The Qing Dynasty's imperial concubine selection process is about to begin.
Under the careful tutelage of the nanny carefully chosen by Lin's father, Qingyin's talent was fully demonstrated. Within just a few days, everyone in the Lin family knew that the newly returned second young lady was not only a stunning beauty but also a remarkably intelligent person. They all vied to serve in Qingyin's courtyard, and the news spread far and wide. Unfortunately, those who had seen the second young lady before did not believe it at all, thinking that the Lin family was just trying to save face by pretending that the second young lady was also beautiful.
Enraged and brimming with confidence, Mr. Lin wished he could drag each of these self-proclaimed clever people in front of him to see the stunning beauty of his second daughter. However, reason prevailed, and he calmed himself down. They would know once his precious daughter became a well-known figure. His confident mood aroused the curiosity of his colleagues. They had all seen Mr. Lin's children, and they remembered how ugly his second daughter was at the full-moon celebration. Of course, they didn't believe that his second daughter was the source of his confidence. So, was his confidence in the preliminary selection due to his eldest and youngest daughters?
Lin's father took in the glances of his colleagues and looked at them with disdain. How could such fools know the truth? His second daughter was beautiful enough to be the emperor's favorite concubine. Heh, the thought that his second daughter could lift him up made him feel smug.
These days, Qingyin and Lin Chenke have been getting along well, mainly because Lin Chenke brings Qingyin her favorite flowers and gifts every day, making it hard for Qingyin to remain indifferent.
On the day the talent show came to pick up the participants, Lin Chenke clung to Qingyin's leg and cried miserably. Unfortunately, Qingyin had no choice but to leave. Aunt He forcibly carried away the tearful Lin Chenke and watched Qingyin get into the carriage with a reluctant expression.
To avoid trouble, Qingyin wore a veil. Since there were three people in the Lin family, the government used a relatively spacious carriage for convenience.
The three Lin sisters all boarded the same carriage.
This was the first time the three sisters had been so close together. The other two were a little embarrassed, but they kept glancing at Qingyin. The awkward atmosphere was noticeable to Zeng Li, who couldn't help but admire Qingyin's composure.
According to the selection criteria, each candidate could only bring one palace maid. After some consideration, Qingyin decided to bring Zeng Li along, since Zeng Li was more skilled in martial arts, and it was definitely not because she was a better cook.
The journey from Anqing County to the capital takes about five or six days, and with these pampered young ladies involved, it will probably be delayed by another two or three days.
Lin Mengya was probably the only experienced person on this journey. Due to special circumstances, she had postponed her participation in the next talent show, but she was well-prepared and brought everything she needed.
Even with all the things they brought, it couldn't compare to the swaying and rocking along the way. Before they even left Anqing County, the two young ladies were already exhausted, their faces as pale as paper. Only Qingyin was in good health and didn't show any weakness, but she was still somewhat tired. Lin Mengya asked her maid An Yue to bring out some green tangerines. The peeled tangerines emitted a unique fragrance, and the carriage seemed less suffocating.
"Hey, do you two want some?" Lin Mengya asked the two of them while holding a green tangerine in her hand, but her eyes were only on Qingyin.
Qingyin was somewhat surprised and looked at Lin Mengya.
The captivating beauty of her eyes made Lin Mengya's ears turn slightly red. Lin Mengya suddenly felt grateful to her mother. Fortunately, she was born to her mother, and when she was shy or nervous, her ears would turn red but her face would not. Otherwise, wouldn't she have embarrassed herself in front of her younger sister? And then there was her old rival, Lin Heyu.
"Thank you, elder sister."
Seeing Lin Mengya's bright red ears, Qingyin chuckled and took the green tangerine from her hand.
Watching this scene of sisterly affection, Lin Heyu glared fiercely at Lin Mengya, gritted her teeth, and took the green tangerine from Lin Mengya's hand. She refused the maid Hezhu's offer to peel it and began peeling it herself. The green tangerine was a premium one that Lin Mengya had specially bought; its skin was thin and its flesh thick. With a gentle peel, the plump, orange-yellow flesh was revealed, its sweet and sour aroma filling the entire carriage. Lin Heyu casually popped a segment into her mouth, chewing it as if it were the flesh of an old rival. However, the unique sweetness of the green tangerine quickly smoothed her furrowed brows and improved her pale complexion. The initial sourness followed by sweetness made the subsequent sweetness even more precious and delicious. In just a few seconds, half the tangerine was gone. Lin Heyu awkwardly glanced around, thankfully no one had noticed her rudeness. Otherwise, the Third Miss Lin, previously hailed as the most beautiful woman in Anqing County, would have been seen wolfing down a green tangerine.
Lin Mengya's attention was entirely focused on her stunning second sister's face, leaving her with no energy to spare for her old rival, her good third sister. The moment she received the orange, Qingyin removed her veil, revealing her breathtaking beauty and showcasing her unique charm. Qingyin's beautiful eyes secretly glanced at Lin Heyu, and seeing how much she enjoyed the orange, she knew it was delicious.
However, she didn't like the sticky feeling after peeling oranges, and there was no water to wash her hands in the carriage, so Zeng Li had to do it for her. Zeng Li peeled the oranges meticulously, even removing the white veins from the segments one by one. She was so fast and careful that she immediately outshone the maid in the carriage, and everyone was amazed by her unusually fast hand speed. Not only that, Zeng Li also found a smooth and beautiful plate, arranged the oranges in a pretty way, and stuck a toothpick-like wooden stick in the center. It looked both beautiful and delicious.
The action was swift and bizarre, instantly stunning everyone present, especially Lin Heyu, who had peeled the orange and stuffed it directly into her mouth. Since she had already done so, she could only quickly finish the orange in her hand to avoid being bothered, and used the remaining peel to cover her mouth and nose while watching Qingyin eat the orange.
Qingyin ate the oranges quickly and gracefully, one segment at a time. Her red lips, stained with juice, looked even more luscious and alluring, making the voyeurs hesitant to look. They couldn't bear to look away, so they kept stealing glances, just like before, before turning their heads away. Zeng Li was speechless. She was so concerned about saving face. Anyway, she had always been open and aboveboard when she looked at Arou.
No longer glancing at the people peeking, Zeng Li focused all her attention on Qing Yin. Ah, Miss is so beautiful! Even just eating an orange is stunning. She must stay by Miss's side for life. Zeng Li looked at Qing Yin with starry eyes and silently murmured to herself.
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