Biography of Concubine Shujia

Chapter 22

The mule cart departed from Di'an Gate at sunset, and Shi Niang sat in the mule cart, listening to the rattling of the mule cart across the green bricks, feeling calm and excited.

Since I knew I was going to participate in the draft, I have been making various preparations and receiving various teachings.Finally stepped into her own battlefield today, Shi Niang knew that she had to be steady and patient, and tried to stay calm, but she kept clamoring for killing and decisiveness in her temper. This would be her brand new battlefield.

The family will not be my help in the early stage, and even I am only Liu Niang's foil.But what does that matter? As long as she can come, as long as she can stay, Shi Niang believes that she will laugh at the end.

At nightfall, the last mule cart enters the Di'anmen Gate and waits outside the Shenwu Gate for the palace gate to open.As soon as the scarlet door opened, the gears that determined the fate of their lives were about to start turning.Shi Niang and other beautiful girls got out of the mule cart and waited under the leadership of the household secretary.

Across the many beautiful girls in front of her, Ten Niang was staring at the fate-determining door.The door opened slowly, and the dull creaking sound between the wood and the rotating shaft struck the hearts of the show girls, and the scene was silent and solemn for a while.

Until the eunuch holding the dust whisk in his hand, the high-pitched voice sounded, "The beautiful girl enters", the voices came one after another from far and near,

The show girls suddenly woke up, and they lowered their heads and stopped looking at Shenwumen.

Shenwumen has its own eunuchs to guide them and these beautiful girls to enter in order.

Entering the Shenwu Gate, the eunuch in charge holds a dust whisk in his hand and salutes all the beautiful girls, "Our family name is Zhang, and you young masters can call our family Eunuch Zhang. Now our family will lead you young masters into the Shunzhen Gate. The prince has already I'm waiting for you young masters at the Shunzhen Gate, please go ahead." After speaking, he took the lead to walk towards the Shunzhen Gate.

Ten Niang quietly turned her head to look at the Shenwu Gate that was about to close, and saw that the mule cart they were riding in earlier was going east and south from the Shenwu Gate, heading towards the Donghua Gate.Seeing Shi Niang's movements, the little eunuch beside him said in a low voice, "Don't turn around, my lord. The mule cart you are riding in will leave Donghua Gate, then go north from Chongwenmen Street, pass through Beijie Market, and then go back to the North Market. Go through Di'anmen and come to Shenwumen, and when the little master has passed the primary election and re-election, he can pedal back home."

Ten Niang nodded to the little eunuch, and inadvertently threw the handkerchief in her right hand to the little eunuch's hand. The little eunuch was also clever, and touched the broken silver between the handkerchiefs.When Shi Niang felt that the handkerchief was light, she quickly followed the team in front, without saying a word from the beginning to the end.The little eunuch watched Shi Niang walking steadily at the back of the line, and couldn't help but boast in his heart: "What a clever little master."I hope it's a great one.

Sure enough, there was an elderly father-in-law waiting in front of Shunzhen Gate. Eunuch Zhang walked a few steps quickly, saluted the prince neatly, and said, "Brother Wang, please wait here, this is the newly selected talent." Female, there are a total of 1000 people, please see the prince."

There are 1000 female eunuchs in Shi Niang's group. Before that, they were arranged in batches of one hundred by Eunuch Zhang's eunuchs.Each batch is lined up according to age, so Shi Niang and Bai's daughter separated early.

Eunuch Zhang and his eunuchs retreated behind Eunuch Wang and the eunuchs he was leading.Eunuch Wang flicked the dust whisk in his hand, and the little eunuchs behind him stepped forward and examined these official ladies in front of every beautiful lady.Look at it from a distance, look at it up close, pull out those who are slightly taller, shorter, fatter, and thinner, and let them stand aside, and the selected beautiful women are at a loss.

Soon, the little eunuchs behind the prince took the selected beautiful girls out of Shunzhen Gate.There were also young eunuchs grouped according to age and age according to the roster. The rest of the show girls just breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the little eunuchs who had been around the prince watching them with more critical eyes.

