Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

While the noble ladies were being selected, Su Wan secretly had her maid bring over Cui Zhiyao's information. After reading it, she suddenly realized what was going on.

"No wonder!"

"So it turns out that Cui Zhiyao is the younger sister of Cui Shenji, the Minister of Justice!"

"So even the King of Han had his own selfish motives..."

Su Wan knew that Cui Shenji was Du He's good brother, and they were previously known as the Four Swordsmen of Chang'an. It was only natural for Du He to help Cui Shenji now.

Furthermore, Cui Zhiyao's figure is not voluptuous enough, so His Majesty may not necessarily like her.

The seventh round of noble ladies has many promising talents. These women are not only well-proportioned and elegant, but most of them also come from middle-class aristocratic families.

Su Wan advanced 20 people to the second round in one go, while the 10 eliminated were just a little short.

The sun was about to set.

Su Wanchao ordered the female official, "Speed ​​up the process and try to finish selecting the remaining 90 people before dark."

"The second round of selection will begin after tomorrow's court assembly."

After receiving the order, the female officials sped up the question-and-answer session and the display of their physical demeanor, and they were also asked to quickly demonstrate their talents and qualities.

In the final three rounds, Du He personally selected four women from the Xiao family of Lanling, the Wang family of Taiyuan, the Lu family of Fanyang, and the Pei family of Hedong.

All four of them are tall, slender beauties with shoulders and hips of equal width.

These beauties each have their own unique features; some have sensual lips, others have captivating eyes, and still others have beautiful toes...

Su Wan felt that the four women Du He had chosen, apart from having decent facial features, were not as good as the other women in terms of figure and knowledge.

In particular, none of these women's figures met her standards.

"Does His Majesty really like these people?"

"Could it be that the King of Han only selected women from the families of his three brothers, Xiao Kai, Wang Jingzhi, and Pei Xingjian, for the sake of them?"

Despite her doubts, Su Wan still allowed the four people to advance directly.

After all, with 121 concubines in the harem, it wouldn't be a big deal to let the King of Han send in 5 more.

After the selection process ended, the sky had already begun to darken.

Su Wan pinched her brow wearily, then asked gently, "Your Highness, you've been busy all day. Would you like to have a meal at the palace before heading back?"

Du He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I'd better go back to the Princess's residence to eat."

Hearing Du He's words, Su Wan didn't try to persuade her further.

She knew Du He's homebody nature, and usually, even if His Majesty had something to do, he wouldn't consult Du He when it was almost time to leave work.

...

Night falls.

Du He had just finished his meal at the princess's residence and was about to take a walk in the garden with his wives and concubines when his maid Xue Mei hurried over and said something.

"Your Highness, Minister Cui, Vice Minister Xiao, and Junior Minister Wang request an audience. They are waiting in the main hall."

Upon hearing that the three musketeers were coming, Du He's lips curled slightly.

These three guys have absolutely no patience.

Du He stood up and said with a smile, "You all take a bath and wait for me. I'll be right back."

Upon hearing Du He's words, Li Yi, Yin Yushan, and the other three blushed.

My husband is becoming increasingly indecent. He used to be more restrained, but now he has completely revealed his true nature.

Li Yi said coquettishly, "Husband, you'll be alone in your room these next few days. I'm going to sleep with Sister Yu Shan!"

Du He chuckled and said, "That saves me trouble."

The four women rolled their eyes at Du He, and instead of continuing their flirtatious banter, they walked towards the garden path.

It's springtime now, and peonies and irises are in full bloom.

Walk into the lobby.

Cui Shenji, Wang Jingzhi, and Xiao Kai quickly surrounded them, asking anxiously.

"Brother Du, how is the situation?"

"Was she selected?"

Seeing the three musketeers looking so nervous, Du He was speechless.

Neither of them cared about their own careers or their sister's selection of a concubine, and it's unclear whether they were being pressured by their elders.

