Chapter 10

He clapped his hands and laughed, "Indeed, the master is wise! My aunt must understand that every successful woman in the palace has endured hardship before enjoying sweetness. At first, being favored and showered with attention is nothing remarkable; to reach the end and do so gracefully is the true skill! I see that your fortune has turned this time. Listen to me, tidy up thoroughly, and when you meet the Emperor, speak softly. You must also pay attention to your gaze, like this..." He demonstrated for her, lifting one side of his swollen eyelid, smiling, and casting a sidelong glance through the gap, "This way of looking at someone, both inviting and rejecting, is something men cannot resist."

He stroked his smooth chin, this girl can captivate souls, truly a talent!

It is so suffocating here that I do not know how to relieve it. The young lord approached from the other end, his face flushed from the heat of the fire. As he drew near, he waved his hand with great bravado, saying, "Miss, do not be afraid. You have suffered some grievances these past couple of days. Once I find the right moment to meet with the master and the lady, I will ask her to speak on your behalf. Granting you a pardon is merely a matter of a few words."

The young lord humbly waved his hand, saying, "It is not worth mentioning. My father is of the first rank, while I have become of the third rank; there is nothing to boast about."

I am quite surprised, "What do you mean by harming me? Who is playing with their life? Several times I have come close to losing my head. I must have burned incense in my previous life. What face is there to show? I have no such intention; you have misunderstood me."

Being summoned to the bell is certainly not a pleasant task; it is a means specifically used to punish palace maids who have made mistakes. She often felt as if the heavens had lowered when she rose, and with her unfortunate luck, coupled with her inability to recognize people, this time there was finally no remedy. However, she took it in stride, having not faced any punishment in the palace for seven years. Who said it? "If you don't kneel at the wall, you won't get beaten." It was as if she had walked through the palace for nothing. As she prepared to go out and receive the reprimand, she considered it merely an embellishment to those seven years.

The one beside, who was filled with longevity, observed and pondered, this momentum is truly impressive. If the young prince also shows some interest, then the chances of success would be even greater. First, focus on the Emperor; if there are no developments in the palace, then in the future, becoming a concubine in the prince's residence would also be acceptable. By reaching out to both sides, nothing would be delayed, and it couldn't get any better than that.

Chang Man Shou sighed, "Just endure it; it's only that I can't sleep well, but it's still better than being locked up in a cell."

The young lord unceremoniously pressed it into her hand, saying, "Take this, you have done well in your duties, this is a reward from me."

The young lord smiled slightly, took out a stone incense tablet from his sleeve, and handed it to her, "I know you want to ring the bell, so I had the eminent monk in front bless it. This thing can ward off evil spirits. Later, I will have someone get a dog tooth, as it is said to be effective too"

The young lord and Chang Man Shou were engaging in a delightful exchange, and as he casually glanced towards the horizon, he noticed the sun was setting. Remembering the unfortunate tasks awaiting him upon returning to the palace, he felt a sense of dread akin to that of a setting sun. The regulations imposed by superiors often left one with no room to maneuver, making it difficult to maintain one's dignity. He rubbed his eyes and sighed, initially hoping to find time to visit his family, but now it seemed unnecessary, as he truly felt he had lost face.

Where is this going! The eunuch is full of malice, capable of extracting gold from a pile of dung. According to his words, one could be punished into receiving a title! I can only smile bitterly, "You don't understand, my days in the palace are not easy. The Emperor has summoned me, but he hasn't specified when."

With a voice full of longevity, he said, "You say this matter can be handled! Every time we meet, it feels like a collision, what is going on..." As he spoke, he glanced at her sideways, "Aunt, it can't be that you are doing this on purpose, right? If it is intentional, then I must praise you. Your way of making an appearance is something others have not used, the Emperor is sure to remember you."

She did not know what time the Emperor left, and did not use the main entrance. Perhaps it was because he was busy ahead; once he appeared, everyone would have to bow and pay their respects, which would delay their work. Therefore, she chose to leave the Prince's residence through a side door. Changman Shou, supporting his filial hat, came from a distance and, upon seeing her, asked, "Have you seen His Majesty? Have you caused trouble again?"

Chang Man Shou paused for a moment and said, "There is no need to rush; it is a matter of time, whether sooner or later."

She lowered her head and kicked at the pebble with her toes, thinking how much the Emperor must despise her for punishing her with this task. She would rather receive a beating; the pain would pass quickly. Unlike now, where she was slowly simmering, if something were to truly go wrong, she wouldn't even know where to cry for help.

Thus, she felt like crying without tears; she dared not think that the emperor punished her out of affection. Although she could not clearly remember his face, the look in her master's eyes was etched in her heart. It was one of disdain, like the wind in the twelfth month, wishing to flay her alive. Is this how someone expresses their affection? She had no desire to climb the social ladder and understood the importance of being pragmatic; she regarded this fervor for longevity as merely a joke.

There is no need to feel embarrassed; a young lady's family is just tender. Chang Manshou, resembling a relative from the young lady's family, took the initiative to cover it up, saying, "The young master is one of us; since he is one of us, there is no need to be polite!"

