Chapter Thirty-Eight: After the Election

  But they were not afraid, on the contrary, they were very excited. For the East Factory and the Brocade Guard, their mission was to target the civil officials in the imperial court. If they didn't target the civil officials, then they wouldn't have any reason to exist. When they heard that it was done, both of them got excited at the thought of wearing the dragon robes.

  Luo Si Kong had long heard that the Wei dynasty had a precious sword bestowed by the emperor. If he could get this python robe, he would not lose to the Wei dynasty. If it wasn't done well, the Brocade Guard would definitely be suppressed by the East Factory in the future and it would be difficult to turn over. Thinking of this, Luo Si Kong was very anxious in his heart and hated that he couldn't go out now to arrange manpower to handle this matter.

  "Alright, from now on, both of your departments will set up an archive room to record information about officials above the fifth rank, especially their private matters. The personnel records in the Ministry of Personnel are really too superficial, looking at those things is useless. You need to find a reliable person to do this, remember that confidentiality is the most important thing. As for this matter, it must be grasped firmly, this era is really too chaotic and many officials' affairs are private, if you want to know something, you must take action secretly."

  After the two men left, Tianqi Emperor turned to Li Lan beside him and said, "Do you think either of them can win?"

  At this time, Li Ran was already very different from the original, wearing high-quality silk on her body, and she didn't look like that timid palace maid at all. Li Ran's status in the palace was very high, and everyone knew that he and Chen Hong were the closest people to Emperor Tianqi. Even when Wei Chao saw Li Ran, he had to respectfully call out "Guniang Lan", which made Li Ran's face less worried and gradually more smiling. In fact, many people were secretly discussing whether Li Ran might be the future Guifei or even the Empress.

  After hearing Tianqi Emperor's question, Li Lan smiled slightly and said faintly: "I don't know, I just know to serve Your Majesty well."

  Looking at Li Lan's lovely appearance, Tianqi Emperor couldn't help but gently pinch her face and smiled: "Still, my Lan'er is the most lovable."

  After laughing, the Tianqi Emperor handed the memorial of the Grand Council to Chen Hong behind him and said slowly: "I have read this memorial, send it to the Department of Ceremonies for printing."

  The issue of rewards must be handled as soon as possible, these people are too pragmatic and they can't wait any longer.

  These days, nothing has happened. After attending the morning court, it's just listening to those ministers talk about trivial matters. However, today there was one thing that left Emperor Tianqi somewhat unprepared, and the person who spoke was none other than Fang Zongzhe, the chief assistant of the Grand Secretariat.

  "With a drumbeat at dawn, and a retreat at dusk." With Chen Hong's shout, a new day began, and the civil and military officials all arrived at the Qianqing Palace to start their work for the day.

  "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present."

  Looking at Fang Congzhe, who had stood out, the Tianqi Emperor slightly furrowed his brow. Since he ascended to the throne, this Chief Grand Secretary rarely memorialized him; what was it this time?

  "Since the founding of the dynasty, there has been an ancestral instruction that every emperor must get married and establish a empress at the age of 16. Your Majesty is already 16 years old, it's time to follow the ancestral instruction and establish a empress." Fang Zhenzhe slowly spoke out his thoughts, but Tianqi Emperor was somewhat bewildered, however after thinking about it he became excited. So it's about establishing an empress! The three palaces, six courts, and 72 consorts, that's every man's dream!"

  However, the Tianqi Emperor had no reason to oppose this matter. Before the Tianqi Emperor could express his own opinion, another person stood up and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I request a reconsideration."

  The person who came out was Sun Ruyou, the Minister of Rites. As soon as his voice fell, countless voices echoed in the great hall, and everyone had only one sentence: "I request a reconsideration."

  Watching this scene below, Tianqi Emperor nodded slightly, and this matter was settled.

  After dispersing the morning court, Emperor Tianqi returned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and saw a somewhat dispirited pretty face as expected.

  Looking at Li Ran's helpless and lost expression, the Tianqi Emperor suddenly didn't know what to say. This matter really couldn't be explained. He walked slowly to Li Ran's side and gently pulled the girl into his arms, smelling the fragrance in her hair, the Tianqi Emperor suddenly felt a little ashamed. Having such a good woman by his side, yet still not knowing how to satisfy that one thread of excitement in his heart was like being doused with a bucket of cold water.

  "Lan'er, I...". After a long while, the Tianqi Emperor tightened his hold on the woman in his arms and spoke with some embarrassment.

  "Your Majesty, there's no need to say anything else. I understand. As the emperor of the great Ming dynasty, you naturally have the wealth and power to do as you please with your marriage. Ordinary families often take in concubines even after they've already married off their daughters, so it's only fitting that Your Majesty should also do the same." Li Lan's voice was calm and peaceful, seemingly having overcome her earlier distress. She had long been mentally prepared for Emperor Tianqi's grand wedding, and now that she felt his pity and sympathy towards her, she didn't dare to ask for more, lest it have the opposite effect.

  Looking at the delicate face in front of him, Emperor Tianqi suddenly smiled and said: "Lan'er, I'll give you a chance. You can try to select the imperial concubine as a candidate for the harem!" Seeing Li Lan's shocked expression, Emperor Tianqi hastily added: "Even if you're not selected as the empress, I'll still make you a noble consort. I won't really let you become a palace maid."

  With a mix of anger and amusement, Li Ran glanced at Emperor Tianqi, her heart feeling slightly warm. She could naturally sense the man's concern, and with some emotion, said: "Your Majesty, things shouldn't be that simple. Every girl who enters the palace must undergo strict examination, and I'm no longer a perfect body. I'm afraid I won't even pass the first test." Li Ran's face turned slightly red, her shy appearance stirring Emperor Tianqi's desires.

  "Go ahead with peace of mind! That eunuch and palace maid dare not cause you trouble." Ignoring Li Ran's resistance, the Tianqi Emperor picked her up horizontally and walked inside.

  Waking up once again to find it was already the second day, looking at the sleeping faces beside him with a hint of a smile, the Tianqi Emperor's heart felt slightly warm. Is this what life is all about?

  For a period of time, the whole court was revolving around one thing, that is to select an empress for Emperor Tianqi. Although it was to choose an empress for himself, Emperor Tianqi suddenly found something, that is, there seemed to be nothing about him.

  The whole thing after the election was taken care of by the Empress Dowager, and the person specifically in charge of handling it was another eunuch named Liu Kejing from the Imperial Household Department.

  It seems that wanting to participate in the selection of empress is hopeless, for the Tianqi Emperor, his interest in the process of selecting an empress far exceeds his interest in the empress herself.

  "What day is it today?" The Empress Dowager had nothing to do, and the Tianqi Emperor could only look at the memorial in the Qianqing Palace, rubbing his swollen eyebrows. The Tianqi Emperor turned around and asked Chen Hong, who was standing behind him.

  Chapter 1: Various pleas for collection and recommendation!