The Grand Protector of the Nation, Old Master Qin!
Everyone present felt a jolt in their hearts.
Even the Emperor and Feng Yexuan's expressions changed slightly.
However, the Emperor's change of expression was because he hadn't expected the old general, who had long since retired, to suddenly appear at such an occasion.
Feng Yexuan's change of expression was because he had clearly seen the girl walking behind Old Master Qin.
Chu Qianli.
What was this dead woman doing here?
Qin Xiao supported Old Master Qin, and together with Chu Qianli, they walked to the front of everyone.
The three of them bowed together and said, "We pay our respects to His Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, and His Highness Prince Xuan."
"My loyal subject, please rise quickly." The Emperor had always treated Old Master Qin with courtesy. "Qingde, quickly order someone to bring a seat."
"Yes!" Eunuch Qing quickly ordered chairs to be brought over.
Old Master Qin seemed accustomed to it. After bowing and expressing his gratitude, he sat down.
Although he was seated to the lower right, among those present with seats, only the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Prince Xuan had them.
After them came Old Master Qin.
This showed how important Old Master Qin was in the Emperor's heart.
"Old Qin, what did you just say? Your Qin family's young lady also wants to participate in the selection?"
The Empress Dowager's greatest concern was naturally this matter.
She frowned slightly, looking somewhat suspicious, "But... where did your Qin family get a young lady?"
The Qin family had three younger generations, all of whom were male.
"Replying to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, this old minister recently recognized a god-granddaughter, who is the one beside this old minister, Little Li'er."
Upon hearing this, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager's expressions instantly became very strange.
As for Qin Xiao, he had already walked up to Feng Yexuan and said with a grin, "It's been a few days, why does your face look so bad? Are you in a bad mood today because of the selection of consorts?"
Feng Yexuan's gaze fell on Qin Xiao's leg.
When did this fellow's leg get better? Wasn't it said before that there was no hope?
Although he had doubts, seeing Qin Xiao walk so nimbly, no longer limping as he did before, Feng Yexuan also felt relieved for him.
However, he was not good at expressing his concern.
Therefore, Prince Xuan's handsome face remained unchanged.
"Being able to walk and jump, you're finally like a human!" he snorted.
Qin Xiao smiled, but in reality, he felt somewhat helpless.
It was he who had previously advised Feng Yexuan not to fixate on one person.
It would be best to take this opportunity to select a Princess Xuan who would be helpful to him.
But now, he had come to accompany a little girl to participate in the selection.
This little girl was the one he had advised Feng Yexuan to stay away from earlier.
Truly... the world is unpredictable, and fate plays tricks on people.
He didn't know who to help anymore.
"That... it was Ah Li who cured me. She is my benefactor now." He decided it was best to declare his stance early.
Feng Yexuan snorted coldly and ignored him.
Qin Xiao, knowing he was an eyesore, could only rub his nose and return to Old Master Qin and Chu Qianli.
As for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, their expressions were now quite interesting.
It was too unexpected!
Old Master Qin said to the Emperor, "Earlier, our Little Li'er also submitted a painting and registered her name, but for some reason, our Little Li'er's name was not on the list that came out."
He said "our Little Li'er" repeatedly, as if Chu Qianli was no longer a member of the Duke's mansion but a young lady of his General's mansion.
Old Master Qin added, "Perhaps Her Majesty the Empress accidentally lost our Little Li'er's portrait. This old minister reckons that if our Little Li'er, who likes Prince Xuan so much, is not allowed to participate in the selection, she will cry every day."
Chu Qianli felt a bit helpless.
Who cried every day?
However, to be able to get in, she didn't care.
She looked up and saw a girl in a black tight-fitting outfit not far away.
Her ponytail was tied high, giving her a clean and sharp aura.
She was completely different from the other girls who were elaborately dressed.
That girl must be Long Ziyue.
Chu Qianli liked that girl at first sight.
She just didn't know what way she could use to get acquainted with her...
"Little Li'er, aren't you going to thank His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager for their approval?" Old Master Qin's words suddenly reached her ears.
Chu Qianli snapped back to attention and then bowed to the Emperor, "Thank..."
"This King has not yet agreed," a cold voice sounded from not far away.
Taking the tea from the little eunuch, he tasted it carefully, then held the cup in his hand, his expression still blank, looking forward.
As for Chu Qianli, he didn't even glance at her.
However, his words clearly reminded everyone that he disagreed with Chu Qianli's desire to participate in the selection!
Old Master Qin looked a little troubled.
Among the people present, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were relatively easy to talk to, and everyone would give him some face.
As for Prince Xuan, he was a bit prickly, but he usually willingly gave him some face.
Today, it seemed he was starting to find fault.
Old Master Qin looked up and glanced at Chu Qianli, "Little Li'er, His Highness Prince Xuan is speaking to you."
Chu Qianli knew she couldn't avoid it, so she walked up to Feng Yexuan, ignoring the curious glances from those around, and bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Feng Yexuan ignored her, continuing to sip his tea, as if she simply did not exist.
The other young ladies were whispering amongst themselves, wondering what this girl's background was.
As for those who recognized Chu Qianli, they all had grim expressions and looked disdainful.
How shameless!
The Prince no longer wanted her, yet she dared to come for the selection again.
A discarded woman, coming again, wouldn't the result be the same?
She couldn't escape the fate of being abandoned.
"Your Highness, please give me a chance to participate in the selection for Princess Xuan," Chu Qianli said again in a low voice.
This time, Feng Yexuan's gaze finally fell on her.
"What do you take the dignity of my royal family for? Do you dare to toy with this King?"
She publicly demanded a letter of divorce, and now she wanted to participate in the selection.
Did the gates of his Prince Xuan's mansion have to be open for her whenever she wanted to leave or come?
"Chu Qianli, do you think this King really has no one but you?"
The young ladies immediately breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that although Chu Qianli had climbed onto Old Master Qin's high branch, she was completely out of favor with Prince Xuan.
Chu Huaiyu also breathed a sigh of relief; she had actually been very nervous just now.
Yu Linglong's clenched palms finally relaxed.
She was afraid that Feng Yexuan would still give that bitch Chu Qianli a chance.
Although she didn't think Chu Qianli was anything special, it couldn't be helped that Yexuan just liked her.
Before, Prince Xuan had done many things that broke her heart because of Chu Qianli.
If the Prince were to refuse her on the spot and not allow Chu Qianli to participate in the selection, that would truly be a cause for great joy!
Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for Feng Yexuan to say a "no" in public, to tell Chu Qianli to get lost in public!