Chapter 21: Lady Wei
Qingtao waited anxiously in Changchun Palace all night, but her mistress did not come back. Kangxi was not so considerate and remembered to send someone back to Changchun Palace to inform her, but Yuying had already fallen asleep and had forgotten about it. Qingtao also did not dare to disturb Concubine An's rest.
Seeing Yuying coming back safe and sound, and having become a distinguished person, with a long string of eunuchs following her to present rewards, Qingtao felt that his heart, which had been hanging in the air all night, had finally settled down.
She didn't care how many rewards were sent, she just wanted to take a good look at her mistress. Seeing that Yuying looked fine, and even had a rosy complexion, she then turned her attention to the rewards that filled the room, each of which was a treasure that her mistress had never had before.
Qingtao touched each of these precious items with care, her hands running over the soft cloth, and suddenly tears fell.
I cried with joy.
Qingtao thought that her young mistress was a very good person, kind and gentle, with a very simple temperament, and treated her sincerely.
Such a good lady had never been favored by the emperor before. After three years, she finally slept with him once, but there was no follow-up. The emperor was not anxious, but the eunuch was. Qingtao also hoped that her lady would show up in front of the emperor more often, but her lady always had her own ideas, so Qingtao didn't dare to say more.
But fortunately, after all the hardship, there is happiness.
Qingtao thought of every cold meal her young mistress had eaten and every whitened clothes she had worn. Yuying hadn't even started to complain yet, but Qingtao felt so distressed.
Yuying was shocked to see Qingtao crying.
He tried to comfort Qingtao clumsily and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
Fortunately, Qingtao was only emotional for a moment and soon calmed down.
"I'm sorry Qingtao, I forgot to tell you. I made you wait all night. Please don't cry, okay? I promise there won't be a next time!"
"It's alright, my lady, as long as you are alright. I am happy!"
"Okay, okay, just stop crying. Look at me, Qingtao! Look at my new clothes and the makeup on my face. Do they look good? The people from the Qianqing Palace did my makeup! Isn't it much better than yours?" Yuying turned around.
"Yes, yes, it's my fault that my servant's craftsmanship is not good. I hope you can forgive me."
"Hey Qingtao can practice slowly. No matter how good others' hair is or how beautiful their makeup is, in my heart Qingtao is still the best!"
The master and servant were very happy here.
Little did people know that outside Changchun Palace, the news that the concubine who had slept with the emperor last night stayed overnight in Qianqing Palace and even jumped from a concubine to a noble lady spread throughout the harem in a blink of an eye.
The whole palace was in uproar for a moment.
The high-ranking concubines could still keep their positions, it was just that the emperor had acquired a new beauty and was just in the mood for it.
You know, since the precedents of Taizong and Shizu, the harem has always been treated equally and the emperor has never been partial.
Otherwise, the first person who would be unable to sit still would be the one in the Cining Palace.
After all, they had only heard about what happened, but the person in the Cining Palace had experienced it personally.
But the lower-ranking concubines didn't think so. They had crushed countless handkerchiefs and broken countless teacups in their own homes. How come Lady Wei was so lucky that she became a noble lady after only serving the emperor a few times?
All of these people who entered the palace wanted to win the emperor's favor and find some protection for their mother's family.
But it just happened that day after day, year after year, the emperor didn't even see them. But for so many years, those without a throne and without children also survived.
Just when they thought everyone was like them, such an accident happened. How could they accept it?
…
Yanxi Palace.
Concubine Hui was sitting on the couch teasing the two-year-old Eighth Prince. After hearing the report from the palace maid, she became interested.
"Oh? Lady Wei? Which palace is she from?"
"Return to the Queen, Changchun Palace."
"She is so lucky." It was unclear whether this was said by Concubine An or Yuying. "I remember that there seems to be a Wei in my palace?"
"Your Majesty has a good memory. Concubine Wei lives in the compartment at the back hall."
"It seems like I haven't seen her for a long time. Ask her to come and pay her respects to me. Does our little prince also want to see his mother?" Concubine Hui lowered her head and continued to tease the little glutinous rice dumpling on the couch. "Since the eighth prince wants to see her, let her come."
"Your Majesty is kindhearted. I will go and call Concubine Wei right now. I'm sure Concubine Wei will be grateful to you, too!"
And our newly-appointed noble lady Wei is in distress at the moment.
After being promoted to noble, she had more people serving her. In the past, she had agreed, and only Qingtao was available by her side.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs had already filled the vacancies, bringing in two teams of palace maids and eunuchs, and told Yuying to choose one herself.
According to the rules, a noble lady should be accompanied by eight servants, four palace maids and four eunuchs.
After this calculation, Yuying can still choose 7, which is really a lot.
This really stumped Yuying. Asking someone with a fear of making choices was really a death sentence for her.
But people are still waiting here.
Yuying forced herself to look at the group of young palace maids and eunuchs in the courtyard. Seeing that they were all young, Yuying felt guilty for a moment, and she randomly picked a few people with clear eyes.
Qingtao was asked to give the reward money to the eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the rest of the people returned.
After everyone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs left, Yuying felt a headache looking at the group of people in front of her.
"Please introduce yourselves first."
Several people looked at each other, and no one spoke for a while.
Yuying was so embarrassed that she was about to make a castle out of it, and finally someone spoke up.
"The servant Xiao Zhuozi pays homage to the noble lord..."
With the first person, there is the second person.
"My servant Xiao Fuzi..."
"Your servant Pei'er..."
"Your servant Wan'er..."
…
After everyone had finished introducing themselves, Yuying couldn't wait to say, "The palace maids will all follow Qingtao and listen to Qingtao; the eunuchs... the eunuchs will all listen to Xiao Zhuozi for the time being. Let's leave it at that for now. If anyone doesn't want to stay here, please tell me as soon as possible. There's still time. I'll take you back to the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
"I am willing to serve you, my lady!"
"That's good. Although I picked you all, I am willing to give you the opportunity to choose. But since you are all willing, that's the best. From now on, as long as you don't cause trouble and don't betray me, I will naturally protect you!"
"Of course, I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. If you do well, you will be rewarded. If you do badly, you will be punished. I welcome you to supervise and report on each other."
"I understand."
"Alright, go down and pack your things first. You won't be needed here for the time being. Qingtao, come in with me."
After entering the house, Yuying and Qingtao were the only ones left. Yuying finally relaxed.
"How's it going Qingtao? I did perform pretty well just now, didn't I?"
"My lady, I have never seen you so imposing, I am frightened!"
"Hey, really? But with so many people here, Qingtao, you should observe them more carefully from now on and watch out for anyone with bad intentions."
"Yes, I understand."
"Qingtao is now a senior palace maid! From now on, all the dirty and tiring work and errands will be done by them!"
"Thank you, my lady, but I think it's not enough to have only me as the servant in the palace. I will observe the newcomers for a few days and see if I can pick one to serve."
"Yeah, you're right!"
"Oh, my lady, tomorrow is the fifteenth day of the lunar month. Now that you have become a noble, you also need to pay your respects to the Imperial Concubine."
Yuying's expression froze. How could she have forgotten about this?
Once you become a noble lady, you can be considered a real mistress in the Forbidden City. Not only does you need to pay your respects to the Imperial Concubine, you are also eligible to attend banquets during festivals.
From now on, Yuying will no longer be able to stay in her own little piece of land.
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