sjar Chapter 326 Consort Fucha
Chapter 326 Consort Fucha
The eunuch then announced: "Yaqin of the Irgen Gioro clan, aged sixteen, whose father is a captain of the Plain White Banner."
Ergenjueluo Shi Yaqinlian moved lightly,
Yingying bowed and said, "Your subject, Yaqin, greets Your Majesty and the two Empress Dowagers."
She looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
Hongchang's gaze swept over her, noting her delicate features and obedient expression.
Fucha Peiyun nodded slightly, and Nian Shilan also gave a soft "hmm".
The eunuch announced loudly, "Irgen Gioro clan, retain your nameplate and be granted a sachet."
Yaqin quickly expressed her gratitude, accepted the sachet, and then withdrew.
The eunuch continued announcing: "Guoluo Luoshi Qimeng, age seventeen, her father is the deputy commander of the Bordered Yellow Banner."
Guo Luoluo Qimeng stepped forward, her posture graceful and her eyes bright as she bowed.
The eunuch announcing the names kept a close eye on Hongchang's expression, noting that all three masters were satisfied with the young lady.
He hurriedly sang, "Guo Luoluo's beautiful dream, leave a plaque, and bestow a sachet."
Fucha Peiyun looked at the many beautiful and talented Manchu noblewomen in this talent show.
Compared to those oddballs and deformed faces during the Big Fat Orange talent show...
That's a world of difference, which shows just how unpopular that big, fat orange was back then.
Next, the young women selected from among the banner-bearers, as long as they don't have any major character flaws...
Hongchang left his nameplate; it wasn't that he was a womanizer.
Most of the women selected for the imperial concubine selection were intended to be married to sons of powerful members of the imperial family or sons of high-ranking officials.
Prince Dun and Nian Gengyao's youngest son are both of marriageable age.
After the Manchu banners came the Mongol banners.
When the Mongol bannermen were led up the steps, the sun was already setting, and the golden bricks inside the palace gleamed with a honey-gold hue.
The eunuch's voice, slightly hoarse from singing for an hour straight, still strained to reach the highest pitch—
"Khorchin Borjigit Saren, age sixteen"
His grandfather was the Zasag Doroi Prince of the Left Middle Banner of the Khorchin.
Before the words had even faded, a sudden gust of wind swept up outside the palace gates, carrying the crisp, clear air of morning dew from the grasslands.
The young woman entered slowly, dressed not in bright colors, but in a pale white satin Mongolian robe embroidered with silver acacia flowers.
The hem of the robe is embroidered with flying cranes in extremely fine sky-blue thread.
With each step, it swayed, as if carrying the spring grass of Hulunbuir into the imperial palace.
She did not wear a tasseled hair ornament, but only tied her hair up with a coral forehead chain.
Her jet-black braids hung down to her waist, with tiny silver bells adorning the base, which jingled softly with each bow, like water striking stone.
"Your subject, Saren, pays her respects to His Majesty the Emperor and the two Empress Dowagers."
The sound carries the unique high-pitched and expansive quality of the grasslands, yet it is also soft and gentle, like the wind brushing across the strings of the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle).
Hongchang's fingers, holding the fan, paused slightly—he saw the girl raise her head.
His eyes reflected the gilded corners of the palace, yet they were so clear that not a speck of dust remained.
Nian Shilan laughed first, then lightly tapped the armrest with her armor, making a crisp "ding" sound.
"The daughters of Khorchin, indeed, even the wind carries the scent of milk."
Fucha Peiyun also smiled, quite pleased with the Mongolian girl.
She's a good girl.
Hongchang now has no need to fear the Mongol banner women.
Seeing that Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan were both satisfied, they made up their minds to keep this Khorchin girl in the palace.
The Mongol bannermen sent the young women to the palace for the imperial concubine selection this time.
Hongchang left the sign because Mongolia has been relatively well-behaved in recent years.
If an imperial decree is issued to grant them marriage, then this long journey to the capital will not have been in vain.
On the third day, it was finally the last batch – the daughters of Han soldiers and Han officials who had not yet joined the banners.
On the third day at dawn, the last group of young women had gathered outside the Hall of Preserving Harmony.
Nian Xiyue, the niece of Nian Shilan from the Han Army Banner, was also among them.
She was dressed in a light pink cheongsam, with exquisite makeup and a touch of pride.
Nian Xiyue is the youngest daughter of Nian Shilan's elder brother, Nian Xiyao.
