ATPnovel Chapter 12 I want them all!
Chapter 12 I want them all!
"Raise your heads so the emperor can have a good look at you."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As Empress Dowager Zhang finished speaking, the eighteen carefully selected young women, chosen from among thousands, suppressed their shyness and trepidation, raised their heads, and allowed Zhu Houzhao to admire them.
These women, who were selected through rigorous screening, were all virtuous, beautiful, and had excellent figures, without any flaws.
But this does not mean that all of them could become the emperor's concubines.
If they fail to pass the emperor's test, they will either remain in the palace as palace maids or be sent back to their hometowns, just like other rejected candidates.
At this moment, they are facing the most important selection, personally chosen by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty to become the future Empress of the Ming Dynasty.
They felt shy, apprehensive, and even so nervous that they could hardly breathe.
They were afraid they wouldn't become empresses, and even more afraid they wouldn't be favored by the emperor and would be sent back to their hometowns.
Having come this far, they are naturally unwilling to be sent back to their hometowns.
With a single thought, Zhu Houzhao could decide whether they would ascend to heaven or descend to the underworld.
Ask any woman in the world, which one wouldn't want to be an empress, the mother of the nation?
Each of them had a one in eighteen chance of becoming the Empress of the Ming Dynasty.
The thought of this always excites them.
And now, the moment that will decide their fate has finally arrived!
Looking at these beautiful young women, each with their own unique charm, Zhu Houzhao was at a loss as to how to choose.
However, he is the emperor of the Ming Dynasty; he doesn't need to choose, he wants them all.
"I am quite satisfied with these women; they can all stay in the harem."
Zhu Houzhao said casually, "Let them all be appointed as concubines and live in the Chuxiu Palace."
"Huh?" Empress Dowager Zhang looked at Zhu Houzhao with some surprise.
It wasn't because Zhu Houzhao wanted to take in eighteen imperial concubines at once; as an emperor, it would have been normal to take in one hundred and eighty imperial concubines at once.
To his surprise, Zhu Houzhao had not yet decided on a candidate for the position of empress.
Empress Dowager Zhang organized her thoughts and said, "Zhao'er, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, nor can the harem be without a mistress for a day."
"According to the rules, this first selection of imperial concubines will choose one empress and two imperial concubines."
"Zhao'er, take a closer look and choose the person who suits your taste best to be the Empress. I think the Xia family from Yingtian Prefecture is quite suitable."
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand: "Establishing an empress is a major event. My empress must be virtuous and kind."
"It will not be too late for me to establish them after I have tested them further and seen their character."
"this……"
Empress Dowager Zhang hesitated for a moment, but seeing Zhu Houzhao's very determined expression, she had no choice but to compromise.
"Alright then, let's do as the emperor says."
"Qiuye, take them to Chuxiu Palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Qiuye is the lady-in-waiting who has been in charge of instructing these young ladies-in-waiting during this period.
Qiuye was in charge of their etiquette and rules after they entered the palace.
Because Qiuye was always serious and extremely strict when teaching, most of the young ladies were afraid of her.
But after Zhu Houzhao's words, the relationship between them became one of master and servant.
Qiu Ye bowed to the eighteen newly selected ladies-in-waiting and said, "Please come with me, Your Highnesses."
The group of young ladies had never seen Qiu Ye so humble before, and they were all taken aback.
But soon they realized that although none of them were chosen as empress, they all became the emperor's concubines.
Thinking of this, the young women's faces lit up with joyful smiles.
"Yes, this concubine will take her leave."
After the young ladies paid their respects to Zhu Houzhao and Empress Dowager Zhang, they followed Qiu Ye to the Chuxiu Palace.
In their hearts, the sunshine today felt especially warm.
The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty—someone they had never dared to even dream of before—was right in front of them.
They saw the true face of the Ming Emperor and heard his voice; how could they not be excited?
Moreover, the Ming emperor was so handsome...
The beautiful women were excited, all dreaming of being pampered by Zhu Houzhao one day.
……
While Zhu Houzhao was taking concubines, the eunuchs who had been sent by him to various places to collect overdue taxes also arrived at their respective areas of responsibility.
After arriving in Zhejiang Province, Qin Luzi, the second-in-command of the West Depot, immediately began to collect the outstanding debts.
The first place he visited was Yuyao, the hometown of Grand Secretary Xie Qian!
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
At dawn, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
The gate of the Xie family mansion, the wealthiest family in Yuyao, was violently knocked on.
The deafening sound shattered the tranquility of the morning.
"Coming, coming, stop knocking!"
The Xie family's doorman impatiently called out and went to open the door.
He harbored a grudge; ever since Xie Qian was promoted to Grand Secretary, no one in Yuyao had dared to be so disrespectful to the Xie family.
When people come to visit the Xie family, they all first present a visiting card and then carefully knock on the door. Who would be so rude, impolite, and violent as to bang on the door like this?
The Xie family gatekeeper, still half asleep, opened the gate and immediately yelled, "What are you knocking for? Don't you know any manners...?"
The last word stuck in the Xie family doorman's throat, and he couldn't say it for a long time. His eyes widened, and he shakily backed away.
Outside the door, a group of barbarians dressed in black robes, carrying long knives, and exuding a murderous aura, stared at him with sharp eyes.
"Who...who are you?"
"West Depot"
Tan Luzi entered the Xie family residence and ordered, "Surround the house. No one is allowed to leave without my permission!"
"Yes, sir!"
The West Depot agents immediately took action and surrounded the Xie family residence!
The Xie family's doorman was terrified and immediately scrambled to the backyard.
"Master, something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"
"The Western Depot is here!"
"The Western Depot is here!"
……
Inside the Xie family hall, Xie En, the current head of the Xie family and Xie Qian's father, sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed and his expression displeased.
Tan Luzi sat beside him, his expression calm.
In addition, several members of the Xie family and agents of the Western Depot were also standing in the hall, and the atmosphere inside was very tense.
"The Western Depot's esteemed presence from afar is an honor to my humble abode, Xie family. May I ask what brings you here today?"
Xie En spoke with an arrogant and sarcastic tone.
He served as the Grand Secretary for many years, holding a high position for a long time, and showed no mercy to the Western Depot.
Tan Luzi ignored Xie En's sarcastic remarks and instead took out a list and threw it in front of Xie En.
"Since the first year of the Hongzhi reign, the Xie family has failed to pay 270,000 shi of tax grain. I have come here today to collect these outstanding taxes."
"His Majesty has decreed that anyone who resists paying taxes will be executed without mercy!"
"Your Xie family has three days to pay off your outstanding grain debts, or don't blame the Western Depot for unleashing a bloodbath!"
As Tan Luzi finished speaking, his eyes were fixed on Xie En, his whole body radiating murderous intent!