Among the boldest gazes was one that belonged to a familiar face, a young lady with exceptionally striking features. Compared to Tana’s vibrant beauty, this young lady’s appearance was more refined and exquisite, with skin like creamy jade and a shapely figure. However, despite the similar type of beauty, Lanzhu preferred Tana’s more grand and bold demeanor. They were all part of the same circle, and even though Lanzhu didn’t particularly enjoy going out to gatherings, she recognized this young lady. She was Guoluoluo Shi, the daughter of the Bordered Yellow Banner’s Baoyi Zongling, and she had a full-blooded sister in the harem. Lanzhu only glanced at her before withdrawing her gaze. Why bother paying attention to unrelated people?
Lanzhu hadn’t been out for long when Wenyuan also came out, accompanied by a timid little follower. “Lanzhu, this is Hesheli Yuting, a young lady who shares a room with me,” Wenyuan introduced, pointing to the person behind her. Hearing this, Lanzhu looked over and saw the Hesheli Shi slightly raise her head. When she noticed Lanzhu looking, she quickly lowered her head again.
Hesheli Shi? Sharing a room with Wenyuan, she must be someone selected from the late Empress Xiaocheng’s family. But was she really as timid as she appeared? Probably not. However, Lanzhu didn’t delve too deeply into it. After all, this Hesheli Shi was chosen to care for the Crown Prince and had nothing to do with her mother’s Hesheli Shi. Still, Lanzhu politely greeted her, “Hello.”
Tana, standing nearby, also chimed in, “Hello there.”
Wenyuan turned her head in confusion. She had wanted to ask last time, but the setting wasn’t right, so she hadn’t been able to: “Lanzhu, this is…”
Lanzhu smiled, “This is Tana, she shares a room with me.” Lanzhu didn’t introduce Tana’s surname, as her face was too well-known. Anyone entering the palace for the selection would recognize her.
After the four of them introduced themselves, they gathered together. Every young lady who came out couldn’t help but be drawn to the four of them. Strictly speaking, it was Lanzhu and Tana who attracted their attention. However, neither of them paid it any mind.
Once most of the young ladies had come out, the Steward Nanny of Chuxiu Palace appeared again: “Ladies, today is the day you enter the palace. We won’t be learning the rules today, so everyone should familiarize themselves with Chuxiu Palace.”
“On regular days, unless a servant says you can move freely, you are not allowed to leave Chuxiu Palace at any other time.”
“You are all in the harem, so I hope you will all follow the rules. Surely no one wants to be sent out of the palace early, right?” Under the Steward Nanny’s pressure, the young ladies’ eager expressions became much more subdued. If they were sent out of the palace before passing the re-selection, their fate wouldn’t be much better.
“Alright, everyone disperse.” The Steward Nanny glanced at a few particularly outstanding young ladies, her eyes flickering. There were quite a few exceptional young ladies this time, and Consort Zhao was known for her fairness, unlike the late Empress Xiaocheng. Who knew which young ladies would rise to prominence this time?
But why was Borjigit Gege so familiar with Tongjia Gege? Should she report this to the Emperor?
After the Steward Nanny left, the young ladies were left in the main hall of Chuxiu Palace. Lanzhu took a general look around. This time, only about forty or fifty young ladies remained after the re-selection, sparsely filling the entire main hall of Chuxiu Palace. Although everyone spoke in low voices, the noise created by so many people talking together was not small.
Lanzhu couldn’t stand the noise and planned to return to her room early. She had no desire to explore Chuxiu Palace. After all, the outcome was already decided. As long as she didn’t cross any lines, she could do whatever made her comfortable. There was nothing particularly interesting to see in these places.
Tana followed closely behind, leaving with Lanzhu. Wenyuan didn’t want to go back, but with Lanzhu gone and Yuting being timid, there was no point in wandering around alone, so she followed Lanzhu back to their room.
Not long after the four of them left, a few young ladies who had been paying attention to them also stopped their discussions and quietly returned to their rooms. Among them was Guoluoluo Sangyu. Sharing a room with her was Niohuru Yunshang, the younger sister of Consort Zhao in the palace. She was quite proud and didn’t think much of her.
