110. Forced to Participate in the Imperial Selection

Chapter 110

Le Qianxue frowned slightly. She would rather not have such worries at all.

Still, she said, “Can someone now be sent to the palace to inform His Majesty that I have recovered? So he need not come. If he truly must come, it will only bring me more trouble in the future.”

The emperor rarely left the palace. Now, him coming out just to visit the daughter of a general seemed unreasonable. Le Qianxue would inevitably attract even more criticism.

Besides, she was growing weary. Could this emperor please keep quiet for once? Her life or death was no concern of his.

Le Yongcheng’s face darkened. “Since His Majesty has sent word, his mind will not change. You must prepare. You are definitely to receive the emperor.”

Le Qianxue almost rolled her eyes. She asked, “May I continue feigning illness?”

“No need. You are only to see His Majesty briefly. Do not be extreme in anything. If the emperor displeases, it will cause more trouble,” Le Yongcheng said.

Both father and daughter disliked the old emperor. But what could be done? He was the emperor. Even if displeased, she had to see him.

Le Qianxue sighed and could only agree.

Half an hour later, the emperor finally arrived at the general’s residence. His procession was grand, accompanied by dozens of elite guards.

Outside the residence, a crowd of commoners gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of the emperor’s majesty.

Le Yongcheng and Le Qianxue waited outside; after paying respects, they entered the general’s house, greeting the emperor.

The emperor’s gaze fixed on Le Qianxue. Seeing her complexion was good, he relaxed. “Snow girl, you nearly scared me to death. Fortunately, you are safe and sound this time.”

Le Qianxue felt displeased. It was thanks to the emperor that things had gotten so bad, and now he spoke so casually—it was nauseating.

She said, “Your Majesty, I am well. You need not worry so much.”

“Your health must be thoroughly examined. No more issues can arise.” After sitting, the emperor ordered the attending royal physician to take her pulse and examine her again.

Le Qianxue’s sudden improvement caught even the emperor off guard. But this was good news. He knew her identity, so the change was not surprising.

Le Qianxue allowed the physician to check her pulse. However, her energy and blood had not fully recovered, so she still felt somewhat weak.

After examination, the physician said, “Your Majesty, Miss Le has improved greatly. She only needs to continue taking medicinal soup for another half month.”

The emperor smiled. “Very good, very good. Then we shall not waste time.”

Le Qianxue was puzzled by this mention of wasting time.

She withdrew her hand and asked, “Your Majesty, what time is there to waste?”

The emperor said, “You don’t know? Perhaps the empress’s notice wasn’t sent to the general’s residence. No matter, I’ll say it now. In five days, the grand selection ceremony for imperial consorts will be held. You are among the candidates.”

Le Qianxue’s face stiffened. What was going on?

If that was so, she would rather sleep for five more days. Why did this come at such an inconvenient time?

Le Yongcheng’s expression also changed. He had once vowed not to let Le Qianxue marry into the imperial family. Now, participating in this selection meant if she were fortunate to be chosen, she must marry into the royal household.

He immediately said, “Snow, your body is still weak. It’s better not to attend the selection ceremony. Please, Your Majesty, withdraw the order.”

But the emperor’s face darkened. “The physician just said there is no harm. Besides, the candidates have been screened already. Snow girl, you should be happy. You are almost seventeen; shouldn’t you marry? I promise you, you will not be a concubine, but the main wife.”

Such imperial favor was overwhelming. Le Qianxue truly could not bear it.

Her mind was in turmoil. Setting aside her feelings for Zhan Lianjing, even if there were none, she did not want to take part in that cursed ceremony.

She had promised Master Wen Zhi long ago; that vow could not be broken.

Suddenly alert, Le Qianxue urgently said, “Your Majesty, actually, I have been betrothed to someone else some time ago.”

The emperor narrowed his eyes. “Who?”

Seeing Le Qianxue remained calm, he turned to look at Le Yongcheng. Fortunately, Le Yongcheng was accustomed to his daughter's mischievous nature and remained composed.

“It’s my master, Tian Ci,” Le Qianxue revealed Yuan Tian Ci’s name. The situation was urgent, and she could not hold back.

The emperor frowned. “Your master? Yet you claim you are betrothed to him? Do you think I am so easily deceived?”

Now the emperor was slightly angry.

Le Qianxue said, “Why can’t a disciple marry her master? It seems the laws of Tianlong do not forbid it.”

