The most beautiful lady in the harem

"Now above the four concubines, there are Concubine Shu, Concubine De, and Concubine Xian. I think that the emperor might make Concubine Xian the empress."

After all, Concubine Xian has been managing the harem for the Queen and has kept it in perfect order. She seems to be the best candidate for the new Queen, Wei Lanxin said quickly.

The Empress Dowager Dong had half-closed her eyes. Upon hearing this, she raised her eyelids and glanced at her. "You can call her Shufei, Xianfei, or Defei. But you should stop saying these things outside this palace."

Wei Lanxin came back to her senses at once, realizing that she had spoken out of turn, and quickly said, "Your Majesty, I have no other intentions, I just want to tell the Queen Mother everything."

In fact, it was because of the Empress Dowager Dong's support that Wei Lanxin thought she was someone who could discuss these matters.

As for who should be made the empress from now on, Empress Dowager Dong couldn't understand the emperor's thoughts.

Just like him, she, as a mother, never understood it.

The first month of the year comes in the blink of an eye and goes by in the blink of an eye.

The previous queen had only been gone for a few months, and Emperor Yongjia did not seem to have any intention of appointing a new queen for the time being.

Emperor Yongjia's people are still investigating the cause of death, and they seem to be determined to get to the bottom of it.

However, the Empress Dowager Dong was not afraid of this. There would be no evidence even if they dug up the harem three feet deep. However, those people would not be able to find anything.

Although the Empress Dowager Dong warned Wei Lanxin not to talk too much so as to avoid being caught by others, she was alone in the harem, so how could she not like to hear these things?

The pleasure of the old people in the harem is to gossip after meals, and many of the words are passed back and forth to kill time.

The Empress Dowager Dong had no children and was free every day, so she naturally liked to listen.

Wei Lan thought to herself, "I've noticed that the emperor seems to treat Concubine Qin differently from other concubines..."

Not to mention that Emperor Yongjia had given a light punishment for violating the imperial edict before, Wei Lanxin always felt that Emperor Yongjia seemed to treat Concubine Qin in a special way.

I don’t know if it’s because of her extraordinary beauty that Wei Lanxin is so worried.

Speaking of Qin Liuse, Empress Dowager Dong naturally thought of her sister Qin Huaijin. After thinking for a while, she said, "Qin Jieyu was raised in a small country town. I heard that she grew up with the relatives of the Qin family. She was a country bumpkin. When she joined her uncle's family to do business, she also learned the shameful ability to please others."

Qin Huaijin cannot compare with these. She is the daughter of a respectable official family and cannot compare with those country vixens.

The Empress Dowager Dong laughed sarcastically. "That's what women from business families do. They only know how to win people's hearts and seduce the emperor. Most men are like that. But you don't need to worry. When you find a new beauty, you can look west for her."

Wei Lanxin was still not as open-minded as the Empress Dowager Dong, and continued, "Jieyi Qin is indeed good at pleasing the Emperor. I heard that Zhang Baolin, no, now she is Jieyi Zhang, the dragon fetus in her belly was saved by Jieyi Qin."

Empress Dowager Dong smiled and said, "That Zhang Baolin? He was raised in a small place. Even if his bloodline is good, he will become petty. That Baolin is a lowly girl who worked as a maid. It's not surprising that they can get together."

However, speaking of this, the Empress Dowager Dong recalled an old incident. Back then, Qin Liuse protected Zhang Baolin, and Concubine Xian also made a lot of efforts.

This virtuous concubine is good, but she is too virtuous. She really thinks that being virtuous can make a living.

If she really became the queen, she would definitely be like Zhu Wanxi, working wholeheartedly for Emperor Yongjia.

Thinking of this, Empress Dowager Dong looked at Wei Lanxin again and said to her, "You should pay more attention to the Emperor. Now that the Empress has been buried, it won't be long before the Jingshifang can put up a sign. You should go to the Emperor's side more often."

Although the queen is the mother of a country, this position can be replaced at any time. She is not as respected as the emperor and the previous emperor. If they pass away, the whole country will mourn.

Emperor Yongjia has few children now, and he has just ascended the throne, so he cannot be idle for too long.

The late queen had been ill for a long time and now that she has passed away, many people are saying that her death is actually a relief, so the atmosphere of sadness is not strong.