However, Sangyu didn’t pay much attention to Niohuru Shi. She was certain that as long as Consort Zhao was around, the Niohuru family wouldn’t be able to bring in any other Gege. After all, Consort Zhao was in charge of the harem, and her inability to bear children was an advantage rather than a disadvantage in this situation. Consort Zhao’s situation was different from her sister’s. Consort Zhao had the potential to advance further, while her sister would never have a chance at the throne.
If the Emperor wanted to stabilize the Crown Prince’s position, then as long as Consort Zhao was alive, the Niohuru family wouldn’t be able to bring anyone else in! That’s why she didn’t pay attention to Niohuru Shi. After all, their paths were different, and there was no point in comparing them.
Because of this, she could calmly handle Niohuru Yunshang’s provocations. She decided to return quietly. There would be plenty of time to admire the scenery of Chuxiu Palace later; there was no need to rush.
…
“Lanzhu, I’m telling you, the Imperial Garden in the palace is beautiful. By May, we should be able to go together.” In the room, Tana leaned against the low table, her eyes sparkling.
Outside the door, Wenyuan, who had just stepped into the room, was momentarily stunned by her words: “You mean… Lanzhu will enter the palace?!”
“How do you know Lanzhu will definitely enter the palace?!” Wenyuan’s expression was a bit agitated, and her voice unconsciously grew louder. Hesheli Shi, behind her, also paused, her eyes flickering.
As for Lanzhu, the person in question, she instead gently comforted her friend: “Wenyuan, we’re in the selection process, so we must be cautious with our words and actions.”
Lanzhu didn’t want Wenyuan to ruin her future over some small matter. As long as she could safely pass the re-selection, Wenyuan could withdraw during the final selection, and her future marriage prospects would be much smoother.
“Lanzhu, you haven’t said yet, is your selection really predetermined?” Wenyuan hurriedly walked up, leaning close to Lanzhu’s ear to ask.
She was still fantasizing about going out to play with Lanzhu in the future, so how could she suddenly be told that Lanzhu would enter the palace?! This was something Wenyuan couldn’t accept!
“How could I know the decisions made in the palace?” Even though it was already set in stone, she couldn’t personally say that she would definitely enter the palace.
“Alright, we got up so early today, aren’t you tired?”
“We have to learn the rules tomorrow, so go back and rest early.” Lanzhu had always treated Wenyuan like a younger sister. Because of her simple nature, Lanzhu and her cousin avoided discussing heavy topics with Wenyuan.
At this time, it wasn’t suitable for Wenyuan to know too much because she couldn’t keep secrets! Especially since her roommate, Hesheli Shi, was bound to enter the palace.
From her perspective, Wenyuan was just a simple little fool, while Hesheli Shi wasn’t as she appeared.
“You’re not telling me anything.” Wenyuan pouted slightly.
“Hurry back.”
In the end, Lanzhu persuaded Wenyuan to leave. After Wenyuan and Hesheli Shi left, the smile in Lanzhu’s eyes faded a bit.
“Lanzhu, you’re really good to her.” Tana had seen everything that had just happened. She knew that she and Lanzhu hadn’t known each other for long and couldn’t compare to her childhood friend, but Tana still felt a bit sour.
Lanzhu was the first friend she made after coming to the capital, so she naturally held a special place in her heart. One could say she was even more important than her cousin, the Emperor.
Lanzhu turned her head, “Tana…”
Tana quickly sat up straight, “I know everything.”
Seeing Tana sulking, Lanzhu didn’t know how to comfort her. She had never interacted with someone as passionate as the sun, so she naturally didn’t know how to get along with her.
And now was clearly not the right time to figure it out. This selection process was being closely watched by both the court and the harem. Her actions were related to the Tongjia family, so she couldn’t act recklessly.
…
Palace of Heavenly Purity
Halfway through reading the memorials, Kangxi casually asked, “Liang Jiugong, is today the day the young ladies enter the palace to learn the rules?”
