Chapter 70 Concubine Selection

The leading girl has an aloof temperament, but her clothes are rather simple.

Although they are all daughters of officials, they pale in comparison with other women.

The most important thing is that she wore a silver hairpin on her head, which was decorated with flowers around it.

Unlike other women, she did not wear gold hairpins adorned with gold beads, gems and pearls.

"I am Lan Lingrong, a humble lady. I greet the Queen Mother and Your Majesty. I wish them good health and eternal happiness."

Oh?
Lan Lingrong's brief words attracted the attention of everyone in the hall.

the reason is simple.

All the showgirls present were nervous, excited, scared, curious, etc. and did not dare to speak.

But she was the only one who bowed and greeted when the Minister of Revenue Zhuang Yunqi called her name.

According to the rules...there is no such precedent, but there is no prohibition either.

The Queen Mother was the first to speak: "Good child, it's not easy for you to still remember me."

The Queen's tone was somewhat jealous: "Such a solemn gift, but you casually said it without the order of the emperor. Although it is auspicious words, it obviously makes you the target of public criticism. You are also a foxy master~"

Lan Lingrong's face changed slightly, and she could only lower her head and dare not speak, her delicate body trembling slightly.

"That's all."

Zheng Yi spoke first, looking Lan Lingrong up and down and said, "You are indeed good, you have courage and knowledge. Do you have any skills?"

"There is no need to perform the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

Lan Lingrong was delighted and said quickly, "Your Majesty, my mother once taught me Kunqu Opera, so I know a few songs."

"Oh? Kunqu Opera, let me listen to it."

"No~"

Lan Lingrong whispered, then stood up, took a breath and sang: "I hate that we met so late, and I resent that you left so quickly. The willow branches are so long that it is hard to tie up the jade horse, I wish I could ask the sparse forest to hold the setting sun~"

Her voice is naturally clear, and now when she sings Kunqu Opera it is even more melodious and graceful, with the sounds of forests and springs, and sounds like weeping and complaining.

Almost everyone in the hall was listening attentively, even Queen Lu Lin'er couldn't help but curl her lips.

"Fox Meizi, your singing is OK~"

After a cup of tea, the music stopped and everyone subconsciously looked at Zheng Yi.

Only Zheng Yi was still tapping the table, savoring the memory.

"it is good!"

Zheng Yi nodded and said, "Not bad, not bad, the singing is beautiful, and the beauty is even more gentle."

"I regret that we have met so late. Since you have worked so hard to enter the palace, I will help you."

"Lan Lingrong, the daughter of Lan Huai, the magistrate of Shanyang County, is a beautiful, intelligent, and elegant woman, so she is specially named Lady Lan!"

"promise!"

The official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately bowed and agreed.

Lan Lingrong, now known as Concubine Lan, immediately knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Queen Mother! Thank you, Queen..."

After hearing these words, the Queen Mother and Zheng Yi did not react. Instead, Queen Lu Lin'er nodded secretly.

This little girl is pretty good.

Thank me, but don’t thank that vixen Xu Qingluan!
Zheng Yi said, "Get up, I will give you the scent sachet."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhuang Yunqi quietly signaled other officials from the Ministry of Revenue to come over and pass on the message.

Without the order of the Queen Mother or His Majesty, no concubine is allowed to speak out!
Lan Lingrong's action made the four beauties beside her look unhappy and jealous.

This move directly treats the four of them as foils, which is really despicable.

If there is a chance...

That’s a noble position!

According to the regulations of the Dayu selection, in addition to the several concubines and imperial concubines who had already been "predetermined", there were also candidates for the selection every year.

Other ladies could only obtain the titles of Madam, Beauty and Noble Lady.

The status of a noble lady is undoubtedly the highest rank below that of a concubine.

Not to mention the position, just the monthly salary is much higher than theirs.

Moreover, when we meet in the palace in the future, we will have to bow and greet each other. It’s really abominable!
Lan Lingrong was too clever for his own good, and although he gained a noble position, he offended many of his "colleagues".

