Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 832 Draft
December 23, Imperial Palace.

Zhong Meitang is located in the imperial garden where the concubines of the Song Dynasty imperial palace strolled and played.

The garden scenery, rockery and pools are all of natural and exquisite craftsmanship.

However, the beauties participating in the selection lined up in neat rows, looking nervous, not as relaxed as they had been in the previous two selections.

This is the third review. After passing this stage, the emperor or the empress dowager will personally make the final selection.

Basically, if nothing unexpected happens, all the beauties who pass the third review will stay in the palace.

The emperor or the empress dowager personally reviewed and only decided who would be palace maids and who would be concubines.

Therefore, the beauties who could reach this stage were inevitably a little nervous.

Li Fengniang stood under the vermilion palace wall. She was dressed exquisitely and looked extremely beautiful, but her eyes were a little dazed.

She has been deliberately making herself look ugly these days.

Li Jia was a general in the army. With his status, he could naturally find out many palace systems and secrets.

Therefore, Li Fengniang knew from the beginning that those palace maids who were sent to Helin Palace to teach the ladies etiquette and who ate and slept with them were actually responsible for observing and assessing the ladies.

Therefore, as soon as Li Fengniang passed the second level, she began to deliberately do things that did not meet the assessment standards.

For example, she smacked her lips while eating, she laughed loudly, she sat cross-legged while chatting with other concubines, she climbed trees in Helin Palace to get bird eggs...

How did it come to this?
"Next, Li Fengniang."

As the eunuch's shrill voice rang out, Li Fengniang had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk into Zhong Meitang.

As soon as she entered, the door of Zhong Meitang was closed.

It was still daytime, but in order to ensure that the light was bright enough, two rows of bronze lanterns were lit in the hall.

On both sides of the hall stood seven or eight sturdy maids. In front of her, three old women in light brown jackets were sitting upright on chairs, staring at her with sharp eyes.

The assessment began as soon as she stepped through the door.

"Name, age, place of origin, identity, report them one by one."

The old lady on the left asked in a deep voice.

"Uh... I am Li Fengniang, a native of Xiangzhou (now Anyang, Henan). I am sixteen years old this year. My father is Li Dao, the commander-in-chief of the imperial army stationed in Ezhou."

The three old maids checked the identities and the middle maid shouted in a righteous manner: "Take it off!"

"what?"

Li Fengniang was stunned for a moment, as she was not quite clear about this aspect.

Even if her father found out, it would be difficult to tell his daughter about this kind of thing.

Before Li Fengniang could react, the fat maids on both sides came over and grabbed her like an eagle catching a chick.

Soon, Li Fengniang was stripped down to her skin and stood completely naked in the hall.

Although the hall was full of women, Li Fengniang was still very shy. She covered her body with her hands in panic and asked hesitantly, "You...what are you doing?"

The old lady on the right laughed and looked at the beautiful body that seemed to be glowing under the light, with a hint of envy in her eyes.

Many years ago, her skin was also this tight, her complexion was as white as snow, and had a jade-like luster.

Although, the girl in front of him was so beautiful that any woman would be moved by her, and this kind of beauty was not something she possessed.

But who hasn't been young?

It’s a pity that now she can only recall her youth from such young girls.

"let's start!"

The old maid on the right waved her hand, and a group of fat maids began a detailed inspection.

These fat maids directly checked the whole body to see if there were any scars, body odor, etc.

When it came to the technical work of checking whether she was still a virgin, the three old maids had to do it themselves.

After an inspection, the three old maids exchanged glances, and then the old maid in the middle wrote the words "Best" on Li Fengniang's calendar.

Li Fengniang was quite aggressive in her words and deeds, but she had never experienced anything like this. Ever since these maids and nannies started to do this, she had been so embarrassed that her pretty face turned red.

I covered my face with my hands for a moment, and felt that my face was so hot that I could spread an egg on it.

Finally, I heard the old maid on the left laugh and say, "Congratulations to Miss Li Fengniang. You passed the third trial and are the best choice.

I hope you will be favored by the emperor and be given the title of a concubine."

The old lady in the middle also smiled and said in a much gentler tone: "Congratulations, congratulations, you can get dressed now."

Li Fengniang was dazed and was helped by several fat maids to put on her clothes.

She is so scared now, is she chosen?
How did you get chosen?

I sit cross-legged, I climb trees to rob bird nests, and I smack my lips while eating. How can I be selected for this?
Is the palace maid who was responsible for examining me in Helin Palace blind?

When she walked out of Zhong Meitang and was exposed to the sunlight, Li Fengniang shuddered and suddenly woke up.

No, she had to find a way.
We can't just sit there and wait for death!
These beauties were concentrated in the "Helin Palace" and were not prohibited from traveling.

After all, the entire selection process lasted more than a month, and the girls involved were all young girls, the oldest of whom was only seventeen years old. It was not realistic to lock them up in the Helin Palace for more than a month.

Especially this year's selection of beauties, among them will emerge the queen and concubines.

Therefore, the eunuchs and palace maids who were in charge of the selection did not dare to be too harsh on them.

However, for the sake of safety, each time a concubine went out, there had to be more than three people, and they had to be accompanied by a eunuch and a palace maid.

After returning to Helin Palace, Li Fengniang arranged for an outing.

Those who remain in Helin Palace now are all the beauties who have been selected after three selections.

In other words, some of them will become colleagues of these eunuchs and palace maids in the future.

Some even wanted to become the masters of these eunuchs and palace maids.

Therefore, as long as they had something to ask for, as long as it was not too excessive, who could refuse it? So, very quickly, the traveling team consisting of three beautiful women, a palace maid, and a eunuch left the Helin Palace.

