Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

But does the harem lack a beautiful woman like her? Emperor Shenwu said: "Isn't it based on my feelings? It's not based on the rules of the legitimate daughter."

Empress Dowager Li felt as if her heart was blocked. If it was the Fifth Prince... why would he not listen to her? If she felt regret for her eldest son, then she felt heartbroken and regretful for her second son Zhou Qihuai (Zhou Xuheng succeeded to the throne, and the other princes avoided using the emperor's name and changed the middle character to "Qi").

It is heartbreaking that he was expelled from the capital and could only be a small prince in a remote place. It is regrettable that he made mistakes in the last critical period and was abandoned by the late emperor. All his years of hard work were wasted and he did not reach the highest position.

Empress Dowager Li frowned and asked, "What rank does the Emperor intend to give to the daughter of the Li family?"

Emperor Shenwu said, "Since she is a concubine, then she should be made a beauty."

Empress Dowager Li said: "Is the Emperor dissatisfied with the Li family? After all, they are your maternal family." There were already two selected noble ladies this time, and the Li family, as the Empress Dowager's maternal family and the Emperor's maternal family, were only given the title of beauty. Empress Dowager Li was angry again.

Nanny Li bowed her head desperately behind the Queen Mother, and so did the Queen Mother. Back then, the Li family had become estranged from the Emperor due to the Queen Mother's influence, but now they were trying to get married?

Emperor Shenwu looked at Empress Dowager Li and said, "If it weren't for my in-laws, I wouldn't have agreed to my mother's suggestion to ask my father to appoint the eldest daughter of the Li family as Crown Princess in order to suppress the power of the other two families."

Speaking of the eldest daughter of the Li family, the former queen, the empress dowager was furious again: "Speaking of Wanhui, if the emperor had not disliked her and neglected her back then, and if the relationship between you two was not bad, why would she be depressed after giving birth to Mingzhu, and even seriously ill and died. As a result, the six palaces are now without a master, and Mingzhu has no mother to take care of her." Now she doesn't have to rush to let the daughter of the Li family enter the palace.

Emperor Shenwu said coldly, "I originally asked my mother to choose the Crown Princess, not the maid who taught me etiquette. Who could possibly eat if she stood up and told me the rules a dozen times during a meal? My mother said I don't like her, and now she chose a woman who looks just like her and only knows how to tell me the rules to be my Crown Princess. How can I possibly like her?"

It was also his own fault. He had just returned to the imperial city from the border, the situation in the previous dynasty was at a critical juncture, and he had just broken up with Lan Qingwu. He had no time to think about other women. After he was named the crown prince, in order to suppress the other two major families, his mother suggested that he choose a girl from the Li family. He handed the matter over to his mother, and the result... it was indeed his mother who chose the crown princess.

Empress Dowager Li's chest heaved at what Emperor Shenwu said. "As the Crown Princess, and the future Empress, what's the big deal about stricter rules..."

Emperor Shenwu interrupted her: "So, in this selection, since the daughter of the Li family will not be the empress, then we should not keep the well-behaved Miss Li Si!"

Empress Dowager Li was speechless.

Lan Qingwu and his companions were ready to depart for the Imperial City. After bidding farewell to her family, Lan Qingwu boarded the carriage. She could hear Madam Lan's suppressed sobs. As the carriage slowly moved, Ruhan held her hand tightly, soothing her. She could still hear her mother's cries, "Weak...weak..."

After she turned seven, few people called her by her nickname anymore. Her mother said she had established herself, so she stopped calling her by that name. This might be the last time she heard her mother call her by that name in her life.

After more than twenty days of bumpy journey, Lan Qingwu and his party arrived at the tall, majestic and magnificent imperial city. After entering the city, Lan Qingwu settled down in the Lan family mansion, waiting for the day to enter the palace.

The second day of the fifth lunar month was the day when the selected noble ladies from various families entered the palace. On the first day, the Lan residence received a verbal order from the emperor, ordering Noble Lady Lan to enter the palace on the third day of the fifth lunar month. After receiving the order, Lan Qingwu retreated to her room, feeling gloomy and unsure of Yun Heng's intentions.

