Only after the rebellion succeeded did they realize that this place was...

"The daughter of the Minister of Works was rejected, the daughter of the Vice Minister of Justice was rejected, and many daughters of high-ranking officials were also eliminated, but they kept all the daughters of our Sheng family without letting any of them go."

"There's definitely something fishy going on here!"

Inside the Xiu Nu Yuan (Imperial Women's Courtyard), in the Qiu Xiang Zhai (Autumn Fragrance Studio).

Rulan, dressed in a light lotus-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with her pretty face slightly puffed out, looked exactly like a female version of Di Renjie from the Tang Dynasty.

Those eyes, usually so lively and innocent, now held a hint of feigned wisdom.

She turned around, put her hands on her hips, pointed at the people in the courtyard with her left hand, and spoke with a firm tone, which was faintly reminiscent of the majesty of her mother, Wang Ruofu, the assistant madam of the palace.

It's true what they say, birds of a feather flock together.

"Big sister, it's up to you..."

Rulan turned to look at Hualan, and as soon as she finished speaking, she was met with a cool and beautiful glare from Hualan.

That imposing presence was far superior to her arrogant, self-important manner, like a monkey ruling the mountain when there are no tigers around.

Ru Lan felt a chill and immediately stopped her stance.

The rest...

She naturally dared not offend Rong Feiyan. Mo Lan had always been at odds with her, and after thinking it over, the only person she could "control" was her good younger sister Minglan.

He immediately changed his tone, softening his voice: "Minglan, tell me, isn't what I said reasonable?"

"Okay, Fifth Sister."

Minglan knew she couldn't go against her temper. When she looked up, her doe-like eyes were timid and pitiful, but her words were more hurtful than Bilan's unfounded guess.

"My sister doesn't think as much as Fifth Sister does. She just feels that, of the remaining ten people, half are from Qiuxiangzhai. Will this displease the gentlemen and cause them to take their anger out on the entire Sheng family?"

As soon as Minglan finished speaking, Hualan's previous nonchalant attitude of playing along with her younger sister changed instantly.

As the eldest daughter of the Sheng family, she was like a mother to her elder sister. The safety and honor of the Sheng family were her responsibility, and she could not afford to be indifferent to this matter.

She frowned, lost in thought, and the atmosphere in the hall grew slightly heavier.

Rong Feiyan, an outsider, had the clearest view of the situation.

She intended to befriend Hualan, and immediately said frankly, "Sister Hualan, there's no need to worry too much. This matter may not necessarily come to that. It's common for the emperor to have many concubines in the harem. Given His Majesty's favor towards you, it would be perfectly reasonable for him to bestow upon you the title of Imperial Concubine."

"As long as they don't touch the Empress's position, no matter how far the officials of the previous dynasty extend their reach, they would never dare to go against His Majesty's wishes. His Majesty is the founding emperor, and all the power in the world is in his hands."

Rong Feiyan was, after all, the sister of Consort Rong of the former imperial harem, and she had insights into the balance of power between the court and the harem that others could not match.

These words made Rulan breathe a sigh of relief, and she patted her chest and nodded repeatedly.

But just then, Mo Lan, who had been sitting quietly to the side and rarely uttered a word, suddenly spoke up lightly: "But what if Your Majesty truly intends to make my eldest sister Empress?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Ru Lan's heart.

Her heart tightened instantly, her face turned deathly pale, and even her lips lost all color.

Originally the most carefree person, he was now flustered by everyone's words, his heart pounding, more panicked than anyone else in the hall.

The atmosphere inside Qiuxiangzhai instantly became extremely heavy.

Even Minglan, who always seemed to remain detached and indifferent to everything, couldn't help but frown slightly at this moment, secretly wondering: Will my elder sister really be made empress by that emperor and become the mother of the world?

What kind of situation will the Sheng family end up in as a result?

Boom boom boom! ! !

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts and frowning, a rapid and intense drumbeat suddenly rang out in the imperial concubines' quarters, more urgent than ever before.

This is a summons, and there is no time to lose.

The women didn't have time to think any further. They subconsciously raised their hands to straighten their clothes and fix their makeup. Their fingertips trembled slightly, but they dared not lose their composure.

Immediately, the group filed out and hurried toward the main courtyard of the Imperial Concubine's Residence.

Months of instruction in palace rules had ingrained themselves in her very being, and even the once most spoiled Rulan had become more and more proper in her posture and demeanor.

The fact that they were able to remain in the final ten out of thirty was by no means solely due to the emperor's favoritism.

Their character and manners are at least acceptable.

