Speaking of which, there are generally two forms of the emperor's selection of concubines, one is the draft that will be held every year. Well, yes, it's a draft, and it's actually no different from the kind of draft in later generations.

This kind of draft, basically chosen around August every year, at this time, the imperial court will send three types of officials to be responsible for this matter, they will go to various counties, to review those who have already come from the townships or other counties to participate in the election, about the age of about thirteen to twenty between the beautiful Duanli, the selected will be directly sent to the carriage to pull back to the palace.

But this is just an audition, after these girls enter the palace, they need to be screened again, just like the promotion and knockout rounds of the draft in later generations. Only if they succeed in the promotion can they stand in front of the emperor, while those who fail have only two choices. One is to go back and where to go, but under normal circumstances, you can get some reward, and the other is to stay in the palace as a palace maid.

It's just that those girls who finally stand in front of the emperor can already become the emperor's concubines? Naturally not, after all, it was only officials at all levels who were picking it before, and the emperor himself hadn't picked it yet. Therefore, they still need to have a final round of competition, and only if they are also favored by the emperor, they will be canonized as concubines.

However, the so-called concubines, in fact, are just female officials in the palace, the Eastern Han Dynasty is below the queen, a total of nobles, beauties, palace people, and four women, among which nobles and beauties are only qualified to serve as women who are favored by the emperor, such as He Xianglan in the past, Tang Ning and now Fushou. And although Gongren and Cainu are nominally the emperor's women, in fact, many women of this rank have never been favored by the emperor in their lifetimes.

This is actually something that can't be helped, after all, there are so many women in the emperor, and there are always people with high status, and the emperor also needs time to rest, so the opportunity to spoil other women is naturally very rare. Therefore, if you want to run for election, you must be prepared to be a widow.

The other is an impromptu draft like Ma Teng's now. Strictly speaking, there is no difference between this and the previous one, except that the former has a fixed time, and the latter follows the emperor's mood. After all, he is the emperor, and there is always a privilege. However, because the first type has always been held in August, and August is also the time when the imperial court began to collect taxes from the people, the first type of draft has also become a type of tax over time.

But then again, although the whole world is nominally selected, most of the time, the scope of selection is only limited to the area around Jingshi. Otherwise, with the entire territory of the Han Dynasty, God knows how much manpower and material resources will have to be mobilized to complete a draft.

Of course, this does not mean that there are no opportunities elsewhere, because it can also be recommended...... But that's the exception.

"The two brothers, Zhong Xuan and Liu Fan, are really just helping the little emperor choose a concubine?" Looking at the information in his hand, Zhang Ning muttered to himself in surprise.

In order to win over Liu Yan and make him his helper, Ma Teng not only sent Liu Zhang's mother and son back to Yizhou, but also worshiped Liu Fan and Liu Dan as the left and right generals. Although it is just a fictitious title and has no real power, you must know that since Ma Teng took control of the imperial court, few people who are not his descendants have been promoted. Not only that, Ma Teng also often entertained them with banquets and gave them some jewelry beauties from time to time.

As for Ma Teng's overtures, Liu Fan and the others did not refuse, and even often invited Ma Teng, and took the initiative to write a letter to Yizhou to help Ma Teng say good things. And this time, after hearing that Ma Teng ordered Zhong Xuan to go to various places to select concubines for the emperor, the two immediately asked Ying to go together. And in this regard, Ma Teng is not easy to refuse.

Zhang Ning kept looking at the information in his hand, frowning slightly, as if he was a little surprised by this result? On the side, Ma Teng looked at Zhang Ning with some confusion, and opened his mouth several times as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he gave up.

I don't know how long it took, Zhang Ning suddenly looked at Ma Teng and said with a smile, "Shoucheng, what do you have to say, what have you been putting up with?" ”

Hearing Zhang Ning's words, Ma Teng seemed to have seen through his thoughts, and said in a somewhat unnatural tone, "Madam, I think that although Zhong Xuan still needs further testing, but the two of them are just ordinary gentlemen, Madame doesn't need to worry so much." ”

"Hehe, it seems that you have a good relationship, huh?" Hearing this, Zhang Ning looked at Ma Teng and chuckled.

"Uh...... Actually, it's okay, but after this period of contact, Bofa and the two still know each other very well, and they are not like those stubborn scholars......" Facing Zhang Ning's gaze, Ma Teng said in a low voice, his tone slightly cramped and uneasy.

