Chapter Fourteen

  Eight Banners' beautiful girls, dressed in blue clothes, with black braids, entered one after another from the Gate of Loyalty and Obedience. The 34-year selection of beauties slowly opened its curtain in this hot summer.

  The Manchu people must maintain their bloodline in this way, but the vast and numerous Han Chinese have already quietly influenced this nation, and sooner or later will assimilate them.

  The crystal-clear lychee pulp exudes a sweet and refreshing taste, the lychees that were hastily transported to the capital from 800 miles away are fresh, as if they still carry the breath of Lingnan.

  Wu Ruoxue, standing on the ground, could only see the woman's embroidered shoes with golden threads and black pearls, her eyes were staring right at her, she was startled and quickly looked down, a pair of embroidered shoes were so precious and intricate.

  De Fei nodded with her scepter: "Don't eat too much either, take a look."

  "Raise your head." a warm and lazy voice said.

  Hong Fei's ruby pendant swayed above her head, and the large red gemstone sparkled as Wu Ruoxi slightly narrowed her eyes. The pale-colored silk flowers on her temples revealed a hint of subtlety, and the bright moon earrings matched perfectly with those clear and hazy eyes. A faint smile played on her lips, as if she had feelings but was even more indifferent. Standing high above the clouds, Wu Ruoxi thought that this must be the Fourth Lady.

  Her delicate face was matched with a pair of bright and beautiful eyes, her slender figure also had a pair of long legs, which made people feel pity and charm.

  "What's your name? Where are you from? What does Ama do? Do you have any brothers or sisters at home?"

  "My name is Wu Ruoxi, I am from Jiangsu Province. My mother is the Tongpan of Dingzhou, and I am the eldest daughter in my family, with two younger half-sisters and a younger brother."

  Speaks clearly and fluently, although a bit nervous but didn't freeze up

  "How many years has your mother been an official?"

  "After passing the imperial examination at the age of 20, he worked in the government office in Tingzhou. At the age of 36, which was just last year, he became a judge."

  The Li family is from Shanxi, the Wu Ruo Xi family is from Suzhou, and Tingzhou is not a remote place, it's also an important place in Suzhou. I've only heard that Wu Ruo Xi's mother's abilities are indeed somewhat lacking, after serving as an official for over a decade, she was only promoted to sixth rank of Tong Pan, with no one backing her, their family wealth must not be abundant either.

  Ruan Wan rotated the gemstone ring on her hand, wanting a woman to enter their household was fine, but the family background behind her must not become a burden in the future, and it would be best if she could bring some help.

  De Fei looked at Quan Pei for a few moments, and didn't quite understand what she meant by asking these questions. The person was fine, the family background wasn't great either, wasn't that just right?

  Wu retreated slowly, only letting out a long sigh when she reached an empty area. Her heart dared to flutter with excitement - was this what it meant to be favored? Was she going to marry the prince? She was just the daughter of a sixth-grade judge, and her family had no power or influence, posing no threat to the Empress. Would the Empress really take notice of her?

  De Fei smiled and looked at Quan Pei: "Is it too beautiful? You don't dare to want it?"

  Would she be intimidated just because a woman is pretty? Unbeknownst to her, there are countless ways to ruin someone's looks in this world; it's all superficial. She curled up the corner of her lips and smiled like a blooming poppy flower: "She's quite pretty, with good looks and figure, but isn't she lacking something that's truly important?"

  "I've taken a liking to two of them, this one is better, and there's another one that I'm afraid you'll say I'm being perfunctory about."

  "I'll come over again tomorrow and take a look, don't bother."

  De Fei couldn't help but laugh: "You're simply...I don't even know what to say to you..."

  Wei Paiti De Fei peeled a lychee and opened her mouth as if she didn't care: "Do you know Li Yuanzheng, the imperial physician of the Imperial Hospital?"

  "I know him, he often comes to the palace to take pulses, his medical skills are quite good."

  "He went to take my pulse yesterday, but I don't know what kind of person he is, so for the time being, I dare not use him."

