The Noble Consort had been quietly chatting with the Empress Dowager and had paid little attention when Ye Jinyun’s group entered the hall.
However, when she suddenly heard the Emperor show unusual interest in one of the candidates, her curiosity was piqued. She turned her gaze toward Ye Jinyun and examined her carefully.
But after noticing the red birthmark on Ye Jinyun’s face, she couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.
I was overthinking it.
How could someone with a facial blemish possibly catch the Emperor’s eye? Did she think just anyone could enter the imperial harem?
Mo Qiyuan himself felt a slight sense of regret regarding Ye Jinyun’s appearance.
Although her beauty is flawed, she is far from ugly. More importantly, the imperial physicians assessed her as exceptionally healthy and highly suitable for bearing children. This selection was held precisely to ensure heirs for the imperial family, and among all the candidates, her health is the best.
After considering this, he cast a glance toward Chen Fuquan, who stood nearby.
Having served the Emperor for many years, Chen Fuquan immediately understood the meaning behind that look. He had also seen the list the previous night and knew that the Emperor had personally circled Ye Jinyun’s name.
Without hesitation, he announced:
“Ye Jinyun shall have her name plaque retained and be awarded a sachet.”
The Noble Consort froze in surprise.
The Emperor had actually chosen her?
Had he not seen the birthmark on her face?
Or had he exhausted himself too much the previous night and still not fully awakened?
Meanwhile, Ye Jinyun was completely dumbfounded.
After mechanically accepting the sachet and thanking the Emperor for his grace, she was led out of the hall by palace attendants in a daze.
She simply couldn’t understand it.
Of all the stunning beauties present, why had the Emperor chosen her?
Beautiful women were everywhere in this selection.
Why her?
Has he grown tired of the usual beauties and decided to try a different flavor?
Looking up at the sky, Ye Jinyun silently lamented:
Heavens, are you messing with me?
Outside the hall, Ye Jinrong was still waiting.
The moment she saw the sachet in Ye Jinyun’s hands, disbelief filled her face.
No matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn’t understand how Ye Jinyun had been selected.
To her, it felt like a direct slap to the face.
Soon after Ye Jinyun left, it became Ye Jinrong’s turn to enter the hall.
As soon as she introduced herself, she attracted the attention of everyone present.
After all, her elder sister had just been selected, leaving a strong impression on the audience.
The Noble Consort studied the young woman kneeling below.
A subtle gleam flashed through her eyes.
She hadn’t expected this candidate to be the younger sister of the girl selected moments ago.
Unlike Ye Jinyun, Ye Jinrong possessed exceptionally delicate and beautiful features.
If she enters the palace, she will certainly take away some of my favor.
With a sweet smile, the Noble Consort said:
“This young lady is truly lovely and charming. Compared to Sister Shufei’s beauty, she is hardly inferior at all.”
Consort Shu was widely acknowledged as the most beautiful woman currently in the imperial harem.
In terms of favor, she rivaled the Noble Consort herself.
Although the Emperor did not visit the harem frequently each month, whenever he did, Consort Shu was summoned to serve him slightly more often than the Noble Consort.
For that reason, the Noble Consort harbored the greatest resentment toward her.
Consort Shu had also noticed Ye Jinrong the moment she entered.
The girl was indeed breathtakingly beautiful and naturally endearing.
However, Consort Shu wasn’t concerned.
Among this year’s candidates were many women whose beauty might not surpass Ye Jinrong’s, but whose family backgrounds were far more powerful.
If Ye Jinrong entered the palace, those women would be the first to target her.
There would be no need for Consort Shu to dirty her own hands.
Still, she had no intention of letting the Noble Consort mock her openly.
Smiling gently, she replied:
“Elder Sister is joking. Since Elder Sister likes this young lady so much, why not keep her? She can help both Elder Sister and myself attend to His Majesty. Your Majesty, don’t you think this servant is right?”
Mo Qiyuan lounged lazily against the dragon throne.
Power struggles and jealousy among the harem women were commonplace.
He understood them perfectly well.
As long as matters did not become serious, he was generally willing to play along with their little performances.
And he did have a soft spot for gentle, charming women.
Besides, Ye Jinrong truly was beautiful.
He had no objection to having another beauty by his side.
His deep, magnetic voice echoed through the hall.
“Then let it be as my beloved consort suggests. Retain her plaque.”
Joy instantly appeared on Ye Jinrong’s face.
After accepting the sachet, she curtsied shyly with a sweet smile.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”
Meanwhile, in the side hall where the selected candidates were gathered, Ye Jinyun sat quietly waiting.
After a short while, Ye Jinrong was escorted inside as well.
The moment she spotted Ye Jinyun, she walked over with an arrogant expression.
“Honestly, I wonder what tricks Elder Sister used to get selected. I seem to have underestimated you all these years.”
Ye Jinyun ignored her.
Truthfully, she was feeling miserable herself.
Who knew what had gone wrong in the Emperor’s mind for him to choose her?
She wanted to cry even more than anyone else.
One after another, the remaining candidates completed their audiences.
By the end of the selection, a total of eighteen young women had been chosen.
They were allowed to return home immediately and wait for the imperial decree summoning them into the palace.
As the palace gates opened, the various young ladies boarded their family carriages.
One by one, the carriages turned and slowly departed for their respective estates.
And thus, this year’s imperial selection finally came to an end.