Liang Jiugong, who was standing silently to the side, stepped out from the corner: “In response to Your Majesty, today is the day they enter the palace.”
After asking this question, Kangxi fell silent again. Liang Jiugong, not hearing any further words from the Emperor, quietly glanced up and saw that the Emperor was still reading the memorials. He then silently returned to his corner.
However, he didn’t notice that Kangxi’s gaze had been fixed on his hand for a long time without moving. Clearly, his thoughts had drifted far away.
…
Time passed quickly, and a month went by. Lanzhu and the others were slowly learning the rules, and the days were equally uneventful. It was clear that the young ladies understood that this selection was different from previous ones. This was the first selection after the late Empress Xiaocheng’s passing, so naturally, no one dared to make any small moves.
“Ladies, tomorrow is the day you leave the palace. Today, we won’t be learning the rules, so everyone can go out and explore on your own.”
“But let me make it clear, your range of exploration is limited to Chuxiu Palace and the Imperial Garden. If you wander into other places and offend someone important, I won’t be able to save you.” It was a tradition to leave a day for the young ladies to arrange their own activities before leaving the palace after the re-selection.
And since this year’s young ladies were well-behaved, the Steward Nanny gave a few instructions and generously let them leave.
The young ladies, who had been suppressed for a month, were all smiles when they heard they could visit the Imperial Garden.
“Lanzhu, shall we go for a walk too?” Over the past month, Tana had grown increasingly satisfied with Lanzhu. The little unpleasantness between them earlier had long been forgotten. After all, they would have plenty of time to spend together in the future.
“I’m fine with anything.” Lanzhu was indifferent about going out. She had been to the palace many times and had seen the Imperial Garden countless times.
“Let’s go take a look. It’s quite lively in the palace today.” Tana, seeing the eager expressions of others, didn’t want to stay in the room either. For Tana, if it weren’t for Lanzhu’s company, she might have grown impatient long ago. Being confined to Chuxiu Palace all day without being able to go anywhere was too stifling.
“I’ll go find Wenyuan…” Lanzhu hadn’t finished speaking when Wenyuan came over with Hesheli Shi.
“Lanzhu, Lanzhu, let’s go to the Imperial Garden too!”
“I heard there are newly transplanted plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden. Let’s go take a look.”
Lanzhu glanced at Hesheli Shi behind Wenyuan, her eyes flickering slightly: “Sure.”
Lanzhu and her group didn’t leave too early or too late. By the time they reached the Imperial Garden, several groups of young ladies were already there admiring the flowers. Each was dressed to impress, and although they said they were there to admire the flowers, their minds were clearly elsewhere.
It wasn’t yet May, and although the Imperial Garden was in full bloom, it wasn’t at its most beautiful. Despite this, Lanzhu was still very attentive. The palace gardeners were skilled, and the Imperial Garden offered different scenery each year, so it never lacked freshness.
“Lanzhu, those orchids over there are really beautiful.” Tana, coming from the grasslands of Khorchin, naturally didn’t have delicate orchids, only flowers unique to the grasslands that could withstand wind and rain.
Following Tana’s gesture, Lanzhu saw two pots of snow-white orchids among a sea of vibrant colors. They had clearly just bloomed, with buds that seemed to be on the verge of opening.
Today, there were no palace maids or eunuchs in the Imperial Garden. They had all retreated far away, leaving only a few young ladies wandering around the vast garden.
“They are indeed beautiful,” Lanzhu said sincerely.
The Forbidden City was the pinnacle of imperial power, and everything there was the best. Anything less wouldn’t even have the right to be seen.
“It’s a pity there are only two pots,” Tana said, her eyes clearly showing regret as she looked at the two orchids.
“Perhaps they haven’t had time to display more,” Lanzhu suggested.
But only she knew the truth. This wasn’t really a secret in the palace. The late Empress Xiaocheng loved orchids, but the current Consort Zhao preferred peonies. Naturally, the servants in the harem catered to the preferences of the most powerful person in the harem. Now that Consort Zhao was in charge, and the late Empress Xiaocheng was a thing of the past, the peonies in the Imperial Garden overshadowed the orchids. After all, no one in the harem wanted to make trouble for themselves.
