Imperial Consort Shu was startled. She naturally knew that my age was not in line with the rules and thought that the Empress Dowager wanted to make an exception to call me into the palace. She thought that she would do me a favor at this moment, but she did not expect the Empress Dowager to not appreciate it. At this moment, she could only look at Wenlang. For me to appear here, it was not the Empress Dowager's will, but naturally the Emperor's golden mouth.
"Those from the Duan family and the Mu family, choose a day to enter the palace.”Wen Lang had no choice but to speak up at this time. He simply came to a conclusion.
The Empress Dowager looked at him and didn't say anything. However, when she looked at me again, her gaze was a lot more complicated. I secretly sighed. I knew that the Empress Dowager must have a grudge against me and could only find an opportunity to explain in the future.
After receiving the edict, the steward quickly led the four of us away. When I stepped out of the palace, I heard the voice of the internal supervisor,"Duan Zilin, the daughter of the deputy general of the capital's garrison!”
"Mu Guanyu, the daughter of the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel!”
This announcement caused me to shiver. In an instant, tears filled my eyes and rolled out. While no one was paying attention, I hurriedly wiped away my tears and took a deep breath before following everyone back to the east hall.
The few of us who were selected were sent to the side hall, and those who were not selected were sent out of the palace one after another. After waiting for about two hours, the selection was completed. All the selected women entered the main hall to thank the emperor. According to the old rules of the selection, it was time to confer titles and titles. The selected women would officially become concubines in the harem. However, because it was the mourning period of the late emperor, it would take three months to get married, and the royal family was no exception. Therefore, after kowtowing, the Internal Affairs Bureau announced that a total of twenty-one women were selected. Those from the families of the officials in the capital could return home, and those from other cities could be placed in a royal residence in the capital. Ten days later, they would all enter the palace to practice the ceremony. After the mourning period of the late emperor expired, they would be conferred titles.
After the ceremony, Cui Ziqi and Feng Chunsheng came up to greet me. Cui Ziqi held my hand and said,"The three of us will be companions in the palace in the future!”
I smiled and nodded in agreement. She said,"Chunsheng is two months younger than me and only turned sixteen half a month ago.”
"I'm from October. It's almost time."
"That's good. We're the same age. We'll be good sisters in the future!”As she spoke, Cui Ziqi took off a pair of jade bracelets from her wrist and stuffed one into each of Chun Sheng's and my hands." I'm your sister. This is a greeting gift!”
Feng Chunsheng was no longer shy. She took off the jade pendant on her neck and gave it to Cui Ziqi. Then, she placed a golden hairpin in my hand and smiled gently."Now I can be an elder sister again."
My dress today was not complicated. My wrist was empty, and there was only a bead hanging on my neck. I really couldn't take it out. After thinking for a moment, I had to pull out two golden topaz hairpins from my head and give them to the two of them.
Cui Ziqi took the hairpin and looked at it carefully. She said to Feng Chunsheng,"Look, it looks like a simple hairpin, but it's topaz. We've really profited! It seemed that he had to get closer to Sister Yu in the future!”Thus, the three of them covered their faces and laughed.
The women were led out of the palace by the internal supervisor. The entrance of the palace was very lively. On both sides were a long row of exquisite and luxurious royal palanquins, and beside them stood the servant girls of the various manors. From afar, I saw the ring pendant and bell looking up. When they saw me, they hurried to welcome me. I looked at the dozens of people at the palace gate with joy on their faces, but there was no joy in my heart. I forced a smile and nodded to Cui Ziqi and Feng Chunsheng to say goodbye before getting on the sedan chair.
When the little internal supervisor who sent me out saw me like this, he hurriedly bowed and said," This servant will send Little Master Mu off!"
I knew that he was asking for a reward, so I didn't stop. Huan Ling took out some silver to reward him. After the little internal supervisor left happily, Huan Pei helped me up the sedan chair. As Ni Lening and Chen Yanyu hadn't left yet, I couldn't go ahead first, so I could only wait.
Sitting in the palanquin, my mind changed. I opened the curtain and said to Ring Bell,"Let's go and see which families have been selected in the capital. Get close to the knowledgeable girls and also ask about those from other provinces.”
Ring Bell was smart and straightforward and was good at this. Seeing her leave, I was about to put down the curtain and be alone when I accidentally saw a green-robed woman in the crowd opposite me. I knew that she was also one of the chosen women. I didn't know her. From her clothes, she should be from a good family. I didn't know why she looked anxious and embarrassed at this moment. I frowned and looked around.
