The next day, Jiang Changning was having breakfast when Nanny Gong from yesterday came again.
But today, Madam Gong was not here to watch her go to the palace for the selection. "The Queen Mother said that Your Highness is not feeling well, so she should stay in the palace and have a good rest. She doesn't need to go today."
"Thank you, mother, for your understanding." Although Jiang Changning wanted to see what methods Emperor Xuanzhi would use to eliminate those concubines today, the empress dowager did not allow her to go, so she decided not to go.
In front of Emperor Xuanzhi, the Queen Mother never mentioned that it was she who did not allow Jiang Changning to come, saying, "The Queen is too petty and does not have the demeanor of a mother of the country."
"Mother, I have already appointed the Crown Prince. Abolishing his biological mother from the position of Queen will have too great an impact on the Crown Prince and will also shake the foundation of the country. Please forgive me for not listening to you," said Emperor Xuanzhi.
The Queen Mother was stunned. When did she say that the Queen would be deposed
Her dissatisfaction with the queen did not reach the point of abolishing her position!
"I didn't say I wanted to depose the queen." The Queen Mother said quickly.
"Didn't your Majesty say that the Empress lacks the demeanor of a mother to rule the country?" Emperor Xuanzhi paused, "My son misunderstood your Majesty's meaning. Please forgive me."
The Queen Mother could no longer criticize Jiang Changning and said to the eunuch, "Let someone in."
In the first few groups, Emperor Xuanzhi still found various excuses and did not choose any of them.
But the Queen Mother insisted on keeping a beautiful girl named Su Wanrou, and praised her for her extraordinary beauty and talent.
Emperor Xuanzhi's mouth twitched slightly. If reciting a five-character quatrain is considered to be a person of extraordinary talent and wisdom? Then his mistress must be a man of great learning and talent.
Although he secretly complained in his heart, Emperor Xuanzhi did not go against the Empress Dowager's wishes and did not allow Su Wanrou to keep the card.
After looking at more than a hundred people, someone finally kept his card.
As the first person, Su Wanrou felt a little proud in her heart, and the corners of her lips slightly raised, "Thank you, Queen Mother, thank you, Your Majesty."
In the 29th group, there is a girl named Feng Sui, who looks a bit like Jiang Changning in her eyes and eyebrows. She is from Hangzhou.
Feng Sui was wearing a light blue skirt embroidered with magnolia flowers and had her hair tied up in a small bun. She looked delicate and cute, more like Jiang Changning when Emperor Xuanzhi first met her.
She stepped out of the line and saluted, her voice as sweet as an oriole, "I, Feng Sui, greet the Queen Mother and Your Majesty. May the Queen Mother live a thousand years of good fortune and Your Majesty live long and healthy."
Emperor Xuanzhi, who was lazily leaning on his chair, suddenly sat up straight and asked, "Have you ever read any books?"
"My daughter is stupid and has never been to school. She only attended a private school for one year and knows a few words." Feng Sui said gently.
Emperor Xuanzhi raised one corner of his lips and revealed a faint sneer.
Seeing the appearance of this girl, he suspected that she was related to Jiang Changning. Although Jiang Changning had never mentioned the Jiang family, he knew that she was actually still thinking about her relatives on her mother's side.
Otherwise, the Zhuang family was already so bad, she would not have supported them secretly.
But now, this woman's words and actions made him feel that even if this woman had a relationship with Jiang Changning, the two of them would probably not be able to get along, so it would be better not to let them have any contact.
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Girls are usually engaged in needlework. It is good enough that you can learn a few words."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your praise." Feng Sui bowed.
"Remember your name and leave a plaque." The empress dowager did not ask Emperor Xuanzhi for his opinion and left another one.
On the morning of the next day, only Su Wanrou and Feng Sui stayed.
After Jiang Changning learned about this, he did not comment.
In the afternoon, even more were chosen by the Queen Mother, a total of twenty.
After the palace selection was over that day, those who were left behind received congratulations from the other beauties.
