Novel Full Chapter 418: In Reply to Elder Sister, This Younger Sister is Called Si Li
The Zhou Kingdom’s imperial capital.
Ever since the announcement that the imperial palace would be selecting palace maids, people from all over the Zhou Kingdom harbored various schemes.
Especially the common people of the Zhou Kingdom’s imperial capital, at the feet of the Son of Heaven.
Apart from ordinary households, many wealthy families wanted to send their daughters into the palace.
After all, if one’s daughter caught His Majesty’s eye, even if she didn’t become an imperial consort but became a talented lady or even a female official, that would still be wonderful. However, the number of women who could be selected into the palace was limited.
So aside from some truly exceptional women being selected into the palace, many people paid money to the palace maids dispatched by the palace, hoping their daughters could get in.
Of course, ordinary women could also go find the local female officials to register on their own. By passing the female officials’ preliminary selection, they too could enter the final palace examination, though the difficulty was extremely high.
On this day, Sili changed into clean, simple clothing, assumed a new identity, and once again went to the manor courtyard for the preliminary palace maid selection. However, this time Sili carried some emotions with her and wasn’t in a particularly good mood.
The reason was that Sili had been eliminated once not long ago.
At the time, Sili was utterly perplexed.
Because the identity Sili had fabricated was completely clean, her etiquette was impeccable, her appearance was beautiful, and her figure was even more outstanding.
According to Sili’s understanding, when mortal dynasties selected palace maids, the most important thing was a clean background, followed by appearance and figure, because palace maids were to serve the emperor.
So Sili felt that logically speaking, how could she possibly be eliminated?
Which aspect of hers didn’t meet the requirements?
How could those other women be better looking than her?
Feeling quite indignant, Sili had Wind Listening Pavilion’s subordinates go collect intelligence.
Finally, Sili learned that it was because the Empress Dowager in the palace worried that if palace maids were too beautiful and gained His Majesty’s favor, so this palace maid selection had an unwritten rule, that excessively beautiful women were also not wanted.
After learning this rule, Sili was so angry her chest heaved violently for a while.
She never imagined the reason for her elimination was being too beautiful!
This time, Sili learned her lesson and applied some disguise, making herself somewhat attractive while also not appearing too outstanding.
She felt she would definitely pass this time!
Moreover, she had to pass!
Today was the last day of palace maid selection. If she didn’t enter the palace this time, it would be very difficult to find such a good opportunity again.
Arriving at the manor courtyard for preliminary palace maid selection.
This place was entirely women, not a single man.
Sili was led by a palace maid into a room.
In the room stood thirty women with lovely faces.
A female official walked back and forth in front of Sili and the others, examining their appearances and observing their figures.
This female official would even personally measure them.
Soon, this female official walked before Sili, looking at Sili’s appearance.
“Not bad looking.”
This female official in her thirties nodded, then her gaze fell on Sili’s neckline.
Today, Sili had deliberately worn loose robes to conceal her figure, visually bringing herself down to an above-average level. However, this female official still felt something was slightly off.
The female official reached her hand toward Sili’s neckline.
Sili froze for a moment, but still lightly bit her lower lip, gently clenched her small hands, and forcibly suppressed the impulse to slap this female official to death.
The moment this female official touched Sili, she froze.
After measuring, this female official looked at Sili in astonishment, her eyes revealing envious and even jealous emotions.
In the female official’s view, although this woman’s appearance was only above average, her figure was too exaggerated. If His Majesty saw her, could he really restrain himself?
Just as the female official was about to have Sili leave.
Sili quietly took out a roll of banknotes from her sleeve, tucked them into the female official’s sleeve, and said pitifully, “Elder sister, this commoner woman lost her father in childhood. Not long ago, Mother also left this world. There are village bullies who want to forcibly take this commoner woman. Only by entering the palace can this commoner woman protect herself. Please have mercy, elder sister. If there are any improprieties, this commoner woman will certainly correct them.”
“…”
The female official’s brow twitched. She really wanted to say, “This exaggerated figure that can’t be grasped with both hands, even if you wanted to change it you couldn’t, and what country person has this many banknotes?”
However, feeling the thick banknotes in her sleeve, the female official still accepted them and coughed a few times, “Your background is indeed pitiable. We women of the world should have compassion. What is your name?”
“In reply to elder sister, this younger sister is called Si Li,” Sili said gently.
“Si Li, is it.” The female official found her name in the registry and made a checkmark. “Wait in the courtyard later. Follow along to the palace for the examination. Remember, if you truly enter the palace, in the future appear less before His Majesty.”
After speaking, the female official glanced once more at her neckline, “Also, if you enter the palace, afterward you’d best use bindings. Understand? Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Yes, elder sister.” Sili quickly thanked her.
Exiting the room, most of the women left the courtyard. Only those who passed the selection continued to remain in the courtyard.
An hour later, under the female officials’ guidance, the final batch of two hundred women boarded carriages and headed to the imperial palace.
Ultimately, twenty people would be selected from the two hundred.
Before long, Sili arrived at the imperial palace and was again led to various palace halls for examinations.
Those responsible for the examinations were all female officials from the Empress Dowager’s palace.
These female officials first checked whether Sili and the others were virgins then they supervised their speech and conduct and examined their etiquette.
If one could read, that was an additional point.
Each time, Sili would find opportunities to secretly slip banknotes to these female officials.
After a full day, when evening came and the sun set, the examination finally ended. Sili successfully passed the examination.
“From today onward, you all are palace maids. The inner palace is unlike other places. You must be cautious in word and deed! Tomorrow someone will teach you palace etiquette.
Work hard, all of you.
Before long, two imperial consort ladies will enter the palace. Those who perform well can go serve the ladies, or even serve His Majesty!
Those who perform poorly will go wash clothes and boil water! Understand?”
The female official named Jin Yin said to everyone.
“We understand, elder sister,” all the palace maids called out in unison.
Jin Yin nodded and continued, “I also know that among you, many fantasize about gaining His Majesty’s favor and transforming from sparrow to phoenix. But you all should appear less before His Majesty with coquettish airs, otherwise your lives won’t be preserved. Don’t say elder sister didn’t warn you.”
“Yes,” all the palace maids responded again.
“Go rest. Tomorrow, wake up promptly at the hour of mao.”
After speaking, the female official Jin Yin turned and walked away.
The palace maids also went to their respective residences to bathe and change clothes, then ate dinner.
Night fell, and the darkness gradually deepened.
When all the palace maids sharing the room had fallen asleep, Sili slowly opened her eyes and quietly got out of bed.