In the early morning of January in the capital city, there was a cold mist. Carriage after carriage broke the tranquility of the street and headed towards the palace, gradually forming a queue of vehicles.
Gu Shiba Niang opened the soft curtain of the car and saw the palace not far away lying like a giant beast in the morning mist, its majesty could not be faced head-on.
After going through many checkpoints, several identity verifications, and body searches by female officers, the women's carriages officially entered the palace.
Perhaps this is the only time in this life that I have entered the most noble place of the Zhou Dynasty. But at this time, the women were sitting quietly in the carriage and were as silent as a cicada. When I just took a few glances, I saw the magnificent palace with white jade railings, carved dragons and pillars. The strictness of the imperial authority was brought to the extreme, which formed a great psychological deterrent to these women. At this time, they could only be cautious lest they make a single mistake and make a mistake that would lead to eternal regrets.
"Ladies, please get out of the car."
Accompanied by the announcement, Gu Shiba Niang stepped out of the carriage and saw that she was already in front of a palace gate. In front of the palace gate was a group of strictly forbidden soldiers, and more than a dozen eunuchs with expressions on their faces stood silently with their hands covered.
Dozens of fat and thin young women in rich and jeweled clothes stood over one after another, with unconcealable restraint.
"Ladies, please come this way." The leading chamberlain said, turning around and heading inward.
After some slight panic, the women followed each other. Gu Shiba Niang walked in the middle and came to the main entrance of the palace. She noticed a heat wave coming from a distance.
A large charcoal basin was burning in the hall, which was where the heat wave came from. There were already more than a dozen chamberlains standing in the room, scanning the women who filed in with sharp and critical eyes.
With this seemingly hasty sweep, the taller, shorter, fatter and thinner ones were screened out. Soon the maids came out, and the conductor divided everyone into two teams.
"Ladies, please come with me..." A palace maid in plain clothes said to Yan.
As soon as these words came out, the women on the left and right of Gu Shiba Niang's team let out excited lows, and some even gently wiped their tears.
At the same time, the dozen or so people next to him looked sad, and some even sobbed softly.
"Is this...?" Gu Shiba Niang couldn't help but asked a beautiful woman next to her in a low voice.
"We have passed the primary election..." the woman replied in a low voice, with a happy look on her face. She looked at Gu Shiba Niang and saw that she was wearing a lotus-colored coat and a green satin skirt, and she was holding an untied light yellow striped embroidered skirt in her hand. He was wearing a furry cape, ordinary clothes, and his appearance could only be considered average among this group of people. He suddenly felt good in his heart, and while following the team, he whispered, "Where are you from?"
"Jiankang Mansion." Gu Shiba Niang replied. Because she had something on her mind, she was not as happy about this result as others.
"My ancestral home is Shaoxing, but I have never been back to my hometown. I have always been in the capital..." the woman whispered with a smile.
"Silence," the waiter on the side shouted, interrupting her.
Gu Shiba Niang and the woman were too busy to speak anymore. They stepped through another door and stood in a still luxurious hall.
There were more than a dozen chamberlains waiting here, holding rulers in their hands. When they saw everyone coming in, they separated them into groups and began to measure their arms, waist, legs and feet one by one.
Gu Shiba Niang stood aside and saw the royal selection method for the first time. She couldn't help but be a little curious. She glanced sideways and saw a woman taking off the yellow bracelet on her hand when the chamberlain was measuring her arm, and slipped it onto the chamberlain's sleeve. inside.
"Miss, please."
A chamberlain stood in front of her. Gu Shiba Niang quickly lowered her gaze and spread her arms as instructed.
"The young lady has well-proportioned bones and perfect manners..." This was a young chamberlain who raised his hand and quickly measured her arm while saying with a smile.
Gu Shiba Niang nodded and thanked her modestly, but did not take off her bracelet or stuff her banknotes.
"Congratulations, Miss..." The waiter quickly finished the measurement and smiled more cordially, with a hint of respect in the cordiality, "Please..."
The team was divided into two lines just like before, and one family was happy and the other was sad.
"Hey..." Seeing Gu Shiba Niang coming over, the woman who had been standing here and just spoke smiled at her and gestured.
