The cruelty within the palace is far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Beautiful flowers bloom in succession, only to wither and fade away, falling to the ground and being forgotten. Only a few can remain until the end, becoming permanent flowers in the palace.
Inside the palace, a bustling and prosperous scene unfolded. Countless young women dressed in red and green gathered together, chatting and laughing. Each face radiated youthful smiles, exuding vigor and filled with longing for the future.
They were all daughters of outstanding ministers, selected through rigorous processes. Their youthful beauty and captivating looks were their greatest assets.
A young woman dressed in a light blue dress had a plain face and only two simple silver hairpins stuck in her hair. Her simple and clean attire made her stand out among the young women. Her face was charming and delicate, and she had an air of fragility about her. She could not be considered a great beauty, but she was a woman who evoked pity.
Not far away, a woman in a bright red dress looked disdainful, as if she couldn't stand the woman in green, but she didn't go forward to provoke her.
Years ago, Consort Xian had established a rule that the young ladies-in-waiting were not allowed to quarrel or argue; if a quarrel broke out, both parties would be expelled from the selection process. Having finally overcome numerous obstacles to reach this point, how could they give up everything because of a moment of anger?
The young woman in green, unaware of the stares of others, huddled in a corner, her innocent, doe-like eyes darting around, her gaze lowered to conceal the disappointment and inferiority within. She was merely the daughter of a minor county official; being selected for the imperial concubine selection was already an immense blessing. She wondered if she would succeed in entering the palace.
If she doesn't enter the palace, her father will probably give her to his superior as a concubine. That superior has many wives and concubines, and corpses are carried out of his mansion every few days, showing his violent nature. How could she possibly survive? She can only hope that heaven will be kind to her and that she can pass the imperial selection, even if it's just to have a place in the palace.
Before long, the young woman in green heard her name called and hurriedly joined the procession. Her heart was filled with fear and dread for the future. Head bowed, she dared not utter a word, standing below the stage with the other young women, awaiting the emperor's choice.
"Chu Wan, daughter of the county magistrate, aged fifteen." The shrill, unpleasant voice slowly began to sing. Upon hearing her name, Chu Wan shuddered and quickly took two steps forward, kneeling on the ground, her soft voice gentle and soothing.
"Chu Wan greets Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, and Your Highness the Noble Consort."
Emperor Liang Yuan, dressed in a golden dragon robe and wearing a jade crown, sat high on the dragon throne, one hand on his forehead, looking down at the group of young ladies below with a playful gaze.
Dressed in a bright red phoenix robe, the dignified and noble woman's hair was meticulously combed up, and the phoenix crown on her head jingled with her movements. The nine-tailed phoenix hairpin on her head further demonstrated her noble status.
My first impression of him was that he was noble and dignified. His face was covered by thick makeup, and I could only tell from his expression that he was unhappy and not very interested.
Bai Yiran was naturally unhappy. Over the years, although the Emperor respected her, his affection for her had dwindled, while he doted on other women, and their children were born one after another. Apart from her status as Empress, she had no children and no favor, and was practically penniless.
In his spare time, sitting in front of the mirror, he can see the fine lines at the corners of his eyes. Time waits for no one, and this is a reminder that he is approaching thirty.
These young and delicate beauties will all be his rivals in love in the future, and will steal his little bit of favor. How can he be happy?
Neither the emperor nor the empress spoke, and the atmosphere became tense for a moment. Chu Wan was even more frightened, clenching her hands tightly, not knowing what to do.
"Get up, raise your head and let me and the Emperor see you." A clear, deep female voice slowly sounded, her tone gentle, as if a warm current had entered Chu Wan's heart, easing his fear and panic somewhat.
Chu Wan clenched her fists tightly, trying to keep her expression calm. She raised her head slightly, looking at the ground, not daring to look directly at the emperor's face.
"She has a very pretty face and seems to be a gentle and lovely girl. I wonder what Your Majesty thinks?" Wuyou asked with a smile in her eyes and a gentle tone, tilting her head slightly to look at Emperor Liang Yuan.
"Heh." Bai Yiran let out a light, ambiguous laugh, filled with disdain. This man's looks couldn't compare to hers in the slightest; he posed no threat, and she wouldn't bother with him.
"Since Consort Xian thinks it's good, then let's keep the nameplate." Emperor Liang Yuan felt indifferent. Such a delicate and pretty face was nothing more than plain porridge and side dishes to him, but it wouldn't hurt to try something new once in a while.
She couldn't help but wave to the eunuch beside her, who immediately and cleverly announced again, "Chu Wan, leave your nameplate."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, and Your Highness the Imperial Concubine." Chu Wan was overjoyed and deeply grateful to Wuyou. She immediately kowtowed in thanks.
She heard everything the three people on the roof said clearly. She had thought it was hopeless, but because of the Imperial Concubine's words, her feelings for Wuyou rose to their peak. Chu Wan made up her mind that she would definitely repay the Imperial Concubine in the future.
The subsequent selection process proceeded smoothly, choosing several promising young women, leaving only the final batch, which was also the highlight. This last batch of women came from noble families, mostly children of high-ranking officials, and were of exceptional beauty and temperament.
"Su Yun, the eldest daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites, is sixteen years old." Upon hearing this name, Wuyou sat up slightly and looked down at the woman in light blue who was kneeling gracefully. Every move she made was elegant and graceful, and even the strictest nanny could not find a fault with her.
"Su Yun pays respects to the Empress, the Emperor, and the Imperial Concubine."
Su Yun's slender figure and the faint scholarly air she exuded were indeed to Emperor Liang Yuan's liking. She showed a rare interest, straightening her posture slightly. She spoke softly, "Raise your head and let me see you."
Su Yun raised her head, her features exquisitely beautiful, her appearance refined and ethereal. Her rosy lips were slightly upturned, carrying a hint of a smile. Her flowing hair cascaded down, adding to her delicate beauty, while the jade hairpin tucked diagonally into her hair added a touch of glamour, making her a truly peerless beauty.
Wuyou turned her head and saw that both of them were staring at her intently. One had a dazed look in her eyes, with a hint of nostalgia and longing, while the other's face was distorted, her eyes wide with shock, which then turned into a murderous glare, as if she wanted to devour Su Yun alive.
There's no other reason than that Su Yun's appearance is too similar to Bai Yiran's. When Su Yun was at the peak of her beauty, she resembled Bai Yiran by about 50%, and with careful makeup, she probably resembled Bai Yiran by 80%.
Wuyou pinched a handkerchief to cover her mouth, coughed lightly, and said slowly, "This young lady's appearance looks somewhat familiar, don't you think, sister?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Yiran's lips trembled, and she glared fiercely at Wuyou, her tone harsh, "This young lady carries a foxy air about her, which may cause trouble. Let's just remove her from the list and let her marry someone else on her own."
Emperor Liang Yuan ignored the two people I mentioned and stared intently at Su Yun below, his tone gentle, "What are you good at?"
Bai Yiran's face turned pale when she saw that Bai had taken a liking to her.
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