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Chapter 6
One moment everyone was sleeping soundly, and the next, they were pounded awake in the middle of the night. Scrambling hand over foot off the kang, the girls stood trembling before the bed, faces filled with panic. One bold soul gathered her courage to ask, "Nanny, is there a fire?"
The old palace maid’s face was as cold as frost as she glared at the speaker. "Are you dreaming? What fire!"
Once you entered the palace, having the lowest seniority meant you had to submit to authority. Even if their brains were still foggy, the girls had to stand straight and endure the lecture.
The old maid separated three girls whose names she called and set them aside. Then she turned back, scrutinizing each face one by one. "I truly didn't expect it. You all look decent enough on the outside, but who knew you were mountain bandits at night? Grinding teeth, talking in your sleep, and some even practicing shadowboxing while sleepwalking... What’s the matter? Is your home not big enough that you had to come to the palace to run drills?"
Only then did everyone realize that the sudden midnight wake-up call was for this reason.
However, since no one can control what they do in their sleep, being scolded for it felt inherently unfair.
The old maid had "conditioned" newcomers countless times; she knew exactly what they were thinking. She said coldly, "It’s no use muttering to yourselves. Rules are rules; not a single mistake is allowed. I remember warning you: in this palace, every word and action must follow protocol. Speak less and work more by day; sleep quietly at night without offending the Palace Gods. Clearly, you didn't listen to a word I said. I waited at the door for half an hour. The three I named seem to have faults born into their very marrow that cannot be fixed. As soon as it’s light, you’re out of the palace. As for the rest of you, watch your limbs and mouths from this moment on. At night, don't sprawl out like a starfish; don't grind your teeth, smack your lips, or pass gas. Even if you have to sleep with one eye open, don't let a weakness show. Being kicked out of the palace is a small matter of shame; if word gets out and you can't find a husband, that’s a big problem."
This was a harsh truth. Being rejected for being a restless sleeper was an embarrassing story to have follow you. The three girls who were to be expelled cried and begged the old maid: "Nanny, we weren't alert enough at night; we were wrong. Please give us one more chance. If it happens again tomorrow, we won't have the face to beg; we'll leave quietly on our own."
But the old maid showed no mercy. "If your noise had been minor, I might have tolerated it. But the three of you teamed up and nearly brought the roof down. You absolutely cannot stay. Enough, say no more. The palace rules are greater than the heavens, and I’d like to keep my head on my shoulders to eat." She tilted her chin toward the senior maids nearby. No matter how the three girls wailed, the senior maids used brute force to drag them out.
A sudden, strange catastrophe. The survivors stood in shock. Only now did Yi Xing realize how difficult it was to retain even the simple "privilege" of serving others.
The old maid huffed twice. Under the oil lamp, her powdered face looked ghastly white. "I’ve said what needs to be said. If anyone else fails, the rattan switch will fall directly on your bodies."
No one dared to disobey. Standing as straight as pens, they bowed their heads and responded, "Zhe."
With that, the midnight reprimand ended.
Once the old maid left, everyone finally dared to breathe, yet no one dared say a word. They scrambled back onto the bed and dove under their quilts. Those used to sleeping on their backs forced themselves onto their sides; those worried about grinding their teeth padded their molars with the corners of their blankets.
It was an uncomfortable night. At the fourth watch (around 4:00 AM), they were hurried awake again. Yi Xing washed among the crowd and went with the others to the kitchen. While waiting in line for porridge, she glanced outside. The February morning was still cold, with a thin mist settling under the eaves. The figures passing by in the distance looked like colorful jujube-paste cakes dropped into milk tea.
"Auntie, I got you a dish of Nan Xiaocai (Suzhou-style pickles). Eat quickly," Yin Zhu said, pushing a small plate toward her. "I heard that meal times in the palace are different from outside; who knows how they'll toss us around later. Regardless of taste, you must eat your fill."
Yi Xing nodded, saying wistfully, "When my niece left home that day, her face was full of resentment. I even thought, what’s there to be sad about becoming a Consort? Looking at it now, it’s not easy to live well in this palace."
Yin Zhu asked, "Do you regret it now?"
