Spring Drunk Chang'an

The family tradition of Cheng'en Mansion is really good. From top to bottom, family is above everything else, and family affection far outweighs interests!

Song Zhinian herself was also like this. She suddenly went from being the eldest daughter to the second daughter, and she had an older sister who was born a maid. This had a significant impact on her.

But she never complained.

She and Liu Changan also have a deep sisterly bond, so she completely cannot understand people like Shi Lin, and doesn't know how to comfort Shi Xiaoyue.

For a moment, I was completely paralyzed and stood there in a daze.

Liu Changan, however, had long known who Shi Lin was and accepted it quite well. She frowned and asked, "Then, Xiaoyue, is there no one in your family who can help find out about her?"

"My stepmother asked around. She was worried that my marriage to the Shouning Earl's Mansion might go awry, but she also went back to the palace to ask, hoping to inquire through the royal family, but she didn't find out anything."

"But I guess she will enter the palace this time."

Shi Xiaoyue tilted his head and speculated for a moment, then shook his head hesitantly, "Of course, it's also possible that it won't happen. After all, the emperor has to appear before him during the three selections."

"Who can fail to see such a huge flaw on my face? Your Majesty will definitely not keep me in the palace to learn the rules. Otherwise, who would he be able to appoint me to in the future?"

Shi Xiaoyue is the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Mansion after all. Although Shi Lin has that kind of personality, even if Emperor Yingwu points her to a cat, a dog, or a ranking, he will not stand up for his daughter.

But Emperor Yingwu would not do that!

Why? She was so mean and ungrateful, chilling the hearts of her ministers. Emperor Yingwu kept her in the palace to learn the rules. If she didn't cause any major trouble, didn't openly push others into trouble, or slap others, then Emperor Yingwu would at least give her a future...

Arranged marriages are necessary.

It can't be said to be too bad. The legitimate daughter of a duke will at least be a concubine when she enters the palace. The position is only given to princes or princes of the royal family. At the very least, she will be a concubine.

As for the remaining nobles, they must be wives.

Apart from the royal family, no other family is worthy of having a girl from the Duke's Mansion as a concubine.

Even if Shi Xiaoyue has flaws in her appearance.

The three of them were silent for a while, and then they saw the next batch of beauties lining up at the palace gate.

Liu Changan spoke first, "Then let's wait a little longer. After the three selections, if we're still together, I'll ask my aunt to ask the Empress..."

"Is this okay? Isn't it troublesome?" Shi Xiaoyue was startled and quickly shook her head, "No, no, it's not a big deal, forget it!"

"What's the big deal? What's the trouble? I'll ask for you."

On the side, without waiting for Liu Changan to answer, Song Zhinian patted his chest and made a promise.

Unlike Liu Changan, who had just returned to the mansion and had only a few contacts with Queen Song, and they were still very unfamiliar with each other, Song Zhinian had truly grown up in front of Queen Song.

Queen Song treated her as half a daughter.

Song Zhinian was quite used to entering Fengqi Palace. To be honest, if it weren't for the current beauty pageant that was being watched by everyone in the court and the public, he would have asked Queen Song as early as when Shi Xiaoyue was selected and he began to have doubts.

"Leave this to me, you don't have to worry about it."

"I promise to find out!"

Song Zhinian took on the responsibility.

Liu Changan chuckled when he saw this.

Shi Xiaoyue felt very embarrassed and thanked him sincerely. Then the three of them separated and went back to their homes.

Looking at Shi Xiaoyue's back, Xiong Zhen's lips moved twice, but in the end he said nothing.

Time passed quickly, and six days passed in the blink of an eye.

The second round of elections is over.

After rigorous selection, only 130 of the more than 800 beauties were left.

The elimination rate is quite amazing!

The unsuccessful beauties returned home one after another, and those from other provinces also began to leave the capital one after another.

The momentary bustling prosperity seemed to have ended, but for the more than 100 people who were selected.

The 'war' has just begun.

In the palace, Emperor Yingwu, Empress Song, Concubine Qu, and several concubines with princes sat high up in the Qiankun Hall.

On one side of the main hall, the chief eunuch called out the names of the people. "Liu Fang'er, daughter of Liu Decheng, the prefect of Xuanyin Prefecture; Sun Xuxu, daughter of Sun Changqing, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue; Zhou Hui, daughter of Zhou Qi, the director of the Hanlin Academy..."

"Greetings!"

In the open space outside the Qiankun Hall, more than a hundred beauties were divided into several rows and lined up obediently.

Whenever the chief eunuch called out someone's name, they would step out of the line and follow the palace servants into the hall to meet the emperor and the empress.

If the nobles took a fancy to the beautiful girls and were willing to keep them, they would give them a jade token. If they were not interested, they would give them jade beads.

I don't know what that means, is it to make people round and round, go home and eat themselves...

There were only more than a hundred people in the third selection, and His Majesty summoned five of them at a time.

Among them, those who are pleasing to the eye, have outstanding looks, or whose fathers, brothers, and ancestors have benefited from the emperor's influence, will be singled out by His Majesty and Queen Song, questioned a few questions, and given jade tokens.

The rest of the inconspicuous ones just knelt obediently on the side as a formality.

One set takes about half an hour.

With more than a hundred people, it would probably take more than two hours.

Standing at the head of the line, Liu Changan lowered his head and waited quietly.

She watched as the number of people in the team dwindled.

There were not many people who were given jade tokens. She glanced sideways and looked at Song Zhinian and Shi Xiaoyue, who were also at the head of the team.

Their foreheads were sunburned and sweaty, but their postures were straight and their manners were perfect.

She took a deep breath and calmed down.

At this time, the chief eunuch walked out of the Qiankun Hall and said, "Li Shuangshuang, daughter of Xuan Jingbei's daughter, Liu Chang'an, eldest granddaughter of Cheng'en Duke Song Bin, and Song Zhinian, second granddaughter, Shi Xiaoyue, eldest daughter of Qi Duke Shi Lin, and Han Shuyuan, daughter of Han Youdao, the chief minister of the inner chamber, are here to see you."

At a command, the five people whose names were called stood up in the queue.

Li Shuangshuang stood steadily in the middle.

Liu Changan and Song Zhinian stood on her left and right, followed by Shi Xiaoyue and Han Shuyuan.

Shi Xiaoyue sat next to Liu Changan, with her head down, and winked at her secretly and mischievously.

Liu Chang'an smiled, and then the five people followed the chief eunuch and entered the hall one after another. When they reached the center, the workers guided them to kneel down.

"Your servants, Li Shuangshuang, Liu Chang'an, Song Zhinian, Shi Xiaoyue, and Han Shuyuan, pay their respects to His Majesty, the Empress, and the Imperial Concubine..."

"May the nobles be blessed with good health."

Several people greeted each other and exchanged greetings.

Sitting on the throne in the hall, Emperor Yingwu looked down and his gaze lingered on Liu Changan's face for a moment.

She is not extremely beautiful, just above average. The prince has such a strange temper and is so arrogant, how could he fall in love with her and insist on her?

Emperor Yingwu was a little curious, but he said nothing. He raised his hand calmly and said, "Everyone, please stand up."

"Long live thanks."

The five girls thanked him and slowly stood up, their faces slightly raised but their eyes downcast.

There are rules in the palace that prohibit one from facing the emperor directly.

No one raised their eyes.

Emperor Yingwu, on the other hand, didn't have so many concerns...