After leaving Pei County, watching the distance from hometown, there were whispers of crying in the carriage.
It took the group more than a day to arrive at the inn in the provincial capital Xuzhou. There are several other counties coming to gather here one after another.
After waiting for a day, the assembly was finally completed. A total of ten large carriages set off towards the capital by the official messenger.
It used to be a relatively spacious carriage for 10 people, but now it is crowded with 20 people.
Each car was followed by a man-in-law who was in charge. The father-in-law of Lin Jiabao's car, surnamed Zhao, is around 35 years old, he is not tall, and he is very thin. His expression was very serious, and he was very strict with them, and everyone was afraid of him.
Along the way, everyone gradually became acquainted. In particular, most of the people who came out of one place formed small groups. Lin Jiabao was the only one who came out of Peixian County, and was vaguely excluded. Lin Jiabao also didn't take the initiative to step forward, obediently obeying the arrangements of his father-in-law. Eunuch Zhao looked at his duty, and his attitude towards him was quite kind.
After walking on the road for nearly half a month, they finally arrived at the post station on the outskirts of the capital.
This inn is very large, and there are already many carriages parked in the stable. People from all over the country gathered here.
"Get out of the car and take your things. Don't talk, don't look around, just follow me."
When everyone got off the carriage, they kept their heads down and followed. Eunuch Zhao took them to a room in a large shop and settled down. There are several basins of water in the house, so they can wash their hands.
Afterwards, I took them to dinner, and each handed them a bowl of polenta and a thick noodle wow. Although simple, it is much better than the dry food cakes along the way. I was very hungry at the end of the day, and everyone devoured them all.
Eunuch Zhao asked them to go to the toilet again, then took them back to the Chase shop and locked the door.
After everyone entered the house, they all rushed to get a good bed, and people from the same village also helped each other to occupy a favorable position. Lin Jiabao was small and weak. Immediately he was pushed to the door.
Lin Jiabao didn't want to fight with them either, so he hugged his small burden and slept on the outermost position of the bed.
"Hey, go to sleep. Don't lean on me!" The girl sleeping next to him said fiercely to Lin Jiabao.
This girl was also from Linjia Village, and she was very angry at Lin Jiabao. Looked at him like something dirty.
Lin Jiabao didn't speak, just moved his body towards the door.
After the end of the day, I was very tired, and everyone soon fell asleep.
The next day, before dawn, Eunuch Zhao called them all up, and after breakfast, everyone got into the carriage again.
The carriage entered the capital and stopped at the imperial city. After getting off the carriage, everyone was shocked by this towering city wall.
Lin Jiabao looked at the vermilion city wall. Under the morning light, the palace with red walls and yellow tiles is particularly solemn. Today is the day when the palace people enter the palace, and Xuanwu Gate opens early.
First, they were taken to the outer five schools for the first round of screening.
The first round of screening is very simple, mainly to check whether the appearance is neat, the articulation is clear, whether there is any disability, odor, etc. on the body.
Although the process was simple, nearly a thousand people entered the palace this time, and the waiting time was very long.
Lin Jiabao was assigned to a team of doubles, and passed the first round of screening smoothly. By the time everyone in the team was screened, it was already noon.
Then a group of them were taken to lunch, it would be better to have a meal in the palace.
Each person has a bowl of vegetable porridge and white steamed buns. There are not only vegetables in the vegetable porridge, but also some minced meat. These people have only dry food along the way, and they haven't touched the meat and fish for a long time, and they swallowed their saliva when they smelled the fragrance.
Lin Jiabao took a mouthful of the porridge, which tasted very delicious and quickened his swallowing speed.
"It's a white-faced steamed bun. It's delicious! I have never eaten such a delicious steamed bun." A pair of children said, biting into the steamed bun.
"Really, it's delicious, delicious." The couples on the side also echoed in unison.
"Cut! It's just a few white steamed buns." A delicate-looking Shuang'er said disdainfully.
Lin Jiabao also looked at the white steamed buns in his hands. The white steamed buns Lin's family eats very little. Because there are many people in the family, they usually eat them with cornmeal.
Lin Jiabao took a bite of the steamed bun and chewed it slowly. It was slightly sweet and really delicious.
Everyone ate a lot for lunch today. Lin Jiabao ate two steamed buns and a bowl of porridge. Lin Jiabao touched his belly. This was the most filling meal he had eaten in the past two weeks.
In the afternoon, their father-in-law came to lead them and took them to a large bathhouse to let them wash themselves.
Then, they need to go into a room one by one, and let the two old aunts check them naked.
Lin Jiabao stood stiffly and turned around according to the old mama's request. He went to lie down on a small couch again, and let Mammy examine his lower body.
One of the maids saw how good he was and touched him, "This skin is really slippery."
Lin Jiabao blushed in shame and did not dare to move or speak.