Ruhan also said worriedly: "I don't know what Your Majesty means. She will enter the palace one day later than other ladies..." One day later, even in the common people, entering the husband's family one day later, the status will be different.

Lan Qingwu said softly: "Forget it, it's up to him when he says it will be." She believed that she had not done anything to offend him over the years. If... why would he let her enter the palace?

At this time, Ru Ping walked into the room lightly. After paying her respects, she carefully observed the young lady's face and said, "Young lady, I have sent the eunuch who is responsible for delivering messages to me and have inquired about some news."

Lan Qingwu knew that these would become commonplace events in the future, so he said, "Go ahead."

Ru Ping said softly, "This time, His Majesty has conferred titles on sixteen young ladies, a total of seventeen including the young ladies. Among them are two noble ladies. Besides the young ladies, there is also the fifth daughter of the Shi family, Shi Qingluan, the foremost among the civil officials. His Majesty has bestowed upon her the title 'Wen,' meaning Noble Lady Wen. I hear she and His Majesty have known each other since childhood."

Lan Qingwu was lost in thought. They had known each other since childhood? Their relationship must have been different. She felt as if a sharp thorn had pierced her heart.

Ru Ping paused and continued, "There are three other beauties, four talented ladies, four good ladies, and four virtuous ladies. Among them, there is a beauty named Lin who was selected from the people. It is said that she has a stunning appearance. Your Majesty bestowed the title of "Li" upon her. There is also a beauty named Li who comes from the Empress Dowager's mother's family. She is extremely beautiful and was retained by Your Majesty personally." These are the only two who have titles.

Lan Qingwu nodded. Ruhan's eyes lit up: "Ruping, you are amazing."

Ru Ping just smiled and said, "The young lady has been conferred the title of noble lady, and those palace servants don't want to offend the young lady in the palace, so they are just doing a favor."

After a moment's hesitation, he continued, "Miss, the Empress Dowager actually wanted to keep twenty-six people, but His Majesty finally kept sixteen."

Lan Qingwu waved his hand and asked them to leave. In fact, what difference did it make whether they were sixteen or twenty-six?

On the third day of the fifth lunar month, at 9:00 a.m., Lan Qingwu boarded the palace carriage and arrived outside the Weiwu Gate. She led Ruhan and Ruping alight. Eunuchs arrived to lead the way. Lan Qingwu entered the high palace walls, her face calm, yet her heart trembled with anxiety. Years later, she approached that person again, but they were no longer the young Yun Heng and the weak Ruo Ruo of those days. Now they were just the emperor and Concubine Lan.

As the saying goes: Once you have seen the sea, all other waters are but puddles; once you have seen Mount Wu, all other mountains are but mounds.

Lan Qingwu followed the eunuch to the palace where she would live. She saw three large characters on the palace door: "Suowu Palace." She looked up, feeling even more depressed. Ruping had rewarded the eunuch, and Lan Qingwu was then taken to a side hall. She was only a fourth-rank noblewoman, and only consorts of third-rank or higher could reside in the main hall.

The eunuchs and palace maids sent by the palace's Internal Affairs Department came to pay their respects, but Lan Qingwu was too lazy to lecture them and immediately let them go.

Seeing her unhappy expression, Ru Ping said, "Young lady, please rest for a while. I will go check on the palace maids and eunuchs and take a look at the surrounding area."

After Ru Ping left, Ru Han looked around the bedroom and the decorations inside. His eyes sparkled as he said, "Miss... My dear, the Dragon Boat Festival is almost here. I've prepared these Five Poisons scent sachets and fan ornaments for you."

Turning around and seeing Lan Qingwu looking listless, he hurriedly helped his master to rest.

Ru Ping came back after more than half an hour. There were more than a dozen palace maids and eunuchs in the palace. Ru Ping reallocated their tasks and went to report to Lan Qingwu, who was reclining on the bed.

Ru Ping detailed the situation at Suowu Palace and concluded, "My lady, although the sixteen ladies entered the palace yesterday, His Majesty did not summon them to his bed."

Lan Qingwu's face was calm: "The first one will definitely be Lady Wen." Regardless of her status or personal relationship, he would choose her.