Records of the King of Xin'an County

Empress Du leaned on the table, looking lightly at the girls sitting below, with a faint smile on her lips.

These young ladies are about fifteen or sixteen years old, even without makeup, they still have a natural good look.Everyone's skin is white, tender and delicate, as if it is full of water when pinched.They were all wearing brightly colored chest-length skirts and tulle blouses, which made their swan-like necks even whiter.With every movement of hands and feet, the half-covered breasts are also white and greasy, which is enough to make people have infinite reverie.

Sure enough, he is young and young, and the greenness and enthusiasm revealed between Gu Pan are intertwined, like a flower with half-open buds, which is still attractive.If she was a man, she would definitely like these fresh colors.After all, they are old and old, and they are no longer as good as they used to be.

Thinking of this, Empress Du glanced lightly at Concubine Yang Xian and Concubine Yuan Shu, and said softly: "Seeing these little ladies, I feel that I am already old. In two years, even Yue Niang will be released. , time is really unforgiving." She looked weak and pale, and her breath was very unstable, but she was very gentle.While talking, there were many brave young ladies looking up at her quietly, showing expressions of enthusiasm, envy, or ambiguity.

Empress Du looked at them as if she had never seen them before: "Think about it carefully, there have been no newcomers in this palace for a long time. It's also me, the empress, who has neglected his duties, but the saints just look at us old women and see them." After so many years. Two sisters, this time we have to pick and choose. Not for anything else, just to make the saint happy."

No matter what they thought in their hearts, Concubine Yang Xian and Concubine Yuan Shu agreed with smiles on their faces.The two looked at the girls below, their gazes were a bit more powerful than Queen Du's.Those brave little ladies didn't dare to do it again, so they had to sit upright and bow their heads in silence.There were hundreds of people in the whole hall, but it was so silent that it was almost audible to drop a needle.

"You can pick a few at will." Empress Du said, "Their identities have already been checked. They are all the daughters of officials from aristocratic families in Beijing, and their family backgrounds are clean. Now, it just depends on whether they suit our eyes " After that, she lowered her eyes to rest as if she was tired.

Concubine Yang Xian and Concubine Yuan Shu looked at each other with a bland smile, and made those girls look up.Perhaps because there were no familiar faces, Concubine Yang Xian breathed a sigh of relief, and casually picked two delicate and graceful ladies.Of course she knew that the saint had always disliked such a soft-spoken woman, and she never wanted to add any rivals to herself.

Concubine Yuan Shu's eyes fell directly on a young girl in the corner, she suddenly smiled, her bright appearance became more and more attractive: "Mother Wu, hurry up and say hello to His Highness the Queen and His Highness Concubine Xian." She had just finished speaking. , the girl curled up and stood up, and went to bow down in front of them.

Empress Du raised her eyes, looked at the young girl, and found that she and Concubine Yuan Shu seemed to be three to four points alike, not only wondered: "This is also the little lady of your Yuan family?" The two people who are so similar must be related by blood.Moreover, the sage has loved Concubine Yuan Shu for a long time, seeing this young face, he will definitely love his house, and he will never forget Concubine Yuan Shu's appearance when she was young—tsk, what a good plan and a good means.

Concubine Yuan Shu covered her lips and smiled, her eyes became more and more charming: "This is the niece of the family, just to be with my concubine." Married to Luoyang.If it wasn't for the lack of a reliable natal family, she had to secretly support her own power, with the degree of her favor, how could she only compete with Concubine Yang Xian, whose mother is more expensive than her son?

Right now, the only thing Concubine Yuan Shu lacks is an heir.For this reason, she decisively reconciled with her brother, recruited her niece as a helper, and even planned to give birth to a child by borrowing her womb.When she has a child, no matter whether she is born by herself or not, Concubine Yang Xian and King Qi who have never had a sacred heart are nothing to worry about.

"I really like you, the saint must also like it." Empress Du smiled slightly.Xu Shi was still a little too young, and she saw the extremely carefully concealed ambition in Yuan Wuniang's eyes.The blood of the Yuan family is really interesting.

Concubine Yang Xian also praised a few words such as youth and beauty, as if she was insinuating that Concubine Yuan Shu was old.Concubine Yuan Shu didn't care, she gently held Yuan Wuniang's white and soft body, and started talking to her in a low voice.Concubine Yang Xian couldn't help feeling depressed, she watched Empress Du choose two young ladies with top colors, and then changed a group of people.

However, this time it was not as lucky as before——

Concubine Yang Xian found a very familiar face among the young ladies who were competing for beauty.That was her 15-year-old cousin, Yang Ba Niang, who was dressed up and had an impeccable appearance.At this moment, her well-maintained face couldn't help but contort, unabashedly showing shock and resentment, and even a faint fear.

Empress Du raised the corners of her lips slightly, as if she didn't notice her gaffe.Concubine Yuan Shu didn't let go of this good opportunity, she pointed at Yang Ba Niang in feigned surprise and said, "Sister Xianfei, that little lady looks a bit like you, is she also a little lady of the Yang family? But she is also your little niece? After that, she covered her lips and smiled.

Concubine Yang Xian finally regained her composure, and her eyes opened slightly, as if she had just discovered the existence of Yang Ba Niang: "That's my little cousin. Oh, why didn't the world father send someone to mention it to my concubine? Knowing that he intends to send Ba Niang to the palace, this concubine personally sent someone to pick her up."

