Sure enough, many people inside the hall began to express their admiration.
"Princess Jingyue is so beautiful."
"Yes, she is so beautiful without any makeup. She truly deserves to be called the number one beauty."
Many people looked at Princess Jingyue and then at Hailing, trying to compare who was better. However, the result of the comparison was that they were dizzy and confused. In their confusion, they thought that there was really no way to compare the two. One was as bright and clear as the moon, and the other was as pure and elegant as a snow lotus.
As Hailing sized up Ruan Jingyue, Ruan Jingyue also sized her up. Seeing how simply she was dressed, a glint flashed in Hailing's eyes. This woman was really daring. Today was the imperial concubine selection, and she was dressed so simply. Wasn't she afraid of offending the Emperor and the Empress Dowager? This was disrespectful to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
While Jingyue was sizing up Hailin, Hailin was already looking at someone else.
She had already met Feng Zixiao. Although it was pitch black last night, the man was very clear in her mind. She knew what he looked like without any light.
Arrogant and unruly, with handsome features, sharp eyebrows like swords, and dark eyes that seemed to hold the fire within, he stared at her blatantly, his eyes gleaming with a light she didn't recognize, like the delight of a hunter spotting his prey.
However, she hated seeing him like that, so she only glanced at him briefly before looking away.
This made Feng Zixiao extremely frustrated. From last night to today, he had endured enough to make him regret it, but there is no medicine for regret in this world.
Who would have thought that the chubby Jiang Hailing of that day would transform into such a stunning beauty, comparable to Princess Jingyue, the most beautiful woman in the world? Moreover, her wisdom and intelligence are probably even greater than Princess Jingyue's. Most importantly, she is the daughter of Ji Cong, a general of Beilu, which is advantageous to him.
But how can he win her back and get her to willingly return to the Great Zhou Dynasty with him?
Moreover, he knew that the Emperor of Beilu, Ye Lingfeng, was determined to marry her, and it would be troublesome if she agreed to marry Ye Lingfeng.
No, he absolutely wouldn't allow that to happen. Feng Zixiao made up his mind that no matter what, he would take her away in front of everyone in the hall today.
Hai Ling was unaware of Feng Zixiao's thoughts. If she had known, she would probably have scoffed. She looked at the new emperor of Shaoyi Kingdom beside Feng Zixiao. His eyebrows were resolute, his features were three-dimensional, and his domineering aura was exuding. Compared to before, he was even more flamboyant and unrestrained. In his deep eyes, there were hidden waves, but when he looked at her, his expression was gentle.
The Martial Emperor of Shaoyi was indeed Bai Ye, the young general of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I never expected him to be the second prince of Shaoyi. Now he has finally gotten back Shaoyi as he wished. I heard that he loves his people like his own children, which makes Hailing happy.
When she looked at Mu Yi, she nodded slightly to greet him. Mu Yi smiled, his handsome face shining brightly, his eyes and brows captivating.
Seeing his expression, Feng Zixiao felt extremely annoyed. She never expected that besides Ye Lingfeng, there was also Mu Ye who cared about her. It was truly hateful. Moreover, her attitude towards Mu Ye was obviously much better than towards him, which made Feng Zixiao's heart ache, but she was helpless.
At this moment, the chief eunuch of Guangyang Palace walked up to the people from the Three Kingdoms and respectfully invited them to sit down in the VIP seats in front.
On both sides of the main hall, the people who had been chatting animatedly all took their seats.
As the daughter of Ji Cong, a general of Beilu, Hai Ling naturally sat at the head of the table, which meant she was very close to Mu Ye and the others. When she looked up, she noticed that Feng Zixiao and Mu Ye were both looking at her.
Not only the two of them, but even the fourth prince of Nanling Kingdom, Prince Jing, was gazing at her with infatuation.
The fourth prince of Nanling Kingdom, Prince Jing, Ruan Xihao, is known to be very homosexual. It is said that there are no women in Prince Jing's mansion, only men. It is common knowledge that Prince Jing is homosexual. Unexpectedly, when he saw Hailing, he was captivated and had the idea of marrying her and bringing her back to Prince Jing's mansion. No woman has ever made him have such thoughts before. Prince Jing glanced at his sister Ruan Jingyue beside him, and then looked at Hailing. When the imperial concubine selection begins, he will definitely ask the emperor of Beilu for this woman to bring back to Nanling Kingdom to be Prince Jing's wife.
For a moment, everyone in the hall was lost in their own thoughts.
