March 5th, the Jishuitan Ferry was packed with townsfolk who had come to watch the excitement.
After the new emperor ascended to the throne, two selections were held, the first only in the northern regions, and this time, it was nationwide.
It was well-known that Jiangnan produced beautiful women. Knowing that the official ship for the selection would arrive today, everyone had gathered at the ferry early on.
The weather was nice today, the gentle spring breeze had replaced the sharply cold winds, and had slightly greened the verdant branches on both sides of the banks.
As the official ship was late in arriving, the crowd was not in a hurry, enjoying the spring scenery while waiting.
After midday, in the distance where sky and water met, there finally was some movement.
Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the official ship with its sides painted black and towering two stories tall, gradually approached the ferry.
"Stand back, all unrelated persons."
The soldiers cleared the way, laying a stretch of red silk from the official ship to the ferry.
Everything ready, the contestants began to disembark in an orderly manner.
A place nourishes its people, the vast mountains and rivers of the north raised bold and bright beauties, and the misty rain of Jiangnan produced willowy beauties moistened by the spring rain.
Fat and thin, each with their own merits, yet equally breathtakingly beautiful.
Even with the soldiers guarding, the crowd could not help but exclaim, continuously uttering words of admiration. The source of thɪs content is nοvelfire.net
"Even the lotus pales compare to the beauty’s adornment, the breeze from the water hall brings the fragrance of pearls. I have always heard that Jiangnan produces beauties, now seeing it in person, it is indeed worthy of its reputation."
"Each one is so beautiful, if you ask me, it’s impossible to tell which one is the..."
This person hadn’t finished speaking when they saw a woman in a pale aqua dress delicately stepping out.
Most women participating in the selection were around fifteen or sixteen years old, and normally, it would be hard to pull off the color of misty rain bamboo green, but this woman managed it exceedingly well.
She walked quietly, seemingly bringing Jiangnan’s misty rain ambience to the Capital. Though from a distance, it was as if one could smell the light fragrance of the lotus blossoming in the cascading water mist.
The statement about not being able to decide who was the prettiest couldn’t be uttered at that moment.
Because when some people appear, you just know that no one else could catch your eye.
As a contestant, who would be in closest proximity to the Emperor in the future, was inevitably the focus of competition from all quarters.
Because of a saying by Wen Yu, "Your Majesty always favors talented women," coupled with her extraordinary beauty, Shu Wan naturally attracted various attentions.
Especially because, she bore a resemblance to the former Crown Princess Consort.
There was once a rumor in the palace alleging that the current Your Majesty treated the Shu Family so well because of the former Crown Princess Consort.
The night before the selection, Shu Wan was arranged in a separate room, and a nanny was specifically tasked with giving her additional training.
"His Majesty prefers verses from the ’Songs of Chu,’ likes rich colors, loves peach blossoms most of all..."
The nanny recited Qi Yuan’s preferences one by one to Shu Wan as instructed from above.
Shu Wan didn’t show it on her face, but she harbored a faint doubt in her heart, after all, the Qi Yuan spoken by the nanny seemed completely different from the one she knew.
"Miss, did you remember everything I just said?"
The nanny who came to teach her had served several concubines in the palace and was old enough to not need to speak so politely to a daughter of a County Magistrate like Shu Wan.
But from the moment she first saw Shu Wan, she had a premonition that Shu Wan would be retained and her future was boundless, so she was very polite towards her.
"I remembered." Shu Wan looked at the nanny naively, her eyes filled with expectation, "With this, can I be chosen?"
Nannies like her had seen too many contestants harboring naive expectations like Shu Wan. Her gaze swept over Shu Wan’s face, "Even though you’re beautiful, in the palace, everyone is beautiful. Do you know what can help you secure your position in the palace?"
Shu Wan shook her head, "Please teach me, nanny."
"On your way to the Capital, as a mere daughter of a County Magistrate, yet you received better treatment than the Magistrate’s daughter, do you know why?"
"I know, it’s because of the Third Prince’s care."
The Third Prince, the former Third Prince Qi Ming, after Qi Yuan became emperor, Qi Ming was bestowed the role of an idle prince.
But Qi Ming was clearly not satisfied with this and secretly sent people to connect with many contestants; Shu Wan was one he particularly focused on cultivating.
Seeing how quickly Shu Wan caught on, the nanny nodded in satisfaction, "You are beautiful and smart. As long as you obediently follow the Third Prince’s words, no one will tell His Majesty about your private teachings with Scholar Lin."
Shu Wan’s eyes widened, clearly frightened, her complexion suddenly turned pale, "How did the Third Prince know?"
"The Third Prince’s reach is limitless, what doesn’t he know." Seeing that Shu Wan was scared, the nanny was very pleased, "Your father, a lowly County Magistrate, managed to let your eleven children live a luxurious life, God knows how much bribery he’s taken."