Next came the room assignments, and Chu Yanzhi happened to be paired with the daughter of that third-rank minister.
Upon entering the room, the girl said, "Hey, I am Qin Huayi, daughter of the third-rank Minister of Rites. And you?" Her face wore a condescending expression.
Chu Yanzhi found it amusing. "My father holds the position of third-rank Minister of Revenue. My name is Chu Yanzhi." After saying this, she turned to tidy up the room and paid her no further attention.
Qin Huayi's face flushed with embarrassment, alternating between pale and red. She wanted to lash out, but given their equal status and the fact that they were in the imperial palace, she forced herself to hold back.
The days passed peacefully after that, though the candidate maidens seemed to form several factions, clustering around the most popular contenders. Mu Qianqian, the Empress Dowager's niece, possessed stunning beauty and had grown up with the Emperor since childhood, so naturally, she attracted the largest following.
Ji Qiyu, the legitimate youngest daughter of the Duke of Germany and the Empress's own sister, was even more arrogant than her roommate Qin Huayi. Despite her illustrious family background, she had fewer followers. As for Li Manyun and Du Mirou, they faced jealousy. Those who had made it this far were no simple individuals, and they encountered both overt and covert exclusion at every turn.
About a week before the palace selection, two major incidents occurred in Chuxiu Palace. First, a candidate maiden was dancing gracefully in the imperial garden when she happened to encounter the Emperor. He was so captivated by her beauty that he immediately conferred upon her the rank of seventh-grade Constant Attendant, and she moved out of Chuxiu Palace that very night.
Once this news spread, the number of visitors to the imperial garden increased daily. It was only after the Empress issued an order that the situation was resolved.
Many candidate maidens were intensely jealous of this Yan Changzai, especially her roommate, who cursed her daily as a seductress. In the Imperial Palace, careless words could lead to disaster, but Chu Yanzhi had no intention of kindly reminding her.
Compared to this incident, the other event involved a candidate maiden who developed a rash on her face and was sent out of the palace. This served as a warning to the other maidens: the Imperial Palace was no peaceful or harmless place.
The day of the palace selection arrived.
Today, Chu Yanzhi wore a pink cloud-smoke gown embroidered with elegant peach blossoms, with a slightly trailing skirt. Over her arm, she draped a thin misty green gauze shawl. Her hair was styled in flowing-cloud buns, adorned with a peach blossom and jade bead hairpin. Her face was as charming as the moon, her eyes sparkling with a captivating light. On her wrist, she wore the Purple Jade Bracelet gifted by the System.
In front of Taihe Hall
"Young mistresses, please form groups of six. When your names are called, enter the hall one group at a time…"
"First group: Ji Qiyu, daughter of the Duke of Germany; Mu Qianqian, daughter of the Duke of Jin… enter the hall!"
Group by group, they entered and exited. Some trembled nervously throughout, some emerged weeping with sorrow, some sighed with relief, and others fainted outright.
Those waiting grew increasingly tense in such an atmosphere. Beside her, Qin Huayi had long lost her arrogant demeanor, her face deathly pale.
"Qin Huayi, daughter of the Minister of Rites; Chu Yanzhi, daughter of the Minister of Revenue… enter the hall!"
It was their turn. Chu Yanzhi took a deep breath and walked in.
"We, your humble subjects, pay our respects to the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress!"
"Rise," came a commanding male voice from above.
As Chu Yanzhi and the others stood up, they heard, "Begin."
Qin Huayi stepped forward, still nervous. "Daughter of the Minis… Minister of Rites… paying respects to the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress…"
Emperor Yong frowned and, without waiting for her to finish, waved his hand. The recording eunuch nearby, noticing this, promptly announced,
"Qin Huayi, daughter of the Minister of Rites, is bestowed a flower!"
Qin Huayi collapsed to the ground in an instant.