  De Fei frowned: "What about Zhang Taichang I recommended?"

  "Said to have twisted his foot, taking a break."

  Gong Yu said, and De Fei began to think carefully: "At that time, because he was famous, people indeed investigated him. His family background is clean, and his ancestors were doctors for generations. In the Ming Dynasty, they were imperial physicians. He entered the Imperial Hospital at a young age and served Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang. After her death, he quickly rose to the position of hospital director. Nowadays, he often takes the pulse for the empress dowager because she trusts his medical skills. In the Imperial Hospital, what he says goes."

  It doesn't seem like there's anything special about it at all.

  Quan Ai peeled another lychee for De Fei: "I have a favor to ask of you, can you help me investigate how Zhang Taiyi twisted his foot? Also, take a look at Li Yuanzheng's background, so I can use him with peace of mind."

  De Fei took the lychee and paused for a moment, suddenly saying: "I said that today the sun rises from the west, you actually peeled the lychee for me too, so you were waiting for this!"

  Wu Ruoxi lived with a girl named Nalan Mingyue in the same house, and they had chatted a few times before. It was said that she was from Guangzhou, her mother was Tongzhi of Xuanhua Prefecture, an official one rank higher than Wu Ruoxi's mother. Seeing her enter, she smiled and asked: "Sister is back! Must be great, right?"

  Wu Ruoxi smiled shyly: "Nowhere."

  Nalan Mingyue pulled her hand and curiously asked: "Who did you see on top, what did they look like?"

  Nalan Mingyue's face was simple, but her thoughts were meticulous and cautious. Wu Rouxi didn't dare to be too casual and only picked a simple phrase: "I went to De Fei Niangniang's place, just asked about my family background and let me come back."

  Nalan Mingyue counted on her fingers: "So sister is going to enter the Fourth Prince's backyard?!"

  Wu Ruoxi was startled by her loud voice: "Sister, don't talk nonsense. He just asked me a few questions, there's no such thing."

  Nalan Mingyue stuck out her tongue: "I was too rash."

  At noon, the girls ate together, and someone saw Wu Ruoxue giggling. She didn't quite understand, and it wasn't until half a moment later that she vaguely heard someone say: "...Just being called to ask a question, saying that they want to enter the Fourth Prince's backyard, without even considering their own status, a sixth-grade judge! Laughing to death..."

  Wu Ruoxi's whole body trembled with anger, looking at Nalan Mingyue who was standing aside with a shocked face. Her eyes were almost spitting fire. If this got out, she wouldn't just be criticized for being reckless and ignorant, but also the Empress Dowager would not have chosen her. It was likely that she wouldn't even be able to enter another prince's harem!

  Nalan Mingyue seemed to be frightened out of her wits, with a sob in her voice: "Sister is not me, I didn't say anything!"

  What does this mean, it seems that Wu Ruoxue is saying that she wants to enter the Fourth Prince's backyard, but in fact, Wu Ruoxue is threatening Nalan Mingyue!

  There was a Zhang Jiayunying who was even more beautiful than Wu Ruoxue, and seemed to know Nalan Mingyue. She grabbed Nalan Mingyue's hand and glared at Wu Ruoxue: "What kind of behavior is this! Are you afraid because it's your fault? You're much nobler than some people, what are you afraid of?"

  The surrounding beauties all sneered with light laughter, Wu Ruoxue was so angry that she almost cried out, it's too much to bully people!

  It was then that the aunt who was in charge saw that things were getting out of hand and came over to say a few words, after which everyone dispersed.

  On the imperial concubine's bed, adorned with a carving of a hundred sons and thousands of grandsons, was spread a warm and cool jade bamboo mat. On both sides of the bed were placed peony pillows. Quan Pei and the imperial concubine leaned against the pillows on either side of the bed, chatting idly. A palace maid stood beside them, gently fanning them with a fan, bringing over a gentle breeze. Quan Pei was pregnant, and the crown prince's consort did not allow ice basins to be used in the house, showing her concern for her well-being.

