Chapter 12

Chapter 12: No Draft Selection

The draft roster included names ranging from daughters of local officials to the legitimate daughters of first-rank dukes. The list was drafted by the Minister of Rites, who then handed it over to the Deputy Minister of Rites for verification. After confirming there were no issues, he ordered the preparation of a carriage, saying he intended to visit the palace.

The Deputy Minister of Rites was a man in his thirties, dressed in a white ermine crane official robe, exuding an air of nonchalance. Watching the Minister of Rites’ retreating figure, he sighed softly. In truth, he had noticed a problem with the roster but, having worked alongside the Minister for many years, chose neither to speak up nor mention it.

The issue was that the third young lady of the Marquis of Loyalty and Justice’s household was missing from the list. To his knowledge, the Marquis had not betrothed her to anyone. Why then was she omitted from the roster? Fortunately, the current emperor was famously indifferent to women; he likely wouldn’t pay special attention to a mere lady from a noble household. Hopefully, they could get by unnoticed.

At the same time, the Minister of Rites arrived outside the Imperial Study. Eunuch Li respectfully bowed to Minister Yun before entering to notify the emperor.

“Minister, His Majesty requests your presence.”

“Thank you, Eunuch Li,” Yun replied with a refined smile. No one knew that beneath his composed exterior, his heart was pounding with anxiety, hoping the emperor wouldn’t notice.

“Your humble servant greets Your Majesty.”

“Rise, no need for formalities,” Qin Yu said, lifting his gaze slightly. His voice was low and commanding, as if he hadn’t spoken for several hours, carrying an unspoken authority.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Yun said, growing even more nervous without reason. Standing, he handed the roster to Eunuch Li and said, “Your Majesty, this is the draft list prepared by the Ministry of Rites for your review.”

Eunuch Li quickly accepted the roster with both hands and presented it to the emperor.

Had the Minister of Rites not mentioned it, the emperor might have forgotten the draft selection altogether. Qin Yu sipped his tea lightly, his long, slender fingers taking the roster. Known for his sharp intellect and perfect memory, he quickly finished reviewing the list.

Then, with a calm expression, the emperor spoke: “Minister Yun.”

Yun shivered and silently prayed the emperor hadn’t seen through him, yet he felt certain he had. Tortured by uncertainty, he feigned ignorance and replied, “I am at Your Majesty’s command.”

“Did you draft this roster yourself?”

Yun’s throat tightened, but he nodded steadily. “Indeed, Your humble servant did.”

He did not mention the Deputy Minister of Rites, fearing to implicate him.

Eunuch Li sensed something was amiss with the roster and glanced at the Minister of Rites in surprise. After all, the Minister was a seasoned official known for meticulous work, having arranged the emperor’s enthronement ceremony single-handedly. It was unlikely he would err even in drafting a list.

Qin Yu tapped the desk with his pale jade-like knuckles. The Minister was a loyal subject who had only made a minor mistake. He could have overlooked it, but he chose not to.

Could a woman he had only met three times truly hold such significance in his heart?

Qin Yu’s lips twitched in confusion and he decided not to dwell on it. Calmly, he asked, “Minister Yun, is the third young lady of the Marquis of Loyalty and Justice’s household betrothed?”

Yun’s pupils constricted and his mind went blank. The emperor had never interacted with Lady Xie before—how had he discovered this so suddenly?

Eunuch Li understood exactly where the roster’s problem lay. Smiling, he explained, “According to the draft selection rules, the candidates must be unmarried daughters of officials ranked from seventh to first grade. To my knowledge, Lady Xie of the Marquis of Loyalty and Justice’s household has not been betrothed.”

Lady Xie’s mother was from the Marquis’s household, so the Minister of Rites was effectively her maternal grandfather. Could it be that Lady Xie did not wish to enter the palace? If so, her hopes were likely to be dashed, for Eunuch Li sensed the emperor held a special regard for her.

“My oversight in omitting Lady Xie from the list was a grave error. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness,” Yun said, beads of sweat forming as he knelt deeply.

He made no mention of the Empress Dowager’s secret directive nor his own private feelings, believing Lady Xie’s temperament unsuited for palace life and attributing everything to mere negligence.

But the emperor was shrewd and immediately sensed the deception. His tone was calm, devoid of anger: “Minister Yun, your love for your granddaughter is touching, but rules are rules. I hope you will not repeat such oversights, and that you understand who ultimately holds authority over this realm.”

A clever man, the Minister knew the emperor had guessed someone had ordered him to act thus. He sighed inwardly, acknowledging his mishandling: “Your humble servant understands.”

A month prior, the Empress Dowager had sent a confidante to the Ministry of Rites, summoning Minister Yun to convey her wishes. Without that, Yun would never have dared to be so bold.

The young emperor nodded slightly and glanced at Eunuch Li. “Eunuch Li, escort Minister Yun out.”

“Please this way, Minister Yun,” Eunuch Li smiled, stepping forward.

