Volume Two, Step by Step to Victory, Chapter 24: The New Look of the East Wing
No wonder they were in such a hurry to bring me back. After a moment of contemplation, Ruan Bi asked, "Are they only summoning members of our family?"
"No, it includes unmarried young ladies aged thirteen to sixteen from the families of officials of the third rank or above in the capital."
Ruan Bi asked again, "Is it the Empress's birthday?"
Granny Zheng shook her head.
"It's neither a recent festival nor the emperor's birthday, so why are noblewomen and their daughters being summoned to the palace for an audience?"
Granny Zheng said, "In the palace, there's no need for reasons to get things done, and even if there were, there's no need to say them. However, I overheard the eldest master and the old lady talking the other day, and I heard something—the Emperor is now twenty-eight years old, has been on the throne for almost six years, and has had difficulty conceiving, having only one son and two daughters so far, while the eldest son is frail and sickly. Officials have been submitting memorials requesting that young women be selected from the capital region and Yangzhou to fill the inner palace..."
Ruan Bi was speechless. It was obvious that His Majesty the Emperor's seed was inadequate, and no amount of land would help.
"...However, the government rejected it, saying that the selection of officials should be suspended because it would waste money and disturb people's livelihoods."
It seems this emperor is not a licentious ruler.
Having said that, Ruan Bi naturally understood the purpose of this audience with the emperor. No wonder they were in such a hurry to bring her back and even filled the household with servants according to regulations; perhaps they were worried that she might be chosen. However, they were clearly overthinking it; she would absolutely not be chosen—it was difficult to be chosen, but easy not to be.
The imperial palace appears to be a luxurious residence. However, once you enter, there is no way out. Entering the palace gates is like entering a deep sea, where you are trapped in that square city for your entire life, surrounded by hundreds of women and confined to the side of one man. And whether you are well or not depends on this man's preferences, the length of his affections, and the changing political landscape of the outer court.
Even Ruan Bi, confident in her abilities, could only be certain that this man wouldn't dislike her. As for being liked and favored by him, that wasn't something that could be achieved simply through cunning. Wu Zetian was clever and resourceful, but unfortunately, Li Shimin didn't like her type. If it weren't for Li Zhi's fondness for her, she would have spent the rest of her life as a nun at Ganye Temple.
Entering the palace, if one falls out of favor, one is trampled underfoot. If one doesn't die young, one's final resting place is the Wanmiao Residence in the Jade Void Temple. If one is favored, one is resented by so many women, and one must bear sons or daughters. Furthermore, one must ensure their healthy growth; otherwise, one's final resting place is still the Wanmiao Residence in the Jade Void Temple. Even if one's children grow up healthy, there is still the issue of vying for the throne, and one could be given poisoned wine at any time for threatening the throne… For the sake of one's physical and mental health, it is best to stay away from the palace.
"What do you think of this, young lady?" Granny Zheng asked tentatively.
Ruan Bi thought for a moment and said, "It reminds me of the lotus appreciation party at the Marquis of Yanping's residence. I've always wanted to ask my mother about it, but I haven't had the chance. Now it seems that it's related to this visit to the palace."
Zheng Mama smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right. Miss may not know, but it's being said in the capital that nowadays, everyone in the palace only knows Consort Xie and not Empress Zhao."
Ruan Bi said "Oh," thinking that the palace had little to do with her, and then focused on copying the "Supreme Mysterious and Spiritual Treasure Heavenly Venerable's Wondrous Scripture on Saving from Suffering and Removing Sins."
Granny Zheng asked again, "Has the young lady figured out why your name wasn't included at the beginning? And why it was added later?"
Ruan Bi had a vague idea of what was going on, but she didn't want to say more. So she said slowly, "It's probably just some busybody again. Let's not worry about it. We'll find out when the time comes." As she spoke, she placed the copied scriptures by the window to dry, waiting for the ink to dry completely.
After thinking for a moment, she turned to look at Granny Zheng and said, "Mother, there is something I need to remind you of."
"Please speak freely, young lady."
“Mother’s identity is too conspicuous. If you have too much contact with me, it will inevitably attract gossip. Given the old lady’s temperament, if she hears this, she might develop some ill will towards you. From now on, Mother, you should come to my room less often, talk to me less, and don’t speak well of me in front of the old lady.”
Having served the old lady for so long, Granny Zheng naturally knew that she was domineering and suspicious. After pondering for a moment, she said, "What you say makes sense, young lady, but what if there is an emergency? How can we inform you?"