It will be difficult to take a single step in the palace from now on.

"Xia Qiuxiang, daughter of Xia Wei, lieutenant of the Jinwu Vanguard, is seventeen years old!"

"Wang Qian, daughter of Wang Tianyu, the governor of Dezhou, is sixteen years old!"

"The daughter of Jing Zhanfeng, the magistrate of Chencang County, Jing Zehua, fourteen years old!"

"Luo Yun, daughter of Luo Bin, the magistrate of Wolong County, Chencang Prefecture, is fifteen years old!"

The other four women all bowed.

Zheng Yi took a quick glance and saw that they were all ordinary women, but they were pretty good-looking.

After all, she is a beauty pageant winner and has already gone through layers of screening.

The woman who can be left behind, apart from other factors, has definitely passed the test of beauty and looks alone.

"Don't say I won't give you a chance. Do you four have any other skills?"

The four girls looked at each other, lowered their heads, and dared not speak.

Zheng Yi shook his head. When Liu Chengen was about to shout "Pick up the sign", he suddenly heard Zheng Yi say, "Stay, everyone. I'll give you the scent sachet."

"what?"

Liu Chengen was stunned for a moment. Why did he stay again?

Zheng Yi glared at him and quickly signaled the other eunuchs to bring the sachets.

"Give me a scent sachet!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be blessed with great fortune..."

"I was selected too, hehehe..."

The five women were taken away, and taking advantage of this break Liu Chengen quickly called over the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"Greetings, Eunuch Liu. What instructions do you have?"

Liu Chengen whispered, "Your Majesty is in high spirits today, I'm afraid many young ladies will stay, and we don't have enough sachets to prepare."

"Go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs immediately and have someone prepare the sachet."

"promise!"

The young eunuch asked quickly, "How many sachets should we prepare?"

"Prepare as many sachets as there are concubines!"

“Yes~!”

As expected by Liu Chengen, the next dozen or so waves of beauties all left their names and were given sachets!
No one was left out!
Your Majesty, this is too... vigorous and powerful!
There are more than 500 beauties. Your Majesty wants to keep all of them?

Others were either shocked or surprised, but it did not dampen Zheng Yi's interest in the slightest.

Wave after wave of beauties were brought away, but his interest remained high.

In the previous life, selecting beauties in KTV was not so fun. You could only select a few at a time, and they were all ugly.

There are many aunts in their thirties.

And here, there are all girls around seventeen or eighteen years old, beautiful and tender.

As more than a hundred beauties walked by, the entire hall was filled with a fragrance.

Another wave of girls was brought up, and this time even Zheng Yi's eyes lit up slightly, and he sat up straight subconsciously.

"what?"

The Empress Dowager, Queen and others who looked a little tired also looked over subconsciously.

In the middle of these five people, there were actually two girls who were almost identical in clothing and appearance!

With Zheng Yi's eyesight, he couldn't make out anything at all.

Zhuang Yunqi changed a list and said:

"Daughter of Jiangxia Commander Huang Xie, Huang Yueling, seventeen years old!"

"Qiao Qi, daughter of Qiao Xuan from Wan County, Lujiang Prefecture, fifteen years old!"

"Qiao Yun, daughter of Qiao Xuan from Wan County, Lujiang Prefecture, fifteen years old!"

"The daughter of Zhao Yao, the magistrate of Yangquan County..."

"Your humble servant greets the Queen Mother and Your Majesty..."

The five women saluted one after another, but Zheng Yi's eyes were still on the twins in the center.

A beautiful woman is nothing, but if there is a woman who is exactly the same as you, whether in appearance, temperament, or even the way she speaks and expresses herself, she is a rare treasure!

At this time, Concubine Duan Xu Qingluan said, "Your Majesty, your eyes are almost popping out!"

"This pair of beautiful ladies was specially selected by me for Your Majesty. I wonder if Your Majesty likes them?"

"I like it, of course I like it, hahaha..."

Zheng Yi laughed and said, "My beloved concubine knows my mind. These two girls are good, indeed."

"What skills do you have?"

