Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 383 The Princess Chooses Her Consort (Special thanks to the monthly votes from book friend Everything Will Get Better/Xinghai Wuliang!)

After reading the memorial from the front, Chai Zongxun immediately replied: order the five corps of the Second Front Army led by Huyan Zan to capture the entire territory of Ghazni, and then head north to attack the Samanid Empire from the east and south with the First Front Army led by Jingsheng.

The Samanid Dynasty was the leader of all the Star Religious countries. Conquering it would play a decisive role in both the war situation and the morale of both sides.

On July 5, the th year of Kaixi, after more than five months of preliminary selection by various prefectures and cities, "beautiful men" who were selected as the consort of the eldest princess Chai Wodan arrived in Bianliang under the escort of the government.

It was the first time for the people of Bianjing to see a public selection of a consort for the imperial princess, and they could not help but stand on the street and watch, marveling at the thought.

"I remember that in the past, princesses would choose their husbands from the homes of noble ministers, right? Taizu chose a husband for Princess Shou'an."

"It was true in the past, but your Majesty is a sage king, how can he be the same as the kings of previous dynasties?
Take the "Performance Evaluation System" and the "Local Talent System" for example. They are all wise creations of your majesty! When the princess chooses a prince consort, she must be creative. "

"Don't tell me, your majesty's move is truly wise and righteous.

In the past, princesses married into princes and nobles, and we common people couldn’t even think about it!

Now that His Majesty has changed the system for selecting royal consorts, the children of common people may also be able to marry a princess and enter officialdom overnight!

From now on, the nobles will never dare to look down on us common people again!"

"So, your majesty's move seems to have a deeper meaning, which is to prevent the formation of hereditary official and aristocratic families in our Great Zhou Empire.

I heard that your majesty now has more than a hundred princesses, and this time you are choosing a consort for the eldest princess, which means there are still hundreds of princesses to choose consorts!"

"Old Zhao, you are talking nonsense!
Your Majesty already has more than a hundred princes and princesses, not just more than a hundred princesses. There are quite a few princesses, more than sixty in total.

What's the matter, Lao Zhao, do you also want to run for the title of Prince Consort? Haha!"

"Lao Xu, you are kidding me! You know I am already in my thirties!
To be honest, I just want my third and fifth sons to try their luck and see if they can be lucky enough to be chosen by a princess in the future."

Another old man said:

"Humans, this marriage is destined by heaven. Looking back, all the comings and goings are arranged, and nothing can be forced.

For example, the marriage between Your Majesty and Empress Shengyi was a fortuitous encounter, and everything was destined.”

The people sighed for a while, and one person said:

"The men of our Great Zhou are really impressive! Look at these handsome men who came from all over the country. They are all handsome and have extraordinary demeanor."

"Of course, the first thing to consider when choosing a consort is his good looks, but you can't judge a person by appearance. An ugly person doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't have talent."

“That’s right!
Although being a son-in-law is good, he is limited to being a third-rank official, which is not perfect.

Now that the Holy Emperor is alive, there are many ways for common people like us to advance, but my son Xiaoer is unwilling to participate in the election. He said that he wants to pass the imperial examination with his own ability, and then be granted a title of nobility and become a prime minister, bringing honor to the family…"

The process of selecting a royal consort for the first time in the Zhou Dynasty was divided into the first six steps of appearance, voice, conversation, appearance, manners, and character, as well as the last two steps of talent examination.

The first six steps were presided over by eunuchs and palace maids from the Imperial Household Department, while the last two steps were presided over by several ministers appointed by Chai Zongxun.

After more than a month of selection, on August 5th, 600 "beautiful men" finally entered the final selection for the prince consort.

In the afternoon, Chai Zongxun, accompanied by Concubine Yi Zhou Nuying and Princess Chai Wodan, entered the Wencheng Hall in the front yard of the imperial palace, accompanied by eunuchs and palace maids.

These six hundred "beautiful men" stood respectfully in the hall, just like the beautiful women, holding a wooden sign with their names on it.

After seeing the ceremony, Chai Zongxun smiled and said:

“All of you have been selected from among hundreds of thousands of candidates, and you are the best among the young people in terms of talent and appearance.

I am choosing a consort for the eldest princess in the hope that she can find a lifelong partner who shares her feelings and ideas.

This time, each of you will come forward and recite a poem that you like the most to me, Concubine Yi, and the Princess. "After the "showmen" thought and prepared for a while, the eunuchs divided them into teams and asked them to go to the jade steps one by one and recite poems to the emperor, Concubine Yi, and the Princess.

After two hours of screening, a 19-year-old young man named Di Pu from Xihe, Fenzhou, was unanimously recognized by Chai Zongxun, Zhou Nuying and Chai Wodan.

Dipp's appearance is not the best among these handsome men, but his temperament is as gentle as jade, which makes people feel very comfortable.

The poem he recited was written by Li Shangyin, a great poet of the Tang Dynasty:
"untitled"

The stars last night and the wind last night, the east side of Guitang on the west side of the painting building.

The body has no colorful phoenix wings and wings, and the heart is a little bit better.

The second seat is sent to the hook and the spring wine is warm, and the lamp is red with wax-covered wax.

Sui Yu listened to the drum to respond to the official, and went to Malantai to turn around.

Li Shangyin was depressed and frustrated throughout his life. He wrote many poems that are still sung by later generations, most of which are titled "Untitled".

The poem recited by Dipus not only expressed his deep affection for the princess through poetry, but also subtly expressed his self-mockery of his humble status, which was quite appropriate.

Chai Zongxun said:

"Lord Di, where did your ancestors come from? What did they do in your hometown?"

The government at all levels carefully verified the ancestral home, family background, and character of these selected men, but Chai Zongxun naturally would not look them up personally.

Dipper saluted and said:
“Your Majesty, I am a descendant of Di Renjie from the Tang Dynasty, and have lived in Xihe, Fenzhou for generations.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, my ancestors fell into poverty and made a living by hunting.

Your Majesty has opened up the imperial examinations and has shown kindness to the people. I am an uneducated and unskilled person who only passed the military examination in my hometown. I feel ashamed of Your Majesty and my ancestors!"

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly, and when he saw his daughter Chai Wodan looking at Di Pu with great interest, he immediately said:

"Dan'er, the emperor has given you the power to decide on the son-in-law. You can talk alone with the young talents you admire in this palace and make a decision."

Chai Wodan blushed a little, but thinking that this was her lifelong event, she nodded hesitantly, stood up and went to the right side hall, and summoned more than ten "beautiful men" to talk to her one by one.

Zhou Nuying was very satisfied with all the "beautiful men" in the palace. She sat next to Chai Zongxun and talked to him from time to time about her opinions on a certain "beautiful man".

About a quarter of an hour later, Chai Wodan returned to his father, the emperor and his mother.

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"Dan'er, have you chosen your prince consort? Your father has given you the greatest right to choose. You can pick one from the hundreds of thousands of young candidates across the country.

If you are not satisfied in the future, you can no longer blame it on your father, the emperor, and your mother."

Chai Wodan said anxiously:

"Father and mother are so concerned about your marriage, how dare you blame me?

But I feel that these young people each have their own merits, and it is really difficult to decide…"

Chai Zongxun thought:
"How can I have the time to accompany you to carefully select for ten days or half a month? After all, Dan'er has little life experience."

Chai Zongxun said:

"Then let your father decide for you. Choose Dipu as your consort!"

(End of this chapter)