The princess regretted it.

Chapter 237: Draft Again (2)

Now that Prime Minister Mu had proposed reopening the selection process to enrich the harem, Changsun Hongze had to ponder this. If more princes were born in the future, wouldn't there be more room for choice in the crucial matter of selecting the heir to the throne? Among the many princes, one would surely stand out, possessing both talent and character. In this light, the selection process wasn't without merit.

Thinking of this, the emperor did not reject the proposal outright without hesitation, as he had done in the past. Instead, he frowned slightly, looked at the people in the hall, and remained silent.

Changsun Wuwang, however, keenly guessed from his father's expression that he was wavering on the matter. This discovery was completely unexpected for him, and it was like being struck by lightning. It was completely beyond his expectations.

You know, for so many years, my father has kept the harem empty because of Princess Jin'an's words back then, and there has never been any sign of loosening up. But now, just because of Prime Minister Mu's suggestion, my father's attitude has changed so much. How can he not be shocked and terrified?

He knew in his heart that once his father really reopened the selection of concubines, the situation in the palace would become even more complicated. For him, it would be even more difficult to gain a place in this vortex of power struggle.

Thinking of this, his face grew even darker and uglier. However, he also knew that as a son, it was not a good idea for him to rashly intervene in matters concerning his father's harem.

He only hoped his father wouldn't decide on the selection right then and there in the courtroom. As soon as the court session ended, he could go find Jin An and tell her everything. Given her aversion to this matter, she would surely disagree. If she knew, she would undoubtedly make a scene in front of his father, and then the selection would naturally be impossible to finalize.

His plan was a good one, but unfortunately, he completely overlooked the fact that Jin'an's relationship with Prime Minister Mu had long since returned to normal. In fact, it was even closer than before. Given the Mu family's guilt towards Jin'an, how could they possibly do something that would hurt Jin'an?

In the end, his plan did not work because his expectations were quickly dashed.

In the court, Prime Minister Mu spoke again, "Your Majesty, throughout the dynasties, the balance of the harem has been crucial to the stability of the court, and even the rise and fall of the entire dynasty. Your servants know that Your Majesty has devoted all his attention to governing the country for so many years, neglecting the affairs of the harem. This is because Your Majesty cares about the world and values the country above all else. However, Your Majesty should also consider that the foundation of a country lies in the inheritance of the royal bloodline. The prosperity of offspring is of great benefit to both the public and the private.

In order to prevent women from being forced into the palace under the pretext of sacrificing their families, we, the ministers, have deliberated and decided that the Ministry of Rites should establish a selection system:

First, strict screening will be implemented for the selection process. Not only will the talent, virtue, and appearance of the selected women be examined, but their family backgrounds must also be thoroughly understood to ensure that their families genuinely hope that their women will achieve success in the imperial palace, rather than using them as tools to curry favor with the powerful or pursue personal gain. Families suspected of harboring ulterior motives by sending their daughters to the palace will be disqualified from the selection process upon verification, with no leniency shown.

Second, during the selection process, the women were given full autonomy, allowing them to truly express themselves and their desire to enter the palace. If a woman clearly expressed her unwillingness to enter, even if she was both talented and beautiful, she would not be forced to do so. After all, a forced marriage is not a happy one; only a willing woman could better serve His Majesty, relieve his burdens, and add to the harem.

Third, after the concubines enter the palace, they will be carefully cared for and guided by dedicated personnel. This will help them quickly adapt to palace life, understand palace rules, and ensure they live a stable life, free from unwarranted bullying and oppression. This will ensure that the women entering the palace are of good character and sincerely willing to serve His Majesty, while also allowing His Majesty to avoid worrying about the concubines harboring resentment due to family pressure. It truly kills two birds with one stone.

"I hope Your Majesty will consider our heartfelt words and make a decision soon." Prime Minister Mu spoke slowly and clearly, methodically outlining the pros and cons. Several ministers echoed his sentiments, though some, upon hearing Prime Minister Mu's selection criteria, harbored doubts. They had agreed to the selection solely to use their daughters' entry into the palace to secure benefits for themselves and their families. This presented a dilemma. If such a rigorous selection process were truly necessary, the little tricks they had previously devised would be difficult to achieve. Consequently, these ministers began to ponder, declaring they needed to return home and carefully consider what measures they could take to evade the court's scrutiny while ensuring their daughters' smooth passage into the palace.

The most anxious person was the third prince, Changsun Wuwang. He was listening on the side, his face becoming increasingly gloomy and ugly. He was extremely anxious. He felt that the more the matter developed, the more disadvantageous it would be to him, but he didn't know what to do. He could only grit his teeth and watch the situation develop.

When the emperor's grandson Hongze, who was sitting on the throne, heard what Mu Xiang said later, the balance in his heart, which had been wavering, gradually tended to agree with this matter.

After all, the reason he had left his harem empty was due to a heartbreaking tragedy years ago—the deaths of the Empress and the Crown Prince. The pain was like a sharp knife piercing his heart, leaving him mired in endless grief. And for their passing, he was filled with guilt, feeling he had failed to protect them.

Furthermore, Jin'an was still young at the time, yet because of this sudden blow, he cried and raged. His childish words, filled with sorrow and fear, made him feel endlessly guilty. So, he complied with Jin'an's wishes, leaving the harem empty and no longer paying attention to matters related to it.

And now, since her father-in-law, Prime Minister Mu, has personally come forward to propose to reopen the selection, and Jin An has also taken the initiative to propose it to her before, it shows that she has let go of the past and opened up her heart.

Besides, the current situation of the harem is indeed not optimistic. The number of people is decreasing, and there are not many offspring. The entire harem seems deserted. Since this is the case, the selection of concubines seems to be acceptable. So, he decided on this matter on the spot.