She had expected the pampered Old Auntie to finally taste the bitterness of life, but Yi Xing said, "No. Now I want to know even more what it’s like to be a Consort."
Yin Zhu laughed, shaking her head. "I bet you don't even understand the most important thing about being a Consort."
Yi Xing hadn't really thought about it. She looked at Yin Zhu with a listening expression. "You know?"
Yin Zhu glanced left and right before lowering her voice. "In this palace, everyone except the Empress Dowager and the Emperor is essentially a slave. We do the chores and serve the masters; as for the masters, their primary job is to serve the Emperor."
Speaking of the Emperor, Yi Xing didn't take him that seriously. She had crossed paths with him twice before. He didn't look like he had "three heads and six arms"; instead, he blushed easily and was as refined as a young lady. Later, when she heard he had ascended the throne, his image grew slightly in her mind, but then the next year he married her niece—lowering his seniority yet again. In her eyes, he reverted back to that little boy who used to pee everywhere.
It felt ridiculous to think about. Moreover, Yi Xing held a grudge against him. How great a mistake could the Empress have made for him to depose her? Although her life was spared—a blessing in disguise—couldn't he have just divorced her and sent her back to the Shang family? Why send her to such a distant temple to live as a nun?
There wasn't much human kindness in the imperial family. Her singular focus on climbing the ranks was because she couldn't think of any other way to rescue her unlucky brother and niece.
Just as Yi Xing was about to reply, Ying Tao leaned over and stuffed a piece of honeycomb cake into each of their hands. She said happily, "What luck! The head chef from Desheng Lou in our alley is now a cook in the palace. He recognized me and gave me two cakes. Eat them quickly before someone sees."
Honeycomb cake wasn't anything special; Yi Xing wouldn't have looked twice at it back home. But in the palace, such cakes were usually reserved for the mistresses' tables. New palace maids normally wouldn't have the luck to taste it.
Yi Xing asked, "Why give them to us? What about yourself?"
Ying Tao replied, "I’ve already eaten. These are for you and Sister Yin Zhu. Eat your fill so you can work well later."
She was a child after all, and her words were clumsy; one moment she said she got two cakes, the next she said she had already eaten.
Perhaps this is how people bond—the wealthy exchange precious gifts, while the poor exchange the most simple things to build friendship. Yi Xing appreciated Ying Tao’s heart but didn't plan to eat her food. She said with a smile, "I haven't liked pastries since I was small. Keep them for yourself. You’re at the age where you're growing; don't let yourself go hungry."
Just then, a senior maid came to call them. They hurriedly put down their chopsticks and hurried out.
The newly arrived girls hadn't been assigned specific duties yet; for now, they simply followed the "Aunties" to learn the rules. Among those who had failed the consort selection, many came from refined backgrounds and had been taught well at home. They thought it would be easy, but a single day of practicing postures and salutations left everyone exhausted by nightfall.
"Aiyoo, this body doesn't feel like mine anymore..."
"If I’d known it would be like this, I’d rather not have come to the palace."
Complaints echoed everywhere. Girls were rubbing their backs and legs, lying haphazardly across the kang.
Ying Tao, whose spot was several spaces away from Yi Xing and Yin Zhu, still had the energy of a child. While others were drained, she scrambled over to Yi Xing’s side and said pleasingly, "Auntie, you must be exhausted. Let me loosen your muscles."
Yi Xing wanted to decline, but the girl began without waiting. A child’s likes and dislikes are undisguised. Yi Xing was moved but also felt pity for her. She said softly, "We are all new here. You don't have a partner, and we are willing to look after you. You don't need to try so hard to please us."
Ying Tao shook her head. "I know you and Sister Yin Zhu are good to me, but I’m all alone and have nothing to offer you two. I only have a bit of strength; let me handle the water and the laundry from now on. I only ask that you don't find me stupid. If I do something wrong, please teach me—it’s better than being hit by the Auntie's ruler."
Ah, such a child trying so hard to be liked was truly heartbreaking. Yi Xing and Yin Zhu shared a look, and Yi Xing took her hand. "We get scolded by the Aunties ourselves; how could we be qualified to teach you? As long as you don't mind us, we’ll stay together from now on. Palace maids have to move in pairs; with three of us, if someone is busy, we can cover for each other. It helps you and makes things convenient for us, don't you think?"
