Chapter Eight, Empress Feng's Body.

Zhuang Ji, however, was taken aback and, with a naive expression, opened his big eyes and asked: "How did Ying Chong manage to find this place? Who told him?"

As he spoke, he cast a glance at the several young women seated at the table. These were all women of the world, and discussing imperial affairs in such a setting was clearly somewhat inappropriate, making it easy for others to seize upon any misstep.

One can discern their noble origins merely by observing their attire; among those common women, there may be some from affluent families who can also adorn themselves with gold and silver. However, their clothing could never be as appropriate and elegant as that of true nobility, nor could they possibly cultivate such an aura.

It is indeed extraordinary

As Ying Chong ascended the stairs, he felt somewhat indignant: "I am still recovering from my injuries, yet you are here enjoying yourselves."

One can imagine how those few individuals in the palace are eagerly flocking to Miss Ye Si

Ying Chong laughed heartily, sat down with great authority, and directly took a courtesan from a companion of Zhuang Ji, holding her in his arms and asking: "Is there anything worth seeing today?"

Xue Pinggui smiled upon hearing this: "It is indeed true that you do not understand; this matter has nothing to do with us. In any case, regarding that Miss Ye Si, we can only observe from a distance."

That is also true

Ye Lingxue? So it is her? She is the one who, according to legend, was foretold by a high-ranking figure of the Xuanmen sect in her childhood, said to possess the noble body of a phoenix, destined to be a motherly figure to the world. With a phoenix fate, she is destined to become the empress

Zhuang Ji and Xue Pinggui both let out a gasp of surprise, their eyes reflecting a different hue. Before them stood a girl whose features were like a painting, with a delicate nose and captivating eyes that seemed to ensnare the soul. Her long black hair cascaded down like a beautiful waterfall, and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Not only were her facial features exquisite, but her temperament was also remarkably genuine and pure, unlike the other girls beside her who feigned an ethereal demeanor, making her appear even more authentic and lively

With a compliment, Ying Chong curiously asked again: "Who is this? Which noble family does she belong to? She does not seem to be of common birth."

Ying Chong's hand trembled slightly, and his expression became exceedingly strange. It was not that he was startled by the girl's appearance, but rather because her figure and features were almost identical to those of the moon in the Spirit Refining Pot, as if they were cast from the same mold

Moreover, it goes without saying that the Ye family of Shuanghe, as one of the seven prominent surnames and thirty-six families in the world, possesses a profound heritage. Countless descendants have served in the military, holding important positions in various regions

The reason this individual is unable to inherit the title is purely due to his lack of intelligence. Moreover, the ancestral divine armor of the Yongchang Marquis family has a high requirement for intellectual capability. This person's extreme foolishness is also well-known in the city of Xianyang

The Qingyun Tower faces the Shixiu Palace to the east, and the seventh floor, being the highest, offers an exceptionally beautiful view, allowing one to overlook the situation on that side from a great height. Although it is separated by a distance of five or six li, all four individuals possess the specially crafted 'Thousand-Mile Eye' from the ink workshop, enabling them to see the scenery within the Shixiu Palace clearly, even from such a distance.

No matter how one thinks about it, that prince of Wuwei County could never possibly betroth his own granddaughter to him

It should be Ye Lingxue, the fourth granddaughter of the Wuwei Wang family

What are you talking about? Zhuang Ji looked confused and said, "Why do I feel like I can't understand what the books are saying?"

Xue Pinggui was not surprised; among the four of them, he was the most perceptive. With just a shift in thought, he understood: "Today is the day of the preliminary selection of the talented women; how could he not know that we are here?"

She is the second daughter of the Wang family of Wuwei County. It is said that when she was a child, she was encountered by an unknown old Taoist who declared on the spot that her fate was noble and that twenty years later she would surely become the mother of the nation.

In addition, Miss Ye Si has two biological elder brothers, both of whom are young heroes. At a young age, they have already reached the Martial Sovereign realm, just one step away from the Heavenly position

This year's selection is particularly different. The Empress Dowager is gravely ill, thus the Emperor has decreed that the princes must marry to bring joy to the Empress Dowager. Moreover, this year coincidentally marks the coming of age of four princes, necessitating the selection of princesses. Therefore, in addition to the common women chosen from the populace, there are also several dozen noble ladies from prominent families present.

The Tianshui Zhou family and the Yongding Zhuang family, like the Wuyang Ying family, are all military clans with significant influence in the army. Currently, the Left and Right Elite Guards among the Sixteen Guards are under the control of these two families. Therefore, within the city of Xianyang, as long as the two do not provoke those who are truly powerful, they can walk with impunity.

Ying Chong, upon hearing this, already knew who the young woman was. This matter had caused quite a stir back in the day, which is why he had learned some details about it

Ying Chong almost burst out laughing upon hearing this. His brother Zhuang Ji had an appearance that was 'unusual' compared to others, with a round face, features somewhat squished together, and a sturdy build like a mountain, broad shoulders and a round waist. This made the two young ladies beside him appear even more delicate and charming, evoking a sense of affection.

Every three years, the Great Qin selects talented women from the populace to enter the palace, in order to enrich the court and enhance the emperor's three palaces and six courtyards

Xue Pinggui was well-acquainted with the noble families in Xi'an City. After pondering for a moment, he reached a conclusion: "Looking at her brows and eyes, they bear a certain resemblance to those of the Prince of Wu County."

