Jiufu thought back to Yan Yuyang's appearance and gave a fair assessment, "I can't say he's stunningly beautiful, or stunningly beautiful, but he's as quiet and elegant as a pure orchid." At this point, he didn't forget to compliment Lu Jinshu, "But he's certainly not as dignified and generous as you, my master, who is a model for the whole world."
Lu Jinshu couldn't help but smile. His appearance was only of a superior standard, and it couldn't compare to many of the most beautiful women in the palace. Now that he was the empress, everyone around him flattered him, but he was self-aware and wouldn't indulge in such lies. "Bring them both in. I should also think carefully about what kind of palace to allocate for them to live in."
Jiufu agreed with a smile. Soon, He Huaichen and Yan Yuyang were led in. Knowing that the one sitting at the top was the most favored and respected Empress Xigong, they didn't dare to look up at Feng Yan. They knelt on the ground and said in unison, "Greetings to the Empress, may you live a thousand years."
Because the two of them were talking at the same time, Lu Jinshu didn't immediately hear Yan Yuyang's voice clearly, but he felt that it sounded somewhat familiar. He said calmly, "Everyone, stand up."
The two men still lowered their brows and eyes, not daring to look up. It can only be said that the current Lu Jinshu is no longer the unloved and abandoned child of the Lu family. Previously serving as a concubine to the Crown Princess in the Eastern Palace, and now sitting in the Central Palace, this life experience has long imbued him with an aura of authority without anger.
Lu Jinshu said, "Don't be so reserved. You will all serve His Majesty from now on. You will be my brothers. Lift your heads and let me see."
The two men looked up. He Huaichen's demeanor was elegant yet tinged with a touch of gentleness. Yan Yuyang's skin was translucent, and his features were delicate, like a solitary orchid in a valley, refreshing and alluring. If these two men were ordinary people, they would surely be described as beauties, but in the harem, their looks could only be described as so-so.
Judging solely by appearance, He Huaichen would have been granted a sixth-rank Siyi at best. But because his sister was a first-rank mighty general, His Majesty, even for General He's sake, would have granted him a fifth-rank Chenghui at the very least. This was the benefit of family background.
Lu Jinshu pondered for a moment and said, "Yaohua Palace is a place with very good feng shui, so let's give it to Concubine Yan to live in. As for Master He, since you have no rank, you should live in Chuxiu Palace. But since His Majesty specifically asked me to arrange a good residence for you, I can't let you live in a place like Chuxiu Palace and squeeze in with other masters. Mei Rongze (Jiang He) in the harem is a very gentle master, so you can live in Yaotai Palace across from him."
The layout of the harem is divided into six palaces: Fengyi Palace, Chenyou Palace, Linglong Palace, Changxin Palace, Jianzhang Palace, and Weiyang Palace. The master of these six palaces must be a master of the third rank or above.
Each palace has three side halls. The living requirements of the side halls are one level lower than those of the main palaces. Beauties of the fourth rank can live there.
But you have to know that, starting with the beauties, the maximum number of mistresses of the fourth rank and above is thirty-four. And the side halls and main seats of the six palaces combined only account for twenty-four. Thirty-four people divided into twenty-four palaces is obviously not enough, so the remaining people can only live in the side halls, which are one level lower than the side halls.
Yaotai Hall and Yaohua Hall were both side halls within the jurisdiction of Jianzhang Palace. He Huaichen and Yan Yuyang were able to live in two of the eighteen side halls, partly because Lu Jinshu took special care of them, and partly because the six palaces were now empty. Not only was the palace now large enough for living, but several side halls were also vacant.
Even the Weiyang Palace and the Jianzhang Palace did not have any qualified candidates to live there as the main servants of the emperor.
He Huaichen and Yan Yuyang had nothing else to say except to express their gratitude.
Hearing Yan Yuyang speak again, Lu Jinshu's brows furrowed. He couldn't hear clearly the first time, but the second time, he knew something was wrong.
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