Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

"Stand up straight." Wang Jing frowned. "Although she is a bit plump, her manners are dignified and her temperament is also okay. Record it."

The eunuchs were busy recording the situation of each woman, and from time to time they would ask women who did not meet the requirements to leave the team.

Soon after, a slightly fat woman was picked out of the team by the eunuchs. Her face turned pale and her eyes were slightly red, but she still tried hard to hold back her tears.

"Miss, please forgive me for your body shape not being up to standard." The eunuch said in a low voice. Although his tone was gentle, it left no room for doubt.

The woman bowed her head and said softly, "Thank you, sir." Then she slowly left the courtyard.

On the other side, a woman who was too thin was also eliminated. She had an unconcealable look of disappointment on her face, but she dared not say much.

Wang Jing looked at the eliminated women, sighed, and said to the eunuch beside him: "This is only the preliminary round, and many people have already failed. In the next few rounds, the competition will only be more intense."

The eunuch nodded in agreement: "Yes, the selection of the Crown Princess is not only based on appearance, but also on talent and family background. The women who make it to the end must be one in a hundred."

After a morning of intense screening, the preliminary selection phase was finally coming to an end. Wang Jing had a list of hundreds of women who had passed the preliminary selection, and they were divided into groups and arranged to rest in different rooms.

Wang Jing looked at the scene in the courtyard which was gradually becoming quiet, raised his hand to brush off the dust on his sleeves, and instructed his followers: "Present today's results to Lord Jing, and let him review them."

The attendant immediately responded: "Yes, I will go right away."

Wang Jing walked to the center of the courtyard and looked back at the women who had passed the preliminary selection. His eyes were filled with emotion. "The position of Crown Princess is not only an honor, but also a test. These children will face even more difficult choices in the future."

The re-election took place in a spacious side hall in the palace. Outside the hall, the courtyard was shaded by bamboos, which looked quiet and solemn. More than 2,000 women who had survived the preliminary selection entered in batches, and the atmosphere was filled with a tense and oppressive feeling.

The eunuch chief, Wang Jing, had been waiting in the middle of the side hall since early in the morning. He held a list in his hand and looked at the women standing in the front row with a serious look. The eunuchs in charge of recording beside him lowered their heads to sort out the books, and looked up from time to time to exchange a few words.

Wang Jing cleared his throat and said loudly: "The re-election is different from the primary election. It not only looks at the external conditions, but also carefully observes everyone's demeanor, appearance, voice, etc. You must give your best performance, and every detail is related to success or failure."

After hearing this, the women standing in the line all straightened their backs. Some of them had nervousness in their eyes and cold sweat on their palms.

A young eunuch walked to the front of the team and pointed at a woman in the first row: "You, step forward."

The woman was about fifteen or sixteen years old, tall and pretty. She was slightly startled when she heard her name being called, then she calmly walked in front of the eunuch and bowed slowly, "Your Highness, I greet you."

"Raise your head." The eunuch's tone was calm, but his eyes were fierce.

The woman raised her head as instructed, and her facial features were clearly visible. The eunuch stepped forward and looked carefully, from her eyebrows to her nose, then to her lips, and even her earlobes. Then, he walked around behind the woman and reached out to brush the ends of her hair to make sure it was smooth and intact.

"How is business?" Wang Jing, who was standing not far away, suddenly asked.

The eunuch nodded: "Let her read a few sentences."

The maid then handed over a piece of paper with a poem written on it. The woman took it, cleared her throat, and read in a trembling voice: "The clouds are like clothes, the flowers are like faces, the spring breeze blows on the threshold, and the dew is gorgeous."

Although her voice was a little immature, her pronunciation was clear and her tone was soft. The eunuch nodded and said in a low voice: "Your appearance is acceptable and your tone is good. You are allowed to speak for the time being."

The woman quickly stepped back and returned to the team. Then, another woman was called to the front.

A plump woman was called forward. Although her eyes and eyebrows were bright, her face was pale due to nervousness, which made her look a little pale. The eunuch walked around her and his eyes finally stopped on the back of her slightly rough hand.

"Put your hand out." The eunuch said calmly.

The woman stretched out her hands tremblingly. There were tiny scars on the back of her hands due to long-term labor. Although they were not obvious, they were still noticeable in the sunlight.

Wang Jing shook his head in displeasure: "The Crown Princess needs a pair of slender jade-like hands. Hands like this are obviously not suitable."

The woman's eyes turned red, she bowed her head and slowly retreated. The maid next to her came forward and whispered, "Miss, you can go back home now."

