Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 225

Faced with Zhao Xingjin's words, Guo Rongning naturally smiled and bowed in agreement.

Everyone present could see that this person was extraordinary in terms of status, temperament, and appearance, so it was no surprise that he stayed.

But for the Empress, this also brought a touch of displeasure.

She was always uneasy because there were many concubines from good families.

But the appearance of the sixth group of candidates for the imperial concubines made the Empress's eyes grow even colder.

"Jiang Ningyu, daughter of Jiang Yue, the prefect of Linzhou, is seventeen years old!"

As soon as the eunuch announcing the ceremony finished speaking, the Empress Dowager's expression softened considerably.

The Empress generally knew the backgrounds of the young ladies-in-waiting, and would also give hints to those with special status.

This is Jiang Ningyu.

The Empress Dowager's surname was Jiang. She was the youngest daughter of the Empress Dowager's cousin. The Empress Dowager's father and Jiang Ningyu's grandfather were brothers, and their relationship was quite close.

Zhao Xingjin and Jiang Ningyu had met before, and even the Empress recognized her.

However, at that time, she was either accompanying the Empress Dowager back to her maternal home or the Empress Dowager's family members came to visit the Prince's Mansion. At that time, Jiang Ningyu was still young, but she never expected that she would be entering the palace now.

"Ningyu has grown up so much, and she's become so beautiful. Come and let your aunt take a look." The Empress Dowager beckoned.

This is genuine happiness.

Since Zhao Xingjin ascended the throne, she had never seen her family again. The Jiang family did not move to Kyoto because Zhao Xingjin's maternal grandfather was still alive and too old to move.

Jiang Ningyu stepped forward and bowed, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"Good, very good." The Empress Dowager's eyes were slightly red as she looked at her niece from head to toe. "Gentle and quiet, just like your mother. How are your parents? And your grandfather and great-uncle?"

Jiang Ningyu's great-uncle was the Empress Dowager's father. Jiang Ningyu knew the Empress Dowager's intention in asking this question, so she answered.

"Your Majesty, my parents and grandfather are all well. However, my great-uncle's health has been deteriorating recently. Fortunately, his appetite is good. My aunt has been trying to find different ways to prepare food for him. Sometimes, after eating a bowl of rice, he can even drink a bowl of porridge. It's just that he often thinks of Your Majesty and hopes that when he comes to the capital this year, he might be able to see you again," Jiang Ningyu said softly.

Thinking of her elderly father, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but shed tears.

Her mother passed away ten years ago. When she was young, the Empress Dowager doted on her. Now that only her father remains, she naturally misses him.

Seeing this, the Empress took the initiative to say, "Mother, don't be sad. In my opinion, why don't you let Ningyu stay in the palace? She can keep you company all the time."

Although the Empress was unwilling for the Empress Dowager's niece to enter the palace, it was obvious that Jiang Ningyu's entry into the palace was a foregone conclusion, so she might as well take the initiative and at least show that she was sensible and filial.

However, after she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager wiped away her tears and looked at Zhao Xingjin.

"The selection of candidates was originally for the emperor, how can it be done for the sake of me?"

In fact, if Zhao Xingjin insisted on refusing, the Empress Dowager would not have forced him, after all, she and Zhao Xingjin were mother and son.

The Empress Dowager felt sorry for her son, and Zhao Xingjin, as the son, also felt sorry for his mother, so he said in a deep voice.

“Ningyu is well-behaved and sensible, so let her stay.”

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager smiled and nodded, and Jiang Ningyu also expressed her gratitude.

Xie Jiu and Consort Zhuang sat to the side, silently watching the show, serving only as supporting characters.

However, they didn't want to talk at the moment.

Being the Empress Dowager's niece is a more advantageous position than Guo Rongning's family background, and she naturally has a connection with Zhao Xingjin.

Just then, the other young ladies-in-waiting entered the hall.

After two more groups that weren't particularly outstanding, the ninth group featured a young woman surnamed Hu who was quite captivating.

Her almond-shaped eyes were round and bright, like clear jewels. A bright smile graced her face, and shallow dimples graced her cheeks. She had a round face, as lovely as a spring peach, and was incredibly cute. She seemed like a lively and cheerful girl, and her smile was infectious.

