Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

The selection candidate was both angry and anxious. “I, I… I didn’t do it on purpose. Why are you making things hard for me?”

“Look at you, so shabby. Whose selection candidate are you?” Xia Dong Chun lifted her chin proudly. “Do you even know how many taels of silver this outfit costs? You ruined my clothes – how am I supposed to go into the hall for the selection? Letting you kneel and apologize is already going easy on you.”

The selection candidate’s eyes reddened with anger, her face full of grievance. “My father is a chief clerk at the Court of the Imperial Stud. Please forgive my offense, Elder Sister.”

“So you’re the daughter of a tiny seventh-rank official.” Xia Dong Chun’s tone dripped with contempt. “No wonder you look like you can’t be shown in public. Hurry up and kneel down to apologize to me.”

The other selection candidates gathered around to gawk. The supervising nannies seemed to have vanished as a group, and no one planned to step up and help the unlucky girl. An Ling Rong’s gaze fell on the female lead, Zhen Huan, and Shen Mei Zhuang. The two sisters had just recognized each other when the commotion over here drew their attention.

Zhen Huan frowned and stepped forward. Shen Mei Zhuang hesitated, but she didn’t stop her. Once the female lead stepped in, she quickly forced Xia Dong Chun to leave with a few sharp words. Li Si Qi raised her brows and watched the two of them pull the stiff, uneasy selection candidate aside to talk.

There was nothing left to watch. Everyone waited to be summoned. Soon a eunuch appeared and began calling names in groups to enter the hall. Group after group of selection candidates came out with their heads drooping.

Clearly, not many were chosen. Not long after, the female lead and Shen Mei Zhuang came out chatting, joy showing in their eyes. Needless to say, among the Han Banner group, they had been picked first. Li Si Qi was in the last batch.

When she heard the eunuch call their names, the six of them entered the hall at the same time.

“This young lady, daughter of An Bi Huai, County Deputy Magistrate of Song Yang County, pays her respects to Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings. May the Empress Dowager enjoy ten thousand blessings.”

Her voice rang out in the hall, clear as silver bells. The tired Empress Dowager and the impatient emperor both lifted their eyes to look. A woman like a lotus rising from water appeared before them. She stood there calmly, giving a fresh, clean impression, and the mother and son both felt more at ease.

“Not bad.” The emperor ordered, “Raise your head.”

Li Si Qi lifted her head slightly, her eyes lowered, letting those on the throne see her face clearly. Like a flower, like jade – that phrase flashed through the emperor’s mind. She wasn’t the most stunning, and she wasn’t the most dazzling, yet she still gave him a different kind of feeling.

“Her looks are acceptable!” the Empress Dowager asked. “Can you read?”

“Replying to the Empress Dowager, this young lady has only read the Three Character Classic, the Thousand Character Classic, and Admonitions for Women.”

“She’s lightly educated, and her looks are pleasing.” After commenting, the Empress Dowager turned to the emperor. “Emperor, what do you think?”

“If Imperial Mother likes her, then keep her.” As soon as the emperor spoke, the eunuch shouted, “Bestow a sachet!”

“This young lady thanks Your Majesty and thanks the Empress Dowager.” Li Si Qi kept her etiquette flawless. Only after paying her respects again did she withdraw.

The remaining selection candidates were all eliminated. They couldn’t help shooting Li Si Qi looks full of envy and jealousy. Li Si Qi didn’t care what anyone thought. She hurried out of the palace gates and immediately saw Lü He and He Xiang waiting by the carriage.

“Miss!” The two of them hurried up.

Li Si Qi nodded. “We’ll talk after we get back.”

“Yes!” Surrounded by them, she got into the carriage and went straight back.

… In the Imperial Study, Su Pei Sheng bowed. “Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived!”

“Summon her.”

The emperor set down the vermilion brush and took a sip from the teacup beside him. Empress Yi Xiu entered with Jian Qiu and performed a salute. “This consort pays her respects to Your Majesty.”

“Empress, rise.” The emperor glanced at her and asked, “Why did you come at this time? What is it?”

“Your Majesty, regarding the new women entering the palace, may this consort ask what ranks Your Majesty plans to grant the younger sisters?” Yi Xiu took out the list of ranks and palace residences she had written and smiled. “This is what this consort has assigned them. Please review it, Your Majesty.”

“Let me see.” The emperor took it and looked it over. His gaze quickly landed on Zhen Huan’s name, and he frowned slightly. “Why isn’t Zhen Huan a Noble Lady?”

