Chapter 112 Consort Ru Enters the Palace
The sky was just beginning to lighten in front of the General's Mansion.
A magnificent imperial carriage bearing royal insignia sat quietly, its four pure white horses snorting.
Xie Nu'er—now the newly promoted Consort Ru of Daqing—wears an elaborate palace dress symbolizing her rank, surrounded by jewels and jade, exuding an air of nobility.
But that carefully drawn face was now taut, with red-rimmed eyes, as if she was trying to hold back something.
Standing before the mansion gate, Xie Sangning gazed thoughtfully at the woman before him, whom he had single-handedly pulled from the mire, only to have her about to step into a dragon's den and tiger's lair.
"The time has come, Your Majesty should set off," Ru Dong reminded softly from the side.
Xie Nuer took a deep breath, took a sudden step forward, and, to everyone's astonishment, opened her arms and hugged Xie Sangning tightly!
"Young Miss..."
Tears streamed down her face, hot and wet, landing on Xie Sangning's shoulder. Her voice was choked with sobs, "Nu'er... Nu'er is leaving..."
She held on so tightly, as if grasping at the last piece of driftwood, "The road ahead... whether it's a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, or an abyss... it's all my own choice! I have no regrets! I... only thank you, Miss, for your life-saving grace! You gave me... an opportunity I never dared to dream of!"
Xie Sangning's body stiffened for a moment, but she quickly relaxed.
She didn't hug him back, but simply raised her hand and gently patted his trembling shoulder twice.
"Remember your words. You chose this path, but your fate is your own. Go."
Xie Nuer nodded vigorously, released her hand, and took one last deep look at Xie Sangning, as if she wanted to etch that face into her soul. Then she turned around abruptly and, with the help of a palace maid, stepped onto the palace carriage without looking back.
The carriage curtain fell.
The wheels rumbled, rolling over the bluestone road in front of the General's Mansion, heading towards that magnificent golden cage.
Xie Sangning stood there, watching the imperial carriage disappear at the end of the long street.
Deep within the palace, in the newly bestowed Yuntang Courtyard.
The plaque above the courtyard gate is brand new, with bright red lacquer.
The courtyard was not large, but it exuded a royal atmosphere, with pavilions, towers, and lush flowers and trees, all kept spotless.
Xie Nu'er was respectfully led by a palace maid into the palace that belonged to her.
She tried her best to straighten her back and maintain the demeanor of a concubine, but her eyes couldn't help but curiously look around.
strangeness.
The lowly eunuchs in the courtyard, the palace maids guarding the corridor, and the head maid leading the way—everyone was meek and obedient, yet when their eyes swept over her, a hint of a smile seemed to flash across their faces.
This feeling... is like stepping onto a stage that has been rehearsed countless times.
Everyone is playing their own role, yet they already know the script.
Xie Nu'er's heart stirred slightly.
She had just settled down in the main hall and hadn't even had a sip of tea to calm her nerves when a voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Chief Steward Desheng requests an audience."
Desheng? Xie Nuer perked up: "Please come in quickly!"
This is the emperor's most trusted eunuch; I need to maintain a good relationship with him in the future.
Xie Nuer squeezed her purse, which contained silver notes, before standing up to greet Desheng.
Desheng still wore that Maitreya Buddha-like smile, his round body nimbly moving in, followed by two little eunuchs carrying large trays.
He swiftly gave a curt bow: "This servant, Desheng, greets Consort Ru! Congratulations on your new residence! His Majesty, thinking of you, has specially ordered me to bring you some gifts to add to your joy!"
He gestured for the young eunuch to step forward and uncover the brocade covering the tray.
The first tray held a complete set of headdresses inlaid with red gold, rubies, and sapphires, which were luxurious and dazzling.
The second tray contained several bolts of shimmering, colorful satin.
The third tray... When the brocade was unveiled, Xie Nu'er's gaze was instantly captivated!
It was a palace dress.
The cyan material is like the clearest lake water in spring.
The skirt is adorned with intricate and exquisite patterns outlined in silver thread, while the neckline and cuffs are inlaid with fine, round pearls, exuding understated yet ultimate luxury.
The entire garment seems to embody the most exquisite weaving techniques of Jiangnan, making it exceptionally beautiful.
“Your Majesty, please look,” Desheng said, pointing to the palace dress. “This was specially ordered by His Majesty, who instructed the Imperial Wardrobe to use the first of this year’s new tribute from Jiangnan, and to make it overnight in accordance with the most fashionable style! His Majesty said that this color best suits Your Majesty’s elegant and refined temperament, and that Your Majesty must wear it today.”
