"The Emperor has declared," Eunuch Jin's voice sounded.”
Su Qi didn't know how she received the imperial edict until Eunuch Jin finished reading it and left. When she came back to her senses, the imperial edict was already in her hands. She looked up and saw Ye Chen with reddened eyes.
"Father." Su Qi's voice was hoarse. "Let's go make dumplings. This is the first time I've eaten dumplings made by Father. I must eat more today.”
Su Qi forced a smile. Her pale face made people feel pity for her.
" Little Seven…" Ye Chen was also helpless. If the monarch wanted his subjects to die, his subjects had no choice but to die. This was a feudal society, the era of the monarch. At this point, there was nothing he could do.
Su Qi didn't wait for him to finish his sentence before she dragged him to the kitchen. Along the way, she held back her tears and didn't let them flow out of her eyes. When they arrived at the kitchen, it was no longer as harmonious as before. Everyone was doing things carefully. Su Qi sorted out her complicated feelings and smiled.
"Dad, let's make dumplings."
How could Ye Chen not know that she was holding on? His heart ached and he felt helpless. He nodded but did not dare to say anything.
Nothing seemed to have changed this year, but it also seemed that everything had changed.
Su Qi and Ye Chen ate the delicious dumplings and dipped them in vinegar. They didn't know if the sourness of the vinegar could suppress the bitterness that kept rising in their hearts.
The content of the imperial edict was that after three days of the new year, he would enter the palace to select talents.
For the past two days, Su Qi didn't know how she managed to survive. From time to time, she would think of the imperial edict, the selection of talents, the place that was known as a place that ate people without spitting out their bones, the place that was full of schemes, and the place where she would never see her father again.
He no longer insisted on a lifetime of happiness between two people. Why did he want her to go to a place where she only wanted to snatch a man with three thousand beauties? And it was a place where there was no humanity. Why?
Ye Chen looked at his soulless daughter and frowned.""Little Seven…"
Su Qi turned her head and saw Ye Chen's concerned eyes. His eyes were dark and blue. He probably hadn't slept well for the past few days. "Father, why are you here?" Su Qi forced a smile and asked.”
"My silly girl, you…"
"Father, I'm entering the palace tomorrow. I don't know if the palace is beautiful or not. I've only seen it briefly the last time, but I don't have much of an impression of it.”Su Qi tried her best to make her voice sound more relaxed, but the sadness in her eyes could not be hidden from Ye Chen.
Ye Chen gently stroked Su Qi's head and said gently,""The consort selection this time is a little different. Those who enter are all the daughters of third-grade officials. They say that they must stay in the palace.”
Su Qi suddenly hugged Ye Chen's waist and buried her head deep into his embrace. Her voice sounded like she was about to cry."Dad, you have to be well. You're not allowed to drink all the time. You're not allowed to not sleep until midnight. You're not allowed to not drink medicine when you catch a cold. You're not allowed…not allowed to treat yourself badly. Wuwuwu…"
Ye Chen's eyes turned red." Silly girl. I'll be fine. I'll protect you…"
Although Su Qi and Ye Chen did not want the next day to come, nothing could stop the pace of time, and nothing could stop the gears of fate.
The sky had not yet brightened, and Cyan was already helping Su Qi dress up with reddened eyes. Since they were going to enter the palace, they naturally could not use their usual makeup. Lü Rao was also silently helping Su Qi tidy up her clothes for today.
After dressing up, Su Qi's body was less casual and more dignified. She was wearing a green dress with a pink daffodil flower and green leaves. She was wearing a thin green silk dress with golden silk. Her hair was hanging down, and she was adorned with pearls and jade. Her face was as pure as a lotus flower, and she was as charming as a rose. However, her eyes were filled with sorrow and helplessness.
"Young miss, the general said that there are many things today, so he won't send you off.”Lu Rao said softly, her eyes slowly becoming moist. The relationship between the young miss and the general was obvious to everyone. After today, they would be monarch and minister in the future and could not go back to the past.
When Su Qi heard this, she nodded and said,""Are you two really going to accompany me into the palace? Think carefully. Once you enter, it will be difficult to come out.”
Cyan and Lü Rao knelt on the ground and said,"We don't have any other relatives besides Young Lady. Please take us into the palace.”
Su Qi sighed and helped them up. She said,""From now on, I can only trust you.”
"Young miss, we should go out. Otherwise, we might miss the time to enter the palace.”Zi Gan and Lu Rao helped Su Qi up.
When Su Qi passed by the main courtyard, she stopped in her tracks.""Lu Rao, father, is he inside?”
Lu Rao nodded. "In the study."
Su Qi told them to wait for her at the same spot while she entered the courtyard alone. She stood outside the study room and suddenly knelt down. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she silently kowtowed three times.
"General, Miss, she…do you want to go and take a look?”Fu looked at the general who was staring blankly at the door of the study and sighed deeply.
How could Ye Chen not know that Su Qi was at the door? However, what could he change if he went out? "Let her be."