  The crown prince is much better to the crown princess than before, and occasionally comes to ask the crown princess a few times when something happens. The crown princess also seems to have sensed something, and more often invites Quan Pei over.

  The clean strawberries are bright red and look good, Quan Ai pinched them in her hand and looked at them before putting them in her mouth, sour and sweet, very delicious: "You have such good things again."

  The crown princess smiled with a hint of mischief: "The things we tried to grow in the imperial villa, only the emperor, the empress dowager and us have them. The Qing dynasty can't find another place like this, if you like it, I'll have someone send a basket over."

  But a basket of strawberries was enough for Quan Pei.

  The crown princess lowered her voice: "Last time, Concubine Hui had an accident and was 'ill' for several days. The empress dowager didn't even let anyone see her, I don't know what changes will happen again."

  There can be some changes, but it's just sealing a noble consort and slightly suppressing the consorts below her, so as not to make the harem too chaotic.

  "You're afraid of something? At this time, can the Emperor still support someone who is fighting with the Crown Prince? The Emperor loves and cares for the Crown Prince!"

  The crown princess was looked at by Quan Pei with a sneer, and she wanted to ask Quan Pei what he meant by saying this: "What do you mean by this?"

  She asked, but Wei Ting didn't say much: "I was just talking nonsense, don't believe me."

  Wei's lips curled up with a careless smile, as if nothing could catch her eye. The bright red strawberry juice left a mark on her hand, she stretched out her fingers to take a look, and laughed: "It looks even better than the peach blossom juice!" With an inexplicable elegance and charm.

  The crown princess could only smile along with her.

  A small eunuch came in from outside: "The prince said that he has a lot of things to do at noon today and won't be back for lunch."

  The crown princess nodded casually, and Quan Pei raised her eyes to look at the eunuch, who was fair-skinned and delicate, looking like a beautiful young lady.

  Guan Yu asked the Crown Prince's consort: "Are all eunuchs this handsome?"

  The crown princess seemed reluctant to say these words and just nodded perfunctorily.

  Quan Pei got tired after sitting for a while, so she stood up and bid farewell. After leaving the door, she vaguely heard a scolding voice. When she turned around the corridor, she saw the little eunuch from earlier scolding a somewhat senior auntie. Looking at that little eunuch, he was only about ten or so years old, where did he get such great abilities...

  In the courtyard, a little girl broke a pot of flowers. The mistress was not very happy and pointed at the little girl: "A pot of flowers is worth ten taels of silver, selling you wouldn't be worth that much! Who will dare to use you in the future with your clumsy hands and feet?" As she spoke, she took out a feather duster and slapped the little girl several times. The little girl didn't dare to dodge and just cried.

  Just then, Quan Pei returned from outside, and Yan Niang threw down the feather duster and went to welcome her: "Madam is back! Madam, please come in and rest!"

  The courtyard was without the Li family, and Song Shi became unmanageable again. With Quan Pei not around, this goose girl had a subtle sense of arrogance. Quan Pei glanced at the girl's pretty face, where a hint of pride was seeping out, and slightly furrowed her brow.

  Ruan Yu changed into a loose-fitting lotus-colored cheongsam, her hair scattered and tied up in a simple knot, lying on the couch letting the maids massage her legs, while Yan Gu Niang stood aside feeling somewhat anxious, not knowing what Fu Jin wanted to do with her.

  Quan Yu hesitated for a while before opening her eyes to look at Yan Niang.

  Outside, a eunuch delivered a letter, which Quan Pei received and read. In the letter, Yongzheng said that everything was fine and asked about Quan Pei's well-being. At the end of the letter, he mentioned that Li Shi had followed him but soon discovered she was pregnant, so after resting for a few days, she was sent back, and by calculation, it should be around this time.

  Quan Pei smiled: "Li's wife is pregnant and will be back in a few days." Then she pointed at Yan Niang: "Go and tidy up Li Gege's room."

  The goose girl nodded her head in agreement, but felt a sense of suffocation in her heart, and slowly backed away.