Chapter 41 Disaster is about to happen
The next day, when Luo Fu woke up, Murong Jin was gone.
The two palace maids from yesterday came over to help her wash and dress.
Luo Fu was worried about the coming of the teaching nanny, so she didn't care where Chang Jin went.
After dinner, I waited in the room.
Soon, the eunuch in charge came in with a woman in palace attire. He bowed and said with a smile, "Your Excellency, this is Nanny Sun, assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to teach you etiquette and rules."
The woman was capable and energetic, but without a trace of arrogance. She smiled as she entered, bowed, and said, "This old servant greets you, sir."
Luo Fu hurriedly said, "Madam, please get up quickly."
The eunuch in charge said, "Then I will take my leave first."
Luo Fu nodded: "Thank you, father-in-law."
After the steward left, Luo Fu became extremely alert and waited to learn the palace rules.
I thought this day would be extremely tiring.
Unexpectedly, Nanny Sun was very kind and concise when teaching the rules.
It's easy to master.
The focus is on talking to her about the harem.
Your Majesty is busy with government affairs and seldom comes to the harem.
In previous years, the concubines were directly admitted to the palace and their positions were assigned according to the official rank of their fathers.
That’s why most of the palace is like this.
Your Majesty has never had a queen.
Currently, there are four people with the highest positions in the harem, namely Concubine Yu, Concubine Rong, Concubine Ru, and Concubine Life.
The titles of these four concubines were not conferred by His Majesty himself, but were based on their family background.
Above the position of concubine are the noble concubine and the queen.
Below the rank of concubine are imperial concubine, noble lady, talented lady and selected concubine.
There is no fixed number of talented people and selected concubines.
Because the four concubines were not imperial concubines or queens, the newlyweds did not need to pay their respects after entering the palace.
However, in previous years, there were always many newcomers who took the initiative to go over and give gifts and make friends.
Because after Your Majesty registered, he was busy with the affairs of the previous dynasty and had no time to take care of the harem, so he has never summoned any concubines.
The promotion of concubines mainly depends on their seniority.
Therefore, whoever can be the first person to sleep with the emperor will be honored with the highest favor.
Conferring the title of empress on a concubine is not empty talk.
If you are determined, your initial position cannot be too low.
Because His Majesty would occasionally summon some high-ranking concubines to banquets.
If you are of a low rank, you will not be able to see His Majesty.
Therefore, there were many struggles in the palace.
Nanny Sun said the last sentence very cryptically.
The day passed quickly.
After Luo Fu sent Nanny Sun away, she sat on the Begonia five-cornered embroidered cushion, resting her hands on the square table and recalling what Nanny Sun had said.
Someone walked in, picked up the round fan on the square table, and gently fanned her: "What are you thinking about, Your Highness? Didn't Madam Sun teach you well today?"
Luo Fu came to her senses and saw that it was Chang Jin who came back.
She shook her head and said, "Madame Sun taught me very well."
Murong Jin looked at her face and asked, "Why does the noble lady still look so lost in thought? Is she afraid because there are so many women in the palace?"
Luo Fu was silent for a while, then sighed, "I am a little scared, but everyone fights to live a better life, and that's understandable."
Murong Jin said with a half-smile, "That's not necessarily true."
Those people from the previous dynasty sent people to the palace every year.
Most of the people sent here are noble ladies who live a life of luxury at home. They come here not to make their lives better.
Luo Fu was thinking about her own things and didn't hear clearly, nor did she care. She continued, "But fighting is too tiring. Fortunately, there are only four concubines in the palace now, so we don't have to go there to pay our respects. So I think it's fine. I get at least ten taels of silver every month, and it's good for us to live a stable life in the harem."
Murong Jin looked at her and asked, "Are you giving up the chance to ascend to a higher position without even considering meeting His Majesty?"
Luo Fu sighed, "Mammy said that if you want to see His Majesty, your rank cannot be too low, otherwise you will have to fight. It's better to just live a peaceful life."
