Chapter 232 Candidate
Hayashiya
"Master, something bad has happened, something bad has happened!" Butler Lin Fu ran into the main hall in a panic, with beads of sweat on his forehead.
Master Lin Zhengfeng was sitting on the armchair, holding the teacup in his hand and frowning, "Why are you so panicked?"
Lin Fu panted and said, "Master, there is news from the palace. The emperor has ordered that all the women of marriageable age in the families of officials above the fourth rank must participate in the selection ceremony of the two princes!"
"What?" Lin Zhengfeng's hand shook, and the teacup fell to the ground with a bang, breaking into pieces.
Mrs. Lin Chen, who was sitting next to her, was also pale, and the handkerchief in her hand was tightly twisted: "What should we do?"
At this time, Lin Yuxi and her sister were just coming back from the garden. Hearing the noise in the hall, the two sisters looked at each other and walked in.
"Dad, Mom, what happened?" Lin Yuxi asked softly, with a hint of worry on her face. Her manners were dignified, showing the demeanor of a lady from a noble family.
Lin Yuxin had a curious look on her face, her lively eyes darting around.
Lin Zhengfeng looked at his two daughters and sighed heavily: "The emperor has issued an order to allow the female relatives of officials above the fourth rank to participate in the ceremony of selecting concubines for the prince. Both of you and your sister are among them."
Lin Yuxi lowered her head slightly, her expression calm, as if she had expected this.
Lin Yuxin's eyes widened in disbelief: "What? The emperor wants to choose concubines for the two princes?"
This product can't be sold anymore, so are you finally going to force the sale?
You know, the first thing she did after traveling through time was to inquire about the news of the current royal family with great interest, but the result disappointed her greatly.
His Majesty the present emperor has only two sons. The eldest prince was born with an imposing and extraordinary appearance in his early years. He was extremely skilled in marching and fighting, and was even known as the God of War in this dynasty!
Unfortunately, no one expected that Prince Li would collude with foreign countries and plot a rebellion.
As Daxia's intelligence was leaked completely, the eldest prince was caught off guard and fell into the enemy's ambush. Although he managed to survive in the end and destroyed the enemy's conspiracy and brought Prince Li and his group to justice, the eldest prince was slashed in the face and was disfigured. He has been wearing a mask ever since.
There are rumors that someone had slashed a long scar on the eldest prince's face, which looked like a centipede and made his face look hideous and terrifying.
The second prince is quick-witted and His Majesty has always been training him as the heir. Originally, the eldest prince's face was ruined, which meant he had no chance of becoming emperor, and everyone could barely accept this result.
But Prince Li, who had already made up his mind to rebel, would never let this only promising young man go, and unexpectedly drugged the future prince!
So now there are only two princes left in the royal family, one is disfigured and the other is mentally retarded. Does the emperor want to choose concubines for such people?
What? Seeing that this generation is not doing well, you want to consider the next generation?
Madam Lin quickly pulled Lin Yuxin over and said angrily, "Xin'er, don't talk nonsense. This is the emperor's order. You can't disobey it."
Lin Yuxin curled her lips: "Humph, I don't want to get married anyway, whoever wants to get married can go ahead!"
Lin Zhengfeng shook his head helplessly: "Xin'er, when will you change your temper? In this situation, even if you want to get married, will she choose you?"
When did this child become so confident?
No matter how bad the royal prince is, it is not the turn of these ministers to comment!
Mrs. Lin said with a worried look on her face: "Master, let's not talk about whether they can be selected. I am just worried about what to do when Xin'er is examined?
Since it is the prince's choice of a concubine, the facial features will definitely be carefully examined! Our Xin'er just had a flower tattoo on her forehead a while ago. It would be terrible if someone found out!"
Speaking of this, Lin Zhengfeng was annoyed again: "Xin'er, you are too willful. Look at how this stupid thing you did will end up."
Lin Yuxin said unconvincedly: "Who made people always mistake me for my sister? I just want to distinguish myself from my sister."
Mrs. Lin quickly coaxed her, "Xin'er, be good. Dad and mom know you feel wronged, but if this tattoo gets to know about it, our family's reputation will be ruined."
Lin Yuxin lowered her head and muttered softly, "I know I was wrong."
Lin Zhengfeng pondered for a moment and said, "The only solution now is to let Xin'er wear makeup the whole time she is in the palace. I will take good care of it in the next few days and make sure no one embarrasses our Xin'er!"
Madam Lin nodded: "This is the only way. I hope I can hide it from everyone."
Lin Yuxi said softly: "Dad, Mom, don't worry too much, there will be a way out when the car reaches the mountain."
Lin Zhengfeng sighed: "Xi'er, you have always been sensible, but the matter of selecting a concubine is no small matter. If you are not careful, it will be a crime of deceiving the emperor!"
As she was speaking, Lin Yuxin suddenly raised her head: "Dad, Mom, I don't want to enter the palace, you guys should think of a solution quickly."
Madam Lin touched Lin Yuxin's head and said, "Xin'er, we want to help you, but this is the emperor's order, and we can't do anything about it."
Lin Yuxin's eyes were red: "Then what should I do? Do I really have to go to the palace to marry such a person and bear children for him?"
As for whether she would be selected, Lin Yuxin had no doubt at all. She was a time-traveling girl, so she had some confidence.