“Lanzhu, it seems like there’s a commotion over there.” Wenyuan, following behind Lanzhu, couldn’t help but look towards the liveliest area. Upon seeing it, she noticed something was amiss.
“Where?” Tana, who had been bored for a month, was the quickest to react.
“Over there.” Following Wenyuan’s direction, Lanzhu indeed saw the scene she described. They were too far away to clearly see the faces of the two young ladies involved, but they couldn’t hear the heated argument. After all, they were candidates for selection, and with the final selection tomorrow, no one was foolish enough to argue in the Imperial Garden. It was likely just a minor disagreement.
“Lanzhu, let’s go take a look.” Tana and Wenyuan stood on either side of Lanzhu, their eyes sparkling as they looked at her.
“I’m fine with it.” After a month of calm, it wouldn’t hurt to go and listen.
The four of them walked over, and along the way, other young ladies also headed in that direction, clearly having heard the commotion. The closer they got, the clearer Lanzhu could hear the voices.
“I was here first, so only I can look,” said a young lady in a light green flag outfit. The two young ladies were arguing in front of a cluster of peonies that hadn’t bloomed much yet. Despite the lack of flowers, neither was willing to back down.
“There’s no sign with your Niohuru Shi’s name on it, so why can’t I look?” The other young lady, also in a light green flag outfit, spoke slowly, but her words were not pleasant.
When Lanzhu and her group arrived, a circle of people had already gathered, so they didn’t intend to squeeze in. They casually found a corner to listen from. Looking over, all they saw were a sea of heads and various accessories glinting in the sunlight, dazzlingly bright.
After watching for a while, Lanzhu felt her eyes couldn’t take it anymore and withdrew her gaze. She naturally recognized the two arguing, and even if she didn’t, after a month of interaction, she could remember them roughly.
One was Niohuru Shi, the younger sister of Consort Zhao, and the other had a similarly high status, being related to the Fifth Prince in the palace. She was Nalan Mingzhu’s sister. Nalan Mingzhu was now a close minister to the Emperor, and although his status couldn’t compare to the Crown Prince’s maternal grandfather, the First Class Duke Gabula, he was still a favorite of the Emperor. This gave Nalan Gege confidence.
Nalan Gege, seeing more and more people gathering, raised her eyebrows slightly: “Are you sure you want to continue arguing with me?”
Niohuru Shi, hearing this, finally came to her senses. Seeing the young ladies around her, her expression wasn’t good. Her main goal was to enter the palace, and arguing at this time was very unwise. Before entering the palace, her mother had told her to endure for now. She didn’t want to be overshadowed by Consort Zhao for the rest of her life!
“Hmph!”
“I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t argue with you.” Hesheli Shi snorted softly and then twisted her body to leave.
Seeing that the argument didn’t escalate, Guoluoluo Shi’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment. Even fools could be smart sometimes; why didn’t they argue? What a pity.
As the sun rose higher, the young ladies in the Imperial Garden no longer lingered leisurely and returned to Chuxiu Palace one after another. After most of the people left the Imperial Garden, a few people emerged from a pavilion hidden deep within the rockery.
“Your Majesty, it’s getting late. We should return.”
As the master of the Forbidden City, Kangxi naturally knew the unspoken rules during the re-selection of young ladies, so after court today, he unconsciously walked over here. Naturally, he just wanted to see Lanzhu in advance. Unexpectedly, he also witnessed a good show.
However, Lanzhu’s temperament was still as gentle and disinterested in excitement as ever. He had searched for quite a while before spotting Lanzhu in the crowd. Having seen her, Kangxi naturally had no reason to stay any longer.
“Return to the palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
…
Yongshou Palace
“You say Niohuru Hezhuo got into an argument with someone in the Imperial Garden?” Consort Zhao, with a solemn expression, put down the flower register in her hand and took a sip of tea from the table.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied the eunuch Qian Sheng.
