Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Selecting Concubine Candidates

“Zheng Yuxia, Princess Jin Xia?”

In Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager murmured this name, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Jasper Pool, Jin Xia…

Is Your Majesty truly determined to seek the immortal?

The Empress beside her exclaimed excitedly, “Aunt, this is wonderful, Consort Bi also gave birth to a daughter!”

“Now we still have Consort Duann and Consort De, no one knows whether they will bear a boy or a girl…”

“Aunt, what if I also give birth to a daughter…”

“It must be a boy!”

The Empress Dowager suddenly spoke, and the Empress hesitated a little.

“Aunt, giving birth to a boy or girl is predetermined by heaven, how can I force it?”

The Empress Dowager frowned and said, “No matter what, the legitimate son must be of the Lu Family.”

“You are going to give birth in four months, and I’ve already made preparations.”

“Rest assured, what you give birth to will definitely be a Prince!”

“And he will be the Crown Prince, the future Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty!”

“This… Lin’er understands.”

Lu Lin’er’s heart stirred, her eyes full of struggle, but she still gritted her teeth and agreed.

The Consorts successively giving birth to princesses was a great joy, which completely washed away the rumors from a year ago about Emperor Zhengyong being a Celestial Eunuch.

Even the impending execution of Yang Xuansu and the extermination of his Nine Clans was somewhat overshadowed.

On this day, the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned him to Cining Palace.

Zheng Yi felt puzzled, but still hurried to Cining Palace at the first opportunity.

“Greetings to Mother Empress.”

“My son, sit down.”

After a round of conversation, the Empress Dowager finally spoke of the main matter.

“My son, Consort Shuu and Consort Bi have successively given birth to princesses, and other consorts are also pregnant.”

“To take care of you and preserve the imperial lineage, and for the stability and continuity of the Great Yu Dynasty, I want to organize a selection ceremony for you.”

“Selection?”

Zheng Yi was stunned; he didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to call him today for this matter!

Hearing these words, even he could not help feeling a bit stirred inside.

Since understanding the effects of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, he had been contemplating a selection.

But he had been entangled with trivial matters and could not act.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager brought it up first!

“Indeed.”

The Empress Dowager nodded and said, “My son, you have been on the throne for three years now, and yet your harem consists of only one Empress, four consorts, one concubine, and one noble lady. The number is too small.”

“The former Empress’s harem had once been as large as over seventy consorts, with more than a hundred offspring.”

“Today, your many Imperial Uncles guard their respective domains for you, serving as the bulwark of the Great Yu.”

“Yet you only have seven consorts and two princesses, much less than the previous Emperor.”

“Therefore, I intend to make a proclamation to the world, gathering exceptional girls aged thirteen to eighteen to enrich the harem.”

Zheng Yi, suppressing his excitement, hesitantly said, “Mother Empress, thirteen years… is too young, could the age be raised?”

“Girls marrying at thirteen is ordained by heaven, how is that too young?”

The Empress Dowager said, “Moreover, thirteen-year-old girls are at their best for grooming. Once they grow older, their nature becomes fixed, risking unrest in the harem.”

“This… Everything shall follow Mother Empress’s arrangement.”

To this, Zheng Yi could only agree; once they enter the palace, they could be nurtured for a few more years.

He had confiscated Yang Xuansu’s estate, filling the national treasury, so supporting a few hundred concubine candidates was feasible.

The Empress Dowager said, “By the way, my son, what conditions do you have for the selection candidates? I will arrange for someone in charge to take care of this.”

“Conditions?”

Zheng Yi suddenly had an idea, saying, “Mother Empress, I do have one request.”

“What request?”

“I wish to take in more daughters from renowned and righteous sects within the Martial World, preferably those who are Martial Artists with rank!”

“For this, the age can be extended to twenty, as long as they are virgins.”

With the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror in his possession, it was only natural for him to want more Martial Arts Masters and high-grade Martial Artists.

Just like Consort Duann, Xu Qingluan, and Bi He.