“Your Majesty, there must be one Noble Lady each among the Manchu, Mongol, and Han. Noble Lady Shen’s father is Shen Zi Shan, Assistant Commander of Ji Zhou, regular third-rank. Attendant Zhen’s father, Zhen Yuan Dao, is a Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, regular fourth-rank. We can’t grant her Noble Lady and place her above Noble Lady Shen.”

“That’s true.” The emperor, who always kept to the rules, nodded. “I find the way Madam Zhen smiles rather beautiful. Grant her the character ‘Wan’ as her title. She shall be Attendant Wan.”

Yi Xiu’s smile stiffened slightly. “This consort obeys.”

“Respondent An?”

“Your Majesty, she is the daughter of a county deputy magistrate of Song Yang County. Her father’s post is really too… She can only be granted Respondent.”

“I remember she looked quite decent, and Imperial Mother even praised her.” The emperor pondered for a moment. “Grant her a title. Use the character ‘Xin’ as her title – Respondent Xin.”

“Yes. This consort thanks Your Majesty on Respondent Xin’s behalf.” Yi Xiu secretly clenched her teeth, her smile barely holding. “This consort will return to arrange for the palaces to be cleaned and await the new women’s entry.”

“Empress, you’ve worked hard.” The emperor was in a good mood and said something Yi Xiu liked to hear. “I’ll go see you tonight.”

“Yes!” Yi Xiu’s smile instantly became much more sincere.

She hadn’t expected Consort Hua to personally step in and directly lure the emperor into Yi Kun Palace. The Empress was so furious that her migraine flared up. The next day, she made her move and sent Fu Zi into Yi Kun Palace. At the same time, she handed the matter of assigning residences for the new women over to Consort Hua.

The selection results were known throughout the rear palace. Consort Hua directly tossed Zhen Huan into Sui Yu Pavilion. After all, she was the one the Empress Dowager wanted to block from entering the palace, yet the emperor insisted on bringing her in – enough to make Consort Hua hold a grudge. Everyone else’s residences remained unchanged….

“An Ling Rong, daughter of An Bi Huai, County Deputy Magistrate of Song Yang County, is appointed Respondent and granted the title ‘Xin.’”

“This concubine obeyed the decree!” Li Si Qi felt a bit surprised. She hadn’t expected to become one of the ones with a title as well.

Lü He slipped a light, soft sachet into the decree eunuch’s hand, and his smile deepened. He pointed to the person beside him. “Lady Xin, this is Senior Maid Ruo Lan. She will teach you etiquette.”

Li Si Qi saluted politely. “Greetings, Senior Maid Ruo Lan.” Another person who had never appeared in the drama.

“I wouldn’t dare!” Senior Maid Ruo Lan stepped aside and returned the salute. “Lady, you mustn’t be so polite with this servant.”

“I’ll trouble you, then.” Li Si Qi already knew these instructing senior maids belonged either to the emperor or the empress. She had already decided: don’t offend them, and don’t try to recruit them.

After seeing off the decree eunuch, Li Si Qi had Lü He arrange for Senior Maid Ruo Lan to go rest. The next day, Li Si Qi looked at the woman who seemed in good spirits and smiled. “The An family is a small household. We’ve wronged Senior Maid.”

“Small households have their own good points.” Senior Maid Ruo Lan replied softly. “Lady, your temperament is extraordinary. You’re not inferior to daughters of great houses at all.”

“Senior Maid flatters me.” Li Si Qi could tell the other woman truly had no disdain. She began asking about the palace situation, and it matched what she already knew.

In the original story, her own existence was an accident. Everything else was unchanged, except that she now had a title. After learning the palace situation, Li Si Qi followed Senior Maid Ruo Lan and studied etiquette seriously. With her special ability and all the dramas she had seen in her past life, she basically learned everything after being taught once.

What normally took ten days or half a month, she mastered in a few days and became extremely fluent. Senior Maid Ruo Lan secretly marveled at her intelligence and, without realizing it, began hoping this Lady would secure a place for herself in the rear palace. Time flew by. In a blink, it was the day the young ladies entered the palace.

“Miss, you must be careful in the palace.” Concubine Xiao looked worried. “I’ll take good care of Madam. You don’t need to worry about her.”

“Auntie, I’ll have to trouble you from now on.” Li Si Qi said softly. “Go back and give the pills I bought to my mother and my father. Don’t mix them up. Also give the pills to little brother. As for everything else, wait for me to send word. Other than letters I send back, don’t believe anything anyone says.”