Judging from the makeup alone, even if Zhou Kui tried his best, Zhou Xiaoniang was still much inferior to the daughters of local families who were bankrupt.

But the beauty of people's appearance, in addition to natural beauty and acquired makeup, comes more from the refraction of the heart, the clean heart and the refraction of the innate self-confidence, which can not only cover up the innate and makeup deficiencies, but also make people charming.

The fact is that Zhou Xiaoniang stood out with this refraction and entered the top ten step by step.

As a result, Zhou Kui's hopes began to burn. No, to be precise, Zhou Kui's hope at this time should no longer be hope, but desire, a kind of expectation that has to hollow himself out.

It's also strange to expect this thing, it's lighter when you can't see the target, and the closer you get to the target, the stronger it becomes, as if you want to hollow out the person and then burn it. It's an ordeal that is far better than pain.

Not to mention Zhou Kui's self-suffering, just say that in a blink of an eye, it is the auspicious day of "suitable for hiring", at the end of the day, Zhou Xiaoniang and the other nine beauties sat in the main hall of Kunning Palace, waiting for Empress Zhang and Concubine Liu to make the final selection.

The final selection is divided into two stages: talent test and Zhang Hou's meal. At this point, the selection no longer focuses on appearance, but it is also crucial to be able to leave a good impression on Empress Zhang and Concubine Liu, who presided over the selection.

The key is the key, and the test results are undoubtedly the most important. According to the past practice, the test usually has six items: calligraphy, arithmetic, poetry, painting, chess and piano playing, which are carried out in order, and occasionally the host will make temporary adjustments.

This was told to them by the palace maid after they were led into Kunning Palace, and Zhou Xiaoniang was not disappointed.

Why? Zhou Xiaoniang is still good at calligraphy, arithmetic, poetry, and chess, especially arithmetic, because she has been in charge of the family's business accounts for several years, and she is the most outstanding. Painting and piano playing, because of time constraints, Chen Renjin didn't care about teaching her.

"What to do? Pretend to pass the test, or will you just return to yourself? Of course, it's good to pass the exam, but due to the influence of painting and piano playing, the designation still has to be ranked last. Since he knows that he is going to be at the bottom, it is better to return directly to himself and not be more upright, anyway, the last position has always had no hope of being selected.

It can't be said that it is hopeless, didn't you say that the host may occasionally make temporary adjustments to the test items, can't it be bumped into by us? Alas, how is that possible? Sometimes it is sometimes or, and it is by no means necessarily so.

Whatever, this is fate. Hits sometimes have to happen, and hits don't have to be forced.

In case we can't meet the temporary adjustment, we will accept our fate. Since there is no hit, we might as well return directly. ”

Just made up her mind, she heard a piercing scream from the eunuch, Concubine Liu walked out slowly, and the ten beauties couldn't help but look up at her nervously.

Obviously, Zhou Xiaoniang's nervousness is different from the other nine, and there are clearly some more things in it that seem to be absent but make people tremble.

Concubine Liu has read countless people, and she can tell that although she doesn't know Zhou Xiaoniang's true thoughts, Zhou Xiaoniang's uniqueness has made her have a good impression first. She smiled secretly, her lips opened lightly, and said, "At the behest of the queen's mother, the test items for the selection of concubines this time are the same as in the past, and no temporary adjustments will be made. ”

After speaking, he swept ten people with the afterglow of his eyes, and saw that Zhou Xiaoniang's face was clouded and instantly returned to the same as before, he was very curious, paused for a moment, and asked again: "Do you have any objections?" ”

The other nine shook their heads vigorously for fear of upsetting her.

Zhou Xiaoniang's expectations were disappointed, thinking that she was hopeless anyway, hearing this, she saw that the nine shook their heads together, got up, and said politely: "Concubine Qi, the folk girl Zhou Xiaoniang has never learned painting and playing the piano, so she doesn't want to fill up the number indiscriminately, so she applied to give up and quit." ”

"Give up and quit?" Concubine Liu immediately understood the reason why she was different, because she had a good impression of her in advance, and admired her straightforwardness and straightforwardness, she asked rhetorically, seeing that she nodded without being humble or arrogant, she couldn't bear it, and said: "Being able to enter the top ten means that you are already very good, and it is a pity to give up at this time. ”

Zhou Xiaoniang didn't mean this, and hurriedly saluted: "Thank you for your encouragement, concubine." ”

Concubine Liu didn't return the courtesy, turned around and ordered the palace maid to adjust the painting and piano to the end, and take the other four first.

