Chapter 103 - Disturbance during the audition

After a while, Emperor Chunjia walked in, surrounded by eunuchs.

Consorts had to go to Yan Fu Palace and then to Mian Fu Palace to pay respect, and then they could come here after dismissed concubines. After that, it was almost noon, and the Emperor had finished his morning meeting for a while.

At this moment, he put on his casual clothes: a sapphire-blue brocade robe with flowers whose branches were woven with gold lines, a white jade crown engraved with auspicious clouds, a broad white jade belt inlaid with a gold eagle and a bear around the waist where a colorful silk braid was tied with a pair of emerald rings, and a sachet that was not exquisite hung on it. He looked handsome and charming.

“How does His Majesty have the time to come here?” The Emperor let them rise and then he sat down on the throne given by the Empress, and ordered the consorts to return to their seats. Beside the Emperor, some smart maids had arranged a pair of chairs for the Empress. Then she asked, “Did I forget anything?”

Emperor Chunjia said gently, “Don’t misunderstand. I just came on a whim to enjoy the fun.”

He said calmly and gently, as if he had no other intentions at all, and he looked very sincere.

But nobody believed it.

Although they were silent, they had thought a lot.

“It turns out to be so.” Empress Ji must be the one of them who didn’t believe it at all. She even suspected that the Emperor wanted to intervene in the audition to show his authority. Maybe he had another plan to blame her… but she couldn’t drive him away. Now, she could only say, “We are about to start. What about you, Your Majesty?”

“Just start it.” The Emperor nodded slightly and put down the tea bowl in his hand.

So the Empress let her personal maid go out to report, and soon they heard sounds of footsteps from outside, which seemed to be trained but not tidy, mixed with the crisp sound of rings and the rustling sound of the clothes. Those low-grade consorts like Yun Fenghuang were close to the door and could smell a trace of fragrance of powder.

Of course the smell was not pleasant.

After all, these girls’ origins were not high, and they couldn’t afford good things. Even if they would be supplied with the powder after joining the Imperial Harem, that would not be much better than that of maids.

A group of people seemed to stop outside the door, and after a short while, a eunuch, holding a horsetail whisk, came in, and report. After getting permission from the Emperor and the Empress, he went out and lowered his voice to give a few words of instruction. Yun Fenghuang was sitting on a place where she could hear something. The eunuch let them perform well, and told them that their fates depended on themselves today.

What the eunuch did was easy to understand. Since the Empress was originally planning to bring a few consorts with interests over to have fun, but didn’t really care about it. However, the Emperor came now. Even if they were somewhat careless before, they must not be slack at this moment, and would consider these Cai Nv carefully.

Seeing this, the eunuch couldn’t help worrying about that in these days, the training was not enough. If they forgot the rules in front of the Emperor, it would involve him in the punishment. So, he reminded them in time.

But the girls were about 15 years old from small households. They were not very courageous originally. When they came to the door, they were already nervous. After being reminded, they were more nervous than ever before.

So, when the first batch of eight people came in, a girl in a lush green shirt was tripped by the threshold unconsciously. Therefore, she directly pulled the girl in a light blue shirt in front of her and the girl in a pink shirt next to the ground!

The eunuch was speechless.

The Empress and consorts were also speechless.

After a moment of silence, the eunuch shuddered and knelt down to the ground, “It’s my fault…”

“It doesn’t matter.” The Emperor said casually at this time, “Sometimes, when I thought about things as entering the room, I was almost tripped… Just stand up.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” The eunuch was relieved, kowtowed hard, and then stood up with his trembling body. At that moment, his forehead was already full of sweat. The three girls who fell down were startled with pale faces!

The eunuch was very anxious, but he could not remind them clearly in front of a circle of masters. Yun Fenghuang sighed, and then turned to tell Xi Le and Liu Hong, “Go and help them. Don’t waste our time.”

Xi Le and Liu Hong supported them, and finally called them back to their sense. They burst into tears, kowtowed for gratitude, and then went back to their team… Just a short time, how could they adjust their status?

Even if other companions who didn’t fall down were scared, they revealed their fear, like a group of frightened little chickens, and their beautiful faces couldn’t hide their embarrassment.

So, although Emperor Chunjia was quiet and did not express any opinion, the Empress, who had always liked dignified and generous girls, frowned, and thought that they really could not join the Imperial Harem.

But, since the Emperor was here, Empress Ji asked a few questions with patience. Seeing that they answered incoherently, even without any logic, she showed clear disappointment, “What did Concubine Messengers do? Why couldn’t they answer such simple questions?”

Hearing this, people in Xiu Zhuo Palace knelt down to ask for guilt.

This palace was dedicated to the auditions of Cai Nv. Concubine Messengers dispatched every time were also chosen from them.

At this moment, when the Empress was questioning, they were terrified very much.

“It cannot blame them all.” The Emperor relieved the atmosphere and said, “After all, when the Empress Dowager made the imperial decree for audition at the beginning of the year, the court had not yet received a report on the droughts in the three states, and did not know that there would be many rebellions… Many of them might face chaos along the way. Girls are timid, and they might be startled. How could they learn the rules attentively? Anyway, they are in Dijing City and you can send someone to teach them in the future.”

Seeing Empress Ji frowned and would like to say something, he picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, saying lightly, “Just some concubines.”

“… Your Majesty, you are right.” It was of course impossible for the Empress to think highly of these Cai Nv. Just because these people were brought in for the Empress Dowager’s imperial decree, as her granddaughter, she had to come personally to show respect to the elders, or she might not come here.

