Counting on your fingers, the fifth marriage is coming

Chapter 197 A Fox and a Dog Fight
The morning light penetrated the clouds and poured down onto the main hall of the imperial palace.

"Are you saying that Master Xie deliberately eliminated some of the handsome men who met the palace selection criteria?"

The white jade steps wind upwards, with curtains hanging lightly. The green smoke curling up from the incense burner is so lingering that one can't help but hold one's breath and keep quiet.

Huo Junting knelt on one knee on the ground, dust dancing in the dim light. He spoke in a light and solemn tone: "Your Majesty, the continuation of the royal family's heirs is a major national event, and it is also a matter of urgency in the court. Although Master Xie has always acted with moderation, he was too harsh this time. There are only fifteen handsome men left in the first round, and the second and third rounds have fewer people each time. If they are really doing this for Your Majesty..."

Just as he was about to get to the point, the eunuch outside the palace announced: "Thank you for your audience, Master~"

Huo Junting's back froze after being interrupted, and he slowly half raised his eyes.

Xu Shanshan glanced at Huo Junting's expression, his eyes turned unclear, and he smiled and said, "He arrived in time."

Wearing a blue-dyed court robe in the tones of late winter, he walked into the hall. The golden and azure inlays were dazzling and glittering, just like the graceful and ethereal posture of a dragon and a phoenix.

Xie Yujin was dressed neatly from head to toe and entered the palace to meet Emperor Yue. Huo Junting couldn't help but glance at her, feeling a chill in his heart.

However, Xie Yujin was not surprised to see Huo Junting, who had entered the palace first for an audience. He spread out his sleeves, and the sunlight cast fine shadows on them, like a spread of golden brocade.

After bowing to Xu Shanshan, Fang said, "Your Majesty, I am here to report the results of the palace selection."

"Are you alone?" Xu Shanshan asked him.

"Since I am the one who is in charge of selecting officials, and the final candidate is also decided by me, then I will report the result first, and the other adults will explain the details to Your Majesty later." Xie Yujin said in an orderly manner.

He seemed not to notice Huo Junting standing here alone, or perhaps it was because Huo Junting was here that he came here alone, and the timing was chosen quite delicately.

"Talk about it."

"After the palace selection, there are a total of 78 handsome men left, and their names are all on this list."

Xu Shanshan glanced over the list presented to him. He went from being nonchalant at first to staring intently, and finally slowly raised his eyes with a strange smile on his lips.

"Yes, these people were really carefully selected by Master Xie. I am very satisfied, but..."

Xie Yujin was obviously confident about this list. When he heard the word "only", he was puzzled and asked, "Only? Your Majesty has something to ask for your instructions."

"Just a quarter of an hour ago, General Huo presented a complete list of handsome men, including Longdong Overlord Wei Canghao, the famous monk Master Jiashan, Twelve Linked Village Young Master Chi Jiangdong and Sheyuan Dark Emperor Li Yehe. I wonder if Master Xie's palace selection is too strict, so that even people like them can be eliminated?"

Xie Yujin didn't expect Huo Junting to be so smart. He knew that Huo Junting would complain to Emperor Yue in private, such as exaggerating his own thoughts and speculations.

But no one expected that he would think of compiling the complete list of handsome men into a book before submitting it to the case. He must have carefully selected some "typical" examples to illustrate, so as to make Emperor Yue suspicious and dissatisfied with him.

But since he dared to do it, he naturally dared to face the questioning.

"I have reasons for my eliminations. This is a list of the eliminated people. I have detailed comments and reasons on each one... If there is anything wrong, I am willing to accept the punishment for dereliction of duty."

Xie Yujin respectfully took out another list that had been prepared long ago and handed it over.

Huo Junting was stunned and looked at him with a little surprise.

Xie Yujin raised his head, a bitter smile appeared on his face, and he said with some self-pity: "Your Majesty, if you suspect that I deliberately targeted them and made them lose the election because of your Majesty's past with them, then what about Gu Yue Jiarong? I just think that concubines in the harem should be weak rather than strong, and suitable for the house rather than the wild. The origins, experiences and personalities of these four people are actually not suitable for the palace, but Master Gu Yue is still suitable for the moment."

What a great Master Xie!

Not only was he cautious, but he also acted meticulously. Huo Junting realized that he had really underestimated him.

He admitted that he was one step behind in chess. Xu Shanshan saw Huo Junting's face was dark and gloomy, and then turned to Xie Yujin who was as relaxed as usual. The loss of this game was obvious.

She glanced at the three lists on the table, smiled playfully, and said nothing more: "Thank you, Master Taifu, for your trouble."

Xie Yujin was a treacherous official who had once manipulated the emperor. What was he best at? Naturally, he was good at making sweet speeches and deceiving his superiors and subordinates.

Huo Junting was a general who led troops into battle. Although he was intelligent and sharp, he could not compare with Xie Yujin, a black-bellied and power-hungry person, in terms of cunning and treachery.

"I will do my best to serve Your Majesty, and... Your Majesty and I have already made an agreement."

Although Xie Yujin reminded himself not to be anxious, there were things he could not tolerate... that was to stand beside Emperor Yue openly, so that no one would think he was dreaming in the future.

Xu Shanshan's expression did not change. She was much more patient than Xie Yujin. "If this matter is handled perfectly, I will naturally reward you handsomely. You can go down now."

"I have one more thing to report."

"explain."

"Recently, evil magic has been prevalent in Shengjing. In order to prevent someone from not doing their job and taking an unconventional approach during the palace selection process, I suggest that we search these handsome men first to eliminate any suspicious points." Xie Yujin suggested righteously.

This is quite interesting.

Everyone knows that Emperor Yue has long banned the use of magic inside and outside the palace. Now that the temple has been burned down, who can still agree to do this?
"Master Xie, who are you proposing to be in charge?"

"I would like to ask your Majesty for help."

The two of them looked at each other immediately.

Their eyes met, just like two meteors passing through the earth, or as if tied by an invisible thread. Xie Yujin only felt that time froze at this moment, and past memories were like butterflies, fluttering and weaving a web in his heart.

He couldn't help but clench his palms, and felt them wet.

Will she... agree?
After a long time, Xu Shanshan stood up. She used her fingers as "wolf hair", dipped them in spiritual power, and moved like a dragon with her wrist suspended. The mysterious aura drew an ancient and spiritual talisman in the void, and then injected it into Xie Yujin's body.

Xie Yujin only felt a warmth in his chest, and the warm light on his body disappeared without a trace. He reached out and pressed it gently.

"Go and search. I have left an eye in your body. You are with me. If there is any problem with any handsome man, I will warn you."

Xie Yujin achieved his goal. He lowered his eyelashes and his eyes flashed like a glimmer in the lake of his heart, causing ripples. His eyes were filled with excitement and joy.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Xie Yujin left "satisfied", Huo Junting lowered his head like a defeated hound: "It's my incompetence..."

"Look up, Huo Junting. This is not your battlefield."

Huo Junting knew that Emperor Yue was willing to continue to have an ambiguous relationship with the Xie family, just because the court needed the Xie family to balance and support. If the thorn deep in the flesh was pulled out rashly, it would either heal or hurt more...

Obviously, he couldn't help His Majesty deal with the Xie family, and he even hindered His Majesty.

Xu Shanshan suddenly called out, "Mo Han."

Only a simple and thin figure walked out from behind the curtain. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed: "Mo Han pays respect to His Majesty. Long live the emperor."