The eliminated woman responded in a low voice and left in a hurry, with reluctance and shame on her face.

Soon after, another woman with a hoarse voice was eliminated, followed by a woman with ungraceful manners who accidentally stepped on the hem of her skirt while performing a salute, causing several eunuchs nearby to look at her with contempt.

Wang Jing's face became more serious: "The selection criteria are not only based on appearance, but also on demeanor. How can such a frivolous person be worthy of the position of Crown Princess?"

Soon after, a woman named Gu Qingping was called forward. She was wearing a simple light blue dress, her long black hair was neatly combed, and a touch of cinnabar dotted her forehead, making her look particularly beautiful.

Wang Jing's eyes lit up slightly, and he said slowly: "Look up and take two steps."

Gu Qingping bowed slightly, raised her head, and met Wang Jing's scrutiny with clear eyes. Then, she walked forward slowly, her steps light and steady, her skirt swaying gently between her ankles, appearing calm and generous.

"Well, she has a good demeanor." Wang Jing nodded and said to the eunuch beside him, "Look at her voice."

The maid handed over the note, and Gu Qingping took it and read in a clear and soft voice: "Life is like a dream, how much joy can we have?"

When the voice fell, several eunuchs could not help but whisper: "What a good voice, gentle and beautiful."

Wang Jing showed a satisfied smile: "Write it down, and choose the best one."

Gu Qingping smiled slightly, bowed, stepped back, and returned to the team.

More than a thousand shortlisted women have lined up neatly, with different expressions, but all of them are nervous and expectant.

Wang Jing stood in the middle of the side hall, his eyes sweeping over these women.

He held a thin scroll in his hand, his face dignified, and whispered to the eunuch beside him: "This selection is different from the past. Not only will we consider appearance, but we will also observe each person's temperament, manners, gait and demeanor. Once there is a mistake, no matter how outstanding the appearance is, they must be eliminated."

The eunuch nodded and responded respectfully: "Understood, Chief Steward."

Wang Jing raised his hand and waved, signaling to start.

"The first one." The eunuch called softly.

A woman in a simple pink dress walked out of the queue. She lowered her eyebrows and looked timid, but she tried her best to keep her steps steady. The eunuch pointed to a stone path in the middle of the courtyard and said in a cold voice: "Walk along this path, keep your steps even and pay attention to the rhythm."

The woman took a deep breath, lifted her skirt slightly, and took the first step.

Her steps were slow and graceful, but after a few steps, she seemed to become a little stiff due to nervousness. The eunuch frowned and whispered to the recorder beside him: "The demeanor is OK, but the gait is not natural enough and a little stiff."

After walking along the stone road, the woman bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your guidance, sir." "Write it down and keep it for now." The eunuch waved his hand.

Next, a woman with delicate features and a slender figure walked forward calmly. She was not too reserved, and after lifting her skirt and bowing, she began to walk forward slowly. Each step was steady and elegant, and there was a charm in her steps.

Wang Jing looked up and nodded with satisfaction: "This woman has a steady gait and a very light figure, not bad."

When they reached the end of the road, the woman turned around gracefully and saluted, her voice soft and clear: "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

"Write it down, it's the best choice." Wang Jing's voice was filled with some approval.

However, not everyone was able to remain calm. A woman from Jiangnan almost fell down when she stepped on the hem of her skirt halfway through the walk, which was a bit embarrassing.

The eunuch frowned and said, "Although her temperament is good, her behavior is a little flustered and does not meet the standards. Eliminate her."

The woman looked unwilling, bowed her head and was then led out of the courtyard by the maid.

After the gait test, the eunuchs began to check the women's hands, feet and demeanor.

"Next." An eunuch picked up a thin ruler and motioned the woman to come forward.

The woman walked gently in front of him and stretched out her hands. The eunuch used a ruler to carefully measure the length and proportion of her fingers, while observing her nails and skin. After examining her hands, he asked her to sit down and measure the length of her feet.

Wang Jing stood aside, his eyes sharp: "Not only should we see whether their hands and feet are symmetrical, but we should also observe whether their movements are natural and dignified."

One woman seemed a little stiff when she extended her hand, and the eunuch shook his head: "Your movements are stiff and lack generosity."

"Eliminated." Wang Jing made the final decision.

Another woman in a light blue dress was calm and composed. She stretched out her hands, her fingers were slender, her skin was fair, and she cooperated with the inspection with light feet, without any hesitation.

The eunuch nodded with satisfaction: "The hands and feet are well-proportioned, and the movements are natural."

