If not abolished

After Hu Shanwei returned, he thought there was something strange about this matter. Although His Majesty was fighting outside, it was just a small election once a year, and it didn't cost much money, so it was not worth canceling. Thinking back to Concubine Wang's last words, and thinking about the previous things, he felt that his guess should be correct, but their whole family had been in Jining, why was it the third sister? Although he couldn't figure out the reason, it was a good thing anyway. If it weren't for the change of dynasty that year, how could my father be dismissed and returned to his hometown, and has not been transferred back yet.

If the third sister really had the opportunity to enter the palace as a concubine, it would be a huge fortune and honor for the family. Now, we have to find a way to dispel the idea of ​​the third sister entering the palace as a female official.

A few days later, Hu Shanwei returned home and asked someone to call Hu Shanxiang over.

After a while, Hu Shanxiang came in skipping and jumping, "Big sister." She greeted Hu Shanwei.

"Walk properly and act like a girl." Hu Shanwei looked at her naughty appearance. In the past, he thought that his sister was still young and at home, so he didn't discipline her so strictly. But now it seems that if she really becomes an imperial concubine and enters the palace one day in the future, such unruly behavior would be a serious crime.

"Ah? Oh. Got it." Hu Shanxiang stood up straight and bowed her head after hearing what her elder sister said. She thought, what's wrong with elder sister? She's never like this usually. Maybe she's in a bad mood today.

"Sit down first. I have something to tell you." Hu Shanxiang was interrupted before she could think of anything else to say. She had no choice but to sit down.

Hu Shanwei did not speak for a while. Hu Shanxiang thought about waiting for her sister to speak, and lowered her head to play with the other jade tassels on her waist. After playing with them for a few times, she quickly put them down, fearing that her elder sister would say that she was not dignified. Oh, it was too difficult.

Hu Shanwei seemed to have prepared what he was going to say, and he said, "I originally planned to let you participate in this year's small selection, but a few days ago, the royal concubine Wang in the palace said that because His Majesty is away on a military campaign this year, the palace and the outside world need to save money, and some people may even be sent out of the palace, so there will be no small selection this year. In this way, our previous plan has been ruined. If, if you really want to go to the palace, wait until next year." After saying this, Hu Shanwei looked at her nervously.

Hu Shanxiang suddenly didn't know how to respond. After a long while, she only said, "I'll listen to my elder sister's arrangements. There's nothing we can do about it. So, we can only wait another year."

"In fact, the current emperor no longer uses female officials like he did during the Hongwu period. He uses more eunuchs. I don't know if you will have a future if you enter the palace. Now, your two brothers are also promising. Maybe in a few years, your father will be transferred back, and you won't have to serve in the palace. By then, you can just stay at home and wait to marry into a good family. It's better than staying in the palace all your life." Hu Shanwei analyzed for him.

"That's what my sister said."

"But if you want, I won't stop you."

"Well, big sister, let me think about it. If there is nothing else, I will go back to my room first." Hu Shanxiang stood up.

"Well, go ahead. It's still cold these days, don't catch a cold."

"Sister, please resign."

"Girl, girl. What are you thinking about? You were so absorbed in the thought that I called you several times but you didn't hear me." Lingzhi called her back to her senses.

"I was thinking about what my elder sister said when she asked me to go just now."

"What does the girl think?"

"do not know."

"I think what the eldest lady said is right. Why should you enter the palace? It's so hard. You can stay at home and let the master and mistress find a good son-in-law for you in a few years. That would be great."

"But if so, I still have to go to the palace in the future?" Hu Shanxiang asked.

"How do you know that you will have to go in the future? Didn't the eldest girl say that the current emperor doesn't like to employ female officials? Even if you go, it will be difficult for you to become a female official? Can't you not go?" Lingzhi wondered what was wrong with the girl.

"She was not going to be a female official, but was summoned to the palace. To disobey the imperial order is a heinous crime punishable by execution of nine generations of her clan." Hu Shanxiang muttered in a low voice.

"What did you say, young lady? What crime?" Hu Shanxiang's voice was too soft for her to hear clearly.

"Nothing, I'm a little hungry. Go to the kitchen and see if there are any snacks. Bring some over."

"Okay, wait a moment, girl. I'll be there soon."

After Lingzhi left, Hu Shanxiang began to think about what she should do next. In fact, she didn't want to enter the palace in her heart. Not to mention that she was a modern person who traveled through the 21st century, and now she was wearing the clothes of a rich lady. She was asked to enter the palace to serve others and experience the most male-dominated and female-inferior place in this era. To be honest, she couldn't accept it. Previously, she had been in Jining, thinking that she would be summoned to the palace as the Crown Prince's Consort in a few years by the so-called auspicious sign, and then she was abolished for no reason, so she thought that entering the palace as a female official was a way to escape. But now, there are too many variables in a year, and many things now are different from the records of later generations. I have no idea what will happen in between. Most of the historical records of this Queen Hu started when she was summoned to the palace as the Crown Prince's Consort at the age of fifteen. Now there are still six or seven years before that time? It's so difficult that I don't have any history to refer to!

