Wang Qiao'er slowly raised her head, revealing a delicate and charming face the size of a palm.
Xu Lejin gasped.
"Wang Qiao'er left the plaque and bestowed a sachet upon him."
...
Leaving a plaque and bestowing a sachet indicated that Wang Qiao'er was to enter the palace to serve.
Xu Lejin breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that her previous guess was no longer valid.
This year's imperial concubine selection will likely result in eight or nine out of ten marriages to members of the imperial family, regardless of whether they are from the Manchu or Mongolian banners; they will not be able to enter the palace.
After Wang Qiao'er, several more batches of imperial concubines were selected.
Among them were several outstanding individuals from scholarly families. Kangxi merely recorded their names for future appointments without granting them official titles or bestowing upon them sachets.
Time ticked by, and the imperial concubine selection was nearing its end. Just when Xu Lejin thought that only Wang Qiao'er would be chosen for the palace, Kangxi suddenly made a miraculous move.
“The Plain White Banner of the Han Army, Yuan Lu, daughter of the Yuan family, is seventeen years old.”
Daughter of the Yuan family?
Xu Lejin thought to herself that this Yuan was probably the daughter of an ordinary Manchu. Her elders, father and brothers did not hold official positions, which is why the eunuchs called her by her name instead of referring to her as the daughter of a certain official.
"Yuan Lu? A single meeting of the golden wind and jade dew surpasses countless encounters in the mortal world."
Emperor Kangxi said, "A good name."
Turning his head, Kangxi looked at Xu Lejin and asked, "What does my beloved consort think of this Yuan Lu?"
Xu Lejin's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Yuan Lu, who was kneeling gracefully outside. "Is she the Yuan family from the Wang, Xie, Yuan, and Xiao clans during the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties? 'Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, the dew is heavy.'"
"Your Majesty, I noticed that Yuan's clothes are embroidered with clouds and flowers; they are very beautiful."
Yuan Lu looked down, completely bewildered.
She replied respectfully, "Your Highness, my ancestors were from the Yuan family of Chen Commandery. I am ignorant and do not know whether my family is descended from the Yuan family of the Northern and Southern Dynasties."
Xu Lejin smiled and nodded to Kangxi.
“Yuan’s name is hereby recorded for future use.”
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