Midsummer is not over, and then to early autumn, the rainy season in Bianjing, the capital of Daqi, comes suddenly.
For several days in a row, the luxurious red bricks and green tiles of the Yongxi Palace in the Forbidden City were washed by the continuous autumn rain. On this evening and early morning, the rain seemed to be coming to an end.
On the bell tower of Zirui Hall, the gate of the palace, the officials of the Taishi Bureau who were in charge of testing and engraving ordered the watchman to ring the bell, and the sound of the bell was clear and melodious.
Now when he arrived at Mao, Rong Xi always got up early, and was straightening his appearance in front of the bronze mirror in the living room.
Rong Xi entered Yongxi Palace at the age of thirteen, and has been working in the Forbidden City for three years. She just turned sixteen this year and became a female official. Even the low-ranking maids have to call her aunt.
The first day is slowly rising, and the warm setting sun shines into Rong Xi's simple living room, illuminating half of her body.
The beauties in the bronze mirror are beautiful and greasy.
The upturned nose and cherry lips are as exquisite as a craftsman's pinch, and the three courts and five eyes are in one place, which is a perfect fit.
She obviously had peach blossom eyes with boundless charm, but the delicate corners of the eyes were slightly down, and there was a gentle look between her brows and eyes.
It was originally a stunning appearance at first glance, but because of those slightly innocent eyes, there was a kind of obsession that seemed pure desire.
After combing her black hair with a comb, Rong Xi took out a mother-of-pearl wooden box. The bottles and jars inside looked like rouge and gouache that could make her daughter's house beautiful, but they were not.
These things are used by Rong Xi to hide his appearance.
All women in the world wish to have an unparalleled beauty. Rong Xi has a beauty that everyone envies, but she knows that her appearance is a disaster that will make people fall into the abyss for a lowly girl who has nothing to rely on.
Rong Xi picked up the fine brush and utensils for grooming, and worked hard on her face.
She used a special paste to knead the fan-shaped double eyelids into single ones, and after a little modification, those big peach blossom eyes suddenly became dull and mediocre.
And then the upturned nose is skillfully made to make it wider and flatter visually, and the person becomes a bit ugly again.
Finally, add some light spots on the cheeks under the eyes, and the appearance of the person in the mirror becomes an ordinary appearance that is not ugly, but has nothing to do with beauty.
Rong Xi concealed his appearance for several years, and after a while his appearance became better. After a simple breakfast, the little maids in the lower ranks of the living room were still snoozing and did not get up.
As the aunt who took care of them, Rong Xi didn't wake them up as usual.
The servants got up early to serve their master, but their master Yu Zhaorong died of illness three days ago.
It's just a concubine's death, and it's not enough for the palace people to wear mourning.
Rong Xi thought of the Lord and respected the Lord. In the past few days, she has quietly been in mourning for the old master, and she has always dressed plainly.
Yu Zhaorong came from a good family background and was born beautiful. His elder brother also made military achievements. He was very much loved by the current emperor, Emperor Qi Zhuang, Muzhen during his lifetime.
Thinking of Yu Zhaorong, Rong Xi still felt a little sad in his heart.
Her master was domineering and arrogant, and offended many people in the palace during his lifetime.
Emperor Muzhen had few heirs, and Yu Zhaorong was pregnant just two years after entering the palace. There had been no prince born in the palace for many years, so the emperor favored her even more.
After Yu Zhaorong became pregnant, Rong Xi was also happy for her, and served her more carefully than before.
She had always hoped that her master's birth would go smoothly, regardless of whether it was a prince or a princess, as long as there was a royal heir, then Yu Zhaorong's position in the palace would be more secure.
But in the end, Yu Zhaorong still conceived.
After Yu Zhaorong's miscarriage, he was in a trance and lost his mind. Emperor Qi Zhuang felt sorry for him and visited Yu Zhaorong several times in person.
But the pain of losing a child made Yu Zhaorong no longer want to fight for favor. She always felt that someone harmed her, and she was haunted by nightmares every day.
