Chapter 8: The One Who Should Stay Leaves

Nian Shilan shook her head.

[No, that’s not enough.]

The Emperor, whose face had already turned green with displeasure, was initially extremely unhappy. But upon hearing Nian Shilan change her mind, his ears practically perked up.

[She’s better than him by eight streets and a turn!]

The corner of his mouth, which had just lifted, fell again.

The Emperor coughed: even more displeased.

[When people get older, they tend to get phlegm stuck in their throats and cough all the time. The Imperial Hospital doesn’t even prescribe any phlegm-dissolving medicine for the Emperor. They should all be dragged off to Shenxing Si!]

The Emperor’s face darkened further: she should be sent to Shenxing Si right now!

The Empress pressed her lips together, struggling to hold back her laughter.

The Eunuch, noticing the Emperor’s foul mood, announced the rejection and presented the flower. An Lingrong bowed respectfully.

“An Lingrong thanks the Emperor and Empress Dowager. May the Emperor and Empress Dowager enjoy good health and eternal peace.”

The Empress Dowager feared that if things continued like this, not a single Palace Maid Candidate would be selected in this entire Palace Selection. Finding one who understood propriety was rare, so she spoke up. “Others look displeased when rejected, but you understand the rules.”

Hearing An Lingrong’s proper reply, Nian Shilan sighed inwardly: [Who said Bird Consort was selected because of a flower? She was clearly chosen by the Empress Dowager for her obedience and good manners.]

Selected?

The flower had already been presented just now. Without my second command, who would dare keep her?

The Emperor was about to let Nian Shilan know that even rebirth was useless—this empire was his to rule.

Seeing that she had already spoken up, yet her son seemed unusually obtuse today, the Empress Dowager couldn’t very well reprimand the Emperor in public. So, she turned her gaze to Nian Shilan.

“Consort Hua has been staring at Lady An. Do you have some opinion of her?”

Suddenly called upon, Nian Shilan was somewhat baffled, but she steeled herself and replied loudly, “In reply to Empress Dowager, this humble consort was admiring the begonia by Sister An’s temple. It looks quite extraordinary.”

After all, this person was supposed to stay anyway. Was it wrong for her to steal half a line from the Emperor?

[The steps have already been laid out. If the Emperor just says, ‘Since she’s already wearing a flower, there’s no need to present another,’ we can move on to the next batch.]

Sister An? Consort Hua… does she mean… she wants to keep me?

An Lingrong’s heart leaped into her throat, and her palms broke out in a cold sweat. She never expected to have caught Consort Hua’s favor.

Hearing this “sister,” the Empress Dowager frowned deeply. “As the foremost among the consorts, how can Consort Hua fail to observe basic caution in speech and conduct?”

[What’s going on? What’s wrong with praising a begonia? If Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is dissatisfied with the Emperor, she shouldn’t take it out on me. It’s like the city gate catching fire and affecting the fish in the moat.]

In her previous life, Nian Shilan had grown accustomed to addressing others this way in front of the Emperor and Empress Dowager. It had slipped out without her realizing, and instead, she blamed the Emperor.

The Emperor, his face dark: Didn’t I say her brain was useless?

An unselected Palace Maid Candidate, and she calls her “sister” in public?

Seeing his mother’s expression, if he didn’t keep this candidate, she would likely make an example of Consort Hua.

Fine. The Emperor recalled the words in Nian Shilan’s heart. “Mother, since she’s already wearing a flower, let’s not present another.”

[Tsk, word for word.]

The Emperor: What is she so proud of?

After leaving Tiyuan Hall, An Lingrong took the begonia from her hair, cradling it in her palms as she exclaimed excitedly, “Father, Mother, I’ve finally been selected.”

“Consort Hua… it’s all thanks to Consort Hua that I was able to stay.”

Two more rows of candidates passed through Tiyuan Hall, with the Emperor remarking, “All are rather ordinary.” Nian Shilan thought to herself: Ordinary already? Just wait, you’re about to keep the most ordinary one of all!

The Empress Dowager sighed. “They may not be perfect in every way, but Your Majesty must consider the imperial lineage.”

For the sake of the Great Qing, sacrificing oneself for the nation is hardly a grievance.

The Empress bit her lip hard, her mouth trembling slightly.

Another row of candidates approached. The Emperor casually pointed, about to say, “Let it be her,” when Nian Shilan inwardly exclaimed with excitement:

Here she comes, here she comes! The Emperor’s ‘Four Seasons Sister’ is walking over!

Was this the most ordinary one?

The Emperor silently withdrew his hand: I shall not keep her.

“…Xia Dongchun, daughter of Xia Wei of the Baoyi Zuoling, aged eighteen.”

This one is good—dressed in eye-catching, dazzling attire, neither her looks nor her family background are top-tier, yet she is remarkably reckless. While waiting, she bullied other Palace Maid Candidates, and if selected, she would likely show disrespect to the teaching matrons. At least she has ambition; once she enters the palace, she’ll serve the Emperor day and night. Elderly people fear loneliness—with her around, the Hall of Mental Cultivation will surely be lively.

This lifetime, she would not bestow the Zhang Hong punishment again. Let this fool stay and serve the Emperor, saving herself trouble. Who knows, this incompetent ally might even cause trouble for the Empress.

The Emperor glanced sideways at Consort Hua and signaled to the outside.

The eunuch outside announced loudly, “Xia Dongchun—reject the plaque, bestow flowers.”

“Hmm?”

Nian Shilan accidentally made a sound but quickly coughed twice to cover it up.

Why was she rejected? Did I remember incorrectly? Or is there some twist? Never mind, as long as she ends up on the final selection list, that’s what matters.

A twist?

The selection list?

The Emperor glanced at Su Peisheng, who whispered a few words into Xiao Xiazi’s ear.

Then the Emperor said, “Step forward.”

See, I told you! How could I possibly remember wrong? There’s no way there’s a twist!

The corners of Nian Shilan’s lips curved slightly upward, filled with confidence.

The Emperor thought: I’ll show you right now what a twist looks like.

Seeing that she had a chance, Xia Dongchun happily stepped forward. Reckless by nature, when Xiao Xiazi splashed a cup of tea, she startled and dodged, only to twist her ankle and lose her composure. Panicked, she knelt and collapsed onto the floor.

Seizing the excuse, the Emperor declared righteously, “Xia Dongchun has shown disrespect before the hall. Take her out and forbid her from ever participating in the selection again!”

Xia Dongchun kowtowed repeatedly. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this subject’s daughter did not mean it! Your Majesty, show mercy!”

Watching Xia Dongchun being forcibly dragged away, Nian Shilan stared in astonishment:

Huh? Wasn’t it Sun Miaoqing who showed disrespect and was dragged away?

Others might be mistaken, but Xia Dongchun was the one to whom she herself had bestowed the Zhang Hong punishment—there was no way she could remember that wrong.

It’s over. Everything’s in chaos.