Chapter 7: The Preliminary Selection

Chapter 7: The Preliminary Selection

At dawn, the sky was faintly lit, and the scenery was ethereal. As soon as the gates of Chongxian Lane opened, carriages began to roll out one after another. Fan Xueyao sat in the bumpy carriage, feeling as if her bones were about to fall apart. This was precisely why she disliked going out; without modern shock-absorbing vehicles, travel in ancient times was a torment.

Fortunately, the journey was smooth, and just before Fan Xueyao was about to be sick, the carriage finally came to a stop.

Aunt Xu helped Fan Xueyao out of the carriage. She quickly scanned her surroundings and saw young maidens standing by the palace gates, each dressed uniquely but all equally beautiful. Those who recognized each other gathered in small groups, whispering softly. In no time, the majestic walls of the palace were filled with the scent of perfume and the sounds of laughter, making it quite lively.

Most of the maidens wore veiled hats, but the sheer fabric did little to conceal their faces in the morning light.

Fan Xueyao looked at these youthful, flower-like faces, untouched by the ravages of time. Each face was filled with excitement, and the murmurs around her revealed their hopes for future glory and honor.

From now on, she would be competing with these women.

Who would ultimately emerge as the winner?

Fan Xueyao slightly curled her lips, confident in her determination.

Aunt Xu did not leave immediately. Instead, she led Fan Xueyao aside, away from prying eyes, and gently adjusted the jasmine flower in her hair. She whispered softly, "My lady, I can only accompany you this far. I have done everything I can. From here on, it's up to you." Aunt Xu, hired to teach Fan Xueyao, was not a servant of the Fan family, so she always referred to herself as "I."

Fan Xueyao held Aunt Xu's hand, looking into her eyes, sensing her unspoken concern. Her heart warmed. She too was moved by genuine care. Smiling gently, her lightly powdered face seemed to melt like snow, blooming with spring flowers, captivating everyone around her.

"Thank you, Aunt Xu. Your guidance has been invaluable. I will not disappoint you."

Hearing Fan Xueyao use the formal term for herself, Aunt Xu felt a mix of warmth and sadness. Though she was hired, others called her "Lady Xu," yet she was merely a former palace maid. She had seen many people treat her respectfully on the surface but use her as they pleased. With Fan Xueyao, however, she felt genuine respect and closeness, which made her more dedicated and sincere in her teaching.

Having spent her youth in the palace, she married a merchant after leaving. Unfortunately, her husband died within a few years, leaving her childless and alone. Over the past few months, she had come to regard Fan Xueyao as her own daughter.

Seeing Fan Xueyao about to enter the palace, Aunt Xu worried that she might suffer. She wanted to give her some last-minute advice to help her avoid pitfalls.

"Do you remember the favored concubine Li during Emperor Ren's reign?"

Fan Xueyao nodded. "Of course, I do." Not just Emperor Ren, she knew the histories and anecdotes of every emperor since the founding of the dynasty, especially those related to the palace. Knowing more about the palace would increase her chances of success.

Aunt Xu sighed, her eyes filled with concern. "I had the fortune to meet her a few times. She was graceful and charming, and her favor was unparalleled. However, she suffered three miscarriages and then a difficult childbirth, losing both her son and her health. She passed away shortly after... You must understand that once you enter the palace, it's like rowing upstream against a waterfall. It's hard and dangerous. If you don't succeed, you'll fall off the cliff."

Fan Xueyao understood Aunt Xu's meaning. Even being the most favored concubine didn't guarantee anything. Throughout history, emperors had many favored concubines. A clear-minded emperor would still have at least one favorite, let alone those who indulged in pleasures. Beauty alone couldn't secure a place in an emperor's heart. Aunt Xu was reminding her to stay alert and see through the glamour to the darkness and danger behind it.

As the time approached, the Xiao Huangmen came to usher the maidens inside. Aunt Xu quickly gave a few more words of caution before leaving.

As the sun rose, the bell rang at dawn, and the palace gates opened. Servants from various families presented the name cards of their maidens.

Leng Xiang supported Fan Xueyao, and Yan Ran soon returned. Both Yan Ran and Leng Xiang had been with Fan Xueyao since childhood. Although Fan Xueyao rarely attended social gatherings with Li Rong, she often involved them in her affairs, making them very useful. Yan Ran remained calm despite the grand occasion.

Soon, the Xiao Huangmen led the maidens into the palace. Fan Xueyao noticed that her group was the largest, followed by the ladies from Chang'an and then the officials' daughters from outside the capital.

The Xiao Huangmen guided thousands of maidens through the gates. Everyone fell silent, the only sounds being their footsteps and the rustling of their clothes.

After walking for a while, the Xiao Huangmen stopped. Fan Xueyao quickly glanced around, realizing they were in a vast open space, large enough for two football fields. Thousands of maidens stood there, each looking like tiny ants from above.

Without delay, the Xiao Huangmen began organizing the maidens into rows of a hundred, sorted by age. Fan Xueyao, being younger, was placed near the front. She kept her gaze forward, standing straight like a lotus in the wind.

The Xiao Huangmen inspected each maiden, occasionally saying, "Step aside," "Step aside," "Step aside." As the maidens were eliminated, some cried, causing the remaining ones to become even more nervous, trying to present their best selves.

Soon, the Xiao Huangmen reached Fan Xueyao, examined her height and build, nodded, and moved on to the next maiden.

She had passed the preliminary selection.

Fan Xueyao knew that she would likely pass based on her physique, but she had prepared for any unexpected situations. Now that she was certain, she breathed a sigh of relief.

The preliminary selection was simple, eliminating those who were too tall, too short, too fat, or too thin. About a thousand maidens were eliminated.

An hour later, the preliminary selection ended, and the Xiao Huangmen led the successful maidens out of the palace to register and return home, awaiting the second round the next day.

The eliminated maidens wept as they boarded their carriages, returning home with the label of "unqualified." Some had traveled long distances to Chang'an, only to be rejected before even entering the inner palace.

The second round was the next day. When Fan Xueyao returned home, her sisters were waiting eagerly. They crowded around her, asking about the selection process and the grandeur of the palace.

Before she could answer, Li Rong came to shoo them away.

Once the room was quiet, Li Rong took her hand and asked detailed questions.

Relieved to hear everything went smoothly, Li Rong sighed, "It breaks my heart to send you to the palace. Forget about glory and wealth; what matters is our family staying together. Once you're in the palace, who knows when we'll see you again."

Fan Xueyao was about to comfort her when Li Rong patted her hand, as if anticipating her response. "I know my dear child has her ambitions. I won't stop you. Just remember, you are a part of me. Stay safe and make us proud."

"Yes, Mother, I understand," Fan Xueyao replied sincerely. Parents who selflessly sacrifice for their children are rare. Li Rong and Fan Minghui had their own motives, but their love was genuine.

"You've been busy all day. Go rest for a bit. I'll send someone to wake you for dinner," Li Rong said kindly. "Stay here tonight."

Exhausted from the early start, Fan Xueyao agreed and went to rest.

In the evening, after dinner, Fan Minghui asked about the preliminary selection. Soon after, Grandmother Fan summoned her, and she stayed for a while before returning to He Xiang Courtyard. Exhausted, she went to bed early, preparing for the next day's second round.