Chapter 157 Meeting the “Sparrow” Yu Lanxuan Again in the Palace
The only difference was that Zi You’s robe was white with red trim. Theirs were sky blue with ice blue trim.
They wore their hair in a bun, like men. Other than cla.s.s time and holidays, they were not allowed to wear their own clothing. Of course, these female slaves did not have any other clothing other than the ones the General’s Manor gave them.
The Emperor wanted Zi You to take the female medical team into the Palace probably to see their results. So, Zi You went over to the girls and glanced majestically at them. She forcefully and sonorously said, “You have been soldiers for four months and twelve days now. I want you to comply with military regulations in the Palace today.
“You cannot leave the team and go off alone without my orders. Don’t have any twisted thoughts. Keep in mind that your current life is not easily obtained. Don’t do things that let me down or make you have regrets for a lifetime. Do you understand?”
“We understand!” The girls responded orderly. They were already completely different from four months ago.
The female medical team’s training was in complete accordance with the Mu army training. The soldiers she brought outside were not allowed to defile the Mu army’s reputation.
The girls were dressed in standard clothing that the General’s Manor made for them.
The light blue colored damask coat was lined with white rabbit fur. It was paired with a deep green embroidered dress.
The older ones had Wanyue buns. A silver hairpin embedded with crystal beads had ta.s.sels hanging down. Two crystal clear beads hung from the ta.s.sels, swaying across their cheeks.
The younger ones had double chignons. They had a green ribbon with crystal beads on their heads. The ribbons hung under the buns and made the girls seem more innocent and cute.
Rong Yunhe looked at his sister and then at Zi You. He lowered his head with a complicated expression.
Zi You looked at him and her eyes sharply flashed, but she soon returned to her calmness. Then she ordered, “Captain Rong, you and Xie Changsheng, Sun Xinsheng, and Luo Weicheng, take teams one, two, and three respectively and watch over them in the Palace. Don’t let them run around.”
The female medical team was separated into three teams. Teams one and two had fifteen people each. Team three had had six people. Xie Changsheng, Sun Xinsheng, and Luo Weicheng were the respective captains. Rong Yunhe was the general captain and responsible for everything when Zi You wasn’t there.
“Yes.” Rong Yunhe saluted and brought the girls onto the horse carriages. Then he, Xie Changsheng, Sun Xinsheng, and Luo Weicheng got onto horse carriages and followed Zi You, Old General Mu, and Nee Liu’s horse carriage towards the Palace.
When they arrived at the Palace, horse carriages from various fus had been gathered around the gate.
Furens and xiaojies were arranged on palace sedan chairs and lifted towards the Palace.
Zi You told Shiyun, “Tell Rong Yunhe to gather the female team behind my sedan chair.”
When two eunuchs saw that the General’s Manor’s horse carriage was there, they hurried over and bowed. “Nucai pays resects to Great General. Please get on, Great General!”
At this time, other ministers had already arrived, such as Duke Weiguo and Marquis Wuan. When they saw how respectful the eunuchs were to Old General Mu, they were more or less displeased.
This was the benefit of having military power. Although they held n.o.ble t.i.tles, when it came to power, they could not compare to Old General Mu or Mu YingYi. They could only come here first, but enter the Palace later than them.
Although Old General Mu held military power in his hands, he was a straightforward and upright and not sn.o.bbish person.
He did not do what the eunuchs said and got on the sedan chair first. Instead, he pointed to Duke Weiguo and Marquis Wuan and said, “They were here first, so you should arrange to let them enter the Palace first.”
One of the eunuchs was Chengguang Palace Hall’s Eunuch Cheng. He immediately smiled flatteringly. “Nucai is under the Emperor’s verbal decree to wait here for Great General. When Great General arrives, Nucai is supposed to immediately show you in.”
When Old General Mu heard that it was the Emperor’s decree, he didn’t dare to refuse anymore. He could only cup his hands towards Duke Weiguo and Marquis Wuan and said slightly apologetically, “Apologies, Duke, Marquis. This old man will go ahead first.”
Old General Mu was just about to get on the sedan chair, but Eunuch Cheng said to Zi You, “Please get on a sedan chair too, Mu Xiaojie. The Emperor has summoned you too.”
“En?!” Zi You was slightly surprised, but she didn’t show it. She calmly and slowly prepared to get on the sedan chair.
“You jiejie!” Just then, a voice called out to her. Zi You would never forget that coy and delicate voice in her previous or current life. Sure enough, like a water snake, someone slithered over wearing a fire fox green-edged crane overcoat, black gold-embroidered boots, a moon-white narrow sleeved coat, a moon-white fox fur top, and a pink cotton skirt. Sure enough, it was Yu Lanxuan.
