CH36; 10 Man

The kingdom was filled with excitement as word of the queen's new policy spread. Reactions all around the city went up at the thought that the queen herself was having concubines to encourage childbirth. Married and single people both got carried up in the day's excitement.

A young single man named Chen smiled in the marketplace as he heard the news. "Why can't I do this if the queen can? He asked his friend next to him and said, "It's time to find a wife and start a family.

An already married man called Li, his friend, gave a cheerful nod. "The queen shows her determination towards the Kingdom! My wife and I discussed the possibility of having more kids. The timing couldn't be better!"

Within the market, women were talking enthusiastically to one another. "Have you heard? The queen is promoting the policy by having concubines. Being chosen is a good thing for those men after all, the queen is so beautiful," a woman said.

Plenty of single men hurried to apply in the hopes of being selected as one of the queen's concubines. There was a lot of discussion and gossip about who would be chosen

---

The Next Morning...

Zhang Lian awoke as the early sunlight passed into her room. She could still clearly recall the events of the day before, but she ignored them as she got out of bed and went in the direction of the bell.

She rang it with such elegance that the sound drifted gently through the room. Lan and Bai entered the room in a matter of moments.

Bai seemed different today; her eyes were sad and her movements were slower. As she performed her tasks, she was obviously shaken, her face pale, and her hands slightly shook.

Lan saw that Bai was acting strangely. "Bai, are you alright?" Lan asked, her brow rippled in worry. "You look… scared." Bai tried to smile, but it paused short of her eyes. She answered, her voice hardly audible above a whisper, "I'm fine."

She was anything but fine on the inside. She was still filled with suffering and fear from what had happened the night before, and it was haunting her. However, she was aware that she couldn't reveal anything to others or the queen would kill her whole family.

Even though Lan wasn't convinced, she didn't question Bai further since she thought she might be sick or just exhausted.

They carried on as usual, assisting Zhang Lian with getting ready for the day. As Bai helped dress the queen, her hands trembled and her thoughts were filled with a mix of giving up and fear.

Zhang Lian observed Bai's quiet at breakfast and just smiled.

Every move Bai made made her pulse accelerate, fearing that some small error might anger the queen. Lan continued to be puzzled by Bai's actions.

While the cat keeps looking & some time taking with Zhang Lian

Around Night Time…

Maid's dress the Queen seriously for the important moment that is going to happen soon.

Zhnag Lian chose to wear a deep red silk robe, which symbolizes her status. The robe floated around her with elegance as she moved; it was simple but gorgeous.

It had beautiful gold embroidery along the edges, featuring the patterns of dragons and phoenixes. Her long, wide sleeves hung slightly as she walked, adding to the air of royalty that her beautiful face already gave.

She had long, white hair that was put up in an elegant way, with a few free strands outlining her face.

She had an invisible aspect that perfectly combined the spirituality of a cultivator with the beauty of an empress.

Cat said "you looked beautiful, nya", and Zhnag Lian proudly replied, "Sure am I," with a smile.

Zhang Lian came from her room when she was ready, Gou Liang and Wei Jun, her two guards, following closely behind.

Their footsteps rang out on the polished marble flooring as they moved through the palace. There was a sense of excitement in the air because she would be selecting her concubines tonight.

The guards followed after her till they arrived at the court's grand entrance.

….

The kingdom's ministers sat at low tables in the huge and luxurious hall that Zhang Lian entered.

Warm, golden light streamed from the flashing lamps in the room. At the end of the room, high above the floor when compared to other people, was a huge and gorgeous seat dedicated for the queen.

The dark wood seat was decorated with complex designs of lotus and dragons. Cushions made of rich red fabric were on it.

Zhang Lian approached her seat with grace, drawing attention to herself. The ministers who had been seated around the tables stood up together as she arrived, bowing in respect.

As they waited for the queen's decision, a distinct sense of anticipation filled the air. Zhang Lian walked slowly up to her seat and sat down, her back straight and royal.

She gave the ministers a small nod, indicating that they might take a seat as well. The sound of robes being gently rippled filled the room as everyone took their proper places.

Ten young men stood at the far end of the hall, waiting for their introduction to the queen.

These men, who were all dressed in beautifully suited robes of various colors, were picked because of their extraordinary looks and charm.

Zhang Lian looked at the ten men as they were brought forward, her face unreadable. She was aware that the ministers had eliminated everyone else, leaving only those they deemed worthy, in the hopes that, should they become close to the queen, the selected ones would remember the ministers' backing.

The men stood in front of her, waiting for her decision. Their heads were bowed and they thought about how beautiful the queen was and how lucky they would be to marry her. The ministers watched the queen's decision carefully because they knew it would have an impact on their own standing in the court as only people who they favor are here.

Zhang Lian sat back slightly in her seat, taking in the sight before her, ready to make her selection.

The cat, who was sitting close by, became excited as the selection process went on and shouted, "Nya! Choose all of them." Zhang Lian, however, kept her calm and ignored it

With a nod the ten guys were given permission to start performing. These were going to be concubines, after all; they didn't need the marriage-like ritual.