After checking, the old mama asked him to get up. A mama used a brush to dip the Shougong cinnabar in the porcelain bowl on the table, and put it a little inside Lin Jiabao's arm.
After that, the maids didn't embarrass him and let Lin Jiabao get dressed and go out.
Lin Jiabao left the house and came to a large courtyard. The people who had been checked earlier were already waiting, and Lin Jiabao stepped forward to stand with them.
Lin Jiabao was fascinated by the bright red dot on his arm. This is the mole in the palace, which symbolizes chastity.
Suddenly there was a loud noise from the other side of the yard, and from another room, a girl was dragged out, "Mummy, spare your life, mammy, spare your life! Spare your life!" The girl cried and shouted.
Several eunuchs pressed the girl to the ground, whipped up long and thick wooden sticks and hit the girl on the body.
"Anywhere in the palace, the dirty and stinky can come in. Anyone who dares to come here to play tricks is a dead word." An old lady said loudly in front of the people in the courtyard.
The girl's cry went from loud to small, and then it became inaudible, only the sound of a stick hitting the flesh.
Blood splattered along the stick, and the girl's lower body was already bloody.
The people around were frightened to death, and they didn't dare to make a sound. A few timid ones almost fainted.
Lin Jiabao took two glances before he dared to look again, his face turned pale.
After a while, the girl was confirmed to be dead, and was dragged away, leaving a large pool of blood on the ground.
This was the first time Lin Jiabao saw a dead person, and the first time he understood the cruelty in the palace. He secretly told himself that he must not make mistakes, the family was waiting for him, and he had to leave the palace well.
By the time they all checked out, it was time for dinner again.
A group of people went for dinner again. Dinner and lunch were the same as minced meat, vegetable porridge and steamed buns.
After the events of the afternoon, everyone's face was not good.
Lin Jiabao felt nauseated when he thought of the scene he saw in the afternoon. Reluctantly, he drank a bowl of porridge and ate a steamed bun.
At this time, the steward's father-in-law came in with a mama in a gray palace uniform. Everyone put down their bowls and stood up when they saw it.
"This one is Mammy Xi. In the next month, you should follow Mammy Xi to learn the palace rules." The father-in-law introduced.
"I'm Mammy Xi, all the 30 servants of the palace will be under my control for the next month. From tomorrow onwards, you will all learn the rules and etiquette of the palace with me. Now I will give them to you first. The servants of the palace, you can't wear your own clothes when you enter the palace. Now you go to change first, then grab your own things, and come here to gather. I will take you to the place where you live."
"promise."
Yuan Fu found that His Royal Highness the Prince was very strange these days, especially today.
After the end of the early court, His Royal Highness did not deal with government affairs, but sat in the inner study for a long time. The expression looked so… happy, so… excited.
It was even more strange in the afternoon. His Royal Highness did not go to the Beida Camp, but took him around the palace.
And the more you go, the more remote you are, and the more remote trails in the palace are chosen.
The sky gradually darkened. "His Royal Highness, where are you going?" If you go further, you will be in the outer five palaces.
At this time, a group of people in pea-blue palace uniforms were walking towards this side. Xuanyuan Hancheng was overjoyed when he saw the color of the palace uniforms.
Xuanyuan Hancheng stepped forward quickly, Yuan Fu quickly followed.
Madam Xi led a team of palace attendants on the palace road and saw two people approaching in the distance.
The leader was dressed in purple-purple uniforms with gold trims on the collar. A eunuch followed behind him, and when he got closer, he saw that this was Yuan Fu from the Prince's East Palace.
The one at the head is... "See Your Royal Highness!" Mammy Xi stepped forward and knelt down.
As soon as Mammy Xi knelt down, Lin Jiabao and others behind him hurriedly knelt down with them.
"Are you...? Where are you going?" Xuanyuan Hancheng asked Mammy Xi, but his eyes searched for something behind her.
Soon Xuanyuan Hancheng found the person he was thinking about. Lin Jiabao, dressed in a pea-blue palace servant, knelt over there, Xuanyuan Hancheng clenched his fists and restrained himself and stepped forward.
Lin Jiabao was only 12 years old at this time, and his little face was still childish. Wearing a large palace servant, the person looks extra petite. The baby's face is not good, he lowered his head and vaguely saw those two small dimples, so cute!
"Returning to His Royal Highness, the old slave is the maid of the fifth palace. Today is the day when the people from the new palace enter the palace. Behind me is the palace attendant who entered the palace this time. There are more people entering the palace this time. If they can’t stay, this old slave is preparing to take them to the Xili Hall to settle them down.”
"Get up." Xuanyuan Hancheng fixed his eyes on Lin Jiabao, "Let's take them to settle down quickly."
"promise."
Xuanyuan Hancheng reluctantly glanced at him again, and walked away quickly. If he didn't leave, he was afraid that he would really hug Lin Jiabao excitedly. It wasn't the time yet, and he didn't want to scare him.
