Chapter 558 Treating People Differently
The guards at the gate exchanged glances, and one of them looked up at Jiang Nuanzhi with his head bowed, saying, "My lord, please don't make things difficult for us. The main gate is for ordinary officials of high rank. You were able to enter before because you and Commander Liu entered the palace together. With your own rank, my lord, you can only use the small gate on the left."
As he spoke, he pointed to the small side gate next to him.
"Indeed, sir, please do us a favor. After all, you are a woman, and you must be used to using the side door at home. We thank you very much, sir."
As he spoke, he even bowed to Jiang Nuanzhi in a proper manner.
Jiang Nuanzhi raised an eyebrow, reached out and pressed down on Lin Chun, who was clenching her fists and about to step forward, and then looked towards the small side gate.
Indeed, there were specific rules for officials entering the palace. Take the Meridian Gate, for example; it had five gates in total. When attending court, officials could not use the central gate. Civil and military officials of the third rank and above used the left gate, while princes and nobles of the imperial family used the right gate.
Next, civil officials below the third rank would enter through the left side gate, which is a smaller gate, while military officials below the third rank and foreign envoys would enter through the right side gate.
Jiang Nuanzhi did not enter through the Meridian Gate, because she did not attend court.
She entered the palace through Xizhimen, which is one of the five gates. As someone of rank below the third grade, she should have used the left-hand side gate without any problem. It would be absolutely impossible for an official to use the small side gate reserved for palace procurement.
Furthermore, from a distance, one could even see the filthy ground of the palace gate. He glanced at his new shoes, clearly a gift prepared for him.
In fact, those who have just entered the capital to serve as officials may be tricked. If Jiang Nuanzhi hadn't read the booklets on officialdom that Lord Feng had compiled for her before she came to the capital, she really wouldn't have known.
He looked up and said, "Look at what you're saying, it doesn't matter what kind of door it is, I'll just go through the side door."
"Master!" Lin Chun couldn't help but call out, frowning as he looked at the ground over there. If he went over there, he might get dirty, and what if he was punished for disrespect when he met the Emperor later?
Upon hearing Jiang Nuanzhi's words, the two guards exchanged a glance, breathed a sigh of relief, and looked at Jiang Nuanzhi with a hint of disdain.
She was, after all, just a country woman. No matter how capable she was, she was still a woman. She would obey anyone if you scared her a little.
They were even instructed to be careful, which was really unnecessary.
Just as he was feeling triumphant, he heard a surprised voice.
"Commander Liu! You've arrived!"
Jiang Nuanzhi was seen waving from afar.
The two guards turned pale and immediately turned around, clasping their hands in greeting: "Commander."
Just as Lin Chun was feeling confused, Jiang Nuanzhi grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside.
The two guards, having heard no sound for a long time, slowly looked up and saw Jiang Nuanzhi smiling at them.
"Lord Jiang, why did you deceive us?"
One of them said with an unhappy expression.
"Exactly, how could you just walk in like that?"
Jiang Nuanzhi raised an eyebrow with a smile: "Gentlemen, this is your dereliction of duty. How could you let a nobody like me through this gate? I'll go and inform your commander right now that you two have abused your power!"
"You! You shameless bastard, get out here right now!"
One of them, his face flushed, reached out to grab Jiang Nuanzhi.
Jiang Nuanzhi raised an eyebrow: "Hey! You dare to come in through this door? Linchun, quickly seize this trespasser!"
The two men stopped abruptly, staring at Jiang Nuanzhi in disbelief: "We are guards ordered to guard the palace gates. What traitor? Don't spout nonsense!!"
"You're the ones who said that this main gate is for people of high rank. I, a seventh-rank imperial physician personally appointed by the emperor, can't go through it. You don't look like third-rank guards either. We're all in the same boat, so how come you can get through? If you want to come in and arrest me, go through the side gate."
As Jiang Nuanzhi spoke, she raised an eyebrow and glanced at the dirty little door beside her.
"You! You, you, you!"
One of them pointed at Jiang Nuanzhi, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.
Jiang Nuanzhi turned around with a smile and said calmly, "Thank you both for letting me pass. I'll be going to the palace now."
With that, he strode away, leaving the two gatekeepers furious, but none of them dared to chase after him.
Lin Chun glanced back at the two of them coldly, narrowing her eyes: "These people really know how to treat people differently based on their status! Commander Liu didn't come to pick us up today, and they've completely changed their tune. There's no sedan chair left, so we have to walk."
Jiang Nuanzhi didn't seem to care much: "I'm afraid someone instructed us to make things difficult. If we really came in through the small door and got our shoes dirty, there might be other tricks waiting for us."
“This approach doesn’t seem like the style of the Regent’s Palace,” Lin Chun said.
Jiang Nuanzhi nodded: "Hmm, it seems he's not a very smart person. However, it's precisely these kinds of people who are the most troublesome. Let's be careful in dealing with him."
"Yes, Master."
Jiang Nuanzhi raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lin Chun. So she's not calling her "Madam" anymore, but "Master"?
Upon reflection, it seemed appropriate to address him that way upon entering the palace. He then led Lin Chun and the other woman quickly toward the Emperor's bedchamber.
"Make way!" Walking down the street, I suddenly heard a shout. The next second, a sedan chair carried me straight from Beizhimen. It looked aggressive and was about to crash into me.
Lin Chun frowned, and the next second she pulled Jiang Nuanzhi behind her, protecting her. The next second, some snow mud splashed onto her skirt.
At the end of January, the snow was still lingering, and the slush that hadn't completely melted from the shoes and boots splashed onto her, instantly leaving a few black spots on her white skirt. Lin Chun immediately checked Jiang Nuanzhi's clothes and, finding them unstained, felt a little relieved.
"Newcomer, huh? Don't you know the rules? You're just a lowly seventh-rank official. Do you even know whose path you're blocking?" the servant beside the newcomer scolded.
Jiang Nuanzhi raised an eyebrow. Why is everyone focusing on her clothes?
He was truly puzzled, and could only smile and ask, "Who is this esteemed person?"
"You think you could even know my master's whereabouts, you mere seventh-rank imperial physician?"
The servant was quite burly, and his angry glare was rather intimidating.
Jiang Nuanzhi glanced at the sedan chair, seemingly unconcerned: "If you don't tell me who your master is, I won't know where to go to apologize."
The servant's eyes widened: "My master is..."
"Alright, don't bother with idle people, let's go!" The next second, a deep male voice was heard from inside the sedan chair.
"Hmph, consider yourself lucky." The servant snorted coldly and immediately ordered people to carry the sedan chair inside.
"Who is this?" Jiang Nuanzhi asked in surprise. She was a little confused, wondering if this person was deliberately targeting her.
Lin Chun frowned: "He looks like Minister of War, Lord Wu Zhi. He injured his leg while saving the late emperor, and the late emperor granted him a pardon, allowing him to enter the palace in a sedan chair. The current emperor followed suit and granted pardons to several older officials, allowing them to enter the palace in sedan chairs as well. Nowadays, it is common to see people being picked up in sedan chairs; it is considered a royal honor."
As he spoke, he gritted his teeth: "Back when the General was in court, the Wu family didn't even have the chance to set foot on the gates of our Li residence. He's probably forgotten how humble and subservient he was before the General. Now, in front of my Lady Li, he's so arrogant! If the General knew, he would surely be furious!"
(End of this chapter)
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