Even though Liu Hong favored the daughters of the Sheng family, the noblewomen, nannies, and three assistant wives in the palace would not tolerate anyone who went too far. They had privileges, but they could not go too far.

Before long, the ten young ladies from Qiuxiangzhai and Fengyezhai stood together in front of the main courtyard, heads bowed and bodies swaying gracefully, yet each one of them was composed and dared not show the slightest disrespect.

"The girls have all arrived, they're pretty punctual."

Granny Kong stepped forward slowly; today was her day.

She was a close female official in charge of the emperor's daily life and meals. This time, she led the young ladies to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to meet the emperor, which was the final and important part of the selection process, called "pre-meeting".

This audience was akin to the imperial examination for scholars.

Once favored by His Majesty, one will rise to prominence, and all future honors will be bestowed upon them in this very day; if one is chosen as Empress, it will not only bring personal glory, but also elevate the entire family behind one's status.

It occupies an extremely important position in this new dynasty.

Therefore, even when facing the ladies of the palace and the three assistant ladies, Granny Kong's aura was subtly more imposing, and everyone treated her with utmost respect.

"Then let the young ladies from Maple Leaf Abode come with me first."

Granny Kong gave the order softly, her tone calm, yet carrying an undeniable authority.

Upon hearing this, Hua Lan, Ming Lan, and the others from Qiu Xiang Zhai secretly breathed a sigh of relief and subconsciously looked up at the young ladies from Feng Ye Zhai.

Ten people are grouped into fives, and the time spent meeting the emperor will not be too long.

Those who go first must face their unknown fate, while those who go later have more time to calm their minds.

The young ladies selected for the Maple Leaf Pavilion were all daughters of the highest-ranking noble families in the capital: Gongsun Yanran, daughter of the Left Prime Minister Gongsun Bai; Geng Fang, daughter of the Grand Commander Geng Jie; Mao Qingmiao, daughter of the Minister of Justice Mao Tianxun; Yu Yanran, daughter of the Grand Tutor Yu; and Zhang Guifen, daughter of the Duke of Yingguo.

Each of them came from a distinguished family and was a top candidate to become empress.

She stood with her head bowed, but her back was ramrod straight, exuding the elegance of a lady from a prestigious family.

"I've escaped death!"

Rulan leaned close to Minglan and whispered something in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Minglan overheard this, but only sighed softly, her gaze deep: "It's only temporary."

She knew in her heart that the summons from the Hall of Mental Cultivation was far more important than she had imagined.

……

The place to meet the saint!

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was chosen, rather than the Hall of Literary Virtue, where government affairs were handled.

At this moment, the Wende Hall is filled with high-ranking officials discussing the matter of establishing an empress. This is a matter of national importance and cannot be delayed in the slightest.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was the emperor's sleeping quarters.

This summons carries a hint of personal motives, making Liu Hong's true intentions even more enigmatic.

However, there was no solemnity whatsoever in the Hall of Mental Cultivation at this moment, unlike the solemnity one would expect when meeting the emperor.

Liu Hong leaned against the desk, flipping through a quiz book presented by the chief eunuch, which recorded many trivial matters in the imperial concubines' quarters. Occasionally, he would chuckle softly when he came across something amusing.

The soft laughter added a touch of lightness and humor to the otherwise solemn Yangxin Hall.

His gaze swept over the writing on the folded paper, and the images of the girls from Qiuxiangzhai already appeared in his mind:

Hua Lan's composure and elder sister demeanor were evident. She was the woman he had his eye on since Yangzhou. She was gentle and virtuous, like a pheasant just beginning to rise and then slowly blooming, just the way he wanted her.

Mo Lan does possess a certain charm, but unfortunately, her brows reveal a petty and narrow-minded nature, making her unsuitable for great responsibilities.

As for Rulan, she was quite a character. She was the most talkative person in Qiuxiangzhai and quite bold. The things she said about him behind his back were endless and unambiguous.

As Liu Hong pondered, a somewhat amusing thought suddenly occurred to him: if he were to confront this fifth young lady of the Sheng family in court later, watching her panicked yet feigned composure would surely be quite entertaining.

His gaze eventually fell on the name that left the deepest impression on him.

Sheng Minglan!

"This woman is truly extraordinary."

Liu Hong murmured softly, his fingertips lightly tapping on the folds.

If Hua Lan was the woman who first captured his heart and then won his affections, then Sheng Ming Lan had been in his heart ever since he learned that this world was called "The Story of Ming Lan".

The most difficult things to grasp in this world are nothing more than money and people's hearts.

