Bai Wutong tucked the item away and said, "Thank you, Miss Wen."
Seeing her put it away, Wen Chuyun’s smile grew more sincere. "I believe I am a few years your senior; why don't I just call you 'little sister'? You have such a delicate, lovely face. Although you are a bit thin, you are different from the others. Being so striking, perhaps the Emperor will keep your tally. Do not sell yourself short."
Bai Wutong immediately understood her underlying thoughts. It seemed this Wen Chuyun was worried that if she appeared too unique, the Emperor might take a fancy to her and become a threat.
In any case, every consort in the inner court was selected for her ability to bear children. Who knew if the Emperor might have a sudden whim and favor a concubine who stood out from the rest?
After Wen Chuyun left, the Nanny arrived to escort them into the main hall for the selection process. Along the way, the group walked quickly with small, hurried steps, and no one dared to speak. A sea of young women, like a flock of birds, drifted into the grand hall. They were arranged into three rows, standing in the center of the hall. Those from powerful, prominent families stood in the front where the Emperor could see them at a glance, while those of lesser status were relegated to the back—if they lowered their heads, one could only see the tops of their hair.
The group performed the ritual, their movements flawless. "Your subjects pay their respects to the Emperor. May the Emperor live ten thousand years, and ten thousand years more! We pay our respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress. May you live a thousand years, and a thousand years more!"
The crisp voices of the young maidens were exceptionally melodious, blending together like celestial music. Even the usually stern-faced Empress Dowager could not help but reveal a hint of a smile. "Good. Looking at all of you, you are all as fresh and beautiful as flowers."
The Empress’s voice was gentle. "Indeed. The thought that there will be more sisters in the inner court to bear heirs for the Emperor makes me feel happy as well. Everyone, rise."
The candidates rose, though none dared to lift their heads, standing as timidly as quails.
Seated in the place of honor in the main hall was, naturally, the Emperor, Zhang Chengyan. He had been only nineteen when he ascended the throne and was now twenty-four—in the prime of his youth. He was handsome, though his deep-set eyes held a gaze too cold and indifferent; the majesty of the Son of Heaven was already evident in his profoundly noble bearing.
To his left sat the Empress Dowager, buxom and incredibly opulent. To his right was the Empress, dignified and virtuous. However, to aid conception, she had spent years taking medicinal tonics, and now her complexion was pallid and her features had sagged. She was not exactly beautiful, but she possessed the aura of an Empress. Taking medicine to assist with fertility was common in the inner court; many consorts were in similar situations, so no one found it strange.
She gave a weak, low cough, reached out, and affectionately smoothed the cuff of Zhang Chengyan’s sleeve. "Your Majesty, shall we begin?"
Zhang Chengyan nodded impatiently. He had not wanted to hold a selection this year, but the Imperial Astrolabe Bureau had insisted on some nonsense about his line ending and the Darong State falling, claiming the turning point would come this year. To ensure the birth of an heir, the Empress Dowager had pushed aside all opposition, even specifically selecting women from families with a history of numerous children to be brought into the palace. Looking at the sea of pale, plump figures below, he only felt nausea.
A eunuch called out, "Gao Jingwan."
Upon hearing her name, Gao Jingwan stepped forward in excitement. "Your subject Gao Jingwan, second daughter of the Left Prime Minister Gao Rusong..."
Before she had finished her introduction, the Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction. "I find this one quite good. One look and you can tell she is built for childbearing."
Zhang Chengyan glanced at her and felt even greater disgust. The Empress Dowager had gone mad in her rush to produce an heir. The candidates previously kept were plump, yes, but at least they were presentable. This one was a full size larger than the previous candidates, and the flesh at her waist was stacked in three distinct layers! At the mere thought of that greasy touch, he felt increasingly displeased. "Mother, the imperial physicians have stated that while being plump is good for childbirth, one should not be *excessively* overweight."
The Empress Dowager stiffened, her expression turning stern. "I have already inquired about this in advance. Her build is exactly right. For the sake of the imperial line, keep her tally."
