So what if I traveled through time? I'll continue to roll in another place

Although the Zhou family had many ancestors who held official positions, they were all local minor officials of the seventh, eighth, and ninth ranks. By the time of this generation, Zhou Qitai had become a fifth-rank Tongzhi, he was already considered a promising master in the Zhou family.

Zhou Qitai married Ji from the capital, and Zhou Yao married Xiao from the capital because they were favored by their wives' fathers. Zhou Han was able to marry a royal family girl because Chu Jingyun's family was a rare royal family with no one in the government. Low-ranking officials like them had never been noticed by the nobles in the palace. I don't know why the famous lady who protected the country and helped the country would specifically look for a daughter-in-law from a small family like them.

Zhou Qitai had never dealt with the nobles in the palace, so he asked tentatively: "Master, you must have been tired from the long journey. You should rest for a few days before continuing. My daughter-in-law is young, and I am afraid that she will offend you. Please teach her for a few days." After saying that, he bowed deeply again.

Wang Huai'en gave Zhou Qitai a false helping hand and said, "Mr. Tongzhi is too polite. It's just that when I came here, Madam told me to ask Madam Zhou to come to the palace as soon as possible. Madam has something important to ask, so I dare not delay."

"I don't know why Madam summoned my daughter-in-law. I hope the master can give me some advice." Zhou Qitai bowed again.

"How could I know about Madam's important matters? Sir, please don't embarrass me. It would be better if Madam Xiao Zhou could leave as soon as possible." Wang Huai'en didn't want to continue talking nonsense with Zhou Qitai: "The day after tomorrow at 3:45, I will go to the mansion on time to ask Madam Xiao Zhou to leave."

"Yes, yes, yes. I will ask people to prepare it right away and will not delay Your Excellency's business." Zhou Qitai respectfully sent Wang Huai'en back to the post station, and then hurried back to the mansion to inform Xiao Yueshan.

After the meal, the family gathered in the front hall to discuss matters, and Zhou Qitai deliberately dismissed the servants.

"Did Yueshan have any old relationship with Madam Protector of the Country and Assist in Eunuchs when you were in the capital? Why did Madam send someone to summon you into the palace?" Zhou Qitai asked with a puzzled look on his face.

Xiao Yueshan was also curious. Deng Tong reported the news to her as soon as he heard it. She also asked Shu Tong. The original owner had never entered the palace when she was in the capital. Her father was only a fourth-rank official. She mostly made friends with girls of the same family in the circle of ladies in the capital, and had never seen this lady in the palace.

"My daughter-in-law is curious too. I have no old acquaintance with Madam Protector of the Country and Assist the Fortune. I wonder how Madam knows about someone like me." Xiao Yueshan replied.

The few of them still had no clue, so Xiao Yueshan asked, "Actually, I want to ask my father, who is this lady who protects the country and helps fortune?"

Zhou Qitai only knew that she was the emperor's wet nurse and that his majesty trusted her quite a bit, but he didn't know the rest. Madam Ji had more information: "Madam Huguo Fuyun's maiden name was Shen. She was originally a commoner, but was later selected to enter the palace to raise the newborn prince, who is now his majesty. Because his majesty's biological mother, the Empress Dowager Chunyi Cisheng, died young, his majesty has been taken care of by Shen. It is said that later when the emperor was assassinated, Shen shielded his majesty from injury and saved his life, so she was given the title of Huguo Fuyun."

Xiao Yueshan complained inwardly after hearing this: "Isn't this very similar to the script of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Tianqi's wife, Lady Ke?"

"Madam Protector of the Nation and Assisting the Fortune holds a high position in the palace. You must bow your head and pay your respects to her, and be respectful and obedient." Madam Ji said with a worried look on her face. "I have been away from the capital for too long. The situation in the capital is treacherous, and the forces of all parties are intertwined. Yueshan must be careful everywhere on this trip."

"Thank you, father and mother, for your reminder. Yueshan will be careful at all times." Xiao Yueshan bowed to them.

Wang Huai'en did not give them a long time limit. Fortunately, Xiao Yueshan had originally planned to go to the ancestral temple. Now that everything was ready, Lord and Mrs. Zhou ordered people to add many gifts and more escort personnel, and the group went to the capital on time.

In fact, it has been a month or two since Xiao Yueshan came here, and he always feels like he is participating in the filming of a sitcom. No matter how they argue or have fun in the mansion, he always has the mentality of a spectator.

It was not until this long journey that she felt that she had traveled back to ancient times. The hot weather, muddy roads, shaking carriages, the disgusting smell of sweat mixed with the smell of livestock, and the inconvenience of maintaining personal hygiene all impacted her nerves. She couldn't even take a refreshing and fragrant shower after a day of traveling. She really wanted to go home! Whoever wants to travel back in time can do it.

During the raid, Xiao Yueshan had thought about getting some information from Wang Huai'en. But this eunuch was indeed a member of the palace, and although he smiled, he was very strict with his words. Even though he had accepted a lot of money from Mr. Zhou, he had not said a single useful word to Xiao Yueshan in the twenty-plus days they had been together.

