Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Palace Maid Eleven Days
There were no enlightenment books among the waste books in the library. Shen Qingqing and Xiao Dingzi searched for a long time but couldn't find any. Finally, Shen Qingqing asked the old eunuch for some paper, pen and ink, and recited a thousand-character essay for Xiao Dingzi.
Based on his English learning habits in his previous life, he was taught the pronunciation of the first fifty words, and was asked to read and write the Thousand Character Classic every day to familiarize himself with the fonts in it.
The difficulty of writing in this era lies in the fact that it is traditional Chinese characters and is rarely used in daily life. Unlike the previous life, we can not surf the Internet and the whole nation is surrounded by words.
In this dynasty, people at the lower classes could live a good life with common sense and life skills without having to be literate. The greatest use of literacy was for the imperial examinations.
For example, paper notes were rarely used to pass messages privately in the palace. Firstly, there were not many palace servants who could read, and secondly, it would be easy to leave evidence, so palace servants mostly communicated by word of mouth.
However, female officials in the palace were required to be literate because they needed to understand account books. One of the items in the selection process was a written test, and those who failed the test had to wait until the next year. Some female officials were promoted because of their skills, but they were illiterate and could not reach the power center of various departments.
Originally, Shen Qingqing might have had the idea of becoming a female official, but since she was assigned to Zhiyun Palace and saw the elegance of a senior palace maid, she would rather take a shortcut than the difficult path of becoming a female official.
People are lazy. If Du Baolin was still that concubine, she might rely on her heart to work hard by Du Baolin's side. However, Du Baolin was demoted. Not only is it difficult to make a comeback, but it also takes a long time. Instead of doing this, job-hopping is simply a shortcut.
People who like to take shortcuts will choose the easier path again and again.
Shen Qingqing felt that there was nothing wrong with this. She was born into a merchant family, and she was not a noble person who was untainted by mud. It was her nature to pursue profit. Moreover, she had the memory of her previous life, and she had a clearer view of the feudal class. She knew how much birth played a role in their noble life. From then on, the line of superiority and inferiority began to become empty in her heart.
Just like she was instinctively afraid of the two eunuchs who had climbed up from the bottom to serve the emperor, but she had no feelings for the emperor.
Like Coral, becoming loyal to Du Baolin because of his kindness? Not possible.
Shen Qingqing had unquestionable respect for Du Baolin, but she knew how to keep a safe distance between them, not being too close, nor too distant, so as not to cause him to reject or hate her.
Similarly, Du Baolin did not consider Shen Qingqing as his confidant. He probably felt that although she stayed by his side at that time, she did not have the shining points that she needed. After all, what was the point of winning over a 13 or 14-year-old girl who could only work?
[The hair hasn't even grown out yet! ]
Du Baolin admired the red makeup at the end of her eyes in the mirror, which was not abrupt, and nodded with satisfaction: "Wipe it off and put on some daily makeup."
She relaxed for a moment, after all, she still had the energy to care about Cricket Shen Qingqing.
"Yes." Shen Qingqing remained calm, as if she had not heard Du Baolin's thoughts, and her mind was focused on Du Baolin's face. At this time, Nanny Fang was still having a meal, and even if Du Baolin did not tell Shen Qingqing about his plan, he still needed Shen Qingqing to put on makeup, so they began a long makeup trial.
Shen Qingqing changed her clothes quietly, served tea quietly, and then left.
No peeping, no talking, both she and Du Baolin were satisfied with this way of getting along.
As for Du Baolin's criticism of her that her hair had not even grown out completely, Shen Qingqing snorted when she turned around and saw that there was no one around.
But Du Baolin was wrong this time, because a few days ago, Shen Qingqing had her first period. Although she was caught off guard, fortunately she lived alone in the room, which saved her a lot of trouble.
Maybe it was because she was in good health and had extra meals from time to time, so she only felt a little pain when her period came, and there was no discomfort afterwards.
But when she thought about the fact that women in ancient times would start menstruating at the age of thirteen or fourteen, and could enter the palace to become concubines at the age of fifteen or sixteen, she still admired him. But then she thought that Du Baolin was only seventeen or eighteen years old now and had such rich experience, and she felt complicated.