When Yu Zhaorong was Xiaoyue, her mood was more irritable than before, and she always vented her anger by beating the palace servants.
At that time, Rong Xi was afraid that Yu Zhaorong's behavior would displease the palace people, so she comforted the eunuchs and maids who were beaten for Yu Zhaorong in private. Can't get rid of the relationship.
If she had been more careful, the master's pregnancy might have been saved.
That day, Yu Zhaorong was furious because the tea brought by the palace maid was not to his liking, Rong Xi knelt in front of Yu Zhaorong, and earnestly asked Yu Zhaorong to appease his anger. If you want to feel resentful, then just punish her alone, because she, the close servant of the palace, failed to protect the master's child.
Yu Zhaorong has a bad temper, but she never beat her up.
After listening to Rong Xi's words, Yu Zhaorong smiled faintly and miserably, but said: "There are so many of them trying to kill me alone, so it's impossible to guard against... What does it have to do with you, a little maid?"
The words of the old master made Rong Xi feel ashamed when he thought about it now.
The palace people all felt that Yu Zhaorong was arrogant and extravagant, and difficult to get along with.
Rong Xi felt the same way when she first served Yu Zhaorong, but she was never afraid of gnawing hard bones.
Two years ago, she started as a rough envoy under Yu Zhaorong's handmaid. Because of her ability to handle affairs, she made her master feel at ease, and gradually climbed to the position of Grand Palace Maid, which won Yu Zhaorong's trust.
Before Yu Zhaorong died, he also left a lot of money that he brought to the palace from his mother's house to Rong Xi, and told her to find another new owner so that she should not miss her. On the road to Huangquan, she must also be the beauty who walks the most gracefully.
Rongxi didn't accept the money with peace of mind, but sent someone to Daxiangguo Temple to get a few consecrated artifacts with a lot of money, and put them in Yu Zhaorong's coffin before the eunuch Dali carried the coffin, hoping that on the road to Huangquan, Yu Zhaorong's The road can go more smoothly.
With a "squeak" sound, the door was pushed open.
After Rong Xi stepped over the threshold, she stood in front of the lattice window of the little maid's room, silently looking at the eight court ladies who were sleeping soundly lined up on the bed.
The interior of Fuqu Palace has a quiet and secluded view, and the wisteria in the courtyard meanders along the red wall.
Rong Xi was thinking about something in her mind, when a young eunuch from Fuyu Palace greeted her, interrupting her thoughts.
— "Aunt Rong got up so early again this morning, where are you going this early?"
She turned around according to the sound, and saw two eunuchs wearing Futou from Fuyu Palace sweeping the courtyard, so she replied indifferently: "The Dianzhong Province sent someone to inform me last night that I should go to the Neizhu Division early this morning. It should be that the clerk under the attendant will give me an errand to do."
As soon as Rong Xi finished speaking, several petite birds with fluffy feathers chirped and landed on the bluestone floor not far from Rong Xi.
They are not afraid of people, and they are taking turns pecking at the seeds on the ground.
The species of birds in Yongxi Palace are much more precious than those outside the palace, and their singing sounds are very pleasant.
Before Rong Xi left Fuqu Palace, she also told the eunuch to wake up the little maids in a while.
The little eunuch should be respectful and asked Rong Xi to walk slowly, but felt that her voice was more melodious and melodious than the chirping of this rare bird.
Although the young Aunt Rong in Fuqu Gong didn't have good looks and was mediocre in appearance, her Lingling voice sounded like the clear stream hitting a stone in a stream, it could really be called the voice of a beauty.
When Yu Zhaorong was alive, he always teased Rong Xi that if he had such a voice, it would be better to learn how to sing, and he could also sing for her and the emperor, adding some elegance and interest.
Looking at Rong Xi's slender figure, the eunuch couldn't help feeling emotional.