Gu Shiba Niang hesitated for a moment, then walked over and stood beside her.
This time, many people were screened out again. So far, there are less than twenty people standing here. At this time, the remaining women are already outstanding. When Gu Shiba Niang came over, there were several people who understood or understood. An's eyes came over and swept over them. Most people looked relieved, but some people frowned, and their expressions became a little more alert.
With such good looks, it seems that the family is of extraordinary status.
"Congratulations..." the woman from Shaoxing Prefecture said with a smile.
Gu Shiba Niang smiled and expressed her joy.
The two beautiful and noble women standing on the side looked away from Gu Shiba Niang.
"Do you know who she is?" one of them asked in a low voice.
"I don't know..." the other person replied in a low voice, casting his gaze over again, scanning Gu Shiba Niang's face, and finally landed on her crossed hands, a smile slowly appeared on her fair face, " However, there is nothing to ask..."
"What do you say?" The woman from before looked up at her.
"Look at her hands..." the fair woman chuckled and glanced this way.
The woman looked over and immediately smiled, with a bit of disdain in her smile.
"Looks like he's wasting his money again..." she whispered.
The two stopped talking. The chamberlains had already led the group of eliminated people out, leaving them alone in the hall.
"Congratulations ladies, you will stay in the palace today and wait for your choice tomorrow..." The chubby eunuch said with a smile, while reaching out and flicking the fly whisk, "Misses, please move around, this way please..."
There was a jingle of rings, and more than 20 women followed the eunuchs who led the way. The eunuchs standing in the middle stared at them closely, not letting go of any move that was inappropriate or inappropriate. After a few steps, four or five more people were written down and eliminated.
"Are you going to stay in the palace tonight?" Gu Shiba Niang couldn't help but asked the Shaoxing woman next to her in a low voice.
They had already walked out of the palace and headed towards a small courtyard not far away. At some point, fine snow particles began to fall, and the smooth bluestone road was already a little slippery.
"Well," the Shaoxing woman whispered nervously, "What's your name? Let's live together later..."
Gu Shiba Niang hesitated for a moment and said, "Gu Xiang."
"My name is Xu Qing, you can just call me Qingniang..." The Shaoxing woman laughed in a low voice, and her eyes casually glanced at Gu Shiba Niang's hand held in front of her, "You live with me, I will help you look after Falling asleep..."
"Asleep state?" Gu Shiba Niang asked puzzledly.
"Do you think the palace people are tired, so they postponed the selection until tomorrow?" Xu Qing said in a low voice, "This is to check our sleep state. We grind our teeth and talk in our sleep. The most feared thing is sleepwalking..." "
Gu Shiba Niang said suddenly.
"But if I don't sleep, I won't be in good spirits tomorrow, so the two of us will sleep half the night instead..." Xu Qing whispered, turning his head slightly, "I'm afraid I'll grind my teeth... I'll be nervous. Like this…actually it’s not like this every day…”
Gu Shiba Niang smiled and said hello.
A group of people walked gracefully, and more than twenty cloaks of various colors looked like colorful clouds in the light snow and breeze, which were particularly eye-catching.
A soft sedan passed by not far away, and a crisp sound suddenly came from the hanging curtain that blocked the wind and snow.
"Wait a minute."
The four young chamberlains carrying the sedan stopped in a hurry and did not move at all.
One hand opened the soft hanging curtain, revealing the beautiful face of the white jade princess. Her eyes were cast here, her expression getting colder and colder.
"Is that the candidate for the good daughter of the East Palace?" She asked slowly.
"As for the princess, that's right." The chamberlain on the side replied hurriedly and respectfully, with a flattering smile, "The princess can also come and have a look in the future. Doesn't the Queen Mother also want you to come and have a look..."
Princess Baiyu ignored his flattering words, her eyes still followed the colorful clouds that were gradually disappearing.
"Here comes someone..." she said suddenly.
Immediately a maid stood over and lowered her hands to listen to the instructions.
"Gu Luo'er said that her cousin was lucky enough to run for election, and asked me to take care of her a little more..." Princess Baiyu said slowly, with a soft tone, but her eyebrows were raised, showing a faint coldness, " Go and see if someone named Gu Xiang is still there..."