Lin Zhengfeng paid no attention to his youngest daughter's ridiculous remarks. He stood up and said seriously, "I will ask someone about this and take care of the relationships in the palace. I hope those maids will go easy on me."
Mrs. Lin hesitated and asked, "Master, will this work?"
"Don't worry about it. You have to give it a try." Lin Zhengfeng said.
Lin Yuxi said: "Dad, I'll trouble you to worry about it!"
Although it wasn't for her, she was still a beneficiary, so she had to thank him anyway.
Lin Yuxin yelled, "Dad, since you are going to take care of it, why not just do it in one go and have someone find an excuse to get rid of my daughter! I don't want to marry just any prince. My daughter wants to marry someone I like."
Lin Zhengfeng glared at Lin Yuxin: "It's already this hour, and you're still talking about these nonsense. Can't you learn from your sister and be more stable and sensible?"
Lin Yuxin cried aggrievedly: "Dad, you don't love me anymore, you just keep scolding me."
Mrs. Lin hugged Lin Yuxin distressedly: "Xin'er, don't cry. Aren't your parents trying to find a solution? There's no rush!"
Lin Zhengfeng shook his head helplessly: "Alright, alright, stop crying. Dad was wrong and shouldn't be so harsh on you. Is that ok?"
"Well, that's more like it!"
……
After they chatted for a few more sentences, Lin Zhengfeng hurried out.
After Lin Zhengfeng left, Mrs. Lin held her two daughters' hands and said, "Xi'er, Xin'er, don't go out during this period of time. Just stay at home."
Lin Yuxi responded obediently: "Mom, don't worry."
Lin Yuxin looked reluctant: "I'm so bored staying at home every day."
Mrs. Lin said seriously: "Xin'er, this is not a joke. At this critical moment, let's not make things more complicated!"
Lin Yuxin muttered, "I know."
……
In the next few days, Lin Zhengfeng ran around, taking care of everything for his daughter.
That day, Lin Zhengfeng returned home looking tired.
Mrs. Lin hurried over and asked, "Master, what's going on?"
Lin Zhengfeng nodded: "I have informed Madam Jiang in the palace and told her that our girl is stubborn and has recently become obsessed with flower ornaments. She wears them day and night. If there is anything wrong in the palace, I hope Madam Jiang can take care of her."
It would be better if this matter was not exposed, so when he was looking for someone, he did not explain it too clearly.
Mrs. Lin nodded, feeling relieved.
Lin Yuxin said, "Dad, Mom, why don't we just tell the truth? Maybe the emperor doesn't care about our little thing at all."
Lin Zhengfeng shouted, "Nonsense! How can you expose something like this?"
At the very least, you should tell your daughter after she gets married. Otherwise, how can she find a husband in this life?
Lin Yuxin was so frightened that she dared not say a word.
Lin Zhengfeng sat on the chair, rubbing his temples: "Let's leave it at that for now, the rest can only be left to fate!"
……
Just when Lin Zhengfeng came to his conclusion, a eunuch came to the palace.
"Lord Lin, receive the order." The eunuch shouted in a shrill voice.
Lin Zhengfeng hurriedly knelt down with his family to receive the order.
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims that in three days, the female relatives of officials of the fourth rank and above who are of marriageable age shall enter the palace to participate in the selection ceremony. There must be no delay. I decree this."
"Long live the emperor." Lin Zhengfeng and others kowtowed to express their gratitude.
After the father-in-law left, everyone in the Lin family looked at each other. What was supposed to come finally came!
Lin Zhengfeng sighed, "At this point, we can only take it one step at a time."
For the next three days, the entire Lin family was busy preparing clothes and jewelry for the two sisters to enter the palace.
Lin Yuxin was frowning all day long, and Mrs. Lin kept reminding her to be careful about her words and actions.
……
Finally, the day came to enter the palace for the election.
Lin Yuxin got into the carriage reluctantly, while Lin Yuxi looked calm.
Lin Zhengfeng and Mrs. Lin saw him off at the door, their eyes full of worry.
"Xi'er, Xin'er, you must be careful after entering the palace." Mrs. Lin said with tears in her eyes.
The two sisters nodded, and the carriage slowly drove away from the Lin Mansion.
In the carriage, Lin Yuxin continued to complain: "Sister, I don't want to enter the palace. I'm so scared."
Lin Yuxi held Lin Yuxin's hand: "Xin'er, don't be afraid, now that we are here, we should make the best of it."
Lin Yuxin leaned on Lin Yuxi's shoulder and said depressedly: "Sister, it would be great if we didn't have to enter the palace."
Lin Yuxi raised the corner of her mouth slightly, revealing a smile, "Who knows, maybe after entering the palace, there will be a different fate."
The carriage bumped along the way and finally arrived at the palace.
The two sisters got off the carriage and walked into the palace with other female relatives.
The palace was magnificent and beautiful, but Lin Yuxin had no mood to appreciate it, her heart was filled with panic and anxiety.
Lin Yuxi, on the other hand, remained relatively calm. She gently held her sister Lin Yuxin's hand and whispered, "Don't be afraid, sister. I'm here for you."
They arrived at a spacious palace where many women who were participating in the election were waiting. Several women, dressed in gorgeous clothes and with delicate makeup, were whispering to each other.