Demoted from wife to concubine? Reborn, the mistress of a noble family plots another high-status mar

Chapter 229

"You..." The Empress Dowager was speechless.

Murong Yu said, "Let's begin!"

"and many more."

The Empress Dowager glanced at the civil and military officials and said, “I think the Emperor is right. The Empress is the model of the nation’s mother and indeed needs everyone’s unanimous approval. Since all the civil and military officials are here, let’s also invite the wives of all the officials to the palace so that we can all see who among these young ladies is the most deserving candidate for the Empress.”

"If everyone agrees on someone, will the Emperor immediately appoint her as Empress?"

Murong Yu took a sip of tea with a calm expression, "Let's do as Mother wishes."

Soon, the wives of all the civil and military officials in the capital entered the palace.

The Yun family was also invited to the palace.

"We are imperial merchants, is it necessary for us to go to the palace?" Madam Yun did not want to attend such an occasion.

The young eunuch said, "This is the Emperor's decree. Madam Yun, you all must enter the palace together."

Having no choice but to obey the imperial decree, the whole family went to the palace together.

Upon arrival, the process began. First, the emperor would observe and decide whether to keep or not the person.

Those who were granted plaques were all kept.

The process was swift; Murong Yu glanced at the candidates and made his decision without asking any further questions. After one round, only thirty-odd candidates remained.

Upon seeing Qin Yan, Murong Yu frowned in displeasure. "Can Miss Qin even enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection?"

"It was I who allowed her to enter the palace. She is the legitimate daughter of the Qin family. Is there anything wrong with that?" The Empress Dowager was feigning ignorance.

Murong Yu's expression darkened slightly, and he chuckled softly, "Empress Dowager, you didn't know about Miss Qin's incident at the arena? A woman who has already lost her chastity can enter the palace for the imperial concubine selection? Who set this rule?"

"That was a misunderstanding. Yun Xiyue framed her." The Empress Dowager was also displeased. She stared sharply at Yun Xiyue. "Tell me yourself, did you frame Miss Qin?"

Yun Xiyue stood up and stepped forward. "Your Majesty, there is indeed some misunderstanding. But I did not frame Miss Qin."

"In the arena, Miss Qin and I were simply exchanging blows, which was perfectly fair and square."

Qin Yan cried, "No, you deliberately plotted against me. You own the arena, and you didn't say that from the beginning. You even said you couldn't control beasts."

"That beast was caused by someone secretly tampering with it, which is why it went berserk and tore my clothes."

Yun Xiyue was not to be outdone and retorted sharply, "Miss Qin, do you have any evidence to support your claim? You were the one who started the trouble. I just want to ask you, why did you deliberately challenge me to a duel at the arena that day?"

"You know perfectly well that I don't know martial arts, yet you insist on having a duel with me. What are your intentions?"

Qin Yan's expression changed, and she instinctively felt guilty, stammering, "I...I..."

"Speak up! Why are you afraid to speak?" Yun Xiyue pressed on relentlessly.

Qin Yan gritted her teeth in anger, "Who told you to shamelessly seduce the Emperor..."

"I seduced the Emperor? Who said that? Who saw it?"

"The Emperor and I were riding horses at the horse farm to discuss the matter of 30,000 warhorses. That day, Young Master Pei and the Third Prince of the Southern Qiang Kingdom were both present. If you accuse me of seducing the Emperor, ask them first whether I did seduce him or not," Yun Xiyue sneered.

Qin Yan was so frightened that she took a step back, dared not speak again, and just cried.

Zhuang hurriedly got up and stepped forward, "Your Majesty, Yan Yan should not have entered the palace to participate in the selection. It is my fault for not educating my daughter well."

“But Miss Yun is plotting to make Yan Yan lose her innocence. A woman’s innocence is of paramount importance. She is trying to force my daughter to her death. I beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to do justice for Yan Yan.”

The mother and daughter hugged each other and cried.

Many civil and military officials have come forward to argue that Yunxi Yue's actions in defaming someone's reputation were excessive.

We must give the Qin family an explanation.

"Your Majesty, Prince Qin and General Qin are guarding the border, and their daughters who are left in the capital are being bullied, but no one is standing up for them. This will discourage the soldiers on the border."

"The Yun family is merely a first-class merchant family, not comparable to the Prince of Qin's mansion," the Empress Dowager said calmly, agreeing with the officials' assessment. "Your Majesty, you should know what is more important."