Chapter 1050: The Selection

Xia Ruqing bowed her head and thought for a while, then said softly.

"Emperor, you’ve already used that excuse!"

"Even if all of Jiangnan flooded, you can’t avoid the selection of fine ladies!"

Zhao Junyao: "..."

Suddenly, he felt like he was being seen through, for the first time.

"How did you know?" He was quite surprised.

The petitions suggesting the selection of fine ladies from those civil officials were all kept in his study, unpublished.

That matter shouldn’t have reached the harem.

Xia Ruqing smiled.

"Just a guess!"

Then she said softly:

"It’s been so many years, and you have only selected two ladies into the palace!"

"If there’s no selection soon, I’ll become a jealous woman throughout history!"

Zhao Junyao looked at her with unchanged expression.

"Do you want them to enter the palace?" His tone slightly deepened.

Xia Ruqing didn’t notice, and just helplessly spread her hands.

"I don’t want it!"

Zhao Junyao’s eyes lit up for a moment, and before he could say anything, Xia Ruqing added.

"But I’m afraid of being a jealous woman!"

"Also!"

"Those daughters from official families are all determined to come in, I can’t stop them!"

"If I really stop them, I’m afraid they’d curse me behind my back for blocking their fortune!"

Zhao Junyao pondered and nodded.

"Exactly!"

Those women are willing to make any sacrifice and say anything to enter the palace.

He frowned, feeling helpless.

He’d trained the women in the harem for so many years, and they had finally realized the reality and lived steadily.

And now he’s asked to select new ones.

Who knows how long the commotion would last, it’s truly unacceptable.

Besides, the Eldest Princess is already fourteen years old.

Asking him to accept a bunch of young girls his daughter’s age as concubines, it’s simply...

Although his father and even the ancestors did it.

He still couldn’t quite accept it.

He gave Xia Ruqing a cold look.

Seeing her looking at him with a faint smile.

Zhao Junyao felt extremely frustrated, his face immediately turned long.

"Can’t you help think of a solution?"

This little heartless, all those days of affection were in vain.

Xia Ruqing laughed with a ’pfft’.

"Emperor, oh Emperor!"

"What solution could I have? Even if I have one, you wouldn’t want it!"

Zhao Junyao suddenly raised his head.

"What solution!"

Xia Ruqing leaned secretly closer to his ear and whispered a few words.

Zhao Junyao’s face turned green instantly, filled with shock and incredulity.

"You..."

Xia Ruqing gave an even more mischievous smile.

"That’s an ultimate solution, does the Emperor want it?"

Zhao Junyao’s face turned darker.

"Are you gloating?!"

Suggesting that he was impotent! That was utterly ridiculous.

He just didn’t want to disappoint those young girls.

No need to sacrifice his lifetime reputation for them.

If he couldn’t refuse them, let them into the palace, so what?

They’re not wolves and tigers.

He didn’t believe he couldn’t handle a few women.

The more he thought, the angrier he became.

He suddenly picked her up, saying menacingly.

"You’ll know whether I’m impotent or not soon!"

Xia Ruqing was startled, and as realization dawned, she felt a bit guilty.

"Emperor!"

"You asked for a solution!"

Zhao Junyao’s face was gloomy.

"What kind of nonsense is that!"

Could such matters be joked about randomly?

Xia Ruqing: "..."

Mumbling softly: "You insisted on me saying it!"

Before the words were finished.

She was thrown onto the bed by him, pressed down.

In the abrupt warmth of the spring night, the chamber remained cozy.

The candle flames on the headboard flickered, casting a shadow of two mingling lovebirds.

Inside the red fragrant tent, the scene was enchanting and romantic.

...

Time passed neither fast nor slow into April.

Several Jieyu had already moved to new residences.

Honored Lady Bai and Honored Lady Yang had also moved to Xifu Palace early.

The Eldest Princess and the Third Princess were properly taken care of.

For a time, everyone was content.

When the concubines greeted her, they couldn’t stop thanking her.

Xia Ruqing smiled and said.

"The Emperor is kind-hearted. As long as everyone stays out of trouble, leads a peaceful life, no one will dare to withhold your allowances!"

The Late Empress’s formal words she couldn’t learn.

She also didn’t enjoy hearing endless flattery from the servants.

Having been in the harem for so many years and witnessed countless life and death moments.

Even those not smart have grown much more sensible.

In their minds, a clear realization has formed.

’To live well, one must behave honestly!’

Therefore, Xia Ruqing didn’t want to ramble, simply told them straight.

Behave honestly and you’ll have good days ahead.

The people below were happier, naturally flattered her more.

She wasn’t fond of listening, casually chatted about other matters, and dismissed them.

The harem remained harmonious.

...

The decree for the selection of fine ladies hadn’t been issued yet.

However, as it’s been three years since the Late Empress passed away, and there was neither any disaster nor national crisis, the selection was bound to happen.

Families with eligible daughters were secretly preparing.

Xia Ruqing also received many petitions from Ladies of Enjoin outside the palace.

They detailed their daughters’ ages, appearances, conduct, and virtues.

This was also a tradition in the Great Chu Dynasty.

Families who wanted their daughters to participate in the selection would send a petition to give notice in advance.

If the Emperor showed intention, the selection wouldn’t be too difficult.

Families not interested wouldn’t submit a petition, leaving their daughters’ selection up to fate.

In cases of the second kind.

Typically, an emperor, despite having a white beard and being an old man, would still hold a selection, and families hesitate over their daughters’ futures.

Of course, with someone like Zhao Junyao, young, promising and spirited, ministers in the court were definitely not going to miss this chance.

So.

The petitions around Xia Ruqing were like a flurry of snowflakes, some even sent from borders.

It showed the immense allure of the Emperor husband.

One day.

Looking at the piles of petitions filling the desk, Xia Ruqing felt overwhelmed.

"There are simply too many!"

"They keep coming, with no end!"

Even though she was mentally prepared, it was still hard to accept.

She used to think ’thousands of beautiful women in the harem’ was just a poet’s line.

Turns out, it was for real!

With Enjoin status, those who could submit petitions to the palace were already so many.

Plus those ordinary official daughters without Enjoin.

From Capital City, from outside, Fourth Rank, Fifth Rank, civil officials, military generals, those with titles, those with ranks, etc.!

Adding all together.

The number of fine ladies in this selection...just thinking about it gave her goosebumps.

She simply tossed the petitions aside.

"Forget it, looking at them makes my head spin!"

"I’ll take a break and check on Yue Er!" She said and stood up.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard a report from outside.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Xia Ruqing felt a surge of irritation.

"Why is he here, isn’t he busy?"

This is rare in broad daylight!

Though puzzled she still greeted him respectfully.

"Greetings, Emperor!"

Zhao Junyao strode in swiftly, gestured her to rise immediately.

"Qingqing! Quickly rise!"

While speaking, he firmly pulled her into the inner chamber.

"Hey hey hey, Emperor slow down!"

"What happened?"