Observe their appearance, examine their hair, ears, forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, jaw, shoulders, back, legs, feet, as long as there is something that is not pleasing to the eye, the name will be removed on the spot, the little eunuch under Eunuch Zhang He will step forward and take them away from Shunzhen Gate.

The show girls dared not stand up, and were judged and picked by the eunuchs like commodities to be selected.The atmosphere was tense for a while.

The little eunuchs faced the roster again and asked the beautiful girls to recite their birthplaces, surnames, and ages.to hear their voices.Ten Niang stabilized her mind, and answered one by one, "Yujing Du Shi, thirteen years old." The little eunuch gave Shi Niang a critical look, squeezed the purse in his hand, and walked to the next beautiful girl.

Shi Niang listened carefully to show girls whose voices were slightly masculine, turbid, or stuttering, and all of them were eliminated.Soon some young eunuchs led the unqualified show girls out of the Shunzhen Gate.

At this time, the little eunuch next to Eunuch Zhang checked the list and replied respectfully: "After the primary selection, there are 600 remaining female candidates. This is the list. Please look at it, Eunuch Wang."

Eunuch Zhang stepped forward to take over the roster and handed it to Eunuch Wang himself with both hands, "I won't disturb Brother Wang's work. I'll leave now." After Eunuch Wang took over the roster, Eunuch Zhang took his little eunuch out Shunzhen Gate.Shi Niang heard Sixth Sister talk about the primary election process, and understood that there are still two tough battles to be fought tomorrow.Pull up your spirits and follow the little eunuchs around Wang Gonggong towards the residence.

The night passed quickly, and on the second day, the show girls were still led by the eunuchs to gather in the Shunzhen Gate.It was still yesterday's prince who led the eunuchs to make a selection.The inner eunuchs are obsessed with measuring instruments, and measure the hands, arms, waists, legs, and feet of the show girls. Any size that does not meet the requirements will be removed.

He also ordered the beautiful women to walk dozens of steps around to observe their demeanor. All the beautiful women with poor demeanor, poor manners or impatient behavior were also removed one by one and sent back to their original places.After testing the 300 beautiful girls, there are only 300 left.These [-] people can't be regarded as having passed the primary election, and there is still the last primary election procedure waiting for them.

"Everyone, our family is temporarily closed, and our family will take you to Mingxiang Garden later. It will be up to Aunt Xing whether you will stay or not. Please, please." The prince said openly, ten After Niang and others agreed, they were led to Mingxiang Garden, the inner garden.

In front of Mingxiang Garden, a female official and several court ladies in their early twenties are already waiting.Eunuch Wang handed the roster to the female officer who took the lead, "This is the selection of a beautiful girl this time, Aunt Lao Xing is worrying." The female officer surnamed Xing nodded and said, "Please wait a moment, Eunuch, Qingfang, let's start." The big court lady who called the roll took several court ladies and led the three hundred beautiful ladies into the secret room.

Standing at the end of the line, Shi Niang watched the long line gradually decrease. Some beautiful women came out with pale faces, and some were pulled out crying, secretly cheering for themselves.Ten Niang, you must be able to pass.

"Ms. Du Xian, the secretary of the Imperial Academy of the Du family in Yujing, come in." Ten Niang pushed open the door and walked in slowly.

The room was dark, and the elderly maid gave her a cold look and said, "Take off your clothes."Ten Niang took a deep breath, quickly removed her clothes, and stood still.Three elderly court ladies came forward and examined her body.Ten Niang held back her breath, let them touch her skin, and handed the handkerchief to one of them, saying, "Honor all the aunts, you have worked hard."

The three people who received the money were a lot lighter when they started again, and they checked Shi Niang in a short while. One of them helped Shi Niang put on her clothes and whispered in Shi Niang's ear: "I wish you all the best, little master!" May all your wishes come true."

