Spring in the Hall of Paintings

During the preliminary selection, the main task was to examine the young women’s physical condition. The sedan chairs of the Eight Banners were lined up according to each banner, and the eunuch in charge, with his sharp voice, called out, “The young ladies from the upper three banners stand in front, and those from the lower five banners stand behind. Enter the palace in order. Let me remind you all, nothing unclean is to be brought into the palace.”

Yun Lan and Yun Wei stood together, exchanging a knowing smile. Their attire was plain and simple, not showing off in any way. However, Jing Yi was different. Although she wore the same uniform, her sleeves and collar were embroidered with subtle patterns, making her look even more radiant. Among the young women, if one judged purely by beauty, Jing Yi was above average. However, in the Tong family, with Yun Lan and Yun Wei ahead of her, Jing Yi’s beauty was not as apparent.

Yun Wei was grateful for the snacks that Fucha had prepared for her, but when she got off the carriage, she left them behind and didn’t take them with her. Yun Wei had always been pampered by Fucha and had never been wronged. She could endure hunger for a while, but she didn’t want to cause trouble over a snack.

“Are the upper three banners ahead?” Yun Lan murmured quietly. Yun Wei remained silent, acting aloof. From the moment she got off the carriage, Yun Wei had stopped displaying her usual sweetness and liveliness. She appeared more like a wooden doll, showing little reaction to the surrounding events. Yun Lan, focused on the arrangement of the banners, didn’t notice anything unusual and failed to observe her sister’s odd behavior. Yun Wei’s arm displayed a banner clearly stating, “Daughter of the Loyal and Brave Marquis,” which, despite her low-key demeanor, attracted the attention of the other young women. Right now, the most talked-about topic in the capital was the imperial selection, followed closely by Emperor Kangxi’s favor towards Rongxuan and the importance he placed on the Tong family. As Rongxuan’s legitimate daughter, Yun Wei was naturally the center of attention.

The palace maids and eunuchs checked the young women’s belongings and clothes. Most of these attendants were sent by various palace consorts to investigate which young women stood out in beauty or came from prestigious families. Each consort had detailed records for future reference. Yun Wei received the most attention, but the experienced palace maids didn’t notice anything unusual. They only thought Yun Wei’s appearance was rather delicate, but her expression was stiff and unengaging. Compared to her sister Yun Lan, she appeared rather dull. Furthermore, this batch of young women mostly came from noble backgrounds, making it the most outstanding selection yet. Besides Yun Wei, who gained her status through her father, there was Yun Lan, praised by Emperor Kangxi for her talent, and Guo Luoluo Jing Shu, daughter of the Princess of the Prince’s House, among others. Yun Wei was no longer as conspicuous.

During the preliminary selection, Yun Wei was treated with great care. No one wanted to oppose the powerful Rongxuan, so Yun Wei was not subjected to any uncomfortable inspections. The inspecting matron quickly examined her body, confirming she was still a virgin and that she bore no unpleasant scents. Instead, she gave off a faint fragrance, and there were no scars or marks that might be considered unseemly. The matron was reluctant to move her hands away from Yun Wei’s skin, which was as smooth as snow, with a subtle pinkish tint, cool and silky like the finest silk. It was so perfect that one didn’t want to look away. Yang Mama had already privately advised Yun Wei—this inspection could not be avoided—so Yun Wei was mentally prepared. After putting on her clothes, Yun Wei took two pouches from her sleeves and placed them on the couch. Her gaze slightly distant, she spoke slowly, “Mother instructed me to offer tea to the two matrons.”

The two matrons silently expressed regret. ‘What a shame, such a fine young woman, yet she’s so lacking in charm and worldly wisdom.’ Yun Wei pressed her hair back and walked out in a proper manner. Her manners were flawless, but she came across as stiff and uninteresting. One of the matrons sighed, “What a pity, such a beautiful figure, yet the daughter of Lord Tong, hidden away in the depths of the family, is like this. Sigh, it’s such a waste.”

“Have you not heard of the fame of Tong Jia Yun Lan? The two cousins are less than half a year apart, and compared to her, Yun Lan is considered quite good.”

“That’s true, but how do we report to the master? The master is quite concerned.”

