Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Women of the grasslands are straightforward and bold, a stark contrast to the traditional, sheltered lifestyle of women in the Central Plains.

Horseback riding, archery, and participating in tribal conflicts are all commonplace activities.

At night, people unleash their true nature on the vast, deserted grasslands, and it's not uncommon for them to take off their clothes and run around.

When Wu Xingyun put on this bodycon jumpsuit, she didn't blush like the other Central Plains beauties around her, who were afraid of exposing themselves.

Only a seasoned fashion enthusiast could come up with something like this.

It was no different from not wearing any clothes, so she didn't feel anything.

Moreover, the face is fake, the breasts are fake, and everything is a disguise to cater to the aesthetic standards of the Central Plains.

This time, her persona is that of a fiery and talented woman.

Chen Shao's actions made her sneer inwardly.

Those who know the truth might think it's a selection of concubines, but those who don't might mistake it for a selection of prostitutes.

By the time the group reached Chen Shao's side, she had successfully joined the first position.

It has to be said that even though Chen Shao had been to many clubs and soloed many business clubs in his previous life, he was still quite successful.

I have never seen such a spectacular scene before.

It's so dazzling that people can't decide which one to choose.

I almost waved my hand dismissively and said:

Change to a different batch.

Chen Shao immediately spotted the one in the front row that stood out from the crowd.

Everyone else lowered their heads shyly, their legs pressed together in nervousness.

She, on the other hand, was looking at me with fiery enthusiasm.

His eyes were captivating and mesmerizing.

Guys who frequently go for foot massages probably know that this isn't actually very popular.

After all, when a man enters that kind of place, his innate abilities are triggered:

Persuade the technicians to reform.

This is very difficult to grasp.

Most people prefer girls who look delicate, speak softly, and come from broken homes.

Chen Shao was just an ordinary man, and upon seeing this scene, he immediately frowned.

"Why are you acting like a madam? Get out of here!"

Average bust size, average face size.

This is something that even a bit of flirtatiousness can't make up for.

Wu Xingyun was dumbfounded.

What the heck?

Does he see himself as a madam? No... does he really see these young women as courtesans?

Depend on!

He looks down on himself, fine, but does he think he's visiting a brothel? How can there be such an emperor?

Wu Xingyun immediately feigned fear:

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, please give me another chance. Why don't you take a look at my information first?"

The roster not only lists everyone's names and hometowns, but also their talents, skills, and personalities, in great detail.

Her words piqued Chen Shao's interest.

Suddenly I wanted to see just who this woman who got in through connections really was.

Chen Shao opened the roster and subconsciously asked:

What's your number?

What number?!

Wu Xingyun suppressed her anger and said in a sweet voice:

"Cai Yufen, a commoner."

"Oh, it's Yufen."

Chen Shao opened the roster, found Cai Yufen's page, glanced at it, and frowned.

Cai Yufen, age nineteen, ancestral home in Qingzhou, father Cai Deqing, professor at Qingzhou Prefectural School.

[Proficient in poetry and literature, well-versed in the "Six Secret Teachings" and "Three Strategies," skilled in policy discussions, and adjudicating legal disputes.]

Calm and astute, able to remain composed under pressure.

[Note: This woman possesses exceptional talent for managing the world; she is a rare find.]

Wu Xingyun looked at him smugly, a smug look on his face.

After seeing this information, how could you not fall for it?

"I really underestimated the girl."

Chen Shao closed the register.

"You're well-versed in military strategy and adept at judging legal cases, are you really here to choose a concubine?"

Wu Xingyun smiled. "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of a virtuous wife..."

Snapped!

Chen Shao slammed the roster into his chest.

"I'm choosing concubines, choosing bed warmers, not prime ministers! Take them away, next!"

"???"

Wu Xingyun was completely dumbfounded, letting the two palace maids support him as his legs slid on the ground.

She put a lot of thought into this document, deliberately avoiding anything related to singing, dancing, embroidery, or needlework.

Chen Shao has two women by his side: Shen Qingci and Bai Bingbing.

Wu Xingyun had investigated them and found they were all pragmatists.

Chen Shao should like this kind of thing.

What happened?

He had even made a boast to the Empress.

Now even the last resort of using her beauty is being rejected?

Whether she can kill Chen Shao or not is irrelevant; what matters is that she has completely lost face.

How am I going to explain this to my fellow villagers when I get back?

Chen Shao, you just wait!

She was screaming wildly inside.

Having gotten rid of the annoying Cai Yufen, Chen Shao was completely immersed in a world of beautiful women.

All of them had long, straight legs, which made him unable to resist joining in himself.

"Come, spin around for me and let me see. Not bad, not bad."

"Wow, her breasts are quite well-developed. You can't judge a book by its cover."

"Hey, try touching your belly button with your hand behind your back."

"They're all good girls, they're all good girls."

Chen Shao felt that if he continued watching, he might explode and die.

He simply waved his hand.

