At the beginning of spring, there would be a selection of talented women. The local officials would recommend more than a thousand women from landowning families. They were all between fourteen and twenty years old. They sat on the mule cart in order of status and age.
Among them, those who had produced concubines, those who had been selected before, and those who were older were at the front. After a day of travel, they would arrive at the palace gate from the city gate and then enter the palace under the guidance of the eunuchs.
In the first round, the eunuchs and elderly nannies in the palace checked the appearance and family background of the candidates. Those who looked dull, vicious, and unsuitable for bearing children were eliminated. There were still about five hundred people left.
These five hundred people stayed overnight in Chuxiu Palace in the outer palace city. The next day, they would line up in rows of two to three and enter Xiuyuan Hall. The Empress and Empress Dowager would look through the bead curtain and choose about two hundred people to leave behind for the Emperor to make his next choice.
It had been many years since the last selection of talented women, but there were only ten left. Out of the ten, three were given to the imperial family of each prince's mansion. Three were not favored and left the palace. The three who were favored but had very low status were Bao Lin, Cairen, and Meiren.
Only a young lady from Minister Ding's family was conferred the title of Guifei and was pregnant with a dragon seed. However, she inexplicably fell ill and died.
A group of girls crowded in the imperial garden and chatted, exchanging information about the palace. The current Emperor was in the prime of his life, but the harem was not plentiful. Until now, there was only one Empress, one Zhao Rong, and a few low-ranking concubines. The positions of Imperial Guifei and four concubines were empty.
As for the dragon seed, there was one adult, the Crown Prince, but he was not favored by the Emperor. There were a few minors, but their mothers were not high-ranking concubines.
In the past two years, there was no birth in the harem. Although Ding Zhaorong was favored, she had not been pregnant since entering the palace.
Presumably, the Emperor was very dissatisfied with the current harem.
They were all young girls who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth. They all had thoughts of competing with each other. One moment, you touched my hairpin, the next moment, I bumped into your clothes. After a while, the mamas in the palace scolded them several times before they quieted down. They lined up one by one in front of the eunuchs and mamas outside Xiuyuan Hall.
Among them, those who were not good-looking enough or whose family background was not ideal were immediately eliminated, while those who were good were placed on the table in the hall.
There was a bead curtain hanging in the Xiuyuan Palace Hall. Behind the bead curtain, there were a few beautiful women dressed in palace attire. They were the imperial concubines of the palace who had come to select the candidates.
If one was unlucky and was given a token but did not have the qualifications to be a Talented Lady, they might be sent to the various palaces to be a maidservant. If that was the case, obtaining the favor of the emperor would be an extremely distant dream.
As the most favored concubine after the Empress, Ding Zhaorong naturally brought her confidante and maids with her. She looked at them through the bead curtain for a while.
The palace maid stared outside and said in a low voice, "Niang niang, the one walking in front and the one passing by are both quite beautiful."
Ding Zhaorong signaled with his eyes, and the eunuch behind him immediately noted down the names of the talented women.
These good-looking girls were destined to be eliminated in the second round.
The palace maid said, "It's a pity that there aren't many who can surpass our niang niang in terms of appearance. His Majesty's favor will definitely be the same as before."
She was saying nice things, but in reality, the emperor's favor was no longer the same as before.
However, it was not just Ding Zhaorong's palace. The people in the other palaces had not seen the emperor for a long time, so she still appeared to be the more important one.
It was rumored that the emperor slept in the Qing Zhen Palace Hall every night. The person who served him did not have any status, but was exceptionally favored.
It was said that the person was frail and sickly, and even had tuberculosis. In order to treat this illness, the Imperial Academy of Medicine had specially assigned people to inform the palace at all times. In the middle of the night, there would often be imperial physicians urgently sent to the palace.
A few days ago, Hu Zhicheng was caught by the Jinyi Guards in the middle of the night for an audience. It was said that after he came back, he kept his mouth shut. The imperial concubines under him sent people to threaten and tempt him many times, but they did not get a single word out of him.
According to the accompanying medical attendant, the young noble in the Qing Zhen Palace Hall was extremely beautiful. Although she was sickly and pale, and looked like a ghost at first glance, she was also a beautiful ghost that no one could touch.
Beautiful ghost?
Ding Zhaorong sneered in her heart. She was so jealous that her heart was about to bleed.
Yes, that boy was indeed very good-looking.
Although he looked like the empress, he was many times prettier than the empress.
Fortunately, it was a boy. If it was a girl … she would have already taken care of the second crown prince!
Ding Zhaorong was deep in thought when she suddenly heard a palace maid take a breath and say, "Your Highness, look, that vixen is not bad!"
