Shu Chengfeng snorted: "No need to bother. Baiye Kingdom has already sent two beauties on their way. Although they are not princesses, they are still daughters of nobles from Baiye Kingdom. I will take one of them. Meng Haijiang also has one to be sent into the harem. Even if it's just to stabilize Meng Haijiang, I will still take her."
“Your Majesty, as the Empress, there are some things I must say. Today, I spoke with my mother, and she said that everyone in the harem comes from a noble family. Naturally, they also have bad tempers. Look at Consort Qu. She brought this upon herself, and it's no pity that she's dead. But if she weren't so fierce, she wouldn't have done such a thing. From Consort Ye to Consort Rong, and now Your Majesty's favorite Consort Mei, they all come from good families.”
"Looking at the temperaments of Consort Ye and Consort Chen, I naturally like their quick wit and outspokenness, but if everyone in the harem is like that, then... then there can be no harmony."
"Therefore, your concubine and the Empress Dowager's idea is to select a few women from ordinary families to serve Your Majesty. This will also help the royal family to have more offspring. Putting aside other considerations, even if their family background is not as good, their temperaments will always be better, right? This would reduce a lot of disputes."
Shu Chengfeng couldn't refute these words.
The first thing that came to mind was Consort Chen's fiery temper. Besides, the Empress's words were so sincere that he couldn't simply refuse outright.
"Forget it, the selection process is too much trouble. I'll just issue an order later to have a few selected and sent up. We can then choose a few and keep them. I'll be leaving in March, so there's no need to choose anyone too far away. Just have them sent up quickly so we can see if they're suitable and keep them. If not, we'll find them a good match and grant them a marriage."
The Empress readily agreed.
After returning, Shu Chengfeng sent a memorial to the prefects of several nearby places: Dingyuan City, Pengzhou, Minzhou Prefecture, and Chengzhou Prefecture.
Simply say that they are daughters of officials, and no more than five are allowed in any place. If they are not daughters of officials, then nieces, grandnieces, or great-granddaughters are all acceptable.
After all, you can't expect the daughters of officials to necessarily be good-looking.
That makes it much broader.
These cities aren't far away; a little over a month should be enough time.
It just so happens that the late emperor's eleventh son is about the right age.
Shu Chengfeng directly chose Song, the daughter of the Prefect of Song. The eleventh prince, Shu Pingfeng, was born to Consort Lin of the late emperor.
Having always maintained a good relationship with the Empress Dowager, Shu Pingfeng was one of the few younger brothers who consistently respected Shu Chengfeng.
A wedding should be a grand affair.
We would have to wait at least ten years for the late emperor's son to get married.
Therefore, this one has special significance and should always be celebrated with great pomp. He has already been granted the title of Prince Duan. This is far superior to the Third Prince's title of Prince Ping.
Therefore, some of the women sent from the local area were to be sent to the eleventh prince's harem.
Even the beauties of Baiye Kingdom were to be sent to him as his wife.
Speaking of the Third Prince, now that he is behaving himself, Shu Chengfeng naturally doesn't want the world to say that he mistreated his brother.
Therefore, two beauties should be sent in as well.
Then there are the other members of the imperial family. As long as the beauties sent from the provinces are not problematic, they are basically not sent back.
In early February, the two beauties sent by Baiye Kingdom arrived.
Shu Chengfeng made a token gesture and then set out a banquet.
The two beauties then sang and danced.
Although Shu Chengfeng didn't like this kind of food, it was their custom, so there was no reason for him to look down on them.
These two beauties were naturally chosen by the Queen after she ascended to the throne.
One was named Sangzhi, and the other was named Wanluo.
The girl named Sang Zhi was clearly a member of the royal family of Baiye Kingdom. She was also very beautiful, though not quite like Consort Wan Shu from back then, but she still had deep-set features.
Wanluo is even more beautiful. She is just the daughter of an official, but if we're only talking about looks, she wins hands down.
Originally, Shu Chengfeng wanted to keep one, but the Empress Dowager said she liked both.
Now that I've said that, it wouldn't be appropriate to say I'd give it away.
So they both stayed and were given official positions on the spot.
Sang Zhi was granted the title of Jieyu, and Wan Luo was granted the title of Cairen.
Sang Zhi lives in Yin Yue Xuan, and Wan Luo lives in Yi Yu Ge.
I thought that Sang Zhi would at least get the rank of San Yi San Rong, but she only got the rank of Jie Yu.
It's unclear what will happen next. Right now, most of the women in the harem are green with envy. These two are so beautiful; they're likely to steal most of His Majesty's heart.
Before it was time for the new concubines to serve the emperor, Shu Chengfeng stayed overnight at the empress's residence.
The Ministry of Rites gave the date as the eighth day of the third month for departure. So Shu Chengfeng had already told the Empress.
The Empress is also making arrangements, but she doesn't know who to ask him to take with him.
"Since we'll be gone for a long time, it's best to make appropriate arrangements," the Empress said. "How about having Consort Wen serve them? Consort An is also quiet and sensible. As for the two new sisters, does His Majesty wish to take care of them?"
"No need," Shu Chengfeng said. "I will take Consort Chen with me. Consort Wen has a child, so she doesn't need to go. Consort An and Consort Song can accompany her."
"Yes, then I will tell Consort Chen and the others to make preparations." The Empress thought to herself, "His Majesty is not mentioning Consort Mei at all?"
Consort Chen is truly favored these days.
Yan Nangui wasn't too surprised to hear the news. Let him go if he wants; it's too late to be afraid of becoming a target now.
"Get ready. All four of you will come with Jiangxiang. Tell Baiwei to come too. Tell the eunuch Shuanzi to come with you. See who you need and have him choose. You can discuss how many palace maids you need. It will be cold there in March, so bring plenty of warm clothes for everyone."
"Bring some good things with you. His Majesty is going on an inspection tour, which will also display the majesty of the emperor. You are my close confidants, so you can't lose face."
"Yes, we understand," Jiangxiang said with a smile.
Anyway, they don't lack these things.
"Now that His Majesty has kept these two from Baiye Kingdom, I wonder how many more beauties will be sent up from below in the future. The harem will be lively again," Chanyi said.
"The harem is always lively." Yan Nangui smiled, not particularly concerned. "Presumably, these two sent from Baiye Kingdom are honest people. Sangluo wouldn't send anyone who's courting death."
She must feel only gratitude towards Shu Chengfeng.
The next day, when they paid their respects at Fengxiang Palace, both beauties were indeed very well-behaved.
The Empress smiled and said, "My two younger sisters have learned the rules very well."
"Your Majesty the Empress, Her Majesty the Queen instructed her attendants to teach us that the Dayan Imperial Palace has many rules, and we must abide by them," Consort Sang said frankly.
Their queen was once a concubine of the Dayan Dynasty, which is an honor.
The Empress smiled and asked, "How is Consort Shu?"
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Queen is well. She asked me to convey her greetings to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and all the other ladies-in-waiting," said Consort Sang.
"Good, now that you're here, it's like coming home. Don't be shy in the future. Just serve His Majesty well, get along well with your sisters, and produce offspring for His Majesty."
"Your Majesty, we are grateful for your teachings and thank you for your guidance." The two knelt down and solemnly performed the grand ceremony.
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