On the day of the selection, Yan Zigui felt tired because she had stayed up late the night before memorizing key points.
Zier helped her dress in the simplest style. She wore a narrow-sleeved short shirt with a short-sleeved outer jacket, a chest wrap, and a pleated skirt. All were plain and low-key colors. Only the jacket had a vine-and-grape pattern.
On her head, she wore a small, simple crown. In front of it, she placed two small begonia hairpins. She wore no other hair ornaments.
Her outfit looked very ordinary. Only the string of pearls hanging from her ears stood out. The pearls were the same size, round and shiny. Anyone could see they were expensive. Other than that, there was nothing special.
When Rao Xueniang saw her, she covered her mouth and laughed. “Even if you know you won’t pass, you shouldn’t give up like this. People say you may lose, but you must not lose in appearance. Dressed so plainly—aren’t you embarrassing the Yan family?”
“In my opinion, Sister-in-law, you are too careless. Last year when Zhenying went, she didn’t dress like this. People will say you favor one over the other again.”
This was nonsense. Even though Yan Zigui had heard many times that Mrs. Song loved Yan Zhenying deeply, she had never accused her mother of favoritism.
Mrs. Song said nothing. She never wanted her daughter to enter the palace in the first place. She only said gently, “Simple and proper is enough. No need for luxury.”
Zier was a little nervous, but she had heard from a nanny that the first rule in the palace was to stay low-key. In the royal palace, who are you to show off? You are going in to serve others as a female official. If you dress too beautifully, do you think you are going in as a mistress?
Whether selecting concubines, maids, or female officials, the screening really began the moment one entered the palace gates.
“It’s not a big matter. No need to gather here to see me off. I’ll go and come back soon,” Yan Zigui said, waving her hand.
Zier was indeed smart and capable. Loyalty aside, she handled things well and had great potential.
At the palace gate, Lin Yuan was already waiting.
“You’re really going to take the selection?” Yan Zigui held her hand. “With your father’s high position now, others might misunderstand. Who would dare have you serve them?”
“If I had known you would become a female official, I would have entered the palace a few years earlier,” Lin Yuan said regretfully. Because of her father’s rank, she was already on the palace list. At this time, she had to stay quiet and careful. Any action could cause trouble and affect her father.
“I was afraid you might be scared, so I came to see you off.”
“You underestimate me,” Yan Zigui smiled. “What have I ever been afraid of?”
“At Jialan Pass, you were fearless,” Lin Yuan said, patting her hand. “But this is the capital. Once you enter that gate, you must bow your head. Even the most unimportant person must be treated carefully. You can’t offend anyone easily.”
“I’m not stupid,” Yan Zigui said, pinching her cheek. “Don’t worry. Wait for my good news.”
Lin Yuan watched her walk into the palace. All family members and servants had to stay outside. Only the girls taking the selection could enter. Among the colorful crowd, only her walking style was different—strong and confident. She did not even look back.
“With that kind of presence, she’s not going to be a female official. She looks like she’s going to be a female prime minister,” Lin Yuan said with a smile, shaking her head. Though Yan Zigui might adapt to life in the capital, her years at Jialan Pass were part of her body and spirit. She stood out naturally.
Even if she tried to stay low-key, people would notice her at once.
Yan Zigui looked around after entering. She thought, “So this is the palace? It’s not that grand or luxurious.” She did not know that the female official exam was held near the palace gate, in a remote palace building usually left unused. It was not meant to be beautiful, only wide and practical.
It also avoided disturbing the important people inside the palace.
The first exam was very easy for Yan Zigui. The second one was not difficult either.
After two rounds, only a few candidates remained. They looked at each other, knowing that if they passed the third hall exam, they would become colleagues.
Someone came to lead them to a side hall to rest. The hall exam would be held the next day.
Compared to the calm expressions of the others, Yan Zigui was surprised. No one had told her she would need to sleep in the palace for one night.
“When you work in the palace in the future, you will also sleep here,” someone beside her explained, seeing her shock. “Four beds in one room. But during rest days, you can request leave to go outside.”
Outside the palace gate, Dansha saw some girls coming out. When no more came, she ran to the gate anxiously. “Guard brother, have all the people inside come out? My young lady hasn’t come out yet!”
The guard stared straight ahead and ignored her.
Dansha called out several times.
Another guard walked over and looked her up and down. “Where did this wild girl come from? How dare you shout here?”
“But my young lady hasn’t come out!” Dansha said anxiously. “Everyone who came out earlier has already left. The carriages outside have all gone.”
“If she entered for the selection, don’t you understand the process?” the guard said loudly. “If your young lady hasn’t come out, it means she passed the second round. She will stay in the palace tonight and take the hall exam tomorrow.”
“Come back at this time tomorrow. If she still doesn’t come out, it means she passed and has been kept in the palace to serve.”
Dansha opened her mouth wide. That meant if her young lady became a female official, this morning was the last time they saw her.
Zier gently pulled her sleeve. Only then did Dansha come back to her senses. She forced an awkward smile. “Thank you, brother.”
She took out a small purse with silver pieces from her sleeve. “Just a little gift for tea.”