“What a fool.”
“It seems her legitimate mother isn’t very good at teaching children.” After these days of experience, Consort Zhao’s aura had become even more restrained. Her eyes were also astonishingly bright.
Not long after she entered the palace, her sister was taken to the main courtyard. In hindsight, it would have been better if she had stayed with her mother.
Mo Ran said, “Your Majesty, we mustn’t let her succeed in her plans.”
“Enough, there’s no need for me to worry about such matters.”
“Do you think the Emperor will let someone from the Niohuru family enter the palace?” Consort Zhao saw it clearly. The Crown Prince was only four years old, and the position of Empress had been vacant for three years. There were already voices in the court urging the Emperor to appoint a new Empress, and she was the most favored candidate. In such a situation, how could the Emperor allow someone from the Niohuru family to enter the palace?
Unless she had no intention of becoming Empress!
But clearly, Consort Zhao wasn’t one to sacrifice herself for others, so even though she was her sister, she was destined to have no connection with the harem.
“In three days, the final selection will take place. The Emperor can’t wait.” As the highest-ranking person in the harem, there were naturally servants who wanted to curry favor, so Consort Zhao was well aware of the Emperor’s visit to the Imperial Garden today.
“Your Majesty, why didn’t we take action during the re-selection?”
“Tongjia Gege entering the palace will surely be a formidable rival for you!” Mo Yu was somewhat puzzled.
“My glory is tied to the Emperor. What he likes, I naturally like.”
“A wife is a wife, and a concubine is a concubine. This is an insurmountable gap, and I don’t need to be petty and compete for favor.” Knowing her position, Consort Zhao remained calm. Once she became Empress, no matter how many favored concubines there were in the harem, they would never surpass her.
Just like Hesheli Shi, who once sat firmly in the fishing platform.
But unlike Hesheli Shi, she wouldn’t dig her own grave!
No matter how many princes and princesses there were in the harem, she would always be their Empress Mother. She wouldn’t be short-sighted!
Hesheli Shi was smart all her life, but in the end, she paid with her heart. But in a place like the harem, where is there room for sincerity?
Moreover, she still held evidence of Hesheli Shi’s actions. Perhaps in the future, this would be a heavy blow to the Crown Prince.
Evidence should be used at critical moments!
For now, there were too many variables!
She didn’t want to make a wedding dress for Nara Shi.
“Your Majesty is wise.” Everyone in Yongshou Palace firmly believed that their master would be the next Empress.
“Alright, quickly organize the name register.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
…
Early the next morning, Hesheli Shi had breakfast early and waited at the mansion gate, eager to see Yujin return home. Hesheli Shi would ask Yiyun beside her every now and then, her eyes filled with undisguised longing and worry.
“Is everything in Fuchun Courtyard ready?”
“When Yujin returns, let her rest well.” The palace was not as comfortable as home. Since the final selection was in three days, Yujin should have a good sleep.
“Don’t worry, Madam. I’ve already given the instructions.”
After a short while, Hesheli Shi saw a carriage approaching from afar. She couldn’t help but take a few steps forward, with Yiyun and Yishang quickly following.
Inside the carriage, Lanzhu sat upright, her eyes filled with a hint of excitement. This was the first time she had been away from home for so long.
“Liu Chun, how much longer until we arrive?”
Liu Chun lifted the curtain and glanced outside: “Gege, we’re almost there.”
“Did Gege not eat well in the palace?”
“You seem to have lost a lot of weight,” Liu Chun said, carefully observing her mistress.
“Not at all.”
“I’m doing just fine.”
“We’ve all missed you.”
As they spoke, the carriage came to a stop. Lanzhu, suppressing her excitement, composed herself and got off the carriage. Seeing her mother waiting at the mansion gate, Lanzhu couldn’t contain her emotions any longer.
“Mother!”
“My child is back.” Hesheli Shi caught the running Yujin, her eyes moistening.
“Mother, I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
Nanny Yun, standing nearby, couldn’t help but tear up: “Madam, Gege, let’s head back inside.”