By now, the contestants waiting outside have already known Zheng Yi's selection habits.

It seemed like all the showgirls present would stay.

However, those who stay will definitely be treated differently in the palace in the future due to their different positions.

And what Your Majesty values, besides music, chess, calligraphy and painting, is also whether one has any special "skills".

Martial arts, poetry, or literary talent, etc.

In addition to Lan Lingrong, who gained the status of a nobleman through Kunqu Opera.

There were two other beautiful ladies who were awarded the title of noble ladies.

One of them was a contemporary literary giant, Wang Ruyu, the daughter of Professor Wang Mingzhe of the Hanlin Academy. She composed a poem on the spot, which pleased the emperor greatly, who granted her the title of noble lady and conferred her the title of Yu Guiren.

The other person is Feng Caiying, the daughter of Feng Rushong, the assistant leader of Zhuxi. She is nineteen years old and is already a second-grade warrior.

After learning about her martial arts skills, the emperor was very pleased and conferred her the title of Ying Guiren on the spot!

And now, it seems that two more noble persons are about to be born?
The five of them waited for a few breaths, and Qiao Qi, who was second in line, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, my sister and I are good at singing and dancing, I wonder if we can count?"

"Song and dance?" Zheng Yi became interested: "What kind of song and dance is it?"

"My sister is good at playing the zither, and I am good at dancing. We two sisters can sing and dance together. Your Majesty, please listen."

"Okay, then I'm all ears!"

"Please, which eunuch, please fetch my sister's Pipa."

"Liu Chengen, go quickly and come back quickly!"

"promise!"

The faces of the people present changed. Liu Chengen was an old man by the emperor's side. He was asked to go there in person just to get a pipa...

Qiao Yun had been carrying her pipa with her and had left it at her residence, but she soon took it back.

The two girls immediately started playing music, one playing the piano and dancing together. Their lake green chiffon skirts fluttered like lotus leaves in the water, looking extremely beautiful.

The music was melodious and graceful, like the sound of flowing water in the mountains. The two sisters played and danced, complementing each other. After a cup of tea, the music lingered, and it seemed that there was still an echo in the hall.

Zheng Yi also applauded and said, "Not bad, not bad. Whether it's the piano music or the dance, both of you are the best today."

"Qiao Qi, Qiao Yun, I hereby grant you the title of noble lady, the title of Noble Lady Qiao!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"I bow to thank your majesty for your great grace!"

The two women knelt down to thank him, but Liu Chengen was surprised and asked, "Your Majesty, both of you noble ladies have the surname Qiao, and you are both named Noble Lady Qiao. How should this name be copied?"

"Let's divide them into Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao."

Zheng Yi smiled, but his heart was full of evil amusement: "Besides, the two girls are very close sisters, and I can't bear to let them be separated in the palace, so let them live in the same room."

"promise!"

Qiao Yun and Qiao Qi, two girls in the audience, also knelt down to express their gratitude.

No one else knew what Zheng Yi was laughing at, only Concubine Duan Xu Qingluan beside him thought of something.

Her pretty face was shy and she glared at Zheng Yi implicitly, her eyes full of shame.

The selection process continued, and soon the ranks of the true first and second rank ministers and daughters of aristocratic families came to the fore.

"Qinghe Cui family, Cui Jinyan, seventeen years old!"

"Lu Jingxuan, from the Lu family of Fanyang, aged eighteen!"

"Wang Chan, from Taiyuan Wang family, fourteen years old!"

"Li Lingying, from the Longxi Li family, aged seventeen!"

"Li Meizhuang, from the Zhaozhou Li family, aged nineteen!"

Five girls walked in slowly. All the officials present held their breath and no one said a word.

These five women came from the five oldest aristocratic families of the Dayu Dynasty, and their heritage has been passed down for more than three hundred years.

It is rumored that more than 300 years ago, Zheng Mingsen, the founding emperor of Dayu, was able to establish his hegemony and build his empire in the turbulent times with the support of these five big families.

Therefore, these five major surnames have the grace of founding the country and have been passed down to the present day.