Seeing her sharp tongue, the emperor’s expression darkened further.

He snorted, “Snow girl, you are a candidate in the selection. You cannot marry on your own accord. If you are not chosen, then you may marry someone else. This rule has long existed. Do you not know? I do not care if you are truly betrothed. It is invalid.”

Le Qianxue was annoyed. So it was indeed like that.

But this was hardly surprising. When the emperor was younger, maidens of marriageable age were forbidden to marry and had to enter the palace for selection. Only if they failed could they marry.

Now, choosing consorts for the princes was less formal. Before the selection ceremony, marriages could still be arranged. If betrothal occurred then, that woman would be disqualified.

Poor Le Qianxue had never considered this issue. Now, hurriedly claiming she was betrothed to Yuan Tian Ci was futile—the deadline had passed.

Le Qianxue said, “That’s bullying. I do not even like the prince.”

“Impudent! Marriage is a serious matter; you do not decide.” The emperor was angry. “Le family, you’ve truly failed in raising your daughter.”

Le Yongcheng was helpless. As a man, he was somewhat careless and never expected this outcome.

Although he did not want Le Qianxue to go, these were the rules. If he resisted, the emperor would have leverage.

He said, “Your Majesty, please calm down. I will discipline her well.”

The emperor coldly added, “Snow girl, stop making excuses. Many desire to attend this selection but lack the qualifications. Return to the palace.”

The emperor arrived joyfully but left in anger.

Le Qianxue was helpless, pondering long without any solution.

Le Yongcheng said, “You refused to marry Master Li before. Now look, you must enter the palace for the selection.”

If she had to marry Master Li, Le Qianxue would rather not live.

She said, “Father, both are dead ends. You honestly expect me to choose?”

Le Yongcheng was anxious. “What else can be done? If you had married Master Li then, with your temperament, you would have divorced him. That would have been a way out.”

Le Qianxue nearly clapped her hands. Le Yongcheng had thought of a clever idea.

But now it was too late. She had already discarded Master Li, and in the end, Zhan Lianjing had destroyed his entire family.

Thinking of Zhan Lianjing again, Le Qianxue felt a tightness in her chest. If she had not fallen out with him, he could have solved this matter.

The old emperor was bullying her because she had no backing. She sighed in frustration; life was truly a headache.

Finally, Le Yongcheng came up with a brilliant plan. “Why don’t you consummate your relationship with Tian Ci? That way, the emperor can do nothing.”

Le Qianxue glared at him. “How can that be?”

“Why not? Didn’t you just use him? I thought you two had reached an understanding.” Le Yongcheng spoke earnestly. “This is the only way now. Otherwise, you really must enter the palace. Whether you become the crown prince’s consort or the second prince’s consort, think carefully.”

Hearing this, Le Qianxue’s head ached again. She waved her hand. “Enough, I’ll think of a way myself. Having an unreliable father is troublesome.”

Le Qianxue turned away, unwilling to continue the discussion.

Le Yongcheng called after her in vain. Unreliable? How was he unreliable?

The list for the selection ceremony had been released—only twenty candidates, each with a distinguished background.

The most popular was naturally Yang Ning’er, daughter of the Right Prime Minister.

But the emperor had just personally visited the general’s residence to see Le Qianxue. Many had already bet on her. The emperor’s favor suggested she would surely be chosen.

Four princes would select consorts in this grand event. Generally, aside from the sole main wife, the crown prince and princes could each choose two concubines at most. This was the limit, so some of the twenty would certainly be rejected.

Le Qianxue glanced over the list. She recognized some of the names; many were beauties.

But beauty was not the most important. More important was their background. The imperial family valued power above all else, rarely love.

She sighed repeatedly. Hua Tao, unable to watch any longer, said, “Miss, it seems only Prince Zhan can help you now. In this world, only Prince Zhan dares defy the emperor.”

Hua Tao merely offered an opinion, but Le Qianxue’s expression darkened.

She glanced at the wound on her wrist and said, “Why would he help me now? Besides, I don’t want to ask for his help.”

Hua Tao was helpless and shared her worry. Even this brilliant doctor girl had no way out sometimes.

But there were still a few days left; Le Qianxue was not in a hurry.

She first went to see Yuan Tian Ci. Although he did not yet know she had just used him, because of the sword wound to his chest, he already hated her deeply.

...

(Tianjin)