As expected, Zhao Xingjin kept him.

The young woman's smile grew even sweeter, truly resembling a plump, juicy peach.

Not to mention Zhao Xingjin, even Xie Jiu liked him.

The Empress Dowager had no objection to the cheerful young lady, but among the group of candidates for the imperial concubine surnamed Hu, there was a candidate surnamed Xu who caught the Empress Dowager's eye at first glance.

It is said that this young lady has a plump figure and is therefore likely to be fertile.

Nowadays, women in Dajing still consider thinness to be beautiful. This Xu Xiunü has a face like a silver plate and a delicate figure, so she does look rather plump.

Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, Zhao Xingjin naturally gave her face and stayed.

Four newcomers have already been selected so far, leaving only two groups of beauties. Zhao Xingjin was getting a little tired of looking, so he ordered both groups to come up.

The young women, naturally, were filled with bitterness.

Who wouldn't want to give a good show? Seeing ten people at once, of course, would just be a fleeting glance.

But to my surprise, after scanning around, I actually found another one.

There was a young lady named Lu who wore only light makeup and dressed in the simplest and most elegant clothes and jewelry.

It wasn't that she dressed up like that on purpose; rather, she came from a humble background and her family was indeed quite poor. She had gotten to where she was today almost entirely thanks to her face.

Her skin was as white as snow, her hair as black as ink, and her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, revealing a faint sorrow in her eyes. She was so pitiful that she instantly aroused one's protective instincts.

Xie Jiu didn't like using rabbits to describe girls, but when he saw this Miss Lu, the thought really popped into his mind. Not only a rabbit, but a wounded little white rabbit, delicate and fragile.

Tsk, she is beautiful, but I always feel that if someone like her entered the palace, unless her current appearance is an act, she probably wouldn't survive.

As Xie Jiu pondered this, she glanced out of the corner of her eye at the head of the table.

Men have always liked women with this delicate and charming appearance, as it better reflects their masculinity.

Sure enough, Zhao Xingjin's gaze also fell on this Miss Lu, but he only glanced at her and seemed to have no intention of speaking.

However, at that moment, the Empress's voice rang out from the side.

“Your Majesty, I think that young lady is very beautiful and seems to have a gentle and obedient nature. Such a woman would be suitable to stay in the palace to serve you.”

Guo Rongning and Jiang Ningyu have impressive backgrounds, Hu Xiunü was chosen by Zhao Xingjin himself, and Xu Xiunü was chosen by the Empress Dowager to bear children. They all seem difficult to control. As for Lu Xiunü, the Empress took a liking to her at first sight.

She was beautiful but came from a humble background, and her personality seemed timid and easy to control. Moreover, the Empress noticed that Zhao Xingjin's gaze lingered on this woman. Although she didn't know why Zhao Xingjin didn't ask her to stay, the Empress was certain that Zhao Xingjin didn't dislike this Lady Lu.

After the Empress spoke, the Empress Dowager glanced at her first, then at the candidate surnamed Lu, before continuing her speech.

"She is indeed good-looking. It's rare that the Empress finds her pleasing to the eye, so why not let her stay?"

As a woman, the Empress Dowager could better understand the Empress's feelings and thoughts. It was clear that Guo Rongning was left behind by Zhao Xingjin for the sake of the court, the Hu family's daughter was just happy to see her, Jiang Ningyu was doing so because of the Empress Dowager, and Xu was doing it for the sake of having more children. All of these made the Empress uncomfortable.

Let her make the decision then, otherwise being an empress is just too boring.

However, even after Jiang Ningyu entered the palace, the Empress Dowager would not allow this niece to threaten the Empress. The Empress Dowager's original intention was to have more righteous concubines around Zhao Xingjin, unlike Xie Jiu, who was too scheming.

Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, Zhao Xingjin could more or less guess what the Empress was thinking, so he nodded.

"Since the Empress Dowager and the Empress both think it's good, then let them stay. The rest will be given gifts and properly sent out of the palace. This selection of concubines will end here."

Upon hearing this, the young lady surnamed Lu was overjoyed and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

From Xie Jiu's perspective, one could clearly see tears glistening in her eyes as she lowered her head.