Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 181: Unpredictable Will
The spoiled rich girl was eliminated in the first round after entering the palace.

As the newest batch of palace maids, and later Li Siqin, who had been scolded during the selection, was going to Chengqian Palace. What kind of good life could she have in the past year?
Allowing ten families in Shanxi to select ten people to enter the palace was just a favor from Zhu Changluo, but it became a disaster when it happened to her.

She actually carved the three snowmen by herself. Her hands became stiff and she failed to carve the collar of her robe properly. Li Siqin took advantage of the situation and pressed forward, which frightened her so much that she bumped into all the snowmen. She was punished to take off her shoes, clothes and bells, and the others had to start over.

As expected, Concubine Fan Sirong followed the teachings of Wang Xun and others and did not take care of her sisters in the palace, in order to prevent the Emperor from thinking that they were fighting each other.

They had seen the strict palace rules and regulations, and they did not dare to rely on their father's family or the emperor's special favor to make others wary of them.

The Ten Families of Shanxi were able to escape from the Shanhaiguan Rebellion only after they had "made meritorious contributions to their crimes", but Zhu Changluo had many other things to do, and he chose Fan Sirong as his concubine to fulfill his promise, so how could he possibly remember others or even care about them?
"... Forget it. Since you do have an old grudge against her, then go to the Qianqing Palace and listen to her orders." Zhu Changluo shook his head and stood up. "Wang An, ask someone to prepare some ginger soup first. Ask the person in charge of Chengqian Palace. If Concubine Li is indeed immoral, then deal with her."

After all, the largest group in the palace was the eunuchs and palace maids. Since Li Siqin had come up to him, Zhu Changluo didn't mind setting an example so that the other palace masters would have a sense of caution and not treat the eunuchs and palace maids too harshly.

Isn't it Zhu Changluo's fault that caused so much trouble and resentment?

"My maiden name is Jiayue."

Zhu Changluo walked in front, and she, who had escaped from the sea of ​​suffering, followed behind.

Wang Jiayue answered in a low voice: yes.

"Your father is right. Since he has treated you as a jewel since you were young and made you a rich lady, why did he force you to suffer first when he knew that you would not be obedient and submissive from the beginning when you entered the palace?" Zhu Changluo looked back at her who was timid and aggrieved.

Wang Jiayue lowered her head and whispered, "It is my blessing to be able to enter the palace to serve His Majesty and the ladies."

The standard answer.

Zhu Changluo looked at her and wondered if this was Wang Xun's strategy.
If you intentionally send a spoiled daughter to the palace, she will definitely not pass the test of palace rules and the selection of talent and needlework.

How could he not know his daughter's temper? It was certain that she would have to live a hard life in the palace.

Since the emperor wanted to use them, and he also knew that Wang Xun had sent his youngest daughter into the palace, he would probably ask about it sooner or later.

At that time, on the one hand, they are loyal and serving their fathers, and on the other hand, their daughter is suffering in the palace. If the emperor is willing to show mercy, wouldn't that be a natural thing to do?

This is a strategy of suffering first and then sweetness.

Of course, whether or not to give sweet treats was entirely up to the emperor.

Zhu Changluo returned to the western warm room of the Qianqing Palace and watched Wang Jiayue drink ginger soup to ward off the cold after expressing her gratitude.

Wang Chonggu had such a high status in the past, and the Wang family was extremely wealthy.

After several generations of genetic improvement, Wang Jiayue's appearance is of course very good, but she is not as calm and majestic as Fan Sirong.

Now, after nearly a year of "training" in this strictly forbidden palace, he has become more fragile and vulnerable, like a frightened little white rabbit.

If this was really Wang Xun's plan, Zhu Changluo would like to praise him for his deep scheming.

Give them this sweet treat?

"Your Majesty, what job does this servant do in the Yangxin Palace?"

After drinking the ginger soup, Wang Jiayue immediately started working, as if she would never dare to make any mistakes and be punished again.

"Take a bath first when the hot water is ready."

Wang Jiayue hasn't realized anything yet, or maybe she has subconsciously stopped thinking too much and is just thinking about surviving in the palace first.

She thought the emperor thought she had to be clean while working in the Qianqing Palace. Of course, being able to leave Chengqian Palace and go to the Qianqing Palace was a blessing in itself: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. I am much better now and won't be frozen."

"A lot of cold?"

"I have been on duty a lot at night, so I won't freeze if I move around more."

Zhu Changluo nodded. This could be considered a kind of "evolution". She was forced to adapt to the changes.

Then after a while, Liu Ruoyu said that the fragrant soup had been prepared.

Zhu Changluo stood up and walked to the west: "Come here and wash yourself."

Liu Ruoyu lowered his head and walked out. Although Wang Jiayue followed him subconsciously, she soon realized that the emperor was not leading the way for her.

"Your Majesty..." She was at a loss.

Wang Jiayue's face turned red again. She vaguely thought of a possibility, and then she couldn't help but burst into tears again, looking at the emperor eagerly.

"See if you are suffering any other pain or if you have any injuries." Zhu Changluo said as a matter of course.

Zhu Changluo's orders are naturally more effective than Li Siqin's.

He looked her up and down. Fortunately, the palace rules were very strict. Unless it was some very serious crimes, the punishment would be a soft punishment like ringing a bell.

Apart from some recent signs of frostbite on my hands and feet, everything else is fine.

Wang Jiayue naturally wanted to hide in the hot water as soon as possible, but Zhu Changluo said, "You can't stand the hot water even if you are cold. Wait a while."

Then he chatted with her like this: "Wang Zhizhen is your cousin after all, don't you dare to say it out loud so that others will be more afraid of you?"

Although it was the coldest time of the year, the small bathing room was steaming hot and there was a heater nearby, so it wasn't too cold.

Wang Jiayue was in this state now. Her whole body was trembling and her teeth were chattering. Of course, it was not because of the cold: "Your servant...no...I dare not..."

"That's really obedient."

Zhu Changluo could only sigh at the painstaking efforts of Wang Xun and others, and wondered how many instructions and admonitions they had given them before sending them into the palace.

Meaning: Even if Your Majesty is willing to show them special favor, you will never cause trouble in the harem or interfere in government affairs...

He continued to chat with her for a few more sentences in this state before saying, "First recuperate in the Qianqing Palace, and then listen to what Shang Gong Qiu has to say."

Then he took a decisive step and left. As soon as he turned the corner, he saw Tian Yi and Wang An there.

The two looked at the emperor's well-dressed clothes with some surprise in their eyes.

“…What are you thinking about!”

Zhu Changluo certainly understood the look in the eyes of these two guys, and was afraid that they were going to take note of it. Tian Yi followed Zhu Changluo to the West Warm Pavilion and said, "I heard Wang An come and tell me that Your Majesty ordered people to prepare fragrant soup, and I was just about to come and advise Your Majesty that the weather is cold..."

"Let me see if she has any old injuries."

Tian Yi's look became even weirder: He looked but didn't move, what was he doing?
"The Queen is pregnant, and the palaces are probably looking forward to my visit." Zhu Changluo said, "Why don't you go there in person and tell them that the state affairs are not easy for me. Since they have been sent to the palaces, let them wait patiently. Even if they are anxious, they can't vent their anger on me like Chengqian Palace did. The Queen is pregnant, and it is not easy to control the harem during this period. I will pay attention to everyone's moral character."

"I accept the decree."

Not long after Tian Yi left, Qiu Chunmin, the eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, brought Wang Jiayue over.

"Your Majesty brought her back personally. What errand should I assign her to?"

Zhu Changluo was looking at a piece of sorted information and looked over there.

Wang Jiayue lowered her head, her face flushed red, not sure if it was because she had just come out of the bath or because she had been stared at by the emperor before.

"Let her be the gatekeeper." Zhu Changluo said.

Qiu Chunmin was stunned for a moment: "Then Xia Rong..."

"Have her prepare to sleep with you tonight." Zhu Changluo had already lowered his head and continued to watch. "The other four should also prepare well and sleep with you one by one before the New Year. You should also select some capable ones to replace them."

Wang An couldn't help but look sideways.

