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After Feng Dao's burial, Empress Fu began urging Su Ning to select a concubine.

Suddenly I realized that this powerful brother-in-law is really hard to please; he managed to cause so much trouble over a simple concubine selection.

In the first month, Suning said it was inappropriate because his mentor's mourning period had not yet passed.

In the second month, Su Ning said that the reorganization of the National Defense Forces had reached a critical moment and he was unable to spare the time.

Just after the third month, Empress Fu sent the roster directly to the military camp outside the city with a note attached: If Your Highness refuses again, I will personally come to the military camp to watch Your Highness make the selection.

When Zhao Pu handed the note to Su Ning, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress is... in a panic!"

Su Ning glanced at the note, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded.

"It really is time to do it! Otherwise, all these beauties will have to leave."

"Then...should we proceed with the selection of the imperial concubine?"

"Ah."

The selection of a concubine has finally been put on the agenda.

But the first request Su Ning made stunned Empress Fu.

"The principal wife came from an ordinary family?"

Empress Fu looked at the memorial and thought she had misread it.

She immediately requested an audience with Guo Rong and presented him with her petition.

"Your Majesty, take a look at this."

Guo Rong took it, examined it carefully, and frowned.

"The principal wife comes from an ordinary family? No noble ladies? No daughters of high-ranking officials?"

"That's what the Crown Prince said."

Guo Rong was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"I understand."

"Understand what?"

"The Crown Prince is guarding against us, and has even considered the future interference of the Empress Dowager's relatives in politics."

Empress Fu was taken aback for a moment, then she understood.

The principal wife came from an ordinary family...

He had no family background, no noble connections, and no influence in the court.

Such a principal wife will never pose a threat to anyone.

It will not threaten the emperor, the empress, or the entrenched power structures in the court.

more importantly……

It will not threaten the Qin king's own throne.

At this moment, Guo Rong looked at Empress Fu with a face full of emotion and said, "Empress, I think I understand what the Crown Prince means! The principal wife is the principal wife, and the concubine is the concubine. The principal wife does not hold power, and the concubine can arrange marriages. The two sides should be separated and not interfere with each other."

After listening, Empress Fu remained silent for a long time. "This child... is thinking too far ahead."

Guo Rong nodded.

“He always thinks far ahead! Sometimes I think that Father Emperor may be underestimating Yige’er. He is the most ideal successor.”

"Your Majesty, you must not underestimate yourself. Your succession to the throne was a decision made by Emperor Taizu after careful consideration."

"Alas! So I am under great pressure, and I cannot betray my father's trust."

……

And so, an unprecedented selection of imperial concubines began.

The weather was fine on the day the concubines were chosen.

The young ladies in the post station got up early, dressed up, and waited to be summoned.

Zhou Ehuang sat by the window, gazing calmly at the gray sky over Bianliang outside.

Her maid asked in a low voice, "Miss, aren't you nervous?"

Zhou Ehuang shook her head.

"What's there to be nervous about? Whether you get elected or not, it's all fate. At worst, you can just go back to where you came from."

The maid paused for a moment, unsure how to respond.

At this moment, Zhou Ehuang said nothing more, but just looked out the window, thinking about the King of Qin whom she had never met.

I heard that the King of Qin of the Great Zhou Dynasty was nineteen years old, that he personally trained the national defense army, that he led the charge in the Battle of Gaoping and broke the allied forces, and that he postponed the selection of a concubine for his mentor.

I also heard that... the King of Qin killed Zhao Kuangyin's entire family on trumped-up charges.

What kind of person is this?
Zhou Ehuang did not know.

However, she soon found out.

……

The formal audience took place in a side hall of Chongyuan Hall.

Empress Fu presided over the ceremony herself, with Guo Rong sitting to the side and Su Ning standing in the center of the hall.

The young ladies entered the hall one by one, bowed, answered a few questions, and then withdrew.

Zhou Ehuang was the seventh.

She entered the hall, bowed gracefully, and remained neither humble nor arrogant.

Empress Fu looked at Zhou Ehuang, her eyes brightening, and sighed that she was indeed a beautiful woman with fair skin and a lovely face.

“Raise your head.”

Zhou Ehuang raised her head.

Empress Fu looked at him for a moment, then turned to look at Guo Rong.

Guo Rong nodded.

Empress Fu then looked at Su Ning.

Su Ning stood there, looking at the girl from the Southern Tang Dynasty.

At fifteen, she possessed a composure beyond her years.

Zhou Ehuang stood there, neither nervous nor flustered, simply gazing at herself quietly.