Wang Jing stared at it for a moment and said in a gentle tone: "Write it down and choose the best one."

As the sun rose higher, the atmosphere in the courtyard became more tense.

In the early morning of early autumn, the remaining thousand women lined up neatly in dozens of rows in front of the palace gate, dressed in simple and elegant clothes with solemn faces. The morning sun shone through the palace walls onto them, casting a layer of golden light on them, but it could not hide their inner uneasiness.

"After entering the palace, you must be extremely cautious at every step." An older female official stood in front of the team, her tone full of majesty, "You will be assigned to various palaces and inspected by experienced palace maids and female officials. Remember, if you behave inappropriately, you may lose your qualification to stay here."

The women bowed their heads and responded in unison: "Yes, we will follow your instructions."

Later, under the guidance of the female officials, the women were divided into groups according to the list and went to their respective residences. Although these places were not luxurious, they were also clean and elegant, with each person having a small bedroom. The accompanying maids placed simple toiletries and change of clothes in each room.

Gu Qingping was assigned to a side hall of the Purple Palace, and she was accompanied by more than 20 other women. She stood at the door, looked around, and then bowed her head to thank the palace maid who led the way.

"Qingping, how is it? It's pretty good here." A familiar voice came. Gu Qingping turned around and saw that it was her good friend Yurong who came with her.

"It is indeed quiet." Gu Qingping smiled slightly, but her eyes were a little alert, and she whispered, "But the more so, the more we must not take it lightly."

Yurong nodded in agreement and whispered, "Yes, the next few days will definitely be a tough battle."

On the third day after entering the palace, thousands of women were taken to side halls for physical examinations.

The screen and long table were already set up in the hall. Several female officials in dark green palace uniforms stood at the main seats with serious expressions. Behind them were several old palace maids holding thin rulers, powder and other inspection tools.

Thousands of women were divided into groups of twenty people each, and entered the side hall one by one. The air was filled with a faint scent of incense, but it still couldn't hide the thin layer of sweat that these girls were sweating from nervousness.

When it was Gu Qingping's turn, she walked forward slowly, her posture upright, her eyes calm. The leading female official raised her head, glanced at her, and whispered, "Tell me your name and place of origin."

"My name is Gu Qingping, and I'm from Yangzhou." Her voice was clear and soft, with just the right amount of respect.

The female official nodded and pointed behind the screen: "Go in and take off your coat."

Gu Qingping followed the instructions and walked behind the screen, taking off her outer garment to reveal her close-fitting inner garment. The old palace maid took a thin ruler in her hand and stepped forward to check the width of her shoulders and the proportions of her arms.

"Raise your arms." The old palace maid's voice was light, but with irresistible majesty.

Gu Qingping slowly raised her arms, her eyes still looking forward calmly. The old maid carefully examined her armpits, confirmed that her skin was smooth and flawless, and then gently touched her elbows and wrists to feel the flexibility of her skin.

"The skin has a well-proportioned texture and is delicate, nothing unusual." The old maid whispered to the recorder.

Then, she measured the length of Gu Qingping's neck with a thin ruler, and after confirming the proportions, she gently patted her shoulder and said, "Okay, put on your clothes and go out."

Gu Qingping put on her coat again, walked up to the female official, and bowed slightly: "Thank you, sir."

The female officer looked deep in her eyes and nodded: "Next."

A woman from the south came forward. Although she was not stunningly beautiful, she had a gentle temperament. She also followed the instructions and walked behind the screen, taking off her coat as required, exposing her arms and neck.

"Lift it higher." The old palace maid stood beside her, gently opened her sleeves with her hands, and carefully observed the skin under her armpits.

Suddenly, the old maid frowned and pointed to a faint scar under her armpit: "How did you get this?"

The woman's face turned pale instantly, and she replied in a low voice: "My Lord, this is from a fall when I was a child...it doesn't hurt."

The female official came over after hearing the voice, glanced at the shallow mark, and said in a cold tone: "Although it is not a big deal, the mark here is difficult to erase. The selection of the Crown Princess cannot tolerate even the slightest flaw."

The woman trembled slightly when she heard this, and bowed her head: "I understand."

The female official waved her hand and said, "Send her out and cross her name out."

The woman slowly stepped away from behind the screen, her eyes slightly red, but still maintaining a saluting posture, and was then led out of the side hall by a maid.

The inspection continued, and each woman had to go through a series of detailed examinations. The female officer would not only check the armpits and arms, but also observe whether the woman's breast bones were symmetrical and whether there were scars or abnormalities on the skin. (End of this chapter)