In order to eat, I signed a contract with the system

Chapter 406: Legend of Zhen Huan - Nian Shilan 10

As Nian Shilan developed and utilized the family system, the servants around him who were loyal to the Nian family had basically been arranged with development paths by Nian Shilan. The overall plan had been laid out, and all that was left was for time to develop.

In early summer, when flowers are in full bloom in the capital, Nian Shilan, who is already 14 years old, walks into the Forbidden City amid the concerns of her family and maids, waiting for the emperor to give a result after the selection is over.

Everything went on in an orderly manner. Perhaps it was because the emperor knew that the purpose of the selection was mainly to arrange marriages for princes and brothers, and he did not select people to enter the palace. Therefore, the open and secret fighting among the ladies in Nian Shilan's selection was not very encouraging, and this was especially true for the Han Army Banner where Nian Shilan was.

The noble ladies of the Manchu army banner might even have conflicts over the position of the legitimate wife of the same prince. The beautiful ladies of the Han army banner would tacitly become the concubines of other princes and royal family members. Those with outstanding family backgrounds would rather fail the selection and return home to marry on their own rather than become concubines of princes and royal family members.

Therefore, Nian Shilan had a very stable life in this selection. Even though Prince Yong and Prince Lian outside the palace were vying for the position, this kind of competition would only make their forces in the palace find ways to ensure that Nian Shilan could make it to the end. If they were not careful and Nian Shilan failed to be selected, then it would be a waste of time.

On the day of the palace selection, the emperor sat alone to review the beauties, feeling rather bored. The Qing Dynasty held a selection every three years, and Kangxi had experienced it too many times, so it was no longer fresh.

Kangxi had already heard about the backgrounds, ages, personalities, etc. of the concubines. He had arranged which ones had been chosen, which ones were definitely eliminated, and which ones still had to wait and see.

When the name of Nian Shilan was called, Kangxi perked up a little and looked down. He wanted to see what was so special about this young lady of the Nian family who was the subject of endless fights between his two sons, the fourth and the eighth sons, even though she was not even an adult yet.

As for the inside story of the so-called dispute, it is impossible for Kangxi, as an emperor, to be unaware of it. But as a father, even if he knew the reason, he still couldn't help but be unhappy about the fourth and eighth brothers "going against the wall". As an emperor, Kangxi would naturally vent his anger on them.

"Are you Nian Xialing's daughter? Raise your head and let me see you."

Kangxi's tone was somewhat frivolous, and Nian Shilan could not help but roll her eyes in her heart. If Kangxi had not been reluctant to give up power even though he was old, his sons would not have fought like this, causing her to be robbed because of her family background.

"Your servant, Nian Shilan, the daughter of Nian Xialing, the second-rank governor of Huguang, pays respects to the emperor. Long live the emperor."

Nian Shilan suppressed her impatience, stepped forward and bowed politely, then stood up, lowered her eyes and slightly raised her head towards the sky as Kangxi requested. When Kangxi heard Nian Shilan's voice, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. Nian Shilan's voice was unexpectedly pleasant, like a spring in the hot summer, tinkling and flowing into people's hearts, or like a breeze in spring, lingering and lingering.

When he raised his eyes again, he was faced with Nian Shilan's beautiful face, which was charming and gorgeous yet with a hint of coldness and arrogance. "Hiss~"

If the Nian Shilan in the previous life was a peony that bloomed vigorously, then now the Nian Shilan whose temperament has changed due to the change of soul is like the only and special red lotus among the green of 'the lotus leaves connecting the sky'.

Kangxi was really hesitant now. When Concubine De and Concubine Yi came here earlier, Kangxi had weighed the pros and cons and decided to marry Nian Shilan to Prince Yong. But now that he had seen Nian Shilan in person, he felt a little regretful. He also wanted such a beauty.

Fortunately, Kangxi was still the same Kangxi in the end, and there was a new favorite, Shufei, in the palace. If someone like Nian Shilan was chosen to enter the palace, it would chill the hearts of his ministers. After all, no matter how much Kangxi didn't want to admit it, it was a fact that he was old.

"This is a sign left by Nian Shilan, a girl from Nian Xialing."

Never mind, there is an age difference after all, and Kangxi does not want to become a tyrant.

After the selection was over, the beauties returned home one after another. As soon as Nian Shilan walked out of the palace, she saw Nian Gengyao and the servants of the Nian Mansion standing in front of the carriage waiting for her.

When Nian Shilan got on the carriage, no one was in a hurry to speak, waiting to talk about anything when they got back home. However, there were many people at the palace gate, and soon the news about the stunning beauty of Miss Nian Shilan spread like wildfire.

Soon the imperial decree of marriage came down, and just like in her previous life, Nian Shilan was granted by the emperor to be the fourth prince, Prince Yong, as a concubine, and was chosen to enter the palace at the beginning of the next year.

Everyone congratulated Prince Yong on winning the first prize and getting such a stunning beauty as Miss Nian. Prince Lian secretly resented Kangxi's favoritism because no matter how he performed, he could never catch Kangxi's eye.

The ladies in the palace also received the news. Defei was worried that Nian Shilan was too outstanding and might win over Yinzhen after entering the palace and make him forget about Rouze. So she specially called Yixiu and told her to mention Rouze more in front of Yinzhen before Nian Shilan entered the palace to deepen Yinzhen's affection for Rouze.

Although Yixiu was unwilling in her heart, she knew that her current position as Concubine was inseparable from Yinzhen's love for Rouze. She was also afraid that one day Yinzhen would no longer love Rouze, so Yixiu obediently agreed to Defei's request.

So in the six months before Nian Shilan entered the mansion, no matter where Yinzhen went, he would see things that reminded him of Rouze, whether it was red plums, dishes, or old things. Yinzhen did increase the frequency of coming to the main courtyard to find Yixiu to reminisce about Rouze together, but when Yixiu didn't know, Yinzhen's nostalgia for Rouze became less and less.

Memories cannot withstand repeated recollection. No matter how much you recall a certain moment, you will gradually lose your original state of mind. I think when Zhen Huan enters the palace, it may not be as easy for her to gain favor as in her previous life.

Two months before Nian Shilan entered the palace, Defei granted two beautiful girls from the Han army flag, Fei Yunyan and Feng Ruozhao, to enter the palace to serve as princesses to Prince Yong before Nian Shilan entered. Defei's original intention was to have them arrive before Nian Shilan so that she could share Nian Shilan's favor in the future, but Yixiu was too obvious and directly divided the two of them into side rooms in the same courtyard, and even designated the main courtyard of this courtyard as Nian Shilan's residence after she entered the palace.

To be honest, in her previous life, Nian Shilan was willing to endure it for the sake of Yinzhen after entering the palace, but she still disciplined Feng Ruozhao and Fei Yunyan in daily life because she was dissatisfied with sharing her residence. In this life, Nian Shilan doesn't want to endure it. She is the legitimate daughter of the Nian family who was raised in luxury, and once she entered Prince Yong's palace, she is, after all, the concubine granted by the emperor, but she can only live in the same courtyard with two princesses? What does it mean?

Is Prince Yong's family so poor that he can't even afford a separate courtyard?

Such doubts naturally spread outside along with Nian Shilan's instructions, and even Prince Lian and his men heard about it. When Prince Yong left the court, he wanted to find Nian Gengyao to maintain his relationship, but he found that Nian Gengyao's attitude towards him had not changed significantly because of the imperial decree granting marriage.