Chapter 12 Kunning Palace Direct Recruitment, Requirements are as follows: 1. Beautiful as a flower...

In the palace, it was commonplace to treat people differently based on their status.

Even when it comes to choosing a palace, is sending someone to Kunning Palace the same as sending someone to a mere Baolin Palace?

These past few days, Granny Sun has been busy registering and listing the palace maids in the inner palace who have been properly trained, have excellent manners, and are ready to be used.

Sun Mama had to know everything, such as which palace to assign how many maids to, where the maids left over by the master should be reassigned, and if something went wrong, whether there were any clever people who could fill in...

In the end, there are only so many good jobs in the palace.

Forget about getting ahead by following a powerful master; if you were assigned to the washroom to clean chamber pots or to do menial work in the laundry department, you'd have no hope for the future.

Before they even left the inner palace, the future of these young palace maids was entirely in the hands of the matrons. It was no wonder that A-Zhu shamelessly tried to curry favor with them.

The moment the maids in Kunning Palace opened their mouths, they didn't ask about the rules or their personalities, but instead started by describing the appearance of the palace maids... Granny Sun immediately understood what was going on.

To be honest, Granny Sun really disliked this extra task; she always preferred to avoid mistakes rather than seek merit.

But with her ambitious and eager-to-become-a-phoenix attitude, anyone could see through her thoughts.

In the past, it would have been easier to talk about, since Ah Zhu was a dark-skinned person. Even if the empresses above her knew her thoughts, they would just treat it as a joke and wouldn't take her seriously.

But fate played a cruel trick on him, further fueling A-Zhu's ambition.

Granny Sun wanted to send A-Zhu to the Imperial Palace to work as a cleaning maid so that she could stay safe.

But she also knew very well that if a beautiful girl, born with stunning looks, had the idea of ​​marrying into wealth, she couldn't be stopped by force.

Rather than letting Ah Zhu harbor resentment and bitterness in her heart, and risk getting hurt, it's better to grant her wish now.

It was not easy for palace maids to rise in rank.

If A-Zhu's intentions were to be revealed, the other concubines might well make their move sooner rather than later, just in case. With the Empress's support, the advantages would always outweigh the disadvantages.

After settling things off with A-Zhu, Granny Sun went to Kunning Palace to report, but unexpectedly, Nianqin, the Empress's head maid, came in person.

Although Granny Sun and Nianqin were both sixth-rank female officials, could a favored head maidservant by the Empress's side be the same as a head maidservant in the inner palace?

Nianqin's words implied that she wanted to see Azhu in person first, so Granny Sun hurriedly sent someone to call Azhu, but Azhu was nowhere to be seen for a long time.

Granny Sun had no choice but to start a conversation to calm Nianqin down, but it was clear that Nianqin had no time to argue with Granny Sun.

"clatter--"

Nianqin placed the teacup on the table and looked at Granny Sun with a half-smile.

"Everyone says that important people are busy, but I didn't expect that the inner palace under Steward Sun is just as busy."

Granny Sun's eyelids twitched, and she said with a fawning smile, "Aunt Qin, you have served Her Majesty the Empress for many years and have a noble status."

"These palace maids in the Inner Palace are all young and clumsy. They often have to do menial tasks in various departments. I'm afraid they might offend you, so these good-for-nothings must be..."

Just as Yan was gently holding Nianqin to help her catch her breath, they heard a sound coming from outside the door.

"Sir, A-Zhu, who used to deliver meals to the Cold Palace, has returned to the Inner Palace and is currently outside with Granny Yang, requesting an audience."

Upon hearing this, Granny Sun looked at Nianqin and saw her pick up her teacup again. Granny Sun had no choice but to instruct, "Let her in."

Upon hearing this, Granny Yang outside the door immediately understood what was going on.

As she pushed A-Zhu inside alone, Granny Yang couldn't help but whisper another reminder: "Behave yourself."

Even Granny Yang couldn't go in?

Seeing this scene today... Ah Zhu's heart pounded, and with trepidation, she immediately knelt down upon entering.

"This servant greets the steward."

Given Manager Sun's recommendation, it would be impossible for Nianqin not to be curious about Azhu.

Before anyone could even see who it was, she didn't even raise her head and quickly knelt down.

Nianqin's smooth gesture of calling out to Azhu made everyone laugh.

She looked at Granny Sun and teased, "It seems that Granny Sun has a lot of authority over you, and the palace maids you've trained are very well-mannered."

To be honest, only when she saw Nianqin smiling did Granny Sun breathe a sigh of relief.

But in front of Nianqin, Granny Sun still glared at Azhu with disappointment and said irritably, "What are you still standing there for? Haven't you greeted your Aunt Qin yet?"

