Chapter 22: Palace Selection

Chapter 22: Palace Selection

As Sun Manyun reached to take the jewelry,

Feng Pingping instinctively stepped back, explaining, "No, you misunderstand, Sister Zhao was taken to the Empress Dowager, and I didn’t have a chance to return them. I thought I’d borrow them one more time today before giving them back."

Their commotion drew attention, with nearby ladies awaiting their turn watching, but none stepped forward to mediate.

Before Sun Manyun could continue, a lady approached them with a gentle voice, "Manyun, these accessories were indeed lent to Miss Feng by me."

It was Zhao Ruyun, who hadn't been seen for days.

Accompanied by Madam Li from Cining Palace and several young maids, she appeared quite imposing.

"Sister Yun?!" Sun Manyun's eyes lit up with joy, "Are you better now?"

Zhao Ruyun nodded with a smile.

Seeing Zhao Ruyun, Feng Pingping also smiled, but soon her cheeks turned red as she softly said, "Sister Zhao, I was going to return these accessories to you... I just, I just..."

"It's alright," Zhao Ruyun said with a gentle smile, adjusting the position of the hairpin for Feng Pingping, "These suit you very well. Let's consider them a gift from me, as a token of our sisterhood."

Before Feng Pingping could respond, Sun Manyun, like a child whose candy had been snatched away, clung to Zhao Ruyun's arm, acting coquettishly and leading her away. She didn't forget to glare at Feng Pingping as they left.

Stopping under an old poplar tree, Zhao Ruyun finally asked, "Manyun, during the palace selection, with all the maids and eunuchs closely watching, why did you suddenly have an issue with Feng Pingping?"

"It's because she wore the same color dress as me," Sun Manyun turned away, sullenly saying, "I just hope when they call names later, I'm called before her."

In the palace selection, according to tradition, fairness was paramount. Maidens' names were inscribed on ivory plaques, placed in a redwood box, and drawn out one by one to reorder the list.

However, family background played a subtle role in this list. Those from prestigious families aiming for a palace position would often bribe attendants for less conspicuous companions - an open secret in and out of the palace.

Yet, despite some influence over companion choice, the order of names remained unpredictable.

As Zhao Ruyun was about to console Sun Manyun, a eunuch's voice echoed from the entrance of Xiangxiang Pavilion:

"Announcing Miss Zhao Ruyun, third daughter of Marquis Changping Zhao Zhongshi, Miss Luo Rou, eldest daughter of the Yu State Judicial Officer Luo Qingwen, and Miss Liu Rong, a lady of good family from Yu State!"

"I'll go in first," Zhao Ruyun smiled faintly at Sun Manyun and proceeded to the main hall with the other two ladies, following the lead eunuch.

Inside the hall, scented with dragon's blood incense, sat the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress. Without much time to observe, Zhao Ruyun joined the other two in bowing down, greeting them respectfully.

"Yun'er, come forward," the Empress Dowager's kind voice called out.

Zhao Ruyun took a deep breath and gracefully advanced a few steps, her eyes demurely cast down.

"The child has been ill for a few days and looks somewhat haggard," the Empress Dowager said with concern.

"Indeed, an undeserved misfortune," the Empress added, turning to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Emperor Xiao Sheng glanced at the maiden below the steps. Dressed as brightly as her previous palace visit, she wore a begonia red silk flower trailing skirt, with her hair in a high flying fairy bun, adorned with a golden phoenix and double luan pearl hairpin. Her recently recovered face appeared slightly pale, lending her an air of vulnerable charm.

—— She maintained proper decorum just like in Cining Palace, yet with an added touch of delicate grace.

Recognizing her as his cousin and remembering her recent ordeal, a hint of compassion arose in Emperor Xiao Sheng's heart.

"Award her a sachet."

"This servant gratefully acknowledges His Majesty's generous favor."

Zhao Ruyun expressed her gratitude and stepped aside.

The Empress Dowager felt reassured; her son's favor was always the best outcome. She then turned her attention to the other two maidens.

"What's the name of the one in the goose-yellow dress on the right?"

