That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

For the next two weeks, Song Mingyuan and Gong Yerong seemed particularly "attentive," sending people over one after another to deliver many good things.

The finest brocade fabrics, the exquisite hairpins inlaid with pearls and jade, and the fragrant and precious face creams were all rare items that she had never even seen before.

To ensure her successful selection, they went to great lengths to invite an experienced matron to teach her the etiquette and rules of the palace, leaving no room for carelessness.

When she casually mentioned wanting to bathe and wash her hands with milk, Song Mingyuan and Gong Ye didn't hesitate for a moment, nor did they show any sign of heartache. They immediately agreed and then arranged for someone to send fresh milk over every day.

Although the preliminary selection was extremely rigorous, Song Shuangning passed it smoothly and even won first place.

The bathroom was filled with the sweet scent of milk mixed with the delicate fragrance of flower petals. Flower petals floated in the carved bathtub, and steam filled the air.

Song Shuangning scooped up a handful of warm milk and poured it on her shoulder, her eyes filled with a lazy, soft light.

The palace selection will take place tomorrow.

She propped her arms up on the edge of the bucket, rested her chin on the crook of her arm, and her mind was filled with random thoughts.

What would the emperor be like? And what kind of woman would he like?

I've heard that the Emperor is only twenty-four years old, yet in just two short years since ascending the throne, he has managed to bring order to the previously turbulent court. Such ability is truly intriguing.

Whether in modern or ancient times, Song Shuangning is a true beauty enthusiast, but when it comes to matters of future prospects, looks have to take a backseat.

But... sigh...

I still hope the emperor can be more handsome and have a better physique, preferably with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs.

At least it's more pleasing to the eye.

Tingyu said, "Miss, the water is cold, please get up."

"Um."

She rose, wrapped in soft satin, and sat down at the dressing table, where Tingxue dried her long hair.

She picked up the box of jade cream she had personally prepared from the dressing table, pinched a little with her fingertips, and applied it every day for more than a year to make her skin so smooth and delicate.

This jade cream is made from dozens of precious ingredients, including pearl powder, angelica dahurica, poria cocos, atractylodes macrocephala, etc.

"Master and Madam have arrived," Tinglu said.

"Understood." Tomorrow is the palace selection, so they are naturally worried.

Song Shuangning put on an outer garment and went out.

"Father, Madam."

Song Mingyuan said earnestly, "Shuangning, tomorrow is the day of the palace selection. You must remember to strictly abide by the palace rules. The etiquette and manners that your nanny has taught you these past few days must not be forgotten in the slightest. You must do your best and make sure you are selected successfully. Your sister is all alone and helpless in the palace, which is really pitiful. With you by her side to support each other, your father can truly feel at ease."

Gong Yerong said, "Ning'er, remember to make a good impression on the Empress Dowager and the Emperor tomorrow."

The two of them chatted back and forth, afraid that she would be left out.

A faint blush rose on Song Shuangning's cheeks, and her clear eyes curved slightly.

"Ning'er will definitely be selected smoothly."

Song Mingyuan smiled kindly and said, "You've always been sensible, so I'm at ease."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the seventh day of the fourth month of the third year of Xihe, the sky was clear and the spring breeze was warm. The Zhaoqi Dynasty held its first imperial concubine selection.

Song Shuangning wore a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a few sparse orchids embroidered on the hem, as pure and simple as white plum blossoms blooming under the moon. A lake-blue soft satin ribbon was tied around her waist, with a small jade pendant hanging from it.

A jasmine hairpin was inserted diagonally into her hair bun, and a small pearl hairpin was inserted at each temple. The pearls were round and shiny but not ostentatious, which complemented her "pure and innocent" image today.

She wore only a light layer of makeup, her eyebrows and eyes were delicate and refined. Although she didn't know if the Emperor would like this, the Empress Dowager had always favored such gentle and elegant women.

Tingyu put the earrings on her head and said dreamily, "Miss is so beautiful, she'll definitely be chosen!"

A faint smile played on Song Shuangning's lips.

As the appointed time approached, Song Shuangning boarded the carriage bound for the palace.

About half an hour later, the carriage stopped, and a matron led her to the Chuxiu Palace, where the imperial selection was being conducted.

Hundreds of beautiful women, their robes fluttering like colorful clouds, gathered together, each with a beautiful face and a graceful figure.

Before the appointed time arrived, the young women gathered with their acquaintances and chatted quietly.

Song Shuangning stood alone under the corridor.

With such beautiful women, Your Majesty is truly blessed.

"Shuang Ning~" A woman approached quickly with a smile in her eyes and grabbed her hand: "I've finally found you!"

Song Shuangning took her hand, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Wanxuan."

Zhang Wanxuan was the daughter of her father's old friend. Although she was born out of wedlock, her stepmother had no daughters of her own and treated her as her own daughter, showing her great love and care.

She has a good personality and treats Song Shuangning well.

The two had known each other since childhood and occasionally visited each other.

Zhang Wanxuan looked her up and down, frowning slightly: "Shuang Ning, why are you dressed so plainly?"

She couldn't help but praise again as soon as she finished speaking, "But you are naturally beautiful, even in simple clothes your beauty cannot be hidden. I recognized you at first glance in the crowd just now!"

Song Shuangning smiled slightly. "You know, I like simplicity."

Another half hour passed, and the matron instructed the young ladies to line up in order and wait for the eunuch to call their names so they could enter the palace to pay their respects.

The six women were divided into groups, and Song Shuangning happened to be in the sixth group.

"Song Shuangning, daughter of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was sixteen years old."

……

Qiu Yi, daughter of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, was fifteen years old.

Zhang Wanxuan, daughter of the Vice Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, is sixteen years old.

After performing the three kowtows, Song Shuangning bowed her head and said respectfully, "Your subject, Song Shuangning, pays respects to Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, and Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy good health, Your Majesty enjoy long life, and Your Majesty enjoy good health."

An hour had passed since the palace selection, and the Emperor and Empress were also feeling tired from sitting for so long. Xiao Yan casually raised his eyes and glanced around. When his gaze fell on the young lady below the steps, he suddenly froze. She was exceptionally beautiful, like a fairy under the moon, and he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Your Majesty, this is Consort Song's younger sister."

The Empress gave Xiao Yan a timely reminder.

Xiao Yan casually twirled the jade thumb ring, but one could see that the interest between his brows had quietly faded.

The Empress Dowager did not like Consort Song very much because Consort Song was not very clever.

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes to look at Song Shuangning, "What do you think is most important for a woman to value in her conduct?"

Song Shuangning replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I believe that the most important quality for a woman to uphold is 'knowing when to stop.' Knowing when to advance and retreat means not overstepping boundaries or being greedy; knowing when to speak means not making unfounded remarks or engaging in idle debate; knowing when to restrain desires means being content with one's position and fulfilling one's duties."

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction.

That's an unconventional answer.

Xiao Yan glanced at her casually.

Seeing that the Emperor and Empress Dowager were so satisfied, the Empress also gave a meaningful smile. "Your Majesty, Mother, shall we stay?"

Xiao Yan said calmly, "Then stay."

The eunuch announced loudly, "The imperial concubine Song Shuangning is hereby granted her nameplate and a sachet."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager thank you."

Song Shuangning lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, her eyelashes trembling slightly, the curve of her lips as gentle as a spring breeze.

Of the hundred women selected for the imperial examination, only six remained.