Dressed as a wealthy and rebellious son, his stepmother

On the fifth day of March, Jishuitan Ferry was full of people who came to watch the excitement.

After the new emperor came to the throne, a total of two drafts were held. The previous draft was only in the north, but this time it was open to the whole country.

It is well known that beauties from the south of the Yangtze River are known to be beautiful. They knew that the official ship for the draft would arrive today, and everyone was waiting at the ferry early.

The weather is very good today. The warm spring breeze has replaced the harsh cold wind, and the green branches on both sides of the bank are turning green little by little.

The official ship did not arrive for a long time, and everyone was not in a hurry, admiring the spring scenery while waiting.

It was past noon, and there was finally movement where the sky and water met in the distance.

In the expectant eyes of everyone, the two-story official ship, painted black on both sides, gradually approached the ferry.

"The idlers disperse."

The officers and soldiers cleared the way and laid a layer of red silk on the road from the official ship to the ferry.

After everything was prepared, the show girls began to walk out in an orderly manner.

A place of water and soil nourishes a person. The majestic mountains and rivers in the north breed beautiful beauties with bright colors. The misty mist and rain in the south of the Yangtze River breed the beauties of willow trees moistened by spring rain and mist.

The ring is fat and the swallow is thin, each has its own merits, but the same breathtaking beauty.

Even though there were officers and soldiers guarding it, everyone couldn't help but exclaim and praise again and again.

"The hibiscus is not as beautiful as the beauty, and the wind in the water palace brings the fragrance of pearls and green flowers. I have always heard that beauties come from the south of the Yangtze River, but now I see that the reputation is well-deserved."

"Everyone is so beautiful. If you ask me, I can't tell which one is the most beautiful."

Before the man finished speaking, he saw a woman wearing a light blue dress, Xiaoxiao, walking out.

Most of the women participating in the talent show are fifteen or sixteen years old. It is actually difficult to control the color of smoke and bamboo, but this woman can control this color very well.

She walked quietly, as if she had brought all the hazy mist and rain in the south of the Yangtze River to the capital. Even though she was far away, she seemed to smell the light fragrance of Suzhou and Hangzhou lotuses blooming in the undulating water mist.

What I just said about not being able to tell which one is the most beautiful is now completely impossible to say.

Because, as soon as some people appear, you will know that others will never be able to see you again.

As the person closest to the emperor in the future, Xiu Nu has always been the focus of competition between various forces.

Because of Wen Yu's words "His Majesty always favors talented women" and her transcendent beauty, Shu Wan naturally attracted all kinds of attention.

In particular, she looks very similar to the former crown princess.

There were rumors in the palace that the reason why His Majesty treats the Shu family so favorably is because of the former Crown Princess.

The night before the draft, Shu Wan was placed in a separate room, and a dedicated nun gave her extra training.

"Your Majesty prefers Chu Ci, likes strong colors, and likes peach blossoms the most."

Mammy followed the instructions from above and told Shu Wan one by one about Qi Yuan's preferences.

Shu Wan didn't show it on her face, but there was a hint of doubt in her heart. After all, the Qi Yuan in Mammy's mouth seemed completely different from the Qi Yuan she knew.

"Have you remembered everything my slave just said?"

The grandma who came to teach her was an old woman who had served several concubines in the palace. According to her seniority, there was no need to be nice to Shu Wan, the daughter of a county magistrate.

But when she first saw Shu Wan, she had a premonition that Shu Wan would be given a bad name and her future was limitless, so she was very polite to her.

"Remember." Shu Wan looked at grandma ignorantly, with expectation in her eyes, "Does this mean I can be selected?"

Mammy had seen too many beautiful girls like Shu Wan who had ignorant expectations. She glanced at Shu Wan's face and said, "Although you are very beautiful, everyone in the palace is beautiful. You Do you know what can make you stand firm in the palace?"

Shu Wan shook her head and said, "Please teach me."

"All the way to the capital, you, the daughter of a mere county magistrate, are treated better than the prefect's daughter. Do you know why?"

"I know it's because of the Third Prince's care."

The third prince was the former third prince Qi Ming. After Qi Yuan came to the throne, he gave Qi Ming the title of idle prince.

But Qi Ming was obviously not satisfied with this. He secretly sent people to contact many beautiful girls, and Shu Wan was one of the ones he focused on training.

Seeing Shu Wan being so polite, Mammy nodded with satisfaction, "You are good-looking and smart. As long as you obey the Third Prince, no one will tell His Majesty about your private exchange with Lin Xiucai."