"Xili Palace..." Xuanyuan Hancheng whispered happily.
Yuan Fu was very puzzled by His Royal Highness's expression. His Highness had just been staring at the group of palace attendants. Could it be that he was interested in someone
Yuan Fu thought for a while and then shook his head, he hadn't seen any beautiful standouts just now. Moreover, these palace attendants are very young, and they have not grown up yet. He must be thinking too much.
Lin Jiabao and the other palace attendants had to memorize the palace rules with Mammy Xi every morning, and in the afternoon they learned how to behave and behave.
Almost all the people who entered the palace were illiterate, so they could only memorize the stubborn palace rules by rote, and they also had to memorize the way in the palace, the way to the Shangyi Bureau, the imperial dining room and other palaces, which they had to memorize. . In addition, they also need to know what places are forbidden to enter and other taboos.
These are not difficult for Lin Jiabao. Big brother taught him some words, as long as he works hard, he can remember them. Carry it a little faster than others.
Etiquette and manners are more difficult for them. When walking, you should bow your head, keep your eyes down, hold your chest, and make no sound. How to bow and kneel is important.
When answering, speak clearly and concisely. The voice should be soft or loud, and the speed of speech should be steady, neither fast nor slow.
Also learn to make tea, practice serving tea and water. Hands and feet must be nimble, yet light, cups, bowls and utensils placed on the plate must not make noise, and tea should not be spilled.
Lin Jiabao studied very seriously and practiced hundreds of times every day.
Yuan Fu, after nearly a month, must be sure that His Royal Highness the Prince has taken a fancy to which palace attendant in Xili Palace.
His Royal Highness the Prince went to the Xili Palace almost every day, sneaked into the courtyard, and peeked in from the window. Every time Yuan Fu follows him, he is always on guard.
Even His Royal Highness would climb a tree in the courtyard of Xili Palace and look at the palace attendants in the courtyard.
Whoops! My Highness Prince, what are you doing! If this is seen by the guards patrolling in the palace, how can it be good! What a shame! Yuan Fu is going crazy.
He has been with the Prince for so long, and he never knew His Royal Highness had such a hobby. Like Shuang'er is still so young!
Yuan Fu is really curious, what kind of twin is it, and what kind of double is it that hooks His Royal Highness like this.
In the inner study that day, Xuanyuan Hancheng called Yuan Fu to the front and dismissed all the servants. "I think you guessed it too. There is your future master in the Xili Palace. I will tell you one thing now, and you must do it well. How are you and Lin Mammy, who is in the imperial house in my mother's harem?"
After thinking about it, Xuanyuan Hancheng decided to put the treasure in his mother's harem. His own palace hadn't been cleaned up yet, so he was worried.
The Royal Dianfang is a small kitchen dedicated to making refreshments and snacks in the mother's harem. There is not much work to do on weekdays, and it is not very hard. There are not many people in the imperial room, and there are few disputes.
Mammy Lin, he knew, was the dowry of the queen mother, the family gave birth to a child, and she was in-law with the queen mother's confidant, Mammy Zhou. Madam Lin's craftsmanship is excellent, and she has a bit of face in front of her mother.
Moreover, Mama Lin has a good temper, and will not easily beat or scold the palace servants below. Put his baby there first, and he can rest assured.
"This... the friendship is still good." Yuan Fu thought about it, and his popularity in the palace was quite good.
Xuanyuan Hancheng nodded, "Let Mammy Lin pick someone to work in her imperial room and take care of him. His name is Lin Jiabao, he is called An Zhu in the palace, he is 12 years old, and he is from Peixian County. He has big eyes. , there are two small dimples on your face. You go to the small warehouse, if you don't do it well this time, you don't have to follow me in the future. "
"No. The servant will definitely be done." Yuan Fu quickly replied when he saw His Royal Highness's serious expression.
Yuan Fu got the prince's order and went to the Empress's Empress's Palace of Yongshou.
When Yuan Fu came to the imperial room, Lin Ma was making snacks with a few palace maids. Seeing Yuan Fu coming, he put down his work and went forward. "Eunuch Yuanfu, why are you here at this time, but what orders does His Highness the Prince have?"
"Then what, the last time His Royal Highness was here with the Empress, I ate the kidney bean cake made by the Imperial Dianfang. I liked it very much. The cook who went back to the East Palace also made it. His Royal Highness said that the taste is different. I will come here if you don't."
"Then I'll do it right away, Eunuch Yuanfu, please wait a moment." Lin Ma was also very happy to hear that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince likes to eat the desserts she made.
"Mommy, don't rush, let your subordinates do it. I'm not in a hurry... Hehe..." Yuan Fu hurriedly grabbed Momma Lin.