Zhou Xiaoniang knew her mind and felt grateful in her heart, and in return, she wanted to play the four items of calligraphy, poetry, arithmetic and chess, and the four items were among the best. But because of the lack of two results, all things considered, her results are undoubtedly at the bottom. By this time, she had calmed down and waited for the other nine to test.

After the test, it was noon. Concubine Liu was about to announce the test results, and Empress Zhang came in full costume.

Why did Empress Zhang come? It turned out that someone had already informed her of the situation here, and Zhou Xiaoniang's performance also aroused her interest: "This Zhou Xiaoniang, all the projects she has practiced are among the best, and for the projects that have not been practiced, she will not abuse the number and dare to give up."

What does this mean? Smart, clean, and assertive, this palace sees it, and there is no second way to say it.

The emperor's heirs and brothers were left with King Xin, and the burden of supporting Daming fell on his shoulders without any choice. This princess of faith is to be smart, clean, and assertive, and by no means the best in addition to these three things.

Of course, it's better for her to have an eye for the queen. What is an eye? In fact, it is appreciation, to put it bluntly, that is, it is pleasing to the eye. It's strange that only by appreciating each other can we be in lockstep, even between superiors and subordinates. ”

Thinking secretly, Zhang Hou couldn't bear it anymore, got up, and quietly went behind the screen to observe Zhou Xiaoniang.

Zhang Hou didn't know Zhou Xiaoniang, but she could tell that she should be the one waiting for the other nine people to test, and she was busy concentrating and measuring carefully.

But seeing Zhou Xiaoniang's calm face, even though she tried hard to find fault, she couldn't find the slightest decadence. Perhaps because of this calmness, Zhou Xiaoniang looks luxurious and atmospheric, exuding an irresistible charm.

"Have I seen this Zhou Xiaoniang anywhere? How can it be? How is it impossible? Zhang Hou argued to herself, she already had a heart, and she couldn't help but look at it again, but the more she looked at it, the more she loved it. Seeing that the test was over, seeing that Concubine Liu was about to announce the test results, she was busy dressing up and walked out.

Concubine Liu didn't know what she meant, so she hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Welcome to the queen, the queen has a will, and she must obey it." ”

Zhang Hou said: "Don't be in a hurry to announce the test results, noon has arrived, let's give food." ”

Concubine Liu said "obey", but looked at her puzzled.

Zhang Hou smiled, swept his eyes over Zhou Xiaoniang, and said, "Let's combine the two tests into one." ”

Concubine Liu is so shrewd, how can she not understand, she was stunned for a moment, and said busily: "The queen mother gives rice-"

As soon as the words fell, there were waiters and eunuchs and palace maids shuttling and busy. In a short time, the table in front of the ten people was lined up with exquisite snacks and beautiful meals that people were reluctant to do before.

These ten people had seen such a scene before, and they were dumbfounded. Especially the other nine, who think that their test results are not bad, for fear of leaving a bad impression, they dare not raise their heads, how can they have the courage to move the dishes and chopsticks?

Zhou Xiaoniang was also afraid, but she immediately thought: "Anyway, we have already reached the bottom of the list, and there is no hope of being selected, what is it to eat him?" Thinking about it, he got up and saluted: "Queen Xie, Concubine Xie." After speaking, he held the chopsticks and ate the bowl.

Zhang Hou liked it more and more, and when she finished eating, she pointed at her with her finger, and rushed to Concubine Liu and said, "Announce the result." ”

Concubine Liu understood, cleared her throat and said: "After layers of selection, we have already selected Princess Xin, she is not the first Peugeot among the ten of you, and she can't paint and play the piano, but she ......"

Zhang Hou continued: "But she likes to eat our Zhu family's food." With that, she got up, walked in front of Zhou Xiaoniang, put a gold bracelet and a jade bracelet on her two wrists, and ordered, "Send Father Zhou home." ”

After speaking, he took Zhou Xiaoniang's hand and personally sent her to Yuanhui Hall to learn palace etiquette to prepare for the auspicious day of marriage.

Concubine Liu watched Zhang leave after seeing him, and waved her hand at the other nine people who were still stunned, and said, "You are not blessed to eat our Zhu family's food, go home." ”