CHAPTER 1337: CHAPTER 1344: CHOOSING A CONSORT FOR THE CROWN PRINCE OF QING LUO KINGDOM (6)

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. They all knew the Emperor doted on the Empress, but they had never imagined he cherished her to such an extent that he would even neglect the matter of producing heirs for her sake. If a clever woman heard this sentence, she should dispel any thoughts of the Emperor and dutifully fulfill her role as a young lady, waiting to marry a good husband someday.

However, whether it was the allure of the throne for the Emperor’s consorts, or the Emperor’s charisma itself, there were still some who, despite hearing about the Emperor’s deep affection for the Empress, recklessly longed to try their luck and replace the Empress in the Emperor’s heart with their own body.

"Empress, what do you think?" Empress Dowager Mo turned to Cai Wei, her gaze sharp and threatening.

Cai Wei was confident; previously, she had advised Nangong Yi to abolish brutal punishments such as flaying and the guilt by association of the Nine Clans, and also put an end to the sacrificial burial system. These matters had provoked strong dissatisfaction among all officials; if today she publicly violated the rule against jealousy, she would certainly become the public enemy of all officials.

Cai Wei laughed with grace, "Your Majesty, this concubine believes there is some merit to the Imperial Mother’s words. Why not take this opportunity to select a fitting younger sister to enter the palace and provide company to us? Otherwise, every day, it’s just the two of us facing each other, which may be somewhat dull."

Nangong Yi glared at her and scolded in a low voice, "I have these daughters of officials perform because I wish to choose an excellent woman to be the Qing Luo Kingdom’s Crown Prince’s consort, to foster a hundred-year friendship between our two nations. What are you blindly meddling in?"

Speaking in a voice that only they could hear, Cai Wei said, "If I don’t agree, those Imperial Historians of yours will spit on me until I drown. Moreover, if I don’t meddle, who knows who is scheming against you? If I don’t make an example of a few to warn the others now, later when I do become pregnant and bear a child, there’s no telling how many will try to take advantage of the situation!"

Seeing her speak with such confidence, Nangong Yi replied, "Do as you please, but you are not to truly take in any consorts for me. I do not wish to be a man who breaks his word, disappointing the people all over the world."

Cai Wei looked at him with a smile and said tenderly, "Rest assured, even if you wanted to take in consorts, I would not agree."

When she had finished speaking, she turned to the kneeling Hong Xiuju, "Miss Hong, please get up first to speak. Your willingness to enter the palace to serve the Emperor and to relieve my worries is commendable, and it brings me great comfort. However, to be a woman of the Emperor, it takes more than singing a few songs. Besides being dignified in look and healthy in body, having a decent background and a gentle personality, one must also be proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Furthermore, you must have a basic understanding of martial arts, just in case something unforeseen happens while you are with the Emperor, so you can protect him. Therefore, those who believe they meet these requirements of mine and wish to enter the palace to serve the Emperor alongside me may step forward and stand to my left; those who merely wish to perform their talents with no other intentions may stand to my right."

No sooner had she spoken these words than the young ladies got up, with a minority standing to Cai Wei’s left, and the majority to the right.

Cai Wei glanced at the women on the left, those who aspired to be Nangong Yi’s concubines. They appeared slightly more attractive than the young ladies on the right and were also dressed more flamboyantly, clearly with ulterior motives!

Gazing at these presumptuous women, Cai Wei laughed and said, "These younger sisters are all exceptional, dazzling to the point where they blind me. Since you all are determined to be the Emperor’s concubines, performing your talents in front of these people is not quite appropriate. It would be better to wait until tomorrow when everyone goes hunting; then you can perform for the Empress Dowager and various madams, and they can choose the most outstanding amongst you. As for those young ladies who only wish to perform to liven up the occasion, you may do so tonight. As per the usual rules, those who perform well will be handsomely rewarded by me!"