This was Empress Da Zhou, the first empress of Li Yu, the last ruler of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Little did she know that her appearance would trigger such a huge butterfly effect.

After he destroyed the Southern Tang Dynasty, he would most likely see an even more beautiful Empress Xiao Zhou.

But since that bastard Zhao Kuangyi has already been eliminated by me, there may never be any more rumors about Zhao Kuangyi and Xiao Zhouhou's affair.

Immediately afterwards, Su Ning suddenly remembered what Feng Dao had said before his death, "Your Highness, you are too hard-hearted."

Thinking of this, he withdrew his gaze and said, "Your Majesty the Empress shall decide."

Empress Fu smiled.

"Then I've made up my mind."

On that day, two imperial edicts were issued one after the other.

The first decree was to bestow the title of Consort Zhou Ehuang, daughter of Zhou Zong, the Minister of Works of the Southern Tang Dynasty, upon the Prince of Qin.

The second decree was to bestow the title of Fu Qing, daughter of the Fu family, upon the King of Qin as a secondary consort.

The news spread, sparking heated discussions both in and out of government.

"Two concubines, one is the daughter of the Prime Minister of Southern Tang, and the other is the Empress's cousin. This Prince Qin is truly..."

"Where is the principal wife? Why isn't she here?"

"I heard they're still selecting, and they're choosing from ordinary families."

"What? An ordinary family? That's not..."

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense! Be careful of Minglitang's spies."

When Zhou Ehuang received the imperial decree, she was waiting at the post station.

After hearing the imperial edict, she knelt down to express her gratitude, her expression calm.

The maid's eyes welled up with tears of excitement. "Miss! You've really been chosen! You're the Princess Consort of Qin!"

“Concubine,” Zhou Ehuang quickly corrected the maid.

“A concubine is still a concubine! That’s the Prince of Qin of the Great Zhou! The Crown Prince.”

Zhou Ehuang did not speak; she simply gazed out the window at the sky over Bianliang.

Concubine.

She is not the principal wife.

However, it seems that she never had a choice, whether she married Li Yu, the sixth prince of the Southern Tang Dynasty, or the Prince of Qin of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Fu Qing's reaction was even calmer.

She was Empress Fu's cousin and knew from a young age that she would eventually marry into the royal family.

After all, powerful families had long been accustomed to political marriages, and marrying the King of Qin was actually the best outcome.

Although she was not the principal wife.

But Fu Qing didn't mind too much.

The principal wife came from an ordinary family, with no background or connections.

But Fu Qing is the direct descendant of the Fu family.

Who can say for sure what will happen in the future?
……

The night the selection of concubines ended, Su Ning returned to the military camp outside the city.

Wang Pu, Zhao Pu, and Li Fang all came forward to offer their congratulations, saying, "Congratulations, Your Highness."

Suning waved his hand.

"There's nothing to congratulate. It's just two more people moving in."

Zhao Pu, Wang Pu, and the other two smiled but didn't reply. He knew what the King of Qin was thinking.

The principal wife has not yet been decided, but the concubine has already entered the mansion.

Only after the principal wife is chosen can the affairs of the household truly begin.

Behind those women stand different forces.

Behind Zhou Ehuang was a prominent family in the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Behind Fu Qing is the Fu family, who are relatives of the emperor.

Behind the principal wife lies...

Ordinary people.

The King of Qin's move was indeed brilliant.

As night deepened, the military camp quieted down.

Su Ning sat alone in the duty room, gazing at the solitary lamp on the desk.

I recall seeing Zhou Ehuang's calm eyes when I met her today.

There's something in that eye.

It wasn't out of fear, flattery, or testing.

Just quietly looking at myself.

Like looking at a person.

He was neither the King of Qin of the Great Zhou, nor the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, nor the Grand Marshal of the Army.

He is a pure person.

……

After the concubine entered the mansion, the process of selecting the principal wife began in earnest.

Empress Fu presided over the meeting again, but this time her request stunned everyone...

"This selection of imperial concubines is open to all, regardless of social status or background. Any daughter from an ordinary family, aged fifteen to eighteen, with a pleasing appearance and virtuous character, may participate in the selection."

The news caused an uproar.

"No daughters of prestigious families?"

"Don't you care about social status?"

"Can a daughter from an ordinary family become the King of Qin's principal wife?"

There was much discussion in the imperial court, and the people were in an uproar.

Some people clapped and cheered, "The King of Qin is going to marry a commoner woman. From now on, ordinary people like us will also have a chance!"

Some people shook their heads and sighed, "How can this be? How can the Queen Consort of Qin come from a humble background?"

