However, Wang Hao ultimately refused all the gifts and did not accept them.
He was quite rational, knowing that accepting gifts meant owing favors, and he wouldn't be able to refuse if people came to him with requests later.
He was a father, and although he spoke of his status rising because of his child, he didn't want to involve his daughter in matters like accepting gifts.
If it harmed his daughter, he would likely be consumed by guilt.
The dignitaries and nobles who came to show their favor, seeing that Wang Hao accepted no valuable gifts, could only leave with regret.
"You kid, you haven't been completely swept off your feet," Chen Wu said from the side.
He had been ready to refuse these gifts on Wang Hao's behalf, but he didn't expect Wang Hao to know where to draw the line and accept nothing.
Wang Hao chuckled, "After all, I've followed you, Fifth Brother, for many years. How could I not understand these principles?"
He called him Fifth Brother again. Calling him Xiao Wu earlier was just a momentary indulgence, a joke.
"Hmph!" Chen Wu snorted coldly, then said, "To prevent you from getting too carried away, I've decided you'll treat us to two meals of wine and meat, plus a visit to a pleasure house!"
"This... Alright, I'll treat!" Wang Hao gritted his teeth and agreed, feeling a pang of heartache.
...
Lin Wencheng and his grandson and granddaughter also saw Lin Xue's name on the list.
"Sister was really chosen! I told you my premonition was right, the Emperor of Da Qian will become my brother-in-law!" Lin Zihao exclaimed excitedly.
However, he was only excited for a short while before Lin Yong pressed his head down, preventing him from speaking.
Lin Wencheng breathed a sigh of relief. It was a good thing his granddaughter was chosen. His heart had already found peace, and he was quite satisfied with this outcome.
"From now on, Xue'er will be a consort of the Da Qian Dynasty, with noble status," Lin Wencheng said with a complex expression.
Lin Yong's expression was even more complex than Lin Wencheng's.
He remained silent, unsure of what to say, and finally sighed.
"Alas, a grown daughter cannot be kept. Xue'er will have to marry sooner or later. This is just marrying a few years earlier, it's nothing," he comforted himself, trying to feel better.
The only Earthlings who came to the outer hall of the Chuxiu Palace were the three of them, the grandfather and grandchildren. They were able to enter thanks to their status as family members of a concubine candidate.
They spoke in Huaxia Chinese, and the people around them didn't understand. Seeing the complex expressions on Lin Yong and Lin Wencheng's faces, they mistakenly thought they had not been selected.
The announcement of the concubine selection results, with His Majesty taking five women as consorts, was a joyous occasion for the entire nation!
The imperial palace hosted three hundred banquets for the court officials. At the same time, Xu Mo issued an imperial decree for the common people to share in the joy, exempting taxes for the next three months, which led to enthusiastic cheers from the people of Da Qian, who cried out, "Long live His Majesty, long live, long live, long live!!!"
The banquets were also meticulously arranged. The ingredients served were top-notch, including the meat of various demonic and sea beasts, as well as rare herbs from the Southern Region, which could aid in cultivation.
The officials attending the banquet feasted heartily, as did the families of the successful concubine candidates. The families of the unsuccessful candidates were also permitted to attend the banquet by His Majesty.
The entire imperial palace was bustling with activity. The palace maids serving the dishes were sweating profusely, struggling to keep up.
Xu Mo only appeared once at the banquet. After toasting everyone, he left and returned to his sleeping quarters.
Gongsun Rou followed closely behind him and asked, "Your Majesty, shall I personally bathe and change your clothes for you?"
Her tone was slightly shy, and her face flushed a little as she spoke.
"No need, why bathe in broad daylight?" Xu Mo shook his head. He knew what Gongsun Rou meant; she was thinking about him going to consummate his marriage with those consorts.
This made him feel rather speechless. While he appreciated beautiful women, he wasn't that desperate.
Besides, he felt it would be better to cultivate some feelings with the consorts first. Consummating the marriage wasn't something to rush.
They were all his women now anyway, so it was only a matter of time.
Seeing that His Majesty wasn't speaking falsely, Gongsun Rou felt disappointed but didn't press further.
After all, His Majesty had taken consorts, and consummation was bound to happen sooner or later, so there was no need for her to urge him.
"Then I will go and make arrangements for those consorts, to ensure they settle down in the imperial palace," Gongsun Rou said.
Xu Mo nodded in agreement.
After Gongsun Rou left, he was alone in his sleeping quarters.
Xu Mo let out a sigh. To be honest, this first concubine selection had made him a little nervous.
He had been single since birth and had never had a girlfriend on Earth. After arriving in Da Huang, he had focused solely on cultivation and had no romantic partners.
Now, taking five peerless beauties as consorts all at once, he still felt a bit unaccustomed.
"Let nature take its course."
Xu Mo shook his head. He truly wasn't comfortable with the idea of going to consummate his marriage with the consorts immediately.
It would be better to spend some time together first and then proceed gradually.
Putting these thoughts aside, Xu Mo's expression turned serious again.
With the concubine selection concluded, most of the matters in Da Huang had been dealt with. It was time for him to set off for Earth to take a look.
Thinking of his former homeland, his birthplace, Xu Mo felt a sense of daze.
He remembered when he first transmigrated, facing the utterly unfamiliar Da Huang, he had deeply missed life on Earth.
The black asphalt roads, the azure sky, the buildings of cement and steel, the aunties haggling over groceries, the primary school students offering their seats to the elderly with red scarves...
All of it was so familiar and so missed.
He thought he would never be able to return to his homeland on Earth, but unexpectedly, his transmigration was a fake. Da Huang had directly brought him back to Earth.
It truly was a case of the tables turning.
"Qin Cheng, my good buddy, I wonder how he's doing now."
Xu Mo murmured to himself. The only person he still cared about on Earth was his brother, Qin Cheng.
Fourteen years had passed. Qin Cheng was almost forty years old, gradually entering middle age. He, however, still had the appearance of a twenty-year-old youth. Thinking about it made him feel quite wistful!
Xu Mo had already decided to set off for Earth. He waved to summon a palace maid and asked, "Where is Fan Cheng now?"
The palace maid replied, "General Fan returned to his mansion after arriving at the imperial capital last night. He only just left his mansion, and when he came out, he was supporting his waist with one hand and the wall with the other."
As she said the latter part, the young palace maid's face turned red.
Xu Mo's eyelids twitched. He suddenly remembered Fan Cheng's formidable wife, who was from the barbarian tribes of the Southern Region. She had an exotic charm and was strong and robust, standing half a head taller than Fan Cheng.
Fan Cheng had been guarding the eastern front and hadn't been home for a long time...
Xu Mo instantly understood and sighed inwardly. Fan Cheng's physical condition was a bit poor; he couldn't even last one night.
"Go and summon him. I wish to see him!" Xu Mo said calmly.
"Yes." The young palace maid lowered her head, accepted the order, and exited the sleeping quarters.
After less than a moment, Fan Cheng, with a pale complexion and dark circles under his eyes, arrived at the imperial palace and met Xu Mo.
"Your subordinate pays his respects to Your Majesty! Long live His Majesty, long live, long live, long live!!!"
Fan Cheng knelt down, his body swaying precariously. This scene made Xu Mo's eyelids jump.