“Yes, let’s go back quickly.”
“You’ve lost weight. Did you not rest well in the palace?”
“After you eat, have a good sleep.” Hesheli Shi held Yujin’s hand and led her inside.
The others waiting at the mansion gate followed them in one after another.
In the main courtyard, as soon as Lanzhu sat down, maids entered one after another, setting up the meal. Everything was her favorite.
“Eat a little.”
“Alright.”
After the meal, although Hesheli Shi had many things she wanted to discuss with her daughter, she held back, considering that Yujin had just returned from the palace and her mind was still tense.
“Go back to your courtyard and rest well.”
“I’ll wait for you at dinner.”
“Alright.”
To be honest, Lanzhu was quite tired. The palace was tense all day, so how could she rest well? Now that she was back home, the pervasive fatigue finally surfaced. But she still forced herself to stay with her mother because she didn’t want her to worry.
…
Lanzhu returned to Fuchun Courtyard with her attendants. The courtyard looked the same as the day she left for the palace, but to Lanzhu, it felt like a lifetime ago. Before she even reached the door, the others in the courtyard came out to greet her. Everyone looked at Gege with excitement, chatting away.
“Gege, you’re back.”
“We’ve missed you so much.”
“I was supposed to pick you up today, but Liu Chun wouldn’t let me go. You should punish her later.” Even Liu Xia, who usually spoke little, was particularly talkative today and even learned to complain.
Lanzhu smiled at everyone, “Alright, alright, I’ll punish Liu Chun later.”
“I’ll punish her by not letting her talk to you tonight.”
“Gege, I’ve made sweet soup for you. Would you like to try it?” Liu Qiu, who had returned from the main kitchen, had become much quieter, showing signs of becoming more like Liu Xia.
“Liu Qiu, keep it warm. I’ll have it after I wake up.” Having just eaten at her mother’s, Lanzhu clearly couldn’t eat anything else at the moment.
“I’ve noted it down.”
Seeing Gege looking tired, Liu Chun quickly stepped forward to help her into the inner room and assisted her in changing clothes.
“Gege, sleep well. I’ll be right here watching over you.”
“Alright.” As soon as Lanzhu lay down, she quickly fell asleep, surrounded by familiar scents.
Once her mistress’s breathing steadied, Liu Chun signaled the others to quietly leave the room, leaving her alone to keep watch.
Lanzhu slept until the end of the afternoon, sleeping through lunch. During this time, Longkodo, upon hearing that his sister had returned, naturally came over, but upon learning she was resting, he left disappointed.
At eleven years old, Longkodo seemed to have matured since his sister entered the palace for the selection. He had already cried several times in places where no one could see. But nothing could change!
His father was right; he would be his sister’s support in the future, so he had to work hard!
After a long sleep, Lanzhu felt refreshed.
“Liu Chun.”
“Gege, I’m here.” Almost as soon as Lanzhu spoke, Liu Chun, who was keeping watch by the bed, responded.
“Did you sleep well?” Helping Gege up, Liu Chun gently placed a pillow behind her.
“Yes.”
“Has anyone come by during this time?” Just waking up, Lanzhu’s face still had a slight blush, her eyes sparkling and captivating.
“Third Master came by.”
“Longkodo came?” Lanzhu’s eyes lit up at the mention of her brother.
“Third Master heard you were sleeping, so he went back first.”
“What time is it now?” Glancing outside, Lanzhu saw the sun beginning to set and asked.
“Gege, it’s almost evening.” After helping Gege dress, Liu Chun placed the final orchid hairpin in her hair.
“It’s so late already?”
“No wonder I feel a bit dizzy; I slept for so long.”
“Is Gege dizzy?”
“Shall I massage it for you?” Liu Chun immediately became nervous upon hearing this.
“It’s nothing serious, just slept too long.” Lanzhu stopped Liu Chun’s actions.
“You must be hungry by now. I’ll have Liu Qiu bring the sweet soup for you.”
“Alright.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve tasted Liu Qiu’s cooking.”
