Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 65: I said I would not seal it, and that means I would not seal it!
Zhu Youtang's move made Empress Dowager Wu laugh heartily.

"Your Majesty knows to strike a balance between the north and the south when selecting the best candidates. You are truly a wise ruler."

Queen Mother Wang also echoed, "Yes, Your Majesty will surely be a wise ruler in the future."

"I can handle the state affairs of the previous dynasty, and I can also handle the family affairs of the harem."

Zhu Youtang just smiled faintly and did not respond to the two empress dowagers' words.

Zhu Youtang looked again at the dozen or so northern beauties who had failed in the selection.

After some consideration, I made a decision.

Zhu Youtang pointed at one of the most beautiful girls and said, "It's you. Leave your name tag."

The concubine was overjoyed and immediately knelt down to express her gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Do you have a name? What's your family background?"

"Your Majesty, I don't have a name. My father, Gu You, the Junior Official of the Imperial Household Department, was nicknamed Manman and was from Dengzhou Prefecture, Luzhou."

Zhu Youtang looked at the five selected ladies and said, "You five can choose five eunuchs and five palace maids to serve you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Go down."

"Here."

At Zhu Youtang's order, all the concubines left the main hall of Chuxiu Palace.

The number of name tags on the tray in Cui Gongzheng's hand also increased from four to five.

Queen Mother Wang was delighted and smiled: "Your Majesty, choose three."

The so-called selecting three means selecting three people from these five beauties.

Then, one of these three people will be chosen as the queen, and the other two will be imperial concubines.

After that, the betrothal gifts, the lucky money and the betrothal gifts would be offered. After an auspicious date was chosen, the wedding would be held and the queen would be welcomed.

Of course, a grand ceremony is only required when marrying a queen.

It is not necessary to take concubines.

Zhu Youtang had no intention of choosing the third option: "I will not choose."

Queen Mother Wang was stunned and anxious: "Your Majesty, how can we not choose this?"

"The country cannot be without a king for a day, and the harem cannot be without a master for a day."

"Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and there is no one in charge of the imperial harem's Phoenix Seal. Your Majesty should appoint a queen as soon as possible."

It is no wonder that Queen Wang is so anxious. This is the first time that Zhu Youtang has held a national beauty contest, and the position of queen will be decided in this contest.

After that, the highest rank she could be selected could only be a concubine.

Among the five selected beauties, three were of poor origin and were destined to have no chance of becoming queens.

Among the remaining two beauties, one of them was Zhang Wan'er, with whom she was already friends.

No matter how you look at it, Zhang Wan'er has the greatest chance of being crowned queen.

Queen Mother Wang absolutely did not want to miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Empress Dowager Wu did not say anything, but deep down, she also supported Zhu Youtang to enthrone the queen first.

After all, according to the rules, the harem cannot be without a master for a day.

In the past, it was because Zhu Youtang had not yet selected a concubine. Now that he has selected a beautiful girl, it is natural that she should be canonized as the queen.

But Zhu Youtang's attitude was very firm. He had a sullen face and eyes as sharp as swords as he stared at Queen Dowager Wang.

"I've said before, if I don't choose the third one, I won't crown the queen!"

Conquer the queen?

What a joke!
Are you really afraid that he will live too long?

Thinking back, among Emperor Xianzong, Emperor Yingzong, Emperor Daizong, and Emperor Xuanzong, which one died of natural causes?
Looking back, how did Emperor Wuzong, Emperor Muzong, Emperor Guangzong, and Emperor Xizong die?
Let’s not talk about the distant past, let’s just talk about Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Yingzong. The deaths of these two emperors were very strange.

Zhu Youtang always suspected that the death of these two emperors was not due to normal illness, but a carefully planned murder.

Zhu Youtang didn't know whether the harem was involved in this murder.

But this was at least enough to make Zhu Youtang understand that the harem could not be trusted!

It is best not to confer the title of queen on someone other than the most trusted and closest person.

