After attending numerous banquets and carefully observing the noble ladies, Xia compiled a list of ten candidates whom she believed to be perfect matches for Emperor Wu. Their talents ranged from diplomacy and artistry to leadership and compassion, each bringing a unique quality that could complement the emperor's reign.
The final ten were invited to a grand banquet at the palace, where they would showcase their talents and virtues for the emperor, the empress dowager, and the court to witness. It was a display of grace and skill, as each candidate vied for the emperor's favor in the hopes of becoming the future empress.