The day of the beauty pageant finally arrived. Since the queen was the only imperial concubine in the harem, she and Duke Gu were the judges.
"Miss Su Meilan, daughter of Su Yansheng, the military governor of Jiangxi."
A graceful young girl stepped forward.
"Tell me, what are you good at?" Mei Qingxue glared at Duke Gu when she saw the young girl with a childish face. Thirteen years old!
Duke Gu looked at his queen with a wronged expression. This was an established rule, not his idea.
"I can play the flute and dance!"
Su Meilan bowed politely. She was clearly from a noble family. Mei Qingxue noticed the flute in her hand.
"Eunuch Tang, give this beauty some writing brushes and ink. Go to the side and paint a portrait of His Majesty and me on that screen."
She had prepared many props in advance to test the talented young girls.
"But, Your Majesty..." Su Meilan looked frustrated. She had never mentioned painting as one of her skills. She could write a decent calligraphy, but painting a portrait was beyond her ability. Was the queen deliberately making things difficult for her?
"What? Do you dare to disobey my order? Your Majesty, look at these young girls. They are getting bolder and bolder. They don't even respect me. If they enter the palace, will they try to take my position as queen in a few days?"
"I dare not, Your Majesty."
"Dare not?" Mei Qingxue sneered. "Take her out and send her back to her hometown. Let her get married on her own."
Finally, she got rid of one. Mei Qingxue let out a sigh of relief. Then she noticed Duke Gu looking at her with a half - smile.
"What? Does Your Majesty think my judgment is unfair?"
"No, I think your punishment is too lenient. I'll add one more thing." Duke Gu looked at the young girl. "You are not allowed to participate in the beauty pageant for five years."
By the time the ban expired, she would be too old for the pageant.
Mei Qingxue secretly remembered that eighteen was the age limit.
"Call the next one." Mei Qingxue understood Duke Gu's intention. She felt more confident and was more efficient in dealing with these young girls. However, there were a few names given by Duke Gu that she didn't know how to handle.
Rong Yun'er, the eldest illegitimate daughter of Marquis Anning, Rong Yu'er, the third daughter, and Lan Feng, the legitimate daughter of Marquis Beiding. Rong Yu'er was the same Rong Yu'er who had a crush on Duke Gu. Considering her family background, she couldn't be directly eliminated. This was a problem.
Mei Qingxue suddenly remembered that Lan Wei, the eldest son of Marquis Beiding, was of a suitable age. She drew a line between Rong Yun'er and Lan Wei's names. Duke Gu immediately understood the queen's intention and quickly wrote an imperial edict for their marriage with a vermilion brush.
Rong Yu'er was only thirteen years old this year. Her selection could be postponed for two years. As for Lan Feng, Mei Qingxue thought it would be a good match. Duke Gu understood his wife's intention. He didn't think highly of the young masters from other noble families. If it weren't for the fact that the queen had already chosen a wife for his elder brother, he would have considered him for this marriage.
"There are still hundreds of young girls left!" Mei Qingxue glared at Duke Gu angrily. This beauty pageant was making her dizzy.
"So what? Didn't you arrange accommodation for them?"
Didn't she prepare six unique courtyards from number one to number six?
"I almost forgot." Mei Qingxue smiled and announced loudly, "Due to time constraints and His Majesty's fatigue, the eunuchs will lead you to your rest areas. I hope you all behave like noble young ladies and don't disappoint His Majesty."
"Come on, Queen. I can see you're tired. I'll give you a massage later."
Duke Gu followed Mei Qingxue towards the palace. He knew those six courtyards would never be peaceful. It would be strange if any of the young girls could maintain their ladylike demeanor.
"Ah..." A shrill scream echoed. There was a pigsty in one of the courtyards, and the door wasn't properly closed. The pigs were wandering around in the young girls' rooms. Screams filled the air.
Another courtyard was filled with frogs and snakes. Although they were just common snakes, they scared many girls fainting. The imperial doctors checked and said they were fine. This was just the first day.
On the second day, the young girls were rotated to different courtyards. Many of them fell ill from the scare and were all eliminated.
On the third day, more girls pretended to be ill because they were afraid of being transferred to a courtyard with strange things. They were all sent back to their hometowns.
On the fourth day, only a few young ladies from military families were left.
Mei Qingxue looked at these valiant young women and smiled. "You all have courage, but it's not easy to be an imperial concubine."
As she spoke, her eyes scanned their faces. Generally, the daughters of military families were less restricted. They didn't like being confined. Lan Feng was one of them. Duke Gu had written the imperial edict for her marriage but hadn't announced it yet.
"Your Majesty, if you have any opinions on us, please speak out!"
