Don't be a salted fish, the daily life of the concubine in the palace

...

The news that Shen Wei had given birth to a daughter reached the ears of the Queen, and naturally also spread to the Confucian Temple in the suburbs of Yanjing.

Tomorrow is the Spring Examination.

Rong Mama came to the Confucian Temple with an arrogant attitude, and skillfully put on an "arrogant" attitude, throwing two strings of money to Shen's mother: "Your daughter gave birth to a girl last night. Although a girl is not very useful, it will at least give the prince more children. These two strings of money were given to you by Shen, so please accept them."

Mother Shen's eyes were filled with tears.

Mother Shen didn't pick up Qian from the ground. She asked tremblingly, "Is my girl okay? Is she feeling unwell? Mammy, can I go into the palace to see my girl?"

As a mother, Shen's mother was unable to be by her daughter's side when she gave birth, and she was so anxious that she burst into tears.

Rong Mama turned around, her back arrogant: "You are not qualified to enter the palace? Shen is still alive, so she should not be dead. The child she gave birth to will be given to the princess to raise after the full moon."

Mother Shen was trembling all over: "Give it to the princess to raise? Will the princess treat the child well?"

Madam Rong shrugged without answering, and strode out of the Confucian Temple with an arrogant step.

Shen's mother collapsed on the ground, feeling sad and miserable. Shen Xiuming packed his luggage and ran out to help Shen's mother back into the house.

After pouring water and patting her back, it took a long time for Shen's mother to catch her breath.

Mother Shen patted Shen Xiuming's shoulder painfully and cried, "If you hadn't gambled, your sister wouldn't have sold herself to the palace as a concubine. The child she gave birth to would have to be raised by the princess... If it wasn't her own child, could the princess raise it seriously? How miserable would your sister's life be..."

Shen Xiuming knelt on the ground, kowtowed heavily to his mother, and said firmly: "Mother, don't worry, I will definitely be admitted to high school this year! Save my sister from suffering!"

All of Rong Mama's arrogant words just now fell into Shen Xiuming's ears.

Shen Xiuming turned his grief and anger into motivation.

He must pass the imperial examination and get rid of his peasant status. As long as he has an official position, his sister will have someone to rely on in the palace.

After bowing to Shen's mother, Shen Xiuming went out with his bag on his back. At the door, Mr. Yang Xuanji's carriage was already waiting.

Shen Xiuming walked into the carriage.

Yang Xuanji personally sent him to the Spring Examination Hall. The carriage drove slowly. In the carriage, Shen Xiuming seized every last minute and asked Yang Xuanji all kinds of questions. The carriage drove all the way to the outside of the Ministry of Rites.

The carriage stopped at the corner of the street.

"You are talented and gifted. This is your first time taking part in the Spring Examination and you have a good chance of being on the list. Don't be arrogant or impatient during the exam and just keep a calm mind." Yang Xuanji looked at the ambitious young man in front of him and seemed to see himself back then in a trance.

Shen Xiuming knelt on his knees and kowtowed three times to Yang Xuanji: "Teacher, thank you for your teaching! I have no way to repay you. If I can get into high school in the future, I will definitely honor you for the rest of my life!"

His eyes were full of sincerity.

Shen Xiuming's father died early, and he lacked fatherly love since childhood. He accidentally went astray and became addicted to gambling.

Later, Shen Xiuming turned over a new leaf and met Mr. Yang Xuanji. Yang Xuanji was a learned scholar with excellent character. In addition to teaching Shen Xiuming academic knowledge, he also taught Shen Xiuming how to be a good person. After spending several months together, Shen Xiuming respected him as his own father.

"Go ahead. I'll be waiting for your good news." Yang Xuanji's nose was sour as he helped Shen Xiuming up.

Shen Xiuming, carrying his bag of books, walked towards the Ministry of Rites step by step. Candidates from all over Qing Kingdom also slowly gathered to welcome this grand examination.

...

The Spring Examination lasted for three days, with different examination subjects every day. Students wrote essays in a small semi-enclosed space.

On the first day of the Spring Examination, Shen Xiuming came to his cubicle. He took a deep breath, skillfully took out the four treasures of the study, and waited for the examiner to hand out the test papers.

