Chapter 2 Chapter Two

Before the car reached the gate of the Minister's Mansion, the sound of drum music and crackling of firecrackers could already be heard in the distance.Liu Zhu helped me open the curtain of the car, and the red lanterns reflected a street as bright as in a dream.Seeing the whole family standing in front of the gate waiting from a distance, my eyes felt hot and tears were about to fall from my eyes, but I could only hold back desperately in front of people. Seeing my carriage approaching, the servants and maidservants at home greeted me early and stretched out their hands to help.The expressions of father and mother did not know whether they were happy or sad, their faces were smiling like a spring breeze, and there were tears in their eyes.Just as I was about to throw myself into my mother's arms, I saw everyone knelt down in unison and shouted respectfully: "Chen Zhen Yuandao and his family members are meeting with the young master."

I was stunned for a moment, and then I remembered that I was already the concubine chosen by the emperor, and I just waited for the imperial decree to be issued to confirm my status and rank in two days.In one day, my world has already undergone earth-shaking changes.My heart was miserable, I couldn't help crying, and I reached out to help my parents. Dad quickly waved his hand: "Young master, you can't. This is against the rules." Huanbi quickly handed over a silk handkerchief, I wiped away the tears, and said in a calm tone, "Get up." Just when everyone got up, they welcomed me in like the stars and the moon.At the moment, only our family had a family dinner.Daddy is going to give me the upper seat.

Immediately, I knelt down and said, "My daughter is not filial, she can no longer serve her parents by her knees, and she wants her parents to obey the rules like this. I feel really uneasy." My parents quickly came to help me, and I knelt still and continued, "Please listen to my daughter. Although my daughter is already a member of the royal family, filial piety cannot be abandoned. Please allow my daughter to continue to show respect before entering the palace." Serve, otherwise my daughter would rather kneel down forever." My mother was already in tears, so my father nodded and said with tears in his eyes, "Okay, okay! I, Zhen Yuandao, did not give birth to such a filial daughter in vain." Then I signaled my two younger sisters, Yu Yao and Yu Rao, to help me up and sit down one by one. down to eat.

I was distracted, and after a hard day's work, I had no appetite after all.So I said to my parents early and went back to the room to rest. Liu Zhu and Huan Bi had made their beds early in the morning.Although I was tired, I didn't feel sleepy at all.Just as I changed into pajamas and wanted to fall asleep indiscriminately, my father came to see me with a bowl of bird's nest soup with rock sugar. Dad called me "Huan'er", and there were old tears in his eyes.I sat beside my father, and finally wept on my father's arm. My father called me: "My son, I have a few words to tell you when I come so late. Although you are only fifteen years old, you have been Big idea. When I was seven years old, I thought my name 'Yuhuan' was not good. I thought that the word 'Yu' was common in all daughters' homes. It was vulgar, so I just didn't want it. When you grow up, your father will let you do everything. Now If you want to enter the palace as a servant, you can't help your temper. You must look forward and backward in everything, be careful, and be as calm as Mei Zhuang."

I nodded and agreed: "Daughter knows, she will be careful in everything and follow the rules." Daddy let out a long sigh: "I didn't want you to enter the palace. It's just that things are inevitable, so it has to be. The harem of the past dynasties is a place of right and wrong. Besides, the emperor of Yunyi Palace has paid a lot of attention to you today. I think there will be more right and wrong in the future. You have to be careful and protect yourself.” I held back my tears and comforted my father: "Didn't you always say that your daughter is a 'Zhuge of the female middle school', and she is super smart? Don't worry, Dad."

Daddy had a worried look on his face, and said in a worried voice: "Who is not smart who wants to survive in the harem? Daddy is just worried that you are beautiful, talented, and have attracted the attention of the emperor before entering the palace. Jealousy plotting. If you continue to fight with your wits, I am afraid that you will harm yourself in vain. Remember that if you are not sure of getting favor, you must restrain your edge and hide your strength. Daddy does not ask you to win glory and wealth, but I hope that the jewel in my palm can die in peace .” I looked into my father's eyes solemnly, and said word by word: "My daughter doesn't want to be favored by the Holy One, but she just wants to spend her life in the palace without waves and waves, and keep Zhen's family and her own life. .”

