Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 268 Transferred to Xunfeng Palace

Shanchiyuan.

Yang sat quietly in front of the dressing table, looking at her face in the mirror and sighing softly.

She was a person who was easily pessimistic and knew that her appearance was not as good as Empress Wu and Concubine Zheng.

Now, after wasting four years in Shanchiyuan, her appearance has faded a little. How can she gain the favor of the king with just this face?

Deep down in her heart, she already felt that this desperate fight would definitely fail, and what awaited her was an even more hopeless future for the Ye Ting Palace.

"Tuk Tuk Tuk!"

There was a knock on the door.

Yang took a deep breath and said, "Come in."

With a "creak", a palace servant walked in.

This palace maid was very young, only in her early twenties, and had a good appearance.

Strangely, she did not have the youthful energy typical of a young woman, but rather had a somewhat melancholy temperament, quite similar to Yang.

When Yang saw her, she felt as if she saw herself back then.

"Madam, you are looking for me." Zhu Zhenlian whispered.

Yang stared at her and said, "Xiao Lian, do you know that Concubine Zheng is pregnant?"

Zhu Zhenlian nodded and whispered, "I heard about it."

Yang said softly, "The Imperial Concubine is pregnant. As per usual practice, the Eunuchs will add twelve more palace maids to Xunfeng Palace to serve her."

Zhu Zhenlian was stunned for a moment, then looked up at her with a confused look on her face.

Yang said softly, "The Imperial Concubine is different from the Empress. Her criteria for selecting palace maids is not based on ability. She only likes maids who are proficient in music."

Zhu Zhenlian's heart skipped a beat.

Yang said, "I've already gone to see Junior Eunuch Qin. You're proficient in music and have good looks. Besides, you've been in the palace for over a year now. He's agreed to transfer you over."

Zhu Zhenlian bit her lip and said, "My lady, won't you be even more lonely after I leave?"

Yang sighed, "I'm about to take a risk. Regardless of success or failure, I won't stay here any longer. Now that I can help you find a good place, I feel at ease."

Zhu Zhenlian fell to her knees and cried, "Why are you so good to me?"

Yang smiled gently and said, "When I entered the palace, I was very similar to you. I was also bullied because of my voice and was almost poisoned and made mute."

Zhu Zhenlian was surprised and asked, "What happened next?"

Yang reminisced, "I met a noble lady who took me in, nurtured me, and later allowed me to serve His Majesty."

When she mentioned this, her eyes sparkled.

Zhu Zhenlian said: "But he was so cruel to you, leaving you here without paying any attention..."

Yang said hurriedly, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm just a lowly woman. Being able to serve Your Majesty and give birth to a prince is already a great blessing. How could I...how could I ask for more?"

Zhu Zhenlian looked at her and said, "If you were truly content, why would you sing the sorrowful Changmen Fu?"

Yang stared blankly into space and said, "If a person has no desires at all, what's the point of living?"

Zhu Zhenlian made a secret decision in her heart and thought to herself, "My lady, if I see the saint, I will tell him all you miss about him!"

Yang said softly, "Alright, pack up quickly and go to Xunfeng Palace. I hope you can find your brother soon."

Zhu Zhenlian said no more, knelt on the ground, kowtowed to her three times, then stood up and left.

After a while, she pushed the door open and entered a room, packed up all the sundries and wrapped them with a piece of floral cloth.

He then took a flute and put it carefully around his waist, then picked up his bag and left the house.

After arriving at the Beiyuan Eunuch Office and reporting, he was quickly brought before Qin Shaojian.

Qin Shaojian squinted his eyes and looked at her, then smiled and said, "Yes, you have a good appearance. No wonder Yang Yunu thinks highly of you."

Zhu Zhenlian did not like this old eunuch and kept her head down without saying a word.

Qin Shaojian wanted to say something, but suddenly he had a violent cough and couldn't speak. He waved his hand and asked her to leave.

Zhu Zhenlian took the transfer documents and a diamond-shaped palace plaque and left the Shanchi Courtyard.

This was the first time she left Shanchiyuan since entering the palace. Looking at the palaces and pavilions outside the courtyard, a feeling of escaping from a cage came over her.

She followed a eunuch and walked westward, being very careful along the way and making way for any palace servants or eunuchs she met.

Suddenly, she saw several guards standing near a palace in front of her.

Thinking of Li Shuitai, the Qianniu Guard who spoke to her that day, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she thought to herself, "I wonder if he is among those people."

Just as he was lost in thought, a eunuch in gorgeous clothes came over, followed by eight other eunuchs.

The eunuch who led the way hurriedly stepped aside, his waist almost bent to the ground.

Zhu Zhenlian was distracted and reacted slowly. By the time the eunuch leading the way wanted to remind her, it was too late.

"Where did this palace maid come from? How come she doesn't know any rules?" The eunuch in gorgeous clothes came up to Zhu Zhenlian and frowned.

Zhu Zhenlian's face turned pale, knowing that she was in trouble. She dodged to the side, lowered her head and bent over, saying nothing, hoping to get away with it.

The eunuch who led the way smiled and said, "Eunuch Wang, she has only been in the palace for a little over a year and doesn't know the rules. Please don't bother with her."

Wang Fusheng said, "How dare you bring a maid who has been in the palace for more than a year into the main palace?"

The eunuch who led the way hurriedly said, "She originally worked at the Shanchi Courtyard. Because she was good at music, Young Supervisor Qin chose her to serve the Imperial Concubine."

Wang Fusheng also knew the conditions that Concubine Zheng used to select her maids. Besides, since it was Qin Shaojian who chose her, he had to give him some face.

"Forget it. Next time you go to Xunfeng Palace, you must be careful and cautious. Don't be so irregular again, okay?" he said to Zhu Zhenlian.