Shen Qingqing estimated that she could still grow a few centimeters taller, so she put the matter aside.
On the other hand, Xiao Dingzi showed a strong learning ability. Coupled with his hard work and sleep, he quickly finished the Thousand Words of Literature. Then he began to read the books in the library. He wrote down the words he didn't know and asked Shen Qingqing.
The old man in the library opened the library to Xiao Dingzi after he brought him wine several times. After all, there were only some worthless books in the library, otherwise he would not have sent an old eunuch like him to guard it.
But no matter how talented Xiao Dingzi is, he cannot surpass others who have mastered the skills since childhood in just one month. Not only is his handwriting ugly, but there are also missing strokes.
If it was shown to others, they would not even look at it. Fortunately, teacher Shen Qingqing did not despise it.
The lack of strokes is not a big deal, because she can write in simple strokes, and the ugliness is not a big deal, because she has seen uglier ones.
Another day of teaching was completed. I looked up again and found that the unknown flower branches that grew in the Siguozhai were about to wither. It turned out that it was already May and the weather was gradually getting warmer.
Shen Qingqing returned to her room, took out a notebook, and began to summarize the qualifications of concubines in April based on Xiao Dingzi's information.
In April, the concubines' struggles mostly took place in the Imperial Garden.
On the third day of April, Yan Xiuyi from Changchun Palace came to the Imperial Garden after a long absence and met Concubine Hui who was also admiring the flowers. The two walked together. It happened that the emperor came to the harem and went to the Imperial Garden. Yan Xiuyi and Concubine Hui received him. At night, the emperor stayed in Yan Xiuyi's palace.
After a few days, Yan Xiuyi and Hui Guipin were still chatting together.
Shen Qingqing thought, Yan Xiuyi was not favored by the emperor, but between the two of them, the emperor would rather choose Yan Xiuyi than Hui Guipin, which means he is really not interested in Hui Guipin. In addition, Yan Xiuyi and Hui Guipin have such a good relationship that it is already known to everyone in the harem.
Then on the eighth day of the fourth month, Concubine Gao and Concubine Wei ran into each other while admiring flowers in the imperial garden. Although Concubine Wei was of higher rank than Concubine Gao, Concubine Gao, as a famous cold beauty, left immediately when they ran into each other without paying any respect. This shows that Concubine Gao and Concubine Wei were not on good terms.
On the second day, Concubine Wei served the emperor in the bedroom and was given the title "Yu". She became Concubine Yu, which was half a rank higher than Concubine Yu.
Shen Qingqing continued to add a star behind Concubine Yu.
Later, Concubine Gao and Concubine Yu met again, and Concubine Gao bowed this time. Then the emperor turned over Concubine Gao's name card and rewarded her with some cloth and porcelain.
After a month, Concubine Gao and Concubine Yu had almost the same number of visits to the emperor's bedchamber. However, because of the coincidences before and after the visits, Shen Qingqing was more inclined to believe that the emperor had eyes in the harem and knew what happened in the palace every day. That was why the emperor could use his favor to compensate one and punish the other in order to maintain the balance.
In addition, the Emperor had sat and dined with Concubine De and Concubine Xian.
Concubine De seldom left Yongshou Palace, but Concubine Xian liked to enjoy the scenery. In addition to having many potted plants sent to the greenhouse in Jingren Palace, she also liked to appear in places with beautiful scenery in the palace from time to time.
The two palaces were managed like an iron barrel, and no news leaked out.
You can still hear a few words from Concubine Xian, and all the palace people she meets like this gentle empress very much.
Is she a good person? Shen Qingqing added a star behind both Concubine Xian and Concubine De. Concubine De is meticulous, Concubine Xian has a good reputation, and they are on par with each other.
However, Shen Qingqing closed the notebook. Since Concubine Xian would be visiting the palace, she would have the opportunity to meet her.
Siguozhai is remote, but it happens to be next to a garden. The scenery is not very good, but it is not bad either, which is perfect for waiting.
