Chapter 25 Promotion to Junior Attendant, Rank Seven

Seeing his rosy cheeks, Xiao Li didn't bother with rouge, but simply used a touch of black ink to lightly brush her eyebrows: "Master's appearance is something that can't be kept low-key."

His face was reflected in the mirror by the window.

Even without elaborate makeup, she is still a beautiful woman.

Licorice unconsciously touched her cheek: smooth and delicate, like a true nobleman.

The miserable little palace boy in the laundry department seems as distant as a past life.

As long as His Majesty is pleased, he can remain a 'noble man' forever.

He picked up the lip rouge, pursed it slightly with his lips, and his water-lily-like face was instantly tinged with a burning heat.

After confirming that her appearance was appropriate, Gan Cao took Xiao Li to Zi Chen Palace.

Just as she stepped out of Anle Palace, she was blocked by Zhu Yun, who was furious: "Are you going to seduce someone again..."

Licorice's heart skipped a beat.

“Young Mistress Changing Clothes!” Xiao Li immediately stepped forward and interrupted him sharply, “According to palace rules, you should pay your respects to Young Mistress Cai Nan.”

Palace rules!

These two words struck Zhu Yun's heart hard, instantly clearing her mind which had been clouded by taboos. Despite her reluctance, she could only bite her lip and curtsy, saying, "Your subject greets Cai Nan."

"Zhu Gengyi, it seems you haven't learned the palace rules and etiquette very well." Gan Cao's face was frosty.

He wanted to keep a low profile and avoid making things difficult for others, but what about the unspoken words from the other party?

"I am going to the Zichen Palace because His Majesty summoned me." He looked down at the bowing bamboo robesman. "Those who speak know what is what, and those who are wanton know what is wanton. Your words are all seduction. Is this thought always in your heart?"

Zhu Yun's face flushed red. She wanted to retort with the insults, but the phrase "His Majesty has summoned me" blocked her out.

"Master, it's getting late," Xiao Li reminded him from the side.

Licorice's anger hadn't subsided; if he could, he would have loved to slap him hard like a country bumpkin.

But he cannot do that. He is a palace servant and must abide by palace rules and male virtues. He must be mindful of his appearance, speech, and actions, and cannot act like a shrew.

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, no longer looking at Zhu Gengyi: "Let's go."

This matter cannot be resolved so simply. He wants to scare them into submission and make the locker room staff afraid to mess with him, but not now.

Nothing is more important than going to the Zichen Palace.

...

"This servant greets Your Majesty." The moment he saw the emperor, he forgot everything else; only the ingrained discipline made him bow deeply.

His attire and demeanor were extremely dignified, but his low-set waist made his figure appear rather unrefined.

They need to be disciplined properly.

Si Ze admired her for a moment before saying, "No need for formalities, come here."

Paper and ink have already been laid out on the table.

As soon as Gan Cao stepped forward, the king embraced her and led her to write on paper.

The familiar warm fragrance already made him dizzy, and the strength of the king's large hand made his blood boil. He bit his tongue to barely maintain his rationality and focused on feeling the direction of the king's large hand.

Soon, the two characters 'Cai Nan' were written in ink on the white paper.

Licorice's breath hitched for a moment: 'Cai Nan'—such insignificant words, what does Your Majesty mean by writing them?

"Practice hard, and you'll be rewarded if you do well, and punished if you don't." The big hand patted the spot behind him.

Xiao Cainan tensed up, her cheeks flushed red, and she lost all other thoughts.

He kept his head down, not daring to look at the emperor, and devoted himself to writing the book "Male Virtue" with his pen.

Si Ze chuckled softly and focused his attention on government affairs.

The hall gradually quieted down, with only the occasional sound of someone flipping through memorials, yet the atmosphere was harmonious.

At first, Gan Cao would subconsciously pay attention to His Majesty's every move, but the fear of punishment quickly made him calm down.

Focused people are always good-looking, let alone Xiao Cainan, who is already a beauty.

Whenever the king's eyes were tired, looking at the 'beautiful scenery' beside him would make him feel exceptionally relaxed.

Seeing this, even the eunuchs who were serving His Majesty couldn't help but offer Gan Cainan a cup of tea. However, Gan Cainan was completely absorbed in practicing calligraphy and didn't notice this change.

Time flies, and before Gan Cao even realized it, the sundial's shadow had already reached noon.

