Chapter 7: Encounter in the Palace
Capital city, Xue Mansion.
In the following days, Xue Youli found several anti-wolf secret books from the Tianji Book, combined theory with practice, and learned self-defense skills from Xue Wuyou to prepare for entering the palace.
On this day, Xue Youli was eating the cherry pancakes Xue Wuyou bought for her when the steward outside the door hurriedly reported, "Madam, someone is coming from the palace!"
Jiang Ruyun immediately took Xue Youli out to receive the order.
The leading eunuch looked at the people kneeling on the ground and read out the imperial edict in a shrill voice, "The Emperor of Heaven and the Chengyun, decrees: Xue Youli, the daughter of the Junior Official of the Dali Temple, is a sixth-rank beauty and will enter the palace on the eighth day of the third month. This is respectfully declared!"
"Your servant accepts the order."
Xue Youli took the order with both hands and slowly frowned.
She doesn't have much time left, so she has to work harder.
As the saying goes, having many skills is never a burden.
Before entering the palace, she wanted to get a few more cards for herself.
Maybe it can save your life at the critical moment!
On the eighth day of March, the palace sent someone to Xue's house to pick someone up.
Jiang Ruyun couldn't bear to leave Xue Youli, so she held back her tears and warned her, "Li'er, the palace is different from home. You must be careful with your words and actions after entering the palace. Don't try to take the lead when encountering problems. Remember to put your own safety first."
As a mother, I don't ask my daughter to rise to a high position in the harem, as long as she is safe and sound.
Xue Youli looked at her red eyes, and her nose felt a little sour. "Mom, don't worry. The harem is not a kind place, and my daughter is not a pushover either. I won't let anyone bully me!"
That's true. Ever since he was rescued from hanging himself, Xue Youli has indeed changed his personality and acts much more steadily than before.
Jiang Ruyun held her hand tightly and asked, "Have you memorized the rules that the nanny taught you these days?"
After the selection was over, the palace sent special nannies to give lessons to the selected beauties from famous families and teach them the palace rules.
Xue Youli nodded, "My daughter has taken note of it."
Jiang Ruyun couldn't hold back her tears. "Li'er, it's good to be low-key in the palace, but you don't have to tolerate it blindly when you encounter grievances. Remember, we will always be your backers."
Xue Youli raised her hand and gently wiped away the tears from her eyes, "Yes! Mother, your daughter will be fine in the palace!"
At this time, Xue Wuyou handed the wooden box in his arms to Xue Youli, also with a look of reluctance, "Sister, there are many things to take care of after entering the palace. These are all my private money for you. Don't be reluctant to part with the money. If you need anything in the future, write to me and tell me."
Xue Youli's parents divorced in her previous life and each reorganized their own families. She lived with her grandfather, an old Chinese medicine doctor. After her grandfather passed away, she applied for medical school and became independent and self-reliant.
During the time she entered the novel, everyone in the Xue family doted on her, making her feel the warmth she had never felt in her life, and she lived a very happy life.
"Thank you, Third Brother."
Xue Youli took the heavy wooden box and looked behind them, "By the way, where's Daddy?"
Jiang Ruyun paused while wiping her tears, looking unnatural, "Your father went out early in the morning to do some work."
Xue Youli did not ask any further questions. Regardless of which dynasty, aren’t all social animals and workers like this?
If something big happens at home, I have to be there whenever the boss calls.
She said goodbye to her family and took Banxia into the carriage.
When the carriage left the Xue Mansion, Xue Huaiyuan, who Jiang Ruyun said was out on business, rushed out of the mansion with a pair of walnut eyes swollen from crying, and ran after the carriage for two miles.
"Li'er, daddy's precious daughter... wuwuwu..."
After more than half an hour, the carriage stopped outside the palace gate.
Xue Youli got off the carriage and looked at the magnificent palace walls with a complicated expression.
The current emperor Murong Che has been on the throne for less than a year, and there is no one else in the harem except Concubine Ning, Concubine Chun, Concubine Rong, and Concubine Life who were brought from the royal palace.
This was the first general election, and a total of sixty-two people were elected. Currently, there is no main seat in the six palaces.
The future queen Xue Qingyao in the original book has been eliminated. It is unknown who among these sixty-six people will become the final king and rule the six palaces.
The palace maid who led the way brought Xue Youli to Lingyun Palace, where an eighth-rank concubine had already moved in.
