"Your Majesty, after dinner today, we will go to the concubines' residence for a routine inspection." Lianyun reported her schedule for the day while helping Shen Qingwan to dress up.
Shen Qingwan took over the task of the talent show for the first time, so she had no place to see or learn much. Lianyun helped her collect a lot of information. In case she forgot, Lianyun would remind her before the trip every time, which was considerate.
"I understand." She picked up the bronze mirror and looked around. After making sure that her makeup was correct, she stood up to eat.
When she arrived at the courtyard where the concubines lived, the ladies had already dressed themselves and were standing neatly in the courtyard waiting for the arrival of the virtuous concubine.
Lianyun counted the number of people and found that there was no one absent or late. He nodded secretly in his heart, thinking that at least this group of people knew the rules and would be easier to discipline.
She looked at them carefully one by one, comparing their appearance, names, family background, and abilities, and had her own calculations in mind. The concubines knew that this selection was in charge of the virtuous concubine in front of them, so they naturally did not dare to act rashly. For a moment, the courtyard was so quiet that you could hear the falling leaves.
However, this peace did not last long as it was broken by the arrival of an "uninvited guest".
"The Queen is here!" Following a sharp voice, Xiao Shushen's figure appeared in the courtyard.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen..." After a moment's silence, the startled ladies began to bow one after another. However, as they were not mentally prepared, their bows were performed unevenly.
Shen Qingwan frowned slightly, slightly dissatisfied with this phenomenon. It's hard to say what kind of psychological quality this is.
However, Hsiao Shushen seemed not to notice that the ceremony was so chaotic. She smiled dignifiedly, raised her hand slightly, and motioned for everyone to stand up.
The concubines who had just entered the palace were inevitably stunned by his calm, majestic, yet approachable image, and were full of admiration and awe for the master of the harem. Seeing that the faint smile on Xiao Shushen's face did not fade away after the ceremony, some bold concubines finally whispered in the ears of those around them, and occasionally carefully reached out their hands to point and criticize inconspicuously.
Shen Qingwan was really a little angry at this moment, but she didn't show it on her face. She bowed to her lightly to make sure it was polite.
Although Xiao Shushen came here to show off her authority in front of the people who were about to enter the palace because she was dissatisfied with her taking over the selection of concubines, she still had to put on a show of strength. She nodded to her and accepted her gift.
Shen Qingwan then turned around and scolded the concubines who had been chattering since the beginning, "You have learned to disrespect the queen before entering the palace? Haven't you learned the rules of the palace yet? Shut up!"
The concubines then remembered their current status and the rules they should abide by. They became quiet and looked at her with a little fear, fearing that they would offend this lady. Although the queen was the master of the harem, since the emperor had entrusted the selection of concubines to her, for these concubines, the most important thing they needed to do was to listen to her.
Xiao Shushen's face turned slightly ugly. She came here on purpose to embarrass her, so she tolerated these unruly little girls' comments on her. But now Shen Qingwan was scolding people in her name, as if her majesty as the queen still needed her, a virtuous concubine, to maintain.
She sneered, "My sister is so majestic."
"Sister, you are too kind." Shen Qingwan looked at her calmly, her eyes as indifferent as always, "Since the emperor has entrusted such an important task to me, I must carefully teach you to be a beautiful girl that will save the emperor's worries."
Xiao Shushen gritted her teeth in hatred. Why could a virtuous concubine like her be in charge of such a big thing? How could she be better than herself? Seeing the indifference in her eyes, she became even more furious.
What she hated most was Concubine Xian's indifference, as if no matter what happened, she was just a condescending bystander and no one could touch her at all.
"Then you really need to teach him carefully, sister. The harem is a place full of troubles. If something happens to someone under your control after entering the palace, I'm afraid you won't be able to explain it." Xiao Shushen said coldly.
"Thank you for your concern, sister. I will carefully select the candidates for entering the palace, so that the emperor has no worries." Shen Qingwan replied indifferently. The implication was that she was only responsible for the selection, and the final candidates for entering the palace still had to be approved by the emperor. If there were any mistakes in the future, she would be held responsible and it would be a slap in the face of the emperor in disguise. I'm afraid no one in the palace would dare to do this.
Xiao Shushen's face turned pale and blue, and she was very upset by her disrespectful words, but she still maintained her dignity and said without any emotion, "That's great. I won't disturb you from doing your work. You have to select carefully and don't make any mistakes, otherwise... heh."
Since Fu Yuheng had given her full authority over the talent show, she could come and take a look, to give him a bit of a warning, but she definitely couldn't really interfere or get involved. If he heard about it, she couldn't explain it, so she had to let it go. But he still remembered her in his heart.
Shen Qingwan nodded in agreement, not paying any more attention to her implied meaning, and politely escorted her out of the hospital.
The two did not deliberately lower their voices when they talked, but they were not particularly loud either. Most of the concubines only heard the two of them exchange a few words before the queen left. They could only watch the master of the harem go away.
But Li Xinyu, who was sitting closer, could see the undercurrents between the two. She rolled her eyes and thought about it. Shen Qingwan and Shen Qingyan had a complicated relationship. Maybe she had offended Shen Qingyan by mocking her last time, and she didn't accept bribes. If she wanted to build a relationship, she could only find another way. The queen might be a good choice for her at this time.
Shen Qingwan was upset by Xiao Shushen, and the other concubines were a little uneasy because of her appearance, so she simply scolded them and dismissed everyone.
Li Xinyu quietly grabbed a palace maid while no one was paying attention and asked her where Xiao Shushen's palace was. After what happened today, she wanted to find a way to get in touch with her.
The maid hesitated for a while. Although Li Xinyu was still a concubine, who knew if she would become powerful in the future? And from her appearance, it seemed that she wanted to be on the same boat with the queen. Thinking of this, the maid respectfully said to Li Xinyu: "I do know where the queen's palace is, but the young lady will not be allowed to enter the inner palace even if she knows the location now."
Li Xinyu paused, then realized that it was not so easy to penetrate the strict hierarchy of the harem. She nodded, took out a bag of silver from her bosom and secretly stuffed it into the maid, saying with a smile: "I was impatient. But if you have the chance, please say a few good words for me in front of the Queen."
The palace maid looked around and didn't see anyone. After hesitating for a moment, she nodded and accepted it.