Zhao Yan was about to stand up and say goodbye to leave because he always felt something was wrong, but Zhao Shu suddenly said, "Yan'er, don't rush to leave first. Today is the day for your elder brother to choose the crown princess. The queen has already invited the five crown princess' women to come back soon. You can stay here to choose for your elder brother!"

"Choose... choose the crown princess?" Zhao Yan screamed when he heard this. He had heard Zhao Xu mention this before, but he never expected that it was today, and he had met him. No wonder Zhao Xu had such a strange expression when he saw him just now. I guess he must be laughing at himself for falling into the trap now.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yan turned his head to look at Zhao Xu, and found that he was looking at him with gloating expressions. This made Zhao Yan feel like crying without tears. He had already avoided Zhao Xu's choice of concubine, but he didn't expect that he would plunge in in the end, and he couldn't escape even if he wanted to escape.

"Father, although it is a state affairs for the eldest brother to choose a concubine, it is also a family matter. Is it a bit unreasonable for me, the younger brother to choose a wife?" Although I knew it would be difficult for him to get out of this matter, Zhao Yan still couldn't help but try it out. And what he said was right. How could the younger brother help his brother choose a wife in the world?

"It's okay, you said that choosing a crown princess is a state event, which is related to the future national destiny of the Song Dynasty. Yan'er, as the prince of the Song Dynasty, naturally, you have to contribute to the foundation of the Song Dynasty. In addition, you have the best relationship with Xu'er, and you got married earlier than him. So you, a younger brother, should worry more about his marriage!" Zhao Shu waved his hand and refuted himself in Zhao Yan's words. As a result, Zhao Yan wanted to slap his two big mouths.

Zhao Shu didn't let Zhao Yan go. He had no choice but to stand next to Zhao Xu. As a result, Zhao Xu didn't plan to let him go. He smiled and leaned over and whispered: "Third brother, you really have a fate with my marriage. Why not choose the crown princess later, and you can just choose for me. I believe in your vision!"

"Bah, why not let me just help you with the bridal chamber. This will save your little lady Hua Zhi from being jealous!" Zhao Yan heard Zhao Xu's sarcastic words, and he said angrily. Zhao Xu is the crown prince, and it is probably only Zhao Yan in the world who dares to talk to him like this.

"Haha. The relationship is good, but if you help me with the wedding chamber, you will take over the position of prince. There is nothing else, but how should the one in your family arrange it? You can't let two queens appear in our Song Dynasty?" Zhao Xu was not angry when he heard Zhao Yan's words, and still said with a smile. He was not in a good mood at first, but he seemed to be more unlucky than himself. In this comparison, he immediately felt much better and he was in the mood to joke with Zhao Yan.

However, just as Zhao Xu finished speaking, he heard a burst of rapid footsteps outside. Then several eunuchs and palace maids quickly walked into the hall and then lined up on both sides. Then Empress Gao slowly walked in, her face full of joy. However, when she saw that Zhao Yan was also in the hall, her face was obviously stunned, but soon returned to normal. She walked forward and saluted Zhao Shu, and then asked Zhao Yan affectionately: "Why is Yan'er free to visit His Majesty in the palace today?"

"Well, Erchen had something to discuss with his father, but he didn't expect that he happened to meet his elder brother choosing a crown princess, so his father asked Erchen to stay!" Although Zhao Yan had no good feelings for Empress Gao, he still replied politely.

"So that's it. Yan'er, you're such a coincidence!" Empress Gao glanced at Zhao Yan with a meaningful look. She didn't think Zhao Yan happened to be here, and even thought there was any conspiracy in it. It was very likely that she wanted to support a woman, such as the woman from the Cao family. Zhao Yan had a full reason to support her. Unfortunately, Empress Gao judged the gentleman with the heart of a villain this time. Zhao Yan avoided the election of the crown princess, so how could she have any idea of ​​interfering?

Zhao Shu and Zhao Xu were both extremely smart, so naturally they could see Empress Gao’s suspicion of Zhao Yan. Zhao Xu was worried that Zhao Yan would be unhappy, so he hurriedly said: “Mother, my third brother has also done a lot of effort in my marriage. If it weren’t for his persuasion, I would probably be confused in Xixia. Therefore, it is natural for me to help me choose a concubine today!”

After hearing his son say this, Empress Gao didn't have anything to say. She asked Zhao Shu for instructions and then ordered the five selected women outside to enter the hall. In fact, according to the rules of the palace, choosing a concubine for the prince only requires the emperor and the queen to come forward. The prince cannot meet the prince's concubine before marriage, and it is even more impossible to let the alternative crown prince's concubine enter the palace together, and then let the prince choose it himself. However, Zhao Xu's situation was special. He almost made the Hu woman Hua Zhi the concubine as the concubine before, so Zhao Shu and Empress Gao changed the rules in the palace, so this situation occurred.