Moreover, she still had more than 8,000 taels in her hand. If the bun shop business was good, she could buy a few more, so that she could make more money and then bring her grandmother to live in the capital.
Murong Jin looked at her and imitated her sigh, "Those people in the palace are always good at following the crowd. Yesterday, you wanted to keep a eunuch from another place, and today you are so unmotivated. Even if you have some money, I am afraid that no one would be willing to stay with you except me."
She was indeed not ambitious, but Luo Fu was not annoyed. She smiled and said, "It doesn't matter if it's just you and Honeysuckle."
Speaking of honeysuckle, she suddenly remembered that she seemed to have forgotten something, and exclaimed in surprise, "I forgot about Chinese honeysuckle and honeysuckle. Chang Jin, quickly send someone to bring them back!"
Murong Jin responded and stood up lazily.
Tsk, there’s also honeysuckle.
Nanny Sun taught for three days.
The fourth day is the day to enter the palace.
The concubines came out of their rooms one by one and boarded the carriages parked outside Shuyu Residence, and were about to enter the palace.
Luo Fu was helped by a palace maid into the carriage, but there was no one around her.
This year, His Majesty still has no intention of selecting concubines for the palace.
The Imperial Household Department also set new rules, prohibiting maids from being brought out of the mansion, and requiring palace maids to be assigned to serve them.
Unfortunately, Chang Jin lost his job, and it was already a stretch for him to be able to squeeze himself into her side.
He has rarely come here in the past two days.
Although he didn't say it, it's easy to imagine that since he has no proper job and no master, anyone can order him around and he has no time to come out.
Luo Fu had no choice but to let Rendong stay in the bun shop as well.
She took the carriage in the morning and it didn't stop until the afternoon.
A sharp voice outside called out, "Sir, please get out of the car."
The car curtain was blocked.
Love got off the carriage and saw a narrow door in front of her.
A eunuch holding a whisk stood at the door with a team of eunuchs.
There is no familiar person around me, and everything in front of me is so strange.
Luo Fu felt a little uneasy and asked, "Where is this place..."
The eunuch holding the whisk smiled and said, "To answer your question, this is the Zhenhe Gate. Once you enter this gate, you are in the inner court and cannot leave."
As he spoke, he flicked his whisk, and a young eunuch bowed and handed over a small tray.
There was a sign on the tray.
The eunuch held up the token and said, "We servants are here to assign positions and palaces to the nobles. Your father is a third-rank censor in Yanzhou. As a noble, you should be accompanied by two palace maids and four eunuchs. This is your token, please take it."
Love took it and caught a glimpse of many carriages behind it. She thought they were all waiting to receive the tokens and be assigned positions and palaces.
The eunuch continued, "The servants have already placed your luggage in the palace where you will be staying. The palace maids and eunuchs who serve you are also waiting for you inside the palace. Please go in."
Luo Fu nodded, and immediately an eunuch came out to lead the way for her: "Your Excellency, please."
Luo Fu followed him into Zhenhe Gate, and suddenly a great panic and sadness surged in her heart.
"The inner court is a very important place and you are never allowed to leave."
That would be too heavy.
No wonder everyone wants to fight.
If you are trapped in a place like this for your whole life, without any support and without fighting, you will probably go crazy day by day.
She seemed to have imagined life in the harem to be too good.
The eunuch took her through numerous palaces and the road to the palace, and finally stopped in front of a palace gate.
The eunuch who led the way said, "This is Ningxiang Residence where the nobleman lives."
Luo Fu walked in and saw that there was also a courtyard inside, which was very fresh and elegant.
There are five people kneeling in the yard now.
There were two palace maids and three eunuchs, who said respectfully, "Your servants Qinghe, Tinglan, Deshun, Chang'an, and Shouzhong greet your Excellency."
Luo Fu hurriedly asked them to stand up. Seeing that Chang Jin was not among them, she wanted to ask something, but she held back.