Outside the palace gates, a eunuch's shrill voice rang out: "His Majesty has arrived! His Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived! His Highness Consort Zhaoyang has arrived! His Highness Consort Anyang has arrived!"
Everyone stood up, including the people from the Three Kingdoms.
Outside the palace gates, several figures entered. The leader, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing a purple-gold crown, exuded an aloof and domineering aura. His stunningly beautiful face lacked any feminine embellishment; instead, every gesture he made carried an innate nobility. The young ladies awaiting selection in the hall all felt a tightness in their chests, their eyes fixed on the Emperor with infatuation. The Emperor was truly too handsome. Even if they could not become Empress or one of the Four Consorts, they would still be willing to enter the palace.
Behind Emperor Ye Lingfeng stood the Empress Dowager, dressed in magnificent robes and adorned with jeweled hairpins, radiating brilliance. Behind her followed several equally noble and elegant women, who were still the consorts of the late emperor, the mother of Prince Zhaoyang, and the mother of Prince Anyang.
Ye Lingfeng's ascension to the throne was largely due to the contributions of Prince Anyang and Prince Zhaoyang. Therefore, after he ascended the throne, he bestowed the title of Dowager Consort upon their mothers, who lived with their son in their respective princely residences. As for the other two or three concubines of the late emperor, they lived in the palace with the Empress Dowager. Since they had all given birth to princesses for the late emperor, they did not go to the nunnery to become nuns.
The royal family entered, and the ministers and ladies in the hall all knelt down.
"Greetings, Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Consort Zhaoyang, and Consort Anyang."
The loud voices were orderly and well-organized.
Everyone knelt in the main hall, except for the envoys from the three kingdoms. Feng Zixiao, Mu Ye, and Ye Lingfeng were all emperors with the same status, so they only nodded slightly to show their respect. As for Prince Jing of Nanling Kingdom, seeing that Feng Zixiao and Mu Ye did not kneel, he followed their example and did not kneel either. As for Princess Jingyue, as soon as she saw Ye Lingfeng appear, she looked at him with admiration in her eyes and could not think of anything else.
Unfortunately, Ye Lingfeng didn't notice her at all. As soon as he entered the main hall, his eyes fell on Hai Ling. Seeing that the little girl was very elegant, he couldn't help but smile slightly. His face became even more radiant, making Ruan Jingyue unable to look away.
Ye Lingfeng withdrew his gaze, walked to the seat at the head of the table and sat down, then addressed the person below the main hall: "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
All the court officials, their families, and the young ladies awaiting selection rose to their feet, but remained standing with their heads bowed. Without the emperor's permission, they naturally dared not sit down.
Ye Lingfeng first looked at the people from the three kingdoms: Emperor Feng Zixiao of the Great Zhou Dynasty and his subordinates, Emperor Mu Ye of Shaoyi and his ministers, and Prince Jing of Nanling Kingdom and Princess Jingyue each with their subordinates. They were all looking at him. Ye Lingfeng smiled gently and spoke.
"Please have a seat, distinguished guests who have come from afar."
"No problem."
Feng Zixiao and Mu Ye responded and sat down. As soon as they sat down, they turned their eyes to Hai Ling. In each of their eyes was a look of determination to take her back today. Although everyone knew that the emperor of Bei Lu also liked Ji Hai Ling, he had just ascended the throne and was beset by internal and external troubles. What he needed most right now was peace. Even if he wanted to choose Hai Ling as empress, he was afraid that the empress dowager might not agree to it.
Therefore, Feng Zixiao and Mu Ye were quite confident in their thinking.
As for Princess Jingyue, she was determined to become empress. She would not lose to Ji Hailing. She was a princess of a country, with money and beauty. She had nothing to lose. There was no reason for Lingfeng not to choose her as empress and instead make Ji Hailing empress.
Inside the main hall, various dark currents swept through. Ye Lingfeng narrowed his eyes, his pupils flashing coldly, and then looked down at the ministers.
"Please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Everyone sat down, and the talent show finally began.
Emperor Ye Lingfeng, with his handsome face serene and a faint smile playing on his lips, raised his wine cup first, looking at the people of Da Zhou, Shao Yi, and Nan Ling. His deep, magnetic voice rang out.
"I thank the Great Zhou, Shaoyi, and Nanling Kingdom for their kindness in traveling thousands of miles to my Northern Lu to congratulate me on my ascension to the throne."
After Ye Lingfeng finished speaking, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his hand.