Aren’t the eliminated contestants jealous
They were jealous, but things were already a foregone conclusion. Those who stayed in the palace would become nobles, and they could not afford to offend them. They could only suppress their resentment and say insincere words.
"In my opinion, Miss Feng is the only one His Majesty has questioned. She will surely be the most favored one in the six palaces in the future."
Su Wanrou and Feng Sui both modestly said, "We are lucky to be able to stay."
The other twenty said, "The palace selection will take a few days, you also have a chance."
"The queen was here yesterday, but they didn't keep any of the beauties. Today, the queen didn't come, but they kept more than 20 beauties. It seems like it's all the queen's fault. The queen is really not virtuous." Someone said.
"Shut up! How can you interfere with the Queen?" Su Wanrou scolded her.
"Oh, you just left a card, but you really think you are a noble in the palace. Why are you putting on airs?" The concubine curled her lips with disdain.
"I'm giving you good advice, but you don't want to listen. Then just keep talking. If the maids hear you and you're dragged out to be beaten, it will be too late for you to realize your mistake," Su Wanrou sneered.
"Who cares about your fake kindness?"
"Alright, alright, what are you two doing? Stop it. It's time for dinner. Let's go to the main hall." Someone tried to smooth things over and calm the fight between the two.
The selection continued for another five days, and after the seven hundred beauties were selected, a total of 156 were kept in the palace, and the rest were sent out of the palace.
The empress dowager arranged for these 156 people, except Su Wanrou, Feng Sui and five other beauties to live in Chuchun Palace, while the other 100-odd people continued to live in Jingyi Palace.
Of course, some of these people had previously lived in Gan Tang Palace, and now they had to move here and rearrange their accommodation.
There was some commotion in Jingyi Palace, but this did not affect Jiang Changning.
Emperor Xuanzhi did not summon them to serve, nor did he give them any positions; they remained concubines.
Outside the palace, in the east of the city, in a not-too-large three-story courtyard, Zhao Xifang, wearing a 70% new lilac-colored coat embroidered with plum blossoms, half leaned on a soft couch and talked to a maid, "How is the matter going?"
"Three of the four stayed in the palace." The old woman said a little excitedly.
Zhao Xifang was a little surprised, "There are actually three."
"I heard that the Empress only went there on the first day. The Empress Dowager did not let her go on the following days. The Empress Dowager had already decided on the people."
"It doesn't matter who decides on her, as long as they can enter the palace. Jiang is already old and ugly, and they will definitely replace her and become the emperor's favorite concubine. By then, hahaha." Zhao Xifang felt happy when she thought of Jiang Changning's desolate and haggard appearance.
Zhao Xifang's idea was beautiful, but in fact, Jiang Changning really didn't take the more than one hundred beauties seriously.
Emperor Xuanzhi hasn't slept with those concubines yet. It's too early for her to be sad now. It won't be too late to be sad after he falls asleep.
On this day, the concubines were learning the rules when an imperial decree was delivered, "Su Wanrou, listen to the decree."
Su Wanrou's face was filled with uncontrollable joy, she stepped out of the line and knelt down.
The eunuch said loudly, "I have received the kind instructions of the Empress Dowager. Su has a daughter named Wanrou, who is virtuous and beautiful. The Empress Dowager was very pleased to hear about it. She is specially betrothed to the Prince of Runan as his consort. All the ceremonies will be handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Supervisor of the Imperial Observatory. Choose an auspicious date for the wedding!"
When Su Wanrou heard that she was to be married to the King of Runan, her mind went blank, but she came to her senses in an instant, "Thank you, Queen Mother, thank you, Your Majesty."
Amid the sympathetic, envious or mocking gazes of many concubines, she packed her things, left the palace and returned home to wait for her marriage.
I went to get my dentist treated today. It cost me over 31,000 dollars, but it required more than a dozen treatments. Today was only my first visit. The toothache was so severe that I felt uncomfortable all over and wanted to die.
(End of this chapter)