Spring Drunk Chang'an

Chuxiu Palace was one of the twelve palaces in the East and West. It was quite large. The main hall, the east and west side halls, the side halls, the wing rooms, and the ear rooms all added up to more than twenty rooms. But...

Not all of these houses are habitable.

The concubines... according to the unspoken rules, that is, their family background and status, generally had to live in a room with two or three people, and sometimes even four people in a room.

Although they slept in separate beds separated by screens, the concubines were still very uncomfortable.

Among the beauties selected this time, except for six who were so stunningly beautiful that people forgot their family background, they were truly from minor official families - six or less. Of the remaining twenty-three, none were below the third rank.

Even if a girl from such a family had known that her treatment in the palace would not be very good and could not be compared with that at home, the reality had finally come!

Their expressions were still inevitably unhappy, and their attitudes were still polite, but there was dissatisfaction in the corners of their eyebrows and eyes!

The female officials watched, expressionless on the surface, but couldn't help but smile bitterly in their hearts.

now……

Although they say that they are the ones who "teach" the concubines the rules and should have the right to "discipline" them, what is the reality? Which of these concubines does not have a bright future?

As long as you don't make any mistakes, you will at least become a royal lady, a princess or concubine, or even enter the palace to serve the emperor.

They are all future masters.

As for the female officials, although they were called "officials", they were ultimately there to serve people. If their "future masters" were unhappy, they could only put on a smiling face and deal with the situation carefully.

There was a buzz in Chuxiu Palace.

As for Liu Changan, she settled in very quickly. It was not known whether it was because of good luck or because the Queen Mother had arranged it in advance, but the room she was assigned was very large and faced south. It was almost dusk, but there was still sunlight in the room. Moreover, although it was a triple room, her 'neighbors' were Zhinian and Xiaoyue.

There were twenty-nine beauties, but these three were assigned to the same place. Liu Changan didn't believe that there were no 'hidden rules'.

However, the Empress has not held power in the palace for a long time and is said to be uninvolved in anything. In this selection, all matters will be arranged by Concubine Qu?

Would she be so kind?

Liu Changan thought about it casually, but didn't take it too seriously. After tidying up the room a bit, she sat on the couch by the window and chatted with Song Zhinian and Shi Xiaoyue...

While chatting, suddenly!

"Sister Chang'an, look~~" Song Zhinian narrowed his eyes, pointed out the window, his expression showing a subtle disdain.

It was as if I saw something dirty.

Liu Changan followed her finger and looked - the next second, her brows were deeply knitted, and her cheeks and masseter muscles were tense. After a long while, she curled her lips and whispered, "That's right, she just participated in this audition!"

“It’s no surprise that you can see it!”

"But, with her reputation, can she make the final selection? It's really... the royal family is not picky at all!" Shi Xiaoyue followed up with a snort and rolled her eyes.

The expression of disdain was evident in his words.

And, the one who was unanimously disliked by the three people was undoubtedly Liu Qingru. She knew that Qu Qiutong had taken the "back door", so she naturally entered the final selection smoothly. Now, she was standing in the middle of the yard with her cousin, and was being pulled by a concubine. I don't know what she said!

Yes, the youngest daughter of Liu Ye, the second master of Ningguo Marquis's Mansion, was also selected. She is two years younger than Liu Qingru and is just 16 this year. She has outstanding looks, a graceful figure, a quiet personality, and a good family background.

Although she was Liu Qingya, the daughter of the second master of the Marquis's Mansion, her status was elevated to a higher level because she was born of a legitimate family. She did not even need a "back door" and passed five levels on her own, killed six generals, and made it to the final selection!

Liu Qingru hadn't expected this at all, but after entering Chuxiu Palace and facing so many unfamiliar "opponents", her cousins ​​were ultimately a helper, so she put aside her past grudges - after she suddenly "became" a concubine, her two cousins ​​had mocked her...

She pulled Liu Qingya to her side, hoping that she would continue to be her 'follower'.

Of course Liu Qingya was unwilling. Her cousin's reputation was already infamous because of Lai Shi, the daring mother who had "exchanged a concubine for a legitimate wife" and had been executed by the Emperor's own decree. Liu Qingru was already a bad name. All families of equal status to the Ningguo Marquis's Mansion, or even a few levels lower, despised her to death, fearing that her daughter would "take her mother's surname"...

In the past, before that incident happened, even before Song divorced and took her children away, her uncle's family had always wanted to marry Liu Qingru. Even if her family background was a little inferior, she was still very popular. But now, with Lai's death, Liu Qingru was deserted!

Even the number of people who want to curry favor with the marquis's family is decreasing.

All those who came were from wealthy business families, small officials with six or seven members, and even big landlords, and they all wanted to marry their second son or youngest son’s wife!

No one wanted her to be the housewife or eldest daughter-in-law.

What they fear is that she will disrupt the family bloodline.

Liu Qingru's reputation was such that none of the Liu family, including Liu Xiu and Liu Ye, had expected her to make the final cut. When the two of them entered the palace to meet the emperor, Liu Ye even held her back, repeatedly urging her to stay away from Liu Qingru, lest she get dragged down by her and get covered in shit...

Liu Qingya readily agreed, and when lining up in the empty space of Qiankun Palace, she deliberately stayed away from her cousin. As a result, when she was finally chosen and the rooms were assigned, she was so unlucky that she had to share a room with her.

Of course, she was not the only one who was unlucky. There was also a concubine who lived with them, and the daughter of a scholar in the Hanlin Academy!

The Imperial Academy Reader was a fifth-rank official, neither too high nor too low.

Of course, the officials of the Hanlin Academy are slightly more noble than those of other departments. After all, only Hanlin can enter the cabinet. However, Liu Qingru is such a noble and proud person. How could she look down on the daughter of a fifth-rank official?

And that Miss Zhao was one of the "stunning beauties" selected in this selection. Judging from her words and deeds, she should be very favored at home. This can be seen when she was led into the house by the female official and chose the bed by the window without waiting for Liu Qingru and Liu Qingya to speak!

She doesn't know much about the ways of the world.

She picked the place with the most sunlight and the best ventilation.

Could Liu Qingru be willing to do that? She was deeply dissatisfied, but since she was in the palace, she couldn't say anything. She grumbled and made indirect accusations, but Miss Zhao was not one to be trifled with. Instead of trying to calm things down, she grabbed Liu Qingru and dragged her to the courtyard, demanding she seek justice from the female officials.

Liu Qingru was shocked and subconsciously pulled her cousin!

Liu Qingya: ...

What a fucking bad luck!!

What does this have to do with her?

She was reluctant, but she didn't dare to struggle too much, lest she be accused of disregarding sisterly affection, so she was naturally dragged into the yard...

A three-person standoff ensued.

This is exactly what Liu Changan and others saw!

"What are they doing? Are they arguing?" Song Zhinian watched for a moment, frowning deeply. He whispered in disbelief, "It's only the first day!!"