The emperor finally held a beauty contest, which made the ministers who had been looking forward to it for a long time ecstatic.
The Queen is now the only one favored in the palace, but she has been married to the Emperor for more than ten years and has long been old and ugly.
The girl in their family is young and beautiful, and will definitely replace the queen and become the emperor's favorite concubine.
The position of empress was out of the question, after all, she had already given birth to three legitimate sons and her position was secure. But being a noble concubine or even a royal noble concubine was also possible.
Furthermore, before the current emperor ascended the throne, he was a man that all the girls in the city wanted to marry, and now he is even more popular.
Some girls entered the palace with their fathers and brothers and had the honor of meeting Emperor Xuanzhi once or twice at palace banquets. They were fascinated by the demeanor he exuded.
This time, they have the opportunity to enter the palace to serve Emperor Xuanzhi, and they have made up their minds to stand out in the selection and bring honor to themselves and their families.
To this end, they sent people to inquire about Emperor Xuanzhi's preferences, and some even asked the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager did not dare to disclose such private matters as what Emperor Xuanzhi liked to eat and use, for fear that someone would take the opportunity to murder Emperor Xuanzhi.
The Queen Mother thought that Emperor Xuanzhi had only favored Jiang Changning over the years, "She must look outstanding and dress well."
Thinking back, I found that Jiang Changning had no preference for colors. He could wear clothes of any color and still look graceful in them.
As for the bun
Every time Jiang Changning came to pay her respects, she would wear her hair in an elegant bun.
The Empress Dowager had no way of asking the concubines to dress up like Jiang Changning to attract Emperor Xuanzhi.
Upon learning that the palace was going to hold a beauty contest, Yan Yinyao and Princess Kang Ren both handed in their names, asking to see Jiang Changning.
Jiang Changning let them enter the palace together. Yan Yinyao did not bring Zeng Mi, who was already engaged and busy embroidering her wedding dress, but Princess Kang Ren brought her two-year-old son Xiao Lin'er.
Xiao Lin is chubby and very cute.
Jiang Changning liked him very much and teased him with a rattle. Of course, she would like him even more if he didn't call her "Granduncle" in a baby voice.
Think about how old she is, she is already a grandmother. Time really makes people grow old.
Seeing Jiang Changning happily teasing Xiao Lin'er, she seemed unaffected by the talent show, but the two felt that she was forcing herself to smile.
"Aunt, you are the queen, no one can surpass you." Princess Kangren said dryly.
She had no ability to dissuade Emperor Xuanzhi from holding a beauty contest, so she could only advise her aunt to relax and not be sad about this matter.
Yan Yinyao also advised: "Cousin, the prince and the others are filial and obedient, you should take care of them and don't dwell on trivial matters."
She had seen how good Emperor Xuanzhi was to Jiang Changning, and was afraid that if Jiang Changning fell out of favor, the gap would be too big for her to bear.
"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who is blind and won't force myself." Jiang Changning knew their good intentions.
But she couldn't tell them about Emperor Xuanzhi's private decision. If Emperor Xuanzhi went back on his word, she would become a joke.
Yan Yinyao and Princess Kang Ren had lunch in the palace before leaving and going home.
After they left, Jiang Changning remembered that she hadn't seen the busy Emperor Xuanzhi for a few days. So, she decided to take some cakes and go to comfort her Majesty.
"Your Majesty should still be reviewing memorials in the imperial study right now, right?" Jiang Changning asked Fang Ju who had just entered the room.
"The prince left the palace for the East Camp today. His Majesty should be reviewing memorials right now. I just came over there and heard from Eunuch Chang that His Majesty did not summon any ministers." Fang Ju said with a smile.
"Is that so?" Jiang Changning's eyes flickered. "Pick up a box of cakes. I want to go see my Majesty."
"I guess His Majesty is thinking about the Queen right now." Fang Ju said with a smile.
"Not necessarily. He's so busy." Jiang Changning thought for a moment, "Let's send someone to ask first, so as not to disturb His Majesty."
Ever since the crown prince started studying with Emperor Xuanzhi, she seldom went to the imperial study. She would feel embarrassed to show affection in front of her son all the time.
Fang Ju smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am not wrong. Your Majesty is also thinking about you."
"Go away, stop teasing your master." Jiang Changning raised his leg and walked out.
Before she reached the imperial study, she saw Chang Youzhong looking around. When he saw her, he trotted over and said, "Oh, Madam, you are finally here."
"What's the matter? Your Majesty, is there anything you want to talk to me about?" Jiang Changning asked with a smile.
"It's nothing serious, except that His Majesty asks every once in a while whether the Queen has arrived." Chang Youzhong said with a smile.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, Eunuch Chang. Please help me inform him." Although Jiang Changning knew that Emperor Xuanzhi was the only one in the imperial study, he would not rush in rashly.
"Your Majesty just sent me out, saying that the Majesty has arrived, and asked me to come in directly." Chang Youzhong bowed and made a gesture of invitation, "Majesty, please come in."
"Give me the lunch box." Jiang Changning carried the lunch box and entered the imperial study.
In the imperial study, Emperor Xuanzhi was bent over his desk reviewing memorials.
"Your Majesty." Jiang Changning called.
Emperor Xuanzhi looked up and saw that it was Jiang Changning. He immediately put down the memorial and came over to hold her hand. "Your Majesty, are you willing to come and see me?"
"It is clearly Your Majesty who has neglected his beloved wife and has not been to the harem for several days." Jiang Changning said angrily.
"Yes, yes, it's my fault. Ningning, don't be upset. Let me make up for it." Emperor Xuanzhi took the food box from her hand and put it aside, then pulled her to the dragon throne.
He sat down first, held Jiang Changning on his lap, and kissed her face.
"Your Majesty, please don't mess around. I was just joking." Jiang Changning dodged, "This is the imperial study."
"Then let's go to the inner room." Emperor Xuanzhi never wronged himself in this matter, and what's more, the woman he was holding in his arms was his beloved wife, so why should he hold it back
Jiang Changning didn't want to mess around with him like this, "Your Majesty, come to Qiyuan Palace in the evening, and we'll talk."
"We'll do it again tonight." Emperor Xuanzhi lowered his eyelids and looked at the person in his arms. "Is the Empress worried that I don't have the energy for it?"
"Your Majesty is in great shape and vigor, and I have never been worried about you." Jiang Changning said quickly.
You can doubt anything, but you can't doubt a man's ability in this matter.
Jiang Changning was ultimately unable to resist and was completely taken advantage of by Emperor Xuanzhi. She had really put her heart and soul into this visit to offer condolences.
When I woke up from a drowsy sleep, it was already the hour of Xu.
The couple got up and had dinner, then sat on the dragon and phoenix chariot back to Qiyuan Palace. While bathing, Jiang Changning was tormented by Emperor Xuanzhi again.
Emperor Xuanzhi also said confidently: "Your Majesty, I am serious. I said that I can serve the Empress comfortably at night, so I must do it."
Jiang Changning, who was so tired that she didn't even want to lift her eyelids, ignored him. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she remembered that she seemed to have forgotten to do something.
Tiredness came over her, and she fell into a deep sleep before she could think deeply.
The beauty pageant outside the palace was in full swing, while the emperor and empress were living their little life lovingly in the palace.
At the palace banquet on New Year's Eve, Jiang Changning discovered that none of the mansions had brought girls of marriageable age into the palace. He smiled slightly, and it seemed that they were planning to make a splash during the selection.
(End of this chapter)