Mo Qiyuan sat behind the imperial desk, reviewing memorials. The study was silent; palace maids and eunuchs stood at their posts with lowered heads, not daring to make a sound.
Supervisor Kang approached carefully.
“Your Majesty, these are the profiles of the young ladies who passed today’s preliminary selection. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager instructed this servant to deliver them for your review.”
Without even looking up, Mo Qiyuan replied,
“Mm. Leave them there.”
Supervisor Kang quickly placed the documents on the desk, bowed, and quietly withdrew.
After finishing the memorial in his hands, Mo Qiyuan rubbed his temples. His personal eunuch, Chen Fuquan, immediately offered him a prepared cup of tea.
“Your Majesty, please have some tea and rest for a while. Do not overexert yourself.”
Mo Qiyuan accepted it, took a sip, and set it down before picking up the newly delivered selection records.
“Hmm?”
His sharp brows lifted slightly.
His cold, sculpted face remained expressionless, but after reading the contents on one particular page, the look in his deep eyes grew darker.
The page belonged to Ye Jinyun.
Written clearly on it were the physician’s remarks:
“Ye Jinyun possesses an exceptional constitution. Her pulse is extremely healthy and suitable for childbearing.”
Mo Qiyuan pondered for a moment before picking up his brush and drawing a circle around her name.
He continued reviewing the list, marking more than a dozen names in total. Aside from several women who had already been predetermined to enter the palace, the rest were chosen solely based on the imperial physicians’ assessments of their health.
Afterward, he set down the brush and paid the documents no further attention.
Chen Fuquan stepped forward respectfully.
“Your Majesty, Jinxiu from Noble Consort Li’s palace has already come twice to invite you. Regarding tonight…”
“To Yonghua Palace.”
Mo Qiyuan waved his hand dismissively.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Chen Fuquan hurriedly arranged the imperial procession to the Noble Consort’s residence.
Meanwhile, back at the Ye Residence, Ye Jinyun was lying in bed, happily dreaming away, completely unaware that she had already caught the emperor’s attention.
After breakfast, Ye Jinyun and Ye Jinrong boarded their carriage once more under the watchful gazes of their family and headed toward the palace.
With far fewer candidates remaining after the first round, traffic was much lighter. Before long, they arrived at the same palace gate as the previous day.
Palace maids again led the way as the candidates entered in orderly lines.
Today was the final palace selection.
Both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager would be present.
Unlike yesterday, there was no cheerful chatter among the candidates. Everyone was nervous.
Even Ye Jinyun felt somewhat uneasy.
Please, Heaven, don’t play tricks on me. Just let me leave the palace safely.
Following the palace maids, they arrived outside Zhaoyang Hall.
The candidates were reorganized according to their fathers’ official ranks. The higher the rank, the closer to the front they stood.
Ye Jinyun and Ye Jinrong ended up somewhere in the middle.
Their father, Minister of Revenue Ye Zhongqiu, held the rank of Third Grade Official, which was respectable. However, many daughters of even higher-ranking nobles and ministers were participating, making them seem rather ordinary by comparison.
Once everyone was lined up, they stood quietly waiting.
After nearly half an hour, Ye Jinyun’s legs had gone numb before the imperial party finally arrived.
“His Majesty the Emperor arrives!”
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager arrives!”
“The Imperial Consorts arrive!”
Following the crowd, Ye Jinyun knelt and bowed.
“May Your Majesty be blessed. May Her Majesty the Empress Dowager be blessed. Greetings to all Your Highnesses.”
Mo Qiyuan wore a bright yellow dragon robe as he sat upon the golden dragon throne within the hall.
Looking down upon the assembled candidates, he radiated the overwhelming authority of a ruler who commanded the world.
“Rise.”
His deep voice echoed through the hall.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
After standing, Ye Jinyun hardly dared breathe.
So this is an emperor…
The sheer pressure he exuded was intimidating.
Even under the bright sunlight, she felt as though an invisible shadow had descended over everything.
At the emperor’s command, the final selection began.
“Summon them.”
The first group to enter consisted of Chu Mingrou from the Duke of Chu’s household and Bai Ruoli from the Prime Minister’s estate.
When they emerged, both had received scented sachets and had their name plaques retained—signifying selection.
Group after group entered the hall.
Ye Jinyun noticed that many of the young ladies Qiao Xuening had introduced yesterday were chosen.
Lin Qingtang was among them.
A trace of regret rose within her.
Such a cool and spirited woman, and she’ll be trapped inside this palace cage for the rest of her life. Heaven really isn’t fair.
Soon it was nearly Ye Jinyun’s turn.
Since two daughters of the Ye family were participating, Ye Jinyun was arranged ahead of Ye Jinrong for identification purposes.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Even after living two lifetimes, this was her first time meeting an actual emperor.
To say she wasn’t afraid would be a lie.
This was the man who held the power of life and death over the entire empire.
One careless word from him could cost someone their head.
“Summon Ye Jinyun, second daughter of Minister of Revenue Ye Zhongqiu…”
Hearing the eunuch’s call, Ye Jinyun took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself before following her group into the hall.
Reaching the center, she knelt and bowed.
“This subject’s daughter, Ye Jinyun, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy peace and prosperity.”
Mo Qiyuan had been somewhat uninterested until he heard her name.
It immediately reminded him of the report he had read the previous day.
So it’s her.
His curiosity was stirred.
Looking down, he saw a young woman kneeling upright.
She showed neither arrogance nor timidity.
Her back was perfectly straight.
Sunlight streaming in from outside illuminated her slender neck with a faint glow.
Interesting.
His interest deepened further.
A trace of amusement appeared at the corner of his lips.
“Raise your head and let me have a look.”
Hearing the emperor’s command, Ye Jinyun inwardly grumbled:
You asked for it, Dog Emperor. If you think I’m ugly, don’t blame me later.
She quickly raised her head and stole a brief glance before lowering her eyes again, not daring to stare directly at him.
The look was so brief that she barely saw his face.
All she registered was that he was a young man with an incredibly powerful presence and a tall build.
Completely different from the middle-aged emperor stereotype she remembered from television dramas in her previous life.
Naturally, Mo Qiyuan had no idea what she was thinking.
As he examined her, he saw fair skin, delicate features, and a pair of clear, bright eyes.
The right side of her face was flawless.
But beneath her left eye lay a large red birthmark that disrupted the beauty of her entire face.
It was like a piece of perfect white jade marred by a crack running through its center.
A genuine pity.