The wives of the concubines are empresses

"Little Snow White, you're actually eating cakes."

Seeing her having so much fun playing with the cat, Concubine Wen - Bai Xuanyi looked at her with tenderness.

Seeing his smile, Meifei-Hu Siyang and Huifei-Feng Jinghan looked at each other silently, and then lowered their heads silently to continue processing memorials.

After a step-by-step selection and elimination process, 500 people were finally left. The two Empress Dowagers participated in the selection and elimination three days later.

The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace was helped to sit down by Nanny Li, and the Empress Dowager of the Western Palace was helped to sit down by Nanny Cui. The two looked at each other and then looked away at the girls standing in rows in front of them.

"Sister, do you have any requirements for this concubine selection?"

The Empress Dowager Donggong said calmly, "There are no major requests. I heard that the Emperor once took the initiative to keep a group of people. Those who were named should stay directly."

Since the emperor has taken a fancy to her, she must have her own intentions.

Upon hearing this, the officials of the Ministry of Rites hurriedly searched through the records and finally found the candidates that Shangguan Wanjun had personally left behind in the early stages, a total of thirty people. The other records were all looked at by Minglan.

The Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace took the gift list presented by the officials of the Ministry of Rites. She flipped through it page by page and noticed a girl named Zhang Xiuzi. Her eyes moved slightly and she became suspicious.

She looked up at the Queen Mother Xigong as if nothing had happened. Seeing that she was smiling, she did not expose the truth.

"The thirty chosen by the Emperor will remain here, and as for the ones chosen by Lord Ming, we will observe them first."

The official from the Ministry of Rites bowed and said, "Yes, Queen Mother."

After selection by the two Empress Dowagers, twenty people were left. Looking at the children of her mother's family who were screened out, Empress Dowager Xigong was shocked and relieved.

The Eastern Palace Empress Dowager looked at the Western Palace Empress Dowager and smiled faintly, "Sister, do you have any questions?"

The Queen Mother Xigong was shocked: Could it be that my sister found out?

She nervously tugged at the handkerchief with both hands: "Sister, I don't have anything to say."

"Then let's go back to our respective palaces and leave the rest to them."

Empress Dowager Xigong didn't dare to look her in the eye, and her gaze was a little evasive.

"it is good."

Nanny Li helped the Queen Mother of the Eastern Palace leave, and Nanny Cui also helped the Queen Mother of the Western Palace leave.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites compiled the registered number of Xiuzi, and the eunuchs were responsible for cleaning the courtyards of each palace.

In the imperial study, Shangguan Wanjun had just finished reading the final list of study companions selected by Li Taifu and the other three.

There were ten candidates for study-along, including five-year-old Jiang Chasheng, the second son of the Dali Temple Shaoqing. He was left behind intentionally because of his gentle personality and ability to distinguish right from wrong.

The second one is six-year-old Yan Haoxiang, the eldest grandson of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. He is taciturn, well-behaved and polite, and is generally satisfactory to stay.

The seven-year-old Meng Ziwen is the eldest grandson of the Marquis of Ping'an. He is lively, cheerful and gentle. The other seven children are all children of officials.

"Let these ten people come before me tomorrow."

Imperial Tutor Li bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. If nothing else, I shall take my leave."

"Okay, step back."

An official from the Ministry of Rites hurried to the outside of the Imperial Study two quarters of an hour later. Upon seeing them, Su Yude quickly walked into the main hall to report.

"Your Majesty, the officials from the Ministry of Rites are requesting an audience outside the palace. They say the list of concubines to be selected has been released."

Shangguan Wanjun raised her eyes slightly: "Announce."

Officials from the Ministry of Rites came to the main hall in their official uniforms. The two men bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Shangguan Wanjun looked at them calmly and said, "Go ahead."

"This is the list of concubines to be selected. Your Majesty, please review it."

Liu Cheng hurried forward to take the gift list, bowed slightly, walked to Shangguan and stopped respectfully.

