"No, I dare to ask Your Majesty to grant me a place to stay. I only ask for the position of Lord Bamboo or Lord Chrysanthemum."
He was referring to the two lowest ranks among the concubines in the palace. Jiang Cenyun was silent for a moment and said, "Chen Youzhi, I admire your talent, but I have no intention of taking you into the harem."
"I know Your Majesty is a wise ruler who will not be bound by sentimental feelings. I do not expect Your Majesty's love and pity. If I were not desperate, I would not dare to offend Your Majesty."
"Desperate?" Jiang Cenyun repeated in a low voice.
"My parents both died in the flood, and I'm living with my aunt. However, at the beginning of this year, my aunt wanted to marry me off to the wealthy Mr. Sun. He's a ruthless, lustful man, nearly fifty years old, with dozens of ministers in his household. I've been constantly beaten and humiliated by him, and my life is worse than death. I don't want to follow in their footsteps. It just so happens that Your Majesty is holding a selection of young men, and I'm fortunate to be chosen. But if I'm expelled from the palace this time, a fate worse than death awaits me upon my return home."
Jiang Cenyun looked at him expressionlessly. "Do you know that if you tell even a single lie, you'll be committing the crime of deceiving the emperor, and you'll be worth ten lives."
"I understand. Your Majesty, please send someone to Huzhou to investigate. If I say even a single word wrong, I will accept the death penalty."
"So you just want to find a shelter. There are many outstanding women in the capital who are capable of sheltering you."
"But they will not recognize my ability like Your Majesty does."
Jiang Cenyun remained silent.
Chen Youzhi said in a trembling voice, "Actually, there is another reason why I recognized Your Majesty. I once met Your Majesty."
"Hmm? Where do I begin?"
"Six years ago, during the Huzhou flood, Your Majesty personally went to Huzhou to control the flood. I was rescued by your command. Your Majesty is grateful for saving my life."
"Oh, you are talking about the time when Li Xiwei and I went to Huzhou together." Jiang Cenyun understood.
"Yes, I also met the Left Prime Minister at that time. It was from then on that I began to be unwilling to be trapped in the boudoir. I also wanted to be a man like the Left Prime Minister, standing tall and upright, without having to rely on anyone, and being able to be proudly independent."
"The Left Prime Minister is a good role model in other aspects, but not when it comes to entering the palace." Jiang Cenyun said with a smile: "If you really want to emulate him, you should not be a concubine, but an official."
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