The two matrons whispered among themselves, discussing their strategy. The other young women, waiting for their turn to be inspected, stood awkwardly behind Yun Wei, not daring to urge the matrons. These matrons were so bold because they knew that the young woman behind Yun Wei was the daughter of a fourth-rank official, with no powerful relatives. They were impolite with her, taking their time with the inspection before allowing her to dress. They didn’t even glance at the small coins she dropped during the process. The girl’s eyes were slightly red, holding back tears of grievance. But who could she blame? While the selection was technically about appearance, it was, in reality, about family background.

“Fourth Sister,” Yun Wei saw Yun Lan’s face looked unpleasant and couldn’t help but approach and ask softly, “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“No, no, I’m just… just feeling humiliated…”

Yun Lan’s lips were pale, her nails digging into her flesh. The sharp pain helped her realize where she was — the Qing Dynasty, where imperial power reigned above all. She was in the magnificent Forbidden City. Yun Lan had already prepared herself for the physical examination during the preliminary selection, but when she had to undress in front of the matrons and expose herself to their inspection, she nearly couldn’t stop herself from kicking the hand that reached toward her body. Yun Lan didn’t want to dwell on what had just happened. How much had she sacrificed just to marry Yinzhen?

“Fourth Sister, try to see it clearly. This is something every young woman has to go through.”

Yun Wei softly comforted Yun Lan. Jing Yi leaned in, and Yun Wei immediately stopped speaking. Jing Yi had heard rumors that the old lady had other plans for Yun Wei. She secretly wished that Yun Wei couldn’t secure a marriage to any powerful official, for only if Yun Wei married low would she have a chance. Therefore, Yun Lan was her main rival. Jing Yi asked with concern, “Fourth Sister, have you seen Guo Luoluo Jing Shu? I heard she hasn’t even been inspected yet.”

Yun Lan gave Jing Yi a half-smile, and glanced at her. “Cousin, don’t treat everyone as fools. If you don’t like Guo Luoluo, you can compete with her. Don’t try to use me as a stepping stone. You’ve miscalculated.”

“How can you say such things?” Jing Yi looked wronged, intending to ask Yun Wei for help. Yun Wei gave a faint smile and whispered, “Sister Jing Yi, don’t hurt our sisterly bond. The old lady doesn’t want the Tong family’s reputation to be damaged.”

Yun Wei used the old lady’s influence to keep Jing Yi’s ambitions in check. With these concerns, Jing Yi wouldn’t dare cause irreparable trouble. Yun Wei, being sharp, could already see that Jing Yi, like Yun Lan, had someone in her heart. His status wasn’t low either. Yun Wei couldn’t understand why they, as young women, were already developing feelings before their marriages were even arranged. If things didn’t go well, wouldn’t it lead to prolonged suffering? If the husband found out, the consequences could be severe. These were things Yun Wei didn’t dare to say outright, but she subtly hinted at them during casual conversation with Yun Lan. However, the effect wasn’t clear. Yun Lan laughed and said Yun Wei was overthinking and worrying for no reason. “If you don’t put in the effort, how could you expect to succeed?”

After the young women had undergone the physical examination, they were then taken to different rooms where they were asked by the young eunuchs to recite a few lines of poetry. Of course, those from the upper three banners went first. Yun Lan, after going through the initial selection, truly understood the prestige of the upper three banners. She now had a deeper understanding of Yun Wei’s earlier dissatisfaction with the Tong family being relegated to the lower five banners, particularly the Plain Blue Banner. Under the scorching sun, the young women from the lower five banners had no choice but to stand in the heat and wait, while the upper three banners not only went first but also stood in the shaded areas. The difference was stark, and to make matters worse, some young women from the upper three banners occasionally cast disdainful glances from above. Yun Lan, feeling frustrated, silently swore that when Yinzhen became emperor, she would demand that Yongzheng raise the flag for the Tong family.

Once everything was completed, the sun began to set, and the young women were directed to rest in the designated rooms. Most of them were around the same age, and each room had at least five or six beds. The young women gathered together and began chatting and laughing. Yun Wei was placed at the farthest end, the most advantageous position. When the other young women came to talk to her, Yun Wei quietly listened and didn’t say much, leaving the others disappointed in their attempts to curry favor. On the other hand, Yun Lan was witty and engaging, attracting more attention from the others. In no time, Yun Lan was surrounded by a group of young women, and while chatting, she gathered a lot of information. In this regard, Yun Lan, who was more experienced, easily outshone the others.

