Rao Xueniang told someone to watch the second gate. She was afraid Yan Zigui might fail and sneak back home. She was ready to laugh at her as soon as possible.
At noon, Yan Zigui did not return.
“That’s normal,” Rao Xueniang said while serving Mo Huan lunch. “After all, she is the daughter of Assistant Minister Yan. If she were eliminated in the first round, that would be embarrassing.”
“People in the palace are smart. They know how to handle such things.”
“In the afternoon, Zhenying invited her friends over,” Mo Huan said. “I’ll pay for the kitchen to prepare good food. You go supervise. Don’t let her lose face.”
Rao Xueniang wondered why the old lady had to pay, but she agreed anyway.
Seeing her expression, Mo Huan said, “Are you arguing over such a small amount of money?”
“Zhenying is the child from the first wife, but she has never caused you trouble. She won’t stay at home much longer. Once she marries into a good family, your sons will have a strong brother-in-law to support them.”
“I’m not arguing,” Rao Xueniang smiled. “I treat Zhenying like my own daughter.”
She was the second wife. Luckily, the first wife had left only one daughter. Soon after she entered the family, she gave birth to a son. It was already good enough that she treated the first wife’s daughter politely on the surface.
Later, Mo Huan came up with a good idea. Since the eldest daughter of the first branch was not at home, Yan Zhenying was sent to stay with Mrs. Song. Mrs. Song worked hard to raise her well. This way, there would be no conflict in the second branch over raising the girl.
Now, they could even use the well-raised girl to suppress Mrs. Song’s own biological daughter.
The invitations had been sent two days ago. They were all waiting to see Yan Zigui’s embarrassment today.
After sitting down, Mo Zhener quickly asked, “Where is Elder Sister? Why isn’t she here?”
“We sisters should be introduced to each other.”
“She went to the palace for the selection today,” Yan Zhenying explained.
“Have you seen her read or write? How is she compared to you?” Qiao Xuetang asked. Her father worked under Yan Ci, and after visiting during New Year one year, she became close friends with Yan Zhenying. “You are the most learned among us. Even if you didn’t pass the selection. Can she pass?”
“I’ve never studied with her,” Yan Zhenying said. “She doesn’t learn household management. She doesn’t attend the female tutor’s classes at home either.”
“I wanted to tell her some details about the palace selection, but she didn’t seem interested.”
“I heard the Grand Princess personally named her,” Liu Huiniang said. Her father was the capital magistrate. She loved social gatherings and knew many bits of gossip.
“I hope she passes,” Yan Zhenying said with a frown. If the Grand Princess lost face, it might affect their family.
“She doesn’t know her place,” Mo Zhener said with disdain. “She’s from a small frontier town. She hasn’t seen the world.”
“Jialan Pass is quite big,” Liu Huiniang said. The Yan army stationed there had three thousand soldiers. It was also an important trade port.
But no one wanted to discuss that.
Mo Zhener continued criticizing Yan Zigui’s strange temper. “When she fails this time, let’s see how proud she can still be.”
They waited until it was time to go home. Yan Zigui still had not returned. The guests had to leave.
“Maybe she failed and doesn’t dare to come back,” Mo Zhener said angrily.
At the second gate, they saw the carriage that had taken Yan Zigui out earlier. But only the two maids came down.
Dansha’s eyes were red.
“What happened?” Mo Zhener asked. “Did your young lady fail and do something foolish? Her temper is too weak.”
“Our young lady is staying in the palace and cannot return,” Dansha said, glaring at Yan Zhenying. “Why didn’t you say she would have to stay one night? She prepared nothing!”
“And you didn’t say that if she passed, she might stay in the palace and not come out. Our young lady didn’t even give us instructions!”
“It’s not Second Miss’s fault,” Zier quickly said, pulling Dansha. “The second Miss came back the same afternoon last year. She didn’t know about the later steps.”
Actually, Yan Zhenying did know. But she thought Yan Zigui would not pass, so she never mentioned it.
Staying in the palace meant Yan Zigui had already passed the second round. After tomorrow’s hall exam, she will become a female official.
Zier wanted to help Yan Zhenying, but her words were like a slap in Yan Zhenying’s face.
Everyone said she was beautiful and intelligent.
So why did she fail, while Yan Zigui—who grew up at the frontier and did not follow rules—passed?
Yan Zhenying felt dizzy.
Mo Zhener muttered that Yan Zigui was just lucky.
Liu Huiniang at least offered a few words of congratulations.
When Dansha returned, she hugged Gancao and cried. If their young lady became a palace official, what would happen to them? Could they follow her into the palace?
Mrs. Song stared at her teacup in silence. She could not believe her daughter had really passed.
“She was bound to pass,” Yan Ci said, pretending to be calm after worrying all day. “Mother would never let her grow up without learning. She must have taught her everything she needed.”
