“These matters are a long story; I’ll tell you slowly later.”
Zhao Yungui didn’t dwell on the question, excitedly pulling Shen Zhinian’s hand to reminisce.
Watching her friend’s graceful demeanor, a flicker of doubt crossed Shen Zhinian’s eyes.
Although Zhao Yungui was uninhibited, she was still the legitimate daughter of a fourth-rank official, with impeccable manners. Shen Zhinian couldn’t understand how she could have committed an impropriety before the court in her previous life.
In her previous life, Shen Zhinian had asked Shen Nanqiao this question, but she was immersed in the joy of being conferred as a Guiren and had no mind to pay attention to Zhao Yungui, so Shen Zhinian didn’t know the reason.
In this life, she could only be extra vigilant!
“Zhao Jie Jie, I haven’t seen you for a while; so you came over here.”
A soft, warbling female voice like a nightingale came from behind. Shen Zhinian turned to look and saw a delicate beauty slowly approaching, holding a teacup.
She wore a soft silver-white light silk long dress, with a matching sash tied around her slender, impossibly delicate waist.
Her waterfall-like dark hair cascaded down her back, unadorned by jewels, with only a pink-purple phalaenopsis orchid pinned in it and two light silk ribbons hanging down to her chest.
At a glance, she resembled a lotus emerging from water, elegant and ethereal. Her fragile, willow-like posture made even other women feel a pang of pity.
Zhao Yungui smiled as she introduced the two.
“Zhinian Jie, this is my bosom friend, Liu Ruyan, the daughter of the Prefect of Yangzhou.”
“Yan’er, this is Shen Zhinian, the daughter of the Da Li Si Si Cheng, my best friend in the Capital, whom I’ve told you about before.”
While the Prefect of Yangzhou was a fourth-rank official and the Da Li Si Si Cheng was only a sixth-rank official, Liu Ruyan showed no arrogance, bowing slightly to Shen Zhinian with a gentle smile.
“Miss Shen, Zhao Jie Jie always speaks of you; seeing you today, you truly are a rare beauty.”
“Miss Liu is the true national beauty, so lovely I can’t help but pity her!”
Shen Zhinian returned a polite bow with a smile, a hint of surprise in her heart.
In her previous life, after this Miss Liu entered the Imperial Harem, she was deeply favored by the Emperor and was known for her benevolent heart. Later, she became Consort Xian, the head of the Four Consorts, and was the concubine most likely to compete with the Noble Consort for the position of Empress!
It was a pity that until Shen Zhinian’s death, the Emperor never established an Empress again, so she didn’t know who had the last laugh.
In her previous life, she had never heard that Liu Ruyan and Zhao Yungui were acquainted; she never expected them to be bosom friends.
No concubine who could carve out a path in the Imperial Harem was simple; Shen Zhinian didn’t believe that Liu Ruyan was as fragile and harmless as she appeared.
She grew more wary but showed no change in expression.
After greeting each other, Liu Ruyan handed the teacup in her hand to Zhao Yungui and smiled faintly, “Zhao Jie Jie, you’ve been talking for so long, you must be thirsty, right? Drink some water to moisten your throat.”
Zhao Yungui accepted it with a smile.
“Yan’er is still so thoughtful and considerate; she will definitely catch His Majesty’s eye.”
Liu Ruyan blushed with embarrassment.
“Zhao Jie Jie, don’t tease Yan’er…”
A warning bell immediately rang in Shen Zhinian’s heart!
The maidens were all competitors today; could it be that Zhao Yungui’s impropriety before the court in her previous life was caused by this cup of tea?
She stopped her friend from drinking the tea and said gently, “Zhao Meimei, it should be our turn soon. It’s better to drink less at this time.”
To avoid having a sudden urge to relieve oneself.
Zhao Yungui slapped her forehead.
“Right, right, right! Let’s just endure it.”
