"What? Why did you choose her, your majesty?" Consort Ming was astonished, ashamed and angry.
Hua Qingxin also wanted to ask, why was she selected? She thought she should have been dragged out and beheaded.
"I like her." Yun Cang measured her with his eyes with interest. "She kneeled in a charming way and kowtowed at ease with elegance."
Consort Rong could not bear it, "But, but her face is as red as a monkey a.s.s."
"Which represents her unrestrained spirit."
The other consorts found her faults, too.
"Her dress is just like a feather duster. Her taste is really bad…"
"You don"t understand. It is like a peac.o.c.k showing its tails!"
"Hey, since when does kowtowing become a talent and skill?"
"Of course! It is an ancient skill!"
G.o.d! What was wrong with the emperor? How could he talk barefaced nonsense naturally like this!
Hua Qingxin was too ashamed to raise her head.
Staring at Hua Qingxin, Yun Cang said in a deep and solemn way, "You are my beauty now. Do you hear me, Beauty Hua?"
"Ah…" Facing with the sudden conferment, Hua Qingxin was at a loss. She looked out of the window unconsciously, as if she was searching for something.
Yun Cang smiled slightly, "Don"t worry. Prince Yun Hai will not arrest you with his sword."
Hua Qingxin was shocked, and finally fell on the ground desperately. She could not help shedding tears.
"Your majesty, the stupid girl did not even know how to express grat.i.tude for the favor." Consort Ming blinked her eyes and said in a low and careful voice, "There are so many beautiful girls. Why do you choose a girl keen on another man? There are still many girls waiting out…"
"There is no reason to like or dislike a person. Besides…" Yun Cang stood up. He glanced at Consort Ming and said in a cold voice, "How dare you question my choice? Go back and balance joss sticks and candles on your head."
"Show some mercy, your majesty…" Consort Ming threw herself on her knees coquettishly.
But the emperor did not look at her at all. He did not want to see the rest of girls and dismissed them by waving his hand.
Hua Qingxin could not get back to her home since the emperor had given the order. Her family members packed her belongings and sent to the palace, together with Maid Meng, her little maid.
Hua Qingxin muttered something to herself by looking to the mirror, "Why… I should have become the wife of Prince Yun Hai…"
She would have married Yun Hai, the sixth prince, but for the sudden trouble befalling her mother, and her elder sister"s mother became the wife of her father.
Hua Qingxin had been the daughter of the first wife of her father for 16 years in the Mansion of the Prime Minister. But she lost everything in a second…
Seeing that her lady was so desperate, Maid Meng felt so sorry for her but there was nothing she could do.
There was a saying that family members of emperors were the most ruthless. Brothers could kill each other for the throne, and they would never give up power and influence for a woman. A prince had to marry the daughter of the first wife of the Prime Minister to get him roped in…
Hua Qingxin knew the principle but refused to believe it.
She thought Prince Yun Hai was an exception.
Maid Meng folded up the quilt and reminded her, "Do not be sad, Beauty. Today is the first day for your conferment. What"s more, you are the only imperial concubine selected this time, and the emperor may stay overnight here with you."
Ah!?
Hua Qingxin was astonished, and refused immediately, "No!"
"I do not want to be the woman of the emperor. I"m the girl of Prince Yun Hai…" By saying so, she covered her neckline and walked up and down in the room, "What shall I do? What shall I do…?"
Suddenly, she had an idea, "Well, I"m going to the Imperial Garden. If the emperor comes here, you just tell him that I have gone to the Imperial Garden and ask him not to wait for me."
By saying so, she was running out.
Maid Meng stopped her immediately, "Beauty, I do not know when the emperor will come here. How long will you have to wait if you go to the Imperial Garden now?"
"Right." Hua Qingxin suddenly turned back.
Maid Meng thought Beauty Hua had given up the poor idea. But then she saw her lady picking up her quilt and pillow and rushing out, "I"ll stay overnight in the Imperial Garden."
"What!?"
Yun Cang put down the writing brush and stretched himself.
Seeing that it was late, Eunuch Ling could not help reminding the emperor, "Your majesty, you have just conferred a Beauty today. Would you…"
"No." Yun Cang refused. "Both the Beauty and the military leadership of Prince Yun Hai shall be taken slowly. Haste makes waste."
"Oh." Eunuch Ling thought for a while, "Then where do you stay tonight, your majesty?"
Yun Cang stood up and stretched his muscles and bones, "Let"s take a walk in the Imperial Garden first and see where this walk will take us to."
"All right, your majesty!"