In a magnificent and exquisite palace, a beautiful, captivating noblewoman sat down, placing her tea cup on the table. Raising an eyebrow, she said, “Tong Jia Yun Wei is dull and uninteresting? Have you looked carefully?”

“Yes, Mistress, I’ve seen it clearly, and I wouldn’t dare to speak carelessly.” The matron in front of her swore on heaven, and the noblewoman, wearing nails adorned with tortoiseshell and gemstones, waved her hand, the jewels sparkling. “Forget it, the emperor probably won’t only choose Tong Jia Yun Wei for the princes. Go down and take a closer look at the other talented candidates.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Do you think the Emperor will fill the selection with more newcomers? This batch has many from the south, with low-born backgrounds, but their seductive skills are not few.” The noblewoman’s eyes gleamed with jealousy. The matron, who was close to her, stepped forward and said, “Even if they have skills, they can’t surpass you, Mistress. The Emperor is very fond of you, and when it comes to favor, you are unparalleled in the palace. Even the other concubines can’t compare to you.”

“What about Noble Lady Liang? Though she is considered a noble Lady, she has already been treated as a concubine. Since the Eighth Prince has won the emperor’s favor, it’s only a matter of time before Noble Lady Liang is promoted. I can’t match her in appearance, but this time, like the Ninth Prince, the Eighth Prince will have a marriage arranged. The family of his wife will be his greatest support. Noble Lady Liang can no longer rely on the Eighth Prince. He has always been raised in the Imperial Concubine Hui’s palace. Empress Hui is related to Nalan Mingzhu by blood, and it is said that she is even Nalan Rongruo’s cousin. Imperial Concubine Hui gave birth to the First Prince, so perhaps she won’t focus too much on the Eighth Prince.”

The rescue of Emperor Kangxi by the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, and the Eighth Prince, Yinti, made a huge stir in the Forbidden City. Kangxi praised these two sons for their filial acts. Yinti has always been gentle and courteous, winning the favor of many, and with the support of his wife’s family, he is expected to become even more esteemed in the future.

“Mistress, I’ve heard something, but I’m not sure if it’s true.”

“Tell me. I know you’re well-informed.” The noblewoman poked the matron’s head with her finger and smiled, scolding, “Are you trying to act all formal in front of me now?”

“Yes, yes, yes, I’m from the same hometown as the eunuch by the Emperor’s side. Many years ago, he received a favor from me, and he is a person who repays kindness. Yesterday, he took advantage of the opportunity when the Emperor sent rewards to the master to come find me. He said… he said that the Emperor had hinted vaguely, and it seems that… the Tong family may be about to offer the prince’s primary consort.”

“Ah, is it Tong Jia Yun Lan, or Tong Jia Yun Wei?”

“He didn’t say. I wouldn’t dare to speak carelessly.”

The noblewoman massaged her forehead. This news, whether she knew it or not, would spread throughout the entire palace within a day. Was the Emperor intentional or accidental? The question was who would be chosen as the prince’s primary consort? The noblewoman pondered repeatedly. With a better reputation, Tong Jia Yun Lan, the niece of Rongxuan, had a greater chance. A niece was not the same as a biological daughter, and Rongxuan would not lean towards the prince just because of his niece. If she had Rongxuan’s support, it would be a huge advantage. The noblewoman said, “Go, bring the Ninth Prince to me. I have something to discuss with him.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

As the noblewoman, who was none other than Imperial Concubine Yi, had predicted, the news of the Tong family potentially offering a prince’s primary consort spread quickly through the palace. However, in front of Emperor Kangxi, everyone tacitly acted as if they knew nothing about it, while the inner court was stirred with secretive waves. The day after the initial selection, as the eight banners’ young women made their rounds through the Forbidden City and rode out of the palace in blue cloth carriages, Yun Wei returned to the Tong residence and rushed straight to Fucha’s side. She took her hand with a sweet smile, her lively eyes sparkling like brilliant stars, and said, “Mother, Yaya missed you.”