blogombal Chapter 230 Not just anyone can enter her palace.
Chapter 230 Not just anyone can enter her palace.
Consort De was stunned, thinking to herself, "Who has a better chance than Chen Yuan? Is Chen Yuan pregnant?"
But she didn't dare say those words.
With tears streaming down her face, Wang Yuehua thanked Consort De, saying, "It is my misfortune that I have failed to live up to Your Majesty's great kindness."
Consort De was also frustrated and resented Wang Baolin for being incompetent and unable to win the Emperor's heart.
"It's not your fault. Don't take the Emperor's words to heart. If we're talking about who has the most opportunities to receive favor, she doesn't have any children either, does she?"
Wang Yuehuai cried, "How dare I compare myself to Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan? I am but a plain woman, and my father is just a minor official. It is only natural that His Majesty does not take me seriously."
Consort De recruited her into her ranks precisely because she saw that Consort De could suppress Yuan Zhaoyue.
"Alright, don't be sad anymore. Tears are worthless for women in the palace. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, think about how to please the Emperor!"
"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"
"I heard that when Yuan Shi bullied your maid, Chen Yuan stood up for you, so you and she have some kind of kinship. Look at the people around her. Who were Consort Yuan and Consort Guo before? Now they've risen to the position of palace mistress by following her."
If she could put in a good word for you, why would you be afraid of not having a chance?
"However, I heard that Consort Jin and the others who accompanied the Emperor never had the opportunity to serve him in bed."
"Those are Consort Jin and the others. One of them can't have children, and two of them are palace maids who have been born for many years but haven't served the emperor. The emperor has long been tired of them. You are different. You are at the prime of your life. If you don't seize this opportunity, you may not have the same good fortune as them in the future."
"Once a woman grows old and loses her beauty, and has no children, you must have witnessed the lives of the late emperor's low-ranking concubines. If you don't mind, then pretend I never said anything."
The morning greetings to the Empress still went on as usual, but Shen Shixi never came.
On the first day of the ninth month, the Ministry of Works set aside a separate suite with a curtain hanging at the door. Shen Shixi was inside, while outside was an assessment team of ten people, including Liu Jingzhong, Qiu Xingyan, and Guo Youming, the vice ministers of the Ministry of Works.
Those who are assessed are folk artisans with various skills. There are no requirements for their level of education; as long as they have works and can explain them clearly, they are eligible.
Whether it passes or not is up to Shen Shixi.
It must be said that true masters are often found among ordinary people.
Shen Shixi mainly examines a person's innovative ability. As long as the work is not a random patchwork and the principles can be clearly explained, it will be accepted.
At first, there were quite a few people trying to take advantage of the situation.
The ten-person assessment team didn't know where to begin. Shen Shixi first looked at the works. No matter what kind of works they were, Shen Shixi did not underestimate them. He eliminated many people based on their ideas, principles, uses, efficiency, and practicality.
Naturally, several people were kept behind, and Shen Shixi would give them some pointers. As a result, everyone was convinced of their abilities.
In about ten days, Shen Shixi selected seven people: some to improve plows, some to improve spinning machines, some to study plant growth, some to study rice pounding, some to study oil pressing, and so on.
But these people all had one thing in common: they were extremely enthusiastic about research. Shen Shixi gave them ideas and explained the regulations for carrying out the project to them before allocating funds. Thus, the Institute of Geology had its first batch of researchers.
Shen Shixi served as his long-term mentor.
During that time, her cousin handed her a sign once, saying she wanted to come visit her, but she didn't have time.
Finally able to take a breather, Shen Shixi asked Chaoyu to make a trip and have her cousin come over the next afternoon.
She usually sleeps in late in the morning.
The next morning, after paying their respects to the Empress, Consort Jin, Consort Yuan, and Consort Guo arranged to go to Zhaoyang Palace to deliver congratulatory gifts to Shen Shixi on his investiture as a concubine, and Consort Wang followed along.
She had been close to Consort Jin during this time, and Consort Jin was very pleased with her gentleness and consideration. Since the person wanted to follow her, she let her follow.
Shen Shixi frowned when she heard that Wang Baolin had also come.
Bai Ping said, "If Your Highness doesn't want to see me, let's do it another day! However, Consort Jin and the others are all here, so it wouldn't be appropriate to stop them all."
"Let's meet her!" Shen Shixi also wanted to know what she was up to.
In Baoci Palace, she had also heard about Consort De's push for Prince Baolin to serve her in bed to secure her favor. High-ranking concubines relied on new concubines to maintain their favor, and new concubines relied on high-ranking concubines for protection; this was simply a survival rule in the harem.
