Chapter 204: Difficult to Get Ahead
Master Lu had long known that it would be difficult for Lu Baolin to make a name for himself.
He originally thought that he would send a granddaughter to live with him, but now that he knows that is not the case, he is naturally happy.
It was naturally a happy event to be granted a marriage by the emperor himself, not to mention calling another one into the harem to wait for her. The emperor was busy before the end of the first month of the year, and he had met with ministers several times before the fifteenth day.
Until the Lantern Festival, the emperor would routinely reward lanterns.
This year is similar to last year. Shen Chuliu got a pair of glass lanterns, and gave another pair to the Sixth Prince who knew nothing.
For a time, Cuiyunxuan's favor attracted attention.
Shen Chuliu didn't care about these things and just ate, drank, slept and took care of himself every day.
When he was really impatient, he asked Xinlu to read to him. Xinlu had a nice voice and could read, which was rare.
Just read something interesting to her and Shen Chuliu can listen with her eyes closed.
This way, it won’t be tiring or boring.
The whole Cuiyunxuan could hear this.
When the emperor heard this, he couldn't help laughing, but he asked someone to send him a stack of scripts.
Calling her is enough.
The four wet nurses had good milk, and the Sixth Prince grew fast. Even before he was a month old, he had already lost a lot of the look of a baby.
But he started to gain weight.
In February, the emperor was busy day and night.
Qi Yixiu had been determined to do what he had done since he became the crown prince, and he was finally able to do it in the seventh year of his reign.
Together with his close ministers, he abolished the three provinces and the prime minister system.
Wenhua Pavilion and Wuhua Pavilion were established, and the Hanlin Academy began to be reused.
Some of the original officials in the three provinces retired, some were dismissed, and some entered other departments.
The six grand secretaries in the cabinet were all ministers whom the emperor trusted extremely much.
Among them was Lord Pei Jiancheng, who had just returned to the imperial city and worked in the Ministry of Revenue for only ten days. He held two positions at the same time, which showed how much the emperor trusted him.
By the time these departments were finally reorganized, February was already over.
On the first day of March, the selection of concubines for the seventh year of Qingyuan began in the palace.
On the first day of March, the spring examination of the seventh year of Qingyuan began at the Ministry of Rites.
March 1st is Shen Chuliu’s birthday.
On the first day of March, Empress Jing Xiuyi finally appeared.
The concubines had already undergone the initial review and screening outside the palace half a month ago.
After reading it today, you will move into the Palace of Flowers. As for which ones will remain in the palace and which ones will be given to the royal family, it depends on your luck.
Early in the morning, Shen Chuliu followed the Queen to pay respects to the Queen Mother. She was well-maintained, in good spirits, with a good complexion, and a little plump, but it was actually not noticeable.
After paying her respects, Empress Dowager Li asked about the Sixth Prince and was happy to learn that everything was fine.
Elderly people always like to hear good things from their younger generations.
Then, the two Empress Dowagers, the Queen and the concubines above the ninth rank went to Wutong Palace.
The selection of concubines begins from here.
There were an unusually large number of people coming in this year, so the emperor simply accepted them all in without exception and read them all at once.
However, those who must come in will not be eliminated.
Concubine Jin smiled and said, "Jing Xiuyi's sister will also enter the palace. It will be a lively time then."
"Now that you're here, you're everyone's sister, right? If you want to have fun, just join in." Shen Chuliu smiled faintly.
Concubine Jin still remembered her toughness, so she naturally didn't dare to bully her too much.
Concubine Feng snorted, "It's different to be sisters with us or sisters with you."
"That's true. Madam Feng Shufei is right. I will give her some advice at that time so that she will always know that Sister Feng Shufei is her elder sister and she must not forget it at any time."
Sometimes, this statement is a bit scary.
Concubine Feng Shufei felt like she was being watched.
Shen Chuliu stopped talking.
Soon, they arrived at Wutong Palace.
As soon as everyone sat down, the emperor arrived.
The beauties came from the Palace of Flowers in pairs of ten.
Shen Chuliu had his eye on several, such as the second daughter of Grand Secretary Fang, the eldest daughter of Grand Secretary Yu, and the third daughter of Duke Li.
These people must come in.
Shen Biyu was quite proud of herself, but Shen Chuliu had no curiosity about her and was too lazy to even look at her.
It was mainly decided by the Emperor, Empress and the two Empress Dowagers.
Because of what happened the year before, Empress Dowager Feng was quite taciturn.
Empress Dowager Li didn't say anything, she just praised the good things.
Today alone, Qi Yixiu has arranged marriages for more than twenty people.
There are more than a hundred people left behind, and half of them will soon be sent back to their families to marry freely.
However, the one who left a deep impression on everyone was a beautiful girl named Han Qiuqiu.
She was not from a high-class family, her father was only a fifth-rank official. She was actually very pretty.
This is not the point. The point is that her appearance is 50% similar to Concubine Yi.
Qi Yixiu looked at him a few more times, said nothing, and just stayed.
The younger sister of Concubine Yi did not even pass the preliminary selection and did not enter the palace at all.
Of course, Concubine Yi didn't come today. She was not in good spirits and had only been able to get up for a few days throughout the spring.
At the end of the day, in Cuiyunxuan, Shen Chuliu had just changed her clothes when she heard the eunuchs singing, announcing the arrival of the Emperor.
Today is the first day of the new year.
Shen Chuliu raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Your Majesty, good health."
Qi Yixiu came in and supported her: "I came to see you."
Qi Yixiu naturally wouldn't stay here today, but firstly it was Shen Chuliu's birthday, and secondly she had just finished her confinement, and since he doted on her, he still had to come and see her.
Shen Chuliu naturally seized this opportunity.
"Hmph, I haven't seen the emperor like this for several months. I didn't dare to think about today. I'm waiting for the emperor tomorrow." Shen Chuliu looked at Qi Yixiu pitifully and cutely.
"Did I come to the wrong place today?" Qi Yixiu said with a stern face.
"How could that be possible? The emperor has been extremely busy these past few months, and I'm in confinement. I'm so happy to see you now. I can't have meals with you, but can I have a snack with you?" Shen Chuliu sat next to Qi Yixiu.
"Forget it, my beloved concubine, how can I let you down?" Qi Yixiu looked at her with a smile.
After giving birth, her face became even more beautiful, as if she had grown up completely.
Shen Chuliu asked people to prepare and bring the Sixth Prince over.
"Your Majesty, do you think Yan'er has grown a lot? The last time Your Majesty saw him was a month ago." Shen Chuliu said.
Qi Yixiu looked at the child and found that the two-month-old child had grown a lot.
"Yeah, it's really grown." Qi Yixiu looked at the child who had just woken up and squeezed his little hand.
It’s a pity that a two-month-old baby doesn’t feel anything whether he is pinched by a person or a dog.
After watching for a while, the child was taken away by the wet nurse.
The snacks were served. Qi Yixiu had been busy all day and was not entirely hungry.
I actually ate some.
When it was getting dark, we got up and went to Fengzao Palace.
"You should have a good rest. I will come to have dinner with you tomorrow." Qi Yixiu said.
Shen Chuliu smiled and sent Qi Yixiu out.
(End of this chapter)
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