Before the exam started, Shen Xiuming was still a little nervous. He was afraid that he would not do well in the exam and that his poor sister would lose her support.

"His Royal Highness Prince Yan has arrived."

There were shouts from officials outside.

The Prince of Yan was one of the invigilators of this spring examination. The candidates stood up and saluted towards the high ground in the square. This was the first time Shen Xiuming met the Prince of Yan. After Shen Xiuming saluted, he secretly raised his eyes to look at the Prince of Daqing.

His nominal brother-in-law.

The King of Yan was wearing a silver and gold-embroidered loose robe, with his hair crown standing up high. He looked heroic and handsome, and standing on a high place, he gave off an oppressive feeling without even getting angry. Behind him, there were two black-clad guards on his left and right, with strong backs and broadswords on their waists and sharp eyes.

Shen Xiuming gnashed his teeth secretly.

It was this Prince Yan who hurt his sister time and time again. Shen Xiuming still remembered the scars on Shen Wei's arms and her haggard and red eyes.

With a blazing fire in his heart, Shen Xiuming silently clenched his fists. He must work hard on the exam! Strive to enter the palace examination and take the top spot!

Now that his sister has someone to rely on, King Yan will no longer ignore her.

"Please return to your seats, everyone."

"The Spring Examination is about to begin."

The candidates returned to their respective cubicles, and the officials from the Ministry of Rites distributed the examination papers in an orderly manner.

On the high platform of the examination room, the King of Yan took a sip of tea and his eyes fell on a cubicle in the examination room. The King of Yan had sharp features and he had just clearly noticed that the examinee was looking at him in a strange way.

It seemed unfriendly, and like he was sizing me up.

Half a cup of tea later, the tiger guard behind him handed over the file: "Your Highness, I found it. The information of the candidate in examination room C36."

King Yan opened it and took a look.

The file records the details of "Shen Xiuming": He passed the imperial examination at a young age, then fell into depravity for a while, and then studied hard in the Confucian Temple outside Yanjing. Last year, he accidentally received guidance from Yang Xuanji, and this year he participated in the Spring Examination.

"Shen Xiuming..." Prince Yan pondered over these three words, feeling as if they were familiar.

Prince Yan quickly remembered that Shen Wei had once told him that she had a younger brother who was good at studying.

Unexpectedly, Shen Wei's younger brother was on the list of candidates for the Spring Examination.

King Yan smiled and said, "Not bad, it can be used."

The struggle between Prince Yan and Prince Heng became increasingly fierce, with both sides trying to recruit talents and expand their camps.

Shen Xiuming is Shen Wei's younger brother. He is quite talented and has received guidance from Yang Xuanji. He is indeed a talented person who can be used.

...

The Prince of Yan was in charge of the examination, and each examination lasted for three days.

After the Spring Examination was over, the King of Yan had no free time. He sent people to supervise the examiners in marking the papers and keep an eye everywhere to prevent them from favoritism and fraud.

During these ten days, Prince Yan stayed in the Ministry of Rites and the Eastern Palace. Sometimes, when he really missed Shen Wei and the children, he would go back to accompany Shen Wei for a while, and then he would continue to work non-stop.

After finishing the Spring Examination, the Prince of Yan dragged his tired steps back to the palace in the dim night. As soon as he entered the Glazed Pavilion, he heard the loud cry of a child.

Shen Wei and two maids lay beside the rosewood cradle, frowning as they looked at the newborn baby.

"Prince, you are back! The child has been crying, and I really don't know what to do." Shen Wei's face showed joy when she saw Prince Yan returning.

King Yan went forward to check.

In the rosewood cradle, the baby was crying loudly. Unlike the wrinkled appearance when it was just born, the baby's skin has become whiter and softer, and it is cute and adorable, like a lovely meat dumpling.

Shen Wei took the child out of the cradle, but the child continued to cry.

"She keeps crying. I tried to comfort her for a long time, but she still keeps crying." Shen Wei was very distressed. She handed the child to Prince Yan and said, "Your Majesty, how about you hold her?"