His understanding of "The Story of Minglan" allowed him to grasp Sheng Minglan's thoughts most accurately.

This is a woman who, like him, has endured hardship and struggled her way out of poverty. She is extremely resilient and is by no means the kind of person who can only share wealth but not hardship.

As Liu Hong pondered, a few fantasies arose: if he had met this woman when he was starting out in Yangzhou, it wouldn't have been entirely impossible for the two of them to support each other and walk hand in hand together.

Such resilient and insightful women are rare in the world, not to mention that people's hearts are unpredictable. Even if they were, Liu Hong ascended to the throne and went through a turbulent and unpredictable path to the founding of the country.

Why would they easily trust others?

Human hearts are unpredictable, and true friends are hard to find. Thinking of this, I feel a sense of unease creeping into my heart.

"Your Majesty, the ladies-in-waiting of Maple Leaf Pavilion have arrived."

The chief eunuch stepped forward lightly, bowed, and reported, breaking the brief silence in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Liu Hong looked up and saw a row of slender figures standing under the corridor, heads bowed and bodies dignified.

He waved his hand lightly, and the chief eunuch understood, retreating outside the hall to deliver the imperial decree.

After the announcement, the five young ladies, led by Granny Kong, gathered their robes and lifted their skirts, filing into the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Their figures were reflected on the golden brick floor, and they walked slowly and deliberately, not daring to overstep the bounds in the slightest.

"Raise your heads."

Liu Hong spoke, his tone calm and even, showing no trace of the turmoil he had been pondering earlier, only the composure and dignity of an emperor.

The young women all raised their heads, their chins slightly lifted, revealing their individual beauty. It was truly a scene of a hundred flowers blooming in competition, each with its own unique charm.

Liu Hong's gaze slowly swept over them.

Yu Yanran has gentle features and still looks like a girl from a modest family. We had met before in the palace. She has a quiet and likable personality.

Zhang Guifen, daughter of the Duke of Yingguo, truly lived up to her reputation as a daughter of a military family. With slightly raised eyebrows and a touch of valor in the corners of her eyes, her face exuded a three-dimensional flamboyance, and she possessed an upright and honorable character.

From afar, one can't help but praise her as a remarkable woman.

The remaining three women, Gongsun Yanran, Geng Fang, and Mao Qingmiao, were all acquaintances of Liu Hong when he was in Jinling.

At that time, the new Han dynasty had not yet been established.

Although he was granted the title of king, he did not like to live in the royal palace. Instead, he often stayed in the main residence and had many dealings with the officials of Jinling. He also had several encounters with the young ladies of these three families and had known them for a long time.

Fortunately, all three women came from families with strict upbringing. Except for Mao Qingmiao, who was born into a newly promoted noble family, Gongsun Yanran and Geng Fang were both daughters of noble families. They had been immersed in rules and etiquette since childhood. Today's audience with the emperor was of utmost importance. Even if they had past affections, they would never dare to take advantage of the emperor's favor and do anything inappropriate. Each of them behaved properly, restrained their pride, and adhered to etiquette.

Liu Hong's gaze fell upon them, and he suddenly smiled, slowly stepping down from the throne. He showed no imperial airs whatsoever and chatted with them about classic anecdotes from the classics and historical texts.

When they are in high spirits, they will ask them a few questions about the teachings of sages and virtuous men to see their knowledge and conversation; when they are not in high spirits, they will ask about the trivialities of their daily lives to glean their subtle character and personality.

The solemnity of the imperial court was gone from inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation; instead, a sense of peace prevailed. Only the soft, gentle voices of the young ladies-in-waiting drifted in with the breeze outside the hall.

The conversation lasted for about an hour before ending.

Seeing that Liu Hong looked tired, the chief eunuch stepped forward and announced, "It's time. All ladies-in-waiting, please withdraw one by one."

The five young ladies bowed in unison, quietly took their leave, and filed out of the hall, their figures gradually disappearing into the corridor.

Another cup of tea's time passed.

Light footsteps sounded again outside the hall, unhurried and unhurried, as the five young ladies from Qiuxiangzhai arrived.

At this moment, Liu Hong was sitting on the soft couch next to the throne. He had just finished drinking a cup of pre-Qingming tea, and the faint, pure tea fragrance still lingered on his lips and teeth, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.

As the footsteps drew closer and slender shadows appeared outside the hall, a strange sense of anticipation arose in my heart, and even the rhythm of my fingertips tapping the table slowed down.

Since our parting in Yangzhou, several years have passed, and we meet again today.

