Three days later, it was the day for the talented maidens to enter the palace.
Early in the morning, Ru Ge followed the grand procession of talented maidens and entered the Crimson Snow Pavilion to wait.
She looked at these talented maidens, each with exquisite beauty and curvaceous figures. They greeted each other as sisters upon first meeting.
Ru Ge was not accustomed to interacting with strangers, so she sat alone in an inconspicuous corner, avoiding others when possible.
She heard the maidens chatting about their excitement and nervousness before meeting the Emperor.
Most of the women here came to be selected,
to seek a bright and dazzling future for themselves, and to bring security to their families.
But Ru Ge was different.
She was not nervous at all, because before entering the palace, her father had already told her that Xiao Jingheng had agreed to arrange her marriage to Xiao Jingran.
She was overjoyed, eagerly hoping the selection would conclude swiftly
so she could be closer to her beloved.
After waiting for about an hour, Zhang Jiugui from the Respectful Service Department arrived.
They initially thought he was here to escort them to meet the Emperor, but to their surprise, Zhang Jiugui apologized with a smile:
"I apologize for keeping you ladies waiting. I came to inform you of something. Today, the Empress is unwell, and the Emperor is deeply concerned, so he has no mind for the selection. It will have to be postponed until tomorrow."
This statement caused a commotion among the crowd.
Zhang Jiugui cleared his throat and said solemnly:
"I know that many of you ladies do not reside in the capital. Out of consideration, the Empress has granted you permission to reside in the Crimson Snow Pavilion for the night, sparing you the arduous journey."
Although this arrangement seemed reasonable, it did not satisfy everyone.
Before entering the palace for the selection, the talented maidens had their makeup carefully applied by skilled beauticians,
but staying in the palace overnight would cause their makeup to smear and become unsightly.
Some bold maidens voiced their concerns.
Zhang Jiugui merely smiled and waved his hand, reassuring them:
"Ladies, do not worry. Tomorrow, palace maids will come to reapply your makeup."
With this assurance, everyone felt at ease residing in the Crimson Snow Pavilion.
Meanwhile, in the Phoenix Palace...
Zhao Hua leaned against Xiao Jingheng's embrace as he blew on the bitter medicinal soup to cool it down before feeding her spoonful by spoonful.
"Are you feeling better?"
Zhao Hua rinsed her mouth with the zhulan jade liquid Yun Shan offered before nodding slightly in response:
"It was nothing serious, just a chill from attending to Chengyang during the night. Zhang Imperial Physician's acupuncture treatment has helped greatly."
She gently placed her hand on Xiao Jingheng's and said with a faint smile, "Today is the selection day for the talented maidens. You should not have delayed it for my minor ailment."
Xiao Jingheng shook his head with a loving smile, "Zhao'er, you are the Empress, my principal wife. How could they enter the palace when the Empress is unwell? It is not too late to hold the selection after you have recovered."
Touched by his words, Zhao Hua leaned deeper into Xiao Jingheng's embrace, her lips curled in a contented smile.
Later, after Zhao Hua fell asleep, Xiao Jingheng quietly left.
But almost as soon as he stepped out, Zhao Hua opened her eyes.
She merely cleared her throat, and Yun Shan outside the door understood,
hurrying in to reassure her:
"My lady, rest assured, everything has been arranged."
Zhao Hua smiled, "You and Xiao Fuzi have become increasingly adept at handling matters."
She pulled up her blanket and joked, "Then we should congratulate the little master of the Nalan family in advance."
The next day...
Early in the morning, palace maids entered the Crimson Snow Pavilion to apply makeup for the talented maidens.
The maid attending to Ru Ge appeared young, but she was meticulous in applying Ru Ge's makeup,
paying particular attention to her eyes and brows, constantly adjusting and perfecting them while looking in the bronze mirror.
Once fully made up, Ru Ge gazed at her reflection and was momentarily stunned.
The maid's skills were undeniable. Although the makeup was heavy, it appeared natural,
only making her look more refined, especially around her eyes and brows which looked strikingly beautiful.
Ru Ge stared for a long while, hardly recognizing the person in the mirror.
"The maid's skills are truly exquisite. With this makeup, I barely recognize myself."
The maid smiled, "It is Your Ladyship's natural beauty. I merely accentuated it. This subtle yet elegant style is most favored by His Majesty."
Ru Ge thought to herself that she was not entering the palace to marry Xiao Jingheng, so whether he liked her makeup or not did not matter.
But perhaps this was the palace custom her mother had warned her about - to follow instructions and do as others say without questioning.
Thus, Ru Ge did not respond, only offering the maid a slight nod of thanks with a smile.
After her makeup was done, about a quarter of an hour later, palace servants came to escort the talented maidens to the Imperial Garden.
The selection was held at the Imperial Dragon Pavilion in the Imperial Garden.
The maidens stood in rows, bowing respectfully as they awaited the Emperor and Empress.
Under the scorching sun, their bodies soon glistened with sweat.
After an arduous wait, an announcer finally proclaimed,
"His Majesty the Emperor arrives. Her Majesty the Empress arrives."
All the maidens knelt in reverence.
As the imperial couple passed by, Ru Ge could not help but steal a glance like the others.
The Emperor walked on the left, the Empress on the right.
As they brushed past her, Ru Ge's gaze fell upon Zhao Hua's radiant face, and she froze, instinctively touching her own cheek...
With this makeup, she looked remarkably similar to the Empress.
So much so that after the imperial couple entered the Imperial Dragon Pavilion, the other maidens began whispering:
"Look, the daughter of the Nalan family resembles the Empress so much."
"Yes, they could be sisters."
"What great fortune! Everyone knows how deeply the Emperor loves the Empress. The mere fact that this Nalan girl looks like her might be enough for her to be selected."
Overhearing these murmurs, Ru Ge felt uneasy,
but before she could think of a response, an announcer called out her name among the first group to meet the Emperor.
Still dazed, she was ushered before the Emperor.
Of the five maidens presented, Ru Ge was positioned in the most prominent center spot.
After announcing the family backgrounds of the other maidens, it was her turn:
"Nalan Ru Ge, daughter of Nalan Cuo, Minister of the Clan Affairs Ministry, aged fifteen."
Upon hearing this, Ru Ge stepped forward and bowed deeply to the Emperor and Empress on the throne, greeting them:
"Your humble subject Nalan Ru Ge pays respects to Your Majesties. May the Emperor live forever in prosperity, and may the Empress enjoy eternal peace and security."
She kept her head bowed low, in stark contrast to the other maidens who held their heads high.
Xiao Jingheng seemed displeased and said, "Raise your head."
Ru Ge had no choice but to lift her head obediently.
But as soon as Xiao Jingheng caught sight of her face, his pupils dilated in shock as he froze...
