Zhu Houzhao arrived at Cining Palace.
Laughter rang out in Ci Ning Palace.
"This widow thinks that these girls are not bad and should be added to His Majesty's harem.”
" That won't do. Zhao 'er is only 15 years old. How can he be added to the harem? You have to take care of Zhao' er's health. I still think we should restrain Zhao 'er until his body grows a little more..." Second Mother's voice sounded in Ci Ning Palace.
Second Mother followed the main family's surname and was called Zhang Qiao 'er.
She had a straightforward personality. Although the Empress Dowager had a noble status, Zhang Qiao 'er and the Empress Dowager had grown up together. The two of them had been inseparable since childhood and were like sisters. If Zhang Qiao' er had anything to say, she would not hide it from the Empress Dowager.
Third Mother was called Zhang Huijuan, and she had entered the palace with the Empress Dowager. There was not even a single concubine in the large harem. When Zhu Youtang died, the Empress Dowager was the only wife. The Empress Dowager was the only one in charge of the entire harem. Other than the Empress Dowager, Second Mother and Third Mother had the highest status.
Zhu Houzhao heard everything that had happened outside the Palace of Compassion and Peace.
The three-month fast had ended, and the Empress Dowager began to manage Zhu Houzhao's concubines and harem.
Before the Empress was elected, the Empress Dowager would continue to control Jianghuai. Only after the Emperor was appointed and gave birth to the Dragon heir would the Empress Dowager enjoy her remaining years.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The eunuch's voice rang out from outside Cining Palace.
Zhu Houzhao stepped into the Cining Palace.
"Mother, Second Mother, Third Mother…"
"The emperor has come, the emperor has come at the right time, this widow has something to discuss with you.”The Empress Dowager held Zhu Houzhao's hand and entered the Cining Palace. Second Mother and Third Mother followed the Empress Dowager.
"Emperor, this widow will let you see some beautiful women. Whoever you like, this widow will make a phoenix crown and a robe for her…"
The Empress Dowager no longer addressed Zhu Houzhao as Zhao 'er, but as Emperor.
In the Empress Dowager's eyes, Zhu Houzhao was not only her son, but also the ruler of a region. He was the Emperor, so he had to remember his identity.
Second Mother and Third Mother did not change the way they addressed Zhu Houzhao. They still addressed him as Zhao 'er. Although Zhu Houzhao was already the emperor, in their hearts, Zhu Houzhao was still the Zhao' er that they had watched grow up.
After Zhu Houzhao was born, Second Mother and Third Mother took the most care of him, especially Second Mother Zhang Qiao 'er. She cared for Zhu Houzhao in every possible way. She held him in her hands, afraid that he would fall, and held him in her mouth, afraid that he would melt.
……
Zhang Suying stayed in the Empress Dowager's palace for more than two months. After the Empress Dowager was going to select a talent for the Emperor, Zhang Suying left the palace.
In the Ming Dynasty, the tradition left behind by the royal family was not to allow the children of the officials to enter the palace. It was mainly to prevent relatives from taking power. Even if the Empress Dowager was Zhang Suying's aunt, the tradition left behind by the royal family still needed to be respected.
However, if the Emperor decreed that Zhang Suying was to be the Empress, this rule could be broken.
Zhu Houzhao and the Empress Dowager entered the Cining Palace. After the Empress Dowager said a few words to the female official beside her, the female official left. Not long after, delicate footsteps sounded outside the Cining Palace.
Just from the sound of his footsteps, it was obvious that he was a person with a light figure.
When Zhu Houzhao turned his head, he saw that the young ladies selected from the common people had already entered the Cining Palace.
There were a total of 18 women.
This time, 10,000 women were sent to the palace. After many tests, only 18 remained. These 18 women were one in 10,000.
After all, there was a limit to the number of people in each prefecture and county. These prefectures had spent a lot of effort in order to select talents to enter the palace. After all, who wouldn't want the mother of the country to come from their own prefecture and county? Who didn't want the Empress to come from their own family?
Therefore, the beauties recommended by each state and county could be said to be national beauties.
After these 10,000 women entered the palace, another 18 were selected. These 18 were first selected from the female officials, then by the Empress Dowager. Every step they took was shocking.