He could barely remember what Hua Lan looked like back then. Only her gentle figure remained in his memory, along with the affection they shared through letters over the years, which, like fine wine, had become richer and more mellow with the passage of time.

Fortunately, he knew that Hua Lan would grow up to be beautiful, and although she was not stunningly beautiful, she would be graceful, gentle and kind, and her personality would suit his taste.

This kind of woman is exactly what he wants.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The five women from Qiuxiangzhai bowed as they entered the hall, performing their greetings in unison. Their melodious voices mingled together, some soft and sweet, some clear and beautiful, some gentle and graceful, and some charming and lovely.

Each has its own unique characteristics, and they are arranged around the hall.

Liu Hong put down his teacup, slowly stepped down from the soft couch, one hand behind his back. His pale yellow casual clothes accentuated his tall and straight figure, and the auspicious dragon patterns embroidered on the fabric shimmered faintly with golden light under the palace lanterns, making him appear noble and sacred.

The dragon-shaped jade pendant hanging from his waist swayed gently with his steps, occasionally tapping against the soft belt around his waist, making a soft, tinkling sound, but to the ladies-in-waiting, it sounded like a heavy hammer.

This made their already tense hearts even more uneasy, and they even breathed softly.

"Hurry up and raise your heads. His Majesty is right in front of you. Ladies, don't be shy."

The chief eunuch spoke softly to remind him, his tone somewhat kind.

The young women then slowly raised their heads.

In an instant, five beautiful faces came into Liu Hong's view. They wore carefully styled makeup, with elegant pearl flowers in their hair and matching dresses.

They were truly blessed with exceptional beauty, each with their own unique charm and delicate features.

Perhaps in the eyes of others.

They were not much different from the first group of beauties, but in Liu Hong's eyes, even though Rong Feiyan was beautiful, she was just a foil when she stood with the four women of the Sheng family.

It was a familiar blend of memory and reality, a vibrant feeling unique to the daughter of the Sheng family.

This feeling is something that others cannot understand.

The double experience and the double shock made this new Han emperor's heart soften for a moment, and he couldn't help but smile.

His gaze first fell on Rong Feiyan, and he said indifferently, "Consort Rong, your character and appearance are both excellent, which is worthy of your background."

Rong Feiyan's face lit up with joy, and she quickly curtsied to express her gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your praise."

Then, Liu Hong's gaze fell on the four women of the Sheng family beside him, scrutinizing them closely.

Hua Lan remained as serene and gentle as a chrysanthemum, her face naturally blessed with good fortune, making people feel at ease just by looking at her. The gentleness radiating from her cheeks was etched into her very being, truly the kind of woman he wished to marry. When his gaze fell upon her, a hint of tenderness was hidden in Liu Hong's eyes.

Further down are the Cymbidium goeringii.

Her eyes held a deliberate hint of femininity, and when the corners of her lips lifted slightly, her charm was subtle yet revealed, exuding a clever and charming air.

It must be said that Lin Qinshuang taught her quite well.

Unfortunately, those she taught ended up behaving like concubines, with scheming in their eyes and a narrow-minded perspective. They were far from being suitable to be the principal wife, let alone the head wife of an ordinary wealthy family.

In Liu Hong's mind, she was nothing more than a pretty vase, incapable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Next was Rulan.

She is charming and adorable, like a newly blossoming baby's breath, with bright, sparkling eyes full of youthful energy.

Even though she looked nervous at this moment, with her fingertips slightly gripping the hem of her skirt, the tension written all over her face didn't make anyone want to tease her. Instead, she seemed charming and endearing, capable of arousing a unique tenderness in most men.

Seeing her like this, how could Liu Hong waste the clever idea he had just put into the hall? He immediately called out softly, "Miss Rulan!"

The soft call made Rulan tremble violently, making her even more nervous. However, she still tried to remain calm, her fingers gripping the hem of her skirt tightening even more. She spoke slowly and deliberately, her voice trembling, "Your Majesty, I am here."

Judging from his appearance, he couldn't withstand anything major, but he was kind-hearted and had no ill intentions. With such a personality, he could be considered a reliable bedmate in the harem, without any scheming or intrigue that would only cause trouble.

Seeing her nervous expression, Liu Hong's smile deepened, but his tone remained calm. Yet, each word struck Rulan like a thunderbolt: "These past few days, I've ordered the Imperial City Guards to patrol the area around Qiuxiangzhai Courtyard. They've heard quite a few of Miss Rulan's 'profound opinions.' She says I'm a lecherous man, and that when I summoned Consort Rong, we engaged in illicit sexual relations in the palace, and also…"