Although Zhao Yan was very reluctant to participate in this matter, he could not get out now. Since it was a foregone conclusion, he simply let go, looking at the direction of the palace gate, intending to see what the candidates for the princess Zhao Shu selected for Zhao Xu were like?

I saw eight palace maids in front of me leading the way, and then five palace girls with different costumes and colors walked into the hall in a row. Although the five girls had different appearances, they were all very beautiful, and their faces were excited and nervous. When they saw Zhao Shu and his son, they immediately bowed and said, "Little girl, please see Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"

Before they came, they knew they would meet Zhao Shu and Zhao Xu, but they didn't know that Zhao Yan was here, and they didn't know Zhao Yan either, so they naturally didn't know how to salute. After standing up, they even looked at Zhao Yan with some curiosity, not knowing why there was a young man.

Although Zhao Yan was also very curious about these five girls, he didn't dare to look at them again after just a look. After all, one of them would definitely become Zhao Xu's wife, and the other four remaining ones would definitely be Zhao Xu's future concubines, so if he stared at them like this, it would naturally be a very rude thing. Even if Zhao Xu didn't care, Queen Gao, who had always looked at him, would take the opportunity to attack.

However, although just a glance, Zhao Yan found that the girl in white dress on the far left looked familiar. After a little thought, she realized that the girl's appearance was somewhat similar to Hu Yanping's wife Cao Ni. Cao Ying had said before that the woman who chose the Crown Princess of the Cao family was Cao Ni's own sister. I think this girl in white dress was Cao Ruo.

After the five girls who came in stood still, Queen Gao smiled and said to Zhao Xu beside her: "Xu'er, these five girls were selected for their mother. Each of them is talented and beautiful, gentle and virtuous, especially the second girl in green on the far left, who has watched her grow up since childhood, and she is very compatible with you."

Zhao Yan was originally thinking about which girl from the Gao family was. Now when he heard Queen Gao's words, he immediately understood that the girl in green standing next to Cao Ruo was a woman from the Gao family. He heard that this woman was Queen Gao's niece, no wonder she praised the other party so much. Unfortunately, Zhao Xu had a bad temper in his marriage. It was estimated that Queen Gao's wishful thinking would be disappointed.

Zhao Xu looked at the five girls in front of him silently. Whether he wanted to or not, these five girls would become his women. This is also the responsibility that the prince could not escape. Now he has to select one of his own good men from these five women, which can help him manage the huge harem.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xu took a long breath and said to Zhao Shu and Empress Gao: "Father, Queen Mother, can you ask them a question?"

"Of course, my father has promised you that you will be the one who decides on choosing a concubine!" Zhao Shu said with a smile. He also favored Zhao Xu, his son, otherwise he would not have made so many concessions to Zhao Xu.

Seeing Zhao Shu agreeing, Zhao Xu slowly walked to the five girls, which made Cao Ruo and the others a little shy. They lowered their heads one by one and did not dare to look at Zhao Xu, but they couldn't help but look at him secretly from the corner of their eyes. After all, they all knew that the man in front of them was their husband.

Zhao Xu looked at the five girls in front of him seriously, and finally said, "You are all candidates for the Crown Princess carefully selected by the father and mother. Their appearance and talent are the best choices. However, it is not easy to become the Crown Princess. I want to ask you now, if you become the Crown Princess, how will you help me manage the affairs in the palace?"

When Zhao Xu heard this question, Zhao Yan showed an expression that was indeed the case. Zhao Xu only had that Hua Zhi in his heart, and he was always worried that the new crown princess would make things difficult for Hua Zhi, so it is normal to ask this question now. However, when Zhao Shu and Empress Gao heard this question, they both frowned. They both knew about Hua Zhi, so they could naturally guess the reason why Zhao Xu asked this question.

After hearing this, Cao Ruo and the five girls all showed a meditative expression. After a while, the woman from the Gao family said first: "Report to the prince, there are rules in the palace in the palace. If a girl becomes a princess, she will definitely act according to the rules in the palace. She will reward her merits and punish her mistakes. Even if the girl makes a mistake, she will be punished according to the rules!"

The woman in the Gao family is a bit similar to Queen Gao. She is both strong and does not care much about mercy. So she acts according to the rules as soon as she opens her mouth. However, when Zhao Yan heard her answer, she shook her head slightly. What Zhao Xu is most afraid of is that such a woman becomes the crown princess. It seems that the woman in the Gao family has no chance. Queen Gao next to her also guessed this point, and her face also showed an anxious expression. Unfortunately, she wanted to remind her again but it was too late. (To be continued)
Chapter completed!