37: The Selection of Women (Please Collect and Read)

Chapter 37: Selecting Draft Candidates (Seeking Bookmarks and Follow-ups)

"Zheng Yuxia, Princess Jinxia?"

Inside Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager muttered this name, her eyes showing a slight trace of worry.

Yaochi, Jinxia...

Is Your Majesty truly set on searching for immortals?

Beside her, the Empress said excitedly, "Aunt, this is wonderful! Consort Bi also gave birth to a daughter!"

"Now there are still Consort Duan and Consort De. I wonder if they will give birth to boys or girls..."

"Aunt, what if I give birth to a daughter too..."

"It MUST be a boy!"

The Empress Dowager spoke up suddenly, causing the Empress to hesitate slightly.

"Aunt, whether one gives birth to a boy or a girl is determined by Heaven. How... how can I force it?"

The Empress Dowager frowned, "Regardless, the legitimate son must belong to my Lu Family."

"You will give birth in four months. I have already made preparations."

"Rest assured, the child you give birth to will definitely be an imperial prince!"

"He will also be the Crown Prince, the future emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty!"

"This... Liner understands."

Lu Liner's heart stirred, her eyes filled with conflict, but she grit her teeth and agreed.

Consorts giving birth to princesses in succession was a grand and joyous event, completely washing away the rumors from a year ago that Emperor Zhengyong was naturally impotent.

Even the news of Yang Xuansu's upcoming execution of nine generations was suppressed quite a bit by this.

On this day, the Empress Dowager suddenly sent someone to summon him to Cining Palace.

Zheng Yi was puzzled, but he rushed to Cining Palace immediately.

"Greetings, Imperial Mother."

"Imperial son, sit."

After some small talk, the Empress Dowager finally brought up the main topic.

"Imperial son, Consort Shu and Consort Bi have given birth to princesses one after another, and the other concubines are also pregnant."

"To care for you and preserve your Dragon body, as well as to stabilize the Great Yu Dynasty's realm and ensure the succession of descendants, I wish to hold a draft selection for you."

"A draft selection?"

Zheng Yi was stunned. He hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to call him here today for this matter!

Hearing these words, even he couldn't help feeling a stir in his heart.

Ever since he figured out the function of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, he had entertained the idea of a draft selection.

However, tied down by a string of trivial matters, he had been unable to take action.

Who would have thought that the Empress Dowager would be the first to bring it up!

"Indeed."

The Empress Dowager nodded, "You have been on the throne for three years now, yet the harem only has one Empress, four Consorts, one Concubine, and one Noble Lady serving you. The harem's numbers are far too small."

"At its peak, the late emperor's harem had over seventy concubines and over a hundred offspring."

"Currently, your imperial uncles are in their respective fiefs, guarding the realm for you and serving as the shield of Great Yu."

"Yet you only have seven concubines and two princesses to this day. Compared to the late emperor, it is far too few."

"Therefore, I plan to announce to the world, gathering exceptional women between the ages of thirteen and eighteen to replenish the imperial harem."

Zheng Yi suppressed the excitement in his heart and hesitated, "Imperial Mother, thirteen... is too young. Can the age limit be raised?"

"A woman marrying at thirteen is ordained by Heaven. How is that too young?"

The Empress Dowager said, "Besides, thirteen-year-old girls are easiest to train and guide. Otherwise, once they grow older and their temperaments solidify, chaos might arise in the imperial harem."

"This... Everything shall be according to Imperial Mother's arrangements."

To this, Zheng Yi could only agree. At worst, he could just raise them in the palace for a few years first.

He had confiscated Yang Xuansu's household, so the treasury was bountiful; raising a few hundred draft candidates was well within his means.

The Empress Dowager said, "By the way, my son, what requirements do you have for the chosen draft candidates? I will instruct the officials in charge accordingly."

"Requirements?"

A thought suddenly struck Zheng Yi, and he said, "Imperial Mother, I actually do have one requirement."

"What requirement?"

"I wish to take in more daughters from righteous Sects in the Martial Forest, preferably Martial Artists with rankings!"

"For this, the age limit can be relaxed to twenty, as long as they are virgins."

