Chapter 94 Palace Maids

The booklet was folded up; you had to open it to see the words inside. It contained people's names, their ages when they entered the palace, and where they worked within the palace.

With so many people around, Lan Wu didn't know the palace maid's name, only what she looked like. She couldn't call everyone over, which made things a bit complicated.

Seeing her holding the booklet blankly, looking at it for a long time without reacting, Chu Mingheng asked her:

"It's not in here?"

Lan Wu shook her head, then suddenly had an idea.

She flipped through the booklet, turned to Chu Mingheng, and asked him, "Your Majesty, may I say that there are not enough palace maids in Yilan Palace and that we need to find an experienced matron? Under that pretext, I can go and see if there is anyone among them whom I know?"

Chu Mingheng pondered for a moment, gently pinched her cheek, and said "okay."

"I'll make the arrangements. You just wait."

He told Lan Wu to wait, and Lan Wu actually waited. After a few days, she received another imperial edict promoting her rank.

Inside the Yilan Palace, everyone heard the contents of the imperial edict that had just been spoken.

Lan Wu was still somewhat taken aback.

So she's become... Zhaorong?

Chu Mingheng promoted her to the next rank again?

Chen Kang'an stepped forward with a smile and handed the imperial edict to Lan Wu, saying, "Congratulations, Your Highness. His Majesty has instructed that Your Highness's palace staff are somewhat lacking and lack experience in managing affairs. He has specifically ordered this servant to take Your Highness to the Inner Palace to select a head matron. When would be a suitable time for Your Highness to make the selection?"

They really did use the reason she mentioned, but they added a bit more status to her under that pretext, making it even more legitimate.

But her last promotion was only in August. So, she was promoted again so quickly. In just half a year, she had become a Zhaorong. It was something I never dared to imagine.

Lan Wu had someone take the imperial edict away and put it away. She nodded to Chen Kang'an and said, "Today is a bit rushed. How about tomorrow? I'll trouble Eunuch Chen to find all the maids from the inner palace."

This matter has been discussed for some time now, and the palace maids listed in the book must have all been arranged to be shown to Lan Wu. But upon hearing her say this, Chen Kang'an bowed and replied, "Yes."

Seeing that the palace servants and eunuchs who had delivered the imperial decree had all left, Lan Wu turned around and went back into the hall, where she sat down and poured herself a cup of tea.

Zhaorong...

Although she guessed that Chu Mingheng was trying to find a legitimate reason for her to meet those palace servants, she wondered if this promotion was a bit too fast.

She was promoted to Zhaorong in half a year, and in another half a year, wouldn't she become a concubine?

Thinking of this, Lan Wu stood up and paced back and forth in the hall.

Mu Jin entered the hall, gently interrupting her thoughts: "Your Majesty, Consort Yue has arrived."

Yue Zhaorong had originally planned to come and see Lan Wu on this day. Remembering Lan Wu's kindness, she often came to keep her company these days, and their relationship had grown closer over time.

Although Lan Wu had the title of a favored concubine, she was an exceptionally easy-going person who was not pretentious, did not criticize her servants, and was very easy to get along with.

She only saw Chen Kang'an and his entourage leaving when she reached the palace gate; judging from their demeanor, they had come to deliver an imperial edict.

As expected, upon entering the palace, I learned that Lan Wu had been promoted to Zhaorong.

Although she had expected it, she was still somewhat confused when she heard this.

His Majesty dotes on Lan Wu so much, but Lan Wu has no family background to rely on. Who knows if this favor will one day turn into a sword that hurts someone?

"Your Majesty, I wish you a happy new day." Upon entering the palace, Consort Yue bowed to Lan Wu and said with a smile.

Lan Wu helped her up: "I already told you there's no need for formalities."

"You've come at the right time. Luckily, I told you I'd go to the inner palace to choose a nanny tomorrow, otherwise I would have missed it."

She didn't intend to hide it. Back then, Chu Mingheng wanted to find her a governess, but the servant overbeared and bullied her. She thought that once the matter was resolved, she wouldn't want to find another governess. But now she's going to find one again. I'm afraid those governesses are also afraid of falling into her hands.

But that wasn't what she wanted; she just wanted to expose that palace maid.

"Your Majesty wants to choose a nanny?" Yue Zhaorong was somewhat surprised. "It seems that Your Majesty's palace is not enough for the number of servants."

"That's what His Majesty said."

"I have heard that some older palace maids have developed some skills after being in the palace for a long time. For example, the palace maid who served Empress Dowager Cimin could make incense. Even the late Emperor praised the incense she made."

Lan Wu was somewhat curious. Because the two empress dowagers had died tragically, the inner palace kept their deaths a closely guarded secret. Chu Mingheng had never told her much about them, except once when he casually mentioned that his mother did not like him very much.

She didn't dare ask any more questions.

Seeing that Lan Wu was really curious, Yue Zhaorong talked to her a bit more.

"The two empress dowagers had a good relationship, having played together since childhood. The palace maids beside Empress Dowager Cimin were given to her by Empress Dowager Jingwen, who was worried that Empress Dowager Cimin, being new to the palace, might offend people without knowing the palace rules."

"After that, the palace maid stayed by Empress Dowager Cimin's side."

"The incense-making technique was passed down in her family, but after the Kunning Palace caught fire, the palace maid disappeared."

At this point, Yue Zhaorong smiled when she saw that Lan Wu looked completely clueless and advised her, "So Your Highness must be careful when choosing your nanny tomorrow, as some nannies are quite capable."

Lan Wu seemed to be deep in thought, then lowered her eyes and nodded.

The following afternoon, Lan Wu went to the inner palace to select people.

She considered herself to have a pretty good memory. Sitting in the main seat, watching wave after wave of people pass by, she still couldn't see the palace maid she had seen before she died in her previous life.

There were so many people that Lan Wu looked at them one by one, and she almost got dizzy from looking at them so carefully.

Luo Yun stood by her side, patiently waiting for Lan Wu to make her choice.

But even though they were almost finished looking at the people, Lan Wu hadn't said a single good thing.

It was cloudy today, with occasional gentle breezes, so it didn't feel hot outside.

"Wait a minute." Suddenly, she heard Lan Wu call out beside her.

Luo Yun looked down and saw the elderly palace maid below, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Lan Wu looked at the person below. It wasn't that she had found the person, but rather that she had seen this person before.

She had seen this palace maid in the Kongshan Garden when Chu Mingheng held her birthday banquet there.

At that time, she was tending the vegetable garden, and Lianqiao said she was afraid of her.

Lan Wu originally thought that this must be a palace maid who had served Empress Dowager Jingwen, otherwise she would not have been allowed by His Majesty to plant vegetables in Kongshan Garden. But now... why is she here too?

"This servant, Danshan, greets Consort Zhen Zhaorong. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings." Danshan's face was stern, and her speech was measured and formal, clearly indicating a strict nature.

Lan Wu looked her over, puzzled, "Weren't you... growing vegetables?"

Danshan lowered her head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, this servant has come on orders."