The other party took the initiative to greet her and then went back to the Jinghua Pavilion on the right side of the hall where he lived.
Xue Youli lived in the Shuiyuexuan Palace in the left palace. The palace maids and eunuchs guarding the palace gate immediately saluted her.
"The servants Xiao Pingzi and Xiao Anzi come to see the master!"
"I, your servant, wish you good luck and happiness. I am here to see you, my master!"
Xue Youli glanced at them and immediately activated the Book of Heavenly Secrets to check their character.
Who knew that Tianjishu was offline after checking only three people.
She almost forgot that the Book of Secrets can only be consulted three times a day.
The three people she checked were all newcomers with no criminal records. The other one was under her nose every day, so the problem shouldn't be serious.
The people and relationships in the harem are very complicated. One wrong step could result in losing one's head. She will have to use her book of secrets sparingly in the future.
As the master, Xue Youli chatted with the four palace maids for a few minutes to establish his authority, and then asked Banxia to give them red envelopes when they met.
The four of them were very happy after receiving the reward. They worked even harder and cleaned Shuiyuexuan inside and out until there was not a speck of dust in it.
Xue Youli herself was not idle either.
The sheets and quilts were folded personally, there were no interlayers on the bed, the rouge and powder on the dressing table were carefully placed, the cosmetics were non-toxic, and every floor tile was knocked over, leaving no secret compartments or passages.
Even in the flower garden, she turned over the soil in the name of weeding, and there was no musk buried underground.
Very good, Shuiyuexuan is safe for now.
Xue Youli was tired after a day of work. After taking a bath, she lay on the bed and didn't want to move at all.
I have to get up early tomorrow and go to bed quickly.
The next day, early in the morning.
After Xue Youli was dressed, she took Ruyi to Yongning Palace to pay her respects to Concubine Rong.
On the way, Xue Youli learned more about the four concubines from Ruyi. They were all concubines taken in by the emperor before he ascended the throne.
After all, the heroine in her friend's writing is Xue Qingyao, the hero is the Regent King, and the emperor is just a supporting role that drives the relationship between the hero and heroine. Therefore, as a stepping stone for the heroine to ascend to the throne, the four concubines have very few roles.
Concubine Rong had a daughter and was the only concubine in the harem who gave birth to an heir for the emperor. She was dignified and steady, treated people kindly, and was highly valued by the emperor.
Concubine Chun suffers from a heart disease and seldom goes out. She is also a very Buddhist person who does not fight or compete for anything.
Concubine Ning was low-key and loved to write. When she had nothing to do, she would practice calligraphy and painting in her own palace.
As her name suggests, Concubine Li was the most beautiful of the four concubines and also the most favored. She was also unruly, aggressive and domineering.
Just as Xue Youli finished listening to Ruyi's introduction, a crisp sound came to his ears.
"Pah!"
"Who do you think you are? How dare you step on my shoes and make them dirty?"
A woman in a gorgeous pink palace dress slapped the woman in front of her hard. Her hand was so strong that the woman's face swelled up on the spot.
Xue Youli looked up at the woman who beat him up and immediately knew her identity.
[Name: Shen Ruolan, 17 years old, the second daughter of the Duke of Anguo, was conferred the title of Lanpin, a rank 4th rank official.]
Duke Anguo Shen Hongwen was a veteran of two dynasties. He had fought with the previous emperor in many campaigns and made many military achievements.
Shen Hongwen's sister was married to the previous emperor as a concubine, but unfortunately she "died of illness" during the palace struggle in the previous round.
Now Shen Hongwen has sent his second daughter into the palace, obviously intending to make her the queen.
It's just that Shen Ruolan had been spoiled since she was a child and was domineering. On the second day after entering the palace, she wanted to establish her authority in front of everyone.
The woman she slapped was called Meng Yishu, the younger sister of the original owner’s ex-boyfriend, and was conferred the title of seventh-rank talent.
Seeing that Meng Yishu didn't say anything, Shen Ruolan grabbed her hair and pushed her to the ground, "Lick my shoes clean!"
The concubines passing by looked at the arrogant woman and didn't want to get into trouble, so they lowered their heads and walked around her.
Xue Youli didn't want to meddle in other people's business and was about to leave.
However, when she caught sight of the person behind Meng Yishu, she stopped in her tracks.
Xue Qingyao!
The person standing behind Meng Yishu was Xue Qingyao who had been missing for many days!