Chapter 7, Favored Concubine
Chapter 7, Favored Concubine
The majesty of heaven is in panic, Forbidden City.
June 19th is auspicious, suitable for getting married, making money, and moving into a new home.
*
The morning light is dim and birds are singing.
Before dawn, Shen Qingtang bid farewell to his parents and left the Shen family early with Amber, the maid who used to serve his younger brother.
The sedan swayed slowly all the way, and in the distance, the majestic Forbidden City with its red and green tiles slowly came into view in the morning light.
"My lord, we're here."
Amber lightly lifted the curtain of the sedan chair, and a white hand stretched out from the sedan chair. The jade-clear lotus bracelet on the wrist shone with a bright luster like a pool of spring water in the morning light, which made the young eunuch waiting at the palace gate stare in amazement.
Deng Deng Deng!
"I am Fu'an, the eunuch in charge of Fanghua Palace, and I pay my respects to Concubine Shu." Fu'an walked quickly to the sedan chair and extended his hand to Shen Qingtang.
Eh?
Amber looked at Fuan and was stunned.
Is this young eunuch competing with her for favor?
...What a clever and smart Fu'an.
Something will happen!
Shen Qingtang was silent for a moment, then placed his hand lightly on Fu'an's hand and walked out slowly.
"The sky is about to brighten. It's a pity that you have waited for me for so long."
As soon as Shen Qingtang finished speaking, Amber immediately took out a purse and stuffed it into Fu'an's hand. The weight of the purse made Fu'an bend over with a smile on his face.
"I thank you for your kindness, my lord. It is my blessing to welcome you into the palace."
While saying flattering words, Fu'an led Shen Qingtang and his servant to the palace gate.
"My lady, it is the time when the zodiac signs of Yin and Mao are changing. There is still some distance from this palace gate to Guanju Palace. If there is nothing else, I will take you into the palace now."
Shen Qingtang looked back at the road he had come from, and with just one look, he stepped into the harem with a firm determination.
"Let's go."
Passing through the vermilion palace gate, in the moment when light and shadow fell, the girl's slender and fragile figure was ruthlessly isolated from the world along with the sound of heavy door hinges rolling.
Only the morning breeze still lingers on that hint of warmth and fragrance.
*
The sky above my head was clear blue and cloudless.
Walking on the wide and flat palace road paved with bluestone, with the eloquent Fu'an by your side, no matter how long the road is, it doesn't seem far or difficult.
"My lady, we are almost there. Walk along this road and turn past the Imperial Garden in front. Then head east and you will soon reach the Guanju Palace. If you are tired, you can first admire the flowers and take a rest in the Liushang Pavilion in the Imperial Garden."
Shen Qingtang looked ahead and saw the colorful flowers in the imperial garden. Even from a distance away, he could smell the rich fragrance of the flowers coming with the wind, lingering with his breath.
Shen Qingtang loves fragrance. Although the scent of flowers is mixed, it is fresh and natural.
She narrowed her sparkling eyes and said lazily like a cat, "Let's go back to Fanghua Palace first, and wait until everything is packed up. We'll have plenty of time to read it slowly later."
"My young master, what you said makes sense. I will continue to lead the way for you."
The imperial garden is full of birdsong and flowers.
As Shen Qingtang and the other two were walking through the Imperial Garden, Amber beside them suddenly screamed.
"My lord, look at that!"
"Ok?"
Shen Qingtang looked in the direction Amber pointed, and at first glance, he was attracted by the graceful woman in palace dress on the sedan chair.
is her!
When you first see it, all other flowers pale in comparison.
Outside the alley, I saw a sandalwood and gold-painted sedan chair inlaid with countless gems, carrying a beautiful woman with a canopy on her head and dressed in a brocade robe. She was surrounded by countless palace maids and eunuchs and passed by the intersection with great fanfare.
"...My lady, which lady is this? She looks so elegant and majestic." Amber stared at the deserted intersection in amazement, unable to recover for a long time.
"That's the Imperial Concubine." The most favored person in the harem today - Jiang Mingyue.
Shen Qingtang's lips curved, and a strange look flashed across her eyes. Favored Concubine...
She had no way out, and this was the path she would take from now on.
……
Guanju Palace, Fanghua Hall.
On the vermilion palace gate, an ancient and majestic plaque hangs high, and the large gold-painted characters carved on it reflect a dazzling light under the sun.
——Guanju Palace!
Call ~
It’s finally here!
In the middle of summer, not to mention the delicate young lady, even Fu'an himself was sweating profusely.
The handkerchief in Shen Qingtou's hand was slightly wet, and Fu'an hurried to greet her.
"The sun is getting hotter and hotter. You should hurry into the palace. I'm sure Shi Liu and An Lan have already provided ice basins in the palace. Please go in and take a rest."
"That's great, then go in." The subordinate is so smart and sensible, he must be rewarded!
Shen Qingtang was already sunburned, so he immediately took Amber and Fu'an through the vermilion palace gate.
As soon as that graceful figure appeared in Guanju Palace, the palace maids and eunuchs who had been waiting at the entrance of Fanghua Palace hurriedly knelt on the ground and saluted together.
"Your servant greets the noble lady."
Shen Qingtang paused, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with so many people kneeling on him suddenly.
Times are different, and social systems are also different.
ah~
She still needs to change her mindset.
"Everyone, get up." Shen Qingtang coughed, "The sun is scorching outside. If you have anything to say, come inside and talk."
As he spoke, Shen Qingtang led Amber into the Fanghua Palace first.
Inside and outside the hall, it seemed like two different worlds. A hint of cool air instantly soothed the unbearable heat on my body.
Amber stood by the side while Shen Qingtang sat firmly on the soft chair. His eyes moved around the crowd and then fell on the two palace maids in the lead.
"Pomegranate, Anlan."
"I am Shi Liu, your servant. Nice to meet you, young lady." Shi Liu has almond-shaped eyes and a round face, and she looks lively and cute.
"I am An Lan, your servant. Nice to meet you, young lady." An Lan is pretty and quiet, more stable than Shi Liu.
Shen Qingtang nodded, "From now on, you two will serve me like Amber, and Fu'an will take care of the arrangements for the rest of the people."
Shen Qingtang raised her hand slightly, and Amber saw it and distributed the purses she had prepared in advance to the palace maids one by one.
Everyone was delighted when they got the purse.
"Thank you for your reward, my lady. We will do our best to take care of Fanghua Palace and will never trouble you."
Hearing this, Shen Qingtang smiled.
"That's good, of course. I only have one request for you, and that is loyalty."
Looking at the palace maids below who were smiling happily, Shen Qingtang curled the corners of his lips slightly. His smiling eyes and eyebrows looked so gentle and harmless, but when they looked at him, they made people inexplicably frightened.
"Those who are loyal to me will be rewarded generously, but if I learn that someone is betraying their master, don't blame me for disregarding the relationship between master and servant and handing you over to the Ministry of Punishment."
Hearing the three words "Ministry of Punishment", everyone's faces changed and they knelt on the ground in a hurry.
"I will always abide by my duties and will never betray you, my master. I hope you will understand."
Looking down at the palace maids kneeling on the ground below, Shen Qingtang felt no pity this time.
After all, her life and property are linked to the loyalty of the people around her.
Excessive kindness will only hurt herself.
(End of this chapter)