Shen Qingqing lay on the bed, thinking about these things in her dreams.
Time passed day by day, and Du Baolin was forced by Nanny Fang to study the palace rules for three months. For three months, two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon every day. Assuming a month is thirty days, that is three hundred and sixty hours, seven hundred and twenty hours. As a result, Du Baolin managed not to go crazy because of his strong hope of recovery.
Perhaps he knew that he should not cause trouble when he was being criticized, so after he threw things on the first day at the reflection hall because he didn't understand the situation clearly, he never lost his temper in front of others again.
But in fact, because of her inner voice, Shen Qingqing heard several times that Du Baolin lost his temper with Shan Hu, felt guilty afterwards, and then compensated her with a lot of things. After that, Shan Hu became more devoted to Du Baolin.
If Shen Qingqing had not noticed the pinch marks on Shanhu's arm, she could still barely hypnotize herself into thinking that Du Baolin was a good master who could reflect on himself.
But when she noticed the abnormal scars on Coral's arms, she just wanted to get away from the master and servant as soon as possible.
She couldn't persuade Shanhu that the lid should match the pot.
On the day when Nanny Fang left, Du Baolin and Shan Hu both breathed a sigh of relief.
Du Baolin turned around and told Xiao Dingzi, "Go to the Si Bo Division of the Shang Gong Bureau and tell them that I am short of a palace maid and ask them to fill in as soon as possible."
There were not enough palace maids in Siguozhai, and there were omissions in all aspects. Du Baolin had sent Shanhu to the Shanggong Bureau to inquire about this matter a long time ago, but they said that all the palaces were in need of people and there were not enough to send out. In addition, Nanny Fang took up the quota of one palace maid in Siguozhai, and said that they should not have added any more.
But Nanny Fang’s monthly allowance is not for the purpose of reflecting on one’s mistakes, so how can she be considered a person who has reflected on one’s mistakes?
Du Baolin was angry after hearing this, but she could do nothing about it. She had offended too many people and could no longer figure out who was doing bad things. Even people she had not offended might come to step on her.
Du Baolin thought of the difficulty Shanhu had in going to the Shanggong Bureau, and said coldly: "If you can't bring anyone, don't come back."
Xiao Dingzi said timidly, "Yes."
Shen Qingqing expressed admiration for his perfect expression, not realizing that they were both the same.
Under Du Baolin's instructions, Xiao Dingzi often ran outside these days. When Shanhu asked about it, he used the fact that Du Baolin asked him to do something to shut him up. In fact, he went to the Shanggong Bureau every day and stood there for a quarter of an hour. If the Shanggong Bureau didn't give him time, he would go and do his own thing.
He came back as usual in the evening and went out early the next morning under the pretext of doing business.
Shen Qingqing: “…”
No one has ever been more cunning than Xiao Dingzi.
By the sixth day, Du Baolin's temper had been suppressed to the limit, just waiting to explode. Seeing Du Baolin's instability, Shen Qingqing either stood still like a wooden man or kept working with her hands, not giving Du Baolin any chance to explode.
At noon, Shen Qingqing, who had been under great pressure all morning, finally saw Xiao Dingzi coming back, accompanied by a little palace maid who was about the same age as Shen Qingqing.
Xiao Dingzi pretended to be serious and said, "Pepe, this is your sister Qingqing. Miss Shen Qing, I will take Pepe to see the master first."
Shen Qingqing saw Peipei's appearance, a very pretty girl, and said, "Okay. The master is a little angry, so you should be careful."
I don't know when it started, but Xiao Dingzi liked to call Shen Qingqing "Shen Qing". Maybe it sounded more convenient, so Du Baolin and Shanhu also called her that.
Xiao Dingzi looked at her gratefully.
After the others left, Shen Qingqing stared at Xiao Dingzi's back, thinking that what he asked for was probably accomplished, otherwise he wouldn't be so high-spirited, which was very different from his previous appearance of living a life of idleness and waiting to die.
Then wouldn't her job-hopping be mostly accomplished?
No, she had to look through her book again.
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