There is a reason why the late emperor deposed Queen Wu and never touched Queen Wang since he ascended the throne.

Queen Wang frowned deeply and said earnestly: "Your Majesty, you must appoint a queen." "If your majesty does not appoint a queen, who will manage the affairs of the harem?"

"I said I won't seal it, so I won't seal it. No need to persuade me anymore!"

"The affairs of the harem can be handled by Empress Dowager Wu."

There was already a hint of anger in Zhu Youtang's tone.

When Queen Wang saw that Zhu Youtang was angry, she tactfully shut her mouth and just gave a wink to Empress Dowager Wu.

Queen Wu thought about it for a while and finally stood on Zhu Youtang's side.

"If Your Majesty does not want to crown her queen now, then it won't be too late to choose a virtuous concubine to crown her queen after you get to know the concubines better in a few days."

"Then your majesty, what are the appropriate titles for these five concubines?"

Zhu Youtang hesitated for a few seconds and said, "It is not appropriate to give me a high position since I am entering the palace for the first time."

"How about this, Zhang Wan'er will be made a concubine, given the character Kang, and granted a silver book."

"Chen Yuanyuan was given the title of Concubine, Liu Rushi was given the title of Talented Lady, and Dong Xiaowan was given the title of Honored Lady."

"As for Gu's, just give her a lady."

The Ming Dynasty harem had a strict hierarchy.

Generally speaking, it is divided into six categories.

The first class is the queen, the master of the harem and the mother of the country.

The second rank is the Imperial Noble Consort, who is the most favored among the six palaces and shares control of the gold and treasures.

The third rank is the imperial concubine, who can enjoy a palace alone and is the master of the palace.

The fourth rank is the concubine, which has eight characters: virtuous, virtuous, dignified, respectful, kind, obedient, healthy and peaceful.

The fifth rank is concubine, which has nine characters in total: virtue, virtuous, dignified, beautiful, gracious, kind, peaceful, harmonious, happy and healthy.

The sixth rank is Zhaoyi, Jieyushi, Meiren, Cairen, Guiren, Xuanshi, and Shunu.

Below these, there are also maids and maids who are not of the same rank.

However, they had a low status and were no different from ordinary palace maids. They were just palace maids who could serve the emperor in his bedchamber.

There is not much difference between the same level, but there are also differences in high and low.

The gap between different levels is like a chasm.

Zhaoyi, who holds the highest rank among the sixth rank, is like a slave in front of Guifei, who holds the third rank.

However, as long as she is deeply favored by the emperor, even a royal concubine will not give a cold shoulder to a favored noble.

After all, as long as the emperor is willing, a lady can be immediately promoted to imperial concubine.

At the same time, only the queen had the golden book, golden treasure and golden seal.

The concubine had a silver book and a gold seal but no treasure.

The concubine only had a silver book.

But when the late emperor was alive, he loved Concubine Wan very much, so he specially gave her gold and treasures.

So in the harem at that time, in addition to Queen Wang, Concubine Wan also had Jinbao.

The two of them shared the treasure.

Fu Dahai, the eunuch in charge of the Jingshifang, and Cui Gongzheng, who were standing by, took note of it.

Empress Dowager Wu asked again: "Then your majesty, the sleeping arrangements for these five beauties..."

Zhu Youtang shook his hand and said, "Just take care of such trivial matters. Don't bother me."

"As for the subsequent matters of Nacai and Naji, they will also be handled by the two Empress Dowagers."

"I'm a little tired, I'll go first."

Zhu Youtang stood up and left Chuxiu Palace.

All the eunuchs and maids in the palace knelt on the ground and said, "Farewell, Your Majesty."

Queen Dowager Wang and Queen Dowager Wu also stood up and watched Zhu Youtang walk away.

The two empress dowagers looked at each other, both somewhat worried.

It is unheard of that Your Majesty does not have a queen.

I don’t know if there will be any trouble in this situation where the harem is without a master.

(End of this chapter)