Nian Xiyue's temperament was similar to that of her aunt, Nian Shilan; she had loved playing with knives and sticks since childhood.
However, learning from Nian Shilan's example, Nian Xiyue also became well-versed in literature.
Two years ago, after returning to Beijing with his father, he often went to the palace to keep Nian Shilan company.
Many people speculated that the Nian family was hoping to take advantage of their proximity to Hongchang and others.
However, neither Nian Shilan nor anyone else had any intention of having Nian Xiyue enter the palace.
It's enough if one of the Nian family's daughters is in this palace.
Although Hongchang is different from Da Pangju, the Nian family still does not want any Nian family daughters to enter the palace again.
This talent show is just a formality for Nian Xiyue; she will be betrothed to Fu Heng afterward.
Fu Heng, a man of great ambition, has devoted himself wholeheartedly to serving Hongchang over the years and has no desire to start a family.
He hadn't met anyone he liked before, but then he met Nian Xiyue by chance in the palace.
The two fell in love at first sight, and the Nian and Fucha families arranged the marriage.
The eunuch announced loudly: "Ms. Nian Xiyue, age eighteen, father is Nian Xiyao, the governor of Guangdong."
After exchanging greetings with the three, Nian Xiyue adopted a friendly attitude and...
Hongchang, Fucha Peiyun, and Nian Shilan exchanged pleasantries.
Nian Shilan deliberately put on a stern face and said, "You're about to get married..."
Still so disrespectful, aren't you afraid Fu Heng will find you troublesome later?
Nian Xiyue stuck out her tongue and gave her a crooked curtsy:
"Aunt, don't try to fool me. If Fuheng dares to dislike me, I'll go back to the palace and complain to you, and make him do horse stance every day!"
The tense and solemn atmosphere inside the hall was instantly dispelled by her words, "squat in a horse stance."
Hongchang chuckled, covering his lips with his folding fan, and whispered:
Fu Heng is highly skilled in martial arts; he's not afraid of this.
Fucha Peiyun couldn't help but smile.
“If Fu Heng disobeys in the future, hope Yue will make him kneel on an abacus.”
From now on, I guarantee he'll be completely obedient to you.
Nian Xiyue tilted her head and blinked, then gave Hongchang a proper bow, feigning seriousness.
"Your Majesty, did you hear that?"
With the Empress Dowager's backing, I will definitely make Fuheng completely obedient in the future.
He was told to copy "The Art of War" three hundred times every day.
Hongchang pressed his fan to his forehead, laughing so hard his chest trembled, and after a while he raised his hand and gestured at her:
"Yes, yes, yes, you have the support of the Empress Dowager and the Nian Empress Dowager."
"Who dares to mess with you? Leave your name tag here, go play with Sister Shuhe and the others."
Nian Xiyue chuckled and curtsied in gratitude.
She took the sachet and walked out with an air of haughtiness.
After the Han army banner, it was the turn of the daughter of a Han official.
Unlike the Manchu and Mongol banners, they did not have high, flowing buns.
There were no jeweled ornaments, only simple, plain dresses.
It's as if the misty rain of Jiangnan, the refreshing breeze of Qilu, and the cloud-covered mountains of Shu were all brought to the foot of the imperial steps.
Liang Wanyi stood at the front of the line, her figure graceful and her expression calm and composed.
The eunuch announced in a loud voice:
"Liang Wanyi, age sixteen, father Liang Yuan, currently the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, formerly the Provincial Treasurer of Zhejiang—"
Before the words had even faded, a ray of golden light fell from the sundial directly opposite the palace gate, landing on the hem of her moon-white dress.
Like a gentle sword, it quietly separated her from all the other women behind her.
She lowered her eyes and stepped forward, but her skirt remained perfectly still as she walked, as if the water was still.
"Your subject, Liang Wanyi, pays her respects to Your Majesty and the two Empress Dowagers."
Her voice was clear and crisp, yet it was like a piece of ice jade falling into a bronze plate, making a clear, tinkling sound.
The gold paint inside the hall reflected off the walls, creating an echoing effect reminiscent of a secluded valley.
Hongchang tightened his grip on the fan slightly as he spoke.
"Raise your head."
Upon hearing Liang's voice, Fucha Peiyun immediately sat up straight.
Nian Shilan also snapped out of her reverie upon hearing the voice, and found it exceptionally pleasant to hear.
The voice is even better than that of the An family back then.
Liang Wanyi raised her head upon hearing the sound, her eyes clear yet lowered slightly, showing neither fear nor coquettishness.