In the sixth year of Zhouyuan, Chu Zhouguo held its first beauty pageant.

  Its grandeur is beyond description, and its scale is also the largest expenditure since the emperor of Chu took office.

  Even after the preliminary selection and eliminating many people, there are still over a hundred people standing here waiting for the final selection.

  However, only a few dozen people will be selected, and many will also be eliminated.

  Su Jing wore a pink cloud-patterned silk skirt, and a peach blossom cloud-mist gauze shirt. She had done up her hair in a lily chignon, and on her head she wore a blue gemstone hairpin and a blue crystal hairpin. She looked fresh and lovely, pure and natural.

  Banlan finished styling her hair and everyone looked stunned. "Miss looks extremely beautiful today, shes definitely going to be chosen."

  Su Jing faintly smiled, with a hint of dimples at the corners of her mouth, "Thanks for your kind words."

  Actually, she wanted to choose it, but her family loved and spoiled her, and didnt want her to enter the imperial harem. However, she thought that she had the ability to protect her own family.

  His fathers official position was not high, and his two elder brothers were about to take part in the imperial examination, so someone was needed who could create conditions for them, if only to prevent others from hindering them.

  In this dynasty, hierarchy is strict, only the capable have the right to speak, while the humble are treated as ants and viewed as worthless.

  And she, a 21st-century soul, as a traveler through time and space, couldnt stand the ancient trend of polygamy, nor could she bear the humble status of women, marrying into a husbands family, serving her husband and teaching children, being filial to her parents-in-law, and performing morning and evening rituals - all these things were not something she could resign herself to doing.

  Since it cant be changed, then she might as well marry the most noble man in the world, take a gamble, fight for it, and perhaps she really can create a miracle.

  For oneself, also for family members.

  "This older sister, born so beautiful, has stunned her younger sister," Just as she was lost in thought, a fellow contestant walked over, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and giggling.

  Su Jing raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Thank you for the compliment, sister. But there are many beautiful sisters here, and its embarrassing to just mention me alone. After all, Ive never been elected as one of the beauties of the capital city before."

  Everyone present understood the implication, and with so many people not flattering her, going to flatter someone who didnt have any beautiful titles was clearly a bad idea, and upon hearing this, everyone burst out laughing.

  Du Wanru was stunned, clearly not expecting Su Jing to be so sharp-tongued. Normally quiet and unassuming, it turned out she was a dog that bites.

  Su Jing saw her complexion change several times, in a good mood, really treating her like an idiot, and shouldnt come to find her to take advantage of her. Her family background may not be prominent, but its better than being the daughter of a humble fifth-rank official from Hongmiao Temple.

  Du Wanru bit her teeth, "Its my fault, I didnt see the beauty of other sisters clearly, but only because I stood in front of sister and looked more carefully."

  "Huh, how did Eyesore pass the preliminary selection?" A nearby beauty asked with a curious expression, then immediately realized her mistake, stuck out her tongue and shrugged.

  A series of actions done in this way does not give people a bit of disgust, but rather makes people feel lovely and cute.

  "Its my sister who is wrong, I beg your pardon, sisters," she said with a bow, her eyes welling up with tears.

  Su Jing dodged to the side and avoided her, neither accepting her gift nor responding to her words. These people were really all masters of acting.

  Others also did not continue the conversation, Du Wanru maintained a half-squatting posture, somewhat awkwardly, and cast her gaze towards her elder sister.

  Du Wan snorted coldly and turned her head away, no longer looking at her.

  Before Du Wanrus tears fell, an official came over with a group of young eunuchs, cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, "The emperor has decreed that the ladies will be divided into groups of five to pay their respects. Those whose names are called should follow these officials to the palace for selection; those who are not called should wait here."

  "Your Majestys daughter obeys your order," said all the beautiful girls in unison.

  The selection was based on the fathers official rank and birth order, Su Jingfan was ranked behind.

  Fortunately, I didnt put on any powder in the morning, just dotted my lips with rouge. Seeing the other few xiu nu who were still waiting here, occasionally touching up their makeup, they all looked tired.

  From time to time, I hear the sound of Xiū girls crying, presumably she was jilted.

  After a long time, it was finally Su Jings turn. She followed an old man and five people walked forward together.

  They were led to a courtyard to wait temporarily, still some distance from the selection venue. In front of them, two batches of candidates were waiting. Everyone present was looking down at their own soft shoes with their eyes cast downward.

  The previous batch of girls went in, and soon it was Su Jings turn.

  It is said to be selected in the temple, but in fact it cannot enter the temple and can only stay at the gate.

  Kneeling down, following the rules and etiquette, "Your Majestys humble daughter wishes you and the Empress a million blessings and golden peace."

  "Rise," said the queen, "and lift up your head for the emperor to see."

  Su Jing heard the empress say this, and didnt dare to really lift her head, only slightly raising her slightly lowered head, her gaze lingering on the dragon head on the emperors dragon robe.

