Her waist was sore and her legs were numb. She couldn't stand properly and hurriedly grabbed onto something. Only now did she realize that she was holding onto Xiahou Qing's shoulder with one hand and his belt with the other. Her entire upper body was pressed tightly against his chest.
There wasn't an inch of distance between them.
Her slightly hot cheeks could almost count the steady heartbeat in his chest.
After a short moment of shock, it was followed by awkwardness.
An indescribable awkwardness mixed with a trace of inexplicable panic.
She immediately pulled back her hand in a fluster and steadied herself by holding onto the heavy screen in front of her. Then she smiled apologetically at him and wanted to say, "I'm really sorry. My daughter was careless and offended Your Highness."
She also wanted to say, "My daughter didn't do it on purpose. It was Your Highness' fault."
She also wanted to tease, "Your Highness, I see that these two are infatuated with you. Their backgrounds aren't low and their appearances are as beautiful as flowers. You won't make a mistake in choosing either one."
But in the end, she didn't say a word. She pressed her fingertips against the auspicious patterns carved on the screen. She turned her head and continued to watch the situation in the front hall.
Beside her, Xiahou Qing was also silent. He silently listened to the sounds in front of him. After a long time, he raised his hand and brushed the shoulder that Ning Shu had just held onto. Then he pinched it, as if he was pinching a flower that had quietly landed on his shoulder.
The front hall knew nothing about what happened behind the screen.
Xiao Zhangping and Qi Jueyu were still bickering until Cao Hou couldn't listen anymore and frowned.
On the side, Old Prince Yu coughed lightly and smiled at the Empress, "Niangniang, look. These children are still children in the end. They're bickering with just a few words. They're really lively and cute. How about this, since you're all here today, if you leave now, it'll be criticized. Why don't you all stay? As for who Nanping Wang's heir chooses, it'll depend on your luck. Consort Qi niangniang, what do you say? "
Consort Qi's expression was already extremely unhappy. Previously, when she was in charge of the Heir Consort Selection, no one dared to mention that Qi Zhenyu was haunted by the demon wolf. But now, she shared the same reasoning as the Empress. If she wanted to investigate further, Qi Zhenyu indeed did not meet the requirements to participate in the selection. So, no matter how unhappy she was, she could only nod and smile coldly, "Then Little Thirteenth will stay and chat with me for a while. Just treat it as playing."
Empress Cao said, "If that's the case, then so be it."
Empress Cao did not have any children, so there was no legitimate princess who could marry into the Nanping Wang Estate. Her Cao Family also did not have a young lady of the right age who met the requirements for the Heir Consort selection. Thus, Empress Cao did not intend to get involved in this matter. However, although the final flower did not fall into her family's hands, if that flower brushed past Imperial Concubine Qi, she would be happy to see it happen.
Between the Thirteenth Princess and Qi Juanyu, she preferred the former. Moreover, Old Princess Consort Yu had made a special appearance today, so she was naturally willing to give her some face.
Xiao Zhangping and Qi Juanyu sat opposite each other and coldly glanced at each other. The banquet officially began.
Under the cover of the music, Ning Shu said in a low voice, "Now, the twenty-four young ladies have all arrived. Today, the Empress, Imperial Concubine Qi, Old Concubine Yu, and Old Concubine Shen and Old Concubine Xu are accompanying them. In the entire palace, other than them, there are forty-two palace maids, fifty-six eunuchs, twelve performers, and guards standing guard outside the hall. Your Highness, you can begin the selection of the Heir Consort. "
There were one hundred and thirty-nine people in the entire palace. If someone wanted to play tricks, it would definitely be one of these people. However, how should the twenty-four young ladies be chosen to catch the ghost hiding behind them?
Xiahou Qing looked at her and said calmly, "What do you think?"
Ning Shu slightly frowned and went through the situation again in her mind. Finally, she said two words, "Draw lots."
Hearing this, Xiahou Qing slightly raised the corner of his mouth into a faint smile. Then, he waved his hand and Hui Mo immediately took out a brocade box that had been prepared earlier. When he opened it, there was a thick stack of paper inside. The rest of the paper was blank except for a line of words written on one of the papers, "Thousand Trees Blooming in the East Wind Night". The brush and ink were elegant and natural like a dragon.
Hui Mo didn't need to be told. He folded the paper into the same size and sealed it in another stack of prepared envelopes.
Ning Shu saw this and raised her eyebrows. It seemed that great minds think alike.
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