At this moment, she thought that there was no need for her to make the Emperor who had taken the power embarrassed just for such a thing, and then nodded, “Since this is the case, then…”

Empress Ji picked up the silver-gilt and gold-inlaid turquoise Ruyi from the maid and nodded slightly at the three girls in the queue, “I want these three girls.”

Then she asked the Emperor, “What do you think, Your Majesty?”

Emperor Chunjia nodded casually, “You have a good eye.”

Cai Nv who came in the first batch of course could not be arranged casually by the eunuch. Even if what they did was just to find a good sign and to show that they were careful, the girls must be the best. These eight Cai Nv were beautiful with nice figures, and maybe they were also the most outstanding ones among them.

If they failed to be chosen, it was unlikely to find a better one in other batches.

Empress Ji thought that although they were not excellent enough, the Imperial Harem still could afford to accommodate them. Then she ignored the other five girls who were terrified and desperate but looked at her pleadingly, and put the silver Ruyi down, saying, “Next.”

Then a eunuch came out and led the three girls to the side hall to pack their stuff. Of course, the other five were also led by others to pick up. They all left Xiu Zhuo Palace, but their destinations were very different… Therefore, as these eight girls left, people inside heard a slam, followed by a subconscious scream of girls, which disappeared halfway. There was so much noise, but people inside pretended not to hear it, and didn’t say anything. They just focused on the second batch of Cai Nv who tried their best to walk slowly.

The second batch was obviously inferior to the first batch, but there were still outstanding ones.

But Empress Ji looked for a while and discussed with the Emperor, Noble Consort Shu, and Fu Ren Yaoning, and only chose one with white skin, round face, and slightly plump body, “This one looks fertile.”

Then, although two of the other seven were more beautiful, they could only be maids.

Then there were several batches one after another. The Empress chose a few times and felt tired, so, she let the Emperor choose. However, he refused and just said he came to have fun. Then she passed the Ruyi to Noble Consort Shu directly, “Don’t just be a bystander. Help me choose.”

Noble Consort Shu tried to refuse twice but could not succeed, so, she chose two who were similar to the one chosen by the Empress in the second batch. They were all plump and seemed to be fertile but not very beautiful.

Then, seeing the Empress still did not want to get the silver Ruyi back, she handed it to Fu Ren Yaoning.

Passing the Ruyi orderly to every concubine meant that the Empress wanted them to added concubines to their own palaces.

Soon, the silver Ruyi was passed to Yun Fenghuang, and she was refreshed!

Emperor Chunjia, who was already a little sleepy on the throne, was instantly scared!

“Except those girls, I want all!” Just like occasionally going to the shop to buy things at home, Yun Fenghuang stretched the silver Ruyi out so frequently… that she almost didn’t drawn it back, “These eight girls are good. I want them all!”

All girls she thought beautiful were named!

What’s more… unlike Noble Consort Shu who ordered two batches and then stopped, she ordered four batches and left a dozen or so. Even so, she didn’t mean to give the silver Ruyi to Jie Yu Jia.

Such bold movements made consorts who sat and looked at her surprised, but all the Cai Nv who were picked were very grateful to her. They looked at her like they were looking at the kindest person in the world. They were so moved!

“… Jie Yu Mao.” Finally, distressed by Jie Yu Jia’s aggrieved eyes, Empress Ji felt that the number was almost enough, and then she coughed and reminded, “Although your Xuan Qing Palace is empty, aren’t these people enough?”

“Your Highness!” However, hearing this, instead of handing the silver Ruyi out obediently, Yun Fenghuang held it firmly and put it into her arms carefully as if Jie Yu Jia would rob her. She said seriously, “There is only Qingman in Xuan Qing Palace, and other places are still empty! I want to pick more people to increase popularity and fun. Otherwise, if His Majesty did not come, Qingman and I would be too scared to fall asleep!”

Then she glanced at the Emperor, “Your Majesty, am I right? You just said that girls are timid!”

Emperor Chunjia drank tea expressionlessly, and thought in his heart, “It was not strange that other women were timid. But you are not timid at all.”

You were really shameless!

It was a pity that Yun Fenghuang not only said it, but also did it. She just dominated the silver Ruyi and picked another five or six. Then she gave it to Jie Yu Jia reluctantly. So, when Jie Yu Jia received it, she could not control her expression, and picked seven or eight people with anger, and then gave Jie Yu Lu unhappily.

Jie Yu Lu chose only three or five people and stopped. When the Ruyi was passed to Wei Hengyan, she was hesitant.

According to the previous private instruction of the Empress, she should choose more.

However, although Yun Fenghuang was not scolded for her actions, it still had attracted a lot of attention. In Wei Hengyan’s plan, Yun Fenghuang attracted the attention and hostility of these old consorts and she could take advantage behind her… Now, to make it appropriate, how many people should she pick?

She pondered and picked people, and finally chose the number of people that Yun Fenghuang chose before Empress Ji stopped her.

It almost finished at this time. The silver Ruyi was returned to the Empress’s hand again. She looked at the copper hourglass at the corner of the palace and was thinking maybe they could have a meal first after the audition, and left the rest to a maid.

As a result, eight Cai Nv came in at this time. The other seven were common but the last one in an orange-cardigan and lake-blue pleated skirt with wide sleeves was not common at all. Before she crossed the threshold of the hall, and when she only stood outside the door, everyone seeing her subconsciously remembered the description in the previous chapter of “Rong Zhi”: the palace was still dark before she came. She brought the light in.

The Empress instantly stopped the act of handing the silver Ruyi to her personal maid. At the next moment, she turned her head to look at Emperor Chunjia!