Su Qi wiped away her tears and put away her fragility. She put on a strong front and walked towards the door step by step. What she had to face next was a completely different life. From now on, no one would tolerate her willfulness and no one would help her clean up the mess. She could only rely on herself.
Sitting in the bumpy carriage, the sound of hawkers shouting and bargaining could be heard. It was very lively. They gradually left the downtown area and soon the carriage stopped.
"Miss, we're here."
Cyan helped Su Qi out of the carriage. It was not yet time to enter the palace, but there were already many people gathered at the palace gate. All of them were dressed up, and their faces were full of smiles and pride.
"I wonder if Sister Yan and the others are here yet?”
"Miss, Miss Yan is over there.”Su Qi looked in the direction the cyanotic man was pointing at. Yan Jin and Xia Yin were chatting there.
One of them was dressed in a light blue turquoise shirt and a pleated skirt made of green grass. She was wearing a thin blue turquoise gauze, and her muscles were like condensed fat, and her aura was like a serene orchid. She folded her slender waist and walked in a small step, showing her white wrist to the light gauze. Her eyes contain the clear waves of spring water, and her hair is slanted with a jade streamer hairpin. The other was wearing a pink dress with a beautiful peach blossom. A white embroidered belt was tied with a bow at her waist. Her waist-length hair was tied up with a rose-red hairpin, and a few strands of mischievous hair were swirling in the wind on both sides of her face.
Su Qi walked over with a smile and teased,""What a beautiful smile. I wonder if I have the honor to join.”
"Sister Ye, you're here too." Xia Yin was still as lively as ever." The flowers you gave me last time have withered.”
"It would be strange if you didn't thank me now. It's already winter.”Yan Jin pulled Su Qi's hand and said," Don't bother with her. She's always like a child. She only knows how to act coquettishly."”Although he said that, the smile and adoration in Yan Jin's eyes could not be concealed.
"Why haven't I seen Sister Yu Dai?" Su Qi looked around but did not see her.
Xia Yin shook her head and said," My father said that Sister Yu Dai wouldn't enter the palace. Her sister came, and she's the one wearing the lavagold palace dress and talking to Wei Qianxue. Her sister has never spoken to us."”
Su Qi looked over and said,""Doesn't Wei Qianxue like Prime Minister Xiao? Why are you entering the palace?"
Yan Jin said with a smile," Suqi, don't say this. After entering the palace, there's no need to be fond of anyone. They are all the emperor's women. It's not good to be heard by others if you speak so carelessly."”
Su Qi nodded, thinking that Yan Jin was indeed more rational.
Xia Yin pouted and said disapprovingly,"What are you afraid of? We won't go out and talk about it.”
"Silly girl, the walls have ears." Yan Jin looked at her with an unteachable expression.
At this moment, a few eunuchs came out of the palace. One of them seemed to have the highest position and shouted hoarsely,"Young masters, I will divide you into groups. Those who are called stand on the left, and those who are not called stand on the right.”As he spoke, he opened the name list and called out," Xu Wanlin, daughter of Grand Tutor Xu; Yao Xi, daughter of Yao Taibao; Yao Lanqiao, daughter of the Minister of Official Personnel Affairs…Xia Yin, daughter of the Imperial Academy's Xia Scholar.”
"Sister, you called me. I'll go over first.”Xia Yin left reluctantly.
"Yuan Siting, daughter of Minister Yuan…Yan Jin, daughter of Minister Yan of the Ministry of Revenue. Alright, the rest of you stand on the right.”
"Suqi, you have to be careful when you're alone. It's always good to be cautious.”Yan Jin was a little worried about Su Qi being alone, but there was nothing he could do.
Su Qi smiled and said," I know. You have to watch out for Xia Yindao. It's true. Take care."?”
As they spoke, the two of them walked to the left and right respectively.
"Everyone, pay attention to follow the eunuch in front. Don't look around on the road. If you offend someone you shouldn't offend and bring trouble to your family, don't blame me for not warning you. Let's go." After the eunuch finished speaking, he led the way into the palace.
Su Qi looked at the tall city wall and thought about how they would be able to enter the deep sea once they entered the palace. They looked very innocent and naive now, but did they really become as cold and heartless as those in television and novels?
They passed through countless palaces, and countless palace maids walked past them. Some bowed to the eunuchs in front of them, while others stood at the side silently waiting for them to pass. However, no one looked at them curiously, let alone discuss.
Su Qi looked at the golden palace. Who knew that this place would be filled with schemes and traps? How many people outside wanted to enter this huge whirlpool in one step? She was immersed in her own world and just followed silently. She was not curious or looking around. However, in the eyes of others, she was obedient and sensible. A nanny followed behind her in the dark and nodded with a smile.
The large group finally stopped and came to the front of the Maiden Tower.
A nanny walked out from inside, her face expressionless. The eunuch in front said," This is Granny Zhang. She will examine your facial features and body for any injuries. The most important thing is to check your virginity. Although you are from a prestigious family, once it is found that you are no longer a virgin, it will be a lie to the emperor and will be cut into pieces.”
The girls below were so scared that their faces turned pale. They lowered their heads one by one, and only a few of them still held their heads high.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。