Chapter 29 Female Official
Chi Li lowered her eyes slightly, searching her mind for the right person. Faces flashed through her mind: Dan Ying, Yu Zhao, Ling Qiong, Wu Wenxiu...
His brows gradually furrowed. No, none of them are suitable.
She couldn't help but sigh. There were still too few people who could be used. Why not ask Danying to find a few people for her?
Just as this thought came to mind, Danying's voice rang out from outside the palace gate, "Master, the ice and honey are ready."
Chi Qi glanced at Liu Shen'ai. She had already sat up straight, and a rare look of anticipation flashed in her cold gray eyes.
This shell seems to restrict her a lot.
Chi Li chuckled softly and said to the door, "Come in."
Danying gently pushed open the palace door and walked in, accompanied by two palace maids. Each of them held a rosewood ice jar and a mahogany tray, each containing six plates of fresh fruit of varying varieties.
The palace maid happened to walk to Liu Shen'ai's side and stood still. Liu Shen'ai's eyes were immediately attracted by the brightly colored fruits. A faint fruity fragrance filled the air, smelling very refreshing.
Danying opened the flap on the ice jar, took out the ice cubes on the plate, then took out a planer and pushed it over the ice cubes. The ice cubes were shaved into dense and fine smoothie.
Then he took a spoon and poured the shaved ice into a jade porcelain bowl. He then took lychees, cherries, and peaches from the tray and placed them on the shaved ice. Finally, he poured honey on it and held it in front of Chi Li with both hands, "Please enjoy it, Master."
Before Chi Li could move, Liu Shen'ai became anxious and shouted in her mind, "Mine!"
Chi Yan waved her hand and was about to ask Dan Ying to give the bowl of honey shaved ice to Liu Shen Ai when Zhao Mingyue's cheerful voice came from outside the door, "Mother, I've come to pay my respects to you."
Before she finished speaking, she had already walked into the house. Seeing the honey shaved ice in Danying's hand, her eyes immediately lit up, "Mother is making ice food again, I want some too!"
As he spoke, he walked over and took the jade bowl. He leaned in front of Chi Li and blinked, "Can I have a taste?"
"No, this is mine!" A cold and hard voice suddenly sounded.
Zhao Mingyue was startled and looked in the direction of the sound. She found that there was someone sitting at the table, someone she didn't know. She couldn't help but frown. Why was this person so rude?
Just as she was about to say something to her, the other person stood up and reached out to grab the jade bowl from her hand. She immediately retracted her hand to dodge, but the man was faster and slapped her hand lightly on the back. She felt her palm shake and could no longer hold it, and the jade bowl flew out.
With a slight click, the man stepped onto the chair on tiptoe, reached out and took the jade bowl in the air. The shaved ice in the bowl was intact, only the cherry on the tip of the ice trembled slightly.
When Zhao Mingyue came to her senses, Liu Shen'ai had already sat down smoothly, picked up a spoon, scooped a mouthful of shaved ice and put it into her mouth.
She squinted her eyes, looking very enjoyable, "Delicious."
Zhao Mingyue was furious. Who was this person and why did he snatch things from her?
She looked at Chi Li, but saw that she had a calm expression, as if she didn't think this person should be reprimanded. She couldn't help but push her shoulder, rub the back of her hand, and said aggrievedly: "Mother, look at her!"
Chi Li leaned back in her chair and said with a smile, "Then go get it back."
Zhao Mingyue was suddenly choked. It would be too embarrassing to let her quarrel over a bowl of food. She was not a child.
At the same time, I felt a little uncomfortable. Who is this person? Even my mother has to speak for her?
Seeing the other person happily eating the honey shaved ice without paying attention to anyone around, he couldn't swallow this anger. Just when he was about to say something else, he suddenly heard Chi Li say:
"I forgot to tell you, this person is the newly promoted instructor of the Golden Crow Guard, Liu Shen'ai. From now on, she will be your martial arts teacher."
"Ah?" Zhao Mingyue's eyes widened in shock. Is this the teacher that her mother told her she would hire for her?
He looked at Liu Shen'ai and took a good look. He looked tall and a little fierce, and he was immediately scared.
Seeing her like this, Chi Li couldn't help but chuckle and urged, "Why don't you go over and meet your master?"
Zhao Mingyue had no choice but to walk up to Liu Shen'ai and bow, "Mingyue greets Master."
