After reviewing the pending memorials in the imperial study, Fu Yuheng glanced indifferently at the picture of a beautiful woman on the corner of the table, and his eyes suddenly turned cold.
Sun Ning saw that he had finished his work and then he came forward with a flattering smile, "Your Majesty, this picture of a beautiful woman..."
"I think you are getting bolder." There was a hint of displeasure in the deep voice, and a fierce look in the deep black eyes, which scared Sun Ning so much that he immediately knelt on the ground.
"I dare not!" Sun Ning lay on the ground, waiting for him to speak.
She withdrew her eyes from his blue eunuch uniform, glanced at the sky outside, and pursed her thin lips, "Go to the palace of Concubine Xian." The sky was dark and night fell. It was time for dinner.
Shen Qingwan was waiting for Xiaoman to serve her the food. After a while, she heard her clear voice calling out, "Your Majesty, you can have your meal now."
After hearing this, she slowly put down the book in her jade fingers and walked to the table. She didn't like big meat, so the dishes on the table every day were light appetizers.
"Are you satisfied with your meal today, Madam?" Xiao Man asked as she served her the food. "Try more, Madam."
"You're becoming more and more clever with your words." Shen Qingwan smiled slightly. Just as she picked up her chopsticks to eat, she heard a neat greeting from outside the hall.
"Your servant pays respect to His Majesty. Long live the emperor."
Xiao Man became interested when she heard this. Her face was full of joy and her voice was filled with excitement. "Your Majesty, the Emperor is here!"
In contrast, Shen Qingwan was so calm, but she didn't expect him to come at dinner time. When she stood up and prepared to pay her respects, he walked in at the right time, wearing a bright yellow robe that made the palace brighter.
She raised her eyes to take a look, then lowered them and bowed slightly, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
His brows slowly relaxed, and the emotions that had been suppressed for a day seemed to loosen up. Under the light, her beautiful face softened a little, and her voice also became much gentler, which touched his heart.
Fu Yuheng led her to the table. Looking at the light meal, his eyes became a little clearer. She was already tired of the delicacies from land and sea every day, and it would be nice to finally have a change of taste.
"I didn't know the emperor was coming, so I only prepared some home-cooked dishes..." Without noticing his gaze, Shen Qingwan explained to herself, but was interrupted by him halfway through.
"That's good." His deep voice seemed to be coated with a layer of gentleness, which made her look up at him. He put down the spoon after only two bites, and according to the rules, she should also put it down.
"Have you heard about the recent talent show?" His voice was steady, and no emotion could be heard.
She nodded slightly. How could she not know that the selection of concubines was a major event of the imperial court? Even when she was in the harem, many concubines around her were discussing this matter.
His dark eyes stared at her slightly drooped eyes, covering up the clearness in her eyes, "What do you think about the talent show?"
The selection of concubines had to be discussed with the Queen in previous years, but he came to ask her instead. This was probably an extra bit of trust and test.
She didn't fight or compete, and she had no complaints about the talent show. After all, it was a rule left by her ancestors, and she had no reason to object.
Avoiding the main point, he finally spoke slowly, "The selection of candidates is a major event for the court, and expanding the family line for the emperor is the foundation of the country."
The eight words "spreading out branches and leaves, the foundation of a country" left Fu Yuheng speechless. He knew it very well, but his selfishness prompted him to want to hear some unusual words from her.
But Shen Qingwan didn't know what he was thinking. The selection of concubines was the emperor's business, and he was the one who made the decision. She was just a woman and didn't want to get involved in this matter. Besides, she was just a small concubine...
"Don't you have any other ideas?" Seemingly anxious, he couldn't help but lean towards her position, shortening the distance between them, which made Xiaoman, who was standing aside, blush.
Shen Qingwan's face flushed. She didn't expect him to approach her so suddenly. Her heartbeat was a little abnormal. She took a step back awkwardly and said indifferently, "I... have no other ideas."
Fu Yuheng raised his eyebrows with interest. Seeing her indifferent look, he suddenly came up with a plan. He wanted to see if she really meant what she said and whether she really had no jealousy or dissatisfaction.
The next day, just after Shen Qingwan had finished her breakfast, she heard Lianyun say that the Imperial Study had sent Eunuch Sun Ning to come. It must be no simple matter.
"Your servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Concubine." Sun Ning was a servant in front of the emperor, so he followed the rules very well. Shen Qingwan glanced at him indifferently and asked him to stand up.
"I wonder why you are here, sir?"
Sun Ning bowed humbly with a smile on his face. He knew that the emperor favored the virtuous concubine. "I am here to arrange a good job for you in accordance with the emperor's order."
He said it lightly, but Shen Qingwan didn't notice it. She raised her eyebrows in scrutiny and waited for his next words.
"The Emperor said that Your Majesty is virtuous, so this year's selection will be handled by Your Majesty." This is a great favor. In previous years, it was handled by the Queen, but this year it is handed over to her!
Hearing this, her slightly raised eyebrows slowly lowered, her face slightly cold, but because someone was around, she still put on a faint smile. And Sun Ning was also a man of good sense, seeing that she seemed unhappy, he didn't say anything, conveyed the oral order and left.
This was not what Shen Qingwan had in mind, but she had to accept it even though she felt a little depressed. It must be because of what he said last night. But did he hand this matter over to her to warn her of something? Or... However, it was a troublesome matter after all.
Lianyun was watching from the side, and noticed the dim look in her eyes, thinking that she was unhappy to see the Emperor selecting concubines.
"Your Majesty, you need to be more open-minded. The emperor's selection of concubines is a rule." Lianyun carefully observed her expression and continued to comfort her, "The emperor entrusted the selection of concubines to your majesty, which means he trusts you. He is very special to you!"
Shen Qingwan frowned, seeming to be a little embarrassed, and didn't want to explain too much, so she just said lightly, "I know."
When Xiao Shushen learned that the selection of concubines fell on Shen Qingwan's shoulders, she became furious again. As the queen, she was not the one to take over the selection of concubines, but was snatched away by Concubine Xian!
The cold invaded her body and she covered her face and coughed a few times. Her complexion suddenly turned pale. If she had not recovered from the cold, she would not have given up like that!
"Your Highness, please take care of yourself. I believe the Emperor values you very much and is afraid that you will be tired, so he gave this thankless task to Concubine Xian." Nanny Gui comforted her, "Your Highness, when you recover from your cold, wait for the concubines to enter the palace and let them know who is the master of the harem!"
What Nanny Gui said made sense. She coughed a few more times and felt better. However, when she saw the pictures of beautiful girls left by the palace maids on the table, she became angry again. These young and beautiful women were going to enter the palace to compete for favor!
"I am unwilling to give in!" If she couldn't vent her anger on Concubine Xian, couldn't she vent her anger on these paper figures? She raised her hand and knocked all the pictures of the concubines to the ground.
They are all seductive women who seduce their masters!