Watching the emperor's receding figure, Concubine Cheng felt a wave of despair and regret well up within her. She knew it was irreversible; her impulsive actions had not only harmed herself but also implicated her innocent family. She was consumed with remorse, but it was too late... Jiang Meiyu leisurely nibbled sunflower seeds, listening intently to Qiu Ling's story about Concubine Cheng. The crisp crackle of each seed as it was cracked became part of the story, entrancing her even more.
Jiang Meiyu couldn't help but lament the emperor's coldness and ruthlessness. She thought, "Concubine Cheng hasn't committed any serious offense! She simply sought the emperor's favor. With the emperor's brilliance, how could he fail to grasp her subtle intentions? Yet, he's actually ordered Concubine Cheng's entire family exiled, euphemistically calling it 'exile.' The journey is long and arduous, with many obstacles and dangers. They're likely to perish before they even reach their place of exile..."
Thinking of this, Jiang Meiyu secretly felt relieved. She decided to be extra cautious in front of the emperor in the future. If she was not careful, her head and body would be separated!
The emperor, however, knew something else: Concubine Cheng's actions were merely a stunt to curry his favor. However, there was a hidden agenda: Concubine Cheng's father had long been a subject of intense scrutiny. After a lengthy investigation, the emperor had uncovered irrefutable evidence of corruption, bribery, and other crimes. He had been waiting for the right moment to bring this corrupt official to justice, and Concubine Cheng had arrived.
"Yu'er, do you know how deeply I miss you? I think of you all the time..." The emperor walked into the inner hall of Yongning Palace, looking at Jiang Meiyu tenderly as he spoke. Jiang Meiyu bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty, may you be well. Thank you for your concern!" "No need for formalities. Get up quickly. From now on, these empty formalities will be omitted." The emperor, having just successfully punished a corrupt official, was in a particularly good mood. He smiled, his eyes sparkling, as if the entire world had become brighter because of this victory...
After the incident with Concubine Cheng, the concubines in each palace became cautious and did not dare to approach the emperor to curry favor and fawn on him. The palace gradually returned to peace...
However, tomorrow is the day for the Empress Dowager's selection! This news has the concubines all excited again, secretly calculating. They are looking forward to the arrival of a new batch of beauties. Perhaps this will divert the Emperor's exclusive favor from Jiang Meiyu? After all, new people always bring novelty and competition.
Meanwhile, within Kunning Palace, the Empress had her own plans. Realizing the Emperor's lack of favor towards her, she decided to use this selection to select a trusted confidant. If this selected woman successfully conceived a child, she could adopt the strategy of "discarding the mother and retaining the child," keeping the child by her side and personally supporting him on his ascension to the throne. This would allow the Empress to seize real power and become the true ruler.
The Queen silently pondered all this, a smug smile on her face. She believed that with proper planning, she would be in control of future power. So, she began actively helping the Queen Mother prepare for the selection, secretly observing each of the contestants, searching for the most suitable candidate.
The next morning, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was gentle. The grand selection ceremony was held in the imperial palace. Countless young and beautiful women gathered, eager to be chosen to enter the palace. The empress dowager personally presided over the selection, carefully examining each of the candidates.
After a thorough selection process, the Empress Dowager ultimately chose six concubines. The most striking of these was Gu Xiangling, whose stunning beauty captivated everyone at first sight. While the other concubines were relatively ordinary in appearance, their figures clearly offered advantages for fertility, a factor the Empress Dowager valued for the continuation of the royal bloodline.
Gu Xiangling was granted the title of Noble Lady for her exceptional beauty, a title that accorded her special status and privilege. The remaining women were granted the title of Beauties, marking their first steps into palace life. The Empress Dowager confidently entrusted the rest of the process to the Empress, confident that her wisdom and experience would ensure the proper handling of the affairs of these newcomers.
The empress looked at the woman named Gu Xiangling in front of her and saw that she had a beautiful face and outstanding temperament. So, the empress decided to place her in the palace where Concubine Cheng once lived - Yongfu Palace.
The Queen thought to herself, "When all the concubines come to pay their respects tomorrow, I will take this opportunity to teach this Concubine Gu a lesson, so that she will understand her position and responsibilities and serve me willingly." Thinking of this, the corners of the Queen's mouth rose slightly, revealing an imperceptible smile.
As the sun set in the evening, its afterglow shone across every corner of the palace. The emperor, in a cheerful mood, strode briskly towards Yongning Palace. He had arrived early to enjoy dinner with Jiang Meiyu. All unfinished memorials were to be sent to Yongning Palace for further review. Upon receiving the news, Aunt Xiubi quickly went to the imperial kitchen to convey her order, ordering the exquisite dishes to be delivered to Yongning Palace as soon as possible.
Soon, the table was laden with a variety of mouth-watering delicacies. Qiu Ping and Qiu Ling busily arranged the dishes, placing each one neatly. Meanwhile, the emperor was absorbed in processing unfinished memorials. He sat at his desk, meticulously reviewing each document, occasionally adding a few comments. Jiang Meiyu sat quietly nearby, needle and thread in hand, intently embroidering an exquisite purse. Embroidered on the purse was the Chinese character "Qin," clearly made specifically for the emperor.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com