Emperor Yongjia needed to have more offspring. The Ministry of Rites meant that the new year had passed and it was almost time for the annual beauty pageant, so the beauty pageant and the expansion of the harem could be put on the agenda.

The emperor should not waste even a single day of his sowing time, as it is for the sake of his country and his people.

Therefore, the mourning period for the Queen has not yet ended, but some people are already thinking of dressing up to attract the attention of Emperor Yongjia.

Wei Lanxin is one of them.

--

The mourning period for the queen is three months.

By the end of March, spring comes and all things are nourished.

Although the palace was still wearing white silk and the mourning period had not yet ended, some concubines had already put on colorful spring clothes again, which were more colorful than flowers.

But he still had a piece of white silk tied around his wrist, showing that he was still in mourning for the queen.

The Jingshifang received instructions from the Ministry of Rites and presented memorials to the Emperor every day. Matters like continuing the lineage required every second count.

Qin Liuse also

After a few months of keeping my mind pure and simple, the sadness I felt at the beginning gradually faded into the calmness I feel now.

However, in the past two months, Emperor Yongjia did not seem to have turned over the card in the harem.

Although the Queen did not have many days to enjoy happiness with him, he seemed to be doing his best to fulfill his wish as a married couple for her in his own way.

The Empress Dowager Dong urged Wei Lanxin to walk in front of the Emperor every day to show herself up, while over in Yongshou Palace, the Empress Dowager Xi was also persuading Qin Liuse.

"I heard that the young lady outside the palace has to deliver things to the emperor's study every day. Look at you, the emperor just asked you to come to my place to be quiet, but you really took it seriously and came every day. Several months have passed. Why don't you go to the emperor to take a look?"

Now that he has been with the Empress Dowager Cixi for a long time, she is no longer as polite to Qin Liuse as before. She really treats him like a favored junior and even feels a little disappointed with him.

Moreover, after Qin Liuse saved Miss Zhucui's life last time, Zhucui no longer treats Qin Liuse with the same hostility as before.

"That's right, Concubine Qin seems to treat our Yongshou Palace as her home." Zhu Cui said with a smile, massaging the Empress Dowager Cixi's legs as she spoke.

"It is still the mourning period for the late queen. I thought that the emperor didn't invite anyone to sleep with him just because he didn't want to. So I didn't go to him and upset him, so I came to the Queen Mother's palace."

It’s not that Qin Liuse doesn’t want to compete for favor, but based on her understanding of Emperor Yongjia, it’s useless to go when he has his own plans.

Qin Liuse rarely showed her coquettish attitude towards the Empress Dowager, "I don't want to go anywhere else. I walk around every day and I don't know why I end up in the Empress Dowager's palace."

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Silly girl, why do you think so?"

"It's his business if the emperor doesn't turn over the cards. Whether you go to him and show your courtesy is another matter. There are so many women in the harem. I heard from the people in the Ministry of Rites that the selection will start again. There will be new people in the harem. If you don't go and take a look, how can he remember you?"

The Empress Dowager Cixi revealed Qin Liuse's evasive thoughts with just one sentence.

Qin Liuse didn't want to go, so the Queen Mother pushed her over in her own name, "It's not good for you to stay in Aijia Palace all the time. What's the point of staying with an old man? You young people will have things to do and warm things to talk about when you are together."

The Empress Dowager took a look outside and said, "Why don't you send some sweet soup from the kitchen to the Emperor, and tell him not to worry too much and to remember to rest."

Since the Empress Dowager Cixi said so, Qin Liuse naturally had to go, so she bowed to the Empress Dowager Cixi and said, "I obey your command."

The Empress Dowager Cixi looked at Qin Liuse's face. She had such a beautiful face, but she was dressed as bleakly as in the cold winter.

Then he warned her, "Your clothes are too plain. Although it is still the mourning period for the late queen, look at the harem. There are still several people who are mourning for the late queen. Everyone is dressed as gorgeous as flowers, but you are still dressed as if it is winter."

Even if it was her own son, the Empress Dowager Cixi would not deny that men are chosen based on appearance.

After hearing what the Empress Dowager Cixi said, Qin Liuse had to go back to Shu Yuexuan to change into another set of clothes.