I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 117 Selecting Concubines at Court

As night deepened, the candlelight flickered in the study.

Liu Shan, dressed in a robe, was engrossed in reviewing memorials at his desk.

The heavy gloom that had been weighing on my heart had long since been dispelled by my wife's clear-headedness and open-mindedness.

He still remembers the detailed instructions Zhang gave him when he was freed from her entanglement.

"My lord, if you take these three women as your consorts, you should first decide on their titles. Wang Feng is gentle and has no family background, so it is most appropriate for her to be a palace maid; Li is a member of the Li Yan clan, so she should be the head of the nine consorts. Liu comes from the Liu clan of Chengdu, so she can be titled a Noble Lady. The three of them are of equal rank, so that there is no bias. This will not only save face for both factions, but also prevent them from fighting over their rank."

Liu Shan nodded repeatedly. He had been pondering how to best appoint officials to ensure that everyone was satisfied, but now that his wife had already made the arrangements, balancing the titles in the harem with the power in the court, he felt completely at ease.

"Everything is as Yun'er wishes." He grasped Lady Zhang's hand and said, "I have no objection to the Empress's management."

When the emperor takes concubines, if they are of the rank of empress, noble lady, or consort, it usually needs to be proposed in court by the Three Dukes, the prime minister, or the general, and then a daughter of a noble or aristocratic family is recommended.

The selected woman needed to be examined for her family background, character, and so on. Then, the Grand Astrologer would consult her physiognomy to determine whether she was destined for good or bad fortune.

Only after passing the test of the Grand Historian could one perform the six rites, enter the palace, be conferred an official title, and finally pay homage at the ancestral temple.

The entire process is tedious and complicated.

For lower-ranking concubines, the process was relatively simpler. They did not need to be proposed in the court; instead, they were recommended by local officials, and the court would send a senior official to verify their identities.

After passing the review, one is exempt from the six rites and can directly enter the palace for face reading and learn palace rules. Then one waits to be summoned and favored. Those who are favored are given a title, while those who are not favored become the lowest-ranking palace maids or attendants.

The next day, just as dawn broke, the morning mist enveloped the Chengdu palace, and civil and military officials were already lined up in front of the Taiji Hall, waiting for Liu Shan to attend court.

Zhuge Liang, dressed in the court robes of a prime minister, holding a jade tablet, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, at the head of all the officials.

Last night, a message came from the inner palace informing them of the upcoming concubine selection.

At this moment, Zhuge Liang's expression was calm, but a hint of unwavering certainty was hidden in his eyes.

Liu Shan, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a crown, slowly ascended the throne, looking slightly tired but still calm and solemn.

After he sat down, his gaze swept over the officials below the steps, each with a different expression.

After the court assembly began, before the officials could even begin to speak, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang spoke first, his clear voice resounding throughout the hall.

"Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, the world has been at peace and the country has been prosperous. However, there is no heir, the foundation of the nation is unstable, and the court and the people are worried. Recently, I observed the celestial phenomena at night and the stars in the east were dim, which clearly indicates that the position of the Crown Prince is not secure."

"Your Majesty, together with the Grand Astrologer, consulted the oracle and determined that Your Majesty should take many virtuous concubines in order to ensure the continuation of your lineage."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone held their breath, knowing that Zhuge Liang was skilled in divination and astrology, and no one dared to question the hexagrams he had calculated.

After a brief silence, murmurs immediately broke out in the court.

The Grand Astrologer Zhou Qun also stepped forward and echoed, "Your Majesty, what Prime Minister Zhuge said is true. We should take a virtuous concubine as soon as possible to comply with the will of Heaven."

"Since it is the will of Heaven, do any of you ministers have a suitable person to recommend?" Liu Shan asked in a calm tone.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Li Xiangyi, the daughter of Protector Li Yan, has been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood. She is gentle, polite, virtuous, and elegant in appearance, and is qualified to serve Your Majesty," Wu Yi suggested.

As soon as he finished speaking, many court officials agreed.

"General Wu is absolutely right. Lady Li is virtuous and beautiful, a truly outstanding choice!"

"Protector Li is a capable ruler, and his family members are all well-behaved and respectful of etiquette. They are perfectly suited to serve His Majesty in the palace!"

Looking around, Liu Shan saw that all the officials were from the Dongzhou faction.

Li Yan stood in the Dongzhou faction's ranks. Although he did not speak, a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, and he nodded slightly.