If Rong Xisheng was a little more good-looking, with her beautiful voice and graceful figure, she might be lucky enough to be a servant or a talented person.
Although this Aunt Rong is not beautiful, she has a very good temper, she is dexterous in doing things, and she is very good at getting along with people.
Not to mention the relationship between Rong Xi and other palace people in Yongxi Palace, but only the eight little maids in Fuyu Palace respect and admire Rong Xi.
Rong Xi seems to have a good temper, but she is also cunning, she can shock the little palace ladies under her command. While being gentle and gentle in her dealings with others, it also made the little palace ladies feel a little afraid of her.
Many palace maids in their twenties, and even nuns in their thirties are not as capable as Rong Xi.
The master passed away, and the Nei Zhusi hadn't had time to arrange the whereabouts of the servants in the Fuqu Palace.
The other eunuch also had nothing to do, so he put down the broom in his hand and chatted with the eunuch who was a few years older than him.
His voice had the unique treble of a eunuch, and he said: "Sigh, we ordinary palace people are just waiting for the recorder to randomly arrange the vacancy in each palace. Messenger, I can't do those hard jobs right now. Aunt Rong's future is good, you see, even all the divisions sent someone to invite her alone, this must be a good job."
The old eunuch's voice was a bit rough like that of an ordinary man, he sneered, and his tone was a bit sad: "What's the matter, I'm afraid that the errands assigned to us are not as good as ours."
After the young lady listened, he let out a snort.
He asked puzzledly: "How do you say that? I heard a while ago that the Shangyi Bureau happened to lack a Feng Yu, and the Shangyi Supervisor deliberately asked Aunt Rong to take that position."
The elder eunuch was silent, then waved his hand.
The errands in the Shangyi Bureau are good, Rong Xi is smart and quick to learn things, and she also has a foundation in embroidery and garment making, which is much better than ordinary female garment workers.
Working in the Shangyi Bureau is based on ability, relying on Rong Xi's talent, to be a royal for a few years, and the Shangyi Supervisor intends to promote her as a successor, and when she is in her early twenties, she will be able to do it. The position of the supervisor of Shangyi Bureau.
At that time, the subordinates will be able to manage dozens of people, and they will still be female officials of high rank, and their salaries will naturally be generous.
It's a pity that Rong Xi can't be Feng Yu of the Shangyi Bureau now.
Seeing that the older eunuch didn't speak, only clicked his tongue twice, the young eunuch was a little anxious, and asked again: "Oh, what news have you heard again, don't be secretive, tell me quickly."
The older eunuch cast a sidelong glance at him.
Then he lowered his voice and whispered in his ear: "I don't know which master Aunt Rong is going to be with, but I can only tell you that she is going to be with a master who is more difficult to deal with than our old master Yu Zhaorong."
Tougher than Yu Zhaorong
The young eunuch fell silent, already having guesses in his mind.
Apart from Yu Zhaorong, there are two more bad-tempered masters in the palace.
One is the second princess Mu Qian, the daughter of the most favored concubine Li Gui of Yongxi Palace.
The two princesses had just turned thirteen years old, and they were spoiled and raised since they were young. Because Concubine Li Gui was favored and the family was powerful, she didn't look down on ordinary concubines and princes, so she had a little respect for the queen.
Although she is young, if the court ladies do not serve her well, Mu Qian will slap her and pull out her nails.
If the little palace maid assigned to her was more pretty and overwhelmed her by a little bit, Mu Qian would smear red pepper sauce from the Western Regions on her fair face to ruin her appearance.
It happened that a gust of autumn wind blew past, thinking of Mu Qian's torture methods, the young eunuch couldn't help but shudder.
Although Mu Qian's methods of torturing the palace people were cruel, they were not as terrible as the other master of Yongxi Palace.
After all, no one was killed in Mu Qian's palace.
And I heard that the master's palace dealt with several maids.
Besides Mu Qian, the other villain Rong Xi wants to follow is probably the grumpy Fourth Prince Mu Huai.