Later, Xiao Yueshan gave up struggling and just thought of it as a trip. Wang Huai'en was a caring travel companion. Although the itinerary was tight, he was not only handsome, but also had a frail and elegant look that was pleasing to the eye. He was also very good at serving people. He was thoughtful and well-organized in everything. He knew all the states and prefectures, and had a lot of insights into food and beauty. Along the way, he told Xiao Yueshan a lot of stories about mountains and rivers to entertain her.

"Xiao Wang is so pitiful, he is so good-looking but he is a eunuch," Xiao Yueshan secretly felt sorry, thinking that he just made a good gay friend.

After twenty-four or twenty-five days of rushing, Wang Huai'en did not agree to Xiao Yueshan's request to return to her parents' home first. Xiao Yueshan had no choice but to instruct Shu Tong to take the luggage and servants to the Xiao family to settle down first. She took the gifts prepared by Lord Zhou and Madam Zhou and her own personal luggage alone, and let Wang Huai'en send her into the palace in a daze.

The carriage was moving along the long vermilion palace wall. It was very quiet all around. The clattering of horse hooves and the creaking of wheels made Xiao Yueshan feel uneasy. She wanted to ask Wang Huai'en, but she didn't know what to ask. She also thought that he would definitely not want to answer, so she had to give up.

She quietly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out. The palace was very majestic, with picturesque gardens, gilded roof tiles, water-lit halls, and moonlit pavilions. Occasionally, teams of palace maids and eunuchs walked by, adding a touch of liveliness to the picture, making people sure that this beautiful scenery and the royal wealth were not an illusion.

Wang Huai'en led Xiao Yueshan into the inner court through the corner gate. After submitting the visiting card and verifying her identity, she was allowed to pass. Her luggage was delivered to her residence by another eunuch. The Shou'an Palace where the wife of the Protector of the Country and the Assistant of the Fortune lived was in the northwest corner of the palace city. Wang Huai'en was very familiar with the roads in the inner court. He walked quickly with Xiao Yueshan and met almost no other people along the way.

Xiao Yueshan felt dazzled and didn't dare to look around. She had traveled to this palace before she traveled through time. At that time, it was crowded with tourists and bustling with people. It made people feel relaxed and happy. It was not as tense and depressing as it was now. She walked until her legs and feet were numb but she didn't dare to say a word.

When they arrived at Shou'an Palace, the maid who had received the news in advance was waiting at the door. Wang Huai'en went in to answer her, and the maid took Xiao Yueshan to the side room to bathe and change clothes, in preparation for the meeting with Lady Protector of the Country and Fuyun.

Xiao Yueshan had been suffering from the rush of the past month, and now she was embarrassed to strip naked in front of several maids. She had participated in more than ten examinations, big and small, and none of them required candidates to take a shower on the spot!

People have to bow their heads under the eaves, so just wash. The maid who served Xiao Yueshan was like a robot that had been input with instructions. She didn't care whether the water was cold or hot, and she pressed Xiao Yueshan to do the whole set. Xiao Yueshan was from the south before she traveled through time, and she had never experienced the northern bathing. The maid touched her all over, which made her very embarrassed. She didn't dare to cry out in pain, and endured it and let the maid "serve" her well.

"If I had known earlier, I would have gone to Harbin too!" Xiao Yueshan thought angrily.

After the bath, she washed and dressed up. She sleepily watched the palace maids bring a jacket and skirt for her to change into. They quickly tied her hair into a bun, put a few pearl flowers on it, and then replied to the door: "Madam, it's done."

Xiao Yueshan saw the woman in front of the mirror. She was wearing a double-breasted shirt with dark patterns of plum leaves and branches, and a silk skirt with lotus stems and green silver vines and hanging flowers. The patterns were complex, delicate, elegant and exquisite, without any complexity. With the pearl hair accessories scattered in her hair, she looked pure, gentle and generous. She was indeed a capable person in the palace. In just a short time, she had done such an outstanding job in both color matching and styling. Her skills were much better than those of the maids in Yangzhou Mansion.

After a whole day of hard work, Xiao Yueshan was exhausted and thought that even if this mysterious Lady Protector of the Country and Assistant to the Government asked her to sleep with her, it would be no more than this.

Wang Huai'en finally brought the hungry Xiao Yueshan to a side hall of Shou'an Palace. The hall was decorated with carved dragons and painted walls, with colorful decorations. There was a throne, screens, and gauze curtains inside. There were incense burners, incense pavilions, candlesticks, and ornaments on both sides. The candlelight flickered, the dark room was filled with fragrance, and a cool breeze brought freshness. Xiao Yueshan was instantly struck by the concrete manifestation of the royal family's wealth.

After all the trouble, she finally got to meet the legendary lady who protected the country and helped the country, but she still didn't see the real lady. The woman in palace dress was lazily leaning behind the screen, waiting for her reply.