The second round of the selection screened out women with outstanding talents, while those with poor talents or those who did not want to enter the palace were sent out of the palace.
After the second round of selection, Shen Qingwan returned to her palace and handed the remaining concubines to the nanny to take back for the third round of selection.
On the way back, Lianyun became a little worried and asked, "Your Majesty, isn't it inappropriate to select so easily?" Although she knew that her majesty was steady and measured in her actions, her actions today did seem a little casual and not as steady as usual.
"The rules of the talent show..." Lianyun carefully observed her expression and swallowed the rest of the words.
Shen Qingwan looked indifferent, her eyes seemed to be stained with sadness, and she was helpless, "I know what to do."
Having said that, Lianyun didn't dare to say anything more. As long as the queen could recognize it clearly, it would be fine.
After returning to the palace and resting for an afternoon, she finally came out of the mood of the beauty pageant. This was the fate of women, and how could she watch others suffer when she was deeply involved in it
She didn't eat much for dinner, and just as she was about to read some books, she heard Xiao Man come in and announce, "Your Majesty, the Empress Defei is here."
She raised her eyelids and said calmly, putting down the book in her hand, "Please come in."
Zhao Yuanrong was a frequent visitor to the palace and had a close relationship with the Empress, so the palace servants all looked more friendly and happy.
"My sister is here." She slowly walked to the table and asked someone to bring charcoal to make a fire. The winter was getting colder.
Zhao Yuanrong glanced at her meaningfully and sat down with her. He temporarily concealed the complex expression in his eyes and asked with concern, "Sister has been busy with the talent show recently and must have put a lot of effort into it. I see that sister is not in a good mood. Are you exhausted?" He carefully observed the tiredness in her eyes and there was a hint of reluctance in his tone.
Shen Qingwan smiled faintly and shook her head, "I'm not that bad." She was just thinking of some past events, but she couldn't tell others about them. It was hard to keep it in her heart and look unhappy.
Zhao Yuanrong felt relieved after hearing that. He smiled knowingly, his eyes turned slightly as if he remembered something, but he didn't say anything.
Shen Qingwan withdrew her clear eyes from her slightly anxious brows, and said lightly, "Sister, just tell me if you have something to say." She didn't like beating around the bush, especially with someone she was familiar with. It would make her feel better if she asked any questions.
She heaved a sigh of relief when she heard Shen Qingwan say this, and asked tentatively, "I heard that my sister released a few concubines today."
The palace was the place where people were least tight-lipped, and she didn't expect to be able to hide it. Her clear eyes dimmed in an instant, and she sighed again.
Zhao Yuanrong's voice was filled with a hint of helplessness and worry, "Sister, you are usually so smart, how could you not know that a concubine should not be treated like this!"
Shen Qingwan was not surprised by the expected blame, but she heard the person in front of her continue to speak, "How can the selection be based on the wishes of the concubines? Sister, do you know how many people are unwilling to enter the palace, and how many people must step into the royal family? Whether they are willing or not, this is forced!"
Zhao Yuanrong was so anxious that her speaking speed and tone became much harsher. She never thought that she would let the concubine go back so easily.
But after hearing her reasons, Shen Qingwan just smiled bitterly and snorted disapprovingly, "Since it is fully handed over to me to handle, don't I have the right to decide?"
"Sister, this is a decision only the emperor can make. Your behavior will anger the emperor." The whole world belongs to the emperor, let alone a concubine!
"The emperor has three thousand beauties in his harem. What's wrong with those beauties not wanting to enter the palace? How can the emperor have so much energy to deal with every woman? Maybe after receiving the favor today, he will forget who that woman is tomorrow!" When she got excited, her words became passionate. These were what she had always wanted to say. Is it wrong not to want to enter the palace
Since the emperor already has so many women, why bother about just one or two
"Sister!" Zhao Yuanrong was frightened by her words and his face turned pale. He opened his eyes wide in fear. "You can't say these words nonsense. If someone with bad intentions hears them, they will be dead!"
Shen Qingwan understood that the mouth can cause trouble, but she just didn't want to endure it any longer. "I don't want anyone else to fall into this swamp of the harem."
Under the light, Zhao Yuanrong looked at the woman in front of him and felt that she was so strange. Every word she uttered was clear from her stubborn lips.
He exuded a cold and lonely aura that made people afraid to approach him easily. In the end, Zhao Yuanrong left without saying anything.
She was the only one left in the hall. The heat from the charcoal gradually rose, but she felt a little stuffy on this winter night.
She walked to the window, opened it, and looked up at the vast fields and sky. That was what life should be like, and she was just a canary imprisoned in a cage.
Perhaps the peaceful days will not last for a few days, and someone will definitely come to cause trouble for what I have done.
Hua Xiangwei was one of the most interesting characters in the drama. The virtuous concubine eliminated the concubines by only listening to their one-sided words. Such an oversight was really regrettable. She applauded in her heart as she finally caught her.
"I want to see how the virtuous concubine can argue this time. How dare she be so presumptuous and let the concubine go so easily." There was a sense of pride in her tone. This was no trivial matter. Let's see how she could resolve it!
The beauties in the second selection harem are all learning etiquette, so the good thing is that they haven't caused any trouble and Shen Qingwan doesn't have to worry.
"How are the concubines doing these days?" Shen Qingwan asked softly, looking at the scroll in her hand.
"They are all quite well-behaved. They learn etiquette from the maids and haven't made any mistakes." Lian Yun answered politely.
Hearing this, she nodded with satisfaction, and remembered that she seemed to have not visited for a few days, so she slowly stood up and decided to go for an inspection.
It was not a big deal to report who was responsible, but she knew that only by seeing it with her own eyes could she know the truth, and the palace was a place that was good at whitewashing the truth.
She went in without notifying the nanny. It seemed very quiet outside, unusually quiet.
Shen Qingwan frowned subconsciously. Several ladies who walked past her quickly bowed and hurried inside, which made her even more suspicious.
The bolder ladies even pointed at her from a distance, as if they were saying something.
"Are they talking about me?" Shen Qingwan asked Lianyun beside her in confusion. Lianyun also looked puzzled and shook her head.
"I don't know, but they all look very strange." Normally, they are all respectful and reserved, so why are they so abnormal today
With doubts, Shen Qingwan walked into the inner hall step by step. She was still wondering why the nanny didn't notice her coming to greet her, and why she was a strange concubine. She only knew the reason when she stepped inside.
Xiao Shushen sat inside and summoned all the concubines over with great fanfare.