Zhen Huan is still in love, and her sister's goal is to become the queen mother

"The Concubine Hua has been very irritable recently. She asks me to grind ink every day, using the excuse that the Manchus and the Han are one family. She has to stand there for hours. My arms are almost not my own anymore."

Fu Cha Peiyun complained to Huimin, rubbing her arm. She had never been a talkative person in front of outsiders, and her upbringing as a lady from a wealthy family also made her less likely to talk about other people's gossip behind their backs.

Fu Cha still understood the principle that trouble comes from the mouth.

But the two have formed an alliance now. The Eight Major Surnames already have many intermarriages. They were weak when they first entered the palace, but they could stick together to resist Hua Fei's difficulties. Moreover, since entering the palace, Fu Cha Peiyun has had no one to talk to.

He was not familiar with people like Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang. She disliked Xia Dongchun, who lived in the same palace with her, who was always jumping around. An Lingrong was of humble origin and she had nothing in common with him.

In such a large harem, Huimin is the only one who can chat.

Therefore, Fu Cha Peiyun often complained to Huimin, and the two also exchanged information during the complaints.

"The Concubine Hua started with you and has been causing trouble for the favored concubines one by one. You, Concubine Shen, it seems I am not far behind."

Huimin was helpless, this Concubine Hua had a bad temper, she could wait for the emperor from dawn to dusk, and from dusk to dawn. But she was infatuated with the emperor, and the emperor's woman was a thorn in her eyes and a thorn in her flesh, she wished she could eat her flesh alive.

So people like Noble Lady Fucha and other concubines like herself, who were still relatively favored, were in big trouble.

"You should be careful too. Concubine Hua has been targeting Shen Meizhuang because the Emperor allowed Concubine Shen to learn about the affairs of the harem. But I'm afraid she may be unhappy with something these days. If she sees you again, she will make you unhappy."

"Okay, you watch out too."

It had only been two days since Huimin's last complaint to Noble Lady Fucha, when Songzhi notified Huimin to go to Concubine Hua's palace.

"It's over. This is really a case of good things not working but bad things working. Speak of the devil and he will appear."

There was no other choice, Huimin had to pack up and go to see Concubine Hua. She even changed into a light headdress, did not bring any jewelry, and wore clothes that were easy to move in.

For Concubine Hua, she even dressed in a way that would make it easy for her to be punished.

Alas, Huimin didn’t know what to say.

I am the first person who consciously accepts punishment.

When he arrived at the Yiku Palace, he saw Concubine Hua lying on the couch with her eyes closed, covered in jewels and looking extremely noble.

Songzhi went to stand beside Concubine Hua, and Huimin knelt down to salute:

"Greetings to Her Majesty Hua Fei."

Hua Fei did not wake up, as if she did not hear anything, and just closed her eyes and dozed off.

Huimin was prepared to be troubled before she came, and she deliberately found the most stable posture when squatting down.

There is no way. She is a concubine and I am a noble lady. I am at the mercy of others and can only endure it.

Huimin squatted there quietly until her calves lost feeling and her calves trembled.

Finally, there was some movement from Concubine Hua. She curled the corners of her mouth and gently stroked her cheek with her hand with delicate armor, looking like she had just woken up.

"Okay, get up. My sister deserves to be called a virtuous woman by the emperor. She really knows the rules."

"You said the other day that you wanted to learn from me and the Queen, so I will teach you today."

Concubine Hua waved her hand, and Songzhi beside her brought over the prepared books and four treasures of the study.

"Nu De and Nu Jie are books about women's virtues. Since you want to learn, you should copy them a few times first."

Huimin knew she couldn't refuse the job of copying books, so she could only go and grind the ink.

As soon as the ink was ground, Concubine Hua called out, "You have to work very hard on grinding the ink. If you want to copy a book, you can't grind the ink improperly."

Concubine Hua pointed at Songzhi and gave her a secret look.

"Songzhi, go teach her again."

"My dear, please watch carefully. I will show you how to do it. Please learn it carefully."

Songzhi saw Concubine Hua's expression and deliberately gave Huimin some pointers at every step.

When Huimin started to grind the powder herself, Songzhi started to find fault with her everywhere, even finding faults in small things.

After finally getting through grinding the ink, half an hour later, Huimin was so tired that her arms were shaking.

When I was writing formally, my hands were already shaking a little, and the handwriting was not very beautiful.

Seeing her like this, Songzhi quickly stopped her.

"Alas, my lady, you can't do this. Our queen will come to check it out later."

There was no other choice, Huimin gritted her teeth, rubbed her arms, calmed herself down, and immersed herself in writing.

Just treat it as calligraphy practice. It will give me a chance to get more familiar with calligraphy. Just treat it as calligraphy practice, Huimin secretly told herself.

Only if you can endure for a while can you laugh to the end.

Huimin was held down by Concubine Hua for nearly two hours before Concubine Hua lazily called for a stop.

"Okay, let's stop here for today."

"Songzhi, go inform Concubine Shen and ask her to come over this afternoon. The Emperor asked me to teach her how to handle the affairs of the six palaces, so let her be more diligent."

Hua Fei narrowed her eyes, holding the jade wheel and pressing her face, and then mentioned casually:

"Xian Guiren, you said that you are all Guiren, and the emperor gave you the title of Xian, and asked her to learn to assist in managing the six palaces, but you... hehe, how come you have nothing?"

Huimin ignored Hua Fei's blatant sarcasm and provocation.

Assisting the six palaces can bring in money and place people of one's own, but I don't care about it now. After all, if this matter is not handled well, the emperor may blame me. Money? I don't lack it now. Place people? I have some people of my own in each palace.

And now that the emperor has allowed me to learn to assist in managing the six palaces, is that a good thing?

Being watched by Concubine Hua and the Queen, if she does it well, it will be within her duty, but if she doesn't, she will be held responsible.

It won’t be too late to consider these things after I’m promoted to the position of concubine.

Only after the Queen and Concubine Hua fall, will the real power fall into the hands of the remaining concubines.

Now I just get some scraps, what I want is the big part.

So Huimin just said respectfully:

"Mrs. Shen is favored by the Emperor. She is calm and capable of handling important tasks. I am stupid and need more guidance from the Empress."

"You are humble and responsible."

Concubine Hua curled her lips, as if she was bored. She waved her hand and asked Huimin to leave.

Shen Meizhuang had been standing for a whole day since she arrived, from morning to night. As for the half day she had spent alone, Huimin said, "Forget it. Be content with what you have."

Cao Qinmo had sent me a message before, and she had diverted the anger away from me several times before, but I couldn’t stop her this time, so I had to make plans early.

I have been mentally prepared, and it has been fine for half a day, at least no shady tricks have been used.

Ama's guess was correct, but for the sake of her brother, Concubine Hua would at most not use a trick like she did to fake a pregnancy for Meizhuang on Huimin.

But after all these negotiations, Hua Fei really has feelings for the Emperor. She might be jealous of other women around the Emperor, or she might be dissatisfied with me and make me copy or kneel as punishment. Unless I completely side with Hua Fei, which is impossible, I can only endure it now.

Patience can bring peace and tranquility, but momentary complacency cannot ensure the safety of the ship.

Since your goal is that position, you naturally have to be careful.