Ding Zhaorong shuddered and looked carefully. She saw a girl about ten years old wearing a light yellow gauze dress. She had a thin face, a thin figure, and her skin was exceptionally white. Her facial features were exceptionally delicate.
Among the exquisiteness, there was an indescribable beauty. Her eyebrows, the corners of her eyes, her lips, and her chin were very similar …
Very similar to that … that boy from that night!
Ding Zhaorong's hands trembled.
What was this?
What was this?
What she was afraid of had happened!
The emperor liked that kind of girl. He already had an empress and spoiled a boy so much. If there was another girl, would she still be able to run away from the position of the fourth concubine?
"Mummy!"
Ding Zhaorong's voice trembled as he called the wet nurse behind him, "Go … go tell the eunuch in charge that this girl's body is too weak and not suitable for childbirth. Screen her out!"
When the wet nurse saw how frightened Ding Zhaorong was, she immediately responded and secretly ran to find a eunuch she was familiar with.
The eunuch on the other side was also aware of the situation. He immediately dragged his voice and said, "Number 358 Chang — not suitable for childbirth — stack the cards!"
Stack the cards meant that she had failed to be selected. It was the opposite of "keep the cards".
The girl staggered and her face turned red. Just as she was about to run out, Zhang Kuo, who was sitting far away in the main seat, suddenly shouted, "Announce the empress's imperial decree — —!"
"Number 358 Chang — —"
"Keep the cards!"
The main door opened and the Empress, who was like a celestial concubine, slowly walked out in a majestic manner.
All the talented girls knelt down and shouted in unison, "This humble girl greets the empress!
Long live the empress! "
The empress looked straight ahead as she walked through the long line of people who knelt for several hundred meters. She walked to the main seat in the main hall. The palace maids quickly served her soft cushions, fragrant tea, and fresh fruit. The empress solemnly sat down. Only then did the eunuchs pass down the decree, "The empress has decreed that all the talented girls may rise — —!"
Ding Zhaorong tightly gritted her teeth. Her face was red and even her eyes were bloodshot. After a while, she went forward and bowed, "This concubine greets the empress. How is the empress?"
The empress turned to look at her and smiled slightly. She waved her hand and said, "Chang, come over here and let me take a look."
Chang hurriedly stood up and walked over with small steps. Although she was afraid, she did not lose her composure. She bowed deeply, "This humble girl from Yunzhou, Chang, greets the empress!"
The empress carefully looked at her.
That girl was a bit more voluptuous than Mingde, but it was not obvious. Her facial features were distinct and there was a kind of hostility. However, this kind of strange beauty was very similar to Mingde.
The empress was silent for a while, then said, "… She really is a good looking girl."
She then turned to Ding Zhaorong and smiled, "I think she is not bad. I will leave her for the emperor to see tomorrow.
What do you think, sister? "
Ding Zhaorong gritted her teeth and pretended to be happy. She immediately agreed, "Whatever sister says, of course it is!"
The rest of the selection was because the empress dowager did not come. The empress was very easygoing, so not many people were selected. Originally, there were five hundred people left, but now there were eight hundred.
Qianwandi had finished his work that night and had just returned to Qing Zheng Hall when he heard the news.
Mingde sat by the window, wrapped in a snow fur coat. His sharp chin was coldly raised and his face was expressionless.
Qianwandi went over and lifted his chin, asking, "You are very happy, aren't you?"
Mingde turned his face away, his eyelashes fluttering rapidly. A small shadow swayed on his snow-white face.
Qianwandi saw this and a bit of anger slowly rose in his heart. He could not help but rub his thumb hard on Mingde's face. He said in a low voice, "Don't say eight hundred, even eight thousand would be useless.
You should just stay here obediently. "
Mingde suddenly slapped his hand down. Then Qianwandi picked him up by the waist and hugged him in the air, pressing him tightly onto his thigh.
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The palace maids all around hurriedly and silently retreated. Mingde struggled with all his might, reaching out to grab anything he could reach and smashing it viciously.
The memorials on the desk were thrown all over the ground. The precious porcelain was smashed to pieces. The exquisite trinkets that Qianwandi had ordered for him to relieve his boredom were swept to the ground. If it was not for Qianwandi stopping him, Mingde might have pounced and stepped on them.
He was as violent as a crazy little beast.
Qianwandi's strong arms wrapped tightly around his waist. He leaned down and whispered in his ear, "What is it?
How come you don't have the leisure to copy another lotus sutra? "
Mingde screamed, "— Let go of me!"
Qianwandi tightened his grip. As he struggled, he felt pain in his chest. It was Mingde's elbow that had hit him hard.
This little thing's hit was quite painful. Qianwandi frowned. Mingde hit him even harder.
