide variety of dishes.
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