Mrs. Song glared at him. “Yes, your mother knows how to teach. She knows how to take my daughter away and raise her herself.”
“If Zigui had grown up by my side, she would not be worse than she is now.”
Yan Ci fell silent. After Mrs. Song failed to have a second daughter and knew Jialan Pass would not send Zigui back, she began to hate her mother-in-law for taking her daughter away.
Their marriage worsened from that time.
Yan Ci felt guilty toward Mrs. Song and accepted her anger. But no matter how patient he was, her hatred did not lessen. In the end, they avoided each other to keep peace.
When Yan Zhenying returned to her room, she met Rao Xueniang.
“You are really disappointing,” Rao Xueniang said coldly in front of the servants. “Your grandmother thought you were just unlucky last year. Who knew your intelligence was fake? If the exam was truly that hard, how did Yan Zigui pass?”
Yan Zhenying’s face turned pale.
“Your grandmother heard the news and said she had a headache. What can we expect from you?”
Back in her room, Yan Zhenying bit the blanket to cry quietly, not daring to make a sound.
Yan Zigui did not know how her family reacted. Being told suddenly she had to stay overnight in the palace troubled her only for a moment. After washing up, she fell asleep quickly. She had already lost sleep the night before.
The other girls were excited or nervous and gathered to talk. Seeing her sleeping so calmly, they sighed.
“She must have someone backing her,” one said bitterly. “Her spot is already guaranteed, so she can relax.”
Their looks toward her now mixed envy and jealousy.
Before dawn the next day, they were awakened.
The assessment had already begun.
They were tested on how quickly they got up, how they reacted to instructions, and how fast they walked to another palace hall. Weak and delicate girls were not what they wanted.
After finishing all tasks, they stood in Zhufang Hall.
They stood for about an hour before a consort arrived in a sedan chair. The Chief Palace Lady led them to bow.
“Is the Noble Consort not here yet?” a woman said lazily. “She could decide this herself. Why make us come?”
“The Emperor trusts the Noble Consort to manage the inner palace. We have no objections.”
It was Consort Shu who had arrived.
After the Empress passed away, the Emperor did not appoint a new one. Now the Noble Consort was the highest in rank and managed the harem.
“The Noble Consort acts fairly and strictly,” the Chief Palace Lady replied. “She hopes Your Ladyship will also take part in palace matters.”
Consort Shu gave a cold smile. It was clearly one person’s decision, yet they pretended to ask for opinions. Every time she came, she was just decoration.
She glanced at the bowed girls without much interest.
They were not choosing concubines.
“The Noble Consort has arrived,” someone announced.
Consort Shu rolled her eyes. They were equal in rank, yet the Noble Consort always arrived slightly later to show status.
The Noble Consort entered warmly, holding Consort Shu’s hand. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”
“My carriers walked too fast. I couldn’t stop them,” Consort Shu replied.
They sat in the main hall, like a fragrant breeze passing by the bowed girls.
The Chief Palace Lady presented a stack of names. Over the past two days, the six bureaus had secretly observed and evaluated the candidates.
“This time, there is a daughter of an Assistant Minister?” the Noble Consort said in surprise. Normally, daughters of even higher officials would come. But now, with the Crown Prince and the Third Prince considering marriage, high officials were cautious.
“This is the eldest daughter of Assistant Minister Yan,” a palace lady beside her explained. “She was raised at Jialan Pass and just returned.”
“Perhaps people in the capital don’t know her well. Gaining a female official title would help her reputation.”
“Is General Yan of Jialan Pass returning soon?” the Noble Consort asked. What a pity. If he were not returning, holding strong military power, paired with an assistant minister father, she might consider the girl for her son.
But only the assistant minister’s family was too weak.
The Chief Palace Lady nodded. The Noble Consort sighed. “To reunite the family in old age is the Emperor’s grace.”
“The evaluation is good,” she said, pointing at the comments.
“The girl is indeed good,” the Chief Palace Lady replied. “Calm and confident. Not shy. Like many official daughters, she has a little pride. Somewhat independent.”
“Call her in.”
Yan Zigui entered and bowed again. The Noble Consort told her to raise her head.
She raised her head for three seconds, then lowered it again respectfully.
“She is quite beautiful,” the Noble Consort said.
“I like her appearance,” Consort Shu smiled. “After training her well, send her to my palace.”
“You wish,” the Noble Consort laughed. “Every palace needs people.”
She quickly made a decision. “Good family, good talent, good looks. Such a person should go to the Eastern Palace first.”
“The Eastern Palace lacks female officials,” she said after thinking. “You are appointed as Senior Secretary of the Eastern Palace, rank seven.”
Yan Zigui felt confused. She had heard that new female officials usually had no rank. Why was she given one immediately?
No matter. She first bowed and thanked them.