What it meant for His Majesty to enrich the rear palace at this delicate time was self-evident.

Some rejoiced while others worried.

Those who rejoiced saw opportunity.

If they sent a girl from their clan into the palace, once she gave birth to a prince, they could secure boundless wealth and honor.

As for Noble Consort Xiao, so what if she enjoyed exclusive favor? Who could guarantee she would definitely give birth to a prince? Even if she did give birth to a prince, for His Majesty who had so few heirs, any child was precious. After all, infants were too easily lost to early death—growing up smoothly to adulthood was no easy matter.

As long as one entered the palace, there was opportunity. Using one girl to fight for an opportunity was quite cost-effective.

For other families who were content with their lot and cherished their daughters, they began to worry.

His Majesty was already past the age of knowing the mandate of heaven. Sending daughters into the palace, the possibility of bearing imperial heirs was not great. Even if they bore a prince, with Noble Consort Xiao’s exclusive favor before them and various families eyeing the situation hungrily behind, it was hard to say if they could protect the child to grow up safely.

A carefully raised daughter should properly marry a well-matched young man of good character and appearance.

However, regardless of whether families were happy or worried, the decree for consort selection was quickly issued: In the capital, Yan City, and Beihe—all families of officials fifth rank and above and noble houses must send one girl as a candidate. The noble ladies must be at least fifteen years old and under twenty.

The former Chamberlain for Dependencies Vice Minister Wang’s family could now only be called the Wang family compound.

Prince Pingnan’s manor had been found guilty, and as relatives by marriage to Prince Pingnan’s manor, not only had the Wang family lost a daughter, Vice Minister Wang had also been stripped of his official position and reduced to commoner status.

Fortunately, the Wang family had some foundation and could barely maintain a foothold in the capital. As for what the true taste of it all was, only the Wang family members themselves knew.

When news of His Majesty’s consort selection reached the ears of First Miss Wang and Second Miss Wang, both sisters showed faces full of relief.

“Elder Sister, our family has fallen to ordinary commoners and life has suddenly become difficult. I was originally feeling somewhat upset about it, but now it seems truly fortunate.”

Both she and her elder sister met the age requirements for this consort selection. If Grandfather were still in the position of fourth rank Chamberlain for Dependencies Vice Minister, one of them would inevitably have to enter the palace as a candidate.

Just thinking about becoming a consort to an Emperor over fifty years old and endlessly fighting with a crowd of women made Second Miss Wang shudder.

First Miss Wang embraced her younger sister and said softly: “Yes, this is indeed how misfortune depends upon fortune, and fortune lies hidden within misfortune.”

From what Grandfather had revealed, next year they would likely move the entire household away from the capital. After settling in their hometown, they would find suitable marriages for the sisters.

Thinking of leaving the capital for the vast expanse of heaven and earth, the simple rural sentiment, First Miss Wang felt her heart settle considerably.

In the Grand Commandant’s manor, Fourth Miss Luo Yue was already panicking.

Eldest Sister had broken off an engagement—on that point alone, she didn’t meet the requirements. Second Sister’s legs weren’t nimble—she also had a legitimate reason not to participate in the selection.

Third Sister—Third Sister kept male companions!

Counting it all up, only she had the suitable age and met the criteria.

Wah wah wah, if only she had learned from Third Sister and kept male companions too—she just hadn’t been able to make up her mind.

Now it was too late to act.

Just like those families unwilling to send daughters into the palace—His Majesty’s decree for consort selection had already been issued. If they rushed to arrange betrothals at this time to evade the selection, that would be a capital offense.

As the daughter of the Jinlin Guard Commander, she still understood this point.

Luo Yue pounded her pillow, growing more desperate the more she thought about it, her eyes reddening.

She didn’t want to enter the palace. She didn’t want to serve a wretched old man!

How could she have been so blind before? Look at Third Sister’s Fuxue, Third Sister’s Mingzhu, Third Sister’s Lingxiao, Third Sister’s Feiyang…

A succession of fair-skinned, beautiful young men flashed through her mind, and Fourth Miss truly cried aloud.

