Ming Dynasty: Is a mere unruly commoner rebelling against heaven?

Chapter 64: Should Be Afraid of Deep Affection!

Liu Rushi dared not be negligent: "Replying to Your Majesty, this subject's name is Liu Rushi."

"Liu Rushi?"

Zhu Youcheng savored the name: "I see the green hills so charming, I expect the green hills see me as such."

"This is Xin Jiaxuan's poem, one that I like very much."

"Have you read poetry and books?"

Liu Rushi lowered her head and bowed slightly: "I have read some poems and lyrics, but I only know a few words."

Empress Dowager Wu smiled and said: "A daughter should focus on needlework and female crafts. It's already rare that you can recognize some characters."

Zhu Youcheng smiled; he didn't believe that Liu Rushi only knew a few words.

Zhu Youcheng pondered for a moment: "Well then, you say you've read some poetry, so I'll give you a question."

"If you can answer it, I'll keep your nameplate."

Liu Rushi clenched her fists and bowed slightly: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youcheng looked around and then pointed to the steps outside the Chuxiu Palace.

"Take the steps as the theme and compose a poem."

"I'll only give you, um… the time it takes to peel three oranges."

Hearing this, Chen Yuanyuan's hand, which was peeling an orange, trembled, and she almost dropped the orange.

At this moment, Chen Yuanyuan was in a dilemma, peeling too slowly for fear that Zhu Youcheng would be unhappy.

If she peeled too quickly, what would happen to Liu Rushi?

Fortunately, Liu Rushi didn't make things difficult for Chen Yuanyuan for too long.

She looked at the steps outside the Chuxiu Palace, and after only a slight pause, she began to recite.

"Where is the person?"

"The person walks on jade steps."

"Not infatuated yet still desiring to go, not yet cherished but full of anticipation, should be afraid of deep affection."

As soon as this poem came out, the entire Chuxiu Palace fell silent.

Zhu Youcheng pondered the poem carefully, then gently clapped his hands.

The monotonous applause echoed in the quiet Chuxiu Palace.

"Good poem! A good 'Dream Jiangnan'!"

"Not entangled in deep affection, yet still yearning for this relationship."

"Not yet receiving love, yet full of hope for the relationship."

"It seems she is afraid of investing too deeply in her feelings."

Zhu Youcheng stared at Liu Rushi with a burning gaze: "This poem is both timely and emotional."

"If it weren't for this poem, I wouldn't have known that you felt so deeply for me."

Liu Rushi's face was slightly red, and her heart was pounding.

In the heat of the moment, looking at the steps outside the Chuxiu Palace, she seemed to see herself, after entering the palace, turning her head to look at the long street outside the palace gates.

Once you enter the palace gates, it's as deep as the sea.

In that instant, the confusion about the future, the anticipation of imperial favor, and the fear of misplaced infatuation all surged into her heart.

With divine inspiration, Liu Rushi blurted out this poem.

"This old woman asks you, what is your family background?" Empress Dowager Wang also became interested.

Liu Rushi's expression was normal, and she replied truthfully.

"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject, like Chen Yuanyuan, is the adopted daughter of Zhang Wenshao, the inspecting governor of Yingtian."

Empress Dowager Wang nodded slightly, and the vigilance in her heart dissipated for the most part.

An adopted daughter of an inspecting governor of Yingtian could not compare with Zhang Wan'er in terms of background.

Zhu Youcheng instructed Cui Gongzheng: "Keep Liu Rushi's nameplate."

Cui Gongzheng bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Liu Rushi was overjoyed and knelt down to thank him: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness."

Zhu Youcheng waved his hand, and Cui Gongzheng quickly shouted: "The fifth row of candidates, step back. The sixth row of candidates, step forward one step."

As part of the fifth row, Kou Baimen was eliminated.

Kou Baimen glanced enviously at Liu Rushi, who was immersed in joy, and walked down dejectedly with her head lowered.

Among the sixth row of candidates, Li Xiangjun was among them.

So far, of their eight women, six had already participated, and only she and Dong Xiaowan had not yet participated.