Soon, tables were brought to everyone, including Zhang Lian & then food was brought by 10-20 maid's.

The tables were filled with a variety of dishes—steamed buns, roasted meats, and soft pastries, all beautifully arranged. Wine flowed freely, filling the air with an amazing aroma as everyone settled in for the evening's entertainment.

Zhang Lian had been advised to organize shows to entertain herself, and tonight was a grand celebration, marking the first event of this kind since the city had been rebuilt.

The ten men entered the grand hall to begin their performances, each attempting to win the queen's favor.

Zhang Lian, signaled the beginning of the festivities with a small nod, and as the fireworks burst in the sky outside, people gathered in the streets to watch, the city lit up in vibrant colors,

The first man performed the sword show. Despite his skill, Zhang Lian seemed unimpressed, her expression remaining indifferent as she sipped her wine.

The second man then went on stage to demonstrate his calligraphy skills. He unfolded a long scroll of paper and drew quickly, his brush touching the surface. Zhang Lian once more displayed little interest in this.

The third performer read poems on love, grief, and beauty in a clear, pleasing voice. Zhang Lian found herself bored as he continued, despite the fact that his words were ideal and his delivery lively. Zhang Lian wasn't very interested in the other men until the fourth one took the stage.

He came in accompanied by a group of servants, all of them wearing elegant but simple flowing gowns of pink color. The girls' clothing floated beautifully as they moved, and they had pretty ribbons in their hair. The music coming from the zither, a string instrument, was incredibly lovely, with a rich and dramatic tune. The man himself was playing the instrument.

His selection of music had a title *"Spring Moon Melody,"* a classic melody.

The maids started to move in time with the music as the melodies filled the air and they started to dance around him. Their stunning performance of coordinated movements and delicate movements that seemed to bring the music to life was appealing.

Zhang Lian's expression eventually took on a hint of interest as she leaned forward slightly. Her earlier boredom was forgotten as she took interest in the performance due to the interesting blend of music and dancing.

Following the amazing performance of the fourth man, the next six men took the stage to showcase their skills:

Fifth Performer: He performed demonstrations of his martial arts skills. -

Sixth Performer: This individual was a flute player. -

The Seventh Artist: He displayed his talent at making paper art.

Eight Performer: This man gave a music performance.

Ninth Performer: He showed his archery talent.

Tenth Artist: The last man delivered an impressive speech from a well-known play.

The performance, the food, and the wine were being enjoyed by all in the hall. Even Zhang Lian was getting a little drunk in this exciting atmosphere, but she was careful not to drink too much.

Even though Bai would be handling the more personal details, she knew she would still need to be awake for what took place after the selection process.

Following a one-hour performance, Zhang Lian pointed casually at four men. She said, "You, you, you, and you," with a clear voice despite the drink. "The rest of you can go home."

The four men who had been chosen were obviously happy, their faces lit with excitement.

The ministers who supported them raised their glasses to the queen's decision and cheered. Those who were not selected, on the other hand, had disappointed expressions on their faces as they knew their hopes had been shattered.

Not to mention annoyed were the ministers who had supported these men. A particularly drunk minister crawled to his feet and said "Your Highness, how can you do this? Not… not to select my one…"

His protest came out more as a drunken man than a logical objection due to his blurred words and unstable sentences.

With a heated face and distracted eyes, he moved while speaking. He was obviously not fully in control of his senses because of his awkward behaviors, which included making a confusing motion toward the queen.

Not quite as drunk as the others, Zhang Lian frowned. The minister's bravery appeared to have surprised even the ten guys who had performed. Regardless of how much he'd drunk, it was obvious to all of them that his behavior was unacceptable.

When Zhang Lian spoke, her voice grew cold and her expression darkened. "The minister doesn't seem to know who or where he is speaking to."

"Guards, take this man away from the city, not only from this palace. Ensure that he never comes back. Given that he obviously lacks the self-control to know what to say and what not to say, he can return to carrying on as he did in earlier life."

With fast speeds, the minister was taken by the arms by the guards. The minister said something loudly as he got carried away, still not quite understanding what was happening.

The guards planned to give him over to those outside the palace, who would make sure he was driven out of the city and never seen again.

Then Zhang Lian rose with elegance, her posture firm from the previous drinks. She pointed directly to the man who had performed the piece that had captured her attention, the fourth man. She stated, "You will accompany me," in a tone that left no space for doubt.

She settled on Jian Yu, a man with gentle features and a calm face. His red hair was carefully put back with a simple ribbon, his eyes a blue color, and his skin was white.

He wore a blue robe with fine silver embroidery. His heart raced as he realized he had been selected for the first night, a mix of nervousness and excitement wave through him.

When Zhang Lian turned to leave the hall, the five of six ministers who were beginning to sober up noticed the queen's departure and stood and bowed. When the queen was about to go, they knew better than to stay put in their seats.

The other three or four people were taken away by their guards or maids since they were still too drunk to respond correctly.

The guards positioned themselves to watch on Zhang Lian as she moved through the palace. Maids led the other three men who had been chosen and showed them to their new residences. But with his heart beating in his chest, Jian Yu followed Zhang Lian and the guards closely.