"Yes." Zhu Zhenlian whispered.

Wang Fusheng said nothing more and left quickly with his men. Zhu Zhenlian waited until he was far away before asking the eunuch who led the way, "Who is that? He looks so impressive."

The eunuch who led the way said angrily, "That's the chief eunuch, Wang Dajian. You almost got him into trouble. Hurry up and leave! Don't dawdle!"

When Zhu Zhenlian heard that he was the number one eunuch, she was secretly shocked.

After walking around the palace for a while, I finally arrived at Xunfeng Hall. Led by the eunuch, I went through the side door to the back hall.

Along the way, you can see many palace servants, many of whom, like her, have musical instruments hanging around their waists.

It seems that just as Yang Yu-nu said, Concubine Zheng is very fond of music.

After many twists and turns, the eunuch led her to a room, handed her over to a tall palace maid, and then turned and left without saying a word to her.

The palace attendant looked at Zhu Zhenlian and said, "Look at the Wanfu ceremony."

Zhu Zhenlian bowed as she was told.

The palace maid made a "tsk" sound, and was obviously not satisfied. She was then asked to try other actions such as "holding an umbrella", "brushing the skirt", and "pouring tea".

Holding an umbrella means holding an umbrella for a distinguished person, arranging a cushion to lean on, brushing a skirt means kneeling down to wipe the lady's dirty skirt, and pouring tea is not mentioned.

If these are not done well, it will bring discredit to his wife and cause ridicule from other concubines.

After Zhu Zhenlian finished, the palace maid kept shaking her head.

"Why did you send such a person here? What is the eunuch's intention? Humph, follow me."

Take her to another room.

There was a famous woman standing in the room. She had a pretty face and her clothes were different from those of other palace maids. She wore a small round-winged hat on her head. She was obviously a female official.

The female official's name was Chuchu, and she was the head female official of Xunfeng Palace.

The tall palace maid was very respectful to Chu Chu and told her about the assessment just now. There was not a single good word in her words.

Chu Chu did not ask much about etiquette, but looked at the flute on Zhu Zhenlian's waist with her bright eyes.

"Can you play the flute?" she asked.

Zhu Zhenlian said, "I know a little bit."

After hearing her gentle voice, Chuchu nodded and said, "Blow it a few times and listen."

Zhu Zhenlian agreed, pressed her fingers on the holes of the flute, and gently moved her lips. A string of melodious and lingering notes floated out from the holes of the flute.

Chuchu only listened to the first few notes and smiled, "Okay, my wife is talking to the saint, so it's inconvenient for her to see you for the time being. I'll arrange a place for you to stay first."

When Zhu Zhenlian heard that the emperor was in Xunfeng Palace, her heart began to pound. She thought this was the closest she had ever been to the emperor since she entered the palace.

The conditions in Xunfeng Hall are naturally much better than those in Shanchiyuan.

Zhu Zhenlian got a clean and elegant little house with good lighting. The tables, chairs and benches in the house were all brand new.

Zhu Zhenlian walked over to the bed and lay down, she breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that she was finally able to stay, and it would be much easier to find her brother next time.

Shanchiyuan, Beiyuan government office.

In a room filled with incense, Junior Eunuch Qin looked at Wang Fusheng with a smile and said, "Why did Senior Eunuch Wang come here in person? If you have anything to say, just send me over to give you the instructions."

Wang Fusheng said, "The sage has given instructions personally, so I dare not neglect them."

Qin Shaojian narrowed his eyes and said, "Is it related to the woman who sang the song?"

He was planning to investigate, but Wang Fusheng sent someone to pass on a message, preventing him from investigating, which made him even more curious.

Wang Fusheng said, "The woman's name is Zhu Zhenlian. The Saint has ordered her to be transferred to Ganlu Palace."

Qin Shaojian blinked and said, "Zhu Zhenlian?"

"Exactly."

Qin Shaojian slapped his thigh and said, "Oh, that's unfortunate. She just left Shanchi Courtyard and was transferred to Xunfeng Palace."

Wang Fusheng was stunned: "When did it happen?"

"just now."

Wang Fusheng was slightly stunned.

Could it be the woman I just met, the one who was talking to the emperor across the wall?
Zhu Zhenlian's face appeared in my mind, and I felt a little disappointed.

This appearance would be considered a beauty outside the palace, but in the harem, it is a little ordinary. I wonder if the emperor would be satisfied.

Wang Fusheng bowed and said, "Mr. Qin, I'll take my leave now." He turned around and was about to leave.

Qin Shaojian suddenly said, "Wait a minute."

Wang Fusheng stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"

A gleam of light flashed in the dim eyes of Young Supervisor Qin, and he said in a deep voice, "Grand Supervisor Wang, I would like to ask you for a favor."

Wang Fusheng said respectfully, "If Mr. Qin has any instructions, please tell me."

Junior Supervisor Qin said slowly, "This old servant hopes that Senior Supervisor Wang can hold off for a day and not transfer Zhu Zhenlian to Ganlu Palace."

Wang Fusheng was startled, his eyes flashing as he looked at Qin Shaojian.

After a long while, he did not ask the reason, but simply said: "If the saint asks, how do you want me to answer?"

Qin Shaojian crossed his arms and said, "If the Saint asks about her, please ask Wang Dajian to find an excuse to postpone it for a day."

Wang Fusheng was silent for a moment, then reminded, "I can agree to Mr. Qin's request, but I also want to remind you that the Saint is very fond of her."

Junior Supervisor Qin said solemnly, "Don't worry, Senior Supervisor Wang, I will never let her come to any harm."

Wang Fusheng said no more, bowed, turned and left.

(End of this chapter)