Qianwandi suddenly grabbed his wrist and twisted it. There was a cracking sound of bones dislocating. It seemed to vibrate the air, stimulating the eardrums in waves.
Mingde cried out. It was thin and trembling, like a kitten whose claws had been broken.
Qianwandi felt that it was unbearable.
As he struggled, he wanted to pick Mingde up and throw him onto the bed countless times. He wanted to chain him up with the thickest iron chain, wantonly violate him, wantonly vent his desire on him, and listen to his weak whimpers and pleas.
He stood up, grabbed Mingde's hair tightly, and violently kissed his lips and tongue.
This little thing's teeth were sharp. Every word that came out of his thin, beautifully shaped lips could be a sharp knife, ruthlessly and viciously tearing people's hearts.
Only when that mouth was kissed so hard that it could not speak, could people feel a little safe.
He swept Mingde's mouth valiantly. He did not let go until he felt that the hand holding his front lapel had lost its strength.
Mingde panted softly in his arms. His warm and soft body curled up into a ball. It seemed that he could pick him up with one hand.
Qianwandi reached out to touch his face. He felt cold liquid. "… Why are you crying?"
Mingde did not speak. He was as stiff as a little beast that was ready to pounce on him and bite him with his baby teeth.
Qianwandi tried hard to straighten his face. Big drops of tears flowed from his black and bright eyes. No matter how hard he tried to wipe them away, he could not wipe them away.
Qianwandi wiped his tears with his rough fingertips. He asked in a low voice, "Why are you crying?
… Hmm?
Wasn't it very good that day?
What are you afraid of? "
Mingde still did not speak. He was trembling slightly.
Qianwandi picked him up and strode to the side of the dragon bed. He pressed him down on the side of the bed. Then he knelt on the ground. He pinched the thin wrist and reconnected the bone with a crack.
Mingde did not move. He curled himself up in the quilt. Qianwandi pulled the quilt with force and held him in his arms.
He used so much force that the veins on his arms bulged. It was as if he wanted to break Mingde's body from the middle.
"What do you want?"
Qianwandi asked. "Power, money, status, prestige, the worship of thousands of people, the allegiance of the four seas … I can even give you the world!
What do you want?
What are you not satisfied with? "
Mingde turned his face away and did not look at him. Qianwandi knelt down and held him tightly in his arms. He asked in a low voice, "What do you want?
As long as you open your mouth, as long as you say it to me … Mingde, as long as you open your mouth! "
"…" Mingde closed his eyes and asked in return, "You're asking me what I want again?"
Qianwandi suddenly stood up. He went to get something and stuffed it in front of Mingde.
Mingde looked down. It was a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone. It was the Lotus Sutra.
"Copy another one for me …" Qianwandi knelt on the ground and held Mingde tightly in his arms. His voice was so deep that it seemed to come from his chest, "… Copy another one for me, okay?
I beg you, copy another one. I will keep it well. I won't let anyone see it. I won't let anyone touch it … "
He kissed Mingde's face carelessly. His lips and tongue were burning hot, "… Mingde, I beg you, I beg you …"
Mingde smiled, "I won't copy it."
His smile was indescribably twisted. It was so gorgeous that it made people's hair stand on end.
"Li Ji," he said, "Unless you kill me and chop off my hand, I will never copy another word of the sutra in my life."
Qianwandi grabbed Mingde and dragged him down from the dragon bed. Mingde stumbled and fell behind him. He was dragged all the way to the desk and slammed into the huge armchair.
Emperor Qian Wan grabbed Ming De's hand with such force that Ming De's knuckles cracked. He shoved a pen into Ming De's hand, his voice sharp to the point of being ear-piercing, "Are you going to copy or not?!"
Mingde struggled silently and violently. The two of them wrestled with each other. The armchair fell to the ground with a loud noise. It echoed in the magnificent bedchamber for a long time.
Qianwandi pushed Mingde to the ground and grabbed his fingers. He didn't care that Mingde was biting his arm. Blood dripped onto the thick, exotic carpet.
"Are you going to copy it or not?"
Qianwandi asked sternly. His high-pitched voice was full of uncontrollable fear and panic. "Mingde, if you dare to say that you won't copy it, I dare you to try!"
Mingde's brows furrowed together. His eyes were filled with obvious disgust, "In your dreams."
Qianwandi suddenly let go of him. He stood up and staggered out of the door.
Mingde lay on the carpet. He trembled and panted for a while. He heard Qianwandi's angry roar from outside the door. It drifted in the air. It seemed to be very far away, so far that it couldn't be touched.
"… As long as he doesn't copy the Lotus Sutra, I won't let him eat for a day!
I want to see how long he can be stubborn. I want to see when he will admit defeat to me! "