Many people are speculating: What exactly does the King of Qin want to do?
Inside the Chongyuan Hall, several senior officials surrounded Wei Renpu, bombarding him with questions.

"Lord Wei, what does the King of Qin mean by this? Since ancient times, when princes choose their consorts, there has never been any reason not to select daughters of noble families?"

Wei Renpu stroked his beard, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "You guys...none of you understood."

"What do you understand?" "The King of Qin is taking precautions against the future."

"Prepare for the future? What does that mean?"

"The principal wife comes from a humble background, with no family connections, no foundation, and no influence in the court. If the Prince of Qin were to... if that day ever comes, the principal wife will not become the source of interference in politics by the maternal relatives."

The veteran officials looked at each other, some suddenly realizing the truth, while others remained puzzled.

Regardless, the selection of a concubine was settled.

The imperial edict was proclaimed throughout all the prefectures and counties of the empire.

Officials in various regions immediately sprang into action.

The provincial inspector, prefect, and county magistrate all issued orders and conducted door-to-door investigations.

Every family with a daughter of marriageable age, including her appearance and character, had to be registered.

Those ordinary families never dreamed that this day would come.

"Our daughter can also be selected as the Prince of Qin's principal wife?"

"That's right! The county magistrate himself came to inquire, saying that our daughter is good-looking and of good character, and that we can register her!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Report it now!"

In no time, applicants flocked to the area.

There were farm girls, merchant girls, daughters of scholars, and even daughters of hunters who came from the mountains.

Dressed in the simplest clothes and riding in the most modest carriages, they flocked from all directions to the preliminary selection locations in various state capitals.

The preliminary selection process was extremely rigorous.

The first hurdle: appearance.

It doesn't have to be a stunning beauty, but it does have to be well-proportioned features and an elegant demeanor.

Those who wore heavy makeup and behaved frivolously were eliminated in the first round.

The second hurdle is character.

A respected local woman would personally question them to observe their speech, responses, and manner of dealing with people.

Those who are arrogant, rude, and petty will not pass the second test either.

The third challenge is talent.

You don't need to be proficient in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting, but you should at least be able to do one of them.

Some girls can embroider and embroider a peony on the spot; some girls can cook and make desserts that make the examiners want to eat more; and some girls can't do anything, but they speak and act with grace and poise, making people feel comfortable.

After rounds of screening, from thousands of applicants, fewer than one hundred remained.

These one hundred people were sent to Bianliang to participate in the final selection.

Empress Fu personally oversaw the proceedings, summoning each person one by one.

The girls from all over the country, dressed in their best clothes, waited anxiously outside the palace.

Some people prayed quietly, some were so nervous their hands were shaking, and some were secretly wiping away tears.

After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any woman to defy fate, and any woman with a mind would go crazy for it.

You must know that the Prince of Qin is the Crown Prince, the current heir apparent of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the future supreme ruler of the Great Zhou.

Empress Fu spent the whole morning looking at it, then rubbed her temples.

"These girls are all so nervous. They can't even speak properly when they see me. I wonder what the Crown Prince is up to."

The palace maid beside her laughed and said, "Your Highness, they are all from the countryside and have never seen the world before, so it's understandable that they are nervous."

"That's true." Empress Fu thought for a moment. "How about this? Let the Prince of Qin come and choose for himself this afternoon. They'll be even more nervous if I'm here."

When the news reached the military camp outside the city, Su Ning was checking the accounts of the National Defense Army's winter rations.

After listening to the eunuch's report, he put down his pen.

"What? You want me to choose myself?"

"Yes, Her Majesty the Empress said that Your Highness should handle it as he sees fit."

Suning remained silent for a moment, then stood up.

"Let's go!"

Inside the side hall of Chongyuan Hall, the girls had already lined up again.

When Su Ning walked in, the hall fell silent instantly.

The girls all kept their heads down, none of them daring to look up.

Su Ning didn't say anything, but slowly walked past the queue, looking at each person one by one.

Some girls were so nervous they were trembling all over, some girls lowered their heads and dared not move, and some girls secretly looked up at him, then quickly lowered their eyes again.

When Su Ning reached the middle, he suddenly stopped.

The girl was wearing a faded blue cloth dress, her hair was simply tied up, and she wore no jewelry.

She stood there, neither trembling with nervousness nor stealing glances at him, but simply standing quietly, her eyes fixed ahead.

Su Ning looked at the other person.

The other person was also looking at him.

Their eyes met, and the girl didn't flinch.

