Ning Yan stood in front of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility and looked at the magnificent palace. She fell into deep thought.
It was as if she had seen the power struggles of the past dynasties and the cruel fights in the harem through this palace.
In the end, the woman who could sit here was definitely not someone who compromised and won the hearts of the people.
Did I do something wrong?
For the first time, Ning Yan began to reflect on herself.
Looking at the Palace of Earth Tranquility, she was a little dazed. So many sisters had experienced hardships together. Ning Yan could understand their feelings.
She just wanted to fight for more opportunities for her sisters.
Was it really wrong?
……
Ning Yan returned to her bedroom in a daze.
"Empress."
The maidservant frowned and puffed up her cheeks."Wu Zhaoyi and the others are making up stories about the Empress behind her back, saying that the Empress is very scheming and wants to monopolize the Emperor.”
Ning Yan was stunned.
"BenGong was clearly fighting for a chance for them just now, why…why would they talk about me behind my back?”
Ning Yan gradually understood the truth in Zhu Youtang's words.
Blindly tolerating would only make people think that you were weak and that you were doing good for others, but others were already stabbing you in the back.
"Ning Niangniang."
Huai 'en walked over respectfully." The Emperor wants me to listen to you today. If there are any instructions, just say it. The Emperor said that he won't blame you for anything you do today.”
Ning Yan was touched.
How could she not know what Zhu Youtang meant?
Ning Yan took a deep breath." Thank you, Governor Cao. Today, I heard that Zhaoyi and Wu Qing have damaged the dignity of the harem."
Huai 'en nodded." This old servant will deal with it. Empress, you can rest assured."”
"Thank you, Governor Cao. I'll have to trouble you to tell the Emperor that I thank the Emperor for his guidance.”
"You're too kind, Empress," Huai 'en said with a smile.”
He waited for Wynne to leave.
Ning Yan's eyes gradually narrowed.
Was this the so-called power?
No wonder everyone in the harem wanted to climb up to the position of empress!
For the first time, Ning Yan felt how powerful the charm of that position was!
……
Zhu Youtang came to Zhang Qin's bedroom with his hands behind his back.
The most crucial step in the selection of the empress of the Ming Dynasty was what Zhu Youtang was doing now.
It was called 'Choose Three'.
The so-called choosing three was to choose three people from the harem who were more satisfactory. The emperor would personally assess the candidate for the empress.
Ning Yan and Zhu Youtang had already tested him, and now it was Zhang Qin's turn.
"Greetings, Emperor."
Zhang Qin was very happy to see Zhu Youtang.
She hadn't seen Zhu Youtang for a long time, so she was inexplicably happy.
"Yes."
Zhu Youtang sat down, looked at Zhang Qin, and said casually,""I've read the history books, but I can't evaluate the three of them at the moment.”
"May I ask who the three of them are, Your Majesty?" Zhang Qin asked curiously.”
"Lu Zhi of the Great Han, Wu Mei of the Great Tang, and Xiao Chuo of the Jin," Zhu Youtang said.”
Zhang Qin looked up at Zhu Youtang and said confidently,"The three of them are extremely powerful and ambitious women.”
"In my opinion, Lu Zhi is the most ruthless among the three, Wu Mei has the most political wisdom, and Xiao Chuo is good at military affairs.”
"What about you?" Zhu Youtang asked coldly. How do you think you compare to the three of them?"
Zhang Qin felt a little suffocated and was stunned for a long time before saying,"Your Majesty must be joking. This concubine cannot compare to the three of them.”
"Although I am somewhat scheming, I am not as ambitious as the three of you.”
Zhu Youtang nodded noncommittally and asked,"Is that so? You are the most diligent in going to the Palace of Benevolence and Longevity, and you are also the best at pleasing the Empress Dowager.”
"Helping the beautiful women plead for mercy and asking the Empress Dowager to arrange for the beautiful women to wait for zhen in the imperial garden, are these methods still not enough?”
"You have gained the support of many beautiful women. Zhen sees that it won't be long before they respectfully request Zhen to bestow you the title of empress.”
Zhang Qin panicked and hurriedly knelt down."Replying to the Emperor, this concubine knows her crime. This concubine…this concubine is also thinking for the sisters. This concubine knows the cruelty of the palace. If they are not favored, their fate will be extremely miserable. In another month, it will be two years. If they are still not favored, they will either become palace maids in the palace or be dismissed back to the various state capitals.”
"It wasn't easy for them to come all the way here…I…I know my sins.”
Zhu Youtang stared at her and waved his hand.”
"I ask you, do you want to move to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility?”
Zhang Qin didn't hide it at all.”
……
Zhu Youtang left.
He rubbed the space between his eyebrows.
Zhang Qin's personality was like this. She never hid her desires. She had methods and abilities.
In comparison, Ning Yan was a little soft-hearted and did not have enough means.
The empress that I want not only has means, but also has to be able to accommodate all the concubines in the harem.
But could Zhang Qin do it?
If she was really conferred the title of Empress, would she be able to tolerate anyone else in her heart?
He had to pick out another person!
Zhu Youtang thought for a moment and said to the eunuch beside him,"Let's continue flipping the signboards tonight."
"Yes."
Zhang Qin was right. If these twenty young ladies were not favored within two years, their fates would be very miserable.
Zhu Youtang only noticed this group of people today in the imperial garden.
Not only were they beautiful, but they also had their own merits. They were all one-in-ten-thousand beauties, outstanding people who stood out from the various state capitals, and they all had their own characteristics.
Perhaps Zhu Youtang should spend some time with them.
……
These few days, Zhu Youtang had been getting along with the harem, although he had visited many beautiful women.
However, the final candidate that Zhu Youtang really liked, who could be 'chosen after 30%', was still not chosen.
However, the fate of this group of women who were chosen to enter Jianghuai changed drastically because of Zhu Youtang's summons.
Other than Wu Qing, who was sent out of the palace, the rest were all given the title of concubines.
These people were glad that after Wu Zhaoyi, their mouths were much tighter. No one dared to backstab others in the harem anymore.
Zhu Youtang did not like such women, so even if they were satisfied or not, they would control their mouths!
……
Zhu Youtang was a little tired.
Even though he had already cultivated to the fifth level of the Art of Longevity, it was still difficult for him to withstand the arrogance that he had been experiencing almost every day and night.
I am slowly taking control of the country and annexing it step by step.
Zhu Youtang didn't even need to think about beauties. There were countless flawless beauties with excellent character fighting to enter the Forbidden City.
He rubbed the space between his eyebrows and casually flipped open the exercise book.
He had not dealt with the memorials for a few days, and the books in front of the case had almost piled up into a mountain.
While enjoying the desire for power, who knew what kind of pressure Zhu Youtang was carrying on his shoulders?
When this Ming Empire was strong enough, he would have to put down his authority and retreat behind the scenes to enjoy himself.
However, it seemed that there was still a long way to go.
Zhu Youtang frowned slightly and saw a letter of credence from the Kingdom of Flang.
"You overestimate yourself!" he sneered disdainfully.”
The letter of credence wrote,"Request the Ming Empire to release the Franc fleet and crew. I hope the Ming Emperor will not destroy the friendly exchanges between the two countries."
Zhu Youtang replied contemptuously: Is your country worthy?
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