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

"I heard that you were ill a few days ago. Are you feeling better?" Li Chengzhen showed a concerned expression.

He knew the importance of Yang Xuanji.

Yang Xuanji was a man of profound knowledge, erudite character, stubborn and a man who hated evil. In the eyes of civil officials and ordinary people, he was a well-known figure and a great scholar who would definitely be recorded in history books.

Li Chengzhen wanted to be Yang Xuanji's student, and he could tolerate Yang Xuanji's arrogance and rudeness because his uncle and mother said that Yang Xuanji's teaching would help shape Li Chengzhen's reputation.

Students taught by great Confucian scholars also have an extra layer of trust from civil and military officials and the common people.

Yang Xuanji politely bowed and greeted Li Chengzhen in a neither humble nor arrogant tone. Yang Xuanji replied, "Thank you for your concern, Second Prince. I have recovered from my illness and am fine."

Li Chengzhen is already twelve years old. Having stayed in the palace for a long time, she is no longer the innocent child she used to be.

He said to Yang Xuanji with an apologetic look, "Eighth brother is young and ignorant. He has been raised outside the palace for three years since he was born. He does not know the palace rules, nor does he know how to respect teachers. He offended you a few days ago. I apologize to you on behalf of Eighth brother."

Li Chengzhen deliberately mentioned the bad deeds of his eighth brother Li Chengtai.

Yang Xuanji's old face was grim, he stroked his beard and said: "The Eighth Prince is young and extremely intelligent. I have long wanted to ask the Emperor for permission to be his teacher. However, I caught a cold a few days ago and missed the opportunity."

Li Chengzhen's mind went blank for a moment.

I didn't react for a while.

Li Chengzhen asked: "Sir, why are you entering the palace today..."

Yang Xuanji stroked his beard and said angrily, "I will ask the emperor for permission to teach the eighth prince to read and understand reason! Zhang Fenghua is still a child and Zheng is a cripple. How can they compare to me?"

After that, Yang Xuanji said goodbye to Li Chengzhen, turned around and hurriedly walked towards the direction of Chang'an Palace. In broad daylight, the 70-year-old man walked briskly, which showed how impatient he was.

Li Chengzhen stood there in a daze, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him from head to toe.

Jealousy, resentment, bitterness, and grievance.

A thousand emotions exploded in his heart, making his head buzz. Li Chengzhen's uncle watched the whole situation from the sidelines, came over and patted his nephew on the shoulder: "You don't have to take it to heart. The teachers who taught you are all very knowledgeable."

Uncle Li Chengzhen is the Queen's biological brother and the current head of the Tan Tai family. He came to the palace today, ostensibly to visit the "sick" Queen, but in fact to urge Tan Tai Yinxue to compete for favor as soon as possible.

Li Chengzhen clenched his fists: "Uncle, how am I inferior to Li Chengtai? He is only four years old. Yang Xuanji would rather teach a four-year-old than be my teacher!"

The head of the Tan Tai family frowned and found it unbelievable.

Could it be that the Eighth Prince is really a genius?

Patriarch Tan Tai shook his head and comforted Li Chengzhen, "Don't think too much. Chen Fei's brother Shen Xiuming is Yang Xuanji's student. Maybe Yang Xuanji is willing to teach the Eighth Prince for Shen Xiuming's sake."

Li Chengzhen thought carefully about the connection, and the jealousy in his heart dissipated a little.

He gritted his teeth and said unwillingly: "Yang Xuanji claims to be a pure person, but I think he is hypocritical and has already colluded with the concubine."

Patriarch Tan Tai pondered for a moment and said solemnly: "The rising power of Concubine Chen is indeed a hidden danger."

Behind Concubine Chen is General Shen, who has a daughter and two sons. He is a huge threat and must be eliminated.

The head of the Tan Tai family said, "My dear child, you must work hard and be the best among the princes. The Tan Tai family will do its best to assist you."

Li Chengzhen glanced at his uncle and nodded obediently: "I know, I won't let my uncle down."

The head of the Tan Tai family felt relieved and thought that children were easy to fool. The Tan Tai family currently valued Li Chengzhen only because he was the only male in the royal family.

The emperor summoned Tan Tai Yin Xue to sleep with him two days ago, and gave her many rewards afterwards. When Tan Tai Yin Xue got pregnant and gave birth to a boy, there would be no more trouble for Li Cheng Zhen.

Patriarch Tan Tai and Li Cheng Zhen walked out of the palace gate together. Li Cheng Zhen looked obedient, but his heart was raging with anger.

Li Chengzhen thought, my uncle is so hypocritical.

She kept saying that her family would help her, but in reality, her mother was still trapped in Kunning Palace, and her family sent a beautiful newcomer to the palace. It was obvious that her family had already abandoned the queen, and was even ready to abandon him...

Li Chengzhen clenched his sleeves, feeling as if there was a raging fire burning in his heart. He wanted to burn down his family, the palace, his father, his mother, and his younger brothers.

...

The news that Yang Xuanji went to the palace to see the emperor spread quickly.

It is said that he argued with reason in front of the emperor, citing scriptures and classics, with an attitude of never giving up, and was determined to become the eighth prince's teacher.

Yang Xuanji even dragged his old bones to Guangwenguan to find Tutor Zhang and Master Zheng to compete with them in knowledge.

In the end, Emperor Li Yuanjing issued an edict, ordering Yang Xuanji, Zhang Taifu and Zheng Xue Shi to be Li Chengtai's enlightenment teachers.

The rumor circulating in the harem that "the Eighth Prince is ill and has a mysterious problem" was proven false.

The Eighth Prince is extremely talented, and several scholars are vying to teach him, which is truly rare.

...

In Yongning Palace, Shen Wei leaned on a rattan chair in the waterside pavilion, with a special beauty mask on her face and the "performance appraisal book" of the harem in her hand. There were many palace maids and eunuchs in the harem, and many of them just lived a lazy life.

Shen Wei introduced modern "performance appraisal" into harem management, arranging what the palace maids needed to do every year, month, and day according to their positions.

The palace servants recorded their completed work in the assessment book, similar to modern punch cards. Three days before the monthly salary was paid, the female officials who were good at counting would determine the amount of monthly salary for the palace servants based on the assessment form.

If the work is done well, the workers will be paid, and if it is not done well, the workers will be deducted. In addition, there are also generous bonuses given to the "top sellers" in each department to enhance the enthusiasm and competitiveness of the palace people.

A simple management system can make the complicated and corrupt harem lively.

"Master." Cai Lian walked into the pavilion, "Yang Xuanji has already started teaching the Eighth Prince. He is teaching very seriously with a spirit of not admitting defeat."

Shen Wei put down the assessment form in her hand, and raised the corners of her lips: "Just teach them carefully. You can ask the palace servants who take care of Chengtai and Chengyou to be more careful. The two children are still young, so don't work too hard."

The child is still young, and he should not study too hard, as it will damage his physical foundation.

Combine work and rest, and while studying hard, children must also maintain their nature and play and run more.

Cai Lian nodded gently and continued, "The two young masters' food and clothing are all provided by our own people. During their daily playtime, there are guards watching over them."

Children are fragile and can be blown down by a gust of wind. They must be protected to prevent evil people from taking advantage of their weaknesses.

Shen Wei rubbed her temples, thought for a moment, and then instructed, "Send those princesses from Leyou to Guangwen Hall as auditors. The three teachers are all knowledgeable, and it would be beneficial for them to listen to them."