After crying for a while, Luo Yue suddenly sat up.

No, she couldn’t just sit and await her doom!

“Go ask if Third Miss is in the manor or has gone to the wine house.” Luo Yue sent a maid to Xianyun Courtyard to investigate.

Shortly after, the maid ran back to report: “Miss, the elder sister at Xianyun Courtyard said Third Miss has already gone out.”

Luo Yue changed into outdoor clothes and left the house with her maid.

When the news reached Grand Commandant Luo’s ears, he stood by the window looking at the banana trees covered with accumulated snow outside, and heaved a deep sigh.

The position of Jinlin Guard Commander was like walking on knife’s edge—the slightest misstep would lead to death without a burial place.

For the sake of the entire Luo manor, some things had to be compromised.

It seemed that starting from when the Noble Consort became pregnant, this feeling of helplessness had grown increasingly frequent.

Grand Commandant Luo’s eyes darkened. Thinking of his youngest daughter’s current helplessness, he could only force himself to harden his heart.

Luo Yue rushed to Youjian Wine House and saw Prince Kaiyang’s young attendant energetically shoveling snow.

Recently the heavy snow had fallen and stopped, stopped and fallen, never ceasing.

Having left in a hurry without bringing a hand warmer, Luo Yue cupped her icy hands together and asked: “Is my Third Sister here?”

Shi Yan straightened up and said courteously: “Miss Luo is here.”

“Thank you.” Luo Yue thanked him offhandedly, lifted her skirt, and hurried into the main hall, running straight into Shi Yan.

After a moment of stunned surprise, Luo Yue realized: so Prince Kaiyang had left the other of the twin brothers behind as well.

Prince Kaiyang wanted to leave an extra person to protect Third Sister, right?

This thought flashed through her mind, and Luo Yue pressed her lips together.

Third Sister had so many beautiful male companions, plus Prince Kaiyang’s protection, and didn’t have to enter the palace to serve a wretched old man…

No, if she kept thinking this way, she’d become twisted with jealousy. She should have stuck with Third Sister from the start!

The regretful young miss called out loudly: “Third Sister—”

Hearing the commotion, Luo Sheng lifted the curtain from the back and entered. Seeing it was Luo Yue, she couldn’t say she was surprised.

She had been quietly observing the situation.

The matter of consort selection—one person’s honey was another’s poison. She felt entering the palace as a consort was drilling into a cage, but she wasn’t certain of Luo Yue’s thoughts.

Indeed, as soon as rumors of consort selection spread, she had only thought of Luo Yue.

Of the four young misses in the Luo manor, only Luo Yue met the criteria.

Each person has their own aspirations. If Luo Yue was delighted to be a candidate, she would at most offer a few reminders. But if Luo Yue was unwilling and came to her for help, she would do her utmost to assist.

Looking at the young woman who had rushed in, Luo Sheng curved her lips into a smile.

For a perfectly good young lady to serve a wretched old man and compete with many other young ladies—ultimately it was a lamentable matter.

“Does Fourth Sister have business?” Luo Sheng asked gently.

“Third Sister—” Luo Yue grabbed Luo Sheng’s wrist. Sensing several curious gazes directed at them, inspiration struck: “Let’s go look at the persimmon tree.”

The persimmons from that tree in the wine house’s rear courtyard were very sweet—she had tasted them before.

Concerning a matter like consort selection, talking there would be far better than here with all these loose lips.

Hearing Luo Yue’s words, Luo Sheng’s expression became somewhat strange, but she still nodded.

Shi Yan watched the slightly swaying cotton door curtain, wiped his face, and turned his head in bewilderment to ask Hong Dou, who was eating roasted sweet potato: “Elder Sister Hong Dou, could that persimmon tree possibly have some unknown benefit?”

When Master returns, forget about Miss Luo—he won’t even be able to keep the persimmon tree, will he?

Hong Dou rolled her eyes: “The persimmon tree hasn’t become a spirit—how could it hide benefits?”

Shi San… who does he take after to be so foolish?