After waiting for a while, Liu Shen'ai ignored her and continued eating her smoothie.
Zhao Mingyue suddenly felt uneasy, thinking that she was still holding a grudge against him for what had just happened and was taking the opportunity to criticize him.
So he took a deep breath, clenched his fists slightly, and was about to apologize when he suddenly heard a clatter and Liu Shen'ai threw the jade bowl on the table.
The porcelain bowl swayed twice on the table, then stopped with a clang. When I looked inside the bowl, it was empty.
Liu Shen Ai clapped his hands and stood up. "I'm done eating. It's time to go to the Yiluansi. Princess, come too."
This time she was too lazy to complain about Chi Li. Anyway, she had to train the Jinwu Guards, so one more princess wouldn't make any difference.
Zhao Mingyue's face turned ugly. Did they want her to train with the Golden Crow Guards? She didn't want to.
But she also knew that Chi Li's request could not be disobeyed. No matter how reluctant she was, she could only follow him obediently, "Yes, Master."
As soon as the two left, the hall immediately quieted down. Dan Ying took out another green jade porcelain bowl and said softly, "I'll make another one for the master."
Chi Li waved her hand and said, "No need. You can go to the Six Shang Bureau to announce the decree. It's time for me to go to the front court."
Danying: “Yes.”
————
On the other hand, Jin Suwei, a female historian in the Shangyi Bureau, was suffering.
Ever since a few days ago, when Dan Ying, the head aunt in charge of the Empress Dowager, brought the imperial edict and selected 24 outstanding female officials from the six bureaus to conduct an examination to select the positions of imperial secretaries, she has been in a state of fear and anxiety.
Especially when she heard the news that Wu Shishu was punished with twenty strokes of the cane in court, her fear reached its peak.
The other female officials were just as nervous as she was, and they discussed among themselves:
"Is that Wu Shishu still alive?"
"I don't know. I heard that the person was carried out of the palace. I'm afraid he is in great danger."
"Even if she manages to survive this, her reputation in the previous dynasty will be ruined. Her ruined reputation is not a big deal, but it will only bring trouble to us for nothing."
"Yes, with her as a precedent, if we are really selected to take up the post, which official from the previous dynasty would dare to work with us?"
Jin Suwei stood in front of the iron stele at the foot of Fengyang Gate, looking at the words engraved on it. She recalled the words of her colleagues in her mind, and a sarcastic smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
The words engraved on the iron tablet are: Eunuchs are not allowed to interfere in government affairs, and those who violate this will be beheaded!
This is the inscription written by Emperor Taizu himself at the beginning of his reign, specifically to warn palace maids and eunuchs.
Whenever female officials came to the palace, Lord Gongzheng would bring them here to see this iron tablet and ask them to engrave this iron precept into their bones.
Ten years ago, Jin Suwei was also one of those who were being trained, and she was very secretive about interfering in politics.
How could she have imagined at that time that ten years later the owner of the palace would be a woman, and Taizu's iron order would be ignored.
She asked herself, did she really not want to climb the ladder? If she did, why would she have taken that exam?
But at the same time, she was really scared.
She had seen too many bloody examples and had long lost the ambition of her youth. It seemed that even among the twenty-four answer sheets, she would not be chosen.
He sighed softly and turned back.
At this time, a palace maid came quickly from the opposite palace road and shouted from a distance: "Ms. Jin, you have been selected. Go to the Palace Administration Office to receive the imperial edict!"
Jin Suwei opened her eyes wide. What? After being surprised, she was immediately overjoyed. Was she really chosen?
The maid said, "The results have been posted. Four students were ranked first, and you're ranked first!"
When Jin Suwei heard this, she no longer cared about the sadness of the passing of time, and the uneasiness in her heart was instantly thrown behind her, and she ran straight to Gong Zhengsi.
The palace maid who came to report the news was left behind by her and kept shouting at her to slow down.
There was no time for Jin Suwei to slow down. She was the Queen Mother's closest minister. No matter whether it was dangerous or not, let her be the minister first and see for herself!
When I arrived at the Palace Administration Office, I saw the head aunt Danying standing in front of the courtyard, the Palace Administrator standing beside her, and the female officials standing in a line.
Kim So-wei immediately stood at the back of the queue. Dan-young saw her and smiled at her, and Kim So-wei's heart immediately calmed down.
