Su Mi stood at the door, watching the man’s broad back disappear into the distance. Her mind was filled with his casual words before he left.
When Qin Yan said she would not marry anyone else, did he mean she wouldn’t marry Li Xiuyuan but could still enter the palace? Would he still help her?
Lost in thought, Su Mi walked back to the courtyard. She had a slender figure, and her right hand was wrapped in several layers of white cloth, which drew the attention and speculation of the other candidates.
It was obvious that she had been punished by the Chief of the Eastern Bureau with a ruler, but only Su Zhen knew that Su Mi already had an injury in that spot. She couldn’t help but have other thoughts, but she quickly dismissed them. After all, the Chief was a high-ranking official and would surely not be interested in taking care of Su Mi’s injuries.
Shen Mama looked at Su Mi with pity in her eyes. If she had any scars on her hands, how could she enter the palace?
Although she was unsure of Qin Yan’s intentions and didn’t want to rashly seek the imperial physician, she couldn’t help but ask, “Do you want me to call for an imperial physician?”
“Thank you, Mama. I have some ointment on me, and the wound isn’t serious,” Su Mi replied.
Shen Mama sighed. “Then go back and rest. You don’t have to practice today.”
“Yes, Mama.”
Su Mi did not refuse. She had only met Qin Yan once, but she felt more tired than she did after standing for a whole day.
Back in her room, Su Mi lay on the table, lost in thought. On the table were the jade cream she had brought from the tea table and the handkerchief she had just washed.
After a while, the noise outside began to grow louder. Su Mi put the handkerchief at the bottom of her bag and followed the eunuch to leave.
It was already halfway through autumn, and the weather had become cooler.
Today was the day the candidates were screened again. Only those who passed this time could enter the Imperial Garden and be selected by the emperor.
Before dawn, the candidates from Jiaozhou had lined up outside the Taiyuan Palace and were walking towards the screening room.
The screening room was some distance away from the Taiyuan Palace, and the candidates walked in an orderly manner, shuttling between the palace walls, with Shen Mama leading the way.
The candidates wore a uniform pink palace dress and had a curvaceous figure and a beautiful face, making them a frequent sight on the misty stone path of the palace.
Su Mi was in the middle of the line, feeling absent-minded. She lowered her head and looked at her palm. After using Qin Yan’s jade cream, the scar had recovered quickly, but looking closely, she could still see the mark. This chapter is updated first at NovelPing.
Shen Mama had said that there would be two old maids screening their bodies. She was uncertain if she could pass, but if Qin Yan were to help her…
When they arrived at the screening room, it was time. There was a thick curtain covering the door, and the women had lined up orderly outside, waiting for the eunuch at the door to call their names.
Zhang Yue’er had gone in before Su Mi and came out with a blush on her face.
As she passed Su Mi, she whispered, “Sister Su, this time the screening is much more rigorous than last time.”
She didn’t finish her sentence before being led away by a palace maid.
“Su Mi,” the eunuch called her name and paused for a moment but didn’t call out another name.
Su Mi felt strange. It had always been two people going in together. Why was she alone?
Su Mi took a deep breath and walked into the screening room.
The room was sealed, and the window panes were covered with cloth. It was dark inside, with only a faint palace lamp on the table. Two large bamboo beds were placed behind the table and covered with a layer of plain cotton cloth, which looked a little scary.
“Ma’am, do I need to take off my clothes and lie on this bamboo bed?” Su Mi asked softly.
She was two years older than Zhang Yue’er and could see from Yue’er’s reddened face and the bamboo bed that the old maid had probably inspected her virginity. Although she felt a little shy, she would rather it be over quickly than wait nervously to be examined.
The other maid outside the door had gone out for some reason.
When Su Mi entered, the other old woman went outside for some reason, leaving only one old woman in the room. She listened to what Su Mi said and smiled kindly.
“Su Mi, there’s no need for you to be tested.” “You should know what the Lord wants, and I can’t let you pass this test.”
Su Mi’s heart skipped a beat when she heard this. The old woman spoke bluntly, but she didn’t understand.
The Lord’s intention He had only said that he wouldn’t let her marry someone else. Wasn’t he supposed to help her enter the palace? Even if he didn’t, he didn’t need to cut off this path for her.
Su Mi was extremely puzzled. If Qin Yan didn’t want her to pass this test, then why did he let her pass the previous one?
Could it be that he was just teasing her for fun? Su Mi’s thoughts were in chaos, and she didn’t even listen to the old woman’s next words.
“Su Mi?” The old woman called again. “You can go back now.”
Su Mi was snapped back to reality. She nodded and left the screening room. When she walked out, the other old woman outside seemed to have smiled at her as well. She appeared just as respectful as the one inside, and Su Mi forced a smile and followed the eunuch to go elsewhere. This chapter was taken from novelping(.)com without permission.
As for them, candidates from various parts of the country were not allowed to wander around the palace privately. After the old maids completed the body check, the eunuch would lead the group to gather in one place and then take them back together.
Su Zhen and Zhang Yue’er were both there before Su Mi. Now that they saw Su Mi come, they looked strange, and guessed the result.
“Sister, what happened? Did you not pass?” Su Zhen asked with a knowing smile.
“Hmm,” Su Mi replied perfunctorily. In fact, she was also completely puzzled.
“Sister’s scars on her palms are so light, but this time they really are harsh.” Su Zhen expressed her regret and sighed.
Su Mi’s mood was not good, and her gaze swept coldly over Su Zhen. “You seem to remember my scar particularly well.”
Su Zhen smiled awkwardly and said, “The Chief punished you last time; everyone saw it; how can I not remember?”
Su Mi’s mind was even more chaotic. She even thought that Su Zhen might have done something to her. Perhaps Su Zhen had noticed the injury on her palm when she was still at home and tampered with her medicine bottle.
But now it was meaningless to think about these things. She was rejected because of Qin Yan’s instructions, which had nothing to do with the scars.
When all the candidates finished their body checks, it seemed that only Su Mi had been rejected.
After all, all the eligible candidates were screened for the first time. The most important thing this time was to verify their virginity, and all the women who came to be selected were unmarried. There was no possibility of failure.
If it weren’t for Qin Yan publicly stating that he punished Su Mi, her rejection would be even more suspicious.
Shen Mama brought the group of screened candidates back along the original path, and when they arrived at the Taiyuan Hall, she stopped Su Mi.
She looked at the girl in front of her and couldn’t help feeling sorry, but there was no other way. “Su Mi, you’re the only one who failed this time. Stay in the Taiyuan Hall for a few more days, and when the emperor chooses the candidates, the palace will send a mule cart to take you back to Jiaozhou.”
Shen Mama’s “you” referred, of course, to Su Mi and the other candidates who were not chosen by the emperor.
“Okay.” Su Mi replied obediently with lowered eyes.
“Go back now.”
“Yes, Mama.”