"Yes." The maid responded, saluted and headed that way.
"Let's go." Princess Baiyu withdrew her gaze and lowered the curtain.
Although it was agreed that everyone should sleep for half the night, in fact no one fell asleep. Being in the palace and facing such a major event in life, who can remain calm and calm as usual.
When we woke up on the second day, everyone obviously used more makeup to cover their slightly swollen eyes.
"The Queen Mother gave me a meal..."
They all gathered in the hall, looked at several tables of food, and then heard the words of the chamberlain. Even though she was a girl from a noble and powerful family, she couldn't help but look a little embarrassed.
Royal meal, even if you are dismissed today, this is enough to show off for a lifetime. The women who were full of excitement were busy bowing their thanks, and some even shed tears in excitement.
After eating the royal meal and taking a short rest, the women were gathered into the hall where they were yesterday. At this time, there were no servants in the hall, but a group of elderly palace maids with solemn expressions.
Last night, Xu Qingniang had already explained it to Gu Shiba Niang in advance. This time, what was being inspected was not the outward appearance, but the inner appearance.
"It's so embarrassing..." the girl said shyly.
One by one, the women began to be called out individually. When they came out, they all lowered their heads. The difference was that they were smiling with their heads down, or crying with their heads down. This was because it was the penultimate step in deciding on the candidate, and it was also the most critical step. The selection was obviously strict. , three went in, and only one came out smiling.
"Xiang daughter of Gu family in Jiankang." The palace maid called according to the list.
"Don't be nervous..." Xu Qing shook Gu Shiba Niang's hand and said with a smile.
Gu Shiba Niang nodded and went in. After a while, she came out again. Immediately, more than a dozen eyes fell on her, searching with some expectation.
She didn't laugh or cry, and her expression looked a little strange, which puzzled everyone.
"How's it going?" Xu Qing couldn't help but approached and asked in a low voice.
Gu Shiba Niang looked up at her with a complicated expression.
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. After getting to this point, your status will be very high..." Xu Qing comforted him with a smile.
"No, I've passed..." Gu Shiba Niang said with a wry smile.
Xu Qing opened his mouth wide with a look of disbelief.
"What...what did you say?" she asked stammering, her eyes falling directly on Gu Shiba Niang's hand.
How can it be? The two women who deliberately stood over also looked shocked. They looked at each other and saw solemnity in each other's eyes.
Everyone's eyes fell back on Gu Shiba Niang's hand, and Gu Ba Niang was also looking at her own hand.
The hands are rough and browned, and when you turn the palms over, you can still see spots in them, which are caused by the erosion of the medicinal materials.
That's it...
"You have a soft body and delicate skin..." The words of the old palace maid just now echoed in her ears,
Are you blind
"What? Passed?" Princess Baiyu knew the result immediately. Sitting on the chair, she looked cold and solemn, and placed the tea in her hand heavily on the table with a crisp sound.
The standing maid couldn't help but tremble, watching her princess stand up suddenly.
Princess Baiyu stood up but did not move. Instead, she stood still for a moment with a changing expression, and then slowly sat back down.
Although Princess Bai Jade is young, she was born into a wealthy family and has been in and out of the palace since she was a child. She is not an ignorant little girl who only knows how to play tricks. Ordinary men are inevitably surrounded by wives and concubines, not to mention the man she wants to marry. Now he is the second most noble person in the world, and he will be the ninth most noble person in the future. Women have always been indispensable in the palace and royal family.
Instead of being jealous and ruining one's own image, it is better to go along with the flow and do favors. Anyway, such a lowly woman is just a dispensable plaything when she comes in.
"Pour tea." Princess Baiyu slowly sat down and said slowly.
The maid on the side who had already stood up to follow was a little distracted, and immediately responded and poured tea.
The aroma of hot tea brushed the tip of her nose, and the White Jade Princess took a few bites.
"Go, prepare the car to enter the palace." She put down the tea cup and stood up slowly.
This time he was really going out, and the maids hurriedly responded.
After noon, more than twenty good girls were selected, and this time only ten were left.
