Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

Ru Ping watched this scene, her eyes warming and her throat dry. Even she, with such a heart of stone, felt a chill of envy and jealousy. She had been secretly trained since she was a child, a secret guard who only knew how to obey the orders of her master. How could she have seen the world of fireworks?

Lan Qingwu reached out and pulled Ruhan up, saying firmly, "Since you've decided to follow me, then we'll find a way to get Lan Hao to the Imperial City as well. I'll tell Father tomorrow that our Lan family also has a residence there. This time, Third Uncle will come with us. He'll bring a few of the Lan family's children to settle down and study there, and I'll have Lan Hao act as their guard. In a few years, I'll marry you off with great fanfare."

This was truly a ray of hope. Ruhan was so moved that she hugged her young lady and burst into tears.

In the majestic Imperial City, in the Qianzheng Hall, the Emperor Shenwu gently stroked the cinnabar butterfly on the palm of his left hand. He had drawn this butterfly himself. Whenever he was alone in the Qianzheng Hall, he would draw a butterfly on his palm. Upon leaving the hall, he would have Li Xiang wipe it off. The Emperor Shenwu looked at the butterfly and said softly, "Wei Ruo, don't blame me for holding you in my palm this time!"

Li Xiang felt that the emperor had become even more unpredictable recently. He remembered that a while ago, when Emperor Shenwu read the news about that person, he flew into a rage. He stood up and angrily shouted, "How can this be!"

Li Xiang almost fell to his knees, but since it was related to the emperor's secret, he gritted his teeth and held on, not daring to ask a single word.

Then he saw the emperor quickly calm down, slowly sit down, with an inexplicable emotion in his eyes, as if he had finally made a decision.

Li Xiang wiped the sweat from his forehead. He just hoped that nothing else would happen. Then the emperor interrupted his wandering thoughts and said, "Go get some bottles of wine."

Afterwards, the Emperor Shenwu summoned General Qian Hui to accompany him to Qianzheng Hall. General Qian Hui and His Majesty had fought together from the border to the Imperial City, a bond that was naturally unique. Three years ago, when His Majesty and I went hunting in Qiling Mountain, General Qian Hui was always there.

General Qian arrived at the Qianzheng Hall without hesitation. After paying his respects, he sat with the emperor on the steps of the front hall and began to drink. He didn't use a wine cup, but simply used the glass jade bottle, quickly finishing more than half the bottle. Qian Hui could clearly sense that the emperor was in a much more relaxed mood. So, he asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, have you been happy lately?"

Emperor Shenwu held the glass bottle in his hand, a smile on his face: "The border is as solid as a rock, and the national strength is growing. Isn't this a happy thing?" As long as he takes one more step, he will definitely flatten the grasslands of the northern border!

Qian Hui glanced at the emperor's expression and knew his goal. As a trusted confidant and a military commander, he, too, had been waiting for that day. Lowering his head slightly, he could vaguely see the red pattern on the emperor's left palm, its edge resembling a butterfly. He wondered: the emperor didn't seem like someone so carefree and leisurely.

Qian Hui simply said, "This is indeed something worth celebrating."

At this time, Li Xiang came in and replied, "Your Majesty, Prince Ding requests an audience."

Prince Ding was the late emperor's third son, born to a palace maid, and of the lowest status among the other princes. He had a difficult childhood, but unexpectedly became close with the mature Seventh Prince, often sending each other food as children. Who would have thought that in the end, it would be the late emperor's youngest legitimate son who would be crowned Crown Prince? Today, Prince Ding is the most favored of their brothers by the current emperor. The situation has completely reversed.

The former eldest prince, who was also the eldest son, became decadent after his right hand was crippled. Now Emperor Shenwu has named him Prince An, but he still drinks all day in his house. It is said that he is now hanging out with the second prince, Prince Kang, who is proficient in eating, drinking and having fun, and they are making trouble all day long.

The fourth prince was deposed and exiled, and the second legitimate son, the fifth prince, was banished from the capital. Until now, he is just a prince of Liushui County in Western Shu.

The late emperor ordered the fifth prince never to return to the capital. The sixth prince died in the conflict between the fourth and fifth princes.

