Chapter 229: Entering the Palace
Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Entering the Palace
Xie Yuanjiu ate a bite of food on the side, her head lowered silently, not making a sound.
Second Master Xie, however, frowned with displeasure.
"The Crown Prince specifically requested Ningning, yet you’re sending Yuan Jiu in. Do you think the Crown Prince won’t be angry?"
Xie Suzhi’s expression also grew grave. "Second Sister-in-law, it would be best for Yuan Jiu to avoid participating in the selection for the Ninth Prince’s female official at this time."
"There was trouble last time. While it wasn’t entirely Yuan Jiu’s fault, if malicious people see her entering the palace to compete, they will surely target her. That would not be good for her."
He had laid out all the drawbacks of the matter quite plainly.
If they were not family, Xie Suzhi would never have given such a warning.
However, Second Madam Xie put down her chopsticks. "Brother, the way you say that... it’s not very pleasant to hear."
"That day with the airing of the scriptures, it was just a stroke of bad luck. It wasn’t that our Yuan Jiu did a poor job. Even if Consort Rong wants to place blame, she should consider why she herself didn’t choose a more auspicious day!"
Xie Suzhi’s expression changed, and he slammed his hand on the table. "Insolence! How dare you speak of a consort in such a manner!"
Second Master Xie’s brow furrowed. "Are you trying to give people more to gossip about?"
Second Madam Xie pouted defiantly and lowered her head. "Sigh, I’m just trying to do what’s best for Yuan Jiu. It’s one thing if she isn’t chosen as a female official, but if she offends Consort Rong, imagine how bad it would look if word got out."
After all, ever since Consort Li was sent to the Cold Palace, Consort Rong had become the one in power among the Six Palaces.
The great noble families are all opportunists who follow the prevailing winds. If they learned that Xie Yuanjiu had offended Consort Rong, how could she possibly continue to socialize in the circles of highborn ladies?
Xie Mingxu listened with a cool detachment, his expression calm as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
However, out of the corner of his eye, he was watching Shen Ningning beside him.
The little one had been holding her big bowl and burying her head in it ever since the meal began, completely focused on eating.
It was as if their discussion was of no importance to her at all.
She was eating with such gusto that Xie Mingxu couldn’t help but chuckle softly, placing another meatball in her bowl.
Second Madam Xie stood her ground, and Second Master Xie’s expression was grim.
Finally, Xie Suzhi turned to Xie Yuanjiu, who had been quiet the entire time.
"Yuan Jiu, what are your thoughts on this?"
"I..." Xie Yuanjiu lowered her gaze. "Uncle, I want to go to the palace. I refuse to accept this."
"Last time, you could say I was just unlucky with the heavy rain. This time, I want to compete for the position of female reading companion on my own merit. Even if I don’t succeed, I at least want to prove myself to Consort Rong." She finally voiced what was truly on her mind.
Xie Suzhi took a slow breath. "You need to think this through. When you enter the palace this time, other young ladies will be competing with you."
"Then, no matter how well you usually get along, they will see you as a rival. They might taunt you over the failure with the airing of the scriptures. Can you accept that?"
Xie Yuanjiu nodded firmly. "I can."
At this, Xie Suzhi nodded. "Very well. We of the Xie family have always respected our children’s wishes. Since you insist, I will help you one last time."
Joy welled up in Xie Yuanjiu’s eyes. "Thank you, Uncle!"
"Ningning," Xie Suzhi said suddenly.
The little girl looked up from her bowl, her little mouth glistening from the food.
"Hm?" With a grain of rice stuck to the corner of her mouth, she blinked her big, round eyes at Xie Suzhi.
Xie Suzhi smiled gently, wiped the rice grain from her lips, and said, "Since the Crown Prince has made the request and you’re willing to go, Godfather won’t stand in your way."
"On the day you are to enter the palace, you will go with Yuan Jiu."
Shen Ningning had no objections. "Okay, Godfather!"
Xie Yuanjiu’s fingers, which were holding her chopsticks, tightened slightly.
She asked, feigning nonchalance, "Uncle, Ningning is so young. Is she also going to compete for the position of female official?"
Xie Suzhi replied calmly, "The Crown Prince’s invitation to Ningning is merely a pretext, using the selection of a female official as an excuse."
"Ningning won’t get in the way of your selection, but you must remember to take good care of her when necessary."
"When you enter the palace, you represent the Xie family. Yuan Jiu, you are older. You should understand this."