Sitting in the luxurious hall, the women who had already stepped through the gate of the East Palace could not conceal their excitement, chatting in low voices in twos and threes, and everyone's eyes fell on the slightly out-of-place Gu Shiba Niang from time to time.
Today's selection is over, and tomorrow will be the final selection, which will be conducted personally by the Emperor, Queen Mother and Prince.
Xu Qing has been eliminated, no one is talking to her, and Gu Shiba Niang doesn't want to talk either. She has a solemn look on her face, clasping her hands and thinking a lot.
"Cousin..." The two women talked in a low voice, and they naturally passed smoothly. "It seems that she has made an internal decision..."
The two of them confirmed this at the same time, looked at each other, and immediately stood up with a smile and walked to Gu Shiba Niang to exchange greetings.
Before he could speak, a palace maid hurried in, her eyes sweeping across the room with a bit of uncertainty.
"Gu Xiang?" she called.
Gu Shiba Niang came back to her senses, stood up quickly, and answered yes.
"Please come with me..." the palace maid said with a smile, her eyes fell on her, and she saluted.
Gu Shiba Niang hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether to leave or not. In this strange environment that was beyond her control, everything made her feel terrified.
She had not tasted this feeling for a long time except for the first period of her rebirth.
"It's Princess Baiyu who wants to see you." The palace maid noticed her hesitation and immediately said with a smile.
This sentence made other people in the hall even more surprised, but Gu Shiba Niang was shocked.
Princess Baiyu? No, she can't go see her
She couldn't help but subconsciously caressed her cheek with her hand, relying on the elixir Huang for the effective plaster. The long nail scratches did not leave any scars.
No, she was not afraid of being beaten. If she saw her, she would definitely be recognized. At that time, she was under the banner of the maid of the prince's palace.
This this….
Gu Shiba Niang didn't know what to do for a while and couldn't see her. However, with her status, how could she refuse to be summoned
How could she refuse the summons? That is impossible…..
His Royal Highness... Gu Shiba Niang subconsciously chanted this name in her heart.
"Miss Gu?" The palace lady said with some displeasure on her face, "Please, don't keep the princess waiting..."
"Miss Gu..." The woman standing next to Gu Shiba Niang couldn't help but remind her.
"Yes..." Gu Shiba Niang could only lift her feet in response. She walked very slowly, wishing she could never get out.
But this is impossible…..
And Princess Baiyu is in the Nuan Pavilion next door.
"Princess, Miss Gu Xiang is here." The palace maid stood outside the door and said with a bow.
"Come in." The door was opened from the inside.
Gu Shiba Niang lifted her heavy foot and stepped in.
Looking down at the thick carpet on the ground, Gu Shiba Niang knelt down and kowtowed after walking a few steps.
"Get up without any ceremony." A voice came from the head.
Gu Shiba Niang thanked her in a low voice, stood up with her head bowed, and felt a scorching gaze falling on her.
"Raise your head and let me see what kind of beauty she is..." The voice fell softly and hit Gu Shiba Niang like a huge stone.
"I dare not..." Gu Shiba Niang whispered.
A crisp laugh.
"All slaves and no slaves will become a family. My sisters, don't live apart..." Princess Baiyu said with a smile.
Her voice is clear yet soft, with a hint of girlish innocence, making people feel close to her.
But Gu Shiba Niang was like a ray of light on her back, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on her forehead.
"I dare not..." she had to say again.
"Huh?" Princess Baiyu's voice became cold and serious, and her pressure suddenly appeared.
"What's going on with you?" the maid on the side yelled in a low voice, "Just listen to what the princess says."
As she spoke, she simply walked forward, stretched out her hand and lifted Gu Shiba Niang's chin.
"Princess, look..." she smiled.
Gu Shiba Niang was startled, shouted in her heart, and looked at the gaze from above.
Princess Baiyu looked over with a faint expression, half-smiling but not smiling. When she saw the face below her clearly, she couldn't help but be startled.
"You..." She lost consciousness for a moment, and the feeling of familiarity spread. When she understood where the familiarity came from, her expression suddenly changed, and she stood up suddenly, "You...it's you, it turns out you are..."
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Chapter 5,000, I have a day off tomorrow. I stayed up late and didn’t check for typos. I’m so sleepy.