The eunuch who led the way said, "Since the noble has arrived, I will take my leave."
Luo Fu nodded and smiled: "Thank you, father-in-law."
After the eunuch who led the way left.
The palace maids Qinghe and Tinglan stepped forward to help her and said, "Would your Excellency like to take a walk around?"
Luo Fu was in no mood at the moment and shook her head and said, "Am I the only one living in this yard?"
Qing He smiled and said, "That's right."
Luo Fu went to the main room: "Are the other nobles like this too?"
Tinglan said, "Ningxiang Residence is a bit remote, so only the nobleman lives there."
Love nodded, this was exactly what she wanted.
Walking into the main hall, you will find that every corner is beautifully decorated and the furnishings are exquisite and unique.
Luo Fu distributed the reward money to the palace maids and eunuchs, and then they went back to work.
Perhaps because they had just served her, these palace maids and eunuchs answered every question, but would not say anything to her on their own initiative.
Very respectful and distant.
Luo Fu wanted to see Chinese rhubarb and honeysuckle more and more.
And long embers.
She is the only one left in this palace.
But he was not there.
"Are you thinking of me, my lord?" someone said at the door.
Luo Fu was stunned and quickly looked up, seeing Chang Jin's tall figure standing at the door, still as lazy and dignified as ever.
Luo Fu didn't know why her heart suddenly calmed down, and the confusion and loneliness she had just felt disappeared in an instant.
Murong Jin walked towards her: "Why aren't you talking, my lady? Are you not thinking about me, but someone else?"
Luo Fu raised a smile on her lips: "I was thinking about you. When I came in and didn't see you, I thought you didn't want to stay with me anymore."
Murong Jin also smiled. He looked at her and said in a strange voice, "I am also worried that you don't want to stay with me."
Love was used to the way he spoke and didn't care.
Murong Jin came over and put his arm around her as usual: "Your Excellency, you got up early again today. Do you want to sleep for a while?"
Luo Fu shook her head. With Chang Jin beside her, she felt at ease. She became interested and stood up and said, "Come with me to visit Ningxiang Residence."
Murong Jin had no objection, so he supported her and walked out of the main hall.
Just at this moment, two people walked past the temple gate.
It was a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department who led the way and a beautiful young lady.
The concubine was filled with anxiety and kept asking, "Eunuch, is there really no one named Luo Zhen among the concubines? Her father is a third-rank provincial governor in Yanzhou!"
The eunuch who led the way had a faint expression of impatience: "This servant has told you many times that there is no one named Luo Zhen among the concubines."
The young lady finally believed it, looking a little dazed.
Why didn’t Luo Zhen come to the audition?
This beautiful girl was Cui Yuzhen.
The new regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not allow maids to accompany the mansion, and she suddenly panicked.
She also knows her own worth.
Without Yanqiu given by her elder sister, it was like cutting off her arm.
She was a little scared as she was unfamiliar with the place.
Suddenly he thought of Luo Zhen, and hurriedly gave money to the eunuch who led the way to find out.
But I found out that Luo Zhen is not among the concubines?!
Luo Zhen was certainly not among the selected ladies. She was far away in Yanzhou and had been feeling particularly at ease recently.
Pei Ji seemed to be much more considerate and let her stay at her parents' home for several more days.
I just picked her up this morning.
"Young Master is so considerate, are you finally relieved?"
Back in the east yard, Cailu said with a smile while massaging Luo Zhen's shoulders.
Luo Zhen sat on the couch dignifiedly, completely different from the gloomy and grumpy look she had in the past two days after her marriage. Now she was extremely confident.
During these few days at her parents' home, her desire to be the queen had long overwhelmed her fear in the bridal chamber.
Coupled with Pei Ji's consideration, she became more convinced.
Qiu Wen stood on the other side, fanning her and saying flatteringly, "When the son-in-law came to pick up the young lady, I saw the maidservant beside Concubine Shen, watching her secretly. I wonder if her master is jealous in the house."