Prince Ding entered the hall, bowed, and said in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, you are so comfortable here. I wonder if I could have a drink?"

Qian Hui bowed to Prince Ding and laughed heartily, "You'll have to ask your Majesty about that!"

The Emperor Shenwu's usually fierce brows and eyes were rarely gentle: "I still have a way out. No need to be polite. Sit down and drink!"

Then Li Xiang saw the emperor, princes, and generals sitting on the steps in front of the Qianzheng Hall and toasting each other.

Prince Ding rarely saw the emperor so relaxed, and he couldn't help but smile, "Your Majesty, is a new bride about to enter the harem? I see that Your Majesty is in a good mood, and one of them must be a girl of stunning beauty."

Emperor Shenwu raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly: "All women in the world are like this." To him, it made no difference whether there were dozens or hundreds of them. The emperor touched the butterfly in the palm of his hand lightly and imperceptibly.

Prince Ding said, "Your Majesty, your standards are too high. I see the butterfly on your palm. Which lady painted it?"

Emperor Shenwu just smiled and said nothing.

Qian Hui also said, "I think His Highness Prince Ding has found a new and beautiful woman."

Prince Ding smiled and replied, "I really don't have that."

Emperor Shenwu said, "I will grant you a few of these this time."

Qian Hui's mouth twitched: "Your Majesty, my wife is virtuous and has helped me take two concubines. I cannot afford to support more."

Prince Ding laughed heartily. Emperor Shenwu teased, "Are you hinting that I should give you a salary increase?"

Qian Hui also replied with a smile: "Your Majesty, this is possible!"

Prince Ding said, "General, you don't understand romance. How can a salary compare to a beautiful woman? This beauty is like this fine wine, rich and charming. The two are incomparable!"

Qian Hui thought to himself, "Aren't you afraid that your crying princess will cry your beauty away again?" Princess Ding's crying skills are enough to make Prince Ding's concubines win.

He replied, "Your Highness, I think women are like vinegar; too much of it becomes unbearably sour."

Emperor Shenwu pointed to the landscape painting on the side of the palace. Mountains, rivers, and cities were visible on it. "I think women are like those mountains and cities. If someone offers you a city, you will forget about it. But if you take the trouble to conquer it yourself, you will cherish it. Only by climbing the mountain and conquering the city yourself can you enjoy the pleasure of conquest."

Prince Ding was already slightly tipsy: "Your Majesty's realm is truly beyond the comprehension of mere mortals like us."

He thought to himself, no wonder the emperor couldn't linger even with so many beauties in the harem. His Majesty's standards are too high. Could it be that he wants to choose a fairy?

I heard that the emperor hasn't stayed overnight in the harem in recent months. He just sometimes visits the palaces of concubines who have children to check on the royal heir. It's no wonder that the empress dowager is so anxious to choose. I think with the introduction of a new person, His Majesty can get some fresh air for a few days, so that the emperor doesn't have to keep himself plain all the time.

The most beautiful women from all over the world responded to the call. They were arranged in two rows and entered the palace gates one by one to begin the preliminary and final selections. They all wore a light makeup and simple pale blue palace robes embellished with flowers. Some were plump and some were slender, all were beautiful and elegant, each with their own unique charm.

Empress Dowager Li was angered by Emperor Shenwu again. It seemed that she was not destined to have this son. This time, after the preliminary and re-election, two people from the Li family were selected. Before the palace selection, Emperor Shenwu crossed out Li Wanqing, the fourth legitimate daughter of the Li family, and kept Li Wanying, the third illegitimate daughter.

However, although she was born to the younger brother and was also the sister of the late queen, her status as a concubine was lower after all, and she would not have the same room for advancement as a legitimate daughter in the future.

So when Emperor Shenwu came to pay his respects, Empress Dowager Li said cryptically, "Your Majesty, why don't you keep your legitimate daughter? Although Li Si is the youngest, she is a legitimate daughter. She is well-mannered and has an outstanding appearance. She is also upright and kind."

Li Si is indeed more beautiful than Miss Li San.