"It's not too late now. Duke Hongnong thought very thoughtfully and sent you a good sister to accompany you." Concubine Yuan Shu smiled meaningfully and called Yang Ba Niang to her.

Yang Ba Niang is the daughter of the first line of the top aristocratic family, not to mention the appearance of each has its own merits, the posture and demeanor are naturally better than Yuan Wu Niang.She finished the salute gracefully, her gaze fell on Concubine Yang Xian, she lightly parted her red lips and called out: "Sister..." The word "sister" seemed to contain countless emotions, which was enough to make those who heard it feel pity .

Concubine Yang Xian stared at her fixedly, her red lips curled up, and she smiled brightly: "Good Ba Niang, let us sisters be good companions in the future." She also held Yang Ba Niang's hand, but the next moment both of them noticed , each other's palms are covered with a layer of cold sweat.On such a hot summer afternoon, the other party's palm was so cold and slippery that they couldn't help but have an illusion—as if what they were holding was not a hand, but a section of cold snake body.

This afternoon, Empress Du, Concubine Yang Xian and Concubine Yuan Shu picked twenty beauties to fill the harem.Because they were all officials and eunuchs, Empress Du was not stingy, and named them the sixth-rank Baolin.

Among them, Yang Ba Niang, who has the highest family background, is a talented person of the fifth rank, which is very different.Although she is still very far away from the fourth concubine and ninth concubine, the fourth-rank beauty and third-rank Jieyu are within sight.

After everything was over, Empress Du watched with a smile as Princess Changning stamped Yizhi with the queen's seal, recalling the ambitions on those young faces, she couldn't help sighing softly: "Yue Niang, I'm really sick. It's been too long. Perhaps many people have forgotten me."

Princess Changning pressed the queen's seal on the imperial decree sent to the Hongnong County government, raised her head, and smiled sweetly: "Aniang, as long as Grandpa, Wanniang and I always remember you, that's enough, isn't it?" At the moment when the demons are about to dance in the palace, Empress Du continues to avoid living in the middle palace, allowing Concubine Yang Xian and Concubine Yuan Shu to use their own methods to respond to all changes with the same, which is the best policy.

Princess Yong'an also joined in the fun: "I will always, always, always, always remember Aunt!"

"Good boy." Empress Du's eyes moved slightly, becoming more and more gentle, "I'm here for matters inside the palace, and things outside the palace—you tell Xuan Qi, just do whatever you want." The two tigers fought, How can it not hurt?It would be better if one dies and the other is seriously injured, or if both are injured and have no power to fight, they can only linger on.The rest of the low-ranking concubines have no foundation, and the entire Tai Chi Palace is back under her control.Just like when she was in the East Palace back then, relying on the love of Emperor Taizong and Empress Wende, as a princess, who was she ever afraid of?

When the envoys in the palace were delivering the decree from door to door, Yang Shijing asked someone to pick up Wang Zixian and met him in the study.This handsome young man seemed to be feeling something, and there was a faint look of sadness in his eyes, but he was still very upright.Obviously, he had guessed something.

Yang Shangshu looked at him carefully, and couldn't help sighing in his heart: It's really embarrassing that such an outstanding young man can't be his son-in-law.But he did not regret that he finally agreed to send Yang Ba Niang to the palace.After all, it is naturally more important for a biological daughter to win the favor than for a mere teenager to be in first place.

"Zixian..." Yang Shijing coughed, and said seriously, "I mentioned it to you before, I may not have the chance to hear you call 'father-in-law', but I don't want to miss that real 'uncle'. Another day, this old man will personally go to the Pei family in Puzhou to say goodbye to you, what do you think?"

"..." Wang Zixian's eyes darkened, and he was silent for a moment before returning to his usual chic and casual appearance, "The younger generation also said that uncle has no distinction between 'false and real'. As for marriage, thanks to uncle's wrong love, The younger generation is naturally willing." After speaking, he paused, and then said, "It's just that marriage is the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker, and the younger generation has to send someone back to Shangzhou to inquire about the strictness and kindness of the family."

"Of course, this matter has to be decided by your grandpa and grandma." Yang Shijing had already checked the young man's top status, and occasionally paid attention to the news of Shangzhou. Naturally, he knew that he was not at home. Not favored.Of course, "not being favored" is an excellent thing in Yang Shangshu's eyes.This means that this young man's feelings for the Wang family cannot be too deep, but instead he will rely on and be grateful for the excellent Yang family that treated him.

With a few words and actions, a young man with the first rank can be drawn to his side, which is more cost-effective than raising Du Chongfeng and his relatives.Yang Shangshu couldn't help but narrowed his eyes with a smile: "The old man writes a letter to your grandfather himself, and you send it back with someone." It's just an embroidered pillow. After seeing his letter, how can there be no reason for it?

"Then there will be Uncle Lao." Sure enough, just as Yang Shangshu expected, Wang Zixian showed a grateful smile.This smile came so naturally and sincerely, as if he had been waiting for this good time to reveal the master's true thoughts.

As for what is hidden behind the smile, Yang Shangshu has no time to take a closer look.Because the servants of the Yang family couldn’t help coming over to announce the good news: "Ah Lang! The envoy from the palace has sent a decree, please Alang go out to receive the decree! Our eighth lady has been named a talented man!!"

Yang Shangshu stroked his beard and smiled, Wang Zixian immediately congratulated him, "Congratulations uncle!"

At this moment, both of them seemed to have completely forgotten that this Yang Cairen, who was so popular at first glance, had almost become the first-ranked bride of Xinke a few days ago.