Chapter 8: The Physical Examination

Chapter 8: The Physical Examination

After the initial selection came the second round, which was even more challenging. The remaining young ladies lined up in the same venue as the day before, and Xiao Huangmen meticulously inspected each one. This time, it wasn't just about height, weight, and body shape.

Xiao Huangmen used extremely picky standards to examine every detail of the young ladies' faces, hair, skin, chests, waists, and hips. If any aspect did not meet the criteria, he would say, "Step aside," signaling their elimination.

Once the physical screening was complete, the young ladies were asked to report their family background, names, and ages to assess their voice quality and demeanor. Those with rough voices, unclear speech, or poor posture were immediately told to step aside. In this way, another two thousand candidates were eliminated.

The next phase involved a more detailed examination. First, the young ladies' hands and feet were measured, then they were asked to walk a short distance to evaluate their gait and grace. Those with slightly larger feet, thicker wrists, or improper conduct were ruthlessly eliminated. Most of the young ladies from Chang'an passed this stage, with only a few being eliminated due to minor imperfections in their hands and feet, but their demeanor was deemed acceptable.

After all, these young ladies from Chang'an, even those from humble backgrounds, had been carefully nurtured since childhood. However, the candidates from outside the capital varied greatly in terms of demeanor and upbringing. Some were as refined as those from Chang'an, while others were coarse and unrefined.

Fan Xueyao smoothly passed the detailed examination and was allowed to stay in the palace. Before that, there was one more round—the physical examination.

At this point, only one thousand out of the initial five thousand candidates remained. These one thousand young ladies would be taken into private rooms by experienced palace maids for the physical examination.

The physical examination not only verified the candidates' purity but also checked for body odor, breast shape, scars, and moles. The process was complex and time-consuming due to the elaborate ancient attire, which made undressing and redressing cumbersome.

The one thousand candidates were divided into fifty groups, each entering the room for the examination. Each group took about fifteen minutes to complete the examination of one candidate. As time passed, many candidates began to feel restless. Fan Xueyao, however, remained calm due to her consistent physical training, including yoga and fitness routines. To blend in, she pretended to be struggling like the others.

Since Fan Xueyao was among the younger candidates, she was placed towards the end of the line. It was nearly four hours before her turn arrived.

Entering the room, a palace maid led her inside. Fan Xueyao quickly glanced around and noticed that the room was divided into five small chambers by screens. Although small, each chamber could accommodate several people.

The palace maid led her into one of the inner chambers where three middle-aged palace maids stood. Fan Xueyao smiled politely, nodded in greeting, and handed over a pouch from her waist. "Thank you for your hard work. This is a small token of appreciation."

The middle-aged palace maids felt the weight of the pouch. They knew from experience that it contained pearls and were pleased with its contents. Impressed by Fan Xueyao's appearance and demeanor, they nodded approvingly and conducted the examination with extra care and kindness.

One of the palace maids apologized and began helping her undress.

Standing naked before them, Fan Xueyao, though visibly shy, extended her limbs gracefully for inspection. Despite her young age, her body, shaped by years of training, already showed signs of maturity. Her figure, hidden under thick clothing, now revealed its graceful curves.

Fan Xueyao took pride in her physique, checking herself daily after exercise to ensure perfection. Over time, her body had developed a perfect balance, neither too thin nor too plump. This was the result of years of dedication, making every drop of sweat worth it.

The four examiners marveled at the soft, radiant glow of her snow-white skin, her slender waist, and the subtle yet firm muscles beneath. Even the women examining her were captivated by her beauty. Moving upwards, her chest featured a pair of perfectly rounded breasts, not overly large but full and well-proportioned, resembling ripe peaches.

Her flawless, smooth skin was a marvel to touch, evoking an irresistible urge to caress it. The experienced palace maids handled her gently, fearing their rough hands might damage such delicate skin. They silently admired her, noting that even noble ladies could not match her silky, flawless complexion.

After a thorough examination, Fan Xueyao redressed and left the room. The candidates who passed this stage were not allowed to leave but were led into a hall by Xiao Huangmen to await further results. Fan Xueyao had researched previous selection processes and knew that although this one differed slightly, the outcome would be similar. Only three hundred candidates would ultimately remain, but currently, there were over four hundred waiting in the hall. Therefore, the experienced palace maids would need to eliminate another hundred candidates based on their qualifications.

