Zhao Rui Zhi has never thought her heart could pound so quick and violently, thump thump, frantically in her chest, when she thought of what Zhao Cheng Feng had said she was uncontrollably happy, the empress of the palace…, a person above and revered by tens of thousands of people, serving the emperor, how great is that honour?
Zhao Rui Zhi has never been a simple girl, if she was simple and candid she would not have appeared in the Zhao residence, and would not have sweet-talked the madam in to liking her so much…, although later because of Zhao Jin Yu appearance, her position took a dive, but she couldn"t help accept it, as an adopted daughter with no blood relation, it was already very rare for her to have reached her current position.
Zhao Rui Zhi was a girl filled with ambitions, because she had suffered more than others when she was younger, her greatest wish was to be above anyone, now such an opportunity was placed in front of her, how could she not be moved?
Zhao Cheng Feng saw Zhao Rui Zhi"s excitement, he thought it was expected but he also felt some disappointment, he always knew Zhao Rui Zhi cared about fame and profit, power, but seeing her like this, she was after all a woman he had affection for before…, to some extent his heart will always feel unwell, but thinking better of it, when Zhao Rui Zhi becomes the empress power, wealth, fame, what will she not have? This was the most important thing right?
He will help Zhao Rui Zhi reach that untouchable position, and Zhao Rui Zhi would in return help him achieve his dream, wasn"t this a win, win situation?
Zhao Rui Zhi"s heart steadied, she solemnly said, “If Rui Zhi can really enter the palace as an imperial concubine, I will not forget older brother"s helping hand.”
Zhao Cheng Feng replied, “I will naturally try my best.”
The two people had their own thoughts, but reached the same opinion, because it was too dark Zhao Cheng Feng was afraid he couldn"t leave, the courtyard would very soon be locked up…, that"s why they agreed to discuss in details in a few days time, he would leave first.
However he had nevertheless left a great mark on Zhao Rui Zhi, a fantasy more like a dream.
Zhao Jin Yu did not know what was happening there, and did not know the emperor had already organised her to be chosen in order for her to enter the palace earlier, her and grandfather talked happily, if she was to describe grandmother"s attention it would be like spring wind and fine rain thickly surrounding her, then grandfather"s affection was like the mountain river water, allowing her a wide s.p.a.ce to leisurely wander as she wished, but this was actually because of personality, men and women"s personality were different that"s all.
Zhao Jin Yu"s mistake was that she wasn"t a child who needed to be cared for but a mature young lady, that"s why she liked her grandfather so, sometimes… she would feel grandmother was too attentive and the emotional expectation she had of her would sometimes make her feel unable to breath, therefore even though she knew she ought to visit grandmother after dinner with grandfather, but actually gave an excuse saying it was too late to go, because she knew, grandmother would reproach her, and she really didn"t want to hear it right now.
The matter of the imperial concubine selection into the palace in half a month"s time was already causing a buzz, some people were happy, thinking this was a chance, some people however thought of how to reject such an honour, in brief some were happy some were not.
***
When the Hangzhou prefectural magistrate Gu Jiao saw Qin Hong his jaw nearly fell off, he racked his brain and could not understand why the emperor would send his confidant Qin Hong personally because of the imperial concubine selection…, he could only think of one thing, he reckoned Qin Hong was lacking in money recently, so he wanted to come over here to make some money before going back.
Since there were people who thought entering the palace was like entering an abyss they cannot return from there were of course people who thought it was a way to curry favour with the rich and powerful in the hope of advancement, but what to do when someone did not have the right requirements? Very simple they bribed a selection eunuch!
Even though Gu Jiao looked down on Qin Hong"s status as an eunuch, but he had no option but to fawn on such a person of status, in the end he thought of a way, he released the news that Qin Hong was in Hangzhou to oversee the imperial concubine selection, he thought that those who wanted their daughters to enter the palace were smart people, they naturally knew what to do, of course over a few days he received a pile of invitations, all wanting to pay their respects to Qin Hong, but with his status how could he just see anyone, that"s why he sent his subordinates to see what they were up to.
In merely a few days, Qin Hong"s house was packed with gold, silver and precious stones, prized calligraphies and paintings, Qin Hong was very satisfied, his gaze lingered on a painting of flowers and birds from the previous dynasty, he stroked it unwilling to let it go, he muttered, “If wife sees this she would certainly like it, sadly...” Qin Hong quickly moved his gaze away, he did not forget why he had come here, the emperor had earlier repeatedly warned, the reason for him going south was for the eldest young lady of the Zhao family, the other ladies merely served as a prop.
Since the emperor cared about this young lady he spared no effort to complete this task, that"s why he couldn"t accept these gifts, even though he was a eunuch with no future, but he knew the saying when you take something from others you have to cater to them, besides the emperor regarded this matter so importantly…, he had to ensure it happens.
Qin Hong gathered up the things, with a pain similar to seeing a beauty but unable to enjoy it, he angrily thought, this Gu Jiao! He really is a cunning person!
