77: Chapter 77 Selection of Imperial Concubines, Initial Establishment of the Imperial Harem

After the morning court, the civil and military officials walked along the long corridors of the Imperial Palace.

On the massive palace curtain walls on both sides, the Hollow out emperor's sacred relief sculptures seemed to be watching them at all times.

Some timid ministers didn't even have the strength to walk the entire path and needed the Attendant Cheng Yus to support them to prevent them from collapsing to the ground.

This night, many people were destined to have a sleepless night.

Archer Cheng Yu, with the wise counsel of his virtuous wife, successfully escaped this calamity. Not only that, but his... his wife also submitted a memorial.

This memorial stated that His Majesty handles myriad affairs, toils day and night, and works exceptionally hard, yet there are only two consorts in His Majesty's harem.

Is this good? No, this is not good.

If other forces were to know, they might think that the Emperor of our nation couldn't afford to marry.

It would be better to have the Chamberlains in the palace preside, with the Magpie Bridge Guild assisting, and fill His Majesty's harem following the procedures of the imperial examinations.

This way, all under heaven will know that His Majesty of our dynasty loves both virtuous talents and beautiful women, a vigorous and ambitious good man.

[Heh... Archer's wife has some skill! She even wrote these words. If I were to reject her, wouldn't I appear stingy?]

Main Body could only write in vermilion ink next to this memorial, [Approved. Since you care so much about My family affairs, how can I not repay you? I shall bestow upon your wife the title of First Rank Lady.]

The Archer Clan Head himself is a First Class Marquis, which translates to roughly a second-rank official. Main Body bestowed upon his wife the title of First Rank Lady.

This means that if Archer's wife were to lose her temper at home in the future, she could make Archer kneel when replying to her.

This could also be considered a small tacit understanding between clever people.

The Emperor's various decrees were transmitted to every corner of the Cheng Yu Empire and every subordinate force via the Astropathic Towers.

Those who wish to earn titles for their wives and sons can join the Imperial Expeditionary Fleet and fight their way to become a Myriad Household Marquis.

Those who feel they possess good looks and character and wish to help their families rise can register to participate in the concubine selection.

What if they are chosen? That would be an instant ascent to power, as the harem is currently empty with only two people.

Even some hostile forces received the Emperor's decrees.

Of course, what they received was a bounty on the head of their own faction's leader. The Empire needed loyal and skilled Five Tiger Generals, but also did not refuse talented individuals with minor flaws like "Lu Bu," "Hou Jing," or "An Lushan."

The Emperor's heart encompassed the entire universe; he could tolerate the slight ambitions of his subjects.

...

[Father, I will go.]

Among the many forces that had already submitted to the Cheng Yu Empire, there was one inconspicuous small force.

The planet where this force resided, due to the influence of a Warp storm, was isolated from the tide of the times at the end of the Golden Age.

They knew nothing of the Emperor's Great Crusade or the war between the Nine Archangels and the Nine Archdemons, living a traditional feudal life of working from sunrise to sunset on their own planet.

Aside from the occasional demonic dragons emerging from underground to cause great destruction to their territory, the residents here had no other worries.

And the feudal lords on the planet were not innovative in their cruelty or ignorance; they merely oppressed serfs daily and occasionally engaged in palace coups.

[Isabella, my daughter, how can I bear it!] Baron Valox, the feudal lord, said mournfully, [Quickly, prepare Miss's luggage... I can't bear for you to travel far... Take more gold and silver, it will be useful there.]

[Although the Gene Tyrant levies heavy taxes and imposes harsh demands, his power is indeed immense. For our family to become the lord of this planet, this might be the only opportunity.]

Isabella was exceedingly beautiful, with long golden hair like ripe wheat, skin as fair as freshly processed milk, and a pair of emerald eyes like two deep green pools.

Her overall figure resembled a tall poplar tree, with almost no flaws except for being a bit flat-chested.

These were not even her greatest advantages... Isabella had rich experience in palace intrigue.

When she was only eight years old, she had already plotted to force her wicked stepmother to her death... It's unclear if the stepmother was truly wicked; Isabella said she was, and the victors write history.

Not long after the news from Valerox Territory was sent out, the "Angels" of the Cheng Yu Empire arrived.

With the assistance of Slaanesh and the technical support of the Dark Mechanicum, the Cheng Yu Empire was practically using Warp lanes as teleportation gates for such small-scale personnel and material transportation.

[Is it she who wishes to participate in the concubine selection?]

Attendant Cheng Yu sat boldly in Baron Valox's seat... A minister of a great nation sitting in the seat of a small nation's ruler was considered very polite, short of sitting on his head.

[Yes, this is my daughter.] Baron Valox discreetly slipped a welcoming gift, [She has a very good temperament and never causes trouble.]

[Hmm... excellent, truly a virtuous and gentle lady.] Attendant Cheng Yu knew Isabella was outstanding simply by feeling the thickness of the red envelope hidden in his sleeve.

[Then... Little Mistress Isabella, please proceed.]

...

This concubine selection ultimately chose twelve new consorts, and Isabella was naturally among them.

As the number of people in the harem increased, Cheng Yu had to establish ranks for them and clarify their treatment. He set up five ranks: Imperial Noble Consort, Noble Consort, Consort, Zhaoyi, and Beauty.

As for the Empress... Cheng Yu never considered establishing an Empress, because he didn't believe anyone in the galaxy could be his equal, so he would not have a principal wife.

Vera arrived the earliest, so she was naturally the Imperial Noble Consort. Veronica was personally promoted by her, so she naturally became the Noble Consort. With these two managing the six palaces, Cheng Yu could save himself a lot of trouble.

As for the others, no matter how well they performed in the future, they could at most rise to the rank of Consort... It's not that you aren't excellent, it's that you came too late.

As for the treatment of concubines, maid quotas, rights, and obligations, Cheng Yu also specified them in detail; these were minor matters.

The women who could voluntarily join the "Gene Tyrant's" harem were all extraordinary individuals; they weren't there just for a bowl of simple gruel.

Most importantly, Cheng Yu established a very cruel harem system: in the future, if he had children with them, the concubines could not raise their own children, not even Vera.

Cheng Yu had already begun constructing a new complex, the "Ten Princes' Mansion," near the Imperial Palace. That would be where his future children would grow up and receive their education.

His clones must be loyal to him, and his children were no different.

Cheng Yu did not want to reach a point where he had to face his children with blades. The first step was to eliminate the influence of the concubines' families on their children.

They would receive closed-door education in the Ten Princes' Mansion until adulthood, and upon reaching adulthood, they would immediately go to their feudal territories. Besides Me, they would have no other relatives.

This is called... "The Emperor's family is the most heartless."