Du He curled her lip and said, "Your three younger sisters have already secured their spots as imperial concubines."

"As for what kind of concubine she will be conferred, that depends on His Majesty's preference."

He and Li Chengqian were just childhood friends, not someone who could read Li Chengqian's mind. Nobody knew how Li Chengqian appointed his concubines.

However, the five beauties he selected for Li Chengqian not only suited Li Chengqian's taste, but also had unique characteristics.

Their ranks as concubines should not be too low.

"Great!"

Upon hearing this, the three of them jumped up excitedly.

Choi Shin-ki exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Du, it's so good that my sister got in! It's so good that she got in!"

"It's enough to satisfy my father. Even if I'm only given the lowest rank of concubine, it doesn't matter."

Upon hearing Choi Shin-ki's words, Du He's face was filled with confusion.

As the lowest-ranking concubine, she did not have her own private palace, and she was never guaranteed to be favored by Li Chengqian in her lifetime.

Is this okay?

Cui Shenji noticed the confusion on Du He's face and explained, "Brother Du, I know my sister is very thin and not a great beauty."

"Being chosen as a concubine is an incredible stroke of luck for her. My father and I didn't have high expectations for her."

Well...

Du He's expression paused slightly.

It seems that in this era where plumpness is considered beautiful, only Li Chengqian shared a similar view, preferring slender yet full-figured women.

There was a pause.

Choi Shin-ki continued, "Ever since I was appointed Minister of Justice, my father's temper has become outrageously bad, and he finds fault with everything I do."

"In just two months, I have been beaten no less than ten times."

The old saying goes that the younger generation surpasses the older generation, but when his achievements actually surpassed his father's, the situation was quite different from what one might imagine.

His proud father was almost losing face.

However, when his father met with the clan elders and friends, his attitude was completely different; he practically praised him to the skies.

Du He chuckled and said, "Brother Cui, how about we ask His Majesty to transfer you to the position of Assistant Minister of Justice, so you can avoid getting beaten up a few times?"

Choi Sin-ki quickly said, "No, no, Brother Du, my body can still handle it."

After joking around for a while, the three musketeers went back to report in high spirits.

Just as Du He was about to leave the hall, he caught a glimpse of three brocade boxes on a cushion to the side.

He walked over and opened the brocade box. Inside were three pieces of beautiful jade, along with messages from the three of them.

"A gift for my nephew, Du Ping'an."

These three guys...

Du He shook her head, then took the brocade box and walked towards the backyard.

...

The next day.

After the court meeting of all officials ended.

Du He did not go to the Privy Council, but went directly to the Yeting Palace.

Empress Su Wan was already waiting inside the main hall, while the 300 wealthy young women who had entered the second round stood in the square outside the Yeting Palace.

"See the Queen."

Su Wan waved her hand and said with a smile, "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities. We selected 121 people this morning, and His Majesty will bestow titles upon the first 31 concubines this afternoon."

"promise."

Du He bowed in response.

The positions of the concubines that were set were not stable. Li Chengqian would adjust them according to his own preferences, or make appropriate additions or subtractions.

The first conferment of titles upon concubines was merely to fill the ranks of concubines.

Su Wanchao ordered the female official, "Let's begin."

The second round of selection was even more rigorous. In addition to continuing to demonstrate their etiquette and demeanor, the female officials would also pose specific questions for them to answer on the spot.

Two hours later, Su Wan made her decision and selected 121 people.

Du He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, my mission is complete. His Majesty will come this afternoon to finalize the conferment of ranks, so I will not come."

Su Wan nodded and said, "Your Highness Han, you've worked hard."

in the afternoon.

When Li Chengqian arrived at Yeting Palace, he stood up abruptly when he saw the five beauties standing at the front, his face filled with surprise.

Not bad!

really not bad!

Su Wan followed Li Chengqian's gaze and asked curiously, "Your Majesty, these five women were personally selected by the Prince of Han from noble families. Is there a problem?"