"This humble girl is Liu Rongnian, paying respects to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress." Liu Rongnian stepped forward slightly, lifting her head just a bit.

Noticing Liu Rongnian's long face and willowy brows, with a slightly fuller figure, the Empress Dowager found her plain yet fresh-faced appearance quite appealing, asking kindly, "What does your father do?"

Liu Rongnian, nervous, replied in a soft voice, "To answer the Empress Dowager, my family has a modest ancestral farm."

Despite her humble claim of a 'modest farm', her delicate and well-cared-for appearance suggested she was the daughter of a respectable local family.

The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile, asking further, "Do you have any special talents?"

"I am skilled in cooking," Liu Rongnian said shyly.

The Empress Dowager commented, "I think this child is quite good."

Emperor Xiao Sheng nodded, saying casually, "If Mother likes her, let her be chosen. Award her a sachet."

“I thank His Majesty for his grace!” Liuyongniang's face lit up with joy. After expressing her gratitude, she retreated next to Zhao Ruyun.

The remaining showgirl became increasingly nervous, bowing her head deeply, afraid to look around, lest she be dismissed.

The Empress’s voice then chimed in, “The remaining one must be Miss Luo from the Yu State Judicial Commissioner’s family, right?”

Luo Rou inhaled deeply, stepped forward a few paces, and gave a respectful curtsy. She was pretty, with a hint of scholarly reserve. Her peach blossom eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, added charm to her appearance.

The Empress inquired, “Do you have any special talents?”

Luo Rou responded respectfully, “I excel in calligraphy.”

“Oh?” The Empress chuckled playfully, “The Noble Consort is also skilled in calligraphy and painting. How do you compare?”

Luo Rou's face turned pale, and she hurriedly said, “Although I am from Yu State, I have heard of the Noble Consort's renowned talents in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She excels in all, and I, with my limited abilities, cannot compare to her at all.”

The Empress smiled faintly without further comment, and a clever palace maid had already prepared the Four Treasures of the Study, guiding Luo Rou to begin writing.

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense later, Luo Rou blew the ink dry. The palace maid displayed the paper with Luo Rou’s calligraphy to the Emperor. The characters flowed gracefully, and she had ingeniously written a couplet perfectly capturing the essence of spring.

“A noble heart under a graceful appearance, intelligent and wise within beauty. What do you think, Your Majesty?” the Empress inquired, turning her head slightly to ask the Emperor's opinion.

Emperor Xiaosheng nodded slightly, and Luo Rou promptly thanked him in a gentle voice.

All three girls in this group were selected, to the delight of the matron escorting them out of the hall. Believing these young ladies to be blessed with good fortune, she smiled warmly, leading them to a side hall to rest, saying, “You may rest here for a while. Soon someone from the Internal Affairs Department will come to escort you out of the palace.”

Once selected in the palace examination, they could no longer return to their previous residences.

The ladies expressed their warm thanks to the palace matron who led them, quickly becoming familiar with each other, having only slightly known each other in the Consort Selection Palace. After exchanging birthdates, they soon addressed each other as sisters.

Luo Rou, aware that the third daughter of the Marquis of Changping's household was destined for a high position, and knowing that besides the Empress, there were only three consorts in the palace, smilingly said:

"Back in the Consort Selection Palace, I mostly stayed in my room and didn't get acquainted with Sisters Zhao and Liu. It's fortunate to meet today. If we could live close to each other after entering the palace, it would be wonderful."

Liu Rongnian nodded vigorously, feeling fortunate to be close to two noble ladies, as she knew no one in the capital.

Zhao Ruyun, however, had her own thoughts and responded with a light smile to Luo Rou, "That depends on His Majesty and the Empress's arrangements."

Understanding Zhao Ruyun's grasp of her intention, Luo Rou said no more. Soon after, they each bid farewell and followed the eunuch out of the palace to return to their respective residences.

The selection at the Fragrance Pavilion lasted from early morning until late afternoon, nearly a whole day.

However, Jiang Hui had no leisure to pay attention to this — after dinner, her son suddenly developed a fever.