“Was it confirmed?”, a soft voice questioned with indifference.
“Yes, your highness.His majesty is indeed allowing commoners to participate in the maiden selection.”
The maid dressed in yellow answered with a calm expression, even though deep down she was extremely worried for her master.
“…His majesty is allowing commoners? Is there a limit for them?”
The male consort was looking ahead as he was drinking his tea, in a daze.
“No, there’s no limit. However,not many can enter the palace, after all.”
The dowry maid answered her master diligently.
She wasn’t being a hypocrite by condemning commoners, her people,but she was worried that there would be too many ladies entering the harem.
Consort Xiao on the other hand was worried that the commoners would be as power-hungry as the other concubines.
“…They can’t afford decent clothes? How can that be?”, the consort put the cup of tea down and let his finger slowly tap his fingers on the table beside him before continuing, “The country is prosperous, naturally all the people should live decently at least…”
Seeing the sadness on her master’s face Meihui felt delighted to see that the noble person she serves cares about lower people. People like her.
“Commoners always had it hard and not too many are lucky to live a decent life.”
Consort Xiao locked eyes with Meihui for a while, letting the two brown colors meet before extending his arm for his maid’s hold.
“I need to write a letter to FùqÄ«n..”
Meihui guided her master to the table where brushes, paint, and rice paper were placed meticulously.
Consort Xiao took his seat in front of the table and grabbed some paper and put it in place before getting the brush and dipping it in the fresh ink made by his maid.
After finishing the letter, Meihui had an eunuch deliver it to Xiao’s household.
Yaozu looked at his dowry maid intently, lost in thoughts before going back to his comfortable seat.
“..There’s still no Gugu in my palace, I would like for you to have the honor.”
Yaozu took his seat gracefully before the maid bowed before him, to show her gratitude.
“Thank you, your Highness, for your grace.”
Meihui didn’t expect a talk about poor fated people like her would grant her a higher rank.
She was very happy, however, as a higher rank meant a higher salary. Meaning she and her family can live decently now.
“There’s no need to bow, it was a given as you are my dowry maid. You may rise.”
Consort Xiao smiled gently at the young girl before him. He couldn’t understand how he could be so blind.
“Your Highness, Eunuch Bai is here to inform you of the maiden selection.”
As Meihui stood up from the ground their meaningful moment was interrupted by a eunuch’s presence.
“Let him in.”
Consort Xiao replied in a soft voice, curious about the new information he will receive.
Soon a young servant entered the chambers slowly.
“Greetings your Highness Consort Xiao.”
The young eunuch respectfully bowed before the male consort.
“You may rise”
Yaozu started analyzing the person before him carefully.
He looked quite young, no older than 25. He also had a relaxed expression on his face.
“Your Highness, I’m here to inform you that his majesty requests your presence at the maiden selection.”
The eunuch spoke in a gentle voice, to not upset the consort before him.
“..Why is my presence needed? Isn’t her highness the royal consort attending the maiden selection?”
Consort Xiao wasn’t confused at all. He thought about the fact that, if the Royal consort isn’t present at the maiden selection he would have to attend.
He has the highest rank in the harem beside royal consort Hui, after all.
“Her Highness will not be present as she isn’t feeling too well at the moment and it’s not certain if she will be well in a few days.”
Yaozu frowned slightly after hearing the eunuch’s statement. Was the emperor discarding the royal consort? And most importantly, the selection is in a few days.
“In a few days…Isn’t the maiden selection in two weeks?”
Yaozu looked at the servant in front of him curiously waiting for an answer.
“The maiden selection was going to happen in two weeks indeed but his majesty hurried things a little.”
The servant answered meticulously to the male consort.
“I see, convey his majesty my thanks for granting me this honor.”
Consort Xiao knew the emperor let him attend because he was the only high-ranked concubine in the harem besides the sick royal consort, but he couldn’t refuse.The emperor’s wrath is not something he needed.
He loved living in the palace of eternal harmony peacefully.
“Yes, your highness.This servant is taking his leave.”
The eunuch bowed before leaving the chambers quietly.
“Do you reckon royal consort Hui is pregnant with an imperial heir?”
Yaozu asked Meihui bluntly, smiling mockingly.
Meihui was surprised by her master’s bluntness but smiled nonetheless.
“Well, if that is so, then her highness is truly blessed.”