Gao Jingwan was overjoyed and knelt to express her gratitude. Though Zhang Chengyan was dissatisfied, he could not openly defy the Empress Dowager’s wishes and had to accept the decision.
...
One by one, the candidates stepped forward. Those chosen were overcome with joy, while those who were not hung their heads in sorrow.
"Bai Wutong."
Bai Wutong was in the third row; fortunately, she was at the end. She only had to take two steps to the side for those above to see her clearly.
"Your subject Bai Wutong, third daughter of Imperial Academy scholar Xun Mingzhi, age seventeen..."
Zhang Chengyan’s eyes narrowed. The woman who emerged was slender, as graceful as a willow in the wind, with a neck as white as snow—as if she could be snapped with a single hand. Her waist lacked the layers of fat seen on the others; instead, it was slender enough to be spanned by a pair of hands.
The concubines in the palace were all plump; even the most beautiful among them became tiresome to look at eventually. It was like eating fatty meat every day—perhaps it was delicious the first day, but after a while, it became too greasy. The woman before him was like a cup of clear tea suddenly appearing on the table, refreshing and lingering.
Zhang Chengyan’s fingers rubbed together unconsciously. "Lift your head."
His voice was incredibly low; the moment he spoke, the hall fell into absolute silence.
Bai Wutong raised her head. Her face, devoid of powder or paint, was stunningly beautiful. Her willow-leaf brows were slightly furrowed, her almond eyes rippled with emotion, and her slightly pursed lips were a bewitching shade of red. In contrast to the plump women surrounding her, she looked exceptionally distinct.
Before he could speak, however, the Empress Dowager said indifferently, "This little face is quite pretty, but she is far too thin. One look and you can tell she lacks the constitution for luck. Since you are of the Xun family, why is your surname Bai?"
Hearing this, Zhang Chengyan became interested. He had never heard that the Xun family had a third daughter. Xun Mingzhi’s two daughters were both full-bodied and had participated in the selection the previous year, but they had been rejected due to their lackluster appearance. He never expected there to be such a beautiful third daughter.
Bai Wutong kept her head lowered, her voice trembling slightly. "When your subject was born, I was in poor health and was sent to a Daoist temple to recover. A master once said that only by not using my father’s surname could I live a smooth life. My father took pity on me and asked the master to choose a suitable surname for me. Only then did I recover, and thus I have the honor of meeting the Emperor’s holy gaze."
Having said this, she stopped speaking and lifted her eyes to glance secretly at Zhang Chengyan. The corners of her eyes were slightly upturned and tinged with red, like a cat—timid, yet heart-stirring.
The Empress Dowager gave a light cough and looked toward Zhang Chengyan. Her face was as kind as a Buddha’s, but her tone allowed for no debate. "Your Majesty, this third daughter of the Xun family is quite pretty, but her health is poor. Let’s pass on her."
Zhang Chengyan’s expression tightened, and he said with displeasure, "Mother, since this is a selection, it should be up to me."
"Does the Emperor intend to ignore the state of the nation for the sake of beauty? The imperial heir is the most important thing now!"
Everyone below was trembling, their breathing growing faint. No one had expected the Empress Dowager to erupt in anger so suddenly. Zhang Chengyan had not been on the throne long, and he had not yet regained all the authority from the Empress Dowager. His cold, piercing gaze landed on Bai Wutong. She was beautiful, certainly, but she was not worth crossing the Empress Dowager over.
"Everything shall be as Mother decides."
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction and tapped her finger. "Since the Emperor has said so, then I shall make the decision. These few, keep their tallies."
The eunuch called out in a high voice, "Wen Chuyun, daughter of the Gentleman Attendant, elegant and refined, keep the tally!"
"Duan Chunrou, daughter of the Grand Commandant, intelligent and graceful, keep the tally!"
"Zhuang Ting, daughter of the Ministry of Justice, talented and dignified, keep the tally!"
...
Seven people were kept in succession. Each was the daughter of a court official, each was fresh and lovely, and each was plump. These women had likely caught the Empress Dowager’s eye long ago; this was merely a formality. They hadn't even been tested on their mastery of the zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting—only their appearance and physique had been judged.
And among them, there was no Bai Wutong.