During the entire 300 years of Dayu, almost 30% of the officials came from these five families.

Those who are related to his family account for more than 70%.

There were hundreds of people who became prime ministers, three highest officials, first-rank officials, and so on.

It can be said that Dayu, the royal family Zheng, and the people of these five major clans, rule the world together!
However, in the past hundred years, with the continuous secret suppression by many emperors, the power of the five major clans has weakened a lot.

The imperial court supported the southern families and the upright officials and had them serve as officials in the court, gradually competing with the five major families, and this situation continues to this day.

"I, a commoner, greet your majesty!"

"Meet the Queen Mother!"

"Meet the Queen Mother!"

"Greetings, Madam Concubine Duan!"

These five women are indeed from aristocratic families. Their appearance, character, and manners are impeccable, and they are almost like the same person.

But they also have their own characteristics, such as plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, each with its own unique colors.

The most important thing is that Zheng Yi saw something different in the eyes of these five people than in all the previous show girls.

confidence.

These five women have extremely high self-confidence.

They came here just to go through the motions.

They were already prepared from the moment the talent show was decided.

Concubine.

It is their goal and a position that is within their reach!
Zheng Yi said immediately: "You are all descendants of state men, and you have a good match with me. I am very pleased."

"Pass the decree and make her a concubine!"

"promise!"

Liu Chengen responded immediately, then took out the imperial edict that he had prepared long ago and said loudly:

"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: The descendant of a great man of state, is to serve in the palace, and is a matchmaker bestowed by Heaven, and is hereby granted the title:"

"Qinghe Cui clan Cui Jinyan is Concubine Jin, and lives in Chengze Palace!"

"Lu Jingxuan of the Fanyang Lu family is the Concubine Jing and lives in Jing'an Palace!!"

"Wang Chan of the Wang family of Taiyuan is the Chan Consort and lives in Jinxiu Palace!"

"Li Lingying of the Longxi Li family is the Ying concubine and lives in Jingze Palace!"

"Li Meizhuang of the Zhaozhou Li family is the Mei Consort and lives in Danxia Palace!"

"I, your humble daughter, thank you for your grace!"

"May your majesty and the queen mother be healthy and blessed with great fortune!"

The five women, even Xie En, are very similar, as if they were carved from the same mold.

The reason why they can become concubines and live in separate palaces as soon as they enter the palace is entirely because of their status!

While expressing his gratitude, Zheng Yi also took a close look at the five women.

Not to mention stunning beauty, but at least she is stunningly beautiful.

After all, she is going to enter the palace as a concubine. No matter how bold these noble families are, they dare not find ordinary women to fill the gaps.

Moreover, even if these five women are not from the main sect, they are the daughters of the most prominent branch sects outside the main sect.

Five women were led away, and soon five more women were brought up.

These five women are somewhat similar to the five daughters from aristocratic families, but they are also different.

When the officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites saw this, they began to discuss it in a low voice.

"She seems to be the youngest daughter of Mr. Zhang Guoan, the Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Inspectorate. I think I have seen her before."

"It's her, and the daughter of Miao Xiu, the general of Yunzhou..."

"The granddaughter of Lord Yuan, the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple..."

The five people who came up this time were all relatives of second and third rank ministers in the court!
As a minister in the court, any woman of marriageable age in the mansion would enter the palace to participate in the selection.

Choose the good ones to enter the palace as concubines.

Of course, after entering the palace, they were not real concubines, but imperial concubines.

Only if one has made great contributions in the harem, such as giving birth to a prince or princess, or if someone from the maternal family has made great contributions, can one be made a concubine!
"Tian Wenwen, the younger sister of the Minister of Personnel Tian Wenjing, is thirteen years old!"

"Zhang Lingyin, daughter of Zhang Guoan, Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Inspectorate, is seventeen years old!"

"Miao Yuesheng, daughter of Yunzhou General Miao Xiu, sixteen years old!"

"Yuan Song, daughter of Dali Temple Junior Official Yuan Fang, eighteen years old!"

"The granddaughter of Minister of Rites Kong Xiangsi, Kong Lingfang, is seventeen years old!"

Facing these five women, Zheng Yi was not embarrassed and just nodded slightly.

Liu Chengen immediately took out the imperial edict: "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, decrees..."

"Tian Wenwen, the sister of Tian Wenjing, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is the Concubine Wen and lives in Wencheng Palace!"

"Zhang Lingyin, the daughter of Zhang Guoan, the Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Inspectorate, is the Yinpin, and lives in the Shengyin Palace!"

"Miao Yuesheng, the daughter of Yunzhou General Miao Xiu, is the Yue concubine and lives in Guangle Palace!"

"Yuan Song, the daughter of Yuan Fang, the Junior Official of the Dali Temple, is Concubine Song and lives in Songhe Palace!"

"The granddaughter of Minister of Rites Kong Xiangsi, Kong Lingfang, is Concubine Fang and lives in Jianjia Palace!"

These five women were all given the title of concubines, which was only one level lower than the rank of imperial consort, but far above the rank of noble lady, beauty, and lady.

Also qualified to be in charge of the first palace.

Of course, they lived with other nobles, beauties, and ladies, and could not live alone in a palace like concubines.

"Thank you, Queen Mother, and Your Majesty..."

Most of the day had passed in the hall. After all, there were more than 500 people, and Zheng Yi was a little tired, not to mention the empress dowager whose health was getting worse day by day.

Although there was a maid massaging her back, she could not withstand the fatigue from the long period of time.

The reason why I have been able to hold on for so long is all because of the selection of the position of concubine.

She was worried that the emperor would make random choices among his concubines when she was away.

Now that the positions of the ten concubines have all been decided, she felt relieved and said, "Your Majesty, I feel a little tired. The rest is entirely up to your preference. I am going back to the Cining Palace."

Zheng Yi immediately said: "Since the Queen Mother is tired, let's go back and rest first."

"Mr. Chen."

"The servant is here."

Chen Liancang appeared behind Zheng Yi like a ghost, and the Queen Mother raised her eyebrows subconsciously.

"Send mother back to Cining Palace!"

"promise!"

"Mother, please have a good rest when you return home. Do not overwork yourself."

"I know..."

The Queen Mother nodded, and slowly left with the help of the palace maids.

"Emperor brother~!"

While the Queen Mother was away, Lu Lin'er suddenly came over and asked in a tender voice, "Why did you choose so many concubines this time? The daughters of noble families and officials are of course not to be mentioned, but why are so many women from the common people also named beauties and ladies?"

"They are all clumsy, how can they serve you, the Emperor?"

"What if I do something dirty and offend my aunt and you, the emperor? What should I do?"

Zheng Yi said helplessly: "Isn't it because of the Queen Mother's order that I did this?"

"Although you are pregnant and have given birth to children, they are all five princesses. Of course I like princesses, but my mother wants a prince, so I have no choice but to resort to this bad idea."

"But, but..."

Lu Lin'er's mind was a little confused, and she subconsciously said, "But this is too many! There are more than 500 concubines. Brother Emperor, your body..."

Zheng Yi immediately said seriously: "Why, Lin'er doesn't believe in my ability?"

"Then I will go to Kunning Palace tonight and let you have a good look~!"

"real?!"

Lu Lin'er's eyes suddenly lit up, and she said seriously, "Sir, don't joke! I'll go back and prepare now!"

After saying that, she ignored the beauty pageant and hurriedly ran back with her maid. Halfway through the run, she turned back and waved, "Emperor brother, Lin'er is waiting for you~!"

Zheng Yi shook his head helplessly: "Finally I managed to trick this girl away."

He has been sleeping in Xianfu Palace these days, practicing with Luan'er and Jianyu.

Unfortunately, both girls had their periods these days, otherwise it would not have been Lu Lin'er's turn.

Just then, another eunuch came in with five women.

Zheng Yi's eyes lit up again.

　Following suggestions from several brothers, we will change the daily update from two chapters to three chapters.

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(End of this chapter)