From this selection process, many beautiful women were rejected. In the end, they did not have the chance to enter the palace and were sent back to their hometown. The women who were left behind were all virtuous and virtuous. They were good at playing the four arts, calligraphy, and painting. Their appearance and figure were impeccable. There were no flaws.
Zhu Houzhao turned his head and looked at the beautiful women standing in front of him. These beautiful women came from various provinces and counties. They were handsome and had their own merits.
The Empress Dowager saw that Zhu Houzhao did not seem to be moved and said,""Why don't you fill all these women into the harem, this widow will be happy to see them. Let them stay in Ci Ning Palace and serve this widow first, this widow will tell them about the harem first…"
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and the female officials led the young ladies away.
The Empress Dowager had originally planned to choose one or two of these women to serve the Emperor.
However, when these women appeared in Ci Ning Palace dressed up, the empress dowager was a little reluctant to part with them. She saw that everyone liked them, so who should go and who should not?
It was better to keep them in Ci Ning Palace first. Firstly, it was convenient to teach them the etiquette of the palace. Secondly, it was convenient to change the emperor's woman every night. Whoever's stomach improved first would be made a concubine...
After these women entered Cining Palace, they lowered their heads and did not dare to look up. They naturally knew that they had entered the palace to serve the Emperor.
Just now, before they entered Cining Palace, the female official had strictly instructed them not to do anything unusual when they were going to meet the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
These women were naturally very afraid and excited.
The Empress Dowager…
The Emperor…
This was someone they didn't even dare to think about in the past!
He did not expect that one day, he would be able to hear their voices and see their true faces!
How could he not be excited?
Moreover, they had gone through many rounds of selection. Only they knew how thrilling it was.
" Yes, they are new to the palace, and Jinling has the most people. Four of them are from Jinling, so let them live in Jinling Pavilion…"
When the female official heard the Empress Dowager's words, Wan Fu said,""I will obey the Empress Dowager's orders."
Ever since they entered the palace, they were different from the palace maids. They existed for the emperor and needed to live in the palace. The female officials and palace maids had female officials.
After they lived in Jinling Pavilion, every night, a eunuch from Jinling Pavilion would go to Qianqing Palace to receive the emperor's edict. If the emperor was resting, the eunuch from Jinling Pavilion would hand over the token, and the emperor would flip the card and go to bed.
These tablets recorded the names of the young ladies, their birthdays, where they came from, when they entered the palace, and what they were good at…
The emperor would first choose a beautiful woman from the sign, and the eunuchs would prepare in advance to bathe and change clothes so that they could accompany the king.
……
After the Empress Dowager arranged for these women to leave, she held Zhu Houzhao's hand and entered the main hall of the Cining Palace. She said,""Emperor, this widow has something to ask you.”
"Oh, what is mother asking about?"
When Zhu Houzhao was in Cining Palace, Cao Zhengchun of the East Chamber was frowning. According to the spies of the East Chamber, Cao Zhengchun discovered that the Holy Maiden of the White Lotus Society had appeared in the Governor's Mansion of Zhili in Baoding Prefecture. She had gathered thousands of people and then disappeared. It was suspected that she had moved to the capital!
White Lotus Society!
How rebellious!
If they were to cause trouble in the capital, Cao Zhengchun would be held responsible!
"We actually lost them? Liu Huatian, you dare to return to the East Chamber? Go out and die!" As soon as Cao Zhengchun finished speaking, Second Gear left the main hall. Outside the main hall, Second Gear pulled out his Embroidered Spring Saber and slashed his neck. Blood sprayed all over the ground. The people of the East Military Hall dragged Second Gear's body away.
"Investigate! Investigate, you must find these rats!”
In the East Chamber, Cao Zhengchun roared in exasperation. As the eyes and ears of the Emperor, if he could not find out everything in the world, then there was no need for this eagle to live.
If the White Lotus Society was stirring up trouble in the capital and the East Chamber could not find any trace of them, then the person who would die in the East Chamber today to atone for his crimes would be the supervisor of the East Chamber, Cao Zhengchun!
The reason why the East Military Chamber was feared was not only because they were ruthless to outsiders, but also because they were even more ruthless to their own people!
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