Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Although Jiang Xinxin, as Zheng Nanyi, had never experienced the formal procedures of checking brides at the palace gate, she had heard Yingchun say that brides were required to take off their underwear for a full body skin check. This was the same rule as the election during the Qing Dynasty, and it was not much different. How could Jiang Xinxin accept this? !

After everyone left, Jiang Xinxin found an opportunity to ask Gong Shangjiao about the physical examinations of the brides. She didn't expect that Gong Shangjiao himself didn't know what the procedures were. He only knew that after the brides entered the palace, there would be a doctor to judge their fertility, and then after entering the palace, they would have to change into clothes and jewelry prepared by the palace. After they were selected, the dowry would be sent in after strict inspection.

Jiang Xinxin didn't beat around the bush with Gong Shangjiao and said directly, "I got sick and poisoned when I first came in, so I didn't experience those examinations. But I learned from Yingchun that it's reasonable to have a doctor specifically check your health. But later, the maids asked the brides to take off their clothes and directly check their skin, which is particularly humiliating."

Gong Shangjiao pulled Jiang Xinxin over with an apologetic look on his face and said, "I'm a man, and I never knew that the palace gates had such inspections on brides, but don't worry, there will definitely not be such rules in the future!"

Jiang Xinxin sighed and said, "If you say that the brides who come to the palace are not necessarily willing, this is also normal. After all, marriages outside are mostly arranged by parents and matchmakers. The man and woman only meet a few times before marriage, and some even meet for the first time on the wedding night."

"But even if a girl is willing to marry into the palace, after being examined like an animal, her impression of the palace will plummet to the bottom. How can she be willing to stay?"

"Especially for someone like Madam Lan, who already had a loved one but had to marry someone else due to her parents' opposition. After experiencing such humiliation, I completely understand her attitude of neglecting Gong Ziyu, her own son."

Gong Shangjiao quickly expressed his sincerity: "Nan Yi, you know me well. I don't look down on women at all. Even though Gong Zishang shamelessly chased after a guard these years and even did a lot of ugly things to pursue him, I just feel sorry for Gong Zishang. Even if I look down on her a little, it has nothing to do with her identity as a woman!"

Jiang Xinxin believed that Gong Shangjiao, Gong Yuanzheng and Gong Ziyu had no intention of looking down on women. However, the Shang Palace had a man named Gong Liushang who favored boys over girls. As a result, everyone in the palace felt that Gong Zishang's position as the head of the Shang Palace was not secure and that they would have to wait for her brother to grow up before she could take over. Therefore, the Shang Palace had become the lowest among the four palaces.

In order to quickly get over this topic, Gong Shangjiao offered sacrifice to the Council of Elders: "It would be fine if Gong Zishang herself was not able to establish herself, but the elders of the Council of Elders have been arguing about the palace's rules from the beginning. Even if Gong Zishang is only the nominal head of the Shang Palace, she cannot be ignored when discussing important matters."

"Moreover, Gong Zishang, as the bloodline of the palace, didn't even have the chance to participate in the Three Realms Trial just because she was a woman. Now I feel that this is very inappropriate. If any other palace encounters a woman who is more outstanding than a man in the future, will they abandon the palace's rule of prioritizing ability just because of gender?"

The more Gong Shangjiao spoke, the more he felt that he was right. However, changing the rules was not something that could be accomplished by just talking. Now that the time was right, he wanted Gong Zishang to take the lead and improve the status of women first. As for the situation outside, he, Gong Shangjiao, could not control it, but he could still have a say in the internal affairs of the palace.

As Gong Shangjiao's personal jade servant, Jin Fu has been serving Gong Shangjiao for nearly ten years. Today, he watched the whole process with his own eyes. As soon as Gong Shangjiao gave him a look, he immediately stepped forward to obey. Sure enough, he heard Gong Shangjiao's instructions: "Jin Fu, go to Shang Palace to find Gong Zishang and tell him everything that my wife and I talked about today. Whether Gong Zishang can seize the opportunity depends on his own ability."

Jin Fu had a lot to complain about, but unfortunately he couldn't express it because he was in a hurry to run errands.

Gong Zishang was of course very dissatisfied with Gong Shangjiao's look of rubbish towards everyone, but she knew that she had no merits that Gong Shangjiao would look down upon, so she would at most curse him behind her back. But the trauma she felt towards Gong Yuanzheng was purely psychological.

More than ten years ago, the palace gate was attacked by Wu Feng, and the other three palaces except Yu Palace suffered heavy losses. Gong Shangjiao and Gong Yuanzheng also lost their parents and brothers at that time and became orphans. Although Gong Zishang's father saved his life, he lost his legs and could only lie in bed unable to move. Therefore, his character became more and more extreme, and he looked down on his daughter Gong Zishang for a long time.

In addition, Gong Zishang's behavior became a little crazy and she had nothing to show for herself. Gong Liushang happened to have a son, so he gave up on Gong Zishang. Even when Gong Zishang reached the age to get married, he never mentioned her marriage and let her follow the guard Jin Fan and behave in an ugly manner.

However, Gong Zishang was still a little upset, so when Jin Fu came over to deliver a message, even though she teased Jin Fu a few words, after Jin Fu finished speaking, she couldn't even show her previous playful expression.

Jin Fu didn't care about not getting a reply. After all, the affairs of these young masters and ladies had little to do with them, the guards. Whether they were willing to seize the opportunity to fight or not had even less to do with him, a guard of the Corner Palace.

No one saw Gong Zishang hanging around for several days, but on the fifth day, Jin Fu came in to report to Gong Shangjiao, Jiang Xinxin and Gong Yuanzheng that Gong Zishang was outside asking for a meeting.

Gong Shangjiao only mentioned to Gong Yuanzheng about the procedure of selecting brides and checking the brides. He didn't have the chance to talk about how he encouraged Gong Zishang to stand up and fight for the rights of the women in the palace. But he was really happy that Gong Zishang could come today.

Gong Yuanzheng chuckled when he heard this and said, "Why did Gong Zishang come here? Why didn't she go to comfort Gong Ziyu, or run after that Jin Fan?"

Gong Shangjiao shut up Gong Yuanzheng with a look, and then Gong Zishang walked in. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that she had a more calm temperament.

After the greeting, Gong Zishang said bluntly: "Zhiren, I have made up my mind. As the master of Shang Palace, I will take the responsibility of revitalizing Shang Palace. Please explain to the Elders Council for me that I will request to participate in the Three Realms Trial in the future."

Gong Shangjiao looked at Gong Zishang, who had been transformed, with satisfaction and agreed to her request without hesitation: "Okay, as long as you have the ability, the palace will not waste any talent!"