The atmosphere suddenly became cold.
It was visible to the naked eye that the king sitting on the dragon throne was angry.
Far from being afraid, Lord Xu looked at Shen Jiayan and said, "Lord Shen, expanding one's family is a very important matter, right?"
Shen Jiarui was confused.
Knowing that speaking in court could easily cause trouble, Shen Jiarui simply shut up and waited for Shen Jiayan to resolve the issue.
Shen Jiayan turned his head and looked at Mr. Xu with a smile.
Wow, so cunning.
If he answered "yes", the officials would ask him to persuade the emperor to take a concubine.
If he answered "no", those officials would probably be sarcastic, saying that the imperial concubine monopolized the emperor's favor and that the Shen family had ulterior motives...
"I believe that whether Your Majesty should take a concubine, when to take a concubine, and who to take as a concubine... these are all private matters for Your Majesty. I only need to do my part and share your worries. I do not need to interfere in other matters, and I must not overstep my bounds."
"Great! Yoshihiko is truly a pure minister!"
The emperor smiled faintly and spoke only of praise.
Lord Xu kowtowed and said, "The heir apparent is the very foundation of the nation. As a civil official, I should speak directly to the problem! I recognize my intention to usurp power."
Another civil official echoed this sentiment: "Your Majesty is in the prime of his life, and he should recruit talented people and expand his family."
These civil servants seemed to have united long ago and were determined to force the emperor to take a concubine.
The emperor sighed deeply, his face helpless: "I also want to take a concubine, but I have been betrayed so many times that it is really heartbreaking."
Lord Xu was immediately excited when he heard this: "The betrayal is a thing of the past, not worth mentioning. The emperor is a true dragon emperor, with unparalleled talent and beauty, and is deeply admired and loved by countless women."
[One by one, it's easy to talk without any pain in your back! You are not the one being cuckolded! ]
"Do you really think the tyrant godfather is just as obsessed with having children as you are? He has to review memorials, practice calligraphy and painting, and take care of the empress dowager..."
[From the imperial court to the harem, borders, and foreign kingdoms, the tyrant must keep an eye on everything and must find timely solutions. From the people's clothing, food, shelter, and farming, to the routes and prices of merchants' trade... there's a whole lot more!]
Su Qiqi began to speak up for the emperor.
The emperor feigned calmness. "Well, I trust in the judgment of all my dear ministers, and I will allow you to recommend suitable women to enter the palace. But..."
As he said this, he changed the subject: "If those women do something wrong in the future, I will be the first to settle accounts with you who recommended them!"
What does it mean to do something wrong?
It is wrong to collaborate with the enemy and commit treason, it is wrong to murder the imperial heir, and it is wrong to betray the emperor.
Similarly, not holding the teacup steady is a mistake, and not bowing and greeting is also a mistake.
Even picking a flower, speaking a word, or even stepping over the threshold with your left foot first can be considered a wrongdoing.
Right or wrong? It's just a word from someone in a higher position. Everyone understands this.
"Lord Xu, I remember your daughter is of the right age. Why does she want to come to the palace to accompany me? Have you taught her the rules? Can you make sure she doesn't make mistakes? I have a bad temper, so she won't make me angry, right?"
The emperor's five consecutive questions made Mr. Xu dare not answer for a while.
The emperor snorted coldly and looked at another civil servant in the hall: "Lord Xu, how about letting your eldest daughter enter the palace to accompany me? I will immediately make her Consort Jing and grant her residence in Ruiyun Palace."
"No, no, no... Your Majesty is joking."
Lord Xu was trembling with fear.
Ruiyun Palace, Concubine Jing...
That was someone whose entire clan was once exterminated...
The emperor, however, refused to give in, still speaking in a sarcastic tone: "Why, my dear, are you unhappy now? Or do you think your daughter despises me?"
Lord Xu gritted his teeth and said, "My little girl is rude and disrespectful. If she enters the palace, I'm afraid it will disturb the emperor's peace."
The emperor said, "That's all right. The maids in the palace have plenty of ways to teach her the rules. She just needs to suffer a little so she can learn her lesson."
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. My daughter...she has already been betrothed to someone else."
Lord Xu was so frightened that he broke out in cold sweats.
The emperor has said so much. If he forcibly sends his daughter to the palace, not only will he not gain any benefits, but his daughter will also be targeted and embarrassed, and he will not end up well either.
"emperor,"
At the very back, an inconspicuous civil servant stepped forward and knelt. "Your humble sister fell deeply in love with you at first sight. She does not seek a position, but only wishes to enter the palace and be by Your Majesty's side. Please give her a chance."
Perhaps fearing the emperor's refusal, the official added, "My younger sister is sixteen years old. She is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She has a gentle, quiet, and polite personality. She will definitely not displease the emperor."
The emperor held his forehead helplessly. These people were really just trying to make him unhappy!
"Your Majesty, your humble niece fell in love with you at first sight..."
"Your Majesty, my granddaughter has long admired you, and will not marry you..."
"Your Majesty, please order a selection to recruit talented people..."
It seems that everyone thinks that the former dynasty and the harem are closely connected.
If there is someone in the harem who can whisper in the emperor's ear, it would be easier for the former dynasty to do things.
After all, the most favored Concubine Ming had already placed her family members in the highest positions, so they also wanted to follow suit.
Those women were merely trained to compete for favor and power. What about nieces and adopted daughters? How much blood relationship and affection were there between them?
What about loving the emperor deeply, what about falling in love at first sight? It's just a matter of course to enter the palace.
There were many people kneeling in the hall.
The emperor said, "Do you really want to accompany me? If I refuse again, it would seem a bit unkind."
"Your Majesty is wise!" The civil servants mistakenly thought that the emperor was going to give in, and they were all very happy.
Sitting on the dragon throne, the emperor glanced at the crowd, then slowly spoke under their expectant gazes: "Then... all those who admire and respect me can register, then go to Chongming Temple and practice asceticism for three years with their hair uncut, chanting sutras and praying for me. After three years, you can enter the palace again. Only those I like can stay, and those I don't like can go back to where you came from."
As soon as the words fell, the officials were stunned for a moment, then they frowned and shook their heads, and began to discuss in low voices.
"Wearing hair to practice? What does that even mean?"
"Chongming Temple is warm in the summer and cool in the winter. The mountain roads are steep and the training is extremely arduous. Which girl can endure such hardships?"
"Even if she can survive three years, the delicate little girl will turn into a rough old woman!"
"If I don't find favor with the Emperor after three years, wouldn't all those three years of suffering be in vain?"
"Your Majesty, isn't this too harsh?"
The emperor slapped the table in front of him.
The dull sound silenced the officials and they dared not discuss any more.
"You keep saying those women love me deeply. If they do, why can't they untie their hair and practice virtuous practices to pray for me? If they can't even do such a simple thing, then the word 'deep love' is probably just a casual remark, right? Not only did those women deceive me, but you, the ministers, also deceived me!"
The emperor became angrier as he spoke, his face turned red, and his eyes were filled with anger that he was trying hard to suppress.
There was a hint of grievance in those words.
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