Chapter 15 The Empress's grand gift package is about to be sent out; Your Majesty, please check it carefully...
However, at dawn, as the sky was still dim, the lights and candles in each courtyard of the Yeting Palace were already lit.
It was still early, and the cool breeze couldn't dispel everyone's expectations. The mix of tension and anticipation only made their hearts burn even hotter.
Palace maids with their heads bowed were already waiting quietly in the courtyard.
The other young palace maids, who were too young to be considered for the palace selection, couldn't help but peer out of the windows into the courtyard.
It was a long-standing rule in the palace that palace maids left when they reached the age of twenty-five. Very few of them were promoted to the rank of female official or had their masters ask them to stay.
Every six years, quite a few palace maids leave the inner palace.
After living together for several years, the matrons from each courtyard couldn't help but give them a few more words of advice before leading them out of the courtyard.
Before long, Granny Sun, holding the register, appeared before everyone. As was customary, she took attendance first, and everyone was present and accounted for.
Besides Granny Sun, several deputy chief eunuchs from the inner palace also came.
Originally, there were only three chief eunuchs in the inner palace: one chief and two deputy chiefs.
Grand Eunuch Chen Delu held the title but rarely had time to manage the miscellaneous affairs of the palace. He was always serving the emperor and would only ask about important matters.
The other two deputy chief stewards, on the other hand, were in charge of many tasks within and outside the palace.
However, because of the duties at Kunning Palace and Nianfu Palace... the two deputy chief stewards in the Imperial Household Department, who were originally fighting for power like fighting cocks, reluctantly agreed to add another deputy chief steward position.
And so, the extra stewards came in handy—the second steward led some palace servants to the Emperor's presence, the third steward led them to Kunning Palace, and the fourth steward led them to Fu Palace.
***
On the way to Kunning Palace, Eunuch Kang kept glancing at Azhu out of the corner of his eye, and as he looked at her, he couldn't help but sigh with regret.
In this palace, the only ones who can keep secrets are the dead.
But even the dead are not without their risks.
Although no one outside knew that Prince Rui was impotent, the chief stewards of the inner court were well aware that this young prince liked to torture and kill beautiful palace maids when he was in a bad mood.
Not only did they know, they also had to cooperate with Kunning Palace to cover it up discreetly.
Even though there were rules in the palace regulations that forbade arbitrarily punishing or disciplining palace maids.
But to be honest, the palace maids were either purchased from the common people or were convicted slaves who were sent to the palace. How could they compare to those nobles from the imperial family?
Life is as worthless as grass, and it's not uncommon for the powerful above us to use it for amusement.
Even if you openly discuss this matter and let everyone know, what can you do about it?
However, it's easy to lament that the dead are often victims of beauty, and that being born beautiful is a sin.
Not long ago, that Prince Rui got interested... and Fang Ling died.
Now that Kunning Palace has appointed a palace maid of this appearance, Eunuch Kang naturally thought of this matter immediately.
After all, Empress Wang was very proud and arrogant, and always considered herself superior. Who would have thought that she would personally send people to serve Emperor Xuanpei?
Kang Gonggong even remarked on the Empress's painstaking efforts—perhaps this little palace maid she had painstakingly found could truly make Prince Rui feel pity for her and keep him quiet for a while?
As they approached Kunning Palace, Eunuch Kang, who was constantly speculating, couldn't help but turn his head slightly to look at A-Zhu and ask, "What's your name?"
With a group of people walking along the road, it was inconvenient to bow, so A-Zhu simply lowered her eyes respectfully and said softly, "Replying to Your Excellency, my name is A-Zhu."
Eunuch Kang nodded, but didn't say anything more, and led his men towards Kunning Palace.
***
The greetings to the Empress Dowager ended early today.
Empress Wang, seated at the head of the table, wore a high, fan-shaped bun. Behind her phoenix crown, adorned with a phoenix holding a pearl, was a red coral hairpin. On either side of her bun were gold hairpins with auspicious symbols of harmony and good fortune, as well as jade hairpins and gold and silver jewels. She wore a wide-sleeved robe with peonies and phoenixes, exuding an air of grandeur from afar.
Four new palace maids were selected to fill vacancies in Kunning Palace this time, and they came in to pay their respects to Empress Wang, led by Nianqin.
Without a word, Empress Wang's gaze fell directly on the palace maid in the middle wearing a blue dress.
Miss Jiang had died long ago, and nearly ten years had passed in the blink of an eye, so the image of her in Empress Wang's memory was somewhat blurry.
But seeing Ah Zhu enter with her head bowed, the blurry figure in her memory suddenly became clear—
It looks just like it, it really does.
They are all the same, with red plum blossoms covered in snow, magnolias floating in the breeze, spring light undiminished, and a gentle sigh.
Empress Wang could no longer see anyone else.
She stared intently at the figure, who looked even more youthful than before, as he approached her step by step, bowing his head and kneeling at her feet to perform a deep bow.
"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Your Majesty the Empress."
May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune and endless happiness.
Looking at the submissive and kneeling Jiang woman before her, Empress Wang couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile.
"Your Majesty."
Hearing Nianqin's gentle reminder, Empress Wang, who had just come back to her senses, greeted Azhu and the others with a smile on her face, looking rather approachable and friendly.
Seeing the legendary Empress so kind and gentle, A-Zhu felt extremely grateful, along with all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens and the maids in the inner palace.
When Ah Zhu received the slightly heavy purse, his gesture of kowtowing to express his gratitude was much more pronounced than before.
Huiyue helped Azhu and the other newcomers settle in.
Empress Wang looked at Nianqin, who remained in the hall, and impatiently instructed, "Tell her to prepare properly."
Perhaps she was trying to suppress her emotions but couldn't, because Empress Wang's expression, which was tinged with a smile, looked somewhat distorted and strange at this moment.
"The day after tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Nianqin was startled.
Just as he was about to advise the Empress that things were too hasty, he heard Empress Wang murmur, "The day after tomorrow is the fifteenth, His Majesty will definitely come to Kunning Palace."
Even if the emperor and empress couldn't agree on anything.
However, on the first and fifteenth of each month, Emperor Xuanpei would still visit Empress Wang's Kunning Palace.
At this time, Empress Wang, who was awkward, proud and arrogant but still couldn't help but look forward to the emperor coming to Kunning Palace, was no longer anxious and worried. She even had little of the shame of personally sending someone to the emperor's side, which meant bowing her head and submitting.
"I still remember Jiang Zhu's first birthday gift."
"For the sake of her youngest younger sister, Jiang Qingxue went to great lengths to find a suitable match in the capital."
Empress Wang smiled and said repeatedly, "For the sake of our old friendship, I will give her a good helping hand."
Seeing the Empress's expression, Nianqin, who wanted to offer advice, could only swallow her words and softly replied, "Yes."
A note from the author:
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When others were sent to the emperor's bed, Empress Wang's face turned ashen, she gritted her teeth, and felt a deep sense of humiliation and resentment.
Pack her up and send her to the dragon bed. Empress Wang: ...hehehe.
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