After Shi Niang got dressed, she quickly left the room that made her feel uncomfortable.Although at home, Sixth Sister also vaguely mentioned that the final inspection of the primary election would be embarrassing.You just have to endure it, but after all, Miss Da, I have never suffered like this.Especially when the three maids were rubbing the shougong sand on their arms, Shi Niang could only persuade herself over and over in her heart that it would pass and be fine.So Shi Niang didn't want to stay any longer, put on her clothes and left.

After all the show girls have been checked inside, there are only fifty qualified ones.Shi Niang noticed that among the 50 people was a beautiful girl from the Bai family, and she couldn't help but bask in it.It seems that this Bai Xiunv is not hopelessly stupid, it's just that there will be some troubles in the next life, and she has to avoid this idiot.

At the end of the line, Shi Niang smiled comfortingly at Ba Niang, Ba Niang blinked at Shi Niang with her pale face.

Eunuch Wang had already left with the unselected show girls, and Aunt Xing lectured to the fifty show girls standing in the garden. "My surname is Xing, and I am in charge of this Mingxiang Garden. People in the palace call it Aunt Xing. For the next month, my Mingxiang Garden will temporarily manage the basic necessities of the young masters. I will teach you the rules of the palace later. Mammy will come. Before Mammy He comes, the young masters will share a room with three people, go back to the room according to the assigned list, pack your clothes and beds, gather in the garden after hearing the bell, and go to Beiyuan for dinner together. Got it Is it?" Aunt Xing asked loudly.

"Understood." The show girls replied in unison.Later, under the leadership of the elderly maid, I will organize my things in the divided room.

Ten Niang shared a room with Second Miss Chen and a beautiful girl surnamed Li. This beautiful girl Li was the same age as Second Cousin Chen, and her birth month was younger than Second Cousin Chen. The three saluted and greeted each other according to their ages. Call her "Sister Li".

The second cousin of the Chen family took Shi Niang to make up the bed and took care of Shi Niang everywhere.Li Xiunv packed her things and wanted to come forward to help, but she was politely rejected by her second cousin, "Don't bother Sister Li, I'll be here with my cousin. Everyone has been tired all day today, if it weren't for my fourth aunt , I don’t care about my cousin. She’s such a big girl, she can’t even make a bed.”

"You sisters have such a good relationship." Li Xiunv smiled and didn't force her.Ten Niang looked at the second cousin who helped her make the bed, and whispered, "Thank you cousin, my eighth sister doesn't know if I can get along with eighth cousin."

Approaching the Shenwu Gate, Shi Niang did not forget the uncle's instructions, but she never thought that Ba Niang would not be in the same room with her.On the contrary, she shares the same room with the eighth cousin of the Lu family, but the Lu family has always disliked people from Du's residence, and the young people here especially hate the eldest son, who happened to be from the eldest son.The second cousin who was making the bed heard Shi Niang's words, gave her hands a slap, and persuaded, "Shi Niang, listen to what my cousin said, you are not allowed to help either your eighth cousin or eighth sister, and don't say anything to let your eighth cousin take care of you." Your eighth sister's words. The two of them know well and won't cause trouble."

Ten Niang wanted to find an opportunity to let Eighth Cousin take care of Ba Niang, but was secretly held back by Second Cousin.So he nodded and said in a low voice, "I see, thank you cousin for reminding me."

The cousins ​​and sisters were speechless for a while, and did not mention tidying things up.

It was already evening when the bells in the palace were not tolled, Shi Niang and her second cousin were waiting in the garden for dinner.Before the bell rings.Only half of the fifty show girls came.After the bell rang, some people came here sparsely, and several beautiful girls came slowly after the bell disappeared.

Aunt Xing didn't say much, and directly ordered the late Xiunu to stay put, and walked to the Beiyuan dining hall with the 25 people who arrived on time.Before he had gone far, he heard a voice questioning Aunt Xing domineeringly.

"Auntie, you let us stand here, do you mean you must punish us? You can think about it, we will serve the emperor in the future, what consequences will there be if you do this!"

(End of this chapter)