C16 Surprise!

The crowd started to discuss. Some agreed, some questioned. Second Mrs. Du even questioned the empress dowager in front of everyone, "The women have never asked about the matters of the imperial court. Even though you are the empress dowager, what right do you have to ask? Isn't this a joke?"

"She can't ask, but can I?" At this moment, Feng Xuan walked over elegantly. He was dressed in a white robe with gold embroidery, making him look especially dazzling. All the ladies were stunned. How could there be such a good-looking man in this world? He was so good-looking that even women would feel inferior to him.

Chu Linglang naturally looked at him as he walked over. He was really good-looking, and he knew how to stand up for his mother. This was too filial. However, which woman could match her?

"Your son greets the empress dowager. Your son greets the empress dowager." Feng Xuan waved his hand in front of Chu Linglang's eyes.

When Chunhe saw this, she quickly pulled Chu Linglang's clothes. Chu Linglang regained her senses and cleared her throat awkwardly, "Your Majesty, please."

The group of people immediately knelt down, "Greetings, Your Majesty. May you have a safe and happy life."

Feng Xuan looked at the makeup on the faces of the ladies and laughed, "Stand up."

Feng Xuan's smile stunned Chu Linglang. Chu Linglang looked at Feng Xuan in surprise.

Feng Xuan tilted his head and said in a low voice, "The present that your son prepared for the empress dowager, is she satisfied?"

Chu Linglang understood. It turned out that he was the one behind all this. She had been thinking about whether it was the trend this year. Ah! She had forgotten that Feng Xuan had said that he would use rouge as a gift. Chu Linglang knocked her head.

The corner of Feng Xuan's mouth curled up into a smile when he saw her like this.

Feng Xuan said in a deep and magnetic voice, "I heard that someone questioned the Empress Dowager's words and even wanted to put her under the accusation of being involved in internal affairs?"

Everyone shook their heads. Mrs. Du saw the majesty and domineeringness of the Emperor and retreated, not saying anything.

"Just now, this lady, the Empress Dowager asked if you were wronged? You said no. I will give you a chance to tell the truth. If you don't tell the truth this time, it will be a crime of deceiving the sovereign."

Mrs. Du knelt down and said, "I have concealed something. Just now, I was afraid that I would be retaliated when I returned to the residence. I hope Your Majesty can forgive me. This woman has indeed become even more vicious towards us. General Du, because there are too many women in the residence, you turned a blind eye and silently approved her to treat us like this. The reason why my daughter is so fat is because she was frightened by her poison. If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can find the doctor to investigate. At this age, she has no other choice but to beg the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to make a decision for us, and give us a way out."

Yutong cried her heart out when she heard that. She had been mocked and scolded by others because of her fat. Now, she knew that it was all the Second Madam who did it. Her mother did not want her to live in hatred, and only now did she tell the reason.

Yutong knelt down and said, "Please make a decision for us, Empress Dowager."

Some of the madams and mistresses were tearing up, "How pitiful a child is. How pitiful is the heart of a parent? How could this woman be so vicious? How could a girl be a threat to her? How could she be so vicious?" Some of the madams and mistresses were indifferent. They knew that they were only here to participate in the competition. They knew that their birth was only a tool for others. They were naturally much colder. Some of the madams and mistresses thought that the women in Xiliang Country should be more vicious. If they weren't vicious, they would be killed by the vicious people.

Feng Xuan turned his head and asked Chu Linglang, "In my opinion, how should I deal with this matter?"

"I think that as long as the family is prosperous, even if your husband is at the top of the world, he still needs the support of his family. Therefore, I think that Second Mrs. Du should return to her duties and become a nun to repent. General Du is busy with his official duties and can't see what is going on at home. He should be demoted and return to his residence to reflect for a month."

"The Emperor has heard that there are still vacancies in the officials in the horse room. Should we let General Du go and train himself for a month?"

"Everything will be decided by the empress." Feng Xuan said gently.

"Then it's decided. Everyone, prepare for the next performance! Second Mrs. Du, you can take your daughter and go back to inform your husband. I think you are really annoying."

Second Mrs. Du walked away with a pale face, "Wait, I didn't send anyone to help you back this time. It's to give you the last dignity. Remember not to play any tricks." Chu Linglang added with a cold face.

Feng Xuan glanced at Chu Linglang and thought that she shouldn't have come in. Who knew that the empress dowager would still be in the mood to continue watching. Now, she was either leaving or staying, and she couldn't decide whether to leave or stay. Sigh.

"Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your decision." The mother and daughter looked at each other and smiled as they shouted.

"The two of you, stand still. Remember, character is the best talent in this world."

"I will definitely remember the teachings of the Empress Dowager."

"All of the zithers have been passed. The zithers are melodious and flawless."

Feng Xuan had been sleepy ever since he heard the zithers. After playing these zithers one by one, Feng Xuan had already fallen asleep. Every time Chu Linglang clapped her hands and praised, "Good."

Just like that, he was woken up one after another. He dared to guarantee that Chu Linglang did it on purpose.