Dan Ying glanced at the heads of the female officials in the courtyard and found that Xue Qi was missing. She asked Gong Zheng beside her, "Where is Xue Siji? Why don't I see her?"
Gong Zheng: "She's on vacation today. She must be going to Xigong to teach some of her students."
The West Palace is where the servants and palace maids live, and it is some distance away from here. Even if someone is sent to call her, Xue Qi will not be able to get back in a while.
"Then we won't wait for her." Danying said, and then unfolded the imperial edict to read.
After that, all the female officials knelt down to thank the Queen Mother for her grace.
Danying left two palace maids behind and took the four selected female officials to the Sujisi to register for their posts, while she went to the West Palace to look for Xue Qi.
As soon as I reached the west palace wall, I heard the sound of reading aloud coming from the courtyard, "The sky and the earth are dark and yellow, the universe is vast and boundless..."
She reached out and pushed open the gate. A female official in plain clothes stood with her back to her. The breeze gently blew her clothes, and the morning sun dyed her hair golden.
Several young palace maids were sitting on the ground, reciting the Thousand Character Classic in a rhythmic manner. When they saw her, they stopped immediately.
Xue Qi then realized who was coming. He turned to look at her, smiled before speaking, and said in a gentle and soft voice, "Are you here because the Queen Mother wants to see me?"
Danying was stunned, "Why didn't you guess that you were selected?"
Xue Qi didn't answer. She pointed at her students, then pointed outside and shook her head slightly.
Danying understood and turned around and walked out so as not to disturb them from studying.
She stood on the palace path and looked back toward the West Palace, where she saw only broken tiles and dense spider webs. This was the residence of the palace's lower-ranking servants, and she usually didn't come here.
I really didn't expect Xue Qi to be so patient and come here to teach them how to read and write.
How much money could the palace maids here have to curry favor with her? Moreover, even if it wasn't for the money, but for the sake of talent cultivation, these palace maids from poor backgrounds were all thirteen or fourteen years old. If they only started their education at such an old age, how many of them would be able to learn enough to pass the examination and become court ladies?
It's such a thankless job! She wouldn't do it.
In the courtyard, Xue Qi said to the students, "The teacher has left for something. You should continue studying and practice a few characters every day. Ayuan, you are the oldest, so remember to check their homework. I am still looking forward to seeing you take the exam for the female officials, so don't slack off on the basics."
The students answered in unison: "Yes, teacher." Their voices were crisp, and then they read aloud even louder.
Xue Qi smiled with relief, turned around and walked outside. Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried footsteps behind her, catching up with her, "Teacher!"
She turned around and saw the girl named Ayuan looking at her anxiously, "When will the teacher come back?"
Xue Qi smiled gently and touched her head. "I'll be back when you can recite the Thousand Character Classic backwards."
Ayuan immediately frowned in distress. She had only memorized a dozen sentences. It would take a very long time for her to recite them by heart.
Xue Qi smiled faintly, without looking at A Yuan again, turned around and walked out of the yard.
Dan Ying, who was waiting outside, saw her come out and said with a smile, "Xue Siji is a master of predictions. Since you guessed that the Queen Mother wanted to summon you, you should have guessed that I helped you. How do you plan to thank me as your benefactor?"
Xue Qi said gently, "Whether this trip will be a blessing or a curse remains to be seen."
————
From the training grounds of the Yiluansi, bursts of fighting shouts were heard.
Dozens of Golden Crow Guards were practicing duel combat. For a moment, dust filled the sky and wailing was everywhere.
Liu Shenai stood in front of the team, watching them train intently. It was a scorching summer day, the sun blazing down on her, yet she didn't even break a sweat.
Seeing the guard on the field being knocked to the ground by his opponent with one move and then shouting surrender, she couldn't help but frowning. How stupid! He should have hit her waist just now!
She took the roster and crossed out the guard's name. "Sun Jianqiu, run ten laps around the training ground."
Sun Jianqiu jumped up from the ground and said, "Yes, coach." He retreated in frustration.
The next couple entered the arena. Looking at the two people in the arena, Liu Shen'ai's eyes lit up. It turned out to be Ling Qiong and Zhao Mingyue.
Liu Shen'ai suddenly realized the joy of being a coach. Watching these two people fighting was really exciting.
One is a princess who is deeply favored by the Queen Mother and enjoys unparalleled glory; the other is a palace maid who is so cruel that she even dares to harm the Crown Prince. Who will be the winner?
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