Chapter 8.6 - G.o.ddess of the Harem
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Harem, Wenhua Residence. Here lived Liu Guiren, who was once loved by the Emperor.
Why was it ‘once’?
Because ever since the talented Yu Guiren entered the palace, the Emperor had rarely summoned Liu Guiren to serve him in the bedroom. The atmosphere within Wenhua Residence had been very strained these days, but it was somewhat more strange today -
"Yuqing, have you inquired clearly?"
At this time, Liu Guiren was letting the palace maid beside her dress her. A bright and gorgeous palace dress complemented her white and delicate face, which made her look very lovely and charming.
Hearing Liu Guiren’s question, Yan Yuqing, who had been respectfully standing aside, immediately responded lowly: “Replying to Master, this slave had asked around and found that Yu Guiren had offended the Emperor and was executed. And now, the Emperor was in a bad mood and has already killed some people in the harem. The Jingyun Palace and the Clothing Bureau had also been affected."
Yan Yuqing"s tone shook when she said this.
Liu Guiren lifted her beautiful eyes and slightly turned to look at Yan Yuqing"s little face: "Yuqing, I remember that your sister was a servant in the Clothing Bureau? Is she all right?"
"Thank you niangniang for your care, slave-maid ... When slave went out to inquire, His Majesty’s people were still surrounding the Clothing Bureau and it was unknown as to what happened inside."
Yan Yuqing"s face couldn"t help but show a bit of worry. She and Yan Yunuo were not originally sisters, but she took care of her in the past year, so it was hard for Yan Yuqing to have no affection for her.
Of course, Yan Yuqing was a concubine’s daughter of Yan Jia and had received the cold shoulder from others since she was a child, and she had already witnessed the hypocrisy of the world long ago. Don"t simply judge her for being a month younger than Yan Yunuo, she had a deep, scheming mind.
The reason she was currently behaving like this in front of Liu Guiren was because: First, she wanted Liu Guiren to see how empathetic and righteous she was, and second, she wanted to take the opportunity to plead to go to the Clothing Bureau on her behalf. If she was lucky, she could have met His Majesty there.
Liu Guiren was currently completely clueless on Yan Yuqing’s thoughts. She really was deceived by Yan Yuqing"s young and tender face. When she had learned that Yu Guiren was dead, Liu Guiren was naturally very happy, but ...
His Majesty was a bit abnormal today!
In Liu Guiren’s perspective, His Majesty’s actions have always been very calm and were not tyrannical in nature. So what crime did Yu Guiren commit to make His Majesty so angry?
Jingyun Palace was Shu Fei niangniang"s residence and she was already a highly ranked Imperial Concubine. The forces behind her should not be underestimated. His Majesty actually washed the Jingyun Palace with blood today. So, what is the main connection between the two?
It really must be said that the women in the harem must have a certain level of ability for reasoning, otherwise, they would not even know how they died.
Liu Guiren thought about it for a long time and could not find the connection between Yu Guiren and Shu Fei. At this time, an internal servant of Wenhua Residence hurried into the room and whispered in Liu Guiren"s ear.
Liu Guiren couldn’t help but raise her eyes to look at Yan Yuqing: “Yuqing, your sister came to find you. Go and see what she wants!”
Yan Yunuo is here?
Hearing Liu Guiren"s words, Yan Yuqing hurriedly withdrew and then quickly walked out of the bedroom.
Outside the Wenhua Residence, Yan Yunuo paced in front of the entrance with an anxious face.
"Sister!"
When Yan Yuqing saw Yan Yunuo"s expression, her gaze flashed. She was very familiar with Yan Yunuo"s current expression. It seemed that something major really happened at the Clothing Bureau.
"Yuqing!"
The moment Yan Yunuo saw Yan Yuqing"s face, she immediately grabbed her sister"s hand and anxiously spoke, "Yuqing, you must save Xiao Wan! Save her!"
What happened to Su Wan? Could it be ...
Yan Yuqing"s expression became determined and she heavily patted Yan Yunuo"s hand: "Sister, speak slower. Did something happen in the Clothing Bureau?" …...
While Yan Yunuo and Yan Yuqing discussed how to rescue Su Wan, Su Wan had already arrived at Xinzheku with w.a.n.g Yi. This place was located in a secluded corner in the innermost part of the Imperial City and was the most rundown place in the entire Imperial City.
> Blu: I’m sure you guys already know, but I’m gonna say it anyway. The Imperial City is different from the Capital. The Imperial City contains all the palaces of the imperial family and residences for their staff. Basically, a regular ancient Chinese residence except mega-sized.
The steward mama of Xinzheku saw that Steward w.a.n.g actually personally brought someone over. She immediately rushed out in small steps and came to w.a.n.g Yi: "Steward w.a.n.g, why did you personally come?"
> Blu: ‘mama’ (or momo) is a form of address for an elderly lady.
"Bai mama, you have to hold out during these bitter days."
Seeing Bai mama"s smile on her own face, w.a.n.g Yi whispered with some slight meaning.
This is……
Bai mama"s eyes were delighted and subconsciously drew closer to w.a.n.g Yi. She raised her hand and stuffed a silver banknote into w.a.n.g Yi"s hands: "Asking Steward w.a.n.g for advice!"