Must it be changed?
Your Majesty... are you so eager to see her wear this new dress?
She subconsciously reached out, her fingertips gently brushing against the smooth, cool fabric. The touch was exquisite, like caressing the finest silk.
This color... is truly stunning.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness." Xie Nu'er suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and showed a flattered smile on her face.
Desheng smiled and directed the young eunuch to put down the reward, and then exchanged a few pleasantries.
After the two eunuchs left, leaving only him, Xie Nuer, and Xie Nuer's trusted maids Zhixia and Rendong from the General's Mansion in the hall, Desheng's smile instantly faded.
He stepped forward, his voice low and serious, unlike his previous obsequious tone.
"Your Highness, it's a pleasure to meet you. This servant, Desheng, is here on the orders of the eldest young lady to assist Your Highness in the inner palace from now on."
Xie Nu'er was dumbfounded.
No, is that right?
This is the Emperor's personal eunuch!
How could this be the young lady's person?
This...
"Of course, not only me, but all the maids, servants and eunuchs in Yuntang Garden are our own people, so Your Highness can rest assured."
ah...
Xie Nu'er's mind went blank for a moment, and she didn't know what to say!
The young lady is amazing!
Seeing the other man's stunned expression, Desheng realized he was just a greenhorn and offered some advice:
"Your Highness has just joined... cough, just taken over the duties of the young lady. There are some rules that I need to explain to Your Highness first."
He paused, seemingly considering his words:
"On the surface, you are the high and mighty Consort Ru, and I am the head steward. Miss Zhixia and Miss Rendong are your personal maids. We each have our own duties, and the proper etiquette must not be violated in the slightest! We must kowtow and bow as required, and we must not let outsiders notice the slightest flaw! This inner palace is a place where every step is fraught with danger; the slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin!"
Xie Nu'er nodded vigorously, her expression solemn: "I understand!"
"That's good." Desheng's tone softened a bit, but he was still serious. "However, behind closed doors, on Miss's ship, we're all... um... colleagues! We're all doing things for Miss! But since we're colleagues, we need to distinguish who's superior! See that old eunuch, Old Li, sweeping the yard outside?"
Desheng gestured towards the window, and the figure of an old eunuch dressed in ordinary eunuch clothes, hunched over and silently sweeping the floor, flashed by.
“That person,” Desheng held up his little finger, “looks unremarkable, right? But when it comes to work skills, the ability to deliver messages to the young lady and get things done, and… his rank is much higher than yours, the newbie who just joined!”
"He probably has more money in his pocket than you, Your Majesty, do now! Next year, he'll retire, and his whole family will go to Xihan to live a good life! I'm so envious..."
Xie Nu'er's almond-shaped eyes widened instantly!
Rank? More silver than her?! Can she even go back to retire?
These words completely overturned her understanding of hierarchy!
This is the new order that Xie Sangning created. With this new order, everyone will think that their current job and position are tasks to climb up the ladder and achieve performance targets.
Just like in a play, they put on theatrical robes.
It's more like playing a game; would you treat the world in a game as the real world?
Would you feel confident enough to slap your real-world boss because of your high level in a game?
No, you'll just continue to be a slave to your boss, continue to flatter him, and continue to work overtime after you quit the game.
Achievements gained in games will only exist in the game and cannot be reflected in real life.
Everyone will pay more attention to their own real world, and this real world is the world that Xie Sangning created.
They will not become arrogant because of how high they have climbed, nor will they look down on Xie Sangning because of their high official rank.
They will always remember clearly that they did all of this for performance, to get praise from Xie Sangning, to get promoted, and to climb the ladder step by step.
This is the most important thing Xie Sangning has done since she was six years old.
Rebuilding order is the first step in brainwashing, and it will also be the last.
"Colleague?" Xie Nu'er was a little confused when she first heard this new word.
“Yes! Colleagues!” Desheng explained, “This is a term invented by the young lady. It means that everyone works together and contributes to the master together!”
A glint of shrewdness flashed in his beady eyes, and his voice lowered even further, carrying the air of a seasoned veteran in the workplace:
"But! Not all colleagues are the same! On this ship, there are ranks! There are superiors and inferiors! How are they ranked? By this!"
Desheng stretched out his chubby fingers, making the classic gesture of counting money, then realized it wasn't appropriate and quickly changed it to a thumbs up, "Based on performance!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com