A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 1066: Someone Is So Wicked
The matter of selecting fine ladies is imperative.
Even the emperor cannot prevent it, let alone she, the mere empress.
According to the ancient feudal doctrine,
she not only cannot stop it but must actively organize it.
The aim is to select virtuous and talented women to extend the royal family.
Even though she herself has already extended the royal family, it is still not enough.
At Chen Zheng One Moment, the selection formally begins.
Xia Ruqing sits atop the high platform, looking at the two hundred women kneeling below.
A feeling of bitterness wells up in her heart.
Ever since she learned about this year’s selection,
she has felt as though she is trapped in a dilemma.
She does not want to carry the reputation of a jealous woman, nor does she want newcomers to enter the palace.
After much contemplation, Xia Ruqing feels a slight bitterness in her heart.
’Indeed, people are greedy!’
One cannot have both fish and bear paw, so why should she insist?
It would be better to go with the flow.
If Zhao Junyao truly leaves her aside,
then she will have no psychological burden.
She could live a lifetime eating, drinking, and having fun with the children and might even return to the modern times after death, which isn’t bad.
In any case,
she will live well regardless.
"The emperor arrives!"
While she is lost in thought, the eunuch shouts loudly, pulling her back to reality.
Xia Ruqing quickly stands up and leads the concubines to welcome the emperor.
After the greetings,
Zhao Junyao sits down beside her, and the concubines also take their seats.
The Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Zhen sit on the other side of Zhao Junyao.
The Empress Dowager wears an imperial robe of dark red with hidden patterns, a gold crown on her head, with a bleak expression and emotionless face.
Empress Dowager Zhen sits beside the Empress Dowager, exuberantly dressed in a sapphire-blue court gown with a gold collar and silk embroidery.
She looks at the Empress Dowager with a gaze full of boastfulness and ridicule, as if saying,
’Humph! How does having a higher status matter? You’re still inferior to me in every way!’
Xia Ruqing and Zhao Junyao sit in the center.
The two exchange a glance, both of their faces calm and unreadable.
Sitting on the other side are Consort Hui, Consort Cheng, Consort Zheng, and Consort Yun.
They are raising princes or princesses and are ranked as consorts.
As long as they do not make mistakes, their status remains stable.
The selection does not affect them much.
Therefore, they remain unhurried and calm.
For a time, the atmosphere on the high platform is as calm and dignified as water, imposing from afar.
The kneeling fine ladies below have never seen such a scene.
Each is nervously sweating from their palms, their hearts pounding with fear.
Half an incense stick later, seeing that everyone below is ready.
Xia Ruqing speaks elegantly.
"Your majesty, everything is set, we can begin!"
Zhao Junyao nods indifferently.
"Then let’s begin!"
Though he has little interest, the ancestral rules are such and cannot be defied.
It’s just a few women, he can afford to raise them, so let the selection proceed!
Li Shengan receives the imperial command.
After bowing and making the salute, he turns around to take the roster from the little eunuch.
According to the rules, he recites a series of grandiose meaningless words before starting to read the list.
Those whose names are called go to the center of the hall to perform a knee salute to greet the emperor.
The 200 fine ladies are divided into 20 groups, 10 in each group.
"Chen Meizhi, daughter of the magistrate in Qingyang; Duan Huangjiao, daughter of the Salt Transport Envoy in Guangnan; Lin Yan, daughter of the southwest military governor Lin Lie..."
Li Shengan loudly reads the names, completing ten in one breath.
Soon, ten women step forward, following the sequence to greet the emperor one by one.
"Daughter Chen Meizhi greets the emperor, the empress!"
"Daughter Duan Huangjiao greets the emperor, the empress!"
...
After the ten ladies finish their greeting, it’s Zhao Junyao’s turn to make his selection.
Xia Ruqing turns to look at him.
She sees Zhao Junyao staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
It seems he... is absentminded.
Xia Ruqing nudges his arm, gently reminding him.
"Your majesty!"
Zhao Junyao suddenly snaps back to reality.
He gives Xia Ruqing a warm look and then turns to the fine ladies.
With just one glance, he furrows his brows again in disbelief.
’What sort of people are these?!’
’Some have eyes darting about, visibly restless.’
’Others are full of ambition, unable to hide it!’
’And yet others gaze at him with glowing eyes of hunger and desire, eager to devour him whole!’
Each appears outwardly meek and graceful.
Such poor acting may deceive others but not him!
Ha!
Zhao Junyao’s sharp gaze sweeps over them all, then he shakes his head.
Li Shengan calls out loudly.
"All unchosen, give the flowers!"
Giving flowers indicates they are not selected.
The ten fine ladies immediately turn pale.
Not one is selected, truly a blow!
Reluctantly they perform the salute and retreat.
Li Shengan calls up another ten.
Zhao Junyao scans them again and shakes his head, deciding on giving flowers once more.
This time not just the fine ladies but the concubines and Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager Zhen on the high platform are unsettled.
Xia Ruqing glances at Zhao Junyao suspiciously.
"Your majesty?"
Zhao Junyao gives her a look suggesting ’rest assured, I know what I’m doing’.
She decides to remain silent.
In the subsequent third and fourth rounds,
Zhao Junyao finally does not give flowers to all, selecting one fine lady each round.
Xia Ruqing is too surprised to feel jealous, her eyes nearly pop out.
’These are the fine ladies chosen by the emperor?’
These two fine ladies not only have low backgrounds, but their appearances are among the poorest in the group.
Most importantly, neither looks like a good person!
"Um..."
Xia Ruqing looks at Zhao Junyao in disbelief.
’The emperor’s taste is quite peculiar!’
Others are also shocked.
The Empress Dowager can’t bear to look, turning her head away.
Empress Dowager Zhen covers her mouth in schadenfreude:
’Look at what the emperor has chosen!’
’So many good ones unselected, choosing such people to enter the palace, tsk tsk...’
No one understands.
However, Zhao Junyao is quite satisfied.
Li Shengan has no choice but to stiffly proclaim.
"Kong Yuqiu, daughter of Gaoyang County’s magistrate; Wu Baolan, daughter of the Head Temple of the Taishang monastery’s head, keep the tokens, give Ruyi!"
The two fine ladies kneel and thank joyfully in unison.
"Daughter thanks the emperor!"
"Stand!" Zhao Junyao says calmly, waving his hand.
"Yes!"
The two stand, receiving the Jade Ruyi from the little eunuch, happily follow him to the other side.
The remaining fine ladies are filled with envy.
Their eyes practically glued to them, wanting to follow them to the side where they keep the tokens.
The unchosen fine ladies are envious, jealous, and unwilling.
’Why weren’t they chosen instead!’
...
In the following fifth and sixth rounds,
Zhao Junyao still finds no satisfaction, giving flowers to all.
Meanwhile,
Everyone in the hall has become accustomed, expressions calm once more.
The emperor’s mind is difficult to predict, so they might as well continue observing.
Xia Ruqing glances a few times at Zhao Junyao.
She ponders for a moment, seeming to understand his intentions.
’Is he choosing in reverse?’
’Not selecting the good, only the bad!’
’If such a woman enters the palace, and behaves, it’s fine.’
’If not, well, eliminating them wouldn’t be a loss!’
Ah... someone is quite wicked!