However, there was nothing he could do. He was sleepy the moment he heard the zithers. Seeing this, Chu Linglang became even more aggravated. After playing the Lover's Drunken Dream, Chu Linglang asked Feng Xuan, "Emperor, what do you think of this song? Give me a review."

Feng Xuan looked at Chu Linglang in surprise and said, "Mother is the one who knows zithers. Before Mother, I would not dare to show off." After saying that, he even reminded Chu Linglang not to play with fire.

Chu Linglang shrugged her shoulders and said, "Don't worry, don't worry. The music is naturally different for everyone who heard it. Just like how the Emperor is feeling happy now, his thoughts are naturally different. Just say it, Mother will add on." Chu Linglang secretly made a face at Feng Xuan.

"Hahaha, I was so sleepy just now. It means that the tune is good! It has the effect of health preservation, especially the woman in red, the woman in blue, and the woman in purple. I am so happy to see you all!" Feng Xuan said helplessly.

Chu Linglang was already so angry that she was biting her lips. She had obviously fallen asleep and knocked on the table, but she was still making up nonsense.

Feng Xuan saw Chu Linglang's expression and rolled his eyes as he asked, "Mother, what do you think?"

Chu Linglang did not say anything and walked down. Everyone was looking at Chu Linglang's movements. Who would have thought that the empress dowager would walk to the guqin? Everyone was wondering what she was going to do. Chu Linglang elegantly played the guqin.

"The empress dowager wants to play the guqin. We are really lucky to be able to hear the empress dowager play the guqin." At this moment, everyone started to discuss.

Feng Xuan squinted his eyes and thought to himself, 'Is this woman going to knock on the table again? How cruel.'

The sound of the guqin rang out. Chu Linglang played the song "Lover's Drunk". The sound of the guqin moved people's hearts. It was so beautiful that it was as if there was such a scene. "A beautiful and elegant woman stands by the window every day, looking into the distance, hoping, fantasizing, and conveying endless longing. Every day, she dresses herself up seriously, afraid that the person she loves will suddenly appear. The flowers bloom and wilt, and the sun sets and rises. One day, the person she has been looking forward to has returned. He is still the same him. He loves her, pampers her, and has endless love. When the two emotions last for a long time, how can they be separated?"

Feng Xuan did not feel sleepy at all. Instead, he opened his eyes wide and stared at Chu Linglang as if he was admiring a piece of beautiful jade.

The others were all intoxicated by her performance, and their expressions changed from bitter to sweet.

After Chu Linglang finished playing, praise came from all directions. She smiled and walked back. Feng Xuan looked at her with all his attention. Chu Linglang's white eyes made Feng Xuan return to his original state. Just as he was about to praise her, he suddenly lost all his mood.

"The Empress Dowager's zither is truly the best in the world. Today, we are blessed with our ears."

"I just like to play the zither, so I didn't pass this set. You didn't let anyone hear the emotions in it, so you made them sleepy."

The young ladies were all disappointed, but who asked the empress dowager to play such a convincing performance?

The performance was over. You can hand over the embroidery. Those who pass will be informed later.

Feng Xuan ordered the eunuch to wait for them. There was something he had to announce.

"Today is a surprise for everyone. I know that I have just ascended the throne, so I should prioritize the country and not choose concubines."

Everyone, including Chu Linglang, looked at Feng Xuan in shock.

Chu Linglang cursed in her heart. You unfilial grandson, you didn't even discuss with me and just slapped your mother in the face. Although you are my stepmother, you shouldn't make me lose face like this. You are a disloyal empress dowager for the first time? Chu Linglang revealed an awkward and bitter smile.

"But after discussing with my mother, she especially understood my feelings and supported my decision. As for how to explain it to everyone, it was my mother who came up with the idea of changing the selection of concubines into the selection of female officials. The selected female officials will all be fifth grade officials, and they will listen to the arrangements of the empress dowager."

Although the wives were all disappointed, their eyes lit up when they thought of the female officials. One must know that the requirements for the female officials in Xiliang Country were extremely harsh, and there were very few of them. If they were to become female officials, it would also be a glory for the family.

"Hehehehe, the Emperor is right. Female officials are also not bad. Then let's go!" After Chu Linglang finished speaking, she quickly flung her sleeves and left, leaving Feng Xuan with a big supercilious look. Chunhe and Yulan quickly ran after her.

"Empress Dowager, please wait for me. I won't be able to catch up with you." Chunhe shouted at Chu Linglang.

Chu Linglang was really angry at this moment. It seemed that she had been working for nothing. This Emperor was really filial. He had just given me a perfect man, and now he wanted me to choose a beauty.

After returning to her room, Chu Linglang went to get a cup of water and drank it. "Chunhe, make some tea and prepare some pastries for me. I want to turn my anger into my appetite." Chu Linglang gritted her teeth and said.

"Yes, Empress Dowager."

"Yulan, do you think that I am playing with myself today?"

"How could that be! Empress Dowager, although it is not choosing concubines, but choosing female officials, think about it! It is better to choose female officials. The female officials will listen to you, but the concubines are different. They may listen to you on the surface."