Meihui answered in a sarcastic tone, amused by her master.
“Imagine if she truly is. Everybody would turn around after catching sight of the royal child unless his majesty’s cold attitude is just a facade.”
Yaozu giggled at the silly thought before standing on his feet and extending his arm to Meihui.
“Have Hailan assist me to take a walk, you go change your clothes now, Gugu Meihui.”
Meihui smiled slightly and bowed her head in affirmation.
But she was worried to let her master with Hailan and decided to change quickly and not let his highness with the spy too much.
——————— Few days later——-
“Your Highness is ready to go.”
Yaozu stood up from the chair beside the table where a wide mirror was placed.
Consort Xiao observed his clothes a little, seeing how his pale complexion emphasized the gold clothes he was wearing. (image above)
He extended his arm to his dowry maid for her to hold and walked out of the chambers.
Outside the palace of eternal harmony, a neat carriage was waiting.
“Please be careful, your highness.”
Consort Xiao quickly took his seat in the carriage, wanting to finish his duty as soon as he can.
On the way to the heavenly hall where the maiden selection was taking place, many servants bowed before consort Xiao, this time with more respect.
“It seems this selection has its merits, after all.”
Yaozu commented, looking at Meihui smiling mockingly.
The Gugu smirked as well, amused by gold digger servants.
“Let down the carriage.”
Consort Xiao got out of the carriage as soon as it reached the ground.
The Gugu diligently helped her master to the heavenly hall where the emperor and empress dowager were seated.
“May peace and grace be with your majesties.”
Yaozu knelt before the two royal persons greeting them.
Both were dressed in golden attire as himself. However,empress dowager’s hair was heavily decorated with jewelry.
“You may rise, Consort Xiao.”
The empress dowager smiled sweetly at him, dismissing formalities.
“Thank you, your majesties.”
Yaozu stood up and took his seat, which was speared from the seats of the two royalties.
As soon as Yaozu was seated an eunuch started announcing girls.
“Shen Meixin, daughter of official Shen, seventeen of age.”
A young girl entered elegantly and knelt before the emperor and empress dowager.
“May your majesties live a thousand years and one thousand more.”
The young miss had a fierce face. She seems to be a very ambitious and intelligent lady.
“She does seem to be a very ambitious and intelligent lady. She is indeed official Shen’s daughter.”
Yaozu smiled as he was gently moving the fan, making mild air touch his face.
Official Shen was very ambitious indeed. He conveyed the rank of prime minister but wasn’t too righteous in his work.
Normally, Yaozu wouldn’t have commented but the girl seems too ambitious to his liking.
“Her complexion is good too. What does your majesty think?”
It’s true, she is indeed pretty. She has a pale complexion, a beautiful body, and black doll eyes. However, he doesn’t like ambitious people, Yaozu would know.
“She indeed has similarity to a plum blossom. Sadly plum blossoms are rare.”
The emperor didn’t have the intention to make Shen’s daughter a concubine, but he still wanted to hear consort Xiao’s thoughts.
“Offer the red flower!”
The eunuch announced after the emperor’s statement.
Young lady Shen stood up slowly and took the flower, sad over the rejection.
Another young lady entered as elegantly as the one before.
“An Yuyan, Imperial guard An Yuche, sixteen of age.”
The young lady An knelt in front of the royalties.
“Lady An greets your majesties and wishes good fortune befalls the emperor, empress dowager and consort Xiao.”
Lady An seems to be more sympathetic and good with words too. She doesn’t seem fierce or ambitious but she seems to be quite smart and pretty too.
“Lady An seems to be sensible and quite intelligent too.”
Yaozu smiled gently looking at the emperor and empress dowager, while slightly moving the fan forward, making air surround him.
“Have you studied?”
Empress Dowager finally questioned one of the candidates.
“Yes, your highness.I have studied rules for women and virtues of women.”
The empress dowager analyzed Lady An intently before smiling at her.
“I appreciate that you’re literate, as most ladies focus on embroidery.”
Lady An smiled gently at the gracious compliment.
“Have you read Confucius?”
The emperor seemed to have made up his mind.
“Sadly, I didn’t have the chance to do so.”
Lady An had an emotionless face.Not very happy it seems.
The emperor smiled nodding at Lady An, the thing which made the eunuch announce the decision.
“Grant the sachet.”
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