A-Zhu, who rarely heard Granny Sun speak in such a tone, kowtowed to Nianqin without hesitation.

"This servant greets Aunt Qin."

"Greetings to my aunt, may you have good fortune and happiness."

It's ridiculous. Even if she has a lot of face, Nianqin is still just a palace maid. In Kunning Palace, she is the one who has to bow to her master. There is never a time when others kneel down to greet her.

Slightly taken aback, Nianqin turned to Granny Sun and said with a smile, "Look at this girl, she's too strict with the rules."

Even knowing that Ah Zhu was ambitious and shameless, I still felt a pang of emotion seeing Granny Sun today.

"Of course, of course."

"Aunt Qin, you have served in Kunning Palace for many years and are one of the most outstanding people in our palace."

"It is her good fortune that this girl is able to kowtow to you now."

Leaving aside the zither playing, who in this world doesn't love to be treated with respect and deference?

Moreover, what Kunning Palace needs now is someone who is tough, insightful, aloof, and unruly.

One person like that in the Kunning Palace is enough.

Sending people to His Majesty's side... actually represents the Empress's submission and submission.

For the sake of the Crown Prince and Prince Rui, His Majesty would not easily offend the Empress.

Nianqin was very satisfied with Azhu's personality.

If only this sensible little palace maid were a bit pretty...

Nianqin spoke, telling Azhu to get up, and then told her to look up—

Fair-skinned and beautiful – this phrase might not seem particularly special at first glance.

But the simpler it is, the more intuitive the feeling it evokes.

Moreover, Ah Zhu, whose skin was as white and clear as ice and snow, was exceptionally beautiful and radiant.

The contrast between cold and elegant, the interplay of light and dark, is like the chirping of birds in an empty mountain, or the moon reflected in a pond, creating a captivating and mesmerizing effect.

Looking at Azhu, Nianqin remained silent for a long time.

Seeing Nianqin's expression, Granny Sun felt a sense of foreboding.

Before Nianqin could speak, Granny Sun turned and glared at Azhu, scolding, "You good-for-nothing!"

"Why are you trembling in front of such an important person?"

"Now it's becoming more and more unruly!"

It would have been better if Granny Sun hadn't said anything, because once she did, Ah Zhu, who knew most likely that this was the last chance to see this, became even more nervous.

Her eyes were lowered, and her long, thick eyelashes trembled slightly.

Coming to her senses, Nianqin blinked and smiled again as she looked at the somewhat flustered Azhu in front of her.

With three thousand beauties in the palace, what kind of beauty hasn't His Majesty seen?

Since it is a gift for His Majesty, the more beautiful and charming the gift, the better.

And Ah Zhu, a woman who possesses only beauty but lacks courage, of lowly status yet exceptionally adept at flattery and fawning...

Even if His Majesty were to enjoy such a person on a whim, he would never allow such a person to rise to a high position.

It seems even Heaven itself is granting their wish.

Nianqin was never stingy with her warmth towards those who were both useful and exceptionally sensible. She smiled and waved to Azhu.

“Good child, come to your auntie.”

A-Zhu glanced at Granny Sun subconsciously.

Seeing that Granny Sun was giving her a meaningful look, A-Zhu obediently walked up to Nianqin.

Nianqin took Azhu's hand; it was warm, soft, and boneless to the touch, making one subconsciously want to squeeze it a little longer.

Touching the newly added scar on A-Zhu's palm, Nianqin paused, then looked up and asked A-Zhu with a smile.

"How many years have you been in the palace? How old are you?"

"Replying to Aunt, this servant has been in the palace for nine years."

"I'll be sixteen by autumn this year."

"Good child, would you like to come and serve in Kunning Palace?"

In this palace, where can one serve others? What right do palace maids have to speak?

But A-Zhu didn't care at all about considering Nianqin's meaning.

Upon hearing the name Kunning Palace, a sentence immediately popped into Azhu's mind: "Last year, on the Crown Prince's birthday, Aunt Hua, who served the Empress, gave the palace servants gold lucky beans as a form of celebratory money."

Such a distinguished, dignified, and generous place—there is truly no better place to go.

With her eyes shining, A-Zhu nodded repeatedly, excitedly expressing her loyalty: "Thank you, Auntie, thank you, Auntie."

"Aunt, please feel free to ask me anything. Even if it's a mountain of knives or a sea of ​​fire, I will do it without hesitation."

Straightforward, frank, and open!

Nianqin smiled and patted Azhu's hand repeatedly.

"Silly girl, what are you saying?"

"Our Empress's favor is something many people would kill for."

Without a doubt, A-Zhu once again expressed his utmost loyalty to the Empress.

Being extremely satisfied with Azhu's performance, Nianqin couldn't help but praise her once again before leaving.

