Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 226

Chengming Palace.

When Xie Jiu returned, lunch had already been prepared.

Today, Chunrong went to Lanfang Palace with them. Qingfang stayed at Jingming Palace to work and couldn't go to see what was going on. So when she saw Xie Jiu and the other two return, she asked them about the situation with great curiosity.

"Five newcomers were selected."

Chunrong told her about the situation.

“Two come from good families, one from an ordinary family, and the other two are from less prominent families. The Guo family is the daughter of the Commander of Chuzhou Guard, the Empress Dowager’s niece, and the Hu family is of great interest to the Emperor. Her father is the Deputy Commissioner of the Salt Transport Commission, a fifth-rank official. The Xu family and the Lu family are also candidates for the imperial examinations. It seems that their families are only minor local officials of the seventh or eighth rank.”

Qingfang's eyes widened. "The Empress Dowager's niece has really entered the palace?"

"Would I lie to you? She's close to the Empress Dowager," Chunrong said, serving Xie Jiu soup as she spoke. "But Your Highness, I think that Miss Lu might be quite extraordinary. She's truly lovely, and men would feel sorry for her."

"A vixen?" Qingfang pressed.

Xie Jiu couldn't help but laugh when he heard the word. "When I first entered the palace, people used this word to insult me. Now it's being used on other people."

Springtime smiles too.

The main reason is that we know Xie Jiu doesn't really care about selecting new talent.

She laughed as she said, "She's not the seductive type, she just looks gentle, weak, timid and pitiful."

"Wouldn't that mean she's a crybaby?" Qingfang pouted and sighed. "If she really is a crybaby, then there will be plenty of times when she sheds tears in the future."

Even the most glamorous people in the palace have it tough.

Take Xie Jiu for example. Although she didn't suffer any mistreatment from the other concubines, she devoted a great deal of effort to serving Zhao Xingjin, being careful in every aspect.

Moreover, within just one year of entering the palace, she was poisoned once and nearly lost her life.

"The splendor of this palace is something outsiders yearn for, but once inside, they will find that it is actually just a cage made of gold and silver."

Xie Jiu's voice rang out, his eyes revealing a detached indifference that had grown accustomed to hardship.

"Let's cherish these peaceful days for a month or so. After a month, the newcomers will have finished learning the rules and officially entered the palace with their titles. Then things will get lively. Tsk, if you think about it, it will be Mid-Autumn Festival soon after they enter the palace. This year will not be quiet."

At this point, a faint smile appeared on his lips, seemingly teasing.

Chunrong and Qingfang didn't respond, but they were both actually a little worried about what lay ahead.

Those inside the palace were in a similar situation, and those outside were not much better off.

The selected young women had to learn the rules for a month before entering the palace. During this period, according to the rules of the Great Jing Dynasty, the newcomers would be temporarily housed in a temporary palace.

In other words, these five people will spend a month together in advance.

In fact, during the seven days before the palace selection, the group had already met.

Of the five, Xu was the least noticeable. Guo Rongning came from an outstanding family, Jiang Ningyu was the Empress Dowager's niece, and Hu and Lu had very different appearances. Looking at them, Xu, apart from being a bit plump, didn't have any particularly attractive features.

"There are three courtyards here. Ladies, please discuss and decide which ones you prefer. They're all clean and tidy," the head eunuch said with a smile.

He doesn't guarantee job placement; what if he offends someone?
Let a few people choose for themselves.

Upon hearing the words of the head eunuch, Guo Rongning knew that the eunuch did not want to take on the responsibility, so he lowered his eyes and spoke first.

“I think the southernmost courtyard seems to be the smallest, and it might be a bit crowded for two people to live together. Why don’t we have one person live alone, and the other courtyards can be shared by two people?”

After she finished speaking, Mrs. Hu replied with a smile.

"I like lively atmospheres, I wonder which sister would like to live with me?"

