After waiting for so long, the concubine selection ceremony finally began.

During this period of time, cloth villages, jewelry stores, and rouge gouache are people coming and going every day, and Liu's mother also took the opportunity to make a fortune, of course, this is indispensable to Duan Qingqian's credit, and Duan Qingqian also asked for half of the silver earned to be given to her, otherwise she didn't help Liu's mother to catch up with the work, Liu Ma had no choice but to give half to Duan Qingqian, Duan Qingqian made it clear that she wanted silver this time, but also because she wanted to plan for herself, and she saw that she couldn't find a suitable person to marry.

Now Duan Ruhao doesn't care about her business, he must have made up his mind to send her to the nun temple, or to the remote Zhuangzi, out of sight and out of mind, so she is ready to buy a yard outside, and then she will quietly move out to live, anyway, she has lived in this mansion for so many years, and they have never cared about her, and they thought that it would be troublesome to go outside, so they lived, and now since there is no way to live, she can only move out, and she will not starve to death if she goes out with her ability, but in this feudal society, If she wants to live an ordinary and stable life, she will be more or less discussed by the three aunts and six mothers-in-law next door, and she will also face the harassment of matchmakers who keep coming to the door, and possibly those ruffians who harass.

And if she wants to be a master, she has to put in the time and energy, so that she can live more freely, but there will also be some other troubles.

After comparing it like this, Duan Qingqian will not consider it for the time being, she is now mainly choosing the house she likes, these days she takes the time to go out to have a look, and the people in the Prime Minister's Mansion who don't care about it don't know at all, she also takes a step at a time to see the road ahead, now she is mainly doing the things in front of her well, the last thing she is afraid of is improvisation, what she asked in her previous life is to be improvised, how can there be so many tomorrows.

Today's wind is beautiful and the sun is shining, just like the hearts of all the official ladies, today is the day when the emperor chooses a concubine, and they have been looking forward to it for a long time.

Duan Qingli and Duan Qingya got up early in the morning and dressed up, as if they were going to get married, and Duan Qingqian was the one who was not in a hurry, she had been there twice, if the emperor and the prince could have taken a fancy to her, she did not have the outstanding beauty of Duan Qingli and Duan Qingya, nor did she show that she was proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, she was dressed as usual, very simple and elegant, she dressed up because the Prime Minister's Mansion did not give her extra money to dress up, and secondly, she didn't want to dress up herself, she didn't want to be the emperor, One of the many concubines of the princes, she will dislike her own, although she is degenerate, but she will not degenerate to that point, and she might as well not want to grab a man with dozens of women.

Today, Duan Ruhao doesn't have to go to the morning court, he explained a lot of things to Zhao Lingyue to Duan Qingli and Duan Qingya in the early morning, and he couldn't finish talking about going out, Duan Qingli and Duan Qingya took a carriage, Duan Qingqian and Duan Qingrong took a carriage, Duan Qingyu was not old yet, and he stayed in the house.

Along the way, their two carriages were very quiet, except for Duan Qingqian, the other three were excited and nervous and didn't know what to say, they just felt that everything was so fast, they were not ready, the carriage had arrived at the south gate of the palace, and the women who participated in the selection of concubines entered from this south gate.

The sedan chair slowly stopped at the south gate, only to see that the south gate was bustling, and the sedan chair in and out was endless.

All the ladies standing on the side were full of smiles, although some of them came on the orders of their parents, and their faces showed a little sadness, but they were only a few, and most of the women were excited and looking forward to it. After entering the south gate, they lined up in the courtyard, and the palace grandmother distributed their own signs to each young lady, and hung them on their waists when they ran for the election, so that the emperor and the prince could know their identities, and they were also distinguished according to their respective concubines and ages.

The first in line is the young lady of each prefecture, who is ranked from small to large, and is the first to be selected as a concubine at the age of 16, because 16 or 7 years old is the flower-like age they thought in that era, and the girl is the most beautiful, so Duan Qingya is in front of Duan Qingli instead, Duan Qingqian is a concubine, and she is the oldest among the concubines who participated in the election, so she is inevitably ranked last.

All the ladies were ready, and Mama also arranged a hall for them, where those who didn't arrive could sit and rest, or tidy themselves up.

This time, the maid next to Zhou Yinghong tried her best to pull Zhou Yinghong away from those who could provoke her, and before coming, Zhou Yinghong's mother also emphasized many times that although her sword dance was appreciated by the emperor at the last banquet, her actions at the banquet also made others spread a little rumor, and she also offended An Anyan, the maid was afraid that she didn't look at Zhou Yinghong for a while, and her life would be lost at that time, but she couldn't let Zhou Yinghong get into trouble again, so there was no excitement this time.