Mammy Lin saw Yuan Fu's expression and knew that he had something to say. He instructed the maids beside him to make cakes, and dragged Yuan Fu out of the kitchen to the house in the back row.
Mother Lin took Yuan Fu to her room. As the steward of the Royal Dianfang, Mama Lin has a relatively large room with two inner and outer rooms.
Madam Lin took him outside and sat down, "What's wrong with Eunuch Yuanfu?"
"Mother Lin, we are also old friends. To be honest, I really have something to ask of you this time." Yuan Fu said to Mama Lin, "This time there are new people in the palace, and they will be assigned tomorrow. Now. I have a distant relative among them. I think you are kind and kind, and your craftsmanship is so good. It would be nice if you could work under your hands.
"That's it, it's not that difficult." Lin Momo thought it was a tricky matter. There were not many people on her side, so it's not a problem to have one more person.
"Then I'll take it as your promise! Haha, Mammy Lin, you have helped me a lot this time." Yuan Fu excitedly told Mammy Lin about Lin Jiabao's situation.
"My relatives are very well-behaved and sensible, so I'll have to trouble Mammy Lin to take care of them in the future." Yuan Fu said, took out a brocade box from his chest and handed it to Mamma Lin. "I heard that Mammy's birthday is next month. This is a little thought. Mammy, please don't dislike it."
"Oh, father-in-law, you are really polite. Don't worry, I will take care of you." Lin Momo accepted it with a smile.
After the two talked for a while, Lin Ma and Yuan Fu went back to the kitchen.
"Mummy Lin, the kidney bean cake is ready, you can take a look." Yushuang, the oldest under Mammy Lin, was carrying the cakes for her to check.
Mammy Lin looked at the shape and took one to taste. Nodding, "Well done." He gave Yuan Fu a few more samples.
"That's the taste. It's delicious. Madam Lin taught me well. It's a blessing to work under your command." Yuan Fu vigorously praised.
Madam Lin was also very proud that Yu Shuang was her right-hand man, and she had also learned seven or eight points of her craft.
After that, Yuan Fu packed the dim sum in food boxes and went back for business.
As soon as Yuan Fu left, the other two palace maids also gathered around. "Mammy is really amazing, even His Royal Highness is thinking about the cakes in our Royal Dianfang!" said Yuling, the youngest and most lively.
"Yeah! We're really blessed to learn how to make dim sum with Madam Lin." Yutaki, who was a little older, also patted on the side.
Mammy Lin was naturally happy when she heard it, "Okay, you have the sweetest mouths, let's do things quickly."
In the night, Madam Lin returned to her room and opened the brocade box. There is a jade tablet inside, and the jade water head is full and transparent. It is carved with green pine and longevity characters, which is very delicate. Mammy Lin took the jade card in her hand and played with it, and she couldn't put it down.
Beneath the jade card was a stack of square and upright silver bills, and Lin Momo thought to herself that this Yuan Fu was really thoughtful.
Unfolding the banknotes and looking at the eldest brother, Lin Ma's eyes stared. The denomination of the silver note was actually 10,000 taels of silver, which really surprised her.
So much silver!
Mammy Lin thought that the person to take care of might not be as simple as Yuan Fu's distant relatives... Thinking of Yuan Fu's backside... Alas! This should all come down, and it can only be done.
Madam Lin carefully collected the bank note and stopped early. She was going to go to Xili Palace to lead people early tomorrow morning, but she didn't dare to delay.
Inside the Xili Palace, in the house where Lin Jiabao lived, everyone was going to be assigned tomorrow, and they were discussing at length.
"If you want me to tell me, it's better to be assigned to the palace of the favored noble lady, and our life will be better." A pair of children said.
"How can there be such a good thing? I heard that many palaces don't want Shuang'er Palace attendants. And the emperor loves the Empress the most, so the Yongshou Palace is not easy to enter." Another Shuang'er retorted him.
"Yeah, I have inquired with my father-in-law. The places we go to most are the Shanggong Bureau, Shanglin Bureau and the Royal Kitchen."
"It would be great if I could work in His Royal Highness's East Palace." A long and delicate pair said, "I took a peek at it that time. His Highness is handsome and has a very gentle voice."
"His Royal Highness..." A Shuang'er lowered his voice mysteriously, "I heard Mammy Xi chatting with a few father-in-laws, saying that a palace maid accidentally bumped into His Highness the Prince and was immediately killed by the stick."
"Really, it's terrible." Everyone unconsciously thought of what they saw on the first day they entered the palace. "It's terrifying..."
"If you want me to say, it's better to go to the imperial kitchen, there are a lot of delicious food." Yishuanger said.
"Haha, you know what to eat..." Everyone laughed, and their worries and fears about tomorrow dissipated a lot.
Lin Jiabao thought silently before going to bed, hoping that God would bless him, but don't assign him to His Royal Highness's palace.