Chunhua immediately replied, "Your Majesty, my parents passed away when I was very young, and I was raised by my elder brother and sister-in-law."
Ituma Shushu nodded, but seeing Chunhua's joyful expression, she couldn't help but ask with concern, "What kind of family did your older brother and sister-in-law find for you, Chunhua? Do you know anything about them?"
Looking at Ituma Shushu's expression, Chunhua knew that Consort Shu was worried about her, and her heart warmed. She slowly said, "Your Majesty, my home and that family's home are in the same area."
The servant and Brother Yang have actually known each other since childhood, but we are not familiar with each other.
Later, Brother Yang got married, and I also reached the age to enter the palace for the preliminary selection, so we haven't seen each other for more than ten years.
The servant's sister-in-law told the servant that Brother Yang's wife passed away not long after giving birth to their son, and Brother Yang had raised his son alone all these years.
Because my brother would occasionally lend a hand whenever Brother Yang needed help, we gradually got to know each other and came to understand Brother Yang's character.
Afterwards, the servant's elder brother felt that Brother Yang was a trustworthy person, and after testing him, he told Brother Yang about the servant's situation.
Because Brother Yang was also interested, my elder brother and sister-in-law had already arranged this marriage with him two years ago.
Upon hearing this, Ituma Shushu nodded. She knew that for palace maids like Chunhua, who could only leave the palace at the age of twenty-five, this was a different story.
The family that Chunhua's elder brother and sister-in-law mentioned was already considered good, since most girls in this era got married at the age of fifteen or sixteen.
Xia Ju and Dong Mei were unwilling to leave the palace precisely because it would be very difficult for them to find good families at their age.
However, even if Chunhua doesn't want to leave the palace, there's no way for him to keep her there now.
The reason why Emperor Yongzheng stipulated that palace maids should leave the palace at the age of twenty-five was not only to show the emperor's benevolence, but also to allow these palace maids to avoid being confined to the inner palace for their entire lives like those palace maids in previous dynasties.
This was also to prevent the concubines in the harem from cultivating too many confidants, because not only was the number of old palace maids that each concubine could keep by her side limited, but it was also necessary to obtain the emperor's consent to keep old palace maids who had reached the age of leaving the palace.
He had already asked Emperor Yongzheng for a favor, allowing Xia Ju and Dong Mei to stay.
Sigh, Ituma Shushu sighed again, reminding herself once more that this was an ancient feudal dynasty, not the world she had traveled to before.
Then, Ituma Shushu said softly, "In that case, it would be best. Chunhua, you have served me and several princes with all your heart over the years, and I will not treat you unfairly. Therefore, I have specially prepared a dowry for you."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Chunhua immediately knelt down and bowed.
Then, Chunhua looked at Ituma Shushu, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
After taking a sip of tea, Ituma Shushu waved her hand and said, "Chunhua, just say whatever else you need to say."
Chunhua knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, because my family is a bondservant of the Bordered Yellow Banner, we have to participate in the Imperial Household Department's selection every year. Therefore, my elder brother's daughter also entered the palace a few years ago."
I took care of this niece when she was little, so I have a deep affection for her.
"This servant knows that Your Majesty has always been kind and generous, so may I beg Your Majesty to allow my niece to serve at Chunqi Xiuse Palace."
Upon hearing this, Ituma Shushu's eyes lit up, and she thought to herself: Those who entered the palace a few years ago must have just undergone training in the Imperial Household Department. I can leave her in Chunqi Xiuse for now and observe her secretly.
If her abilities are up to par, and most importantly, her malice level meets my requirements, then I can bring her to my side and have her directly replace Chunhua's position.
In this way, Xia Ju, Dong Mei, and Chun Hua's niece would all be considered as her people.
So, Ituma Shushu sighed and said softly, "Besides Xiaju and Dongmei, you have served me the longest. Considering your love for your niece, I will grant your request."
"I can easily arrange for one more cleaning maid to serve my niece, Chunqi Xiuse. However, let me make this clear: if she doesn't perform her duties properly, I won't keep her any longer."
Chunhua quickly kowtowed and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will definitely instruct her to do her job well."
Ituma Shushu nodded and said, "Tell Xiaolinzi later that I will have him make a trip tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Chunhua said excitedly.
Ituma Shushu waved her hand and said gently, "You may leave now."
After Chunhua left, Dongmei whispered, "Your Highness, I wonder if this Brother Yang whom Chunhua and her brother-in-law have chosen is reliable?"
Chu Ling also frowned and whispered, "But we palace maids from the Upper Three Banners were already twenty-five years old when we left the palace."
It sounds like this Brother Yang of Chunhua is quite nice, and since he's from the same neighborhood as Chunhua, he's probably a bondservant from the Upper Three Banners.
Since they were all bondservant of the Upper Three Banners, they would definitely have to participate in the annual selection by the Imperial Household Department, and there was a high chance that their families would have palace maids who had come from the palace.
Ituma Shushu nodded and said softly, "Chu Ling is right. I guess Chunhua's older brother is also looking for a family with palace maids. As for whether it's reliable or not, it's really hard to say."
Then she sighed and said softly, "Fine, when the time comes, I'll have my sister-in-law keep a close eye on things, at least to prevent Chunhua from being bullied by others."
Dongmei and Chuling said in unison, "Your Majesty is merciful."
Ituma Shushu waved her hand and said gently, "You are the only few of my personal maids. In the future, no matter which one of you leaves the palace, I will take care of her."
The bondservant members of the Upper Three Banners had to participate in the annual selection process. Chunhua had a niece who entered the palace.
Xia Ju and Dong Mei had told me before that their family was not a traditional bondservant family, and apart from the two of them, all their cousins were not selected.
"Chu Ling, do you also have older cousins, younger cousins, or nieces who have entered the palace?"
Chu Ling shook her head and said softly, "Your Majesty, my family became bondservants for other reasons, and we are not a traditional bondservant family."
Moreover, my mother died a long time ago, and my father later remarried.
When I was little, I rarely spoke to my other cousins, so I don't even know if they've entered the palace.
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