Liu Qiu, who had been waiting at the door, entered with the sweet soup as soon as she heard Liu Chun’s voice. The soup was neither too hot nor too cold, just right for eating.
After tasting a couple of spoonfuls, Lanzhu’s expression relaxed even more: “Liu Qiu’s cooking has improved.”
Sweet food can soothe the heart, and Lanzhu felt very content at that moment.
“As long as Gege likes it.” If it were the old Liu Qiu, she would have been jumping around with excitement at such praise. But now, Liu Qiu only smiled modestly, clearly having changed a lot.
“Let’s go to the main courtyard.” With the final selection in three days, Lanzhu had many things she wanted to discuss with her mother.
…
Lanzhu headed to the main courtyard with her attendants. In the front courtyard, Longkodo, upon receiving the news, immediately put down his pen and ran out quickly.
“Third Master!”
“Slow down! Wait for me!” Longkodo’s personal servant, seeing his master run out, immediately chased after him. But being three years older than his master, he couldn’t catch up with him all the way to his mother’s main courtyard, ending up breathless.
When Longkodo arrived at the main courtyard, he saw his mother talking to the servants.
Longkodo looked around but didn’t see his sister in the room: “Mother, where’s Sister?”
Hesheli Shi looked up at his words: “Your sister hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Why are you in such a hurry!” Hesheli Shi raised her hand to wipe the sweat off her younger son’s forehead.
“Did you run all the way here?”
“Your sister won’t run away, so why the rush?”
“I just wanted to see Sister sooner.” Longkodo tilted his head, avoiding his mother’s handkerchief. He was a man now; he didn’t need a handkerchief meant for girls.
“Your sister will be here soon.”
Sure enough, after a short while, Lanzhu arrived with her attendants. Seeing her brother beside her mother, her expression softened: “Daughter greets Mother.”
“Come, sit by Mother.” Hesheli Shi patted the spot beside her, beckoning her daughter over.
Lanzhu got up and walked over, but before she could sit down, her brother eagerly spoke up.
“Sister, I’ve missed you so much.”
“Have you been working hard on your studies lately?” As her only full-blooded brother, Lanzhu naturally cared about him.
“Yes!” Longkodo nodded vigorously.
“Have you had dinner, Yujin?” Seeing the harmonious interaction between her children, Hesheli Shi’s eyes were filled with love.
“Not yet.”
“Then join Mother for dinner.”
“Alright.”
Recently, something seemed to be happening in the palace. By the time dinner was served, Lanzhu and the others hadn’t seen their father return.
After dinner, Lanzhu chatted with her mother for a while before planning to leave.
Longkodo, who had been accompanying them, quickly stood up as well.
“Sister, I’ll go with you.”
The siblings bid farewell to their mother one after the other and then left the main courtyard.
It was already close to evening, and the sky was beginning to darken.
The siblings walked in silence along the way. Lanzhu wanted to talk, but seeing her brother’s unusual expression and recalling his behavior at their mother’s, she quickly guessed why he was acting this way.
But precisely because of this, Lanzhu didn’t know how to start the conversation.
Finally, as they approached the lights of Fuchun Courtyard, Longkodo couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, are you going to enter the palace?”
Although it was a question, Longkodo’s tone was filled with certainty.
Lanzhu stopped and looked at her brother, who was now as tall as she was. She reached out and pinched his cheek: “Why such deep resentment, little one?”
“Whether or not I enter the palace, you’ll always be my brother, and I’ll always be your sister.” Lanzhu didn’t say anything too profound. To her, her brother at this age should be carefree and not burdened by worries beyond his years.
“But…”
“If you enter the palace, will I never see you again?” Even at eleven, Longkodo knew that entering the palace was different from an ordinary marriage.
Once you enter the palace, it’s like entering the deep sea!
“I don’t know either.”
“Maybe I’ll be able to see you in the future.” Lanzhu knew that once she left, she might never see her brother and father again. But what could she do? This was her fate as the legitimate daughter of the Tongjia family!