“It’s not difficult.” Ruan Bi pointed to the duck-green purse with the character “福” (fortune) hanging from Zheng Mama’s waist and said, “I remember that Dongxue embroidered this purse for you. If you ever need anything, just hang a different purse on your waist and I will come to find you.”
Granny Zheng thought to herself that if Ruan Bi came to her, others would only assume that she needed something from her, which was much better than her coming to her. She nodded and said, "Let's do as you say, Miss."
The scriptures hanging by the window had dried. Ruan Bi carefully folded them and handed them to Granny Zheng, then personally escorted her to the door. She then instructed Xiuzhi to guard the door and not allow anyone to disturb her, as she wanted to take a nap.
Yesterday's fall left her aching all over, and today's journey was exhausting, so she slept unusually soundly. When she woke up, she heard unfamiliar voices outside. Ruan Bi quietly called Xiuzhi in and asked, "Who's here? What are they saying?"
Xiuzhi whispered, "It's Granny Liu coming over."
Ruan Bi hesitated for a moment, then raised her voice slightly and scolded, "Xiuzhi, really! Mother Liu is here, and you didn't even wake me up. Go and invite her in right away." As she spoke, she squeezed Xiuzhi's hand twice.
Xiuzhi was taken aback at first, then a smile flashed in her eyes, and she loudly apologized, "Miss, I'm sorry, Xiuzhi was wrong." She walked to the door, lifted the curtain and said, "Mother, please come in."
Granny Liu came in, greeting her with a smile on her face.
Before Ruan Bi could even bend her knees, she reached out to help her up and said, "Mother, don't be so polite. We'll be seeing each other every day from now on. All this formality is too much trouble. Please sit down. Xiuzhi, ask Chamei to bring Mother a cup of tea."
After Granny Liu sat down, Ruan Bi asked Xiuzhi, "Have you settled Mother in a place to stay?"
Before Xiuzhi could speak, Granny Liu said, "I was just about to discuss this with you, Miss. I'd like to continue living in the alley behind the mansion. What do you think, Miss?"
The servants of the Ruan family mostly lived in the alley north of the Ruan residence. There was a small gate leading into the mansion, guarded day and night by an old woman, preventing ordinary people from entering. The gate opened at 4:45 AM and closed at 9:00 PM sharp every day.
Ruan Bi said, "I can't make that decision. Mother, please ask the First Madam."
Granny Liu said, "I asked the First Madam, and she gave her permission."
Ruan Bi thought to herself, "Isn't this obvious? The eldest brother has already given his approval, so how could I say no?" However, this matter was entirely beneficial to her, so she was more than happy to agree and immediately nodded, saying, "If Mother has given her approval, then it must be true."
The tea girl served the tea, and Granny Liu thanked her repeatedly before accepting it.
While she was drinking tea, Ruan Bi instructed Xiuzhi, "Call everyone in and let them get to know each other."
Xiuzhi nodded and called in Xiushui and the new maid named Hanxing.
Hanxing was probably not even twelve years old. She was of medium height, looked a bit thin, and had a slightly yellowish complexion. Because she was thin, her eyes appeared exceptionally large and piercing. The name Hanxing was truly fitting.
Ruan Bi was secretly pleased. It seemed that the First Madam had just sent someone randomly to appease her. She had taken herself too seriously, assuming the First Madam would send someone to keep an eye on her. But what did she have that made the First Madam value her so much? As it stood, there really wasn't anything.
Han Xing stepped forward and bowed. Ruan Bi accepted the bow and asked gently, "How long have you been at the manor?"
Hanxing said timidly, "Three months. I just finished learning the rules."
Ruan Bi nodded, signaling her to step back, and said to everyone, "My former wet nurse is seriously ill and has gone to recuperate outside. The old lady and the first lady pity me and, considering that I don't have a reliable and steady mother in my room, they specially sent Granny Liu to take charge. Granny Liu originally came from the Lu family in Zhejiang, which is a first-class family of etiquette. From now on, you should consult her on everything, understand?" Actually, she had no idea what the Lu family in Zhejiang was like. She had only heard the first lady mention it solemnly, so she assumed it was true and made up a story.
All four maids said yes.
Ruan Bi then said to Granny Liu, "Mother, the maids in my room are all young and ignorant. You will be in charge of training them from now on."