Only Chen Yuanyuan and Liu Rushi were selected by Zhu Youcheng.

Chen Yuanyuan relied on her captivating beauty, and Liu Rushi relied on her talent for elegant poetry.

But the other four were eliminated, and Li Xiangjun's heart was already half cold.

Before this, all eight of them had imagined that, with their natural beauty, they might be selected by the emperor together.

The eight sisters would all become concubines in the same court.

But unexpectedly, Zhu Youcheng's standards were so high.

Of the first six sisters, only Chen Yuanyuan and Liu Rushi were selected.

Li Xiangjun, whose talent and appearance were inferior to Chen Yuanyuan and Liu Rushi, really didn't have much confidence at this moment.

Sure enough, Zhu Youcheng only glanced at the candidates in this row and then shook his head gently.

Cui Gongzheng understood: "The sixth row of candidates, step back. The seventh row of candidates, step forward one step."

Li Xiangjun sighed secretly in her heart and got up to leave with the other candidates.

Because she had already seen four of her sisters eliminated, Li Xiangjun was not as sad as the first four sisters.

But her heart was still empty, filled with fear and anxiety about the future.

It can only be said that everything is fate.

The seventh row of candidates was the last row of candidates.

Dong Xiaowan stood among them, nervously clenching her hands, but her face remained calm.

She had already prepared herself mentally; whether she was selected or not was all up to fate.

And Zhu Youcheng was their fate.

Zhu Youcheng looked at the last row of candidates, his eyes attracted by one of them.

Although this woman's appearance was not as outstanding as Zhang Wan'er and Chen Yuanyuan, she had a kind of noble and aloof, otherworldly temperament.

Her personality was as light as a chrysanthemum, like a lotus flower emerging from the mud without being tainted.

This special temperament aroused Zhu Youcheng's interest.

"Do you have a name?" Zhu Youcheng looked at Dong Xiaowan.

Dong Xiaowan was delighted to be asked by Zhu Youcheng, but her expression remained serene.

"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject's name is Dong Xiaowan, and I come from the same background as Chen Yuanyuan and Liu Rushi."

Dong Xiaowan not only answered her name but also proactively stated her background.

Zhu Youcheng suddenly realized: "I remember now, you are the eight candidates that Zhang Cai wanted to hide?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youcheng suddenly laughed: "No wonder Zhang Cai dared to risk being executed with his entire family to hide you."

"Now that I look at you closely, the three of you are all born beauties."

"Since you already have a name, then I will bestow upon you a courtesy name."

Zhu Youcheng thought for a while: "I just saw that your temperament is elegant, like a lotus flower, emerging from the muddy silt without being seductive."

"Then I will give you the two characters 'Qing Lian'."

Dong Xiaowan knelt down and saluted, her tone respectful: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the courtesy name."

Zhu Youcheng smiled slightly: "Keep the nameplate."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After selecting these thirty or so candidates, Zhu Youcheng only chose four people.

They were Zhang Wan'er, Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi, and Dong Xiaowan.

Cui Gongzheng held a tray with the names of these four people and slowly came to Zhu Youcheng, half-squatting down.

Zhu Youcheng looked at the four nameplates and suddenly asked: "Where are the birthplaces of these four candidates?"

Zhang Wan'er replied first: "Replying to Your Majesty, this subject is from Hejian Prefecture, Beizhili."

Chen Yuanyuan, Liu Rushi, and Dong Xiaowan replied in unison: "Replying to Your Majesty, all three of us are from Yangzhou Prefecture, Nanzhili."

Zhu Youcheng seemed thoughtful: "Of the four candidates selected, three are from the South, which is not appropriate."

"The other eliminated candidates, all those who are from the North, step forward and come before me."

This order from Zhu Youcheng undoubtedly ignited the flame of hope in the hearts of all the eliminated Northern candidates.

Their moods rose and fell sharply, and they seemed to fly from the bottom of the valley to the clouds again.

A dozen Northern candidates, with excited hearts, quickly stood in front of Zhu Youcheng again.