Chapter 117 - 113: The Unfeeling Emperor
After two rounds of selection, there were still over a hundred Concubines left, the final round was supposed to be personally selected by Ye Qiu, but firstly, he was not in the mood, and secondly, he had been busy with the establishment of maritime shipping and official schools lately and could not spare the time. Ultimately, this matter fell onto Empress Dowager Xiao and the Empress, with Noble Consort Xiao unwilling to be left out, acting coquettishly towards the Empress Dowager and interfering as well.
This selection had completely slipped from Ye Qiu’s control. Even though he was reluctant, both the previous dynasty and the harem were vehemently pushing this matter forward, and the final struggle among all parties resulted in Ye Qiu’s harem gaining ten more Concubines.
Empress Dowager Xiao looked at the charming and beautiful group of girls with such loving smiles, as though she already saw adorable grandsons and granddaughters waving at her, the Empress, although uncomfortable, no longer needed this ethereal favoritism over the years, as the Emperor trusted her and the Crown Prince was progressing well. However, Noble Consort Xiao was biting her silver teeth, her gaze dangerous.
Xiao Zi and Xiao Ke, through Xiao Bairen’s arrangements, both successfully entered the harem. Xiao Zi, being the legitimate daughter of the Xiao Family and Ye Qiu’s cousin, could not be given too low of a status; she was eventually made a concubine, while Xiao Ke got a much lower rank compared to her, being made a Fifth-rank Beauty. Both were daughters of the Xiao Family, yet due to the difference between the main and branch families, there was such a great distinction, and Xiao Ke, deeply dissatisfied in her heart, had to put on a face of joy.
There were a total of ten women selected with relatively high ranks. Apart from Xiao Zi, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the legitimate daughter of Zhang Family from Marquis Mansion were also made concubines. Among them, like Xiao Ke, Beauty Li, who was made a Fifth-rank Beauty, especially drew attention.
Beauty Li was just the legitimate daughter of a county official, her father merely a seventh-rank county official. Typically, even if selected, she would have to start from the lowest rank concubine, yet her exceptional persona compelled the Empress Dowager to break the rules for her.
Everyone said that the Xiao Family produced beautiful women, the Empress Dowager Xiao herself was chosen by the late Emperor for her outstanding beauty and became the Crown Princess Consort despite her modest family background, underscoring her exceptional beauty. In the next generation, Noble Consort Xiao earned the title of the capital’s number one beauty, entering the palace directly as a concubine. Her cousin, Xiao Zi, although not as stunningly beautiful as Noble Consort Xiao, had an ethereal charm that especially touched people’s hearts.
Yet, upon Beauty Li’s appearance, she directly overshadowed the two legitimate daughters of the Xiao Family. Dressed in light yellow today, her fair petite face radiant like jade against her outfit, her jet-black hair styled in a young girl’s bun adorned with a pink beaded flower hairpin with tassels that swayed as she spoke, her long elegant eyebrows and twinkling eyes, her high nose bridge with red, slightly upturned lips carrying a hint of a scholarly aura.