The king walked to his side, picked up the paper with the writing on it to check, and only then did he suddenly realize what had happened.

He didn't write the first one well, and Gan Cao anxiously observed His Majesty's expression.

Sure enough, His Majesty took out the bottom card separately: "Qingqing, what do you think we should do?"

"He should...be punished." He bit his lip, but still managed to say it.

...

The king was in a great mood after bullying Xiao Cainan, and even ate half a bowl more at lunch.

Xiao Cainan also ate with them. The imperial food was extremely delicious, but the burning pain from being tightly wrapped in his palace attire prevented him from savoring any of the flavors.

In the days that followed, he was summoned to the Zichen Palace every day to practice calligraphy.

Having learned from the first day's lesson, he dared not be distracted in the slightest, and his penmanship became smoother and smoother, and his originally neat handwriting became beautiful and pleasing to the eye.

The king felt a sense of accomplishment as he watched the characters transform before him.

"You have served me well, and from this day forward, you shall be promoted to the rank of Junior Attendant." Si Ze immediately fulfilled his promise of reward.

Little servant!

A seventh-rank palace attendant!

Licorice felt a little dizzy. Being granted the position of male concubine was already an honor he had never imagined, but he never expected to receive such a favor again.

Even though His Majesty went to great lengths to teach him to write, he still bestowed such a favor upon him.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace." He bowed down joyfully.

Seeing his radiant smile, Si Ze also smiled.

...

Not long after returning to Cuiyuxuan, the Shanggong Bureau delivered the official imperial edict of promotion.

The Bureau of Imperial Sacrifices also delivered a new batch of ornaments and decorations that conformed to the regulations for junior servants.

The Imperial Clothing Bureau also began to remake a seventh-rank palace attendant's uniform for him.

Eunuch Cui and Concubine Sun also came with Imperial Chamberlain Liu to offer their congratulations.

Regardless of their true feelings, the palace maids in Anle Palace had to come and offer their congratulations with smiles.

They didn't take Cai Nan's status seriously at first, since they were all originally in charge of the bedchamber, and Gan Cao's background was not as good as theirs. But now they dare not be disrespectful.

Over the past two weeks, they have used various methods to vie for favor:

He went to the Zichen Palace to pay his respects and deliver gifts, but was reprimanded; he tried to bump into someone in the Imperial Garden, but was driven away by the palace guards; he tried to collude with the eunuchs of the Zichen Palace, but was directly dragged to the exposure room and beaten with a board.

Their repeated failures made them fully realize the gap between themselves and Gan Cao. Now that he had been promoted to a higher rank, they had no desire to compete with him anymore.

"Congratulations, Young Master Gan." Several servants in the changing rooms bowed in unison.

Gan Cao's gaze lingered on Zhu Yun: his face was pale and his movements were stiff, because he had been beaten with fifty lashes a few days ago.

Meeting his gaze, Zhu Yun shuddered and immediately knelt down: "Gan Xiaoshi, I really know I was wrong, please let me go."

"I'm just a lowly palace servant. If you strictly abide by the palace rules, who can do anything to you?" Gan Cao didn't explain, but instead gave a warning.

Zhu Yun responded repeatedly, while the other women in the changing room didn't dare to even breathe loudly.

Actually, he wasn't the one who exposed the affair with the eunuchs, but the fact that he was punished so severely indicates that he was involved.

He was standing right next to the chief steward when the emperor made his report. The emperor asked him a casual question, and he frankly admitted his disapproval.

However, the severe punishment of fifty strokes of the cane was not only to punish Zhu Yun, but also to serve as a warning to him.

Therefore, even though he was favored and promoted to a minor servant, he dared not be arrogant in the slightest.

After dismissing the outsiders, Gan Cao had a meal and took meticulous care of herself before turning off the lights and going to sleep.

In his dream, the king still taught him to write, and whispered affectionately in his ear, "I promote you to the rank of servant."

In his dream, he boldly threw himself into his wife's arms, and she held him and comforted him gently.

In my dreams, even the sunlight is filled with a dreamy warmth.

His heart felt as if it had been filled with a hot spring, warming his entire being.

The hot spring was still bubbling and gurgling, and warm water overflowed from my eyes, wetting my pillowcase.

No one had ever been so kind to him, but during the day, he dared not rush into the king's arms to express his gratitude; he only dared to bow and thank him according to palace rules.

Because the wife is not only a wife, but also a monarch.