“Steward Sun, if there are any more heavy tasks like this… there are still many people in the Inner Palace. It’s heartbreaking to see such pretty girls with so many cuts and scratches on their hands.”

With a smile, Granny Sun and Ah Zhu saw Nianqin off.

When there was no one else in the room, Granny Sun's polite smile disappeared.

Having spent years trying to curry favor with Granny Sun, Ah Zhu, who was keenly aware that Granny Sun was not in a good mood, thought that Granny Sun was unhappy because of Nianqin's last words.

Just as she was about to speak, she heard Granny Sun say, "Stretch out your hand so I can see it."

Ah Zhu stretched out her hand; a large patch of abrasions on her palm had already scabbed over.

This injury occurred when A-Zhu, terrified, frantically tried to pry open the door during her first encounter with Consort Feng in the Cold Palace.

Looking at the injury on A-Zhu's hand, Manager Sun frowned slightly, but in the end, he still took out some ointment and put it aside.

Apply after washing your hands, three times a day.

"You don't need to go to the Cold Palace to deliver meals for the next few days. Just stay in your room and rest well."

"The day after tomorrow, I will go to Kunning Palace with the eunuch."

After saying that, Steward Sun waved his hand, signaling Ah Zhu to leave.

Clutching the small porcelain bottle tightly, A-Zhu knelt down before Steward Sun.

She sincerely kowtowed three times to Steward Sun.

"I will always remember your great kindness, Granny."

"If you ever need my help in the future, please don't forget me."

Seeing this, Manager Sun sighed deeply.

Ah Zhu chose this path, which was both glamorous and wealthy, yet extremely dangerous.

Having spent these years protecting herself, Granny Sun originally didn't want to have anything to do with Ah Zhu anymore.

Everyone in the inner palace says that A-Zhu is a complete sycophant, but she is decisive and earnest in her actions.

Two years ago, when Steward Sun fell seriously ill, it was Ah Zhu who stayed by his bedside day and night, serving him tea and water, wiping his body and administering medicine...

"You've only just entered the inner palace, and you almost caused a major disaster with your recklessness at night. It's hard for anyone not to pay attention to you."

“Over the years, you have served me with all your heart, and the old women have all seen it.”

Looking at A-Zhu blinking, Granny Sun's face lit up with a smile again.

"You seem energetic and lively on the surface, but in reality, you're easily blown over by the wind and get sick from the rain."

"My body is the same; I get hurt from even the slightest bump or knock."

"The old women never said that you were born with a body that would enjoy a life of luxury."

"But little did we know, our words would become a prophecy."

Granny Sun sighed softly.

"People strive to rise higher, while water flows downhill."

"In this palace, one sees countless beautiful sights, and it's only natural to want to strive for a higher position."

Granny Sun lowered her eyes, looked into A-Zhu's eyes, and said, word by word, "It's not a bad thing that you have ambition."

“But Ah Zhu, the hardships in this palace are difficult to overcome.”

"Every step is difficult and every hurdle is fraught with danger."

You must be extremely careful and cautious.

Azhu nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, Granny."

"A-Zhu will be careful and diligent in serving his master in Kunning Palace."

Seeing that Ah Zhu understood why she was going to Kunning Palace, Granny Sun said no more.

She only gave one last piece of advice: If anything happens, do your best to save your life. If you return to the inner palace, you will at least have food to eat.

A-Zhu, who was determined to take over Sun Mama's position and secretly vowed never to let herself slink back to the inner palace in disgrace, just smiled and nodded.

"Don't worry, Auntie, A-Zhu will take care of you in your old age."

"You're such a chatterbox." Granny Sun shook her head and smiled, then couldn't help but pat A-Zhu's head.

"Go then, I only hope that everything goes smoothly for you and that you will rise to great heights."

To be honest, A-Zhu liked this straightforward blessing. She thanked Granny Sun and happily left.

Watching Ah Zhu's departing figure, Granny Sun leaned back in her chair and slowly closed her eyes again.

In this palace, Ah Zhu wasn't the only one who dreamed of rising to prominence and becoming a phoenix.

Everyone wants to take shortcuts.

As for the cost... no one cares until they are utterly defeated.

It was true before, and it will be true in the future; no amount of rules can suppress that kind of drive.

In this palace, power blinds the eyes, and wealth is intoxicating.

A note from the author:

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Kunning Palace is hiring directly, with the following requirements:

1. A beautiful young woman of sixteen; 2. Beautiful as a flower, intelligent and sensible; 3. As lovely as a flower, with a supple figure; 4. Extremely beautiful, easy to manipulate; 5. Extremely beautiful, with a tragic past and no one to rely on...

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Thank you so much for your support, my lovely readers! [heart emojis]