A slender hand parted the carriage curtain, and the maids who were welcoming guests at the palace gate were momentarily stunned. The beautiful woman who stepped out of the carriage was like a fairy princess. Everyone couldn't help but sigh in their hearts that there was such a beautiful woman in the world. Although she could not compare to Consort Rong, she was still a rare beauty.
The head maid was the first to react and said with a smile, "This young lady is truly a beauty. Line up here and we'll go into the palace together later."
Zhao Xueqing's head ached from the jolting of the carriage, and the bright sun made her even paler. Only when she landed did she feel the solid ground. With a calm heart, she said politely, "Thank you, Granny."
When they arrived at the line of candidates for the imperial concubine selection, everyone's expression changed upon seeing her. This woman, with her outstanding temperament and exceptional beauty, was like a celestial goddess, radiating brilliance wherever she went, her every step graceful and elegant. Her arrival made the others look drab and pathetic, like fallen chickens.
The maids who were guiding the young women shook their heads inwardly, mourning for these women. Who would have thought that such promising talents, carefully nurtured by their families, would end up as mere extras? Truly, there are always people more capable than you, and there is always something beyond your understanding.
Soon, the matrons organized the candidates for the imperial concubine selection to be eliminated one by one, from hair, eyes, teeth, eyebrows to body height, weight, body odor, and whether they were virgins.
The first seven rounds were passed in this way, reducing the number of people from over a thousand to less than two hundred. Those who remained had to undergo a month of training and assessment, and in the end, only fifty people were left.
These fifty people were the final selections, personally chosen by the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Those selected were retained and given a plaque, while the rest were dismissed and sent home.
Undoubtedly, Zhao Xueqi passed the first seven tests. In addition to her, the third young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion, her half-sister Zhao Xueqing, also successfully entered the eighth test.
Fewer than two hundred women survived the seventh round of selection. These women shared rooms in groups of four and participated in training with their instructors.
Zhao Xueqi shared a room with Dong Yihua, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an, Huang Lilu, the legitimate daughter of General Huang, and Zhao Xueqing, the illegitimate daughter of the Prime Minister.
This is not surprising, as, apart from Zhao Xueqing, these are all popular candidates for the Seventh Prince's principal wife, all of whom come from noble families. The Minister of Revenue is a first-rank official, the Marquis of Yongning holds a marquisate, a general is a second-rank official, and the prime minister is a first-rank official—all are quite powerful.
After a long day of travel, everyone was exhausted and fell asleep quickly after settling into their accommodations.
Except for one person, Zhao Xueqing, the third young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion. At this moment, she was pretending to be asleep, but she was already having a conversation with the system in her mind.
Zhao Xueqing: System, what's going on with this Zhao Xueqi?
System: Host, don't worry. In the original storyline, Zhao Xueqi only relied on her parents and brothers. Now that she has lost those supporters, she will likely be eliminated in this talent show and become cannon fodder.
Zhao Xueqi: Are you kidding me?
System: Okay, I don't know either, host. Let's just focus on absorbing the luck and earning points. We suffered a huge loss last time.
Zhao Xueqing: You still say that? It's because that medicine is completely ineffective. The Seventh Prince Zhou Changling didn't have any Chinese medicine at all.
The system has no good solution either. It's just a wild system that absorbs luck but doesn't have any real ability. We've already said that this is a lucky one, not the supporting characters or cannon fodder we used to see. He possesses luck, so it's hard for us to outmaneuver him.
Zhao Xueqing: What should I do? Zhou Changling has already seen through my scheme and has already abandoned me. If it weren't for my father, I might have died with you.
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