26 The selection of the Princess Consort

"Minister Hu, I heard that your two daughters attended my niece's birthday party. I hope they had a good time," Prime Minister Chao said to Minister Hu during one of the court sessions.

"Oh, yes. Chao-xing had a great time. Though I have to apologize for Huiyin for leaving early. She's not feeling well that day." Minister Hu can sense that this question of the Prime Minister can lead to something else.

"How is she now?" Chao Shen suddenly asked the minister.

Minister Hu looked at the young man, his expression is dark and gloomy.

"She's better now."

"That's good then," said King Ju-long. He sensed that the conversation will get intense soon.

"Minister Hu, how is the situation in the southern border?" he asked to change the topic.

"Responding to King Ju-long, since we built a stronghold in the southern border, our enemies were not successful in entering our kingdom for the past years."

"That's good to know. Thank you for your hard work."

"My king, the Minister of Rites would like to make a request," said Minister Meng.

"Yes, Minister Meng?"

"My king, the people are getting restless each day. This minister would like to request the start of the Princess Consort's selection to ease the people. I hope you will grant this request."

"Please grant this request," most of the other officials said.

King Ju-long looked at Chao Shen. The latter nodded. Then, he looked at the officials in front of him.

"I understand the concerns that our citizens are having right now. Since the death of my mother, selecting the Princess consort has been delayed until my father died two years ago." There is silence inside the court.

"I know that you are all patient with me as I went through my mourning. And now that I'm king for almost two years, I guess, it is time to select the princess consort."

With these words of the king, most of the officials looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

"Thank you, your majesty. The Ministry of Rites will prepare everything."

King Ju-long nodded.

"Before you start the selection Minister Meng, I have some changes I want to include in the selection process."

The Minister of Rites was taken aback, he was not sure what to say next.

"I guess it is alright to do so, right Minister Meng?" Chao Shen said looking at the nervous Minister Meng.

"Of course, Master Chao" Minister Meng answered.

"I would like to include all the noble ladies in the capital. Then, we will choose 10 ladies to stay inside the palace to be close evaluated. Then, each month, one lady will be eliminated from the 10 until we have the one person left."

After the king explained everything, everyone was shocked.

"But my king..."

"That's my decision. I don't want to choose just any woman to be my wife. I hope you understand what I mean." said King Ju-long seriously. No one in court argued with him. His voice has a finality to it.

It is true that the imperial family is still unstable because of the death of the former king and this new king still need to prove himself but the power of the former king can still be felt in court. If someone wants to do something to the new king, it will not be that easy.

"This minister understand your majesty's command. We will prepare the selection banquet immediately and invite all the noble ladies in the land."

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"What do you think the king is planning in changing the selection process?" Mengyao asked Minister Hu as they rode their horses after the court session.

"I am not sure yet but the imperial's inner court is not stable. Though the outside enemies are handled the enemies inside are out of hand. The king might be buying some time."

"Do you think the king already had a woman in mind?"

"I don't think so. Based on the pressure that the other court officials are putting into Minister Meng, it is evident that there is no woman who captured the heard of the young king yet. We still have the chance"

Upon hearing this, Mengyao's expression change. Even though he knew that this is part of their plans, he is still unsure if Lihua will not fall for the king. Or if her old feelings for Chao Shen will return. Especially now that Chao Shen is the personal advisor of the king. There will be a lot of instances for the two to meet.

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"It's good that the court agrees with my conditions," King Ju-long said relieved. He is now walking back to his study hall with Chao Shen.

"They have no choice. They know that if they disagree you will not allow the selection." Chao Shen explained.

"I understand what you mean. But if you will ask me I don't want to have a wife yet. Can I have the same decree as you?" he asked his private advisor with the hope that he will agree.

"Who do you think you are? You are the king of the country. It is only normal that you should have a wife now. Actually, you should have a lot of concubines by now." Chao Shen scolded the king.

"Alright, alright, I know," the king said helplessly. "I just thought that I can have a way with it."

"Why you don't want to have a wife yet?" Chao Shen asked suddenly. Even though they've grown up together, there are still things he doesn't know about King Ju-long.

"It's not that I don't want to have a wife yet. It just that I haven't found that woman yet. I don't want to be like my father who spends most of his time with other women, neglecting my mother. Yes, he made my mother the Empress but that's not what my mother wants. I want to be married to a woman I will cherish." the king said dreamily.

"What if the woman you will find doesn't want to be an Empress?"

"It's okay. I can give up the throne just for her,"

Chao Shen was surprised by the king's words. He never expected that he is such a romantic. But then, he hasn't found that woman. He might change his mind later on.

"How about you Shen? What will you do if you find the woman you will love?" it's now the king who asked him.

"Me? haven't I requested a decree not to get married?"

"Hahaha, that again? Don't be too attached to that decree, you might regret it someday." the king said sadly.

"I am sure I will not," Chao Shen remembered her again. How can she love someone else if all this time he is thinking about her and how foolish he is to let her go.

"But, if you change your mind, you know that I can always make a new decree for you," the king said making the conversation lighter this time.

"Hahahaha, okay, if you insist."

"The harem that my father left, what will I do to them?" suddenly the king remembered one of his problems.

"What did the inner court told you about it?"

"Consort Xue told me to keep them. She said if I want any of them I do have them."

"Hahaha, so do you want them?"

"No! I think of them as my own mother. How can you sleep with your mother?" the king said disgustedly.

"I don't know what this consort is thinking. Though I am sure that she will put someone in the selection."

"That's expected. She invested a lot to be where she is right now. Even though she is not named as Empress, her power is equal to an empress."

"I never expected that being a king will be this hard," King Ju-long complained.

"Hahaha, don't say that. You know that a lot of people wanted to snatch that position of yours."

"I am glad that you are not one of them," the king said looking at Chao Shen.

Chao Shen smiled at him. Yes, he is glad that he doesn't want the throne anymore.