Upon hearing this, the three women immediately rushed out with joy and kowtowed to express their gratitude.
Feng Zixiao gestured for them to leave. The Empress Dowager glanced at her, a glint of gold flashing in her eyes. She then made up her mind and spoke calmly.
"Your Majesty, I believe there are two more candidates who can enter the palace to serve the Prince."
"Mother?"
Feng Zixiao raised an eyebrow in surprise, wondering who his mother was referring to, and turned his head to look at his mother to the side.
The Empress Dowager smiled and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, then continued elegantly, "I think Ye Xiuya, the daughter of Grand Tutor Ye, is dignified, intelligent and generous. She is a good candidate. Why doesn't Your Majesty choose her to come to the palace to keep you company?"
Ye Xiuying had thought she wouldn't be chosen, so her face was already listless. But to her surprise, the Empress Dowager mentioned her directly. Ye Xiuying was overjoyed and, before Feng Zixiao could speak, she quickly ran out and knelt in the center of the hall to express her gratitude.
"Xiuya thanks the Empress Dowager for her kindness. It is a blessing that Xiuya has accumulated over many lifetimes to be able to enter the palace and serve the King."
When Feng Zixiao saw this, his brows furrowed involuntarily. This Ye Xiuying had once learned to bark like a dog, and now she had become a concubine in the palace. Wouldn't this make her a laughingstock to the world?
He, Feng Zixiao, first married a fat woman as his wife, and now he wants to marry a woman who barks like a dog as his concubine. Is there really no woman left in the world?
Feng Zixiao's face was extremely gloomy as he looked at the Empress Dowager.
"Mother."
He wanted to refuse, but the Empress Dowager reached out and patted his hand: "This is my idea."
The meaning of this sentence couldn't be clearer: Ye Xiuying's entry into the palace was a must.
Feng Zixiao was speechless, not saying a word, and impatiently looked down at Ye Xiuya.
"Ye Xiuying is hereby granted the title of Zhaorong, a second-rank official."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty."
Ye Xiuying was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly. She never expected that she would finally enter the palace. Although she was not a concubine, the title she was given was still quite high. She became a second-rank Zhaorong as soon as she entered the palace. Not everyone could achieve this. This was all because of her noble status, which is why she received such a high title.
"Go down."
Feng Zixiao waved his hand, and Ye Xiuying excitedly got up and walked to the side. As she passed Jiang Feixue, she couldn't help but glance at her sideways, feeling extremely smug.
These two have been rivals since the beginning, both liking Crown Prince Feng Zixiao. Now that Ye Xiuying has entered the palace, she is naturally pleased. In the future, her status will be a level higher than Jiang Feixue's. No matter who Jiang Feixue marries, she will have to bow to her. Just thinking about this makes her very happy.
"Mother, is this alright?"
Feng Zixiao looked helplessly at the Empress Dowager, who smiled faintly: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Did I say there were two people? Ye Xiuying is one of them, and I am also very satisfied with the other one."
"who?"
Feng Zixiao felt a chill run down her spine as she stared at her mother, wondering who she had taken a liking to this time.
"General Jiang's daughter, Miss Jiang, is not only of noble birth but also of exceptional beauty and character. I like her very much. Your Majesty, please let her enter the palace. Even if Your Majesty does not like her, it would be good to let her come to the palace to keep me company."
Everyone in the hall was stunned.
Many people don't understand what this means.
The late king made the third daughter of the Jiang family empress, and then the empress dowager made the eldest daughter of the Jiang family a concubine. This was extremely strange.
Feng Zixiao's face was extremely ugly at this moment. First, Ye Xiuya entered the palace, which was embarrassing enough. Now, his mother had brought two women who barked like dogs into the palace. How could he still have the face to stand in the court?
"Mother."
Feng Zixiao's voice was extremely cold and arrogant, with a hidden warning in his words. The inner palace should not interfere in politics. Feng Zixiao obeyed the Empress Dowager's words out of respect for his mother, but it did not mean that he would let her cause trouble. How could Jiang Feixue enter the palace? The Jiang family and their Feng family could not coexist peacefully.
"Your Majesty, this is my last wish. I will not say anything more."
The Empress Dowager spoke gently, without any hint of forcefulness. If she were forceful, Feng Zixiao could have overpowered her, but how could he possibly hurt her feelings when facing such a mother, especially one who had just lost her father?
But? Feng Zixiao looked down at Jiang Feixue. To be honest, this woman was indeed quite beautiful, but unfortunately she was Jiang Batian's daughter, and they could not get along in the end.
But what exactly does the Empress Dowager mean? Feng Zixiao knew that her mother was very shrewd, which was why she had maintained her unmoved position. She must have her reasons for doing so. Thinking about this, Feng Zixiao frowned and pondered, and finally spoke slowly.
"Alright, Jiang Feixue will be appointed as a second-rank Shurong."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's face lit up with a smile, her previous sorrow vanished, and she looked at the crowd below the main hall.
“Excellent! This is a timeless tale. The two sisters served the Emperor together. The Jiang family has rendered meritorious service to the court. No other family can enjoy such an honor.”
In the main hall, everyone stood up: "Your Majesty, we congratulate you, Your Majesty, and Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Good, good, I am very happy today, especially happy."
The Empress Dowager was all smiles. Besides her, Jiang Feixue was the happiest. Jiang Feixue quickly stepped forward to express her gratitude, feeling so happy she could fly. She never dreamed that the Empress Dowager would allow her to enter the palace to accompany the Emperor and even bestow upon her the title of Shurong, a second-rank official.
Thinking of this, he glanced at Ye Xiuya and gave her a sharp look in return.
In the main hall, Feng Zixiao ignored the women and looked at his three younger brothers and several unmarried officials in the court.
"Prince Kang, Prince Shou, Prince Jing, do you have any beauties you fancy? Tell me, and I will arrange marriages for you."
Prince Kang and Prince Shou stood up together, and Prince Kang spoke first: "Your Majesty, I request that you assign Miss Han to me."
"Your Majesty, I request that you bestow Miss Mu upon me."
Prince Kang and Prince Shou were both extremely shrewd. They knew that today's flower-viewing banquet was partly for the Emperor to select concubines for the harem, and partly to test their intentions and see if they harbored any inappropriate fantasies. That's why they chose two daughters of civil officials, who were powerless and incapable of forming cliques or engaging in corrupt practices.
Sure enough, as soon as they finished speaking, the emperor's expression improved considerably, and he spoke up in a hearty manner.
"Very well, I will grant your wish and betroth Miss Han and Miss Mu to you as your concubines."