The emperor continued, "Send an order to Zhongcui Palace, Jingyang Palace, and Yonghe Palace, and let Qi Yuechan, Su Ran, and He Fangfei become Zhaoyi. Let Qi Yuechan go to Chuxiu Palace, Su Ran to Xianfu Palace, and He Fangfei to Changchun Palace. After serving the emperor in bed, Xia Rong and the other five will be given the title of Zhaoyi. Xia Rong will go to Chengqian Palace, and the other four will go to the palaces where the other concubines live."

Wang An's heart trembled: "I obey your order."

There were only three Zhaoyi before, and now one has been demoted to Jieyu.

The emperor's intention was obviously to let these older female officials, who had been favored and given the title of Zhaoyi, go to the palaces where the various imperial concubines lived, so that they could teach the younger nobles more.

Li Siqin of Chengqian Palace caused this incident today, causing the other concubines to become "number two" noble ladies in their own palaces. I wonder how much they will hate Li Siqin after finding out the whole story.

The emperor really suppressed any signs of competing for favor with his wife by using such a major adjustment.

The five "Zhou Gong etiquette teachers" who had already prepared themselves to not receive any favor even if they were "one year older" suddenly heard the good news, and naturally everyone became excited in this cold winter.

That night the capital city was in an uproar as everyone was busy with the news about the Imperial College: a new group of academic officials, the reorganization of several government offices, and the examinations.

Wang Xun and the others naturally realized that this was an opportunity created for them by the emperor.

Through miscellaneous studies, you can directly obtain the opportunity to become a Jinshi and serve as an official!

Among the children of each family, those who are qualified and the emperor has previously reminded them to pay attention to these aspects have already prepared in advance.

"Reorganize the account books again. We will present the report to the palace in two days!"

After he gave the order, he also instructed people to send a message to each family as soon as possible, asking them to make preparations early and send those who were qualified to take the exam on their behalf to the capital first.

Naturally, we need to invite specialized people to teach and prepare for the exam.

He believed that the emperor would even reveal some of the test questions to them.

After all, what the emperor wants is that in the future the court will not only have Confucian scholars who have passed the imperial examination.

And at present, they are the most obedient.

Wang Xun didn't know that his daughter was already in the Qianqing Palace.

The so-called Simen did not really mean to make them guard the gate. It was just a title assigned to the female officials who were closest to the emperor. At most, there were slight differences in their duties.

Wang Jiayue is now waiting between the front "work area" and the back "living area" of the Qianqing Palace.

It was late at night and the Qianqing Palace was very quiet, so the voice of the former Sima Xia Rong could be heard faintly.

Wang Jiayue lowered her head and dared not say a word. Wang An beside her also closed his eyes and waited.

She felt very strange, a mixture of happiness and loss.

She was naturally happy because she was assigned to serve in the Qianqing Palace and became a female official, no longer just an ordinary palace maid.

Disappointment... Of course it was because the emperor wanted to see her body before. She thought... In the end, the emperor just looked at her body.

Wang Jiayue started to have some random thoughts: Could it be that His Majesty thinks that her figure is not good?

I shouldn’t…Among the ten sisters from Shanxi, I should be the best…

I don't know how long it was before I heard footsteps coming from upstairs.

Wang An opened his eyes and said, "Go and help Empress Xia."

"Yes……"

Wang Jiayue followed him forward and met Xia Rong after going up.

"It's okay..." Xia Rong's cheeks were still red as she slowly shook her head.

"I wonder if His Majesty has any reward?"

Wang Jiayue began to learn up close about the procedures after the emperor's visit. The more she watched Wang An's seriousness, the more she realized how difficult it was to become a noble in the palace.

After Wang An sent Xia Rong away, he left her alone here to continue to keep watch.

It is better to keep watch here than in Chengqian Palace. After all, it is inside the palace and there is a charcoal stove next to it.

But I still have to work the night shift.

Wang Jiayue sat alone on the soft stool beside her, gradually becoming dazed.

The emperor seemed to have cared for her, but also seemed not to care much about her...

But the last Si Men had just slept with him...

(End of this chapter)