Daddy's eyes were full of kindness, and he said with pity: "It's a pity that you are only young, and you have to go to this harem to suffer. Daddy really can't bear it." I raised the back of my hand to wipe away my tears, and said in a deep voice, "This is the end, my daughter has no way out. She can only move forward step by step." Seeing what I said, Dad was a little relieved, and after thinking for a long time, he tentatively asked: "The person you take to the palace must be a confidant, but also smart and capable. Have you thought about who you want to take?"

I knew what Dad meant, and said: "This daughter has already thought about it. Liu Zhu is smart and Huan Bi is meticulous. My daughter wants to bring them both into the palace." Daddy breathed a sigh of relief, and said: "That's fine. The two of them grew up with you since childhood. Daddy can rest assured that he will accompany you." I bowed my head and said: "If they stay at home, they will marry a servant in the future. Even if Dad wants to, he will never have a good way out. If he does it too clearly, it will make mother suspicious and the family will be restless." Dad looks a little old A trace of unspeakable guilt and shame flashed across my face, I couldn't bear it, and said softly: "Although I am still a slave when I come to the palace with me, if there is a chance in the future, I can point it to a good family."

Dad let out a long sigh, and said, "I know this. It depends on her luck." I said to my father: "Don't worry, father, I love her as sisters, and I will not treat her badly." After sending dad away, I blew out the candles with a "huh", and the room was completely dark. The next morning, Liu Zhu Huanbi helped me get up and wash up.I suddenly remembered something, just as I was about to go out, I realized that I was already a young master, and I couldn't leave the house at will.So he summoned the little maid in the room, Ping'er, and said: "Go and find out if An Lingrong, the daughter of An Bihuai's daughter An Bihuai, who is the prime minister of Songyang County this year, is elected, and where she lives. Don't make a fuss, come back and tell me."

She should go out.Come back to me for half a day: "Reporting to my lord, Ms. An has been elected, and now she lives in the Liuji Inn in Jingbai Hutong, Xicheng. But I heard that she only came to apply for the election with one aunt, and her money is very tight. She even gave a reward yesterday. The money can’t be paid, and the innkeeper paid it in advance.” I frowned, this is really shameful, how could the elected young master still live in the inn, if the inner eunuch and guide aunt who came to announce the decree two days ago saw it, How to get a foothold in the palace in the future.