Ying Tao was overjoyed. Grabbing their hands, she said, "Thank you! I grew up neglected at home; I didn't expect to find people to lean on in the palace. Auntie, you are my real Auntie. Let me kowtow to you..."
As Ying Tao prepared to bow, Yin Zhu caught her and whispered, "Don't just kowtow randomly. You only kowtow before the masters. If people find out, they’ll gossip. If you're grateful to Auntie, just keep it in your heart. On the outside, act just as you always do, alright?"
"Mm!" Ying Tao nodded happily and went back to massaging Yin Zhu’s legs.
Yin Zhu tried to push her away a few times, but seeing she couldn't, she let her be. During the brief chat before sleep, Yin Zhu said, "The girls who passed the third round will meet the Emperor in a few days. They are being picked by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor; we are being picked by Nanny Yan, the manager. Nanny Yan picks the ones she thinks are clever from the new maids and sends them to the palaces for the high-ranking consorts to inspect. The consorts keep the ones they like and assign them to the minor mistresses who need staff... So, whether we can move up a step depends entirely on Nanny Yan."
She lowered her voice, and the three heads huddled together. "I heard from Chun Shou, who was on duty today, that maids always bribe Nanny Yan. She only cares about money, not people. As long as she gets a benefit, sooner or later, she’ll find a way to send you up."
Yi Xing began to calculate. For a bribe like this, fifty taels per person at most. Her two-hundred-tael banknote should be more than enough for the three of them.
Her plan was perfect, but reality hit her unexpectedly. Yi Xing’s "wealth" was limited; after all, one can only bring so much into the palace past the searches. She had only managed to keep this bit of money by hiding it in her stocking.
After being assigned to the communal bed, she had wrapped the banknote in oiled paper and found a way to wedge it into a crack in the bricks under her mattress. She was sure it was safe. But when she went to retrieve it to smooth the way for their future, she discovered that the banknote had vanished into thin air.
Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/
One moment everyone was sleeping soundly, and the next, they were pounded awake in the middle of the night. Scrambling hand over foot off the kang, the girls stood trembling before the bed, faces filled with panic. One bold soul gathered her courage to ask, "Nanny, is there a fire?"
The old palace maid’s face was as cold as frost as she glared at the speaker. "Are you dreaming? What fire!"
Once you entered the palace, having the lowest seniority meant you had to submit to authority. Even if their brains were still foggy, the girls had to stand straight and endure the lecture.
The old maid separated three girls whose names she called and set them aside. Then she turned back, scrutinizing each face one by one. "I truly didn't expect it. You all look decent enough on the outside, but who knew you were mountain bandits at night? Grinding teeth, talking in your sleep, and some even practicing shadowboxing while sleepwalking... What’s the matter? Is your home not big enough that you had to come to the palace to run drills?"
Only then did everyone realize that the sudden midnight wake-up call was for this reason.
However, since no one can control what they do in their sleep, being scolded for it felt inherently unfair.
The old maid had "conditioned" newcomers countless times; she knew exactly what they were thinking. She said coldly, "It’s no use muttering to yourselves. Rules are rules; not a single mistake is allowed. I remember warning you: in this palace, every word and action must follow protocol. Speak less and work more by day; sleep quietly at night without offending the Palace Gods. Clearly, you didn't listen to a word I said. I waited at the door for half an hour. The three I named seem to have faults born into their very marrow that cannot be fixed. As soon as it’s light, you’re out of the palace. As for the rest of you, watch your limbs and mouths from this moment on. At night, don't sprawl out like a starfish; don't grind your teeth, smack your lips, or pass gas. Even if you have to sleep with one eye open, don't let a weakness show. Being kicked out of the palace is a small matter of shame; if word gets out and you can't find a husband, that’s a big problem."
This was a harsh truth. Being rejected for being a restless sleeper was an embarrassing story to have follow you. The three girls who were to be expelled cried and begged the old maid: "Nanny, we weren't alert enough at night; we were wrong. Please give us one more chance. If it happens again tomorrow, we won't have the face to beg; we'll leave quietly on our own."
