"All of you listen to me, the old slave. Today, Her Majesty the Empress will personally come to select the candidates. Later on, you must be well-behaved and have a discerning eye."

  "Today is the most important day. Whether you can leap over the dragon gate or be chosen by Niangniang depends on your good fortune, do you know that?"

  Yu Niang led all the candidates to Changqiu Palace early in the morning for a lengthy lecture, and once today was over, the selection would be concluded.

  "When the empress arrives, you must behave well. If you are chosen by her majesty, you will become a noble mistress and must serve the emperor well and show filial piety to the empress. If not chosen, do not be discouraged, being a palace maid is not bad either. After serving for five years, you can return home freely and get married. The emperor is wise and the empress is also kind..."

  "Auntie, sorry, Im late!"

  Yus wife was in the middle of a heated lecture to the maids, when she was suddenly interrupted. She was extremely displeased and was about to scold the person, but when she saw who it was, her stern face immediately broke into a smile. "Not late, not late, youve arrived just in time. Miss Yan, I offer my congratulations to you first."

  Yan Xijun was confused by Yu Niangs words and looked at her in confusion, "Niang, what are you congratulating me for?"

  "Oh my, Miss Yan doesnt know yet," Yus nanny was shocked and widened her eyes. Seeing that Yan Xiu Jun didnt seem to be pretending not to know, she slowly continued: "This morning, the Empress Dowager sent someone to inform me, Her Majesty ordered that Miss Yan no longer needs to participate in todays selection."

  "What? Not attending?" Yan Xijun was even more surprised than Yu Niang, and then a joyful expression spread across her face. She excitedly grabbed Yu Niangs arm: "Ni Niang, did the princess really say that?"

  What does this mean? Not letting her participate in the selection, could it be that sister has changed her mind and is willing to let her out of the palace?

  "Yes! The person sent by the empress did indeed say that, and Snow Rong also said that in fact, the emperor had already promoted you, and soon the empress will bring the imperial edict to read it out, and you have been promoted, so I, an old slave, offer my congratulations in advance." Yu Niangniang said with a flattering expression, trying to curry favor with Cai Xiujun.

  "What did you say?" Upon hearing Yu Jiaos words, Yan Xikun was extremely shocked. His face turned ugly as he stared at her, and his hand that was holding onto her arm went limp. The joyful mood that had been soaring high in the clouds immediately plummeted to the bottom of an unfathomable abyss.

  The faint glimmer of hope that had just risen was ruthlessly extinguished by Yus words in an instant.

  She said that the emperor had already promoted her and issued a decree, and Yan Xijun repeated these two sentences in her mind, so she didnt hear the conversation of other showgirls.

  Yu Yus words were like a heavy bomb, which made the other girls look at each other in dismay. In an instant, they began to whisper to each other.

  From whispers of discussion to loud shouting, more are sounds of discontent and cold hums.

  "Whats so special about her? Shes just an imperial concubine, why does the emperor treat her with such favor?"

  "She is just the daughter of a wealthy family, are we not?"

  "What has His Majesty seen in her? Is it her looks or talent? I think shes nothing special, just so-so!"

  "Its unfair, why does she get priority over everything compared to us!"

  At this moment, the beautiful woman was filled with righteous indignation, unwilling to vent her anger in her heart, and kept talking incessantly.

  "Are you all done making a ruckus for me?" A cold and majestic voice rang out, immediately stopping the chatter of the maidservants.

  A large group of people slowly entered from the entrance, with palace maids surrounding a young and beautiful woman walking slowly, wearing a phoenix coronet on her head, dressed in a crimson embroidered brocade robe, with wide silk ribbons having flying phoenixes.

  As soon as they saw this decoration, they knew the identity of this person without thinking. Therefore, even the proud and arrogant girls did not dare to show off, and stood quietly with their heads bowed.

  Yan Wu Xins eyes coldly swept across the crowd of women, thinking about what they had just said. His eyes sank, and he spoke in a low voice: "Are the noble ladies of the capital city really like you? Ah!! Youve truly disgraced your parents!"

  "The princess taught that before she came, no one was allowed to announce her arrival, so the old slave could lead them to welcome her!" Yu Niang saw a big shot coming and hurriedly changed her attitude to welcome her, trying to curry favor with Empress Yuan.

  Yan Wuxin saw Yu Niangniang smiling hypocritically in front of her, and her face was equally unpleasant. "How are you teaching people? Look at these Shu girls you trained, making a loud noise in the imperial palace, what kind of behavior is this!"

  "Your Majesty, listen to me..." Yus nanny hastily explained, but was impatiently waved off by Empress Yan.

  "This palace has no time to listen to your nonsense, go and receive ten big slaps as punishment, and also deduct two months worth of salary. Take it as a warning for next time!"

  "Yes, thank you, Your Ladyship!" Yus nanny sincerely thanked her and retreated to the side, thinking that she still had to endure ten slaps, her plump body couldnt help but shudder.

  "Old Master Luo!"

  "Your Majesty, I am here." Called out by the Empress, Luo Zhong waved his duster and slipped out quietly.

  "Arent you carrying an imperial edict? Why havent you read it out yet?"

  "Dont worry, Princess, it will be announced soon, it will be announced soon!" Luo Zhong pulled out the imperial edict from his wide sleeve, cleared his throat, unfolded the edict and looked at Yan Xijun: "Miss Yan, accept the edict!"

  Yan Xijuns pair of bright and shining eyes lost their luster, although she had long expected that her sister would not easily change her mind, but also did not think that her sister would want her to become one of the imperial consorts so soon.

  Things have come to this, she has no room for choice, and reluctantly kneels down, accepting the fate arranged by others.

  "The Emperor, in obedience to Heavens will, issued a decree: There is now a fourth daughter of the Yan family, whose deportment is dignified and proper, intelligent and virtuous, with a pleasing appearance. Therefore, she is specially appointed as a Chongyu, let this be respected."

  "Yan Xijun, accept the imperial edict!"

  As soon as Luo Zhongs words fell, a burst of gasps was heard, and the Shu girls all looked up at the imperial edict in Luo Zhongs hand with surprise. Later, they glared at Yan Xijun with envy. The emperor was too rash, wasnt he? He actually appointed a small Shu girl as a concubine, which is a position among the nine consorts.

  Yan Xijuns face was expressionless as he mechanically accepted the imperial edict, "Thank you for your great kindness!"

  "Yan Chongyuan, old slave congratulates you." Luo Zhong smiled and looked at Yan Xijun, saying lightly: "The emperor appreciates you very much!"

  Chu Yixuan really appreciates her, so he promoted her to be a concubine, isnt that a noble title? She doesnt care about it, and this time, her sister must have played a role in helping things along.

  As I thought of this, I glanced at my sister standing in front of me and saw that she was smiling at me with a proud and complacent smile in her eyes.

  "Lord Luo, you can go back and report to the Emperor now."

  "Yes, Your Ladyship. Ill take my leave now." Luo Zhong bowed and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, then turned to leave with the two junior officials.

  Yan Wuxin saw Luo Gonggong leave, then, with the support of Palace Lady Xue Rong, she walked around the circle of beautiful women and ordered the eunuch beside her: "Ji An, issue an imperial edict for this palace."

  "Yes, Your Majesty," a young eunuch with clear and elegant features stepped forward, bowed to Cai Yan without a second thought, holding the imperial edict in his hand, and respectfully said: "All the talented women listen to the edict."

  All the ladies let out a collective gasp and knelt down, their hearts racing with anxiety, fearing that their names would not be on the imperial edict.