After bowing, the Minister of Rites followed Eunuch Li away, powerless to intervene further. Though the situation was tense, his emotions were complicated.

Inside the Imperial Study, the emperor did not immediately return to his documents. Instead, he pressed his hand to his forehead, his handsome features sharp and commanding. Eunuch Li entered quietly, awaiting instructions.

Reaching such a rank was no accident for Eunuch Li. Since the emperor’s ascension, the Empress Dowager had repeatedly interfered in his affairs, eager to have her niece brought into the palace. The emperor’s lack of anger was out of respect for her, but the Empress Dowager’s ambitions were relentless.

“Go at once to Cining Palace and inform the Empress Dowager that I am dissatisfied with the preliminary draft list for the selection. I do not appreciate others meddling in my affairs. This draft selection is to be cancelled,” Qin Yu said lazily, reclining in his dragon throne.

Eunuch Li’s expression faltered but knowing the emperor’s decisive nature, he did not kneel to plead. “Your humble servant will go immediately.”

Thus, the Empress Dowager’s plans were thwarted. Eunuch Li believed the eldest miss of the Duke of Chu’s household had no chance of entering the palace.

The atmosphere at Cining Palace was unusually cheerful that day. Chu Youning had choreographed a lively and bold Hu Xuan dance, blending vigor with feminine grace. The Empress Dowager admired it greatly, convinced that, given the emperor’s indifference toward women, he would surely appreciate such a dance.

After the performance, still catching her breath, Chu Youning smiled and approached the Empress Dowager. “Aunt, what do you think of the dance I created?”

The Empress Dowager clasped her hand warmly, praising her: “Excellent. You have not disappointed me. It is the emperor who is too distant from women; otherwise, you would have entered the palace long ago.”

Though she knew it was mere consolation, Chu Youning blushed with happiness.

Nurse Zhang chimed in, “Our eldest miss is both beautiful and talented. The emperor will surely recognize her merits in time. The Empress Dowager need not worry. Besides, in this draft selection, our eldest miss holds the highest status; the emperor will surely choose her to enter the palace.”

The daughter of a duke held the highest rank among candidates. To maintain balance within the court, the emperor would likely select Miss Chu.

The Empress Dowager’s heart swelled with joy at the thought of Chu Youning becoming empress, securing the family’s glory.

But such fantasies, as fragile as mist or mirage, were soon shattered. A palace maid entered Cining Palace to announce Eunuch Li’s arrival. The Empress Dowager learned that the Minister of Rites had brought the draft roster to the emperor, so Eunuch Li’s visit surely concerned the draft selection.

“Summon him at once.”

“Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager,” Eunuch Li said with a smile when summoned.

Suddenly, a strong unease gripped the Empress Dowager. She asked, “What message?”

Mimicking the emperor’s tone, Eunuch Li delivered the words. Upon hearing “no draft selection,” the Empress Dowager’s mind reeled; Chu Youning’s face paled, looking at her aunt with grievance.

The Empress Dowager’s heart was breaking. After so much effort to secure the emperor’s agreement to the draft selection, it was now called off at the last moment.

In disbelief, she asked again, “Did the emperor truly say this?”

The emperor surely knew that the omission of Lady Xie of the Marquis of Loyalty and Justice’s household was at her behest. Yet, as talented and beautiful as Lady Xie was, she was still a private lady. Neither the emperor nor she had met her; the emperor’s refusal was clearly a challenge to her. Canceling the draft selection was a deliberate slight against her as a mother. The Empress Dowager’s frustration grew.

After dismissing Eunuch Li, she comforted Chu Youning and promised to speak with the emperor herself, then went to the Imperial Study.

“Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived.”

Accompanied by Nurse Zhang, the Empress Dowager entered, but Qin Yu did not even raise his eyes.

“Mother.”

Knowing she was in the wrong, the Empress Dowager pleaded earnestly, “I have heard that Your Majesty no longer intends to hold the draft selection. Do you mean to insult me by preventing the Minister of Rites from adding Lady Xie to the list? It was my fault—the list was only a preliminary draft by the Ministry of Rites. If Your Majesty is dissatisfied, have them redraw it. Why cancel the whole selection?”

She feared not the women of the realm, but that her beloved Youning would have to wait three more years.

She blamed herself for having given the secret order to the Ministry of Rites in the first place.

“My decision is final.” The emperor looked indifferent but spoke firmly, leaving no room for argument. “I am the ruler of this land and I know what I want. If you came to speak of the draft selection, please take your leave.”

And so, the Empress Dowager was dismissed from the Imperial Study, her face pale and flushed.

Chu Youning paced anxiously in Cining Palace. Seeing her aunt supported as she entered, she hurried over and asked, “Aunt, what did the emperor say?”

“Do not worry, Youning.” The Empress Dowager suppressed her anger for her beloved niece. “Nurse Zhang, go to the Marquis of Loyalty and Justice’s residence at once and have Lady Xie enter the palace immediately.”