The more Yinzhen thought about it, the more he felt he couldn't wait any longer.
He knew that Tong Cheng'er was spoiled and had never suffered any hardship. As he thought about it, Yinzhen felt sorry for someone for the first time.
Yinzhen thought for a moment, then began to get restless.
Two days later, someone from the Imperial Household Department went to Consort Tong and gave her a document outlining suggestions for reforming the imperial concubine selection process.
Consort Tong initially didn't take it seriously, thinking that the selection process was based on old rules and there was nothing to change.
However, out of consideration for the Imperial Household Department, she did take a look, and then she became engrossed in it.
The Ministry of the Interior proposed that classes be divided according to the different qualifications of the candidates.
Those who have never learned the rules should focus on learning them. Those who have learned the rules can choose any of them according to their own preferences, such as playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, needlework, or even riding and archery. They don't have to be bound by learning the rules all the time.
In fact, Consort Tong knew that nowadays the selection system was mature, and families with some wealth would learn the rules before the selection, so there were basically no people who didn't follow the rules.
Every year, the focus of the talent show is on learning the rules, which is honestly a bit boring. If this rule were actually implemented, aside from anything else, she, the unfavored imperial concubine, would certainly receive a lot of thanks from the princesses who benefit from it.
Her position as a Noble Consort seemed secure, but ultimately she had no real backing.
The more Consort Tong thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. After seeing off the people from the Imperial Household Department, she sent someone to the Qianqing Palace to deliver a bowl of soup to Emperor Kangxi.
She was in charge of managing the harem. Emperor Kangxi rarely stayed overnight at her place. If there was anything she needed to discuss, she would send her a bowl of soup. Kangxi naturally understood that she had something to discuss with him, which was a tacit understanding between the two of them.
After Kangxi received the soup, Liang Jiugong ate it, and that night he went to Consort Tong's place.
Consort Tong served Emperor Kangxi his evening meal, and then Kangxi asked her, "Is there anything you want to say?"
"Your Majesty, I do have something to say."
"Speak!"
Consort Tong showed the Emperor what the Imperial Household Department had handed over to her: "This was given to me by the Imperial Household Department. I think it's feasible, so I thought I'd let Your Majesty take a look. If Your Majesty thinks there's no problem, I'll make further plans."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Kangxi accepted the gift handed to him by Consort Tong.
He looked at it carefully for a while before saying, "This is a matter concerning the harem. Since you say it's feasible, then let's do it your way."
Consort Tong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you."
That night, Emperor Kangxi stayed overnight at Consort Tong's place, but did nothing.
Consort Tong herself didn't think anything of it, but the nanny beside her was a little indignant: "Your Highness should have a child."
Upon hearing this, Consort Tong lowered her head and remained silent. A child? She did want one, but she would rather live than have a child.
Her sister did manage to give birth to a child, but what was the result? Not only did she lose the child, but she also became seriously ill. In the end, although she was adorned in a phoenix robe, only the living could enjoy such honor; the dead were nothing.
It was enough for her to live and enjoy the privileges of a noble consort.
She didn't ask for anything more.
People always need to learn to be content.
So Consort Tong shook her head and said to the nanny, "Nanny, please don't say such things again. I am destined to have no children in this life, and that's fine too."
Although she has no children, as long as the Emperor is alive, no one in the harem will dare to mistreat her. Even if the Emperor passes away before her, whoever becomes emperor after him will not mistreat her.
To be honest, apart from not having children, there's really nothing wrong with it.
Upon hearing this, the nanny sighed and said, "Yes, Your Highness."
That being said, without children, there is absolutely no hope in this deep palace!
With Emperor Kangxi's approval, Consort Tong then went to see the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager no longer concerned herself with worldly affairs, and the selection of concubines was being reformed, so she had to be informed in advance.
The Empress Dowager naturally had no objections. She was an easily satisfied old lady, and she didn't concern herself with anything that had nothing to do with Mongolia.
The other women in the harem naturally had no objections, after all, this matter concerned the interests of noble ladies from aristocratic families. If anyone dared to voice their disagreement, it would inevitably be met with resentment.
Moreover, the concubines in the imperial harem were basically selected through the imperial selection process, and their families had candidates for the imperial selection every year. No one wanted to be a "sinner" to their own family.
Thus, Consort Tong's suggestion was immediately approved by everyone in Cining Palace. The next day, the news reached Chuxiu Palace, and on the sixth day of the selection process, the young ladies were officially "liberated".
Tong Cheng'er didn't have any special talents; the only thing she was good at was her handwriting, so she chose to study calligraphy, which is also part of the traditional arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Before making the choice, there were rumors that the eldest prince liked those good at needlework, the crown prince liked those good at painting, the third prince liked those who could play the zither, the fourth prince liked those who could play chess, and Emperor Kangxi liked those who could ride horses...
The rumors were quite detailed, and it turned out that out of the hundreds of women selected for the imperial concubine examination, only fewer than five chose to learn calligraphy, just like Tong Cheng'er. You could count them on one hand.
Upon hearing this, Yinzhen smiled.
Those who made it to the second round all came from good families. There were also those who, like Tong Cheng'er, didn't want to be left with their names on the list, but they were few in number. In addition, there were other factors, so naturally, not many people chose to learn calligraphy.
After Tong Cheng'er made her selection, Yingyu followed behind her. Yingyu didn't intend to keep her nameplate either, but unfortunately, her handwriting was terrible. Asking her to write would be torture, so in the end she could only choose needlework.
Actually, her needlework skills were only so-so, but they were much better than her calligraphy.
Although Tong Cheng'er regretted that the two of them could not be together, she was happy when she thought that she would not have to learn the rules. Even though learning to write was not what she liked, it was still better than learning the rules.
Because very few people chose to practice calligraphy, they all ended up in the same room.
With few people and everyone there just looking to take advantage of the situation, they got along very well. Including Tong Cheng'er, there were only four of them, and they were already chatting and laughing as soon as they met.
Tong Cheng'er thinks that the sudden changes to this year's talent show are a good thing!
With fewer people around, she felt much easier to breathe.
The four people introduced themselves to each other and then sat down at their respective desks.
Tong Cheng'er was assigned to the corner of the last row. Not long after she sat down, a lady with an excellent demeanor entered the room.
The female official looked to be no more than twenty years old, though her exact age was unknown. She began by saying, "Greetings, ladies. I am Zhenrong, who serves the Empress Dowager. You may call me Aunt Cheng. I will be in charge of supervising your calligraphy practice from now on."
"Also, I'm not a very active person, so I won't be monitoring you all the time. However, you must not leave this room during the designated time each day, as long as you can submit one passable piece of writing each day."
Upon hearing this, Tong Cheng'er was overjoyed, though she didn't know what others were thinking.
I only write one piece a day, so I can just relax and daydream for the rest of the time!
Besides, without anyone supervising her, she can sleep lying down as much as she wants.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