I thought for a while, and said to Ping'er, "Go and ask the master to come over." In just one stick of incense time, Dad arrived.Even though I tried my best to stop him, he saluted me before sitting down at my table.After saluting, he was my doting father again, chatting and laughing happily. I said to my father: "Daddy, my daughter has something to discuss with you. My daughter met a beautiful girl yesterday and helped her out. Now she has been selected as the young master, but her background is poor and her family is poor. She is still living in The inn is really too desolate. My daughter wants to pick her up to live with me. I don't know what daddy wants?" Daddy stroked his beard, pondered for a moment and said, "Since you like it, there's nothing wrong with it. I ordered your brother to pick her up." In the evening, An Lingrong and her aunt were picked up in a sedan chair.Mother had already asked her servants to clean the Chunji Pavilion next door, prepared clothes and jewelry, and assigned a few maids to serve them. After dinner, my elder brother accompanied Lingrong to Kuaixuexuan where I lived with a smile on his face.When Ling Rong saw me, his face was full of tears, and he was about to bow down.I quickly got up to help, and said with a smile: "You and my sister are the same person, why do you give me such a big gift?" Liu Zhu was quick-witted, and immediately told Ling Rong: "Master Ling Rong and my aunt, please sit down." Ling Rongfang and her aunt Xiao Shi sat down. Seeing his elder brother by his side, Ling Rong reluctantly raised his sleeves to wipe away his tears and said: "Ling Rong owes much to Sister Zhen's pity, so he has a place to live in the capital, and he will not be despised by others when he enters the palace in the future. "Aunt Xiao is also very grateful. The elder brother said with a smile, "When I went to the inn just now, the boss thought that the young master of Ling Rong had rare goods to live in, so he insisted on not letting them go. In the end, I sent them away with three punches and two kicks." I pretended to be annoyed: "In front of the young master Lingrong, how can you say such a thing of beating and killing, scaring people with fists and kicks!" Ling Rong smiled through tears, and said half shyly: "It's okay. Thanks to Zhen Shaoxia's help!" I smiled and said, "How about 'Young Heroes'? Just don't scare us." Everyone couldn't hold back and laughed together. The night was getting darker, I sent Ling Rong back to the room alone, the moonlight poured like water on the chaoshou verandah.I sincerely said to Ling Rong: "Ling Rong, living in my house is like being in your own home, don't be restrained. Tell me what is lacking, and tell me if the girl is not tame, don't wrong yourself and let them turn the world upside down." Lingrong was moved in his heart, held my hand and said: "Lingrong is humble, I don't know where I got the blessing, and I can enter the palace with my sister's care. Lingrong can only repay her sincerity, support her all her life, and accompany her in the palace years." My heart warmed up, I held her hand tightly, and sincerely called: "Good sister." Have a good day.The inner eunuch of the palace came to announce the decree, and my father took my mother, my elder brother and two younger sisters to the main hall to receive the edict, and the inner eunuch preached: "On August 22nd, the twelfth year of Qianyuan, the office in charge of internal affairs was copied from the respect room, and it was ordered: Zhen Huan, a fifteen-year-old girl named Zhen Yuandao, the servant of the Ministry of officials, was named a nobleman of the sixth rank, and given the title of 'Guan'. Come in on September 15th. Here you go." I can no longer tell whether it is sadness or joy in my heart, I just quietly accept the order and thank you. He also introduced an older woman dressed as a court lady, who was very elegant, with kind eyes.I knew I was teaching my aunt, so I blessed myself slightly and called out: "Aunt." She was taken aback, thinking she didn't expect me to treat her with such courtesy.Hastily knelt down to greet me, and said in his mouth: "Slave Fangruo, see the noble master." The rules of my dynasty teach that my aunt has a special status, and she does not have to kowtow to the concubine during the period of teaching the palace etiquette. It's a big gift, so when we met for the first time, I just asked to kneel down. Dad has already prepared money and gifts to send to the inner eunuch Xuanzhi.Mother is careful, and considering that Ling Rong lives in a sojourn and it is inconvenient, she even gave her share to the father-in-law. The inner eunuch accepted the gift, and then went to the Chunjixuan next door to announce the decree: "On August 22, the twelfth year of Qianyuan, the Office of Internal Affairs was copied from the respect room, and it was ordered: An Lingrong, a fifteen-year-old daughter of Anbihuai, the prime minister of Songyang County, was appointed as a servant of the seventh grade. Enter on the 15th day of the month. This is it." Ling Rong and Aunt Xiao wept with joy.Because I live with Ling Rong, my nurturing aunt is also Fang Ruo. After the decree was announced, the aunt and the eunuch were invited to drink tea.Prepare a good room for my aunt, and treat her with good food and drink. Those who went to inquire about the news also came back.Because they have just entered the palace, the status of the selected young masters is not high, and they are all below the fifth rank concubine.Meizhuang was canonized as Cong Wupin Xiaoyi, and entered the palace on the same day as me.A total of fifteen young masters were selected this time, and they entered the palace in three batches.Lingrong and Meizhuang and I were the last batch. I feel a little relieved.Not only can we enter the palace two days later, but the three of us are familiar with each other, and we can take care of each other after entering the palace, so we won't be lonely for a long time. After the canonization ceremony with Ling Rong, I started to live in another courtyard.Although we still live in the mansion of Minister of the Ministry of Officials, Kuaixuexuan and Chunjixuan where we live are separated. The guards sent by the palace are on the outside, and the eunuchs and maids are serving on the inside. Idle men are not allowed to enter. .Only taught Aunt Yin to accompany us to study