“If you don’t mind, sister, I’d like to stay in the first courtyard with you, would that be alright?” Jiang Ningyu offered. Madam Hu looked at her and immediately nodded, “Alright, then it’s settled!”

As he spoke, he walked over to Jiang Ningyu and stood beside her.

Seeing that they had made their choices, Madam Xu pursed her lips and turned her gaze to Madam Lu, who was standing to the side with her head down, and whispered, "Sister Lu, would you be willing to live with me?"

"Ah, okay, I'm willing." Madam Lu nodded timidly.

As a result, Guo Rongning was left alone.

She didn't seem to care about being isolated, and generously said, "In that case, I'll live alone in that small courtyard on the south side. But if you're not comfortable living there and want to switch with me, just come and find me."

After speaking, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

The other four naturally nodded in agreement.

That was how the division was completed. Everyone took their luggage and went inside to rest.

The small courtyard on the south side.

Baihe, Guo Rongning's dowry maid, had just finished making the bed when she came over and saw Guo Rongning flipping through a history book.

"Miss is still in the mood to read. I noticed that those four seem to be isolating her."

"Not really." Guo Rongning turned a page. "Hu seems to be a genuine person. That Miss Jiang probably saw that the Emperor likes Hu a bit, so she wanted to take the opportunity to get close to her and win her over in advance. As for Xu and Lu, they are both a bit timid and dare not get involved with me."

Lily blinked. "That's not bad. It'll be perfect for us to live alone, which will be more private."

"But we still can't let our guard down. This temporary palace is similar to the palace. We need to think twice before we speak or act," Guo Rongning cautioned.

"Yes."

Lily nodded in agreement.

A few days later, the imperial edict appointing the new emperor was issued.

Guo Rongning and Jiang Ningyu were both granted the title of Cairen, Hu was granted the title of Baolin, and Xu and Lu were both granted the lowest rank of Cainu.

To be honest, Guo Rongning was a little disappointed with this title. She thought that, based on her family background, she would be like Xie Jiu and Wei Jieyu, and be granted the title of Jieyu or Meiren upon entering the palace. She never expected that she would only be a Cairen.

But then I thought about it again. Most of the first batch of concubines who entered the palace were from families of meritorious officials. Wei Jieyu's father, Wei Zhang, was Zhao Xingjin's chief strategist, so he was naturally different. As for Xie Jiu, she had a wild way of entering the palace and a good family background, so let's talk about her separately.

As Guo Rongning pondered this, he came to understand many things.

Jiang Ningyu was equally disappointed. She also felt that the rank of Cai Ren was too low, after all, she was the emperor's cousin and had the empress dowager as her aunt. She never expected that she was only on par with Guo Shi.

The other three were quite happy, not caring about their rank or status. They were only concerned that with the imperial decree of investiture issued, their entry into the palace was a done deal. They could then focus on learning the rules and wait for their accommodations in the palace to be arranged before moving in.

Meanwhile, inside the palace...

During the morning greetings at Weiyang Palace, the Empress held up the newly appointed concubine and gave the other concubines a good thrashing.

Now that Consort Chen's pregnancy is stable, she comes to pay her respects every day. Consort Sun also came after her confinement period, so finally all the concubines in the harem gathered together.

Xie Jiu didn't know if others were provoked, but she certainly was.

Because the Empress said that she had arranged for Consort Lu to live in Jingming Palace.

Xie Jiu hadn't considered living alone; it's just that Lu Cainu, who looked weak and pitiful, wasn't really to Xie Jiu's taste. She wouldn't have had a problem living with anyone else.

Given how easily Lu Shi could cry after saying just a few words, Zhao Xingjin might later think that she was tormenting Lu Shi every day.

After thinking it over, Xie Jiu went back to Jingming Palace to change her clothes and then headed to Chengming Hall.

Zhao Xingjin was somewhat surprised to hear that she had come, as Xie Jiu had been actively seeking him out for some time.