Just at that moment a subordinate said from outside, “My lord, there"s news from the Zhao residence.”
Qin Hong suddenly stood up energetically, walking he said, “Speak.”
“The Zhao family will choose a lady for this imperial concubine selection, but…” The subordinate recalled the abundance of children the Zhao family has, rather vexed he said, “There are seven or eight ladies of appropriate age in the Zhao family, and do not know who will be chosen.”
Who to choose? They had to choose that eldest young lady called Zhao Jin Yu, this did not need to be said! Qin Hong silently cursed, his mind however began to turn, in just a moment he thought of an excellent plan, saying, “Go spread the news, say His Majesty has seen a fortune teller, who said he is most compatible with those born in the year of the Rabbit.”
Chosen in this imperial concubine selection was the person the emperor liked…, if the emperor didn"t like them, what would the point be if they can"t make the emperor look at them in favour? Wouldn"t it be better off for them to marry their daughters to a common family? That"s why Qin Hong released the information that the emperor was most compatible with someone born in the year of the rabbit this year, naturally a lot of people would have to walk away.
Thinking about it the subordinate then understood Qin Hong"s intentions, he said, “This subordinate understands, but my lord…are you not going to pay a visit to the Zhao residence? It might be good to take a look at that Zhao eldest young lady.” This subordinate was Qin Hong"s trusted aide, ever since they arrived at Hangzhou he had secretly observed Zhao Jin Yu, her safety was his responsibility, that"s why he knew the whole story behind this.
Qin Hong sneered saying, “Would such a distinguished family as the Zhao family receive such a eunuch like me?”
The subordinate was indifferent, he rather regretted his words, after a moment of silence he respectfully said, “Then this subordinate will go do so.”
“Go, go.” Waiting until his subordinate left, Qin Hong faced the north saying to himself, “So what if I"m an eunuch? Su Qing Chen isn"t an eunuch…, hehe, but wasn"t he sent to the Northeast to enjoy the snow having failed his job?” Thinking about Su Qing Chen looking for the non-existent snow lotus herb in the bitter snowy weather he felt comfort from head to toe, his mind thought even more about his wishes when he completes this task.
Qin Hong did not know himself, just from saying that the emperor was most compatible with women born in the year of the rabbit, the number of girls in Hangzhou born in the year of the rabbit rose, the families who had been prepared to send their daughters of as a partic.i.p.ant of the selection, after hearing this matter they began to search for girls born in the year of the rabbit amongst their relatives…, naturally those girls born in the year of the rabbit, each one was delighted, as if so long as they enter the palace they could become a pampered imperial concubine.
A huge argument arose in the Zhao family because of this, peculiarly the only young lady in the Zhao family just happened to be Zhao Jin Yu. This was also the reason why Qin Hong said it.
The madam holding Zhao Jin Yu"s hand started to wipe her tears, saying, “Qing Luan, you are grandmother"s life line, how can your grandmother bear to let you go to the palace to suffer?”
Zhao Jin Yu also did not think in a blink she would actually be entered into the imperial concubine selection list, she naturally knew of the imperial concubine selection previously, because this became the hot topic of Hangzhou over these last few days, but she had thought since grandmother and grandfather only had her their only granddaughter, and had found her again with great difficulty, they of course wouldn"t allow her to enter the palace, at that time grandmother had also said this to her, telling her not to worry, in short the person who was to enter the palace would not be her, who knew things would change so suddenly, reportedly news came from the palace that the emperor was most compatible with girls born in the year of the rabbit.
It was funny thinking about it, there were seven or eight girls in the Zhao family of appropriate age, she was actually the only one born in the year of the rabbit, was that a coincident? If it wasn"t for the fact that she knew she simply did not know the emperor inside the palace, she would suspect this was an intentional way to make her enter the palace.
At night when she was in bed she also said this to the stone, “Born of the rabbit isn"t that referring to me? Tell me stone, could it be the emperor caught a glimpse of me by chance, it was love at first sight since then unforgettable, and he couldn"t obviously just allow me into the palace, that"s why he used such a method, all because of me.” Zhao Jin Yu said narcissistically, casually joking following the plotline of the melodramatic Mary Sue novels she had read.
At that time the stone"s reaction was also very interesting, right away he changed from a pure white yuhua stone into a bloodstone…, like when a person got embarra.s.sed.
She felt it was funny then, saying, “If I didn"t know you were a stone spirit, I would think you are that emperor in the palace.”
The stone did not speak for a while out of anger, Zhao Jin Yu also did not tease it, turning her head to sleep, before she had complete faith in her grandparents, thinking that even if girls born in the year of the rabbit were compatible with the emperor, they would not send her off, who knew in the morning when she arrived she saw grandmother bursting with anger.
Zhao Rui Zhi silently wiped her tears standing at the side, with devotion that inspires reverence she said, “Grandmother, let me take older sister"s place, I"m willing.”