"Your Majesty, please look." Seeing the number above, Shangguan Wanjun couldn't help but twitch her lips.

Shangguan Wanjun was shocked: "My goodness, fifty Xiuzi, how can we accommodate them in this palace? It's really worrying."

The Hidekos selected a total of fifty people as the empress's husbands, thirty of whom were selected in advance by Shangguan Wanjun and were unanimously agreed to stay by the two Empress Dowagers. The remaining twenty were directly selected and decided by the Empress Dowagers of the East and West Palaces.

Shangguan Wanjun looked at the list carefully and was confused when she found that there was no Zhang Xiuzi on the list.

Shangguan Wanjun: Who was it that brushed me off? Someone actually didn't give my mother any respect?

Thinking that the two Empress Dowagers were selecting together today, Shangguan Wanjun suddenly understood: Maybe it was her mother who eliminated her. When she has time, she will go see her and ask her.

The officials from the Ministry of Rites had been paying attention to Shangguan Wanjun's expression and found that she had no expression on her face, which made them unable to guess what Shangguan Wanjun was thinking for a while.

"Your Majesty, I wonder what kind of concubine position these Xiuzi would be suitable for."

Shangguan Wanjun murmured softly, "A concubine? Let's confer the title of consort on all men from the ninth rank."

The officials of the Ministry of Rites looked at each other in shock: This is too low, but they couldn't guess what the emperor meant.

The official from the Ministry of Rites bowed respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty."

After the officials from the Ministry of Rites left, the eunuchs who were responsible for selecting the concubine also came before the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I wonder what the ranks of these Xiuzi are? And in which palaces are they assigned?" At this time, they did not know that the Xiuzi were all of the same rank.

"All men will be uniformly promoted from the ninth rank, and will be gradually promoted in the future. What other smaller palaces are there?"

The eunuch in charge said, "There are Youlan Palace, Liluo Palace, and Wenwan Residence."

"Okay, let's arrange them in these three places. Fifty people, right?"

The eunuchs nodded respectfully.

"Well, then let's arrange it randomly, with seventeen people in two halls and sixteen people in one hall."

"Yes, slaves follow the order."

Shangguan Wanjun waved her hand, and the eunuchs bowed slightly and said, "Your servants will take their leave."

The selection of concubines and tutors came to an end, and Shangguan Wanjun felt much more relieved.

Liu Cheng asked, "Your Majesty, are you going to summon the concubines today?"

"No need. Let them clean up and adapt to their new environment. We'll announce it tomorrow."

"Yes, then do we need to recruit side lords?"

"Let General An come. He will have to leave again in a while."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will arrange it immediately."

After they left, Shangguan Wanjun looked at Sun Yuewei and gave her instructions.

"Yuewei, please massage my temples."

Sun Yuewei heard this and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

She came forward to Shangguan Wanjun's side, raised her hands and began to massage her temples. Shangguan Wanjun closed her eyes and dozed, enjoying the quiet time.

After the meal, Shangguan Wanjun returned to the Dragon Palace with the help of Lianhua. General Anyong was already waiting there. When he saw her come back, he immediately stepped forward and saluted respectfully.

"Your Majesty, your humble servant."

"How long have you been waiting, General?"

General Anyong stood up and replied with a smile, "Your Highness has only been waiting for a quarter of an hour."

The two sat on the couch waiting for the palace servants to prepare water for washing. While chatting, Shangguan Wanjun asked when General Anyong would return to the frontier.

"My husband plans to stay for half a month and then leave."

Thinking of how long he had stayed, Shangguan Wanjun nodded slightly, pursed her lips and smiled.

"Bring some food supplies back with you when the time comes."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Over the years, General Anyong and General Nan Shaoan would bring a lot of food and fodder every time they returned to Beijing, so there was no need for the Ministry of Works to escort them specially, eliminating the need for corruption in the middle, which was better for them.