【Rule number 1 for surviving in the back palace: no matter when and where, you must carry a purse, silver banknotes and a lot of light and valuable things. These things may be used whenever and they may be sometimes used to save a person’s life.】
"Ei, Bai mama is polite."
w.a.n.g Yi unexpectedly rejected the silver banknote and turned to respectfully look at Su Wan: "Lady Su, this is Bai mama, the steward of the Xinzheku."
"h.e.l.lo, Bai mama!"
Su Wan nodded towards Bai mama. Although Bai mama had spent many years in the Xinzheku and there was no development, but her gaze was very cruel. Seeing w.a.n.g Yi being so polite to the girl in front of her, Bai mama naturally didn"t dare to be careless. She immediately nodded and smiled nonstop when she heard Su Wan: "h.e.l.lo, Lady Su! h.e.l.lo, Lady Su! Steward w.a.n.g, Miss Su is..."
Bai mama and Su Wan greeted each other then Bai mama looked at w.a.n.g Yi with a puzzled look. w.a.n.g Yi leaned over and whispered a few words into Bai mama"s ear. Bai mama"s face changed again and again. Finally, her entire face was a little distorted with excitement: "Rest a.s.sured, Steward w.a.n.g. Miss Su will be handed over to this slave. This slave will not let her lose even one strand of hair!"
w.a.n.g Yi nodded with satisfaction at Bai mama"s answer: "Very well, I must return to His Majesty to report." Having said this, w.a.n.g Yi couldn"t help but glance at Su Wan again and softly said, "Miss Su, do you still have anything you want to pa.s.s on to His Majesty? "
Hearing w.a.n.g Yi"s question, Su Wan smiled softly and whispered next to w.a.n.g Yi"s ear. w.a.n.g Yi was stunned when he heard Su Wan"s words, but still nodded vigorously: "Miss Su, please rest a.s.sured. This slave will definitely pa.s.s your words on to His Majesty. This slave will excuse himself."
w.a.n.g Yi turned around and walked away. Seeing that w.a.n.g Yi had gone away, Bai mama put on a gentle expression and looked at Su Wan with a smile on her face: "Miss Su, the rooms in the Xinzheku are all simple and crude, if you don’t dislike it, you can temporarily stay in this old slave’s room. You can rest a.s.sured that the old slave will clean up the room and all the used supplies will be replaced with new ones.”
"No need for so much trouble."
Su Wan also smiled at Bai mama: "You just need to prepare the worst room for me. Remember, the worse the better."
Bai mama: ...
Miss Su, do you want to abuse yourself?
She criticized her in her mind, but she thought of Steward w.a.n.g"s promise to her. As long as she served this Master well, she would be able to transfer herself out of the Xinzheku. How could she give up such a good opportunity?
Bai mama"s clapped her hands: "You can rest a.s.sured, Miss. There is nothing in this Xinzheku, but dirty places can be found everywhere. Please help yourself!"
At Bai mama’s words, Su Wan nodded with a smile: "I am naturally relieved that mama is handling this and Su Wan hopes that mama will take me under your care! And, regarding whatever I do here, I also hope that mama will not tell others."
Do not speak what cannot be said - the second rule of survival in the back palace.
"Old slave understands. Miss Su, please be at ease."
After saying this, Bai mama immediately straightened her body and yelled: "Silly little girl! Let me tell you, after entering my Xinzheku, you must listen to my - Bai mama"s - words! Do you think this place is still that Clothing Bureau of yours?! Truly blind. You will probably stay here for the rest of your life! Hurry up and follow me!"
While speaking, Bai mama had already taken Su Wan through the gates of the Xinzheku with great arrogance. It must be said that in the back palace, besides the lack of men, there was nothing else lacking, especially superb actors. If you pick out any one in the back palace, whether it be a palace maid or an imperial concubine, they would probably qualify to be a Movie Queen…...
A group of palace servants who were planning to exit the Xinzheku immediately saluted respectfully the moment they saw Bai mama"s figure. When they saw the young Su Wan behind her, they all showed a look of pity.
What kind of place was the Xinzheku?
In the entire imperial city, even the temporary imperial residence and emperor"s tomb, the most painful and tiring matters are cleaning the toilets and pouring night incense. All the dirty and tiring work was the responsibility of the Xinzheku. They have always been a.s.signed the most tiring and hardest work. They were also the people with the least monthly salary and the lowest status.
Many palace servants who were sentenced to work in the Xinzheku would have thought they could go out after their sentence was fulfilled. However, after entering for not even a month, the state of their bodies would worsen. Their Masters would never be short of people who they could order about around them. Over time, you will be completely forgotten, and you will not be able to get out once you enter.
Under everyone’s sympathetic gaze, Su Wan first entered the room with Bai mama. This was the "custom" that every newcomer must go through. Clearly saying that they would be given admonishment by the mama, but in fact it is to give presents to Bai mama.
If you have a lot of money, then you can do work that was a little less tiring. If you don’t have money, you will not only be allocated to do the hardest and most tiring work, but you will also be viciously beaten by the mama--
"Ah!"
"Mama, please spare my life!"
Not long afterwards, Su Wan"s "miserable" shouts really came out of the room. The people in the yard silently glanced at each other. No one said anything and some of them even had schadenfreude in their eyes --
There was finally a newcomer. I probably won’t continue cleaning the toilets?
In short, in less than a day, the whole Xinzheku knew that they had a new little maid who was punished and sent here and had no money to present to Bai mama. The days after that ... they dare not think about it for her.