etiquette, waiting for the day of entering the palace on September 15th. After canonization, the rules are strict, except for the close servants who have to be brought to the palace to serve personally, even my father and brother have to kneel on the cushion outside the door to talk through the curtain when they meet me.Mother and younger sister can still see each other once a day, but they must greet me according to the etiquette. Lingrong and I are both concubines, so we can often walk around and learn etiquette together. It seems that Lingrong is more relaxed than me.The male relatives are not around, so they don't have to watch their family kneel down and salute to him. The Great Zhou Dynasty always insisted on the role of the emperor and his ministers, and the emperor was the guide for his ministers. The title of "Guan Guiren" symbolizes that I am already the emperor, although I am just a low-ranking concubine who is about to enter the palace.But my parents, brothers and sisters also had to kneel down to pay my respects.Every time I saw my father kneeling outside the curtain to say hello to me, he said respectfully: "Guan nobleman is auspicious, may the nobleman have a long life and well-being." Then he leaned down and talked to me, but I couldn't bear to see him, and I couldn't express it in my heart. of distress and sadness. So many times, I had no choice but to avoid seeing my father. Every day, Yu Yao and Yu Rao greeted my father for me, and always told my father to take care of it. I get up early every day to listen to Fang Ruo explaining the rules of the palace with Ling Rong, and get up after a nap in the afternoon to practice etiquette, standing, walking, greeting, eating and other postures.Ling Rong and I are people who know a little bit, and we learned quickly.In my spare time, I would listen to Fang Ruo talking about palace gossip.Fang Ruoyuan was on duty by the Queen Mother's side, she was humble and forthright, and served her courteously very well.Fang Ruo seldom mentioned the internal affairs of the palace, but as the days went by, even though there were only a few words in the day and night, I also understood the general situation in the palace. Emperor Xuan Ling is twenty-five years old this year, and he married Zhu Rouze, the cousin and niece of the present Empress Dowager twelve years ago.Although the empress is two years older than the emperor, she is dignified and elegant. People at that time called her empress, and she raised eyebrows with the emperor. She was very affectionate and very popular in the harem.Unexpectedly, after five years of marriage, the queen passed away due to dystocia, and even the newborn little prince could not be kept.When the emperor was sad, he pursued his posthumous posthumous title of "Queen of Chunyuan".The queen's younger sister was also chosen, who is also the queen mother's cousin and niece, the noble concubine Zhu Yixiu to succeed the middle palace. Although the current queen is not a national beauty, she is also tolerant, and the emperor still respects her.It's just that the emperor is young, so it's inevitable that he will have a lot of pets after losing Empress Chunyuan.The most loved one in the palace today is Murong Shilan, the concubine of Mixiu Palace.It is said that she is quite beautiful and very attractive to the emperor, no one in the palace dares to hide her, not to mention the concubines, even the empress would give her two points. It stands to reason that the empress is the niece of the empress dowager, and the empress dowager would not just sit idly by for the sake of her relatives or the favor of her relatives.My empress dowager is capable and capable, and the emperor was still young when he first ascended the throne, and he had been in charge for three years. He seized the imperial power from the regent with lightning speed, personally killed the regent, implicated his henchmen, and killed the regent's son. After the power is wiped out, it is only now that he governs the world.It's just that after the King Regent's party was wiped out, the Empress Dowager became seriously ill. She thought she was exhausted physically and mentally, so she decided to go back to hermitage to take care of her. Intervene in the affairs of the imperial court and the harem, and only leave everything to the empress for disposal. In addition, the concubines in the palace are divided into eight ranks and sixteen ranks.People like me, Meizhuang, Lingrong and others are just low-level concubines, not the heads of the inner court, they can only be called "little masters", living in the attic courtyard of the palace, there is no main hall to live in.Only the noble concubines of the third grade can be called "Master" or "Niangniang", and are eligible to become the head of the inner court, occupy the main hall, and take charge of the affairs of the first palace.Although there are many concubines and concubines in the harem, since the current empress has been canonized as empress, the position of the fourth concubine of the first rank, noble, virtuous and virtuous has been vacant.Aunt Fangruo once said to me sincerely in private that with the talent and appearance of the young master, it is just around the corner to obtain the holy family, take the throne as the fourth concubine, and enjoy the glory in peace.I just smiled and changed the subject with something else. After the imperial decree was issued, my mother took Yu Yao and was busy preparing for me to bring into the palace jewelry and clothes. I can't bring too much to look petty, and I can't bring too little to keep the scene from being looked down upon by others. Everything is exquisite and generous.Being so picky and busy took a lot of effort.After Ling Rong lived in my family, he was treated the same as me, so it was inevitable to prepare for Ling Rong. Although I can't see Meizhuang, and my family members are not allowed to meet casually, but my relationship with Lingrong is becoming more and more firm.They are inseparable every day, sisters match each other, and even wear a hosta in turn. But I'm not in a good mood.My heart was full of anxiety, and a rotten boil appeared on the corner of my mouth. I was so anxious that Ling Rong and Aunt Xiao got a folk remedy from my hometown to apply on me overnight, and then it gradually disappeared. -------------------------------------------------- --- Notes: