The girls were strolling in groups in the imperial garden admiring the flowers. Their moods became more and more relaxed, with smiles on their faces.
This is exactly the effect Queen Mother Zhou wanted.
Because it is easiest for people to show their true self only when they are relaxed, and their advantages and disadvantages are obvious.
I have to say that Empress Dowager Zhou made this move extremely well.
No matter how smart the girls are and how well they know how to hide themselves, how can they be as cunning and scheming as the Empress Dowager Zhou
The pavilion where Empress Dowager Zhou and Mo Chuan are located is in an excellent position. Although it is at a high place and can have an unobstructed view of every corner of the Imperial Garden, because of the flowers and trees, the girls in the Imperial Garden cannot even look up. No one could be seen in the pavilion.
They could only see a corner of the cornice peeking out from the green treetops. No one could have imagined that the Empress Dowager Zhou and the Emperor would be observing their every move, word and deed in the dark.
As for the first two scenes, stepping on skirts and sloughing snakes on branches, they were all arranged in advance by the Empress Dowager Zhou to test the girls' moral character and behavior.
Although the method is a bit weird, the effect is obvious. The girls never imagined that they would be eliminated immediately after exposing their bad nature.
Similar test methods emerged one after another, and then more than a dozen girls were sent out of the palace.
The girls found that there were fewer and fewer companions in the garden, and there were many smart and shrewd people among them. They soon realized the mystery inside, and they became even more cautious in their words and deeds.
After a round of secret selection, there were still more than 20 girls left in the garden, which made Queen Mother Zhou quite satisfied.
"Emperor, now these girls in the garden have all passed the Ai family's test. I think they are of good character and moral character. Next, it is time to test their talents and learning. It is also time for us to show up. Let's go now."
Queen Mother Zhou held Sujin's hand and stood up slowly.
"My mother admires her wonderful ideas."
Although Mo Chuan didn't say a word, he clearly saw everything that happened in the imperial garden. What he said was from the bottom of his heart, because Zhou was probably the only one who could come up with these weird ways to test moral character. The Queen Mother is alone.
"The Ai family has nothing to ask for. I just want to help you choose a good queen with both virtues and talents. Seeing that you are loving and harmonious as a husband and wife, the Ai family's wish is enough."
Queen Mother Zhou gave Mo Chuan a meaningful look, then held Su Jin's hand and walked out of the pavilion and down the rockery.
At this time, the girls had gathered in the Yixin Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. They lined up in two rows and stood in silence.
Everyone looked at their noses with their eyes, and their hearts with their noses, and they didn't dare to let out any air.
Because they had already received notice that the Emperor and the Queen Mother were coming here to test their talents. How could they not be nervous
"The Emperor has arrived!"
"The Queen Mother is here!"
Following the eunuch's loud announcement, the girls immediately fell to the ground and shouted in unison:
"Long live the Emperor, and the Queen Mother may live a thousand lives."
"Let's all stay flat."
Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and raised her hand to signal the girls to get up.
Mo Chuan sat at the first seat, and Queen Mother Zhou sat next to him.
All the girls bowed nine times according to the rules before they dared to stand up, but still no one dared to raise their head.
They only dared to use the corner of their eyes to peek at the elegant and tall bright yellow figure sitting on the seat.