Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 88 Your Majesty, it’s time to flip the card!

After Zhong Yue left, Chen Yuanyuan, who had been serving him all morning, breathed a sigh of relief, pounded his waist, and sat down on the couch.

Li Xiangjun also relaxed as if she had been freed and lay down on the couch.

"I'm so tired. I've been on tenterhooks all morning. Why are there so many rules in this palace?"

"Hurry up and get up! What's wrong with you like this?"

Gu Hengbo slapped Li Xiangjun on the butt. Li Xiangjun screamed and immediately got up.

Gu Hengbo sternly lectured: "Li Xiangjun, you must put yourself in the right place in the future. Do you hear me?"

"You are just a palace maid now. You should follow the rules and don't be disrespectful."

"The young master dotes on you and pampers you, but others won't."

"People in the palace value rules the most. If you break the rules, you will cause trouble for the young master, understand?!"

Gu Hengbo's harsh words made Li Xiangjun's eyes widen, and soon tears fell.

"Xiang Junzhi... I know. I'm... I'm sorry."

Li Xiangjun wanted to cry but didn't dare to, which made Chen Yuanyuan feel distressed.

Chen Yuanyuan went forward and hugged Li Xiangjun, gently comforting her: "Don't cry, don't cry, it's okay, Hengbo didn't mean to scold you."

Although Gu Hengbo felt distressed, he still scolded with a stern face.

"My lady, you are just too pampering her. If she continues to be so unruly, she will bring disaster to Concubine sooner or later."

Chen Yuanyuan is soft-hearted, so she cannot be soft-hearted.

Gu Hengbo was strict with Li Xiangjun at this time for the sake of the entire Yuqing Tower.

Chen Yuanyuan could understand Gu Hengbo's thoughts, and she also felt a little embarrassed.

"Hengbo, Xiangjun is the youngest among us, so it's understandable that some children have such bad tempers."

"Don't be in a hurry, take your time, we have just entered the palace today."

"Ah, you..."

Gu Hengbo sighed helplessly.

At the same time, Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan also arrived at their Biluoxuan in Yonghe Palace and Yaochi Garden in Zhongcui Palace respectively.

The two were very satisfied with their residence. Although they could only live in the side hall, this palace with its elegant and luxurious temperament was unique in the world.

Finally, Lady Gu also came to Chaolu Pavilion in Changchun Palace.

When Lady Gu arrived, Changchun Palace was deserted. Not to mention flowers, there were not many colored paper and lanterns hanging.

Moreover, the Chaolu Pavilion is located in a relatively remote area and is also the smallest of all the auxiliary halls.

Even though so many side halls were empty, she was still only given the smallest one.

It is obvious that the differential treatment among concubines had already begun when their positions were determined.

"Ms. Gu, you will live here from now on."

"I will be waiting outside the palace. Please tell me if you have anything to say."

Xu Jiang, the eunuch in charge of Chaolu Pavilion, was not very old. After he finished speaking, he just stood quietly by the side.

Lady Gu waved her hand and said, "Thank you, sir. Spring buds, please enjoy them."

"Yes."

Chunya, Gu Madam's personal maid, also took out a bag of silver and handed it to Xu Jiang.

After Xu Jiang took it, he smiled even more flatteringly.

"Ms. Gu, please take a rest."

Only then did Xu Jiang happily leave Chaolu Pavilion.

Although Lady Gu had the lowest rank, her father's official position was the highest among the five women.

Chen Yuanyuan and the others are just Zhang Wenshao’s adopted daughters, so we won’t talk about them for now.

Zhang Wan'er's father was only the director of the Imperial College, an official of the eighth rank.

Gu's father was the Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple, a fifth-rank official.

Her family background is more affluent than that of the other four girls.

This is also why Zhu Youtang only gave Gu the status of a lady.

The more prominent the concubine's family background, the lower her rank, the better.

The five concubines rested in their respective bedrooms.

They all walked towards Ciqing Palace where Queen Dowager Wang was.

……

The Ciqing Palace was crowded with people.

Wang never saw such a scene again after she was promoted from queen to empress dowager.

As the legal mother, Queen Dowager Wang had a higher status than Queen Dowager Wu, so the concubines came to pay their respects to her first.

Zhang Wan'er specially brought with her the hairpin given to her by Queen Mother Wang today.

She stood at the head of the concubines, followed closely by Chen Yuanyuan, then Liu Rushi, Dong Xiaowan and Gu.

All behaviors in the palace are arranged according to status, and no one is allowed to overstep their boundaries.

"I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

The five new concubines paid their respects to Queen Dowager Wang at the same time.

Queen Mother Wang looked at them with a smile, her heart full of joy.

Looking at the concubines' respectful looks, she finally tasted the power.

"Everyone, please get up quickly and take a seat."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

After the five concubines sat down, Queen Mother Wang asked again.

"Today is the first day that you officially move into your respective palaces. Are you satisfied with the environment?"

Zhang Wan'er was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, Xianfu Palace is so beautiful. I love it so much."

When Queen Mother Wang saw the hairpin on Zhang Wan'er's head, her smile deepened. "As long as you like it, the location of Xianfu Palace is the best among the six western palaces. I chose it especially for you."

Zhang Wan'er quickly stood up and thanked him: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for your kindness and for causing you trouble."

