Forgotten Legend of the Bloodied Flower

<Nan Shu Cheng's Residence, Nan Hua's Quarter>

At this moment, Nan Hua was reading the report of what had happened in Shangguan Family. Their movement was not completely surprising for her. And it was indeed more beneficial for Shangguan Xian and Shangguan Xiao to separate from the other family members.

After all, they were not too close and those people would only take advantage of these two youths.

Nan Hua put down the bamboo strip. She looked at her busy servants. Tomorrow will be the Empress Selection, so they took it upon themselves to prepare the best dress for her as if she was going to a war. Even though she had said that she was not there to participate in the selection and only accompany her fiancé, they seemed to be treating her words to be thin air.

They continued to prepare everything so meticulously.

Thus, Nan Hua decided to turn blind eye and let them do whatever they wanted to do. They would be happy this way too. She also didn't really mind.

"Second Young Miss is buying new jewelries today." Xiao Yun pursed her lips. "She seems to be dreaming of becoming an Empress."

Nan Xin was also invited because she was 13 years old and without fiancée. If she managed to perform spectacularly, it meant that she would be able to become the Empress. The highest position women could reach in this would be the Empress, but it was also a position riddled with so many dangers.

However, Nan Hua knew for sure that Nan Xin wouldn't be selected. Emperor Yang Zhou needed someone who was already over 15 years old or at least at that age in order to be able to get married in a few more months. That way, he would be able to hold his inauguration before this year ended.

If he picked Nan Xin, he would have to wait another two years.

Would the ambitious Emperor Yang Zhou waste two more years just because of a woman? From Nan Hua's perspective, he wouldn't. If he did, it would be stupid. It was not like he loved any woman in particular to the point that he would sacrifice a lot of things just because of her.

Well, she wouldn't explain this to anyone.

Those ladies wouldn't even listen to her even if she said anything.

Nan Hua looked at the dress that the servants prepared and her eyes blinked. It was a peach colored dress and had been embroidered in beautiful vines and flowers pattern. The meticulous stitches made the embroidery looked alive.

Mu Yan and Chu Yue were still busy cleaning the embroidery while Nan Hua silently wondered whether she would be able to reach that level or not. Looking at the rather ordinary embroidery in front of her, Nan Hua silently tucked it away. There was no point in learning right now.

She better had some rest.

While Nan Hua was choosing to rest, it was not the same for many other girls in the Capital City. The fact that tomorrow would be the Empress Selection had caused them to be so nervous. Emperor Yang Zhou wanted to hold selection and all women close to marriageable age who didn't have any fiancée would be able to come.

This naturally included his own concubines. They definitely didn't want to have a woman from outside suddenly come and claimed that seat.

In Nan Shu Cheng's Residence, Nan Xin was the most nervous.

"You'll surely do well tomorrow." Concubine Mei looked at her daughter filled with hope. She really hoped that the Emperor would pick her daughter. That way, it would be like a sparrow turned into phoenix.

Her daughter's fate as an ordinary concubine daughter would change completely.

"Yes, Mom." Nan Xin nodded. She snuggled close to her mother as she bit her lower lips. When she heard the news that Emperor Yang Zhou was selecting an Empress, she was in disbelief. Afterwards, she was feeling ecstatic because she was included in the age range for the girls who qualified.

And not only that, her half sister was not qualified because she was Long Qian Xing's fiancée. How nice was that? When she heard that, all she could think was how pleasant it would be if she could become the Empress and become much higher than all these women.

She didn't have to bother sucking up to Madam Qu.

She didn't have to be polite with Nan Hua.

And all other girls would have to respect her.

That was too good to be true and Nan Xin would do everything she could to make sure that she would be able to achieve it. She didn't want to pass on this beautiful chance that she managed to get.

Concubine Mei brushed her daughter's hair and chuckled. To think that her child would be of such suitable age to contend to become an Empress. That was like a dream come true.

"Rest well. Remember what I told you, do anything you can to be able to survive and use the people around you as much as you can."

Nan Xin nodded. "I know, Mom."

"Good girl."

Concubine Mei knew that it wouldn't be easy for Nan Xin to contend for the position to become an Empress. There were too many girls who were waiting to pounce on this piece of meat.

It would be a brutal battle.

In a sense.

The night passed quietly.

When it was morning, Nan Shu Cheng watched expressionlessly as Nan Xin prepared herself. When he noticed Nan Hua was getting ready too, he furrowed his eyebrows. But thinking of the invitation given to Nan Hua to watch with her fiancé… he couldn't say anything.

Could he possibly go against Imperial Edict?

If he wanted to seek his death, that would be plausible. Thus, he merely watched as the two daughters left the residence.

At that time, he would never know the series of problems that would start from this very moment was about to befall him.