"My eyes are playing tricks on me today. I'll choose again next time. I'll choreograph a dance for you later, called 'Pure Land of Bliss'."

"Go back and study hard, we'll use this to select candidates next time."

......

Prime Minister's Mansion.

Han Cao is kneeling to receive the imperial edict.

The young eunuch was almost scared to death at first glance, but in the end he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue reading.

[Han Cao, what the hell do you take me for?]

It is not "I have heard" or "By the mandate of Heaven", there are no parallel phrases or allusions.

The very first sentence sets the tone for the entire imperial edict:

Dirty!

Do you think I'm easy to fool?

[Your list consists of insignificant, nobody-name individuals. Who are you looking down on?]

[I told you to oversee the selection of concubines, and this is how you do it?]

What about those daughters of noble families? Daughters of prominent clans? Daughters of powerful warlords? Are they all hidden away, waiting to be your daughters-in-law?

【Give me everyone who's supposed to come, and if you keep trying to fool me, I'll take all the women in your family as my concubines!】

Don't say you weren't warned!

Don't say you weren't warned!

Don't say you weren't warned!

Upon reading the imperial edict, the young eunuch was so frightened that he immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"Your Excellency, please spare my life..."

Han Cao waved his hand weakly, and ordered someone to fetch money and send the eunuch back to report.

Upon returning to his study, the first thing he did was burn the imperial edict.

He was actually quite pleased by Chen Shao's insults.

This shows that Chen Shao will not touch him yet.

The daughter of a powerful and influential family... Chen Shao still needs him to deal with these people.

Just as he was pondering this, someone outside the door requested an audience.

The person who walked in was Wu Xingyun, who had changed out of her bodycon skirt and was now dressed in men's clothing.

Han Cao was somewhat surprised.

"Wasn't Lord Wu participating in the selection of concubines at Chuxiu Palace? How come you're back so soon?"

Wu Xingyun naturally couldn't say that she was being disliked or treated like a madam.

She smiled faintly:

"The information is incorrect. Chen Shao is afraid that I will dominate the harem, so he eliminated me first. I need the Prime Minister to arrange another identity for me."

Ok?

Upon hearing this, Han Cao's eyes lit up.

This is a good opportunity.

"Leave this small matter to me. Chen Shao is also not satisfied with the family background of this group of people."

"Lord Wu, your arrival is just in time. There is something I would like to discuss with you."

"Chen Shao has already issued an edict ordering all eight princes to leave the capital and be sent to their fiefdoms in other regions."

"The eight princes went to the eight major military regions. Weibo is just an empty shell and can be ignored. Lulong and Wusong are the actual rulers. Going there would be like raising pigs."

"But what is the purpose of the actions of the other six families? Aren't they afraid that someone might actually kidnap the prince and enter the capital under the pretext of 'purging the court of corrupt officials'?"

"This is risk hedging."

Wu Xingyun, as expected of a high-level talent in Northern Mang, guessed Chen Shao's intentions almost perfectly after just a moment of silence.

"These regional military governors will rebel sooner or later, and Chen Shao's actions will at most help them speed up the process."

"Instead of actively reducing the power of the regional military governors, it's better to sit back and wait in the capital."

"It can also eliminate those princes with the right to inherit the throne. At the very least... the princes will also annoy those military governors. It's very clever."

"With Chen Shao's current prestige, he has both divine and imperial power in his grasp, and he's practically becoming the Jade Emperor. Those people who hold the prince hostage can't gain any political capital."

Han Cao, blinded by his own involvement, immediately asked again:

"Then what does he mean by wanting the legitimate daughters of powerful warlord families to enter the palace as imperial concubines? Isn't he afraid of interference from the empress's relatives in politics?"

If an already powerful family gains the status of a maternal relative, it is equivalent to gaining legal endorsement to interfere in politics, which will inevitably lead to rapid expansion and become a threat to imperial power.

Given Chen Shao's actions, he should have understood this principle.

Wu Xingyun shook his head.

"Chen Shao is throwing caution to the wind. These women will probably end up in the cold palace even if they go there, but they can be used as hostages for him to blackmail others into turning the tables."

"Of course, those people might not care about this daughter, but it's better than nothing..."

She spoke in a serious tone as she said this.

"This time, you'd better not try to fool him. Don't put any of those illegitimate daughters, collateral relatives, or distant nieces you have no connection with at all on the list."

"If he wants a legitimate daughter, then find him a legitimate daughter. If you try anything funny, he might really kill you."

Wu Xingyun's actions were naturally based on his own considerations.

For the Northern Barbarians, the more chaotic the Great Yan was, the better.

Chen Shao should thoroughly muddy the waters so that the Northern Barbarians can better take advantage of the chaos.

The people of the Central Plains are indeed prone to infighting; this is no exaggeration.

Thinking of this, she smiled:

"Prime Minister, just do as I say. Once I enter the palace, all the problems will be solved."

"The most urgent task is to survive in this chaotic world. You are Her Majesty the Empress's first choice for prime minister."