Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Chapter 63: A Thought of Heaven, A Thought of Hell!

Hearing Zhu Youcheng's words, the five young women in this row were all excited.

They didn't know if Zhu Youcheng was asking them, and they all looked at Zhu Youcheng expectantly.

Chen Yuanyuan was the most excited, but when she looked at Zhu Youcheng, she realized that Zhu Youcheng's eyes were not on her at all.

Instantly, Chen Yuanyuan's heart turned cold.

Like falling into an ice cellar, her whole body felt cold.

The other three young women felt almost the same as Chen Yuanyuan.

Because they clearly saw that Zhu Youcheng's gaze was on Zhang's.

Zhang was stunned at first, seemingly unable to react to this surprise, her mind dizzy.

Then, when she understood that Zhu Youcheng was asking her name, she was so excited that she almost cried.

"Your Majesty, this subject has no name. My father, Zhang Luan, serves as the Assistant Director of the Imperial Academy."

"No name?"

Zhu Youcheng put a segment of orange into his mouth and chewed.

"Then I will bestow a name upon you. How about Zhang Wan'er?"

Zhang Wan'er quickly knelt down to thank him: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing a name. This subject is extremely grateful."

Zhu Youcheng chuckled: "Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youcheng looked at Zhang Wan'er, who was slowly getting up, and smiled slightly, feeling equally happy.

He really didn't expect that in this selection, there would be such a young woman who fit his aesthetic so well.

This Zhang Wan'er could be called a beauty that could topple kingdoms; her appearance and figure were impeccable.

"Have you ever studied poetry and books?" Zhu Youcheng asked again.

"I have not studied them, only 'Female Instructions' and 'Female Precepts,'" Zhang Wan'er replied carefully.

Her family background was innocent. Although her father was a Beijing official, he was only an Assistant Director of the Imperial Academy, not only a powerless position but also a low rank.

And she hadn't read much, only 'Female Instructions' and 'Female Precepts.'

This kind of background was really perfect.

Zhu Youcheng nodded with satisfaction: "These two books are both about female virtues, not bad."

When Empress Dowager Wang saw Zhu Youcheng choose Zhang Wan'er, she smiled so much that she couldn't close her mouth.

"It seems that Your Majesty has someone you favor? Do you want to keep her name tag for further consideration?"

Keeping the name tag for further consideration was equivalent to being selected by Zhu Youcheng, and then waiting to be named a concubine.

Zhu Youcheng nodded: "Yes, keep it for further consideration."

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Wan'er's face lit up, and she crisply saluted Zhu Youcheng.

"This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace!"

Zhang Wan'er was extremely excited. She knew that her life would be completely different from now on.

Becoming a concubine of the Emperor was the highest honor for women in the entire world.

If she could become the Empress, that would be enough to make her name go down in history.

If she could also give birth to a royal heir…

The more Zhang Wan'er thought about it, the more excited she became, feeling that her body was light and飘飘, as if she could fly into the sky at any time.

All the young women present looked at Zhang Wan'er with envy and jealousy, wishing they could replace her.

Chen Yuanyuan felt sour and her eyes turned red, and her vision became a little blurred.

Seeing the young woman beside her being selected by Zhu Youcheng, she felt really envious and jealous.

Why couldn't the person selected by His Majesty be me?

Just then, Zhu Youcheng spoke again.

"What about you? Do you have a name?"

Everyone present was stunned. The remaining four young women, who had been desperate, began to get excited again.

Could it be that His Majesty had taken a fancy to two young women in the same row?

And what made Chen Yuanyuan even more pleasantly surprised was that the person Zhu Youcheng was asking was none other than herself!

Chen Yuanyuan was so excited that she was a little choked up. After a while, she replied: "Your Majesty, this subject's name is Chen Yuanyuan."

Zhu Youcheng was stunned for a moment, a little surprised: "You are called Chen Yuanyuan? What is your family background?"

Speaking of family background, Chen Yuanyuan's face was slightly pale.

This was a point that was difficult for her to mention.

Before entering the palace, Chen Yuanyuan didn't think there was anything wrong with her background.

She had been specially trained since she was a child, proficient in all kinds of arts, and had read many poems and books.

Her food, clothing, and utensils were also exquisite.

But when she entered the palace, she realized that the young women around her were either daughters of officials or descendants of nobles.

The worst were daughters of wealthy merchants from one side.

Her background was somewhat looked down upon.

Chen Yuanyuan gently bit her red lips, her voice low.

"Your Majesty, this subject is the adopted daughter of Zhang Wenshao, the Governor of Yingtian."

After speaking, Chen Yuanyuan carefully looked at Zhu Youcheng, observing his reaction.

But Zhu Youcheng's face did not change at all, he just nodded lightly.

"Okay, keep her name tag for further consideration as well."

Chen Yuanyuan was overwhelmed by huge joy, burst into tears of joy, and choked: "This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

"Why are you crying? Are you unhappy that I kept you for further consideration?"

Zhu Youcheng deliberately put on a stern face, teasing Chen Yuanyuan.

Chen Yuanyuan was indeed frightened, and slipped to the ground.

"This subject is not unhappy, this subject is too happy, crying with joy."

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

"This crime can be forgiven, but the punishment cannot be avoided. I will punish you to peel oranges for me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youcheng beckoned to Chen Yuanyuan, and Chen Yuanyuan quickly got up, walked quickly to Zhu Youcheng, and knelt on the ground.

Then she took the citrus fruit from Zhu Youcheng's hand, peeled off a segment, and even peeled off all the orange pith before offering it to Zhu Youcheng.

Zhu Youcheng was very satisfied, and touched her head to show his appreciation.

Seeing Chen Yuanyuan successfully selected, the remaining six women, including Liu Rushi, who had not yet been selected, felt even more mixed feelings.

If they failed to be selected, then when they meet again in the future, there would be a distinction between master and servant.

This sense of crisis tightly enveloped them, making it difficult for them to feel at ease.

Seeing Zhu Youcheng keep two people for further consideration at once, Cui Gongzheng felt relieved and shouted again.

"The third row of young women step back, the fourth row of young women step forward."

In the fourth row of young women, there were Bian Yujing and Gu Hengbo.

The two women were equally uneasy, looking at Zhu Youcheng with secret anticipation.

But unfortunately, Zhu Youcheng glanced over, and still didn't see anyone that particularly caught his eye.

Zhu Youcheng waved his hand, and Cui Gongzheng understood.

"The fourth row of young women step back, the fifth row of young women step forward."

Bian Yujing and Gu Hengbo were both shocked, looked at each other, and saw regret and disappointment in each other's eyes.

In the fifth row of young women, Liu Rushi and Kou Baimen stepped forward side by side.

After seeing Bian Yujing and Gu Hengbo in the previous row both fail to be selected, they couldn't help but feel a little sad.

They felt a little desperate in their hearts.

Among the eight, Chen Yuanyuan was the most beautiful.

If only a beauty like Chen Yuanyuan could enter Zhu Youcheng's sacred eye, then they would most likely fail to be selected.

After the five stepped forward, Zhu Youcheng looked carefully and suddenly pointed to Liu Rushi.

"Do you have a name?"

Liu Rushi was suddenly startled, and her somewhat desperate heart began to throb.

Did His Majesty select me?