Chapter 41: Participating in the Election

  Li Maohchang still didn't open his mouth, Zhang Guoji suddenly became somewhat annoyed and loudly said: "I don't know which powerful family in the capital it is!"

  "Brother, listen to me." After taking a light sip of tea, Li Changmao continued: "The great Ming dynasty's emperor is rich and powerful, with the newly enthroned Tianqi Emperor being only 16 years old this year. Yesterday, I received an official document from the prefectural government, requiring our county to select three talented women for His Majesty to choose as consorts. My virtuous nephew's daughter is of suitable age and has a good appearance, she should naturally be selected." Li Changmao said with a smile, his face full of expectation as he looked at Zhang Guoji.

  At this time, Zhang Guoji sat in a chair with a listless expression on his face. He knew he couldn't escape this time. After coming to his senses, he let out a dejected sigh. Once you enter the gate of a noble's mansion, it's like entering the deep sea; what more can be said about entering the palace? At this moment, he finally understood why Li Changmao had done things this way; if it were him, he would probably do the same thing too!

  Zhang Guoji is naturally confident in his daughter, whether it's her appearance or talent, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, all of which are top-notch. As long as nothing unexpected happens, the empress might be out of reach, but being a noble consort is still possible. Although this is the case, Zhang Guoji still doesn't want to let his daughter enter the palace, not because he's greedy for wealth and glory.

  These emperors of the Ming Dynasty were rarely decent, and most of them indulged in wine and lust, dying prematurely.

  Looking at Zhang Guoji's appearance, Li Changmao also felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart. He gritted his teeth and seemed to have made up his mind, saying: "Brother, I know you're reluctant, if you really don't want to!"

  Zhang Guoji was somewhat surprised by Li Maochang's words and looked at him with hope.

  Looking at Zhang Guoji's appearance, Li Maohang knew that he couldn't do anything about it either. If he forcibly brought Zhang Guoji's woman into the palace, he might not say anything for now, but he would be waiting for revenge later! It's better to sell her a good one now! Thinking of this, Li Maohang said: "Brother, I can only put your daughter's name at the back and not make any special recommendations. As for other brothers, there's nothing that can be done."

  Looking at Li Maochang's appearance, Zhang Guoji's heart was also moved. It was not easy to sacrifice his own career and do it this way. As for pretending, don't mention that Li Maochang didn't dare, he didn't dare either. Once discovered by the Brocade Guards, it would be a crime punishable by extinction of the nine clans.

  "Thank you, younger brother." Zhang Guoji lightly got up and bowed slightly to Li Maochang, his face full of gratitude.

  "Brother, you're being polite." Li Mauchang hastily helped Zhang Guoji up and smiled wryly, but at this moment he was very disappointed.

  Just as the two were talking, a person suddenly walked in and said to Zhang Guoji: "Father, I am willing to enter the palace." The person who came was Zhang Yan.

  "What are you doing here? This isn't a place you can come to, hurry up and get out." Seeing the woman, Zhang Guo Ji's heart tightened upon hearing his daughter's words, and he immediately became furious, scolding her at once.

  "Brother, don't be angry. It's just as well that my virtuous niece has come. Tell me, why do you want to enter the palace?" Li Changmao's heart was once again invigorated at this time. Since the protagonist was willing, Zhang Guojie's attitude didn't matter so much anymore.

  "Yan'er pays respects to Uncle Li." Zhang Yan also didn't address Li Changmao as the county magistrate, but rather referred to herself as his niece. After bowing to him, she said: "Since the Emperor has issued an edict, that is the imperial decree. Father and Uncle are doing this for the sake of the imperial will; perhaps the Emperor himself doesn't know, but that doesn't mean no one knows. In our Xiangfu County, there are Imperial Guardsmen; at this time, I think they should have also received orders from above. My existence is probably known to them, and it's possible they even have my portrait; it's possible that by now, it has already been reported. Although our Xiangfu County isn't large, we still have an Imperial Guard detachment. If something happens, Uncle Li will inevitably be held accountable for dereliction of duty - being dismissed from office would be the lightest punishment. Our Zhang family will probably also be punished and have our property confiscated. Since we can't avoid this fate, why not do it openly and honestly?" Zhang Yan's words were not loud, but they stunned both Zhang Guoji and Li Changmao. Ah! They had thought things were too simple.

  After a while, Li Changmao suddenly realized that neither he nor Zhang Guoji had thought of something that this 14-year-old little girl had thought of. It seems that she is really extraordinary and can become a noble concubine, it seems that her chance has come.

  While the whole nation was busy with the ascension of the Tianqi Emperor, this new emperor was strolling in the Forbidden City, naturally knowing nothing about what was going on outside, only knowing that his own selection had begun.

  Looking at the high palace walls of the Forbidden City, Emperor Tianqi had the idea of going out to take a look for the first time. Since coming to this era, he has been locked in this deep wall and large courtyard, and now thinking about it is really suffocating.

  "Li Ran, what's it like outside?" He turned his head to glance at Li Ran who was following behind him, while Chen Hong was directly and magnificently ignored by the Tianqi Emperor.

  "Your Majesty, I was six years old when I entered the palace and many things have been forgotten. In my memory, life outside is bustling and colorful." Li Lan's expression also showed a strong desire to leave, it seemed that so many years of living in a prison-like environment had made even this little maid want to escape.

  "I don't know when I can go out and take a look!" After hearing Li Ran's words, Tianqi Emperor smiled bitterly in his heart. Why did he have to cross over and become the emperor? If he were just a prince, every day would be spent with beauties touring mountains and rivers, how carefree that would be!

  Li Ran didn't feel anything after hearing Tianqi Emperor's words, but Chen Hong's expression changed suddenly. No way! The Zhengde Emperor back then was addicted to traveling incognito. If the emperor in front of him also had this hobby, things would be really troublesome. Every time the emperor went out, it would cost a lot and waste a lot of manpower and resources, even if he traveled incognito.

  "Lan'er, do you have a dream?" After a long time, the Tianqi Emperor finally came back to his senses and asked Li Lan again.

  "I hope that all the people in the world will no longer suffer, and can have food to eat and money to spend. They don't have to worry about their livelihood every day, and when something happens, someone takes charge, and they won't be beaten without reason." At this time, Li Lan's emotions were somewhat low, while Emperor Tianqi on the other side fell into deep thought.

  Zhang Yan's heart was slightly surprised as she looked at the crowd in front of her, she didn't expect there to be so many people. The place where she was located was the Xiangfu County government office, and at that time, Xiangfu County was what would later become Kaifeng. In previous dynasties, Kaifeng had been a separate prefecture, but during the Ming dynasty it was abolished and directly merged into Henan Province, changing its name to Xiangfu County.

  It has been seven days since Zhang Yan knew she was going to participate in the election. In these seven days, Zhang Yan had already participated in a selection once. But that time was the selection from each county to the prefecture, and this time it is the selection of the whole Henan Province.

  At this time, Zhang Yan's heart was a mixture of emotions as he stood at the entrance of the Provincial Governor's mansion. Looking at the horse-drawn carriages and attendants standing at the entrance, Zhang Yan knew that these people should be the ones who came after the selection.

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