Before Liu Shan could speak, Qiao Zhou stepped forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I recommend Liu Qiao of the Liu family in Chengdu. The Liu family is a prominent family in Yizhou, with generations of scholars. Miss Liu is dignified and beautiful, and her reputation for virtue is widespread. Her talent and virtue both meet the requirements for selecting concubines for the imperial harem, and are in line with Your Majesty's intention to take concubines to secure the country."

Officials from the Yizhou faction also echoed and agreed.

"What you say, Magistrate Qiao, is reasonable! The gentry of Yizhou have been loyal to the Han Dynasty for many years and have devoted themselves to assisting the court. Therefore, when selecting a concubine, the prominent families of Yizhou should be given priority!"

"Ms. Liu is virtuous and kind, and is highly praised by her neighbors, far surpassing others. She deserves to be selected!"

Both factions have already nominated candidates for the imperial concubine, but the Jingzhou faction has been slow to act.

After proposing to take a concubine, Zhuge Liang stood silently with his eyes slightly closed.

The officials from Jingzhou, who all followed Zhuge Liang's lead, stood still.

The Dongzhou officials, led by Li Yan, used strong language, emphasizing that the Dongzhou gentry had followed the late emperor into Shu and made outstanding contributions, so it was only right for their daughters to enter the palace.

Officials from Yizhou, citing their local roots and the support of the people, refused to budge an inch, stating that the imperial court should appease the local forces in Yizhou and should not show favoritism to one side.

"When selecting concubines for the imperial harem, virtue and family background are of paramount importance. The illustrious families of Dongzhou are renowned for their achievements, and Lady Li is naturally more deserving!"

"Merit is certainly important, but Yizhou is the foundation of the Han Dynasty. Only when the local gentry are stable can the court be stable. Selecting Lady Liu is in accordance with the will of the people!"

Just when the court officials thought the matter was going to be debated endlessly, Liu Shan spoke first, saying, "Since it is the will of Heaven, I will obey it and bring Lady Li and Lady Liu into the harem."

"This matter has been handed over to the relevant departments for handling, and everything will be done in accordance with proper etiquette. There is no need for you to reconsider."

Liu Shan's few words left the court officials present completely dumbfounded.

The hall fell silent instantly. The officials from the two factions, who had been arguing heatedly, froze in place, looking completely bewildered.

What happened?

Is there no need to argue anymore?

Both sides wanted to use the opportunity of recommending their clanswomen to enter the palace to solidify their own position in the court.

They had expected to encounter obstacles from other factions and were prepared for several rounds of maneuvering, but to their surprise, Liu Shan agreed so readily.

The officials from Yizhou were all delighted, and the Liu clan members breathed a sigh of relief. His Majesty's acceptance of women from both factions showed that he did not favor the Jingzhou faction, and the Yizhou gentry were finally at ease.

The officials bowed deeply and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After everything had settled down, Zhuge Liang stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this action is in accordance with the will of Heaven, reassures the people, strengthens the foundation of the nation, and stabilizes the court. It is truly a blessing for the country. I request Your Majesty that from now on, all matters of the inner palace be handled by the Empress, and no foreign officials should interfere, so as to avoid excessive entanglement between the inner palace and the court, which could lead to further trouble."

"What you say, Prime Minister, is absolutely right." Liu Shan immediately granted the request: "Issue my decree: all matters concerning the inner palace shall be under the command of the Empress, with the Empress Dowager overseeing them. No one shall discuss matters concerning the inner palace without authorization; those who violate this decree shall be punished according to the law."

After a round of court discussions, the court, which was originally rife with undercurrents of turmoil, came to a peaceful end.

In the inner palace, Lady Zhang, dressed in her empress's court robes, was methodically arranging the investiture ceremony.

Wang Feng knelt before the Empress's palace, his eyes slightly red, and kowtowed in gratitude, saying, "This servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress for granting my request. I will serve Your Majesty and Your Majesty faithfully for the rest of my life and will never dare to overstep my bounds in the slightest."

She had been by Zhang's side since childhood and regarded Zhang as her closest relative. She never thought that one day she could become the emperor's concubine. Although she was acting on the emperor and empress's orders, she knew her place and would never dare to take advantage of the emperor's favor or be arrogant in the slightest.

Lady Zhang helped her up and said gently, "From now on, we are sisters. We will manage the harem together and serve His Majesty. As long as you behave yourself, I will protect you."

Meanwhile, the eunuchs had already delivered the imperial decree of investiture to the Li and Liu families, and both households were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers to celebrate the selection of their clanswoman into the imperial harem.

The entire city of Chengdu was enveloped in peace and harmony because of these imperial edicts.