The imperial selection finally started. The ladies from various clans who has come to join the imperial harem were all told by the eunuchs to go to sunshine Hall where the Emperor, Empress and Empress Dowager was.
The sunshine Hall in reality was the second largest hall in the whole imperial Palace and was used to hold feasts in the Palace. The women had to wait outside while their names were being called one by one by an eunuch. They had to go inside and just present themselves to the Royal family. If the Emperor liked them, they would be chosen.
Half an hour later, all the woman who came and went all had crestfallen expressions. The eunuchs that were inside gossiped to the women outside who had paid them and relaid to them about what happens inside the halls.
After a few more minutes of waiting, Lu xin, Wu lan, Yun bailan, Yan meilin, Zhen Chuhua and Feng linli and Feng Xiaowei entered the halls together.
The young maidens weren't able to disguise the look of surprise on their faces since each women entered one after the other but why were they told to enter together?
Feng xiaowei looked straight up ahead and her eyes widenened in surprise but she soon went back to normal. Up on the golden seat sat a very beautiful middle aged woman. This woman was adorned in dazzling golden red robes. On her head was a magnificent golden crown that screamed wealth. Around her neck was the royal family's pheonix chain that was passed on from generation to generations of Empress es. This woman was the Dowager Empress lin Zhen: wife of the old Emperor and mother of the reigning Emperor.
The empress Dowager hailed from one of the most powerful families in long Empire. Her maternal family were once very powerful enough to rival the imperial family. It was said the The Dowager Empress was maltreated in her own home so when her maternal family rebelled 20 years ago, she followed the old Emperor and waged war against her maternal family. Her position in the imperial Court was unrivalled and the ministers had no choice but to listen to her eventhough in their hearts they still held on to the belief that women couldn't meddle in men's affairs.
Lin Zhen smiled when her eyes landed on the rather calm and composed Feng xiaowei. She nodded and then praised her self for choosing Feng xiaowei.
The calm Feng xiaowei: Oh no! I asked the most powerful woman in the whole long Empire for money, is she going to behead me. Her inner self screamed in shock while she was calm outside.
Feng xiaowei imagined all sorts of scenarios in her head.
If this Madame Zhen was the Empress Dowager then wouldn't that handsome young man be the....
Feng xiaowei lifted her head and secretly took a peek at the person on the magnificent gold throne. The scene she saw made her blush despite seeing lots of handsome men during her mission.
The golden rays of light from the sun spilt on the tall person on the throne highlighting his already pale skin. The man sitting on the gold throne was adorned in azure dragon robes that was outlined with silver threads. On his head sat the golden crown. His eyebrows were like swords and his black eyes were deep and profound. There was only one word to describe this man. Perfect! He leaned back on his throne nonchalantly with his chin on his hand. He looked down on everything down below him with boredom but his eyes seemed to light up when he spotted a petite figure amongst the women but he soon went back to normal.
Feng xiaowei wondered why the man was more handsome than when she last saw him. She soon came to a realisation. The emperor used the mirror mask like she does. The mirror mask was invented by the wufeng clan more than hundred years ago. Nobody knew what kind of technique it was made with but the mask could change a person's face completely. It couldn't make you look ugly but it could decrease your beauty by some few points.
Beside the Emperor was the current empress Yan long feng! Feng xiaowei lowered her head to hide the amusement in her eyes. Such a beauty. Feng xiaowei was sure this woman would be able to rival her when she took of mirror mask. The Empress Yan of the current long dynasty was known as an incredible beauty by the nobles and commoners. The beauty on the throne was adorned in golden red robes decorated with embroidered pheonix in the nine clouds. On her head sat the pheonix crown adorned with golden pearls. Although she looked friendly there was an air of surpressed arrogance and elegance around her that was hard to ignore. Empress Yan long had a smile on her beautiful face. She seemed friendly and approachable but who would have thought she was the next in line of a wicked sect that played with innocent human lives. Empress Yan long hailed from the Prestigious Yan family and she was the oldest daughter of the Yan patriarch.
Other than that, Feng xiaowei's subordinates weren't able to find any other information about her. Feng xiaowei smirked. So if Empress Yan was the heir of the crane mountains the didn't that mean the entire Yan family were...
Below the Empress was imperial concubine Mei also known as Feng mei: eldest daughter of the Noble feng mansion. She was beautiful but arrogance and greed filled her eyes. Next to her was Imperial concubine lin. Feng lin second daughter of the Noble feng mansion. She seemed gentle and naive but that didn't fool Feng xiaowei. Below them was royal Consort xiao. Next to consort xiao was royal Consort mu. On her left was Noble lady Wang. Only these beauties were allowed to accompany the Emperor on an official occasion or celebration. The imperial selection wasn't considered important because to the nobles, it was just an event held to choose women to fill the Emperor's harem. But this year something changed. The Empress Dowager herself organised the event so it became extremely important.
"Let the selection begin" while Feng xiaowei was in thought, the Empress Dowager's voice boomed throughout the hall. The Emperor picked up his wine cup and looked away from the flirtatious looks all those women he didn't know gave him. His eyes landed on that petite figure amongst the women and his eyes turned gentle as if he was looking at something wonderful. The woman seemed to have felt his gaze on herself and raised her head. Their eyes met for a brief moment before they turned away at the same time. The Empress beside him saw the gentle look in his eyes and her heart shooked.
Who was he looking that at that way. No one deserved that look besides herself. The Emperor happened to turn his gaze somewhere else and by coincidence they landed on Lu xin and she blushed.
Empress Yan eyes turned cold as she smiled.
Very well it seems she will get a new text subject for her experiments soon. Her hand unconsciously rubbed her left thumb where her precious heirloom was. She flinched when she touched nothing. Dread filled her entire being and she almost lost her composure but very soon she calmed down.
Yes I must have left it somewhere. She thought.
As the Empress Dowager commanded. The imperial selection was nothing big. The women had to just stand there and be mum while the Empress or Empress Dowager chosed them as they wanted.
Empress Dowager's eyes run through the women and she quickly chosed.
To be honest the Empress Dowager wanted Feng xiaowei but if she chose her only, Feng xiaowei would be targeted by the women in the harem and she knew how dreadful that would be. She turned her head towards Empress Yan Long and said to her, "Why not Yan long select first?"
Empress Yan revealed the most beautiful smile, " Of course Empress mother."
This bitch making me choose my husband's mistress myself. Bull crap! Just let me finish my experiments and see if I would leave you alone.
Yan Long's eyes fell on the eager Lu xin and she smirked.
"Lu xin is it?" she said.
Lu xin raised her head with surprise filled eyes. The Empress actually noticed her. Maybe her revenge will commence earlier than she anticipated.
"Daughter of the Lu family is it?" Empress Yan Long asked again trying to hide the annoyance in her eyes.
"Y-yes your Majesty" lu xin answered trying her best to seem elegant as possible.
Wu lan beside lu xin twisted her handkerchief. Is this girl going to get a rank higher than mine?
Empress Yan Long smiled. "Welcome to the Imperial harem sister. Make sure you serve his majesty well"
Lu xin blushed and she was not able to conceal the joy in her eyes.
'hmph maybe my days will be fun after all. Let's see how you will react when I destroy this one too' Empress Yan Long turned her head towards the Emperor.
Feng xiaowei lowered her head and concealed her yawn.
When will this finish. She was getting quite hungry.