maidservant

Chapter 17: The Eastern Palace is going to marry the Crown Princess, Concubine Li recalls twenty years

"My father's illness..." He whispered to himself after entering the hall, his eyes falling on a memorial on the desk.

Those were memorials submitted by court officials, urging the Crown Prince to select a concubine.

"Your Highness." A purple-robed minister respectfully walked up to him.
"The direction of the court is very clear. The women of the major families dare not arrange marriages privately. They will only choose their in-laws after the selection."

General Yang Zhao turned, his eyes fixed on the Emperor's couch, and said cautiously, "Elder Zong is right. We shouldn't delay the important affairs of the children of the new ministers and the old nobles. My mother died of depression after the last palace coup, and it's been less than a year. It's my duty as a son to observe mourning."

The emperor summoned the crown prince to assist him as he walked to the desk, picked up his red brush, and wrote a single "approved" on the memorial. As the pen touched the ground, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"My father has issued an edict this time, and a public selection of concubines will be held at the coming-of-age ceremony in half a year. This is not only to choose a concubine for me, but also an opportunity for various families to compete." In Chengqian Palace, the prince said to his mother.

It has been exactly twenty years since the Crown Prince's mother, Consort Li, entered the palace.

She sat in the hall, gently swaying the tea set in her hand, her eyes looking through the carved window lattice at the courtyard in the distance.

I remember when she first entered the palace, she was a fifteen-year-old girl. She came from an unremarkable family and it was her first time entering the palace.

That winter was exceptionally cold, and even though she was wearing a thick fox fur coat, she still felt cold. She knelt on the ground with her head bowed, not daring to look at the emperor's majestic face.

Thinking of this, her fingers still trembled slightly, and she could hardly hold the tea set in her hands.

That year——

“Look up.”

Li slowly raised her head and saw a tall, straight face. She hurriedly bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, I, your servant, pay my respects to you."

Twenty years have passed, and that scene still echoes in her ears.

Over the years, she has been like a quietly growing orchid in the deep palace, neither competing nor coquettish, but just quietly waiting for the time when the flowers will bloom.

Her son, Zong Zheng Yangzhao, is her most precious bond in this deep palace.

When Zong Zheng Yangzhao was born that year, she lay on the delivery bed, her forehead covered with fine beads of sweat, and she was trying hard to hold on to her body.

When the little baby boy cried, a rare smile appeared on her face: with this son, her position was finally more stable.

"Your Majesty, it's the prince!"

When the emperor heard the news, he was overjoyed and said, "Bring it here quickly."

That year she was conferred the title of noble concubine, and was not promoted to the rank of concubine until her son was conferred the title of prince.

After the palace coup this year, Zong Zheng Yang Zhao was canonized as the crown prince. That day, the palace celebrated with great celebrations, and all officials came to congratulate him.

Li stood in the crowd, watching her son accept the ministers' kneeling worship, her eyes moistened.

She was finally no longer the unknown concubine, but the mother of the prince and the future Holy Mother Empress Dowager of the entire Dayin.

However, the good times didn't last. The old emperor's health was declining, and he was flooded with relatives and court ladies who came to flatter him. Rumors arose in the harem.

Some people secretly said that Li was too close to certain ministers in the court; some said she wanted to interfere in state affairs.
Faced with these rumors, Li simply lowered his head and handled his words and actions more carefully.

She knew that in this deep palace, any carelessness would lead to eternal damnation.

"Concubine?"

——My thoughts were brought back by the prince.

Li smiled slightly and gestured for her to sit down. "The prince is old enough, it's time for him to marry and take concubines. This is a good thing. You've been busy lately, if you're free today, please stay and have dinner with me."

The next day at court, as soon as the imperial edict was issued, there was a sound of kneeling and kowtow in front of the hall, and all the ministers were delighted.

Behind this joy, the major families have been secretly competing to gain opportunities for their daughters.
They vied with each other to invite maids who had served as ladies-in-waiting in the palace or as servants of imperial concubines to come to their homes to teach the girls to be selected.

This is a power struggle.

The Marquis' Mansion invited a female official, Madam Zheng, to teach Lin Yu the appropriate etiquette.

Four famous female teachers in Beijing who were good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting were also invited.

Yunjin and Yunshan also followed along to learn.

In addition to these, as maids, they also have to learn some ways for their masters to get along with each other after marriage.

Court etiquette is also extremely particular.

Lin Yu must remember that there are different clothing regulations for different identities and statuses, and abide by the hierarchy.

Crown Princess: 袆衣 (yellow as the base color, embroidered with moss patterns);
Liangdi: 褕翟 (blue as main color, embroidered with 翟 pattern);

Other maids: wear clothes of different colors and patterns according to their ranks;
This includes formal wear, casual wear, etc. Even casual wear has strict style and color regulations.

Behavior should be dignified, and candidates for selection need to learn how to walk, stand and sit in the palace in accordance with etiquette.

When walking, one should be light and slow, not fast and swift. When standing, one should remain upright, with both hands hanging in front of the body or holding a handkerchief.

Use a humble tone when communicating with others, especially when speaking to the emperor, the empress dowager or other concubines.

And the etiquette of audience: when the emperor visits or when an important event is held, the emperor must be knelt and bowed to.

Including "prostrating oneself on the ground" and "kowtow three times".

When performing a salute, you must maintain a dignified posture, do not raise your head at will or make excessive movements, and the steps at your waist must not make any noise.

(End of this chapter)