Consort De's approach was actually very professional.
However, Li Yuanke was a very domineering person and didn't like being told what to do.
Does he need someone else to arrange who he sleeps with?
Pan Baolin's earlier attempt to cut in line was because the new concubine had just entered the palace, and he was going to sleep with her several times sooner or later. The opportunity had passed, and he still tried this trick, so Li Yuanke naturally turned against him.
Wang Baolin finally entered the gate of Zhaoyang Palace. After paying her respects, she took her seat last, glancing around at the scene inside the palace with her peripheral vision. Her heart was already churning with emotions.
Luxury everywhere, extraordinary in every aspect, seemingly understated yet exuding an overwhelming sense of wealth.
Her family was very wealthy, but after entering the palace, all her confidence was completely shattered. Now, seeing Zhaoyang Palace trampling Fengyi Palace underfoot, she finally understood what true wealth and power meant.
Although they were both imperial concubines, she was worlds apart from others.
Shen Shixi was able to help two old women who came from palace maid backgrounds obtain the position of Ninth Consort. She had been in the palace for a year and a half, and was still a long way from becoming a Ninth Consort.
Resentment turned into jealousy, which gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake.
When it was time to present the gift, Consort Jin gave Shen Shixi the black fox fur cloak that she had intended to give her last year but hadn't. "You didn't want it last year. Since you've always refused it, I've been keeping it and giving it to you. I'll give you something else whenever you accept it."
Shen Shixi rolled her eyes at her, "You're still as shameless as ever."
Bai Ping accepted it, saying, "The leather is good, but your taste is terrible. The exterior and interior are both ugly. I won't wear it. I'll just give it away later."
There was a hidden meaning in her words, but Consort Jin didn't understand.
She said, "Whatever you want, just accept it."
Yuan made a long-sleeved shirt for Shen Shixi, and Guo made her a pair of shoes. Both were very finely made and made of good materials.
After the two women were promoted to the rank of concubine, their treatment in all aspects improved, and they were also rewarded when they were promoted, with the finest materials being used for them.
Wang Yuehuai presented a pair of jade rings, saying, "I have nothing else of value to offer, this is just a small token of my respect. I hope the Imperial Noble Consort will accept it with a smile."
This was the Emperor's reward she received the day after her first night with the Emperor. She was reluctant to part with it, but there was really nothing else of value to her. It was something she had brought from home to the palace. It looked alright at first, but now it was really nothing presentable.
Shen Shixi also rewarded them with gifts of equal value. After they left, Lan Ying came up and asked, "Your Highness, what should we do with these gifts?"
"Just put away the clothes that Consort Jin and the others sent. You and Lan Tan can share the pair of jade rings that Wang Baolin sent. There's no need to keep them."
"That's too valuable!"
"Aren't precious things meant to be used? Those were a gift from the Emperor, what would I keep them for? Do I lack these things?" Shen Shixi said. "From now on, anyone who comes to the palace should be stopped and not allowed in!"
"Aren't Consort Jin and the others allowed to come in either?"
"Don't let her in for now. If Consort Qiong comes, let her in."
This angered Consort Jin; not just anyone could enter her palace.
After leaving Consort De's palace, Li Yuanke did not enter the inner palace again. He was busy. Zhou Weiming's case had reached a crucial stage of final judgment. Marquis Jiaqing's entire clan had been executed, and the consequences were widespread. People were being killed all over the capital, and the air was filled with the smell of blood.
Shen Shixi's cousin had said a couple of days ago that she wanted to visit her in the palace. Today, she submitted her nameplate and entered. When Shen Shixi woke up from her afternoon nap, Chao En also brought her cousin in.
Seeing Shen Shixi getting ready, she took the comb and said, "I'll comb your hair. You loved it when I combed your hair and tied it into buns when you were little."
Seeing her cousin's radiant face in the mirror, Shen Shixi teased, "Look at your beautiful, rosy cheeks, could it be that your love star has set in?"
As soon as she spoke, her cousin ripped out a strand of her hair, causing her to drop her comb in panic. "You're lying! I didn't! Don't spread rumors!"
Shen Shixi stood up and looked at her. Her face was flushed, and she lowered her head, looking as uneasy as if she had committed a crime.
(It made it onto the reading list, and Tomato gave it a bestseller label today, so to celebrate, here's an extra chapter! There's one more chapter coming up, so don't miss it.)
I'm giving you all my drafts! Thank you so much to all my darlings who've been with me all this way, I love you all to death!
I've seen some comments asking if I get exclusive attention. I know I do, and I'll get it even after having a baby. I assure you, if I do, I definitely will.