Zi You looked back. Yu Meilian, her mother Nee Lu, and father, Minister of Revenue Yu daren [official] were there. They might have possibly heard Eunuch Cheng say that the Emperor had summoned her and Old General Mu, so they were looking enviously at her.
Zi You faintly curtsied and that counted as politely greeting them. She turned to look innocently at Yu Lanxuan and said, “Shu daughters can partic.i.p.ate in the Palace banquet today?”
Yu Lanxuan’s face with a sharp chin immediately sunk. She glared quite resentfully at Zi You. Yes, as a Shu daughter, she indeed was not eligible to partic.i.p.ate in such a banquet.
After she had tried to seduce Zhao HongXiang and was brought back home on Duke Yongnan’s orders, she was shut indoors for a month.
But her yiniang w.a.n.g Yaping, exerted all means to serve Minister of Revenue in bed. She not only got Yu Lanxuan out, but also threatened the main wife Nee Lu to raise Yu Lanxuan as a Di daughter.
That was why she could come to the Palace with great fanfare today. Only, outsiders did not know the truth. Zi You learned this matter from her spirit pets, so she pretended to be ignorant now. She deliberately asked her question in a voice that Nee Lu and Yu Meilian could hear. Sure enough, Nee Lu and Yu Meilian’s faces changed.
Obviously, they were very reluctant to have Yu Lanxuan become a Di daughter. But under the pressure by the Minister of Revenue and some other officials, they could only nod and agree to raise Yu Lanxuan under Nee Lu’s name.
This was a thorn in Nee Lu and Yu Meilian’s hearts. If others touched it, they would be in unbearable pain. This was what Zi You wanted.
Yu Lanxuan was used to acting in her previous life. Zi You was naïve and was deceived again and again. Zi You coldly smiled. In this lifetime, I will rip off your beautiful mask.
So, Zi You feigned concern and said, “Don’t risk your life just to enter the Palace. The Emperor invited fifth-rank and higher officials, their main wives, and Di children. You are a Shu daughter. Don’t commit the crime of deceiving the monarch.” She then turned to get on the sedan chair.
Yu Lanxuan noticed that a lot of people were already looking at her with sneering and ridiculing eyes. She immediately announced, “I’m a Di daughter now. Mother is raising me under her name. From now on, I am a Di daughter.”
It was fine if she didn’t say it, but her guilty conscience showed when she stammered her words out in clarification. Those who were at the Palace gate were all main wives and Di children. Their eyes looking at Yu Lanxuan filled with even more contempt. She really was a Shu daughter who could not be seen in public. A sparrow was a sparrow. Even it flew onto the branches, it could not become a phoenix.
Even Minister of Revenue felt that his usually doted-on little daughter was shameful. He couldn’t help but lowly reprimand, “What are you screaming about there? Hurry and come over here.”
Nee Lu originally hated Zi You because w.a.n.g Yaping and w.a.n.g Yiping were sisters. But her hatred had reduced a lot after this. She bent down and whispered to Yu Meilian, “You should interact with that Mu Zi You more. Using her to deal with that little cheap wench isn’t a bad idea.”
Yu Meilian nodded and did not reply, but she was calculating in her heart. Fourth Gongzhu hated Mu Zi You to death, so she could not be friendly with Mu Zi You. Otherwise, if Fourth Gongzhu found out, she would punish her. That unruly Gongzhu was someone who would seek revenge for the smallest grievance. She could not be offended.
But her Shu sister was really annoying. She often competed with her for her grandmother’s love. If she didn’t teach her a good lesson, it would be hard to lessen the hatred in her heart. What should she do to not offend Fourth Gongzhu, but still get Mu Zi You to deal with that little cheap wench?
Yu Meilian’s mind turned eighteen corners. Looking at the sisters Yu Meilian and Yu Lanxuan, it could be seen that prominent families’ xiaojies were not simple and kind. They were all malevolent with complex thoughts.
The Palace was always the most beautiful place in the world. The best craftsmen had meticulously carved everything. A Taichi pool surrounded half of the imperial Palace. Rockeries surrounded corridors. In the winter, all kinds of flowers withered, but the plants here were green and brilliantly red.
Silk cloth made fake flowers and lanterns were hung.
Zi You went with her grandfather to Chengguang Palace Hall. She walked dignified and elegantly before bowing to the Emperor. Her light voice said, “Chennu pays respects to the Emperor. May Emperor live tens of thousands of years!”
“Look up and let Zhen take a look.” The Emperor lazily said.
Zi You slowly looked up and looked steadily forwards.
“Ah……” The Emperor and the palace servants were stunned.
Actually, when Zi You had walked into the palace hall, they were already dumbfounded. They saw a white fox fur cloak wrapped almost around her entire body. Only her long cherry red train was exposed under her cloak. The lotus embroidered hemline swung vividly as she walked……