With the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror in his possession, he naturally wanted to take in more Martial Forest masters and high-ranked Martial Artists.

Just like Consort Duan Xu Qingluan and Bi He.

In just one short year, they had raised his strength to the First Rank realm!

Since he couldn't reach the First Rank through his own practice, he would rely on others.

If one didn't work, then two; if ten didn't work, then a hundred!

Quantitative change will always lead to qualitative change, after all.

"This... Jianghu figures?"

The Empress Dowager said worriedly, "People of the Jianghu have too many passions and grudges. Bringing them into the imperial harem in large numbers might cause trouble."

"Furthermore, Jianghu women possess martial skills, and some even have deep Internal Energy. What if they grow resentful and use force against others?"

"Most importantly, I worry that if a woman bears ill will against you over some other matter..."

Zheng Yi said, "Imperial Mother, I am not taking in evil, bloodthirsty Heretics."

"We only need to select candidates from righteous Sects like the Taiyi Sect, Zhenwu Sect, Longhu Mountain, Shushan Sword Sect, or renowned Martial Forest families."

"Women from these Martial Forest righteous Sects and families have practiced martial arts since childhood, but they are also educated in literature and etiquette. I am sure they will not cause trouble."

Martial Forest families.

Martial Forest Sects.

Although this Great Yu Dynasty was an imperial society on the surface,

The realm was actually shared among the emperor, aristocratic families, and the Martial Dao!

Across the thirteen provinces, fifty-six commanderies, and over a thousand counties of the Great Yu Dynasty, almost every commandery and county had powerful Martial Forest families or Sects.

These Martial Forest families and Sects entrenched themselves in their respective domains, fighting and allying with one another.

Within each province, there would be one or several Martial Forest families or Martial Dao Sects with thousand-year Legacies holding sway.

Around the capital, things were fine, as imperial authority reached down to the countryside.

However, in remote provinces, things had reached a point where people only obeyed the commands of Sects and ignored the imperial court!

For example, the universally acknowledged number one Martial Dao Sect in the Great Yu Martial Forest today, which was also the state religion of the Great Yu Dynasty—the Taiyi Sect!

The Taiyi Sect alone had over thirty thousand Disciples, and uncountably many Named Disciples.

Bound tightly to the Great Yu imperial family, its Legacy had endured for hundreds of years.

For Zheng Yi to gather a group of high-ranked female Martial Artists who possessed Internal Energy and top Martial Forest techniques, it really presented quite a challenge.

"Furthermore..."

Zheng Yi added, "While martial women possess martial techniques, their physical fitness far exceeds that of ordinary women."

"Not only can they protect themselves, but they can also diligently educate future generations so they won't be sickly all day."

"If all the women in the palace were like Consort Cui, taking sick leave every day, what would that look like?"

Imperial draft selections were usually hosted by the Empress or Empress Dowager.

Only through them could Zheng Yi select suitable candidates.

"I see..."

After considering it for a moment, the Empress Dowager said, "I will keep this in mind."

"Thank you, Imperial Mother."

An imperial draft selection had to start from the counties, gather at provincial capitals, and ultimately be sent to the capital, taking at least half a year.

Newly arrived draft candidates also had to undergo training by specialists, which took time.

By the time Zheng Yi saw the newly chosen concubines and draft candidates, more than half a year would have passed.

"By the way, my son, how is Consort Cui doing? Have you sent imperial physicians to examine her?"

"I have."

Zheng Yi said, "The imperial physicians reported that Consort Cui contracted a lung ailment due to falling into the water and needs long-term rest."

"A lung ailment..."

The Empress Dowager said, "Let her rest and recover. After all, she is a woman of the Qinghe Cui Family."

"Yes."

Leaving Cining Palace, Zheng Yi couldn't help but look back at the palace hall.

This nominal mother of his had actually done a good deed.

Just then, Liu Chengen hurried over.

"this servant greets Your Majesty!"

"What is the hurry?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, someone took down the Immortal Summoning Order outside the imperial city!"

"Someone took it down?" Zheng Yi reacted quickly, "You mean... someone claimed my Immortal Summoning Order?"

"Is there an immortal cultivator?"