Chapter 1003: Wish Granted

, it was just a drizzle, and many people saw that the rain was light so they rushed out of their houses with umbrellas—those going to work, those going to school, those buying food. Everyone found lif...Of course, there are also those who are willing to take a gamble and seek marriage with the royal family. Each of these families has their own considerations, which is not something Lian Yi needs to worry about. She just needs to spread the word.

As expected, the news spread like ripples, and after the new year, there was a wave of marriages and annulments among the high officials and nobles in the imperial city.

Families that are already engaged do not want to become in-laws with the royal family, while those who have broken off engagements desire more. Therefore, they would rather destroy the engagement and keep their daughters until next summer, which is half a year.

After receiving the news, the Ministry of Household had already begun preparations in advance, passing the message down layer by layer, ensuring that the counties and prefectures below were ready for the selection process. Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Life is much more relaxed now, my days are spent taking care of the three children. After the new year, all three will be able to crawl around, and there will be more people helping out.

The eldest son, Chiang Hung-chi, was the most energetic, crawling all over the place with glee. The second princess, Chiang Yun-shan, was more graceful and followed cautiously behind her elder brother. The youngest, Chiang Hung-yeh, was a bit weaker and would crawl for a while before needing to sit down for a rest, then continue again.

Ripples found that raising little ones was still fun, as long as she didn't have to do it herself. Fortunately, she was now the most powerful woman in the harem.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has completed the first round of screening and submitted a list of one hundred young women for your review."

Grandmother Sun held a list and respectfully reported.

The ripples were adjusting their fragrance. Having heard Granny Sun's words, they simply said faintly:

"Let me have those portraits of the beauties brought to me first, so that I can screen them."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the master of the harem, Lianyi naturally has this right.

After a quarter of an hour, the palace maids filed into the hall, each carrying a painting book.

"Unfold it, I shall take a look."

"Yes!"

The Empress spoke, a long scroll unfolding before Ripples. Ripples glanced at it and raised her hand to Orchid, saying:

"Pen!"

Yes, Your Majesty!

Lanza immediately handed him a red pen.

Ripples sketched across the sketchbook. Lan Zhi and Sun Mama, standing nearby, both let out a sigh of relief.

Because the women selected through the ripple effect were those with lower official positions and average looks, they could only be considered just barely meeting the standards for the selection.

It was just that the two of them were a little too happy, because after finishing her drawing, Lianyi said to Grandma Sun:

"Besides the beauties I sketched, the rest were all arranged and sent to the Emperor for his viewing."

"Your Majesty!!"

"This"

The ripples' left and right arms reacted extraordinarily.

The ripples swept over the two people, and they immediately realized their gaffe. After collecting themselves, they bowed and retreated from the hall, taking with them the booklet that ripples had drawn in.

After reporting the result to the Ministry of Revenue, Grandmother Sun returned to the Inner Palace with a heavy heart. She looked at Lianyi, wanting to speak but holding back for a long time. Finally, she gritted her teeth and asked:

"Your Majesty, I believe this is not in your best interest."

What are the disadvantages

The emperor must love fresh colors.

Grandma Sun's words were veiled, but her meaning was clear. With so many beauties and empresses vying for the emperor's favor, his love for her would inevitably be diluted.

"Grandmother, as you said, the Emperor loves new and vibrant colors. Besides, he rules over all lands, finding any kind of beauty wouldn't be a problem. Even if I stopped this once, could I stop it next time"

Ripple asked back.

"This old slave means that we should wait until the Empress and Your Majesty's feelings deepen further."

Grandma Sun certainly understood the meaning of ripples, she just wanted to give it a try.

"Grandmother Sun, this palace and the Emperor only have interests, not feelings. This way is better now. He likes this palace's understanding and discretion. This palace needs his respect to secure the position of Empress. We both get what we need."

The ripples were clearly defined.

"The old slave understands."

Grandma Sun nodded.

Lan Zhi had been silent all along, merely listening with her ears perked up. Only now did she softly speak:

"Your Majesty, even if so, there's no need to choose so many fine colors. You could mix in some ordinary ones."

If their appearances are too poor, how can they attract the emperor's attention, and how can they compete with each other If they don't fight, this palace has nothing interesting to watch.

The ripples teased playfully.

If it weren't for the fact that the client of this task had already reincarnated, she would have to live out their life. Otherwise, she would definitely leave this plane after fulfilling the other party's wish.

For her own amusement and to dig a hole for the emperor, she spared no effort in promoting this selection of beauties.

As expected, when the album carefully selected through ripples reached the imperial table, the Emperor was very pleased, thinking his empress was truly knowledgeable and discerning.

All the chosen maidens were daughters of officials whom he intended to woo, and each possessed outstanding beauty. They were skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, making them truly rare gems.

Although they had been carefully selected, there were still over fifty women who appeared before the emperor. It was impossible for the emperor to take all of them into the palace.

After much deliberation, the new emperor chose twenty women to fill his harem, along with some daughters of officials he had met, and conveniently married them off. For a time, both the court and the palace were pleased, a truly harmonious situation.

The twenty selected beauties, upon entering the palace, first paid their respects to Lian'Yi, the empress dowager. This is commonly known as "paying a visit to the threshold."

Ripples, as always in her usual attire, sat at the back and received the bows of all the court ladies. She then lightly opened her vermilion lips to speak:

"Alright everyone, speak your minds. There are no hard and fast rules here."

The concubines bowing below wouldn't think so. If they weren't properly disciplined, they wouldn't have waited until after their bows to say this. But everyone here is shrewd, and no matter what they think in their hearts, they won't show it on their faces. They all look calm and composed.

“All of you have gone through several rounds of screening before entering the palace. After entering, your first priority is to serve the Emperor well and give birth to heirs for the royal family. This harem is sorely lacking children, as you all know. Right now, only I have children under my knee. You must all work hard.”

The ripples and the color of a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty's imperial decree is obeyed."

All the concubines immediately responded.

This palace has already stated my terms. If you become pregnant, you will be promoted to a higher rank. If you give birth to a prince, you will be promoted to the rank of concubine.

Ripples first drew the big cake, after all, these newly entered palace maids were generally only sealed as noble ladies, often-present or promised, their status was relatively low. Only when they entered the rank of concubine did they have the qualification to live in a separate hall. To mix into the main position of living in the palace, one would have to be at least a noble consort.

The women below all lit up their eyes after hearing that, mainly because of the great attraction.

As the draft came to an end, the emperor also began to frequently move around the harem. After all, he had released so many beauties, and they all obeyed him wholeheartedly. Naturally, he was willing to relax after finishing his official duties.

However, even though he indulged in revelry every night, the emperor would invariably visit Empress Li's Phoenix Residence on the first and fifteenth day of every month. This was a way to give Li some face; after all, she had handled things beautifully. He didn't want to hurt the feelings of his three children's mother.

It's just that after more than a year of the Emperor's efforts, there hasn't been any good news from the harem yet, which has made all the concubines a little anxious.ributed their qiyun to Du Li at the outer gate, most of them have long since disappeared. Even if one or two managed to survive, they still didn't do well in the outer gate, apparently unable to recov...