Duan Qingya stood in accordance with the queue, and the ladies to be selected went in 50 each time, lined up in 5 columns, and 10 in a column, all of which were divided according to age, a group of 16 years old, a group of 17 years old, a group of 18 years old, and there were fewer 19 or 20 years old, which became another group, or followed by 19 years old, but there would be a large distance in the middle, so that they could be distinguished.

Some of the status concubines in the city are the concubines of the six ministries and the left and right prime ministers, and some of the other concubines are not as good as the prime minister's concubines, so this first batch of concubines is elected by the concubines of these six ministries and the left and right prime ministers, and all ages are also participating together, and other concubines with low official prices are not worth mentioning.

In the courtyard of Xiuhui Building, An Yunsheng sat in the center, next to him were the Queen Mother Xu Jingyi and Queen Liu Ruyun, and An Yunsheng was sitting on the left not far from An Yunmo and An Yunyan, originally An Yunsheng wanted to ask An Anyan to sit next to him, but An Anyan didn't want to, then he was not reluctant, An Yunmo sat next to An Yunshuo, and An Yunsheng sat An Yunyao and An Yunmao on the right.

Everything was ready, Mama came in with the first batch of people, and the father-in-law shouted on the side, "The first batch of show girls left and right prime ministers and six concubines"

In an instant, all kinds of ladies outside entered neatly, and the queue was lined up according to the moment required by the grandmother outside, no one squeezed anyone, and they all stood in their positions very correctly, seeing so many beauties, An Yunshuo's eyes lit up, An Yunmo just glanced at it lightly, and then continued to drink his own tea.

An Anyan was also very satisfied in his eyes, "Ah Mo, which do you like?" ”

"Auntie, there's no hurry."

Liu Ruyun saw the young and beautiful lady in front of her, and she hated itchy, but she could only suppress it and smiled.

"Your Majesty, there seem to be a lot of famous ladies this year, and all of them are as beautiful as fairies, but the emperor can only do it."

The Queen Mother Xu Jingyi also echoed on the side, "Ah Sheng, you look at the selection of some good ones, now there are not many heirs in the harem, and you couldn't choose what you like last time the queen mother was in charge, this time choose well, so that they can spread out for the royal family earlier." ”

An Yunsheng now has only two daughters and a son, An Yunsheng stood up, looked at the woman standing in front of him with majestic eyes, stared at them for a while before walking slowly, first from the front, walking in rows, the ladies all lowered their heads and did not dare to raise their heads to look, An Yunsheng felt interesting and asked them to raise their heads and take a closer look, for him in fact, this is just a form of walking, he has already had a candidate in his mind, unless there is a special woman, otherwise they will not have anything to do with him, There are so many official concubines, he can't just choose the representative ones, although he wants them in his heart.

When passing by Duan Qingya's side, An Yunsheng paused, looked at the sign hanging on her waist, and ordered, "Raise your head." ”

Although Duan Qingya figured it out before coming in, she didn't choose the emperor, but when An Yunsheng stood beside her and told her to raise her head, her heart still couldn't help beating, the emperor was the person she wanted to marry the most, but there were too many women around him, and his strength was not weak, An Yunsheng asked her to raise her head, the moment she saw him, she tried to suppress the wild beat in her heart, held her breath and slowly raised her head, her mouth was tightly pursed because of nervousness, and her eyes were a little nervous.

An Yunsheng glanced at her, he used to like such a woman very much, not only beautiful but also smart, but since he married Liu Ruyun, he slowly felt less so, he still likes obedient women, women are not talented is virtuous.

Duan Qingli always paid attention to this Qingya, and when she saw An Yunsheng stop in front of Duan Qingya, she secretly gritted her teeth, it was good to be in front, the two sisters could only marry into the palace one by one, and her father had also said that she would go out.

An Yunsheng looked behind him slightly, he knew that there were two concubines in Prime Minister Zuo's mansion, and he had also seen them at the last banquet, he glanced at Duan Qingya and then walked away from her, without saying anything, and then continued the screening later.

Duan Qingya's eyes were full of astonishment, doesn't the emperor like smart and beautiful women, who are neither humble nor arrogant? At the last banquet, she clearly showed her talent, and the emperor also praised her, but why didn't she choose? Why? Although she has changed her mind now, after all, she once thought about entering the palace as a concubine, and she also thinks that she has that ability, but now the emperor doesn't choose her?

She lowered her head and gritted her teeth secretly, is it because of the queen? Because the queen is a smart and beautiful woman, neither humble nor arrogant, she is not only smart in the harem but also will not please the emperor, she will say anything in front of the emperor, and the emperor has respected and pampered her for many years, so everyone says that the emperor's favorite woman is the queen.

Duan Qingya thought of this, and didn't bother with why An Yunsheng didn't choose her, the emperor didn't choose her, so she could marry other princes.