Remaining calm and composed, Fan Xueyao waited patiently.

Sure enough, after half an hour, the experienced palace maids arrived with a list. Those whose names were called were eliminated and escorted out of the palace.

When the list was closed without calling Fan Xueyao's name, it was clear she had passed.

The senior palace maid then addressed the remaining candidates. "Congratulations, ladies. You have all passed this stage."

Despite anticipating this, the candidates still burst into joy and excitement, exchanging glances to convey their elation.

"From now on, you will reside in Chuxiu Palace for a month. Please be cautious with your words and actions. Reaching this point has been no easy feat, so do not let a momentary lapse ruin everything." The senior palace maid spoke sternly, her gaze filled with warning.

Though she referred to herself as a servant, her demeanor was dignified, impressing some of the less privileged candidates. They marveled at the authority of even a senior palace maid and wondered how grand their own status would be if they became concubines.

After the reminder, the senior palace maid summoned junior maids to lead the candidates to Chuxiu Palace. Upon arrival, Fan Xueyao saw a row of palace maids standing at the gate, one of whom wore a different uniform, indicating her leadership role.

The junior maid leading Fan Xueyao and the others approached respectfully and presented the register.

The senior maid smiled upon reviewing the register. "Please wait a moment. I will arrange for someone to show you to your quarters." She then called over a junior maid named Songxiang. "Songxiang, please escort these five ladies to their quarters." She handed over the register and added, "Your luggage and personal maids will be delivered to your rooms. Please proceed with confidence."

Although she addressed the group as "ladies," her eyes lingered on one particular candidate beside Fan Xueyao.

This action drew the attention of several candidates, who began to scrutinize the chosen lady. During the selection, candidates only reported their names without mentioning their backgrounds, but familiarity and connections often revealed their identities.

Fan Xueyao, despite her humble background, knew through her unique ability that the lady beside her was Li Xiuyun, the daughter of the Duke of Qi's second son and a high-ranking official. Her noble birth was evident.

Although both their fathers held the same rank, their backgrounds were worlds apart. No wonder the senior maid favored Li Xiuyun.

Fan Xueyao blinked, showing no envy. High birth had its challenges, and low birth had its advantages. Indeed, the other candidates now viewed Li Xiuyun as a rival, forgetting about her.

Li Xiuyun smiled and thanked the senior maid without further action.

The senior maid then instructed Songxiang to lead the group to their quarters.

Entering the courtyard, they found a path paved with stone slabs leading to a modest-sized residence with three main rooms and side chambers. Initially, they thought the six of them would share the space, but more candidates arrived.

Li Xiuyun frowned and asked Songxiang, "Is this courtyard meant for all eighteen of us?"

Songxiang, unlocking the door, replied, "Yes, Lady. Chuxiu Palace has limited space, so this courtyard will house eighteen ladies."

Eighteen?

The middle room served as a reception area, meaning each side chamber would accommodate at least three ladies. Li Xiuyun's delicate eyebrows furrowed deeply.

Fan Xueyao was unfazed, having anticipated this situation. With three hundred candidates, it was impossible for each to have a separate room, even in a spacious palace.

The other candidates seemed indifferent, either unconcerned or resigned to the reality of palace life.

Seeing Li Xiuyun's reaction, one candidate rolled her eyes, thinking her overly dramatic.

Songxiang unlocked the door and was about to lead everyone inside when she noticed someone missing.

"Lady Li, it's time to go inside," Songxiang called to Li Xiuyun, who was still standing in the courtyard.

Li Xiuyun gestured slightly toward the main room and said in a soft voice, "I see that the rooms over there are quite nice, so why did you specifically assign me to the western wing?"

Song Xiang explained, "This arrangement was decided by the aunts beforehand. I am merely following the rules."

Hearing this, Li Xiuyun pursed her lips, glanced at the main room, and then turned to enter the western wing.

Fan Xueyao and the others had entered the rooms earlier and had already taken five of the beds in three rooms, leaving only one bed by the window in the southernmost part for Li Xiuyun. As soon as Li Xiuyun came in, she saw this and her expression changed. She looked at the other girls with an unfriendly gaze.

"I am not used to sleeping by the window. Will anyone switch with me?"