  The Empress and Xianfei asked a few questions separately, but Shu Guifei beside them didnt say a word.

  Su Jingci was the fourth person, the first one who got a nameplate and stayed, and the two people behind her were both eliminated.

  It was Su Jings turn. A rather elderly eunuch standing below the emperor sang, "Su Jing, a fourteen-year-old daughter of the fifth-rank Hanlin Academy attendant reader, has arrived to pay her respects..."

  Su Jing stepped forward two steps, made a deep bow, and knelt down. "Your subject Su Jing pays respects to Your Majesties the Emperor and Empress, wishing you both ten thousand blessings and golden peace."

  "Raise your head," Shu Gui Fei said suddenly.

  Su Jingxiu didnt think much of it and slightly raised her head.

  "But the husband is Kun, his stillness is also gathering, his movement is also opening, so as to widely give birth?" A clear and low voice sounded.

  Su Jing nodded, "As Your Majesty said."

  "Whats wrong?" The tone was light, but full of majesty. "To answer Your Majesty, I thought you would say brothers unite, harmony and joy."

  Su Jing decided to take a chance, this sentence had gone through her mind several times, but it was just an instant.

  Su Jing opened her mouth and said, after finishing, she showed a slightly embarrassed smile, revealing the dimples at the corners of her mouth.

  Zong Zhengjin suddenly felt a bit interesting, she was clearly not afraid of him, but pretended to be afraid of him, he naturally knew that what she said was true.

  Is this courage really not big enough?

  "How dare you, are the Emperors words also something you can casually question?" The soft words of Consort Shu were full of danger.

  "My daughter knows her mistake, I beg Your Majesty to pardon her," Su Jing said with a bow, her voice choked with sobs.

  Only in this way will they think she has no ulterior motives and knowing fear can make them feel safe.

  "Look at what the sister is saying, such a small child, what does she know, its going to scare her to death," the queen said, making excuses, and she had never spared any effort in attacking Shu Guifei.

  Su Jing didnt think they would fight to this extent either, its really a war of words.

  Before Shu Gui Fei could say another word, Zong Zheng Jin spoke up directly, "Exactly, Ju Er, you two will still have to get along well in the future and see each other every day, cant speak like this again."

  In short, she was given a plaque and allowed to stay in the selection, which also instantly extinguished the flames of war between the two women.

  Su Jingxi bowed again and thanked her, revealing a triumphant smile.

  She slightly turned around, unexpectedly caught by Zong Zhengjin, Su Jingyun was somewhat stunned, and subconsciously bit her lip.

  Everything happened in an instant, so naturally no one saw it, but Su Jings heart was a little uneasy.

  The emperors gaze is really not something ordinary people can withstand.

  Su Jing was led by another eunuch to a palace, where all the selected girls were waiting for those who had not been chosen to finish before they could go home.

  Su Jingxi found a corner and sat down, there were already over thirty xiuniang in the hall.

  She has always been quiet and hasnt had much interaction with others, to be exact, she doesnt have a social circle.

  Family background is the only standard for measuring the size of a social circle.

  Half a time passed, and the selection of the girls was completed. Looking at these beautiful girls in the palace, Su Jing thought that the emperor had good fortune.

  As soon as she came out of the palace gate, she saw her two elder brothers standing in the crowd, looking up and waiting for her.

  "Older brother, second brother, Im over here," Su Jingfan waved her hand.

  "How are you? Have these days been good or bad for you? Has anyone bullied you?" Her second brother pulled her, looking her up and down, "How do you feel thinner? Is it..."

  Su Jing felt a warmth in her heart. This was what real family was like, they always cared about whether you were doing well, eating well and sleeping well.

  "Lets talk about it when we get home," her older brother said, clearly much calmer, glancing around at the crowd.

  Su Jingxiang had no objection, got on the carriage, and ate the chestnut cake her mother had prepared for her, which was her favorite snack.

  As soon as she got home and got off her horse carriage, she saw both her father and mother standing at the door waiting for her. "Dad, Mom."

  "Little master, I..." Su Shuyan and her mother were about to kneel down.

  Su Jing hurriedly helped them up, "Dad, mom, youve scared the child..."

  Su Shu Yan insisted on completing the ritual, "Now that the young master is already a member of the royal family, he should be even more careful in his actions, lest others find fault with him."

  "My son, how did you end up like this... what will happen to you in the future..." Madam Sus tears kept falling, and she wiped them away with her handkerchief.

  "Mother, be careful what you say. The thunder and rain are all heavenly blessings, the emperors favor is our Su familys honor," Su Jing interrupted before she could finish speaking.

  "Come on in, standing at the door is inconvenient," Su Junde continued.

  People come and go, but Im afraid if someone with a keen ear hears it, it will bring deadly disaster.

  Su Shu Yan looked at his children and said to his wife, "Go in, go in. Huier is also tired. Well talk more when we get back."

  Su Jing held her mothers arm tightly and silently made up her mind that she must take good care of this family.