Previously, they had no opportunity, but now they were naturally very eager to participate.
However, the requirements for the selection were extremely strict. Not only did the candidates need to come from clean backgrounds, but their looks and figures were also very important.
This was only the first round of selection. The second round tested their talents. Music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were all mandatory, and having additional skills was even better.
Only after passing all these requirements could they become palace candidates.
The successive rounds of screening took a month in total. In the end, only five thousand out of a million candidates passed all the assessments.
These five thousand could be said to represent the pinnacle of the Great Ming Dynasty's female beauty at present.
Of course, not all of them could enter, because Jiang Siming had asked Hua Xin to add another round of assessment.
An assessment of their character.
Anyone who was greedy, ill-tempered, or possessed other undesirable qualities would also be eliminated.
Thus, the selection took a month and a half before everything was finally settled.
Fewer than three thousand candidates were chosen, and all of them were temporarily placed in the Palace Candidate Hall.
Xun Yu had also already selected candidates for the position of personal historians. They included scholars from various prefectures and counties, Chief Clerks from various commanderies, and so on.
In short, they were all excellent candidates of good character who were upright and incorruptible.
But after Jiang Siming finished reading the list, he rejected every single one. "No. None of these people will do. Replace them all!"
Xun Yu was utterly confused. Jiang Siming did not tell him the reason and merely ordered him to choose again.
Helpless, Xun Yu had no choice but to select another group.
After choosing