But the old maid showed no mercy. "If your noise had been minor, I might have tolerated it. But the three of you teamed up and nearly brought the roof down. You absolutely cannot stay. Enough, say no more. The palace rules are greater than the heavens, and I’d like to keep my head on my shoulders to eat." She tilted her chin toward the senior maids nearby. No matter how the three girls wailed, the senior maids used brute force to drag them out.
A sudden, strange catastrophe. The survivors stood in shock. Only now did Yi Xing realize how difficult it was to retain even the simple "privilege" of serving others.
The old maid huffed twice. Under the oil lamp, her powdered face looked ghastly white. "I’ve said what needs to be said. If anyone else fails, the rattan switch will fall directly on your bodies."
No one dared to disobey. Standing as straight as pens, they bowed their heads and responded, "Zhe."
With that, the midnight reprimand ended.
Once the old maid left, everyone finally dared to breathe, yet no one dared say a word. They scrambled back onto the bed and dove under their quilts. Those used to sleeping on their backs forced themselves onto their sides; those worried about grinding their teeth padded their molars with the corners of their blankets.
It was an uncomfortable night. At the fourth watch (around 4:00 AM), they were hurried awake again. Yi Xing washed among the crowd and went with the others to the kitchen. While waiting in line for porridge, she glanced outside. The February morning was still cold, with a thin mist settling under the eaves. The figures passing by in the distance looked like colorful jujube-paste cakes dropped into milk tea.
"Auntie, I got you a dish of Nan Xiaocai (Suzhou-style pickles). Eat quickly," Yin Zhu said, pushing a small plate toward her. "I heard that meal times in the palace are different from outside; who knows how they'll toss us around later. Regardless of taste, you must eat your fill."
Yi Xing nodded, saying wistfully, "When my niece left home that day, her face was full of resentment. I even thought, what’s there to be sad about becoming a Consort? Looking at it now, it’s not easy to live well in this palace."
Yin Zhu asked, "Do you regret it now?"
She had expected the pampered Old Auntie to finally taste the bitterness of life, but Yi Xing said, "No. Now I want to know even more what it’s like to be a Consort."
Yin Zhu laughed, shaking her head. "I bet you don't even understand the most important thing about being a Consort."
Yi Xing hadn't really thought about it. She looked at Yin Zhu with a listening expression. "You know?"
Yin Zhu glanced left and right before lowering her voice. "In this palace, everyone except the Empress Dowager and the Emperor is essentially a slave. We do the chores and serve the masters; as for the masters, their primary job is to serve the Emperor."
Speaking of the Emperor, Yi Xing didn't take him that seriously. She had crossed paths with him twice before. He didn't look like he had "three heads and six arms"; instead, he blushed easily and was as refined as a young lady. Later, when she heard he had ascended the throne, his image grew slightly in her mind, but then the next year he married her niece—lowering his seniority yet again. In her eyes, he reverted back to that little boy who used to pee everywhere.
It felt ridiculous to think about. Moreover, Yi Xing held a grudge against him. How great a mistake could the Empress have made for him to depose her? Although her life was spared—a blessing in disguise—couldn't he have just divorced her and sent her back to the Shang family? Why send her to such a distant temple to live as a nun?
There wasn't much human kindness in the imperial family. Her singular focus on climbing the ranks was because she couldn't think of any other way to rescue her unlucky brother and niece.
Just as Yi Xing was about to reply, Ying Tao leaned over and stuffed a piece of honeycomb cake into each of their hands. She said happily, "What luck! The head chef from Desheng Lou in our alley is now a cook in the palace. He recognized me and gave me two cakes. Eat them quickly before someone sees."
Honeycomb cake wasn't anything special; Yi Xing wouldn't have looked twice at it back home. But in the palace, such cakes were usually reserved for the mistresses' tables. New palace maids normally wouldn't have the luck to taste it.
Yi Xing asked, "Why give them to us? What about yourself?"
Ying Tao replied, "I’ve already eaten. These are for you and Sister Yin Zhu. Eat your fill so you can work well later."
She was a child after all, and her words were clumsy; one moment she said she got two cakes, the next she said she had already eaten.
