Harem Daily Life

Shu Cairen's funeral was very simple. He Linzhang burned some paper money and then had the coffin carried to the concubine's tomb for burial.

The Shu family lost a daughter and demanded severe punishment for the murderer, but the murderer committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and the matter had to end there. However, the Shu family was not satisfied and tried many times to enter the palace to meet the Queen Mother, but was rejected every time by the Queen Mother on the grounds of illness.

Master Shu returned to the mansion with a look of frustration. Seeing his wife and concubine waiting in the front hall, he shook his head and said, "Let's forget it. The Queen Mother is avoiding us, and His Majesty won't budge. The idea of ​​sending Xiaoliu to the palace is simply impossible."

Shu Yunyun, the concubine's daughter of the Shu family, who was called "Xiao Liu", was sixteen years old this year and was in the process of marriage negotiation. After Shu Cairen suddenly passed away, she stopped the marriage negotiation and prepared to enter the palace according to her stepmother's wishes.

When she heard her father say he was giving up, she narrowed her eyes and said, "Father, I didn't enter the palace to seek wealth and glory for myself, but to stay by the Queen Mother's side and take care of my aunt. If the path of a concubine doesn't work out, then... can I try the path of a female official?"

Since ancient times, if the daughters of officials wanted to make a name for themselves, they had to either marry a man of their dreams, enter the palace as a concubine, or become a female official. However, the third path was more difficult to take, and some people did not have the ability.

When Lord Shu heard his daughter wanted to become a court lady, he frowned and said, "To put it nicely, you're a court lady, but how is that different from a servant in the imperial family? Your parents didn't raise you to serve others."

"But, father..."

"Okay, let me think about this matter again. You can leave first." Shu Yunyun wanted to insist, but was stopped by Lord Shu.

After Shu Yunyun left, Madam Shu said, "In my opinion, it would be a good idea for the Sixth Miss to become a female official. My second legitimate daughter was never sent to the palace, so why should a illegitimate daughter of hers be sent to be a concubine? Master, please don't stop me. There's nothing wrong with being a female official."

Lord Shu gave her a cold look. "Your disagreement with Concubine Li is your own business. Don't involve the children. Xiaoliu is intelligent and good-looking. If she can make a chance and enter the palace to become a master, she must not be made a slave. Well, I will try to make this matter work again and talk to His Majesty tomorrow. I hope he will agree for the sake of my uncle. Hey, it's just one more person. It's not like he can't afford to support her."

Madam Shu rolled her eyes at him. "It's not that His Majesty can't afford it, it's that he simply doesn't want to. It's been years since His Majesty stopped selecting concubines, and he favors no one in the harem except Empress Tao. It's been like this for years, how could he change just because of the Sixth Miss? Besides, you haven't compared it. Even if the Sixth Miss is ten years younger than Empress Tao, she may not be more beautiful than her."

Lord Shu snorted coldly, "So what if she's beautiful? Her age is there, and he's already given birth to three children. His Majesty must have grown tired of her. I must have a good talk with her tomorrow and bring Xiaoliu's portrait. I don't believe that a young and beautiful girl wouldn't tempt him."

In the Imperial Study, upon hearing that Lord Shu was waiting outside the door again, He Linzhang couldn't help but frown: "Still not giving up? I've made it very clear, right? No one is allowed into my harem now."

Eunuch Zhang laughed and said, "Yes, I don't know why Lord Shu is so persistent. Then..."

Should I meet or not?

He Linzhang said helplessly: "Forget it, let him in. At worst, I can talk to him in person again."

As soon as Lord Shu came in, he unfolded the portrait of the sixth daughter of the Shu family and boasted, "Your Majesty, I brought the portrait of the sixth daughter today. It's not too late for you to take a look at it!"

He Linzhang raised his eyes, his gaze settling on the portrait. He saw the woman in the painting with eyebrows as dark as distant black, eyes as bright as stars, and a slight smile on her lips, a playful and lively air. She was truly beautiful, but he remained unmoved. He said calmly, "She is quite pretty, but I have made up my mind. I will not accept new people into my harem."

Lord Shu was anxious and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, this little girl is not only beautiful, but also extremely intelligent. She is only sixteen years old, at the peak of her life. If she can enter the palace, she will definitely be able to relieve your majesty's worries."

He Linzhang sneered, "I promised the Queen that I would never take in a new woman again. Uncle, please don't mention this matter again, or you'll blame me for turning against you."

Lord Shu's face paled, but he still refused to give up. "Your Majesty, the Shu family has devoted themselves to the court. It's a pity... that the Shu family is unlucky. Now I only ask Your Majesty to give Sixth Miss a chance, give the Shu family a chance. I also hope Your Majesty will consider my uncle's face..."

He Linzhang waved his hands impatiently: "I know the Shu family's contributions, and I respect my uncle, but this is no reason for you to force me to take in a new woman. Stop nagging me. Go back and choose a good family for the Sixth Miss. It will definitely be much better than letting her waste her years in the palace."

Seeing that His Majesty would not relent, Lord Shu had no choice but to put away the portrait. After a lot of thought, he said, "How about not being a concubine and becoming a female official?"

"Madam?" He Linzhang frowned tightly. "Uncle, are you willing to do that? That's a servant's job. After all, the Sixth Miss is still a lady of the mansion."

Lord Shu made up his mind: "Anyway, the Shu family will have to send someone to the palace. If she can't be a concubine, then let her be a female official, so that she can accompany the Queen Mother and show her filial piety."

He Linzhang sighed. The Shu family still wanted to be tied to the royal family and was reluctant to give up this relationship.

"Alright, since my uncle doesn't care, I have nothing to say. However, being a female official in the palace depends on one's ability. What are her specialties and what can she do? You should think about it. Also, I don't have time to take care of the affairs of the harem, and the queen has to accompany the children. You should talk to the virtuous concubine and ask her to evaluate her."

Lord Shu nodded quickly and thanked the emperor profusely before leaving.

When Concubine Xian heard that Lord Shu wanted to see her, she raised an eyebrow and said, "One wouldn't come to my palace for no reason. You've come to me here on official business, apparently? Then please come in, Lord Shu."

Since Shu Cairen died, the third princess gradually recovered, and Concubine Xian began to assist in managing the six palaces again. All matters, big or small, were sent to her first, and only those that were undecided would be reported to the queen, giving Tao Yanyan a lot of free time.

After Lord Shu entered, he exchanged a few pleasantries before explaining his purpose: "Your Majesty, I have just come from His Majesty's presence. His Majesty has agreed to allow my daughter, Shu Yunyun, to enter the palace as a court lady, but he is unsure of where to place her, so he sent me here to inquire."

Xianfei frowned deeply. While the palace did need female officials, there weren't any daughters from the families of second-rank officials who could fill the role. Xianfei cleared her throat and asked, "Master Shu, I wonder why the Shu family would send a daughter to be a female official? Isn't this... a bit of a waste of talent?"

Lord Shu smiled and said, "She is just a concubine's daughter. She doesn't want to get married and wants to find another way out, so... please ask the Concubine Xian to make some arrangements."

The virtuous concubine smiled and said, "I assist in the management of the six palaces. It is indeed my job to arrange and dispatch these personnel. However, anyone who wants to become a female official must pass the examination. How about this? Please invite Miss Shu to the palace tomorrow and we will examine her in person."