Lin Xiao thought that the Emperor would definitely summon this Jiang Xie girl in advance, but in fact, the Emperor did not, and did not even go to see her personally.

  Lin Yanxin said, The emperor is indeed patient enough.

  The emperor was patient, and Lin Di also followed suit, no matter how curious she was, she didn't go to see this fake Lin Xian, waiting for the final selection of the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Harem, before bringing her into the palace.

  It was Cui Xianfei and Hu Xianfei who couldn't help but go take a look, and when they returned, they faced Lin Yidu with an expression that suggested they wanted to say something but hesitated.

  After the first selection by the Ministry of Rites, there is a second selection by the Imperial Censorate and the Bureau of Ceremonies. After the second selection, the selected girls will move into the palace to await the final inspection by the imperial harem.

  Lin He arranged all the show girls in Xiangfu Palace, which is far from the current palace where the concubines live, and close to Liu Shang Bureau, so that they can avoid running around and colliding with the palace concubines or princes and princesses, and also facilitate the management and discipline of the people in Liu Shang Bureau.

  Every year, during the selection of imperial consorts, there would often be instances where a candidate would accidentally drop a handkerchief, hairpin or something similar while taking a stroll outside. The previous emperor was gentle and emotional, and quite a few palace consorts were chosen in this manner.

  After the selection, only thirty or forty palace women were left, and they could still squeeze into Xiangfu Palace without having to arrange another palace.

  Lin Daiyu and Xiangling were chatting in the Longkong Palace while comparing Xiangling's family background.

  The family background of a beautiful woman is also an important criterion for screening.

  Mu Qing said to Lin Xiang: "The Shangfu Palace is so crowded, even the young lady from the Cui family has to squeeze in with the young ladies from the Wang family. But the mother of Shang Yi Bureau put Jiang's wife in a separate room and often showed her favor and flattery."

  Lin Xiao had been mentally prepared for so many days, and her attitude was much calmer. She smiled and said: "The people in Liu Shangju have all seen the rise and fall of things, and Auntie and the Emperor are deeply in love. Since Jiang Shi is like Auntie, they naturally think she's a rare treasure."

  She said with a smile, "Don't the other ladies-in-waiting have any opinions? Like Cui and Wang, who are both of higher status than her, yet they're all squeezed into one room. Isn't Shang Yi Ju afraid of offending Cui and Wang?"

  Mu Qing raised her chin slightly, and said to Lin Xiao with a deeper meaning: "How can there be no opinion, it's just that they dare not speak out. I heard that other Shu girls are not willing to play together with Jiang Shi. As for Cui Shi and Wang Shi, they actually took the initiative to propose living together."

  The methods of the Cui and Wang families are correct, but the Jiang family is still a bit tender. Shang Yiju's flattery towards the Jiang family seems to be currying favor with them, but in reality, she is actually harming them.

  It's not that there are too few people, but rather that they're not evenly distributed. With only one person from the Jiang family occupying a room, it's easy for the other concubines to collectively ostracize her. After all, the relationships formed during the selection process are the deepest. Later on, if they enter the palace, it will be an established connection. For example, the Cui and Wang families voluntarily requested to live together, perhaps with the intention of preparing for their future in the palace. On the other hand, the Jiang family waited until after entering the palace to seek alliances and warmth, but by then, such relationships would be much more superficial.

  After all, she wasn't born into a noble family, and the Zhongshan Houfu didn't have enough time to teach her everything before hastily sending her to the palace, so she couldn't see through the intricacies.

  But after these few days, Jiang should have also seen something, I don't know if she has any regrets in her heart.

  Lin Xiao asked again: "Who came up with this idea?"

  This is obviously a scam, Jiang can't see it, can the eunuchs who have been crawling around in the palace for years not see it?

  Mu Qing smiled and said: "Liu Zhang Le, who is now in charge of Xiunü's daily life, was among the same batch of palace maids as me. I casually mentioned a few things to her during our idle chat."

  Lin Dai nodded, although Jiang's goods were rare and precious, it was better to curry favor with the empress rather than trying to win over a young woman who had yet to show her worth.

  For such small actions, Lin Xiao is also happy to see them happen, we just wait and see what Jiang will eventually become.

  "Your Majesty, the Emperor has sent word that he will return to Changkun Palace tonight."

  Lin Dai nodded, looked at the sky and thought that it was about time for the Emperor to return. She ordered someone to put away the name list and prepare the Emperor's clothes, bath beans, tea leaves, and snacks. The snacks should be steamed now so they would be ready when the Emperor returned.

  But this time, the emperor was later than usual and did not return until after dark.

  Lin Xiao sat on the couch, feeling a little irritable for no reason, and said to Mu Zhi and Mu Lan: "Light up the palace lanterns, let's go out to welcome the emperor."

  Mùzhī said yes and then left.

  It's already the lower limit of the month, and the half-moon hanging in the sky doesn't seem to be that bright. Fortunately, there are palace people holding lanterns both front and back, so it's not too difficult to walk at night.

  Lin Xiang slowly walked out of the Changkong Palace, strolling along the long corridor. The gentle summer breeze carried the faint scent of flowers and grass.

  Lin Xiao walked for a while, then suddenly stopped and asked Mu Qing: "Did you hear any sound?"

  It seems like someone is singing, but it's faint and unclear.

  Lin Xiao said: "It seems like the sound came from the Yuhu Bridge."

  The Yuhu Bridge is a must-pass route from the Diligent Government Hall back to the Rear Palace.

  Mu Qing listened attentively for a while, then nodded. Then she furrowed her brow again, feeling that something was not quite right.

  "Let's go and take a look around."

  As they got closer to the Imperial River Bridge, the woman's singing voice became clearer and more melodious, like the sound of a stone skipping on the river, or a lonely echo in an empty valley, crisp and full of emotion.

  A woman in red stood on the Yuhua Bridge, holding a peach blossom branch, tapping her toes and lightly spinning into a dance, singing as she went.

  The emperor stood on the other side of the Imperial River Bridge, with his hands behind his back, and his eyes fixed heavily on the red-clad woman on the bridge.

  Lin Xiao looked at the emperor, then looked at the red-clothed woman on the bridge, and listened for a while before understanding that the woman was singing:

  "When you left me, the flowers had just been planted"

  Your words, when will they bloom and return?

  The door of the boudoir is waiting for your return every night.

  Waking up in the middle of the night with a start from a disturbing dream

  The flowers in front of the courtyard have bloomed and withered again.

  When will the bright moon shine again on you?

  ……”

  The song's gentle and sentimental tone conveys the longing of a young wife waiting for her husband.

  Then the woman lightly danced and spun around, Lin Xiao finally saw her face - a face that looked like her aunt Lin Xian.

  She looks even more like Lin Xiang than in the picture.

  The woman's toes finally came down lightly, then slowly crawled in front of the emperor, lowered her body, and said in a lovely and sorrowful voice: "Lang Jun, have you finally come back? The rose in front of the court has bloomed. Can you pick one for me?"

  The emperor stood for a long time, until Jiang Xi, who was kneeling on the ground, raised her head with some trepidation to look at him. Then she finally saw that the supreme and lofty king, high enough to make her admire, finally took a step forward, one step at a time, walking to her side and gently lifting up her chin.

  What a dashing young man he was, strong like an eagle, yet gentle as a man, with a warm and elegant face, clear and handsome, the image of her dream lover that she had longed for countless times.

  She gave him a gentle smile and called out: "Your Majesty."