Chapter 15, First Lesson

Emperor Xiao Xuan only needed a moment to think before he understood what was going on.

"Is this an attempt to interfere with my affairs?" Emperor Xiao Xuan seemed completely unperturbed.

"They're probably just gathering information! Your Majesty, this old servant has already spread the word, and this is the person I sent to pick them up."

"Those people shouldn't dare to make any rash moves," Eunuch Xue said immediately.

"Some people are too afraid to take action themselves, but they can't resist the temptation of others offering their services!"

"Ask around, someone should be coming to the palace tomorrow!" Emperor Xiao Xuan sneered.

Eunuch Xue's expression hardened, and he immediately beckoned.

The young eunuch who had been waiting outside the Hall of Diligent Governance immediately bowed and ran over.

...

Emperor Xiao Xuan slowly circled around in the Hall of Diligent Governance with his hands behind his back, with Eunuch Xue following behind him.

“Your Majesty, you have never interfered in these matters. With Aunt Cui in charge, you shouldn’t need to worry about it,” Eunuch Xue whispered to Emperor Xiao Xuan.

Emperor Xiao Xuan chuckled softly.

"I don't want to get involved in these things either. The affairs of the harem can never escape the word 'struggle'."

What's the point of arguing? What I want to give, I will deliver to him without any need for arguing.

If I don't want to give it, even if they fight tooth and nail for it, I'll just treat it as a show.

But this time...

That girl never cared about anything and didn't want to have anything to do with the palace.

It's rare to see her arranging to send someone into the palace to become a female official, and she even subtly gets the seventh prince to do it.

I can't just stand back and watch the show!

The person she sets her sights on must be intelligent; someone stupid wouldn't even catch her eye. Emperor Xiao Xuan's tone was unusually relaxed for once.

When Eunuch Xue thought of Lord Ye, who had never smiled at His Majesty, he quickly chuckled twice in agreement.

"Yes! Lord Ye is surrounded by intelligent people."

Emperor Xiao Xuan laughed twice, feeling much more refreshed.

Hearing Emperor Xiao Xuan's hearty laughter, Eunuch Xue also breathed a sigh of relief.

He wanted to add a few more words to the conversation, but Emperor Xiao Xuan spoke up again.

“It’s that girl’s birthday in a few days. You personally picked out a gift and secretly sent it to her.”

Furthermore, she loved wearing plain-colored clothes, and all the plain-colored silks and satins that were presented as tribute from various parts of the inner palace were sent to her.

If it's not suitable to wear it as an outer garment, have the embroiderers make it into an inner garment or undergarment.

"She never pays attention to these things. Tell the two maids serving her to keep a close eye on things," Emperor Xiao Xuan whispered.

"Yes! This old servant will personally arrange this matter tomorrow!"

Just as Eunuch Xue agreed to the matter, the young eunuch from before returned.

He whispered something in Eunuch Xue's ear and quickly withdrew.

"Your Majesty! Tomorrow... Princess Yongxin will enter the palace to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine!" Eunuch Xue hurriedly said.

Emperor Xiao Xuan snorted.

"See, I wasn't wrong! She'll definitely find someone bolder to do what she wouldn't dare to do."

Alright, let King Qi enter the palace tomorrow!

He was entrusted with this matter by someone else; it must be handled by him! I don't concern myself with such things!

...

After a good night's sleep, Song Zhimian felt completely refreshed and energetic.

Although others say that entering the palace is like entering a deep sea, she feels that everything is fine for now.

The air is sweet, the flowers are fragrant, the sky is blue, and even the birds flying in the sky are graceful and elegant...

Song Zhimian fetched water herself, probably because she had given those two old women silver notes yesterday, and she even used hot water.

After washing up and changing into the clothes provided by the Imperial Household Department, Song Zhimian went to the main hall where everyone else had their classes.

The seats were already marked, so no one fought over them; everyone sat down in their assigned spots.

After everyone was seated, they waited quietly for the female official who was to teach them manners to come out.

With sixty-four people, the main hall was not crowded at all.

At first, everyone sat obediently in their seats and waited.

But as they waited and waited, and no one showed up, everyone started to relax a bit.

They started by greeting each other, and then gradually became more familiar with each other and started talking more.

Originally, everyone sat at their own table, but now they're all gathered in twos and threes, chatting.

At first, they muttered quietly, but then their voices grew louder and louder...

"It's true! It's Old Zhou from next door. His family runs a medicinal herb shop."

He went out to buy medicinal herbs, and then his wife started an affair with his younger brother.

When Old Zhou got back and found out, he was furious!

"Of course he's angry. He went out and came back to find himself cheated on. How could he not be angry?"

What's more, this hat was put on him by his own brother; isn't that just adding fuel to the fire?

"Yes, I heard my grandmother say that there used to be a family in the outskirts of Beijing, where the brothers also had a falling out and eventually separated."

The eldest son bullied the second son's family, taking their land and house, and even driving away their orphaned mother and children.

Later, that child grew up, colluded with bandits, and wiped out his uncle's entire family.

They didn't even spare the guard dog.

"Oh dear, this is terrible! This is like wiping out the roots!"

...

Everyone else got more and more excited as they talked, but Song Zhimian remained the same as before.

He sat upright in his seat, flipping through the palace rules and regulations issued by the Imperial Household Department, without saying a word.

...

In a side room next to the main hall, a female official over fifty years old was looking at the group of girls chatting happily in the main hall with a serious expression.

"Auntie!" The emcee behind her looked a little embarrassed.

This person was none other than Cui Dagu, the Palace Attendant.

"It's alright, the first lesson is to figure out their temperaments!"

"They're all young girls, it's normal for them to be restless and talkative," Aunt Cui said casually.

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Qi, who had rushed to the inner palace early in the morning, immediately flattered Aunt Cui.

“That’s true, but there are also those who can keep their composure. Song Zhimian didn’t say a word and just sat there quietly, didn’t she?” King Qi quickly said.

Aunt Cui glanced at Prince Qi, then at Song Zhimian in the main hall.

"She didn't say a word, but she didn't miss a single thing that others said!"

This girl... has sharp ears and keen eyes; she's a promising talent." Aunt Cui's expression remained calm.

King Qi...

After a closer look, King Qi realized that Song Zhimian truly seemed to have the ability to hear everything...

...

"What are you talking about? You've been having such a good time for almost half an hour!"

The girls were having a great time when they suddenly heard a man's voice.

Upon closer inspection, a young, handsome man with an air of nobility emerged from the side hall.

Behind him followed a female official in her fifties and Master of Ceremonies Yue, whom he had just met yesterday…

Everyone hurriedly ran back to their seats, lowered their heads, and dared not utter a word.

King Qi slowly walked up to Song Zhimian.

"Tell me, what were you all talking about just now?" King Qi said slowly.

Song Zhimian...