In just a year’s time, they were able to elevate his abilities to the First-grade Realm!

If he couldn’t reach the first-grade by himself, he would rely on others.

If one doesn’t work, then two, if ten don’t work, then a hundred!

Quantitative change will ultimately lead to qualitative change after all.

“But, Martial World people?”

The Empress Dowager worriedly said, “Martial World men and women are often passionate and resentful, and filling the harem recklessly could cause unrest.”

“Moreover, Martial World women are skilled in martial arts, some even possess profound inner strength; what if they harbor resentment and use force?”

“Most importantly, I fear that if some of these women for various reasons become a threat to you…”

Zheng Yi said, “Mother Empress, I am not bringing in wicked, bloodthirsty individuals from deviant sects.”

“Simply select concubine candidates from Taiyii Dao, the True Martial Sect, Longhu Mountain, Shushan Sword Sect, and other renowned sects, or from Martial Arts Families.”

“These women from righteous martial sects and families are trained in martial arts from a young age, yet they also carry on the tradition of literature; I doubt they’ll pose any trouble.”

Martial Arts Families.

Martial Arts Sects.

This Great Yu Dynasty, though it is an imperial power society,

is one where the Emperor, noble families, and the Martial Dao share the world!

Throughout the thirteen provinces, fifty-six counties, and over a thousand districts of the Great Yu Dynasty, almost every county contains a powerful Martial Arts Family or sect.

These Martial Arts Families and sects are entrenched within their territories, simultaneously contesting with and uniting with one another.

Within each province, there may be one or several thousand-year-old Martial Arts Families or Martial Dao sects holding power.

Surrounding the Capital City, the imperial power extends into rural areas.

However, within some remote state counties, it has almost reached a point where they only heed the orders of the sects and disregard the Imperial Court!

For example, presently in the Great Yu Martial World, the Taiyii Dao is recognized as the foremost Martial Dao sect, and also the National Religion of the Great Yu Dynasty!

The disciples of the entire Taiyii Dao number over thirty thousand, not to mention countless registered disciples.

They are intimately tied with the Great Yu Imperial Family, having been passed down for hundreds of years.

Zheng Yi finds it quite challenging to gather a group of female high-grade Martial Artists with inner strength and Martial Arts skills.

“Additionally…”

Zheng Yi continued, “While Martial World women bear incredible martial skills, their physical constitutions far surpass those of ordinary women.”

“They not only protect themselves but can also diligently instruct their descendants, preventing them from being perpetually frail.”

“If the women in the palace were all like Noble Consort Cui, constantly taking ill, what would that become?”

The Emperor’s selection is generally presided over by the Empress, or Empress Dowager.

Only through them, can Zheng Yi find suitable candidates.

“In this case…”

After some consideration, the Empress Dowager said, “I will pay close attention to this.”

“Thank you, Mother Empress.”

The Emperor’s selection begins in each county, concentrates into the Prefecture, and eventually is brought to the Capital City, taking at least half a year.

The newly inducted concubine candidates also require special training, which takes time.

By the time Zheng Yi sees his newly chosen consorts and concubine candidates, more than half a year will have passed.

“By the way, my son, how is Noble Consort Cui doing? Did you send the Imperial Physician to check on her?”

“Yes.”

Zheng Yi said, “The Imperial Physician reported that Noble Consort Cui developed a lung ailment from falling into the water and needs long-term rest.”

“Lung ailment…”

The Empress Dowager said, “Let her recuperate in peace; after all, she is a lady of the Qinghe Cui Family.”

“Understood.”

Departing from Cining Palace, Zheng Yi couldn’t help but glance back at this palace hall.

This beneficent Mother Empress, indeed, has done a good deed.

At this moment, Liu Cheng’en hurriedly approached.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty~!”

“What has you in such a rush?”

“To report to Your Majesty, the Immortal Seeking Order outside the Imperial City has been taken by someone!”

“Taken by someone?” Zheng Yi quickly realized, “Are you saying… someone has taken my Immortal Seeking Order?”

“An immortal cultivator?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep