"Next spring, the imperial selection will be held."
Fu Xinci, who had come from the apocalypse, didn't immediately understand what an imperial selection was when she heard this.
It was only when Nuan Xin said the next sentence that she understood.
"The Ministry of Rites has ordered that families of officials ranked fifth grade and above, with eligible daughters, must participate in the selection."
"..." Fu Xinci felt like lamenting the evil old society again, but she also knew that such words absolutely could not be spoken in front of others.
"Now, the country is prosperous and the people live and work in peace and contentment..."
If these words hadn't come from Nuan Xin's mouth, Fu Xinci would have wanted to say: "Nonsense."
Alas, for the sake of reputation, she had to be tactful.
Besides, the person opposite was a delicate, beautiful, and lovely young lady. Those words were indeed a bit vulgar, so she could only let them swirl in her mind before kicking them away.
But she still wanted to speak.
"Sister Nuan Xin, let's not talk about other things for now. Do you really believe that the people are living and working in peace and contentment? And also, you know that our soldiers on the northern frontier have to raise their own provisions, right?"
"I know. My father has been worried for many days and still has no solution."
Fu Xinci really wanted to say: When the border guards have to raise their own provisions, how can such a court have the nerve to praise itself?
And a time of peace and prosperity, bah!
Also, since the soldiers have to raise their own provisions, they must be so poor they can barely make ends meet and have no pants to wear. A selection with bare bottoms? What is such a court for? Where is their shame?
"Damn it," Fu Xinci grumbled inwardly. In this era, there was no freedom of speech, so she could only endure it.
Seeing that Sister Xinci was silent, Nuan Xin seemed to make up her mind and continued, "I am also among those to be selected."
After speaking, Nuan Xin sighed helplessly, "I don't want to, but my father's superior registered my name without my father's knowledge."
Fu Xinci felt like swearing, "It's like they don't have daughters themselves, so they sell other people's daughters when they can't sell their own."
"He has daughters, but they are of average looks. My mother said that person filled in my name because he was afraid his own daughters wouldn't catch the emperor's eye."
"Is he crazy? Even if you are selected, it has nothing to do with him."
"Perhaps he's thinking of getting some benefit. I really don't want to go. Sister Xinci, can you think of a way?" Nuan Xin finished speaking, her watery eyes fixed on her.
Fu Xinci felt creeped out by her gaze. She actually had a plan in mind, but she didn't dare to say it.
"Sister Xinci, please help me. I really don't want to participate in the selection. The Emperor is older than my father. I've heard there are several adult princes, and I don't want to waste the rest of my life in the harem, let alone become a target for others."
Nuan Xin's eyes were filled with tears, exuding despair.
Fu Xinci had thought of a way for her, but some things were not for her to say, especially to the young lady opposite. She didn't want to be resented.
"Sister Xinci, please help me." Nuan Xin's voice was filled with the crystal clarity of tears.
Fu Xinci: She seemed to ponder for a long time before hesitantly suggesting, "Do you have any minor flaws? For example, do you grind your teeth or snore when you sleep? Or do you pass gas very loudly when you dream?"
Fearing that Nuan Xin might be embarrassed, Fu Xinci quickly added, "You probably don't have the last one, because I've never heard it. As for the previous ones, I don't know."
After speaking, Fu Xinci raised her eyebrows and gave Nuan Xin an encouraging look. "The empresses in our eyes should be perfect and flawless."
Nuan Xin understood. Sister Xinci meant for her to come up with a plausible reason.
Suddenly, she remembered something. She felt that she didn't need to make up a reason at all.
Also, she had to hurry home and remind her parents, otherwise, if the royal family found out, their entire family would be guilty of deceiving the emperor, which was a crime punishable by beheading.
Thinking of this, Nuan Xin became frightened. Her heart pounded like a drum. Trembling as if facing an abyss, she said to Fu Xinci, "Sister Xinci, I just remembered something very important. I need to go home immediately."
After speaking, Nuan Xin didn't dare to linger any longer. She hurried to the west room and asked her accompanying maids and servants to quickly help her change her clothes, as she had to go home.
Not only were the maids and servants bewildered by her actions, but even Mrs. Fang, who had just come over to chat with her, was confused.
"Nuan Xin?"
"Godmother, I forgot to tell my parents something very, very important, so I have to go back right away."
Nuan Xin was extremely anxious. She had to go home immediately and have her father find his superior to withdraw her name. Otherwise, they would not be able to bear the wrath of the Son of Heaven.
After Mrs. Fang and Fu Xinci saw Nuan Xin out the door and watched her carriage speed away, Mrs. Fang was a little puzzled, thinking about how Nuan Xin had come in a hurry and left just as quickly.
After a long pause, she asked, "What's wrong with Nuan Xin? She left without even drinking a sip of water."
"I'm not entirely sure. She just said that there will be a royal selection next spring, and her name was submitted by her father's superior."
"Royal selection?"
"Yes. Nuan Xin also said she didn't want to go and asked if I had any ideas."
"Did you think of a way for her?"
"Not really. I just asked if she had any bad habits, like snoring or grinding her teeth when she sleeps. After all, the empresses in the palace are all exceptionally beautiful and charming. If she made any vulgar sounds during the selection, she would definitely be eliminated."
"Nuan Xin cannot participate in the selection. If the royal family finds out that she was once abducted, it would be treason and a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family."
"My heavens!" Mrs. Fang's hands trembled with fear. "No wonder Nuan Xin rushed back without stopping."
"This child is thoughtful. She knows what can and cannot be done," Grandpa Meng glanced at his daughter-in-law and granddaughter, then added, "From now on, no one is allowed to mention this matter again."
"Yes."
Seeing the elder continue to doze under the shade of the tree, the mother and daughter tiptoed to the small building behind.
Sitting under the eaves, Mrs. Fang looked around and seeing that there were no outsiders, she asked her daughter again, "Ci'er, did you really not tell Nuan Xin anything else?"
"Mother, please rest assured. Our family is just ordinary commoners, and moreover, grandfather's surname is Meng. I wouldn't dare to act recklessly in front of Nuan Xin. Especially concerning the royal family, I really couldn't say more."
"Did you really not say much?"
"Mother, grandfather didn't ask much either, which proves I didn't say anything inappropriate."
"Alright, it's my overthinking."
Mrs. Fang thought so too and returned to her room with peace of mind.