Although he has figured it out, he has been telling himself not to do this. But there are some things, once you start to care, where is it so easy to let go?

It's just that Zhang Ning didn't think much about Ma Teng's unnaturalness, just looked at Ma Tengjiao and smiled, "Shoucheng, am I in your heart a vicious and jealous woman like Empress Dowager He?" ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Ning suddenly sighed with emotion, "Actually, I really hope that you can take a few concubines, after all, I have always been busy with government affairs, and my responsibilities as a wife are ......."

"Madame, don't say that, if it weren't for Madame, I would still be living a poor life of hunting and living in Didao, and I might even have been killed during the turmoil in Liangzhou." Ma Teng hurriedly said when he heard this, his tone was unusually sincere.

"Hehe......" Listening to Ma Teng's words, Zhang Ning smiled and didn't say anything, but continued to look at the information in his hand. Seeing this, Ma Teng sat for a while and then got up and left.

As time passed, a large number of selected girls were sent to the palace to prepare for the next round of competition. However, not all of them were sent to the palace.

"This woman is the best of my brothers' selection after many ways, and she is specially brought to the prime minister." Liu Fan and the others said respectfully.

"The two of you are really too polite, but these beauties, the two of you should keep them for yourself and enjoy them~" Ma Teng looked at the girl, and then smiled at Liu Fan and the others.

"Oh? Don't you like it? But I don't know if the prime minister likes the old or the young? Or what are the other requirements? My two brothers are grateful for the prime minister's love and have always hoped to repay the prime minister's kindness......" Hearing Ma Teng's words, Liu Dan said respectfully.

Liu Fan and Liu Dan kept trying, and it seemed that as long as Ma Teng said the request, they could get a woman who echoed the request. It's just that Ma Teng just dealt with it casually.

After Ma Teng left, Liu Fan and the others came to the secret room in the mansion, "Brother, what do you think?" Liu Dan asked with a frown.

"Hmm...... From my observations, the horse thief swept the beauty many times today, and although it was not obvious, he should still have some ideas. Liu Fan also frowned in response, but his tone was a little uncertain.

"That brother thinks that the thing Yuan Chang mentioned is true or false?" Hearing this, Liu Dan asked again.

"This ...... I found it a little hard to believe. Although the folk atmosphere in Liangzhou is more open because of the Qiang people, it is really hard to believe that the horse thief will be afraid of his wife, and even his wife will decide everything big and small. Liu Fan said hesitantly when he heard this.

"Hmm...... I've also seen that woman named Zhang Ning, and she doesn't seem to be anything special. Liu Dan groaned when he heard this, "But since Yuan Chang deliberately told us about this, he obviously thinks that there is a great possibility." And the horse thief has never taken a concubine, maybe it's because he is afraid of that Zhang Ning? ”

"But if that's the case, then even if she comes forward, I'm afraid it won't be of much use, right?" Liu Fan said suspiciously.

"Since Yuan Chang did this, there will definitely be a reason for him. After all, his talent is also the top among scholars, and it is impossible to mess around without being sure. Liu Dan groaned.

"Well, then try it according to Yuan Chang's intentions, even if you fail in the end...... That's also for my Han River! Come to think of it, King Hongnong won't blame us for this when he learns this news under Jiuquan, right? Liu Fan sighed when he heard this.

At the end of the month, the two brothers Liu Fan once again invited Ma Teng to the mansion for a banquet.

I saw that the Liu Fan brothers kept toasting Ma Teng, and all kinds of flattery kept coming out of their mouths. And Ma Teng sat in the top position, smiling and listening to the flattery of the two of them, the woman that Liu Fan and the others wanted to give to Ma Teng before was sitting in Ma Teng's arms in half disorganized clothes and waiting. She blushed, but it was Ma Teng's hands that kept playing up and down in her clothes.

Well, although Ma Teng refused, Liu Fan and the others did not enjoy the woman themselves, but kept her to serve Ma Teng. In this regard, Ma Teng really did not have any intention of refusing at all.

Speaking of which, as time goes by, Ma Teng has come to Liu's Mansion more and more often, although every time, he has come to woo the two Liu Fan brothers under the banner of success, but Ma Teng knows that he just likes the atmosphere here. Liu Fan and the others will continue to flatter themselves, and they will also offer a lot of jewelry and money, and there are beautiful women waiting for them.