Those eyes were clean and calm, like a mountain stream, crystal clear.

"What's your name?"

The girl bowed slightly, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, "My surname is Lin, and my given name is Wan. I am from Lin Family Village outside Bianliang City."

"how old are you?"

"Seventeen."

Have you been to school?

"I attended a private school for a few years. My father said that girls should also be literate and understand principles."

"What can you do?"

"I know how to farm, spin thread, and cook. I also learned a few poems from the village teacher, but I'm not good at them."

Looking at the girl named Lin Wan, Su Ning noticed that she spoke very calmly, without being nervous or flustered, and without being deliberately modest.

It's like talking about something perfectly ordinary.

Do you even know what we're here to choose?

"I know. She is the Queen Consort of the King of Qin."

Aren't you afraid?

"Not afraid."

"why?"

"Because I haven't done anything wrong. Whether I'm chosen or not, it's fate."

Suning remained silent for a moment.

"Let's choose her."

Suning turned around and walked out.

Everyone in the hall was stunned.

The girl was stunned, staring at the departing figure for a long time before she could react.

It wasn't until a palace maid from Empress Fu's side came over and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Miss Lin, you are now the Princess Consort of Prince Qin."

Lin Wan then came to her senses.

"……Thanks."

There were no tears of excitement, no tears of joy.

I simply said thank you softly.

When Empress Fu heard about this in the inner palace, she couldn't help but laugh.

"His Highness the King of Qin is becoming more and more interesting."

Then she looked at Guo Rong beside her and asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Guo Rong nodded. "Third brother's judgment is never wrong."

The results of the selection of imperial concubines spread throughout the land.

The Queen Consort of the King of Qin, née Lin, was from Linjia Village outside Bianliang City.

An ordinary farm girl.

She had no illustrious family background, no noble birth, and was just an ordinary farm girl.

Yet this ordinary peasant girl became the principal wife of the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Grand Marshal of the Army.

When the news reached Linjia Village, the entire village was in an uproar.

"Wan'er! Wan'er has been chosen!"

"The King of Qin's principal wife! That's the King of Qin's principal wife!"

"A princess has emerged from our village!"

Lin Wan's father was an honest and simple farmer. Upon hearing the news, he stood on the edge of the field for a long time, not even noticing that the hoe in his hand had fallen to the ground.

"Wan'er's mother..." Lin's father murmured excitedly, "Our daughter... is she a princess?"

By this time, Lin's mother was already crying her eyes out at home.

"My daughter...my daughter..."

When Lin Wan returned to the village, the whole village came out to greet her.

She was still wearing that faded blue cotton dress, still with her hair in a simple bun, and her face remained as calm as ever.

"Wan'er, I heard that the King of Qin personally chose you?"

"Ah."

"What does the King of Qin look like? Is he fierce?"

Lin Wan thought for a moment before replying, "Not fierce. Just doesn't talk much."

Everyone burst into laughter.

……

A month later, the King of Qin got married.

The principal wife, Lady Lin, and the secondary wives, Lady Zhou and Lady Fu, entered the palace on the same day.

The wedding wasn't extravagant, but it was solemn in every aspect.

Guo Rong personally officiated at the wedding, and Empress Fu personally oversaw the arrangements.

All the civil and military officials who were supposed to come have arrived.

Su Ning, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, stood in front of the hall, watching as three women were welcomed into the mansion one by one.

Lin Wan walked at the front, dressed in the formal attire of a principal wife and wearing a phoenix crown on her head, and walked very steadily.

When Lin Wan walked up to Su Ning, she looked up and glanced at him.

In that glance, there was no tension, no apprehension, only a calm certainty.

Su Ning suddenly realized that she had made the right choice; the head of the six palaces should have this kind of demeanor.

Don't assume that being born into poverty means you are inferior. In this magical land of China, true leaders often reside among ordinary people.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds entered the bridal chamber.

As night deepened, the mansion quieted down.

Su Ning sat in the main wife's room, looking at Lin Wan sitting by the bed.

The candlelight illuminated Lin Wan's young face, which remained calm and composed.

"Wan'er, are you scared?"

Lin Wan shook her head. "I'm not afraid."

"why?"

"Because His Highness chose me."

"Oh? It's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

After a moment of silence, Su Ning suddenly reached out and gently took Lin Wan's hand.

That hand was rough, a mark left by years of hard work.

Holding it in your hand, however, gives you a strange sense of peace.

"From now on, this will be your home."

Lin Wan looked at Su Ning, and a hint of a smile finally appeared in her clear eyes.

"Ah."

...(End of this chapter)