Queen Mother Wang smiled and said, "Don't worry about it. Your Majesty is determined not to appoint a queen for the time being."

"But the harem cannot be without a master for a day. There is no other way. I am here with Empress Dowager Wu to temporarily take charge of the harem affairs."

"But the position of queen will be chosen sooner or later."

"You are the first batch of concubines to enter the palace. In my opinion, the queen will definitely be chosen from among the five of you."

"You must behave well in the future and please the emperor. Each of you will have the opportunity to become the queen of Ming Dynasty."

Although Queen Mother Wang said that everyone has the opportunity to become queen.

But her eyes were always on Zhang Wan'er.

The women knew that Queen Mother Wang was secretly supporting Zhang Wan'er.

Zhang Wan'er was highly regarded by Empress Dowager Wang, so one can imagine how happy she was.

"Yes, I will remember the Empress Dowager's teachings."

After Queen Dowager Wang chatted with several other concubines for a few more words, she dismissed all the girls and asked them to go to Renshou Palace early to pay their respects to Queen Dowager Wu.

After the five concubines left Ciqing Palace, Zhang Wan'er got on the sedan chair and walked briskly towards Renshou Palace.

Riding in a sedan chair in the harem was a privilege only enjoyed by concubines of the rank of imperial concubine or above.

Other concubines of lower rank could only sit with the emperor when he slept with him, when he was given a sedan chair by the emperor, or when he went to other palaces with the emperor.

Today they entered the palace in a bridal sedan, which was also a sedan granted by the emperor, and it only happened this time.

Watching Zhang Wan'er walk away, Liu Rushi walked to Chen Yuanyuan and Dong Xiaowan and lowered her voice.

"Queen Dowager Wang is so supportive of Concubine Kang, it seems she will most likely become the Queen."

Dong Xiaowan was quite open-minded: "If she doesn't sit in the Queen's seat, there will be others who can take it."

"Our origins have already doomed us to have no chance of becoming queen."

Liu Rushi actually felt a little uncomfortable: "I understand this, but I don't think Concubine Kang is that magnanimous and generous, like a model mother of the country."

"I'm afraid that Concubine Kang is jealous."

Liu Rushi's words made Chen Yuanyuan and Dong Xiaowan frown.

"The other Miss Gu..."

Dong Xiaowan glanced at Mrs. Gu behind her and shook her head again.

"Ms. Gu was obviously chosen by His Majesty to balance the northern and southern origins of the harem."

"Even the position was only given to a lady of the lowest rank, so it should not be possible."

Chen Yuanyuan interrupted their conversation: "Oh, forget it. Let's go quickly so as not to delay paying respects to Empress Dowager Wu."

Liu Rushi and Dong Xiaowan stopped talking about this matter and quickened their pace towards Renshou Palace.

The location of Renshou Palace is not good. It is not in the twelve east and west palaces, nor is it the Cining Palace or Ciqiong Palace where the empress dowager and concubines lived.

Instead, it is a secluded palace outside the East Palace, where few people come and go.

After the late emperor abolished Empress Wu's position, he moved Wu from the Yiku Palace to the Renshou Palace.

This stay lasted for twenty-three years.

Zhu Youtang had previously planned to move Empress Dowager Wu to the Cining Palace, where Empress Dowager Zhou had previously lived.

The palace there is larger, better located, and more beautifully decorated.

But it was rejected by Empress Dowager Wu.

She has lived in Renshou Palace for more than 20 years and has developed feelings for it, so she doesn't want to move.

Zhu Youtang had no choice but to follow Empress Dowager Wu's wishes and let her continue to live in Renshou Palace.

But from this time on, the number of eunuchs and palace maids coming in and out of Renshou Palace increased several times more than before.

The five concubines arrived at Renshou Palace and, just like when they were at Ciqing Palace, they first paid their respects to Empress Dowager Wu.

"I pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Wu smiled as she watched the concubines pay their respects to her, with tears in her eyes.

She finally got the power that she had never enjoyed when she was queen.

"My concubines, please stand up."

"Give me a seat."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

After Empress Dowager Wu chatted with the five concubines for a while, she let them go.

He just gave me a special reminder before leaving.

"Now that you have officially entered the palace, it is possible that your majesty will select you."

"Everyone should prepare well today. I wonder which concubine will be lucky enough to win the first prize from His Majesty."

Empress Dowager Wu's words made all the ladies shy, and they all said goodbye with red faces.

But they were all very obedient. After returning to their respective bedrooms, they bathed carefully, dressed meticulously, and waited with anticipation.

At 1:15 p.m., Zhu Youtang had dinner in the Qianqing Palace.

It is called dinner, but in terms of time, it is more like lunch.

Because the emperor’s main meals were only breakfast at 5 a.m. and dinner at 15 p.m.

Of course, there are multiple snacks throughout the day.

The most important snack is at the evening time, which is equivalent to a midnight snack.

Zhu Youtang had just put down his chopsticks when Fu Dahai, the eunuch in charge of the Jingshifang, came over with a silver tray.

There were five name tags on the silver tray.

Fu Dahai knelt on the ground and held the silver plate in front of Zhu Youtang.

"Your Majesty, it's time to turn over the cards."

(End of this chapter)