Sure enough, early the next morning, as soon as Luo Nanchen finished the court session, he went straight to the Palace of Eternal Joy.
At this time, however, Lin Qiao was still soundly sleeping and having a sweet dream.
Luo Nanchen sat on the head of Lin Qiao's bed, waiting for her to wake up.
He watched as Lin Qiao tossed and turned, hugging the quilt between her legs, sleeping in a most unladylike manner.
Yet, Luo Nanchen wore an uncharacteristically relaxed look, a faint smile in his eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, Lin Qiao, perhaps dreaming of something, suddenly crawled over and hugged Luo Nanchen's leg. "It smells so good..."
Luo Nanchen caught his breath. "Lin Qiao!"
Startled by the shout, Lin Qiao jolted. "Who is it? How dare you disturb my sleep..."
She opened her eyes groggily, about to flare up. But when she saw Luo Nanchen and the leg she was hugging, her voice trailed off.
Now... it seemed like she was the one being a hooligan?
Although the situation was rather chaotic, it had to be said that Luo Nanchen's legs were really nice-looking...
And they felt even better to the touch...
But regardless of whether she was right or wrong, she couldn't lose her nerve. Lin Qiao sat up. "Bold! Luo Nanchen, do you think you've become so great? Huh?!"
Luo Nanchen remained silent for so long that Lin Qiao started to feel nervous. Then he sneered, slowly stood up, knelt on the bed with one leg, and leaned towards Lin Qiao. He was almost on top of her in the bed.
"Great? I have something even more impressive. Would you like to try, Empress Dowager?"
His voice was low, his expression cold, and his face was getting closer and closer.
Lin Qiao was dumbfounded.
No way, sir! What was going on now?
Oh no, this kid must have been pent - up for too long.
How could he not have problems without a woman for so long?
The imperial selection was a good idea. It was high time to find a wife for this kid. In the original novel, Luo Nanchen was a man who could have ten women in a night! How could he manage without someone to relieve his desires?
Look at him now. He was so pent - up that he was having hallucinations and even climbing onto his step - mother's bed!
Lin Qiao was getting extremely anxious. Seeing Luo Nanchen getting closer, she shouted, "Stop!"
Luo Nanchen wasn't really that crazy. When Lin Qiao shouted, he indeed stopped. "What?"
"We don't have to experience something more impressive. There will always be someone else to do so. There's no need to rush," Lin Qiao said with a forced smile. "Let's have breakfast. Hasn't Your Majesty had breakfast yet?"
Luo Nanchen nodded and curled his lips. "Yes, there's really no need to rush."
Lin Qiao heaved a sigh of relief.
...
Facts proved that Pei Liyu was truly a very reliable imperial tutor. Whether it was his professional ability or his dedication, he was a role model in the industry and worthy of people's respect.
In less than five days, the imperial selection ceremony was already over.
This was the first time Lin Qiao really liked this rigid imperial tutor. If Luo Nanchen had stayed in the Palace of Eternal Joy for a few more days, she would surely have a heart problem.
Actually, apart from having meals and reviewing memorials, Luo Nanchen didn't do anything else. But just the way he sometimes looked at her like a hunter looking at its prey was enough to give Lin Qiao a hard time.
This imperial selection was held in a hurry, and the occasion wasn't grand. But the ladies were so dazzling.
"Zou Lvrui, the younger sister of the Imperial Censor!"
"An Pingcui, the daughter of the Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud!"
"Qian Mengfei, the eldest daughter of the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicature!"
"Luo Xunchun, the youngest daughter of the Assistant Councilor!"
One by one, although their fathers held different - ranked official positions, their looks were all top - notch. Lin Qiao was dazzled and didn't even have a moment to rest her eyes.
Lin Qiao was enjoying herself, but Luo Nanchen's expression hadn't changed from the beginning. He was extremely calm, showing not the slightest sign of emotion. He was like a monk in the Dazhao Temple. After looking at batch after batch of ladies for a whole morning, not a single one was selected to enter the palace.
Pei Liyu trembled. "Your Majesty, this imperial selection was held in a hurry. These are all the ladies we have..."
Luo Nanchen nodded and looked at Lin Qiao. "I haven't found anyone I like. What do you think, Empress Dowager?"
What a prodigal son...
Lin Qiao shook her head. "I think Your Majesty has very high standards."
Luo Nanchen curled his lips. "You're right this time, Empress Dowager. My standards are indeed very high."
Give you an inch and you'll take a mile?
Praise you a bit and you'll get carried away?
But Luo Nanchen was the emperor after all, and she couldn't let him lose face. So Lin Qiao casually asked, "Then I wonder, with Your Majesty's high standards, who can catch Your Majesty's eye?"
Luo Nanchen paused for a moment, then a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. "You, Empress Dowager."
"Huh?"
Luo Nanchen looked at Lin Qiao for a long time but didn't say anything. He sat upright on the dragon throne and stared blankly at the front of the hall, but it was obvious that his mind was elsewhere. The corner of his mouth was slightly raised, looking in a good mood.
Lin Qiao's heart started to flutter. Why did he call her and then say nothing? This made her very nervous!
But asking seemed not to fit her persona as the demonic empress who brought disaster to the country.
Lin Qiao forced herself to hold back her curiosity.
In the middle of the hall, Pei Liyu was still looking helplessly at Luo Nanchen and Lin Qiao. "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, what do you think of this..."
Lin Qiao waved her hand. "It's boring to always follow the old ways. Let them show their talents. Whoever can impress me will enter the palace."
Pei Liyu replied, "Yes."
Zou Lvrui stepped forward. "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I have a skill that will surely impress the Empress Dowager."
Then she told the little eunuch beside her to go and get something.
Lin Qiao waited leisurely. As a result, a team of little eunuchs came, and each of them was holding a plate of food.
Some were holding chicken legs, some were holding roast ducks, some were holding congee with minced meat, and some were holding fish balls...
Zou Lvrui said seriously, "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, my unforgettable talent is that I can eat much more than others."
???
There was no such part in the original novel!
Wasn't this just an ancient - version palace eating show?
It was a real big - eater show without a phone or video editing, honest and true.
As soon as she finished speaking, this amazing woman named Zou Lvrui started eating without a pause.
Surprisingly, her eating manner was quite decent. It made people feel that she was really enjoying her food.
Lin Qiao: "Damn it, I'm getting hungry..."
Luo Nanchen said, "Select this one."
Lin Qiao looked at Luo Nanchen in shock. So even the male protagonist of a cool - style novel couldn't resist the charm of an eating show...
Luo Nanchen said seriously to Zou Lvrui, "From now on, you go to the Palace of Eternal Joy to have meals with the Empress Dowager."
Lin Qiao: "..."
???
Hey, big brother, what does this have to do with me? Are you selecting concubines for yourself or for me?
Zou Lvrui was very elegant. She even wiped her mouth before replying. "Thank you for Your Majesty's appreciation. I'm grateful for Your Majesty's grace!"
An imperial selection that wasn't supposed to be grand ended in such a rather grand way.
In the end, only one concubine was selected, and she was sent to the Palace of Eternal Joy to have meals with the Empress Dowager.
Lin Qiao felt that the plot seemed to be getting more and more like a joke...