“Sister, don’t lie to me. I’m not a child anymore.” Longkodo’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“I wish you could always be a carefree child.” The adult world was too complicated; being a child was much better.
“No way!” Longkodo firmly refused.
“I’ll be your support in the future. How can I always be a child?” Since he couldn’t change anything, he would become someone like his father, someone his sister could rely on when their father grew old!
Lanzhu’s heart swelled at her brother’s words, and her eyes grew warm: “Then I’ll wait for that day to come.”
“Don’t worry, Sister!”
“Just wait and see!” After promising his sister, the siblings arrived at the entrance of Fuchun Courtyard.
“Sister, it’s getting late. You should go in.”
Lanzhu glanced at the now completely dark sky, worried about her brother being alone: “I’ll have Liu Xia escort you back to your courtyard.”
“No need, Sister.”
“I’m not a child anymore; I’m not afraid of the dark.” With that, Longkodo ran off with his attendants.
Lanzhu watched her brother’s unsteady figure and shook her head: “And he says he’s not a child.”
Then, Lanzhu stepped into Fuchun Courtyard.
Three days later
Lanzhu once again boarded the selection carriage, heading from Tongjia Residence to the Forbidden City. From this point on, there would be no turning back on her path!
Palace of Heavenly Purity
“Your Majesty, it’s almost time.” Liang Jiugong, estimating the time, stepped forward to remind the Emperor, who was reviewing memorials.
As soon as he finished speaking, Kangxi put down the memorial in his hand, his deep eyes showing a hint of anticipation.
“Let’s go.”
For the first time, Kangxi, who usually prioritized state affairs, showed a hint of impatience. Even Liang Jiugong noticed this subtle urgency.
“Your Majesty, please slow down and wait for your servant.”
At the entrance of the Imperial Garden
Groups of young ladies gathered. The final selection, which should have been held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, was moved to the Imperial Garden because the Grand Empress Dowager said the weather was nice today.
Naturally, Lanzhu saw her cousin here. She was one of the young ladies from the last selection, and even though she was over the age limit, she had to come.
At this moment, many people gathered around Lanzhu. There was her cousin, Wenyuan, Hesheli Yuting, the younger sister of the late Empress Xiaocheng, and finally, Tana. Including Lanzhu, there were five people in total, three of whom were predetermined, making them particularly eye-catching among the young ladies.
Many were secretly observing them.
“Cousin, are you nervous?” Yinglan, who hadn’t gone through the final selection, couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous at this point.
“Not really.” Lanzhu wasn’t too nervous. After all, the outcome was already decided, so there was nothing to be nervous about.
Yinglan looked at her cousin with a complex expression and sighed inwardly. In the future, they would be on different paths.
As the time approached, the eunuchs began calling names. Lanzhu and Tana stood at the front. Each time, five young ladies would step forward to present themselves. Tana, with her height advantage, stood first on the left, and Lanzhu was right next to her.
“Daughter of the Khorchin Darhan Prince and Tana, daughter of the Grand Minister Tong Guowei… step forward!”
Lanzhu lowered her eyes and gracefully walked forward.
“This servant greets Your Majesty, the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and Consort Zhao.”
“Rise.” The first to speak was the Grand Empress Dowager, who sat nearby. She smiled as she looked at the five young ladies standing before her, her gaze lingering on Tana, who stood on the far left.
Consort Zhao, who was the focus of attention, naturally noticed the Grand Empress Dowager’s actions and was happy to curry favor with her. After all, they were all going to enter the palace, so why not take the initiative?
“Your Majesty, I find the first young lady’s appearance quite outstanding. What do you think?” She spoke with a hint of a smile. Her face wasn’t particularly beautiful, but her demeanor was calm and dignified. This was Consort Zhao, the highest-ranking person in the harem.
Author’s Note:
Where are all the little cuties?
Raise your hand and let me see! Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or watered me with nutrient solution between 2035-05-27 10:35:32 and 2035-05-29 22:45:39~
Thank you to the little angel who watered me with nutrient solution: Pillow 11 bottles;
Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard!