The Han imperial palace of the present day.
It consisted of the three Han palaces located in Chang'an.
At this moment, within Changle Palace.
The middle-aged Emperor Yuan of Han leaned over his desk by candlelight, his heart restless and agitated, the fire within him having nowhere to vent.
He had toyed with countless palace maids and consorts for so long that they no longer held any interest for him.
With a crash.
He swept the documents off the desk and roared, "Someone, bring forth the portraits collected recently!"
The painter Mao Yanshou had long been waiting outside the palace.
Upon hearing this, he gave a sinister smile, rolled up the dozen or so portraits at his side, and nearly crawled into Changle Palace before kneeling before Emperor Yuan of Han.
Emperor Yuan of Han looked impatient. "Bring them here."
Mao Yanshou kept his head lowered as he stepped forward and spread the scrolls across the desk.
Emperor Yuan of Han stared at the first portrait, his brows knitting slightly. "This woman has a lovely face, but she is skin and bones!"
Emperor Yuan of Han tossed the painting aside.
"This woman has a fine figure, but that enormous face could hold mountains and rivers!"
"Tut, tut."
"Hmm."
Emperor Yuan of Han looked at the third portrait. "This woman is not bad. Her forehead is full, her charming eyes brim with spring, and her figure is proportionate. But judging by those fat hips, has she borne children before?"
Then.
Emperor Yuan of Han looked toward Mao Yanshou.
The court painter replied deferentially, "Your Majesty, the area under this humble servant's charge is Chang'an City, so that you may recruit common women into the palace as quickly as possible. But after all these years of selection... Heh heh, Your Majesty, would