Shu Wan's eyes widened, obviously frightened, and her expression suddenly turned pale, "How did the Third Prince know?"

"The Third Prince's hands and eyes are as bright as the sky. He doesn't know anything." Seeing that Shu Wan was frightened, Grandma was very proud. "Your father, a small county magistrate, can allow you eleven children to live a life of fine clothing and fine food. He doesn't know what he is accepting behind the scenes." How many bribes were paid?"

"He didn't." Shu Wan replied, but she obviously had no confidence.

"Oh, it's not like you don't have it." Mammy sneered, "You are a woman and you don't know anything about officialdom. You just need to know that if you dare to have different intentions, the third prince will kill your whole family. No burial place.”

"Everything follows the orders of the Third Prince."

"Okay, someone will prepare clothes and jewelry for you tomorrow, so just behave well."

"Yes."

Not long after grandma left, there was a knock on Shu Wan's door.

"come in."

As soon as Shu Wan finished speaking, the door was pushed open, and Ning Yuan, dressed in pink, walked in, "Zi Ruo, that nanny just now seems to be from the palace."

"Yes."

"I'm so envious." Ning Yuan looked at Shu Wan with envy, "You are so good-looking, you will definitely be chosen."

"You look good too."

"It's not bad." Ning Yuan was very happy to be praised, but then became a little frustrated, "But it's far behind you. I really hope I can be selected too."

"After entering the palace, you will stay in that place forever. With your temper, won't you find it boring?"

"Yes." Ning Yuan pursed her lips, "But if she doesn't enter the palace, my mother will not survive."

Ning Yuan was the legitimate daughter, but her father spoiled his concubine and destroyed his wife. Although Ning Yuan's mother was the principal wife, she had no say in the house.

What's worse is that Ning Yuan's mother did not give birth to a son, but her concubine gave birth to several sons. Her mother's position in the house became increasingly difficult. In the past two years, her father even considered raising his concubine to be his equal wife. .

Ning Yuan is a woman with nothing to help her mother. Her only hope is in the draft.

As long as she can enter the palace, the mother is more valuable than the daughter. Even if her father doesn't like her mother, he won't go too far.

Hearing Ning Yuan's words, Shu Wan's eyes moved slightly, "That nanny just now said that Your Majesty likes magnolia flowers, so you can wear a magnolia-style hairpin."

"Really?" Ning Yuan looked at Shu Wan in surprise.

"Yeah." Shu Wan nodded.

"You're the best." Ning Yuan hugged Shu Wan's arm happily, "When the time comes we enter the palace together, we must be good sisters."

Shu Wan's eyes flashed slightly, but she didn't say yes or no. She approached Ning Yuan to learn more about the news. Ning Yuan approached her because he probably had his own thoughts.

She is willing to help Ning Yuan, which can be regarded as repaying the love for this period of time.

"Then I'll go back and get ready." Ning Yuan smiled at Shu Wan, "See you tomorrow."

With that said, Ning Yuan returned to his room.

Hearing that she wanted to prepare a magnolia-style hairpin for the talent show, the maid was a little suspicious, "Miss, didn't I tell you that His Majesty likes peach blossoms? Then Shu Wan must have lied to you, right?"

Ning Yuan stopped packing her things and said, "Shu Wan seems to be quite honest."

"Oh, what if I'm just pretending."

"Yes." Ning Yuan frowned slightly, "What should we do?"

"Miss, I have an idea."

"You said."

The maid whispered a few words into Ning Yuan's ear, and Ning Yuan's eyes lit up, "Okay, I'll do as you say."

Early on the next morning, just after Mao hour, the beautiful ladies gathered together and were led into the palace gate by the palace officials.

At dawn in early spring, the majestic palace is hidden in the blue-black sky, and only a rough outline can be seen in the distance.

Shu Wan walked in the front and looked at the bluestone road under her feet with some nostalgia.

In her previous life, Shu Wan went to the palace once when she was 6 years old, but never came again. That was also the only meeting she had with Qi Yuan.

Time passed and when she came to see Qi Yuan again, it was in this situation and in this capacity.

I don’t know how long I walked, but the sky gradually got brighter, the bell in the corner tower rang, and the draft for the daughters of officials above fourth grade had begun.

Daughters of officials below the fourth rank, like Shu Wan and others, have to wait until the previous draft is completed before they can be promoted.