Although Ma Teng didn't dare to bring these women back to the mansion, he didn't even dare to hide Jiao in the golden house. But...... Why don't you enjoy the head office here? After all, Zhang Ning didn't seem to have objected either......

Of course, for this kind of occasion now, Ma Teng is only a little fond of it, at least he thinks so.

After three rounds of drinking, Liu Fan and the two glanced at each other, and saw Liu Fan clapping his hands, and then everyone in the hall left one after another, leaving only Ma Teng and Liu Fan, two brothers.

"This ...... I wonder what the two of you have to ask for? Seeing this, Ma Teng looked at Liu Fan and the others with slightly squinted eyes and asked. Although he was already a little drunk at this time, his mind was still very clear. After all, in Liangzhou, it is difficult for people who drink badly to be respected.

Hearing this, Liu Fan and the others suddenly got up and walked in front of Ma Teng and bowed, "Xiaguan really has something to ask the prime minister." ”

"Eh~ Hurry up, you two, please get up, you have something to say, you have something to say~" Seeing this, Ma Teng hurriedly got up and helped the two up. "What is it that makes you two do this?"

Hearing this, Liu Fan clapped his hands, and then under Ma Teng's puzzled gaze, a woman slowly walked out. I saw that she was born with a flower and moon appearance, a plump and attractive figure, and a graceful body. But what attracted Ma Teng the most was her noble and elegant temperament, as well as the indissoluble sorrow on her face.

Well, I'm afraid that most men, when they see a poor woman, it's hard not to be moved. How so? Maybe it's because this kind of woman can stimulate men's desire to protect? Who knows.

"This is ......" Ma Teng asked with confusion, looking at Liu Fan and the two of them with very serious eyes. Because he understands that a woman with such a temperament will definitely not come from the people, at least, it must be that kind of family that can only be cultivated. And in this way, the purpose of Liu Fan and the others is very interesting.

However, Ma Teng seems to have guessed wrong.

"Back to the prime minister, this woman is the concubine Tang Guiren when the late King Huai was still in power." Liu Fan said respectfully.

Soon after the death of Liu Wei, the king of Hongnong, Liu Xie issued an edict to bury him in the tomb of Zhao Zhong, the servant of Zhongchang, and called him Huaiwang.

By the way, the title of the emperor is basically associated with the year name, the name of the emperor and the temple name, for example, Taizu Liu Bang, the Taizu is the temple number, which is basically only enjoyed by the founding emperor or the Zhongxing emperor after his death. And the era name is more common, such as the famous Emperor Chongzhen, which is the era name of Zhu Youzhen. And this epithet is the text that gives evaluation after death. For example, the famous Yang Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty, Yang is his nickname.

"The people's daughter Tang Ning visited the prime minister." Tang Ning walked up to Ma Teng and said respectfully.

"Folk girl?" Ma Teng looked at Tang Ning strangely, and then turned his head to look at Liu Fan and the others, his eyes were full of inquiries and doubts.

"Prime Minister Qiyu, after King Huai was killed by Dong thieves in the past, she was demoted to a commoner and dismissed from the palace. Some time ago, during the drafts in various places, the lower officials accidentally discovered her and were shocked. I wanted him to run for the election, but I asked him carefully......" Liu Fan replied respectfully.

"After learning about this incident, my brother discussed with the lower officials, and they all believed that he should not be allowed to continue to live among the people......" Liu Fan finished speaking, and Liu Dan on the side said next.

Hearing this, Ma Teng pondered for a while and said, "In that case, why don't you live in the palace." At that time, the prime minister will personally consecrate this matter and ask her to restore her status as a princess. Come to think of it, with the relationship between the saint and King Huai, he should not disagree. ”

"Thank you, Prime Minister!" When Liu Fan and the others heard this, they hurriedly thanked them.

It's just that Tang Ning just stood quietly aside, from just now to now, she hasn't moved, and even her expression hasn't changed, even when she heard that she can return to the palace and restore her rightful identity. It seems that Downing doesn't care about his future fate at all.

And this appearance, Ma Teng, who was secretly looking at her, was in full view, and a sense of pity suddenly appeared in her heart.

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