However, among the four, if we discuss the depth of background, Xue Pinggui can be considered the foremost. He is the only beloved son of the current Princess Xuanyang and is deeply favored by the reigning emperor. Additionally, he is a member of the Xue family of Wanshantang. Therefore, even if Xue Pinggui is unable to practice martial arts and lacks any fighting ability, he is destined to live a life of wealth and honor, with a future far more promising than that of the other three empty title heirs.

In recent years, the individuals who have been mingling with Ying Chong, known as the Four Overlords of Xianyang, or the other three who are referred to as the Four Wastes, are of such a nature

This statement caused several young women nearby to pout in displeasure, while the three present, Ying Chong and the others, exchanged glances, all aware that Zhou Yan was an experienced hand in matters of romance, with discerning taste. They all simultaneously picked up their telescopes to look in the direction Zhou Yan was gazing. Just in time, they spotted a young woman walking out from the palace door.

The heir of Pingliang, Zhou Yan, and the heir of Yongchang, Zhuang Ji, both hail from noble and prestigious families. However, due to various reasons, their hopes of inheriting their titles are rather bleak. Nevertheless, they both come from distinguished backgrounds and are under the care of their relatives, allowing them to live quite freely.

During the preparations for this gathering, they did not consider notifying the An Guo Gong residence, knowing full well that even if they sent someone to inform them, they would be stopped and sent back by the old An Xi Bo.

He, Ying Chong, has not been unfamiliar with such a method of flattery that leads to one's downfall

So-called friends may share common ideals, may have similar interests, or may simply empathize with each other's struggles

Ordinary people may take the words of that old master as truth, yet despite Ying Chong's youth, he has already witnessed many tricks and deceptions.

Zhuang Ji nodded in a daze, but he was too lazy to think deeply about it. He lamented with great regret: "What a pity, I have heard that Miss Ye Si is the most virtuous and kind-hearted, and seeing her today confirms it. It is rare that she is also so beautiful. If I could have her as my wife, what more could a husband ask for? If she does not succeed this time, I will definitely have my mother propose to her."

It is unknown whether the old Daoist is truly a master of the Xuanmen, and he is not very clear about the accuracy of the decree. He only knows that Miss Ye Si's situation is concerning; she was sent to a rural estate by the Prince of Wuwei and stayed there for a full three years. It was only after the turmoil in the capital gradually subsided that she was brought back to the capital.

The only difference is that the moon appears to be twelve years old, while the girl he sees through the telescope seems to be around fourteen or fifteen years old

When Ying Chong arrived at Qingyun Building, he found that these three were indeed gathered here to seek pleasure and enjoyment. They had booked an entire floor, each accompanied by beautiful companions, embracing fragrant beauties and holding jade-like figures, with continuous sounds of laughter and joy.

On Zhou Yan's face, a teasing expression emerged at this moment: "I wonder which prince will ultimately win this beautiful lady, and where will the phoenix find a sycamore tree to perch upon?"

You three are rather heartless, aren't you

They are all young ladies from prominent families, not much to see. There are some who are beautiful, but most are quite dull.

Prince of Wuwei, Ye Yuanlang, commands a formidable military force and wields significant power in the region. In addition to the sixteen military garrisons of the Great Qin, there are a total of 940 Zhichong Duwei offices, along with 1.2 million border troops from twenty-four routes. Among them, the Fengxiang Army and the Nushan Army total 120,000 troops, with nearly 14,000 armored soldiers, all currently under the control of Prince Wuwei. Furthermore, the prince's residence is organized with nearly 30,000 private soldiers, making his influence within the military exceedingly strong

Moreover, it goes without saying that this individual, who associates with the three of them, has long been notorious, with a reputation that has spread far and wide, becoming utterly unspeakable.

The Double River Hall leaf valve is one of the seven surnames and thirty-six families, originally intending to seek favor with the royal family

Furthermore, Xue Pinggui, who holds the title of Fourth-Rank Light Cavalry Commander, does not come from a family with any noble titles. The title of 'Light Cavalry Commander' is merely an honorary position. Although it may seem to fall short of his uncle Ying Shiji, the Grand General of Huaihua, who holds a First-Rank title, in reality, it carries no actual power

This sentence, however, was unexpectedly overheard and spread. Yet afterwards, no matter how the Wangfu of Wuwei searched, they could not find any trace of that old Taoist.

However, among those four princes, whichever family is able to marry this noble lady may truly have a chance of seizing the imperial throne

The nine great dukes of Xianyang City, including the An Guo Gong Mansion, represent the most prestigious families under the royal family of the Great Qin Dynasty. However, above the nine dukes, there are also the three great princely families. Among them, the Wuwei Wang family, the illustrious Ye clan of the Shuanghe Hall, is one of these families

Zhuang Jiwu's foundation in martial arts is actually quite solid; he is the strongest among the four. By the age of fifteen, he had already reached the peak of the seventh rank of Martial Marquis, which is even stronger than his brother Ying Fei.

Zhou Yanzheng was riding on his Qianliyan, gazing into the distance, when suddenly his expression shifted slightly: "Oh! This girl is quite impressive, she seems to be much better than those ordinary and superficial women."