Luo Zhen sneered disdainfully, "She's just a slut who's not worthy of being on the stage. I'll deal with her when I have time. Cailu, take out my headgear and send it to the grandmother's courtyard. Remember, speak nicely."
Cai Lu knew that she wanted to make friends with Zhou, so she quickly responded, went back to the inner room to get her things, and went out to Zhou's yard.
She was in a good mood and hummed a tune all the way, not noticing that there was a woman following her.
This old woman was the one who was slapped by Cailu a few days ago because Luo Zhen's dowry was stolen.
She wanted to take revenge, but Luo Zhen went back home the next day, so she had to put it aside.
When Luo Zhen came back today, she immediately found an excuse to come here, wanting to see if she could find an opportunity to get things done.
What a coincidence.
As soon as she arrived, she ran into Cai Lu who came out to give her a gift. She was not willing to miss this opportunity and followed her immediately.
I followed Cailu all the way into Zhou's yard.
The old woman naturally found it difficult to go in, so she rolled her eyes, walked forward, and hid in a rockery.
Outside the rockery, a few maids were lazing around, sitting on the rocks and weaving flower baskets with the flowers and branches they had picked.
While we were talking and laughing, we heard whispers coming over.
"Miss Cailu, don't you dare say anything nonsense? The theft of Second Madam's dowry was investigated long ago. It was done by the maidservant next to the girl. She was beaten to death and thrown out. This has nothing to do with our girl."
"Do you really believe it? For a maidservant with only two pounds of flesh on her body, it's understandable for her to steal one or two things, but moving such a heavy dowry box? Do you know that our Second Madam's dowry box is made of sandalwood and the four corners are covered with gold? Not to mention the treasures inside, this box alone weighs more than ten pounds. How could she move it?
Besides, her family are all servants of the mansion, so it is not convenient for them to go in and out. How is she going to sell such a big box of dowry? Use your brain!"
The maids who were weaving the flower baskets didn't take it seriously at first, but as they listened, they all stopped what they were doing, stopped talking and laughing, and pricked up their ears to listen carefully.
The two voices coming from behind the rockery, one young and the other older.
The older one couldn't tell who it was, but someone recognized the younger one.
It was Cai Lu whom the old voice had called.
The second wife’s maidservant who came with her as a dowry!
At this time, the old voice said again.
"Could it be... could it be that the real thief who stole Second Madam's dowry was actually our daughter?"
"Isn't it obvious? Who else could it be but Pei Yu? You don't know that after the dowry was recovered, my second grandmother's sister-in-law actually had the nerve to ask my second grandmother to give her the dowry as a meeting gift!
We come from a wealthy family, so we've probably seen shameless people like this before. My second grandmother was so angry that she went back to her parents' home and stayed there for several days!"
"Oh, my dear Cailu, I dare not say such words. What if someone hears them?"
"I was just so angry that I said a few more words, but I didn't tell anyone else. Sister-in-law, just don't spread it."
"Are you still worried about me? I've been gossiping with people before and after. Oh, forget it. Be careful of people coming. I'm going home first. You should go home quickly too..."
…………………………
The maids were startled and found places to hide, then secretly looked outside.
Soon, a well-dressed maid came from behind the rockery.
The maids exchanged glances and found out that it was indeed Cailu, the maid who came with the Second Madam's dowry.
Little did they know that a woman in the distance had seen everything that happened to them.
This old woman was also a smart person. As soon as she saw Cai Lu holding an exquisite wooden box in her hand, she knew that Luo Zhen was going to make some connections.
Thinking that the conversation wouldn't last too long, he went into the rockery and performed a double act.
When you come back from picking green, you must pass through this rockery.
While she was performing the double act, she looked outside. When she saw Cailu coming out, she quickly ended her act and ran out to wait and see.
Sure enough, everything was as she expected.
Those little girls are the most talkative.
The old woman sneered and spat on the ground before returning to Pei Yu's yard.
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