When Granny Liu heard the girl praising herself so highly, calling her "the host" and saying she came from a "first-class family of etiquette," and only instructing them to "consult her on everything," she knew this girl was no ordinary person. However, given her connection to the First Madam, she wasn't worried. She chuckled and said, "I think the girls are all quite clever, so I don't think I need to say much. A few days ago, the First Madam said she wanted me to go to the young ladies' quarters, and I was worried I wouldn't do a good job, but now it seems I was overthinking it."
Ruan Bi smiled and chatted with her for a few more minutes before Liu Mama took her leave, saying she needed to report back to the Madam.
After she left, Ruan Bi dismissed the other maids and left Xiuzhi behind alone, handing her the keys to the money box and dressing case that she had been in charge of. "From now on, you will be in charge of these two things."
Xiuzhi held the key in her hand, knowing that Ruanbi finally trusted her, and her nose tingled slightly. She held back her tears as she counted the silver and hairpins. After counting them, not only did her nose tingle, but her heart also ached—this Fifth Miss was really too poor. The loose silver and copper coins amounted to six taels and seven hundred coins, and most of the hairpins were insignificant.
Seeing the pity in her eyes, Ruan Bi couldn't help but chuckle. "Xiuzhi, am I not as rich as you?"
Xiuzhi nodded and said, "Last time, when you were at the Marquis of Yanping's residence, you gave me five taels of silver. I did indeed receive more than you."
Ruan Bi said, "Don't touch these five taels. I gave you these five taels with ulterior motives. If I don't have the money, I'll have to borrow it from you."
Xiuzhi was startled and said, "What are you saying, young lady? That money was originally a gift from you. You can take it back."
Seeing the sincerity on her face, without the slightest hesitation, Ruan Bi was quite satisfied. It was a good thing she wasn't greedy; at least others couldn't easily bribe her. She smiled and said, "Just kidding, don't take it seriously. Xiuzhi, remember, from now on, when you go out with me, carry a purse with you containing 1,000 coins. Unless I specifically ask you to give someone a reward, you should give them 200 coins, understand?"
Xiuzhi nodded.
"Also, you need to pay attention to my expressions. Sometimes there are situations where it's inconvenient for me to speak, and you need to speak for me, understand?"
This is difficult. Xiuzhi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Ruan Bi wanted to give her a few more words of advice, but Han Xing called softly from outside, "Sister Xiuzhi, there's a Sister Xiuping who says she's here to see you."
Xiuzhi was surprised. She and Xiuping hadn't been very close before, so why was Xiuping visiting her so soon after she returned?
"Xiuzhi, please invite Sister Xiuping in to sit down."
Xiuzhi nodded and went outside to lead Xiuping in.
Xiuping bowed and asked, "Fifth Miss, I heard that Xiuzhi has returned, so I came to see her. Have I disturbed you?"
"How could I be bothering you? I'm happy for Sister Xiuping to come and play." Ruan Bi said, glancing at her and noticing that she looked a little thinner than before. Her eyes widened. "Why have you lost weight, Sister?"
Xiuping paused for a moment, touched her cheek, and said, "Have you lost weight? I didn't notice."
Ruan Bi tentatively asked, "You've really lost weight. Has your third uncle been mistreating you?"
A hint of red flashed in Xiuping's eyes. She blinked and said, "Miss, you've misunderstood him. The Third Master is extremely busy these days."
"What is Uncle San busy with?"
Xiuping said, "The young lady doesn't know that the Third Master has been granted an official position while she's in the temple."
Ruan Bi was taken aback. It seemed that quite a few things had changed while she was away from the manor. "What official position did Third Uncle receive?"
Xiuping sighed and said, "I don't know what the Third Master was thinking. He didn't want the sixth-rank Zhenfu Shi position that the First Master had chosen for him, so he insisted on becoming the ninth-rank Nei Dian Zhi Du Zhi."
Ruan Bi remained silent for a moment, thinking to herself, "Of course you don't know what the Third Master is thinking? Because you are not him. The Inner Palace Guards may look inconspicuous, but they belong to the Emperor's personal guard. Those on duty in the Inner Palace frequently see the Emperor and are far superior to the sixth-rank Outer Garrison Commanders."
It was clear that Ruan Chi was a man of ideas and ambition—it was not a good thing for such a person to harbor murderous intent towards her. Ruan Bi thought to herself that she had to quickly find out how the enmity had come about.
(I haven't been able to find any information about the rank of the Inner Palace Attendant, but I guess it's a relatively insignificant position, so I'll just give it the rank of ninth grade. If anyone knows, please let me know. My clicks and recommendations have skyrocketed today, I'm so happy, thank you everyone~~~~~~)
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