The Second World in Ancient Times

When I learned that the Queen Mother's assessment was about to begin, my heart was in suspense. This was not only a test of everything I had learned and understood in this harem, but also a crucial hurdle that would determine the direction of my future.

The examination hall was solemn and dignified. The Empress Dowager sat high above, her eyes sternly scrutinizing each concubine who entered. I took a deep breath, telling myself to remain calm and not let the tense atmosphere affect me.

The first part of the ceremony was the etiquette assessment. The concubines, one by one, stepped forward to greet the empress dowager. I noticed some, so nervous that their gestures became stiff and twisted, their eyes frantic, unable to look directly at the empress dowager. Some even nearly fell while performing the ceremony, struggling to regain their balance, which drew whispers from the crowd.

When it was my turn, I stepped forward steadily, knelt, and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May you be blessed with good health and a long life." My voice was steady and clear, and my gesture was graceful and elegant, each movement perfectly timed, just as confidently and calmly as I would be at an important business function in modern times. I knew that in such situations, first impressions were crucial, and etiquette was the key to projecting my refinement and grace.

The Queen Mother nodded slightly, with a barely perceptible admiration in her eyes.

Next is the moral assessment, which is like an invisible test and filled with tension.

The Queen Mother spoke slowly. Although her voice wasn't harsh, it held undeniable authority. "Listen carefully, concubines! Today, I will test your moral character. This character is the foundation of the harem, and it concerns the court's ethos and the royal family's reputation. First, I would like to ask: Do you strictly abide by the palace rules in your daily life?"

A concubine stepped forward first. She looked a little flustered, her eyes wandering: "Empress Dowager, I... sometimes I may violate the palace rules due to negligence, but I never do it on purpose. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." Her voice trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat oozed from her forehead. It was obvious that she had something to hide.

The Queen Mother frowned slightly, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in her eyes: "Negligence? How can palace rules be neglected casually?"

Seeing this, another concubine hurriedly said, "Empress Dowager, I have always strictly observed the palace rules and dare not slack off in the slightest. But I think that although the palace rules are strict, special circumstances should also be considered. For example, if a palace maid or eunuch is sick, I allow them to rest for a while out of kindness. Does this also count as a violation of the palace rules?" She tried to defend herself cleverly, but there was a hint of cunning in her eyes.

The Queen Mother snorted softly, "A kind heart? Don't use this as an excuse to disobey palace rules."

When it was my turn, I looked the Empress Dowager straight in the eye and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "Empress Dowager, I believe that the palace rules are the cornerstone of order in the harem. Since I entered the palace, I have always kept the palace rules in mind and dared not transgress them in the slightest. Moreover, I treat the palace maids and eunuchs with generosity and kindness, and regard them as members of the palace family. We respect and support each other. In my opinion, good relationships in the palace are just like the harmonious team atmosphere in a modern enterprise. Only when everyone is united can everything go smoothly." I remembered that in the modern workplace, teamwork and compliance with rules and regulations are also key factors for success, so I used this analogy to illustrate my point of view.

After hearing this, the Queen Mother hummed softly and said, "It's good that you have come to this realization."

Next comes the talent assessment, which is undoubtedly the most critical and tense part.

The qin skill assessment began, and I was about to play a classical piece I was good at. But as I sat down at the qin and tried a few notes, I discovered the strings had been tampered with, and the pitch was off. I was startled, but quickly calmed down. In my modern life, I've participated in some improvisational music events and have experience composing and performing under unexpected circumstances.

I stood up and bowed to the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty, the pitch of this zither is slightly off, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to reproduce the original melody. However, I am willing to improvise a piece as a token of my respect for Your Majesty."

The Queen Mother frowned slightly. "Oh? Improvisation? That's not easy. Just give it a try."

I sat back at the piano, my fingers gently caressing the strings, a melody rapidly forming in my mind. Drawing on modern musical concepts, I combined simple yet evocative notes to create a fresh and vibrant melody. This melody incorporated modern chord progressions and rhythmic patterns, such as the "" chord progression commonly found in pop music, giving it a fresh and harmonious sound. Simultaneously, I began to sing: "The palace is as deep as the ocean, and the concubines gather to display their splendor. May the Empress Dowager be delighted, and may auspiciousness and health accompany the Emperor." My voice flowed gracefully, the piano and my voice blending seamlessly to create a unique atmosphere. I also employed modern singing techniques, including shifting between true and falsetto and controlling my breath, to enhance my voice's expressiveness, with crisp, bright high notes and a steady, rich bass.

When the song ended, I saw a look of surprise and admiration on the Queen Mother's face: "You are quite talented, girl. You can still perform so well in such an emergency."

Next came the dance test. I had planned to perform a classical dance, but just as I was about to begin, a nearby concubine deliberately bumped into me, nearly causing me to fall. I steadied myself, a surge of rage welling up within me, but I knew I couldn't let it out now. I quickly adjusted myself, capitalizing on the situation, incorporating the balance and rhythmic techniques of modern street dance into my classical dance.

I danced gracefully, my steps nimble and my form flowing. Sometimes I leaped lightly like a dragonfly skimming the water, employing modern dance techniques to briefly pause in the air, showcasing graceful postures. Other times, I twisted softly like the swaying of a willow branch, skillfully incorporating the undulating movements of modern jazz to imbue the dance with a sense of rhythm. My dance combined the grace and elegance of classical dance with the energy and innovation of modern dance, leaving everyone in the audience transfixed.

The Queen Mother could not help but exclaim in admiration, "This dance is unique. I have never seen such a fusion of styles."

During the calligraphy and painting assessment, I picked up my brush with an idea in mind. Drawing on modern painting techniques, I combined ancient landscape elements with modern abstract lines. I first used delicate brushstrokes to outline the landscape, imitating the sketching techniques of modern painting, precisely depicting the shapes and structures of objects. Then, bold lines and colors created a unique artistic conception. Employing the color matching principles of modern abstract painting, I used contrasting color combinations, such as red and green, and yellow and purple, to enhance the visual impact of the image. In calligraphy, I applied innovative understandings of modern calligraphy regarding the structure and stroke variations of characters to compose a poem in praise of the Empress Dowager. I focused on the spatial arrangement of the characters, giving each character a unique relationship of density on the paper, much like typography in modern design, enhancing the overall aesthetic.

When I showed my calligraphy and painting works, the Queen Mother looked at them carefully for a long time and said, "Your calligraphy and painting have both the charm of the ancients and the new and ingenious ideas. They are really good."

Throughout the assessment process, I remained calm and brave. Facing the other concubines' secret plots and various unexpected difficulties, I did not give up, but instead cleverly responded with the knowledge and skills I had accumulated in modern times. In the end, my performance was recognized by the Queen Mother, which gave me another solid guarantee on my way to the harem.