Shen Zhinian had been observing Liu Ruyan’s expression, but she showed no abnormality; a hint of apology appeared on her delicate and soft face.
“Miss Shen is more thoughtful; Yan’er was inconsiderate.”
Just then, the eunuch announcing names called out Zhao Yungui’s name. Shen Zhinian quickly gave her a few instructions and urged her to go over.
Liu Ruyan smiled and chatted casually with Shen Zhinian, showing no signs of guilt or frustration over a failed scheme. Shen Zhinian couldn’t be certain if she had ill intentions, but she secretly remained on guard.
It wasn’t until the next group of maidens went forward for their audience that no maiden was reported to have committed an impropriety before the court and been punished. Shen Zhinian then knew that the cause truly lay in that cup of tea!
Her friend had finally avoided the great calamity of her previous life. Shen Zhinian breathed a sigh of relief, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
The gentle and kind Consort Xian of her previous life, excellent!
Finally, it was Shen Zhinian’s turn to have an audience with the Emperor. Liu Ruyan watched her slender back, her face still bearing a gentle smile, but her hand clenched beneath her sleeve.
How dare she ruin her plan!
Was Shen Zhinian unintentional, or did she sense something?
...
The selection process involved six maidens having an audience with the Emperor at a time. Shen Zhinian was not familiar with the other five. Led by a Ma'am, they stood in a row outside the hall.
“Lin Xiaoye, daughter of Lin Rumo, the Deputy Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, age fifteen!”
The maiden whose name was called respectfully stepped forward and bowed.
Nangong Xuanyu was a very young Emperor, only twenty-three years old this year, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon pattern, exuding an innate noble aura.
He had sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, a handsome face, and a stern demeanor, carrying the Emperor’s majesty that made people dare not look directly at him.
This was Nangong Xuanyu’s first selection since his ascension. As he impatiently waved his hand, the eunuch’s shrill voice rang out again.
“Lin Xiaoye, drop your name, bestow a flower!”
The maidens who were not chosen all looked sad and left in disappointment.
In a flash, only Shen Zhinian remained in this group.
“Shen Zhinian, daughter of Da Li Si Si Cheng Shen Maoxue, age sixteen!”
Shen Zhinian took a step forward and bowed gracefully.
“This subject’s daughter, Shen Zhinian, greets Your Majesty and Empress Dowager!”
“May Your Majesty and Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and golden peace!”
Nangong Xuanyu’s gaze fell upon her, and his eyes brightened slightly.
He wasn’t fond of women, and the selection wasn’t his original intention. However, as he had just ascended the throne, he needed to balance the imperial court and the Imperial Harem.
But after several hours, looking at these gaudily dressed maidens made his eyes ache. At a glance, they all seemed to look the same.
The young girl kneeling below, however, wore a light blue dress, fresh and refined. There were no superfluous decorations on her head; her ink-black long hair was held solely by a magnolia hairpin, naturally unadorned.
It was as if a cool breeze had blown in during midsummer, dispelling the summer heat and dryness.
Nangong Xuanyu’s eyes deepened.
“Raise your head.”
Maidens were not allowed to look directly at the Emperor’s face, or it would be considered disrespectful. Shen Zhinian kept her eyes lowered throughout, but the angle she revealed was carefully designed.
Nangong Xuanyu saw the young girl’s beautiful face.
But even more striking than her beauty was her alluring temperament. It was as if every frown and smile could captivate one’s soul!
The Emperor possessed the entire world, and Nangong Xuanyu had seen many alluring beauties. The charm they flaunted might be irresistible to other men, but he found it vulgar.
Yet, the expression on the young girl’s face was one of innocent bewilderment, tinged with a hint of nervousness, like a young deer in the forest.
She was charming without realizing it, which explained her attire, perfectly combining alluring and pure temperaments.
Seeing the change in Nangong Xuanyu’s eyes, Empress Dowager Liu’s heart suddenly sank!
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