A young woman in a light - blue dress said calmly. The girls around her looked anxious. They must be familiar with each other. Mei Qingxue observed them all carefully.
"Tell me your thoughts. I don't think you're weak and spineless girls." She almost fell into the trap of the girl in blue, but she was just a young girl. How could she compare with Mei Qingxue's ten - life experience?
"Your Majesty, I'll be straight. I think the beauty pageant should be abolished. Each family's daughter should be free to get married on her own. The emperor doesn't need to have a large harem. I don't want to be locked up in the palace."
"What's your name?" Mei Qingxue was interested in this girl. In this world where men were superior to women, families that cherished their daughters would always receive her special favor.
"My name is Lan Feng."
A girl beside Lan Feng immediately said anxiously, "Lan Feng, be careful!"
"I didn't do anything wrong."
Mei Qingxue knew these girls were afraid that Lan Feng would offend her with her words and be punished.
"Lan Feng, come here." Mei Qingxue waved to Lan Feng. Lan Feng walked up to her. Mei Qingxue put a sealed imperial edict in her hand. "Take this back to your father. I don't like the emperor having a large harem either!"
Hearing Mei Qingxue's words, Lan Feng's eyes lit up. "Aren't you afraid of being accused of monopolizing the emperor's favor?"
"Why can't the queen yearn for a lifelong relationship with just one person?"
"I understand." Lan Feng turned to look at the girls who came with her. "Take care of yourselves!"
"Sister Lan Feng, I also want to go home."
"I didn't allow you to speak." Mei Qingxue scanned them with her eyes.
The girl who had just spoken timidly said, "Your Majesty, could you give me one too to show my father? I don't want to leave home!"
"Your name is Yan'er?" Mei Qingxue found Lin Yan'er's name in the register. "Lin Yan'er, why don't you want to leave home? Isn't the palace a good place?"
"Your Majesty, the palace is beautiful, but my home is also beautiful." Lin Yan'er's face showed a longing look. "I can climb mountains and be with my parents and younger sister. If I enter the palace, I won't be able to do that."
"Lin Yan'er, I don't have anything for your father. Just tell him that the queen said you're still too young. Wait for five years and then we'll talk. He'll understand!"
"Yes!" The little girl replied, but her big eyes blinked a few times. "But I don't understand."
The other girls covered their mouths, looking envious.
"You girls really give me a headache!"
The remaining three girls looked at each other and knelt on the ground together. "Your Majesty, we boldly request that you send us back to our hometowns." Then they kowtowed.
Mei Qingxue's lips curved into a smile. This was exactly what she wanted.
"You can go back to your hometowns. Get up." Mei Qingxue gently flicked her sleeves and clapped her hands. Wow! She didn't expect this thorny problem to be solved so perfectly. Her ten - life experience was really not in vain.
"All solved?" Duke Gu looked at his wife with a smile.
"Yes. Are you regretting it? If you are, you can still call a few of them back." Mei Qingxue looked at Duke Gu, knowing that he was just teasing her. "Does Your Majesty have any other instructions?"
"Your Majesty has been working hard for several days. Do you want me to serve you well tonight?" Duke Gu smiled and pulled Mei Qingxue into his arms.
"No!" Every time, she would be exhausted and defeated, while he would be full of energy and proud.
"Dear... Your Majesty?"
Duke Gu looked at his queen pitifully, with a miserable expression on his face. "Give the emperor some benefits!" His beautiful concubines had all been sent away by the queen. She should compensate him.
"Have you finished your official duties?"
"I finished them long ago. Your Majesty, let the emperor work hard. If we don't have a child soon, those old - fashioned officials in the court will keep pestering me for an heir. It's so annoying."
"Are you the emperor?"
Being chased by his own ministers all day long. Where was the emperor's dignity? Who was in charge, the emperor or the ministers?
"Yes, I'm the emperor. But those people are so wordy. My ears are about to grow cocoons."
"Stop pretending. I know you too well." He had demanded her only the day before yesterday, and now he was pestering her again.
"But I really want you."
"Alright, I'll forgive you." Mei Qingxue smiled. She also enjoyed that feeling. Since he was willing to put in the effort, let him perform well.
"Snow, you're so understanding!"
Did it mean that if she didn't agree, she would be considered unreasonable? Mei Qingxue frowned slightly. Seeing this, Duke Gu was afraid that she would change her mind. He quickly hugged her and comforted her softly. Only when her frown relaxed did he feel relieved.
"When will you restore those courtyards to their original state?"
"This is fine. It's better than leaving them empty and having people always wanting to fill them up." Mei Qingxue thought of the reactions of those people and couldn't help laughing.