She only had the internal supervisor who sent her out of the palace, but there was no servant girl waiting by the sedan chair. With a slight observation, she could already see. She was so uncomfortable, presumably because her servant girl did not come for some reason, and she did not have any silver tips on her. In our dynasty, the selected female cultivators will reward the servants wantonly, so sending off the selected female cultivators has always been a fat job. The internal supervisors are all fighting for it, and this selection must be even more so.
The little internal supervisor beside the green-robed woman had also spent a lot of effort to get this job. He didn't expect to encounter such a situation. His face already revealed an impatient expression. Although it was fine to give him jewelry as a reward, it would still be a laughing stock.
I whispered a few words to Huan Pei. Huan Pei nodded and took out some silver to send the internal supervisor away. Then, he helped the woman into the sedan chair. The woman looked at me before she got into the sedan chair and nodded at me with gratitude. I smiled back and then safely hid in the sedan chair.
After waiting for a while, Ni Lening and Chen Yanyu left, and everyone's sedan chair left one after another. When I returned home, my aunt and sisters-in-law were already waiting at the door. Even though I had not been conferred a title, I was still the young master of the harem. Other than my parents, everyone else in the family had to pay their respects to me.
I naturally couldn't stand it and turned to avoid it. Everyone surrounded me and entered the door.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. During this period, the whole family helped me to take care of the things in the palace. Big Brother, who was originally going south, also delayed his departure from the capital. He collected many rare treasures, jewelry, and even a lot of gold and silver money into my chest. It was so that I could establish a firm foothold in the harem where everyone needed money.
On the contrary, I didn't have many things to take care of. Other than Father and Mother, I would at most accompany Rui Rong. Although it was very safe in my house, I was still worried. I carefully instructed her about all matters and entrusted her to Mother. It wasn't until the eighth day when the servant girl sent by Wen Lang came into the residence that I was relieved.
This morning, the Internal Affairs Bureau sent someone to pick me up. Before I left home, I saw my parents and bowed with tears in my eyes."Father, Mother, Yu 'er is unfilial!"
I gently pushed away my sister-in-law who came over to help me. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't say anything. I just cried silently.
Everyone was speechless. Mother also had tears streaming down her face. It was her father who said,"Yu 'er, I really don't want you to leave home so early. However, the Emperor's grace is vast and this is also your blessing. Father and Mother don't ask you to bring glory to your ancestors, as long as you're safe. Fortunately, our family is not bad. If you need anything, just send a message. Father and your brothers will always be able to do it.”
I gradually calmed down and felt grateful. I nodded and Mother wiped her tears."The harem is not like the home. Everything should be done in a safe manner. Yu 'er must be careful. If you can send news, you must let mother know that you are safe!”
I could only nod my head in front of my mother and forcefully suppress my reluctance to part with her as I bid farewell to everyone. Huan Pei and Huan Ling came over to help me tidy up my makeup and helped me step by step towards the gorgeous sedan chair. I hardened my heart and didn't turn back. I didn't care about the deacon who came to pick me up and bowed. I went straight to the sedan chair and closed the curtain.
Inside the palanquin, I closed my eyes tightly, but I couldn't stop my tears from pouring down. Mother was sobbing outside, urging me to wear the ring and ring the bell. I heard every word she said. Even though I was sad, I didn't look outside and let the palanquin move forward steadily.
Soon, they arrived at the palace gate. After the sedan chair was stopped to announce the arrival, the steward of the Internal Affairs Office lifted the curtain to take a look. "Greetings, Young Master Mu. Welcome, Young Master Mu." The supervisor smiled obsequiously.
At this moment, I had already wiped away my tears and pursed my lips lightly."Thank you, Eunuch."
Huan Pei outside came over to distribute the silver, and the internal supervisors were naturally overjoyed.
After a short while, the palanquin once again moved forward. According to the rules of the court, the newly elected young master could enter the palace in a palanquin regardless of her status. For many unfavored concubines, this might be the only chance for them to enter the palace in a palanquin.
Today, due to the arrival of the young masters into the palace, the streets had already set up a ban. Although there was no hustle and bustle like in the past, people could still be heard. After entering the palace gate, the surroundings suddenly became quiet. Even the footsteps of the sedan chair carriers were extremely light. Only the creaking of the sedan chair as it moved could be heard.
I knew that the moment I entered this palace, I would already be one of Wenlang's harem. When I was conferred the title in the future, I would be one of the many concubines. I would no longer be Guan Yu, but the Mu family, Little Master Mu, and a certain title and position in the future.
I gently opened a gap in the curtain and looked down at the bluestone that was moving past. I knew that the road in front of me didn't just lead to a palace, but also to the harem that was full of fighting and conspiracies. It led to a vast and lonely wasteland, and also to a noisy battlefield without smoke.# Cancel all reviews: wdd201302 Time:111420185: 56PM #
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