Duan Qingli was very happy to see that Duan Qingya was not selected, and quickly lowered her head, her face was full of shyness, and her face was full of confidence, thinking that if the emperor did not choose Duan Qingya, he would definitely choose her.

Before Duan Qingli could be happy, An Yunsheng's voice came from her ears, "What's your name?" ”

Zhou Yinghong lowered her head and said with a red face, "Courtier Zhou Yinghong." ”

"How old are you this year?"

"Ten... Eighteen. ”

"Eighteen? Eighteen good. Zhou Yinghong, the daughter of the right prime minister, gave the brand and sealed the concubine. ”

The father-in-law at the door immediately read it out when he heard it, "Zhou Yinghong, the daughter of the right prime minister, gave the sign and sealed the concubine." ”

Although Zhou Yinghong was happy this time, she did not forget to salute, and immediately said, "The courtiers receive the order, long live the emperor, long live, long live!" ”

"Get up."

An Yunsheng finished speaking and continued the screening later.

Duan Qingli could only grit her teeth with hatred when she heard this, she didn't expect that this ugly woman could also be chosen.

An Yunsheng was also a little entangled in his heart after selecting Zhou Yinghong, Zhou Yinghong's appearance couldn't get into his eyes, the first one was her, but there was no way, who called her father a general, he still had to win him over, after watching a few and then to Duan Qingli, her heart was already pounding when the emperor came to her row, when An Yunsheng came to her, she didn't know.

"Look up."

"Ahh

Duan Qingli was startled, raised her head suddenly, and saw An Yunsheng who was close in front of her and immediately blushed and lowered her head, An Yunsheng grinned slightly at the corner of his mouth, Duan Qingli's heart beat even harder, An Yunsheng stretched out his hand and hooked Duan Qingli's chin, Duan Qingli's face was full of shame, her cheeks were red, and her eyes were full of love for the emperor.

An Yunsheng spoke, "What's your name?" ”

"Duan... Duan Qingli. ”

"What a beautiful woman. Xuan, Duan Qingli, the daughter of the right prime minister, gave the brand and sealed the concubine. ”

The father-in-law still opened his throat and read it out loud.

Duan Qingli's face was full of joy, and she immediately knelt down and saluted to thank her.

An Yunsheng didn't choose anymore, he already had a queen, and now he has four concubines, and the concubines behind him can't choose anymore, but he still looks at the past one by one, if he likes it very much, who can say anything? Among the concubines, he also chose Zhou Yinghong and Duan Qingli, and he also chose suitable concubines in the back, but now that he is just in charge of the government, choosing too many concubines will be said by the old antiques that he is obsessed with women and does not want to make progress, so he only chooses a few concubines with better appearances.

When he arrived in front of Duan Qingqian, he frowned, and looked at Duan Qingqian's brand, Miss Zuo, "You are the concubine who hasn't married for 20?" ”

Before Duan Qingqian could answer, An Yunsheng said another sentence.

"You don't have to run for a concubine in the future, I've been here several times, and I'm familiar with it."

"Yes, courtier's decree."

Thought she was rare? She didn't want to come.

After the emperor finished the election, those who were not selected in the back all came up together, the concubines were lined up in the front, and the rows of people were all lined up in the big courtyard, neat and upright, how could it look like training at a glance, An Yunsheng was sitting on the upper seat.

An Yunshuo saw that An Yunsheng had already chosen, and hurriedly said, "Brother Huang, can we choose now?" ”

He was optimistic about the woman he liked just now, and An Yunsheng said generously, "Imperial brothers are free." ”

Duan Qing sighed to himself, this place of the weak and the strong is different, thinking that they are all the pearls of their parents' palms, let these princes choose like cabbage in the market, and the saddest thing is that the girl who was selected still looked ecstatic.

An Anyan saw that An Yunsheng had made a good choice, and hurriedly urged An Yunmo, "Ah Mo, go forward and see if there is a girl you like?" Otherwise, my aunt will go up for you to see, if you book, you can't regret it, do you want to choose it yourself or will your aunt go up and help you choose? You're going to have to pick one for me today anyway anyway. ”

An Anyan already has a candidate in her heart, this relationship is cultivated, she chooses the best she thinks, and the rest of Duan Qingya is the best in it.

"Auntie, I'll go see it myself."

"Well, my aunt hopes so."

An Yunmo also chose four years ago, and now it's about to start again, he didn't think in his heart that he would settle down immediately, he would pay attention to the fact that the unmarried women of Ancheng age are here, and he rarely goes out at all, so he has no chance to meet people at all, take advantage of the selection of concubines to see for himself, if it is interesting, when he leaves the palace, he can send invitations to invite people to come out to meet, it is allowed here in them, but he has to follow people around him, An Yunmo is not afraid that the women he thinks are interesting will be set by his imperial brothers, Because his vision and theirs are not on the same line.