However, she is not in Jining now. If she is not in Jining before she is fifteen, will there be no prophecy of the star in Lu? It is not impossible. What a good idea. Well, in short, now, I will not enter the palace. Isn't it good to be a rice bug? Very good.

"Girl, I got you some lotus cake and raw sugar cake." After a while, Lingzhi brought two plates of cakes.

After Hu Shanxiang figured everything out, she was very happy. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly. She picked up a piece of cake and started eating.

"Miss, you look so happy, have you figured it out?" When Lingzhi saw that Hu Shanxiang was in a much better mood while she was getting some snacks,

Hu Shanxiang nodded while eating.

"I feel like the eldest lady doesn't want you to enter the palace. She said it was good before, but now she is explaining to you how good it is not to go to the palace."

Lingzhi's words inadvertently enlightened her. What made her elder sister change her attitude so easily? Her father became a hundred households of Jinyiwei because of her elder sister's honor and favor. Now, her elder sister is almost old enough to leave the palace, so he called her from Jining to continue the family's glory. He will not give up easily, unless... unless there is a bigger opportunity in front of her, this original opportunity will be eliminated. What is this big opportunity? The elder sister said nothing, just asked her to wait for a year. It would be terrible if she didn't reveal it. What should she do?

"Lingzhi, tell me, what made my elder sister give up the idea of ​​letting me enter the palace?"

"I can't think of this either, but the eldest lady can't hurt the young lady. Maybe she feels sorry for the young lady."

"Yeah, you can't hurt me, but I have to have other plans."

A few days later, Hu Shanxiang said she wanted to go to Huangcheng Temple to burn incense. Hu Shanwei had no objection and let her go. But unexpectedly, Hu Shanxiang sent someone back a few days later to say that she wanted to stay in Huangcheng Temple for a year to calm her mind.

At first Hu Shanwei disagreed. What if the grandson did something this year and the third sister was in the temple? What if the grandson came to see someone again? It was better to strike while the iron was hot. What was the third sister doing?

But Hu Shanxiang had made up her mind and refused to come back no matter what. Hu Shanwei could not go to Huangcheng Temple to arrest her in a high-profile manner, so he had to give up and only told her to come home for holidays and birthdays.

Hu Shanxiang sat in the Zen room, reading Hu Shanwei's reply. The plan was going smoothly. This was a method she had been thinking about for several days. This way, she could avoid many problems.

In the palace, Concubine Wang had someone pass a message to Zhu Zhanji, saying that everything was going smoothly as planned. She also told him that Hu Shanwei was a smart man and such an action would still arouse suspicion, but given Hu Shanwei's character, he would probably be happy to see it happen, so he didn't need to worry and could even make good use of it.

After receiving the news, Zhu Zhanji also began to prepare for the next plan. If he remembered correctly, around July, the emperor would return victorious from Mobei, and then, considering that he was old enough, they would start preparing to select a concubine for him, and the wife of the Marquis of Pengcheng would become active.

"Wu Cheng, have someone go to Yongcheng, Shandong, quietly, and don't alarm anyone."

"But, what to do?"

"Go check what's going on at Grandfather's house."

"What if the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess find out about this?" Wu Cheng asked in embarrassment.

"Just go ahead and rest assured. I'll take care of the rest."

"Yes."

Zhu Zhanji also suddenly remembered that when his grandfather the emperor mentioned that he should choose a concubine, his maternal family immediately recommended Sun. Was it a coincidence that there happened to be such a candidate or was it deliberately arranged in advance? Last time, he had never thought about such a thing. At the last moment, Sun still did not become the Crown Prince's Consort. Later, the wife of the Earl of Pengcheng had many complaints. At that time, he also hated Hu, so he never cared about it. Now think about it again, it may not be that simple. The Zhang family already had a Crown Princess, and then recommended another one. The reason is obvious. He just wants to know whether Sun is sincere to him or a pawn cultivated by others. If not, that would be the best, but if... it is also human nature.

Zhu Zhanji himself didn't know what kind of answer he wanted. This time, he was going to let Sun down. Not only would he not be able to let her become the Crown Prince's Consort, but he would also not be able to let her become the Queen in the future.

This time, if I don't depose myself, I won't be criticized, my reputation among the people won't be damaged, and I won't die at a young age.

Zhu Zhanji had a dream when he was sleeping at night. In the dream, he was floating in the palace. He saw Jingci chanting in the Buddhist temple. Then he saw Sun coming over and talking to her. After a while, Jingci fell down. What happened?

Zhu Zhanji was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He was awakened by the dream and sat up immediately, gasping for breath. The people who were guarding outside heard the noise and hurried in to see what was going on.

"Your Highness, Your Highness."

"Nothing, just a dream."