Perhaps this is how people bond—the wealthy exchange precious gifts, while the poor exchange the most simple things to build friendship. Yi Xing appreciated Ying Tao’s heart but didn't plan to eat her food. She said with a smile, "I haven't liked pastries since I was small. Keep them for yourself. You’re at the age where you're growing; don't let yourself go hungry."
Just then, a senior maid came to call them. They hurriedly put down their chopsticks and hurried out.
The newly arrived girls hadn't been assigned specific duties yet; for now, they simply followed the "Aunties" to learn the rules. Among those who had failed the consort selection, many came from refined backgrounds and had been taught well at home. They thought it would be easy, but a single day of practicing postures and salutations left everyone exhausted by nightfall.
"Aiyoo, this body doesn't feel like mine anymore..."
"If I’d known it would be like this, I’d rather not have come to the palace."
Complaints echoed everywhere. Girls were rubbing their backs and legs, lying haphazardly across the kang.
Ying Tao, whose spot was several spaces away from Yi Xing and Yin Zhu, still had the energy of a child. While others were drained, she scrambled over to Yi Xing’s side and said pleasingly, "Auntie, you must be exhausted. Let me loosen your muscles."
Yi Xing wanted to decline, but the girl began without waiting. A child’s likes and dislikes are undisguised. Yi Xing was moved but also felt pity for her. She said softly, "We are all new here. You don't have a partner, and we are willing to look after you. You don't need to try so hard to please us."
Ying Tao shook her head. "I know you and Sister Yin Zhu are good to me, but I’m all alone and have nothing to offer you two. I only have a bit of strength; let me handle the water and the laundry from now on. I only ask that you don't find me stupid. If I do something wrong, please teach me—it’s better than being hit by the Auntie's ruler."
Ah, such a child trying so hard to be liked was truly heartbreaking. Yi Xing and Yin Zhu shared a look, and Yi Xing took her hand. "We get scolded by the Aunties ourselves; how could we be qualified to teach you? As long as you don't mind us, we’ll stay together from now on. Palace maids have to move in pairs; with three of us, if someone is busy, we can cover for each other. It helps you and makes things convenient for us, don't you think?"
Ying Tao was overjoyed. Grabbing their hands, she said, "Thank you! I grew up neglected at home; I didn't expect to find people to lean on in the palace. Auntie, you are my real Auntie. Let me kowtow to you..."
As Ying Tao prepared to bow, Yin Zhu caught her and whispered, "Don't just kowtow randomly. You only kowtow before the masters. If people find out, they’ll gossip. If you're grateful to Auntie, just keep it in your heart. On the outside, act just as you always do, alright?"
"Mm!" Ying Tao nodded happily and went back to massaging Yin Zhu’s legs.
Yin Zhu tried to push her away a few times, but seeing she couldn't, she let her be. During the brief chat before sleep, Yin Zhu said, "The girls who passed the third round will meet the Emperor in a few days. They are being picked by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor; we are being picked by Nanny Yan, the manager. Nanny Yan picks the ones she thinks are clever from the new maids and sends them to the palaces for the high-ranking consorts to inspect. The consorts keep the ones they like and assign them to the minor mistresses who need staff... So, whether we can move up a step depends entirely on Nanny Yan."
She lowered her voice, and the three heads huddled together. "I heard from Chun Shou, who was on duty today, that maids always bribe Nanny Yan. She only cares about money, not people. As long as she gets a benefit, sooner or later, she’ll find a way to send you up."
Yi Xing began to calculate. For a bribe like this, fifty taels per person at most. Her two-hundred-tael banknote should be more than enough for the three of them.
Her plan was perfect, but reality hit her unexpectedly. Yi Xing’s "wealth" was limited; after all, one can only bring so much into the palace past the searches. She had only managed to keep this bit of money by hiding it in her stocking.
After being assigned to the communal bed, she had wrapped the banknote in oiled paper and found a way to wedge it into a crack in the bricks under her mattress. She was sure it was safe. But when she went to retrieve it to smooth the way for their future, she discovered that the banknote had vanished into thin air.
Read only on https://royaltywrites.com.ng/
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