The previous draft would probably take two hours or more, and Shu Wan and the others were arranged to wait aside.

Most of the people present were visiting the palace for the first time, and they could not hide their curiosity.

Shu Wan also raised her head, and what she could see was the familiar roof of the verandah. The vertical ridges at the four corners extended with the night. The roof was paved with golden glazed tiles, with towering golden osmanthus trees on both sides, and a white marble railing base with delicate carvings.

"It's so beautiful." Ning Yuan didn't know when she found Shu Wan's place. She looked at everything around her happily, "I have never seen such a beautiful house. If I can live here, I would be so happy."

Shu Wan responded lightly, her eyes falling on a peach blossom on Ning Yuan's head.

Sensing Shu Wan's gaze, Ning Yuan helped Taohua uncomfortably, "She is my maid. She was sent by my father. She insisted on wearing this for me. I listened to your words and got a magnolia hairpin. Put it on later."

Shu Wan didn't care what Ning Yuan wanted to do. She looked at the palace door and said, "Nine of them have left signs."

"Ah?!" Ning Yuan's eyes widened, "Have you counted clearly? Then there is only one quota for our batch."

The purpose of the draft is to expand the harem, but it cannot be expanded without limit. According to the experience of previous years, there are basically ten places every year.

Now there are nine daughters of officials above the fourth rank. As for their group, Ning Yuan looked at Shu Wan's delicate profile and looked a little panicked.

"Enter the palace gate and start the draft."

As the eunuch's voice sounded outside, everyone stood up.

A eunuch brought wooden cards and asked everyone to draw lots, and the draft order was determined based on the numbers drawn.

Ning Yuan got the wooden sign, took one look at it, and his expression darkened.

There are a total of thirty show girls here, and she ranks 27th.

Ning Yuan glanced at Shu Wan, "How old are you?"

"three"

Ning Yuan's eyebrows furrowed. Shu Wan was almost certain to be chosen. Shu Wan was ranked third, so the others behind him were completely out of luck.

At this time, the eunuch had already started collecting wooden signs. Ning Yuan gritted his teeth and grabbed the wooden signs directly from Shu Wan's hand, "Can we change them? You are so beautiful, you don't need to care about the order."

Shu Wan glanced at Ning Yuan, and then nodded, "Okay."

Ning Yuan was delighted, "I knew you were the best!"

Shu Wan didn't say anything, but took Ning Yuan's wooden sign and said, "You go ahead."

"Ok!"

According to the procedure of the draft, everyone handed over the wooden cards and followed the eunuch to the place where the draft was held in order.

Shu Wan stood at the back of the team and couldn't see the scene in front of her. She just waited quietly under the tree.

Not long after the draft started, there was a commotion from the front of the team, "Has Ning Yuan been selected? Then we have no chance."

"She is so lucky. His Majesty obviously didn't like her at first. She was about to leave, but His Majesty suddenly changed his mind."

While everyone was talking, Ning Yuan walked out with a smile on her face, but she took another road. She was left with a sign, and now she can be called the master.

Everyone looked at Ning Yuan with envy, and Shu Wan also looked over.

At this time, the peach blossom was no longer on Ning Yuan's head, leaving only a white magnolia hairpin.

Including Ning Yuan, this year's ten people have been selected.

In the palace, Qi Yuan stood up and had no intention of continuing to read. "The rest will be given in sachets and sent out of the palace."

With that said, Qi Yuan was ready to leave.

At this time, the queen mother sitting aside winked at the eunuch beside Qi Yuan. The eunuch nodded slightly, shook his hand, and all the portraits of beautiful ladies fell to the ground and scattered everywhere.

"This slave deserves to die, Your Majesty, please forgive me."

The little eunuch kowtowed and went to collect the portrait.

A low voice sounded above the head, "Wait a minute."

Immediately afterwards, a hand with jade joints picked up a portrait on the ground. Qi Yuan looked at it for a moment, then sat back on the chair and said, "The draft continues."

"Yes."

The eunuch received the order and immediately announced that the originally suspended procedures were restarted.

One by one, beautiful ladies walked in, but without exception, they were given sachets.

Until, the eunuch read, "Shu Wan, the daughter of the magistrate of Shangnan County, comes to see you."

Hearing this name, everyone present looked a little strange. After all, this name was the same as Queen Huiyi.

When Shu Wan, who was wearing a light blue dress, walked in slowly, everyone was even more surprised.