Chapter 401: Chapter 341: Favoring Consorts
"You!"
"You!"
"You!"
"Step forward!"
Liu Cheng’en quickly approached the steps and shouted out loudly.
Several eunuchs also hurriedly stepped into the formation of numerous concubine candidates, arriving in front of the three candidates whose bodies were flashing with a faint light.
"Congratulations, Young Master, congratulations~!"
"Young Master, please follow this servant!"
"Young Master bears a Spirit Root; this is truly a great blessing...!"
In the crowd, the three young ladies had expressions of shock, or delight, yet with a face full of confusion.
They never imagined that, out of more than three thousand people, they would actually possess Spirit Roots.
A great opportunity from the heavens!
Under the guidance of the eunuchs, the three quickly followed the White Jade Steps towards the interior of Baiyu City.
And behind them were more than three thousand pairs of eyes, filled with heat, jealousy, and envy.
The three ladies, led by the eunuchs, first entered the grand hall of Baiyu City.
The broad and solemn great hall made the three instinctively bow their heads, not daring to look around.
They could only follow the footsteps of the eunuchs, quickly climbing the stairs to reach the top of Baiyu City.
At a glance, this place was a huge plaza.
In the distance, the view was incredibly broad, even allowing a clear sight of more than half of the Capital City ahead.
Surrounding them were eunuchs, palace maids, crowding around a man dressed in a bright yellow Dragon Robe, as well as several Consorts.
"This servant greets Your Majesty!"
"The three concubine candidates have been brought forward!"
"Step forward and pay your respects!"
The three candidates, with heads bowed and eyes downcast, took small steps forward, following the instructions of their aunts from a few days ago, and respectfully greeted:
"This commoner greets Your Majesty~!"
"Raise your heads."
"Thank you, Your Majesty~!"
All three ladies raised their heads, allowing Zheng Yi to clearly see them from above.
No wonder they were chosen as the outstanding ones among tens of thousands of young women; all three, whether in terms of looks, temperament, or figure, made Zheng Yi very satisfied.
The girl on the left had a round face, with two strands of hair gently fluttering, her eyes brimming with curiosity, clearly young, appearing charming and lovely.
The girl in the middle seemed slightly older but was only seventeen or eighteen, wearing a goose-yellow long dress, her eyes distinguished clearly between black and white, full of scholarly aura.
The girl on the right was not tall and somewhat plump, with very fair skin, akin to white jade.
Zheng Yi leaned against the Dragon Throne and said softly: "What are your names, where do you come from, introduce yourselves."
"Let’s start with you..."
Zheng Yi gestured towards the girl on the left.
"Start now."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The girl on the left curtseyed, her tone slightly nervous: "This commoner is Zhang Xiaoyun, hailing from Youzhou, my family is a military household."
"Daughter of a military family?"
Zheng Yi nodded and asked: "Can you ride a horse?"
At this, Zhang Xiaoyun’s eyes brightened a little and said: "This commoner has been riding and hunting from a young age and even once shot down a flying eagle with an arrow, purchased by the County Magistrate for three thousand taels of silver!"
Zheng Yi laughed: "Shooting down a flying eagle? Very good, very good, you can accompany me horse riding sometime."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhang Xiaoyun said excitedly, feeling fortunate for her ability to ride.
The middle-aged lady also bowed respectfully at this moment and said: "This commoner is Kong Qingrou, greetings to Your Majesty."
"This commoner hails from the Kong Family, my father is an official of the Ministry of Rites."
"Ministry of Rites? Kong Family?"
Zheng Yi asked: "What relation is Kong Xiangsi to you?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, Master Kong Xiangsi is my great-grandfather."
"Great-grandfather?"
Zheng Yi’s face took on a peculiar expression; if he recalled correctly, there was a consort from the Kong Family in the Harem.
Seems like her name was... Kong Lingfang?
Concubine Fang resides in Jianjia Palace.
For so many years, he’d only visited there a few times, as she wasn’t very favored.
Unexpectedly, during this concubine selection, another girl from the Kong Family entered the palace?
And with a Spirit Root, how peculiar.
Zheng Yi remarked: "Your great-grandfather served the country faithfully; I hope you can be loyal to me as well and set an example for the many women."
Kong Qingrou said excitedly: "This commoner thanks Your Majesty~!"
At this moment, it also came the turn for the girl on the far right, who respectfully said: "This commoner greets Your Majesty, wishing Your Majesty prosperity and longevity surpassing the heavens."
Empress Lu Lin’er lightly smiled: "Such sweet words, but I wonder how else are you?"
"This commoner is Wenn Biyu, my father is the Governor of Shuzhou’s Shuangyu County."
"Wenn Biyu?"
Zheng Yi showed interest, gestured for her to come closer: "Step forward."
"Yes!"
Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Wenn Biyu walked up quickly.
Zheng Yi nodded, indicating for her to sit beside him.
Wenn Biyu’s heart skipped a beat, cautiously sitting down with only half her seat on the edge.
"Hmm~"
Zheng Yi took her small hand, scrutinizing and caressing, also touching her neck, causing Wenn Biyu to instinctively shrink her head.
"Your Majesty~it tickles~"
"Hahaha~"
Zheng Yi laughed: "Your features are artistic, skin like jade, soft and smooth as if made from fat, truly worthy of being a beauty from Shuzhou."
"Convey the order!"
Liu Cheng’en briskly approached, bowing respectfully.
"Bestow Zhang Xiaoyun the title of Consort Yun, residing in Changying Palace!"
"Title Kong Qingrou as Consort Rou, residing in Bailu Palace, right next to Jianjia Palace."
"As for Wenn Biyu~"
After caressing her small hand, Zheng Yi smiled and said: "Title her as Consort Runx, residing in Shuirun Palace."
"By command!"
Liu Cheng’en answered with a bow, continuing to listen attentively.
"Your Majesty, there are other concubine candidates."
Lu Lin’er curiously asked: "Won’t you take another look?"
Zheng Yi shook his head: "No need, assign all the remaining concubine candidates to the Imperial Palace as Noble Ladies!"
"If the Empress fancies any, they may be promoted to Concubine rank at your discretion."
Lu Lin’er said in surprise: "Yes, I shall obey!"
The Spirit Testing Ceremony concluded with such grandiosity and swiftness.
Many Consorts and officials, their salutes, the preparations by the young ladies had not even had the chance to be displayed before it ended, sparking countless discussions.