Xie Yuanjiu glanced at Shen Ningning. The little girl was eating with great relish, seemingly oblivious that they were talking about her.
A faint sense of dissatisfaction rose within her.
But she still said aloud, "Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ve long thought of Ningning as my own little sister. It’s only natural that I should take care of her."
Second Madam Xie was the most delighted, laughing heartily. "Naturally! We’re all family. Our Yuan Jiu is an excellent older sister!"
And so, the matter was settled.
Consort Rong was selecting a female official for the Ninth Prince, and the list of candidates included five specially invited young ladies.
They were Shen Ningning, Ye Shangyi from the old tutor’s family, and three other young ladies from prominent noble families.
According to past conventions, every time a female official was selected, the specially invited young ladies were essentially the pre-selected candidates.
In the end, the female official would almost certainly be chosen from among these five.
However, there were exceptions.
Years ago, when the Emperor was still a Prince, Consort Rong had not been one of the specially invited ladies. Nevertheless, she had stood out from the crowd of noblewomen, been chosen by the Emperor as his female reading companion, and later been granted the title of Consort.
This time, in addition to Shen Ningning and the four other specially invited ladies, there were fifteen other high-born daughters from noble families.
In total, twenty young women would spend a five-day selection period in the palace.
During this time, the Palace Affairs Department would evaluate the young ladies on various aspects of their conduct to determine if they met the requirements of a female official.
It was said they not only needed to be proficient in the four arts—zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—but also had to be intelligent, knowledgeable, and shrewd.
Shen Ningning left more than enough supplies for Langlang and her grandmother to last the five days.
She also paid a visit to Wuer and the others, bringing them plenty of food as well.
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Shen Ningning was at the Xie Mansion, preparing to depart for the palace with Xie Yuanjiu.
The palace had sent a special contingent of guards to escort them. Their tall horses stood in the bleak north wind, looking all the more majestic.
Xie Yuanjiu had already boarded the carriage.
Xie Suzhi held Shen Ningning’s small hand at the doorway, giving her some last-minute instructions.
"Ningning, your status is more esteemed than theirs, so under normal circumstances, you won’t be punished or given a hard time."
"But if anyone bullies you, go to the Palace Affairs Department and find a female official named Fang Min. She will help you."
The little girl was dressed in a beautiful pink and white padded dress today. A white rabbit-fur scarf was wrapped around her neck, making her delicate face look even smaller and fairer.
She blinked her clear black eyes. "Okay, I’ll remember! Don’t worry about me, Godfather. I’ll just pretend I’m going there to play!"
’I’ve been to the palace so many times anyway.’
’Hmm, on this trip, I hope I can make up with Big Brother so he won’t be angry with me anymore.’
Xie Suzhi patted the little girl’s head and handed her a gilded hand-warmer. "Go on."
Shen Ningning waved goodbye to Xie Suzhi and climbed into the carriage.
Xie Yuanjiu looked at her and smiled faintly. "Ningning, don’t be afraid once we’re in the palace. I’ll take good care of you."
Hugging the gilded hand-warmer, Shen Ningning blinked her long lashes twice and nodded obediently.
However, just as the carriage entered the palace gates and neared the Waterside Pavilion and Flower Shed where the young ladies were to rest, the Imperial Guard dropped them off and promptly departed.
A group of young ladies had already arrived. They looked at the palace in the middle of the distant lake, then exchanged dismayed glances.
Someone complained, "Why isn’t there even an attendant to guide us?"
"Exactly! There are no boats and no bridge. How are we supposed to get over there?"
A cold wind swept across the lake’s surface, and snow rustled down from the surrounding trees.
The young ladies, accustomed to a pampered life, were all shivering from the cold, their faces pale as they complained incessantly.
Only Shen Ningning, a tiny figure among the group of older ladies, stood like a delicate, fair-skinned porcelain doll.
She stood there holding the small hand-warmer from Xie Suzhi, her expression bright.
Her little face was rosy and her eyes were strikingly bright, as if she didn’t fear the cold wind in the slightest.
Xie Yuanjiu keenly sensed it. ’There’s no path to the Waterside Pavilion and Flower Shed. This must be the first test the palace has set for us.’
After a moment of thought, she said directly, "Since there are no boats, it means the Chief Eunuch here is slacking off."
"Let’s all go find the steward and have him arrange for some boats."
A few of the young ladies found her words quite reasonable and were about to follow her.
However, Shen Ningning raised her small hand. "That’s not right. We’re not supposed to take a boat."
The other young ladies turned to her with skeptical looks. "Do you know the way?"