Li Fengniang paid for herself and rented three ox carts for transportation.

By the time the old eunuch who was dozing in the carriage realized that they were not going to Dawazi but had arrived at the gate of Prince Jin's Mansion, it was already too late.

"I was taught etiquette by Princess Jin before, and now that I am in the capital, I have to pay her a visit. Everyone, come in with me."

The Prince of Jin was the current regent, so the old eunuch and the palace maids naturally did not dare to stop Li Fengniang from paying her a visit.

Li Fengniang led them into the palace and handed them over to the steward to entertain them, and then she went to look for Princess Jin as if she was familiar with the place.

Li Fengniang had lived in the Prince of Jin's Mansion for a long time and was very familiar with the interior and exterior of the mansion.

When she found the Princess of Jin, Prince of Jin Zhao Ju was also there, and the couple were discussing something.

Li Fengniang slid down to her knees and threw herself at the feet of Princess Jin. She hugged her thighs and cried out in grief, "Princess, save me! Your Majesty, save me!"

……

The court attached great importance to this year's New Year's Day because it was the day when the emperor personally took power.

The Ministry of Rites formulated a series of grand celebration ceremonies.

As a prince, there are naturally many celebrations that Yang Yuan needs to participate in.

He also needs to understand all the processes in advance.

Otherwise, on New Year's Day, if you don't even know what celebrations there are, what time and where they are, you will end up being disrespectful in front of the king.

Therefore, although Yang Yuan asked someone to write down the entire process in a concise manner and made a "memo", he still had to see it with his own eyes to have a clear idea of ​​it.

Emperor Zhao Kai and his officials in the Eastern Palace were the most excited.

The Regent Prince of Jin and the Prime Minister are both gradually transferring power in an orderly manner.

After the New Year, he became a monarch whose words were laws and who made decisions on his own.

Although King of Jin Zhao Ju and Prime Minister Wei Liangchen both respected his opinions before, the meanings were ultimately different.

The officials of the Eastern Palace were excited because they could finally fulfill their lifelong ambitions by fulfilling their service to the emperor.

After all, he had to consider the opinions of Prince of Jin and Prime Minister Wei Liangchen.

With each round of screening of the selection of concubines, the number of candidates is constantly decreasing.

Since this round of selection of concubines was mainly for choosing a queen for the emperor after he took power, the screening was more stringent, so there were only thirty-seven concubines who finally entered the fourth round.

"Only thirty-seven people, not many. I will select them myself."

Zhao Kai looked at the list and said with interest.

The little emperor is a young man who is interested in the opposite sex. This is the time to choose his own bedmate, so he cares more about it.

On December 28th, the final selection of beauties took place.

The location is still Zhongmei Pavilion.

Zhao Qi was reminded by the imperial eunuch and was about to rush to Zhongmei Pavilion when a eunuch in charge hurried over and whispered something in his ear.

Zhao Qi frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then waved his hand impatiently: "Please go and select the concubines for me first. I will go and take care of it and return as soon as I am done."

After saying that, Zhao Kai hurried out.

When the young emperor takes power, a "personal authority ceremony" must be held.

The Prince of Jin, who was previously in charge of the regent, had to hold ceremonies with the emperor, such as swearing in oaths, building altars, offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, receiving treasures and announcing memorials, performing ceremonies and congratulating each other, and granting banquets and issuing imperial edicts.

Civil and military officials, according to their rank, knelt three times and kowtowed nine times at the Daqing Hall, Nangong Gate and Wumen where the handover ceremony was held.

The problem now is that a group of old officials of the Eastern Palace, headed by Lou Wangchen, who is in charge of the affairs of the Imperial Guard and Infantry Division, are all powerful but low-ranking characters.

This is also the reason why they are eager to reap the rewards.

Without real merit, it is impossible to get promoted to a higher position or rank.

If one can reach the highest position in the government just by being a former member of the Eastern Palace, is there any need for him to make great achievements?

The emperor trusted them and could take advantage of the separation of officials, posts and duties in the Song Dynasty to let them grasp the real power first.

But when it came time for the emperor to take power, their ranks were no longer worthy of respect.

According to the etiquette of the Ministry of Rites for taking over the government, Lou Wangchen and others could only kneel and pay their respects outside the Meridian Gate and could not even enter the palace.

How can they endure this?

Why do those who have been famous outside Donghuamen feel so confident?
Why is the wife who is carried into the house through the main gate so confident?
If the name is not correct, the words will not ring true.

Being left out of such an important occasion is a matter that will affect your entire life.

For those who value seating ranking, every inch of it really has to be fought for.

As soon as Zhao Kai left, the little princess Zhao Ning'er ran into the harem.

How could it be such a coincidence?

Lou Wangchen and other former subordinates of the Eastern Palace had a tantrum outside the Meridian Gate. It was Zhao Ning'er who sent a few eunuchs over and said a few cold words to them, which provoked them to get mad.

Of course, the one who came up with the idea was Li Fengniang, the one who brokered the deal was Prince of Jin Zhao Jue, and the one who executed it was Zhao Ning'er.

As soon as the emperor was transferred away, Zhao Ning'er hurried to inform the empress dowager.

We have to be urgent about this matter. Sister Fengniang said that she really doesn't want to be the emperor's sister-in-law.

If she didn't help, Sister Fengniang would never talk to her again.

Zhao Ning'er has only had this one good friend since she was a child.

The emperor's sister-in-law can have as much as she wants, but she cannot lose her only good friend.

(End of this chapter)