Chang Man Shou had a different perspective from hers; he discovered unique subtleties. The bell ringing did not mean wandering all over the place; the only route taken was from the Qianqing Palace to the Rijingmen and Yuehuamen areas. Which place is close to the Qianqing Palace? It is near the Yangxin Hall! At the hour of Shen, when the Emperor wakes from his afternoon nap to attend to state affairs, he is either in the Nanshufang or the Junjichu. She moves about right under the Emperor's nose, making it difficult to go unnoticed. In the evening, when the Emperor is settled in the Yangxin Hall, even if he is attending to the favored concubines, he must still be accompanied by her voice.

The young lord nodded and said, "I understand everything. Given the kindness the young lady has shown in serving as our family's hostess, neither I nor Her Majesty the Empress can just stand by and do nothing. Rest assured, young lady, I will remember this and will never forget it"

The category of 'one of our own' is rather broad. Looking at it from a peculiar angle, the young master of the Kun family wore an expression that seemed to say, 'You are absolutely right.' It is unclear when he and Chang Manshou began to walk together. Chang Manshou continued to flatter, elegantly flicking his sleeves to make a gesture, 'The young master has just inherited the title from the benefactor, and it was also a decree from His Majesty. I have yet to congratulate you!'

This head has suffered grievances, and the matters in the front yard still cannot be let go. After having a meal and resting for a while, one must gather their spirits to attend to their duties. During the busy intervals, one occasionally reminisces about the appearance of the Emperor, truly fearing that next time they meet, they might not recognize him. Things do not happen more than three times; if it happens again, one’s life may be at stake. But can one remember? Logically speaking, with such a good appearance, it should not be difficult to remember. It is indeed the kind that makes one’s heart tremble at just a glance; the Yu Wen family produces beauties, and this time has been an eye-opener. But can one remember? Logically speaking, with such a good appearance, it should not be difficult to remember. It is indeed the kind that makes one’s heart tremble at just a glance; the Yu Wen family produces beauties, and this time has been an eye-opener. However, it is unknown whether this beautiful face is of any use to her; she lacks a certain sense, and there are plenty of complete people in the palace, yet she has not remembered a single one.

You need not concern yourself with this; in any case, I am confident in my understanding.

She felt a tingling sensation in her gums, but she was not concerned despite the discomfort. However, it was still necessary to argue her case; she could not simply admit to it so readily. He feigned innocence, saying, "Aunt, you are wronging me. I had good intentions in bringing you to profit, how could it be that I am scheming against you? You mentioned that you stepped on the Emperor's toe, but I did not place your foot there, so how can you blame me?" After saying this, he changed his tone, "I know you are not feeling well inside; if you are upset, you can vent your anger on me, I can take it. As the saying goes, we are in this together, there is no distinction between you and me. As long as Aunt helps me out a bit when you gain power in the future, I will be grateful to you."

It is indeed quite difficult, "This is too precious."

Therefore, apart from being unrecognizable, she is still quite clever in other aspects. She glanced at him sideways and said, "Is it not intentional for Yanda to recommend me to serve at the funeral? With so many people in the palace, you specifically chose me, which truly surprises me." Her smile was superficial, and she harbored deep resentment towards him. If it weren't for him bringing her out, she would not have encountered the emperor today, nor would there have been this matter regarding the bell.

Seeing this made her stomach churn, as the appearance of Manager Zhang Er was truly unappealing. She restrained herself and covered her mouth, saying, "If I were to learn from you, I would surely be crushed to death by His Majesty. He wanted to crush me today, but fortunately, I have not yet been dismissed from my duties, so I managed to save my life."

Thus, I dare not think too much; after all, at this point, there is no room for selection. The emperor's decree is absolute; can she still disobey the imperial command out of fear of the dark or ghosts? Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine, especially the sound of the bell ringing in the dead of night, reminiscent of a soul summoning. Many have died unjustly in the palace; just a few days ago, there was Cui'er, whom she saw being pulled out. Now, recalling that moment makes her scalp tingle.

With a long life filled with wisdom, "If he truly wants to cut you down, regardless of what work you are doing, just shout 'Long Life' and he will have you sent to the market. Our master is not of a violent temperament; he is a profound and magnanimous ruler, a wise sovereign who cannot be petty with young ladies. In the palace, there are rules, whether they are overt or covert, which is lighter than ringing a bell? At least this flesh and skin will not suffer, and to avoid bad luck, one should carry something to ward off evil on oneself.

Before he could speak, Chang Man Shou had already interjected, "Young Master, you are truly a reincarnation of a Bodhisattva! You have such a kind heart; with you around, our aunt is surely saved. As you know, a young lady wandering alone outside the Qianqing Palace in the middle of the night is quite concerning. With the gates locked and no one around, and given the vastness of the place, it is not just a young lady who would feel afraid, even a man would find it daunting."

Those in the palace fear the absence of a count, as when the master orders a beating, there is no mention of how many strikes, and ultimately, it ends with death. If the bell tolls without specifying a day of pardon, then one must walk through wind and rain until death.

Thus, she blushed, "I wasn't paying attention and stepped on the dragon's foot."

Thus, I do not understand where his fallacies come from. "An Da, I am being punished for ringing the bell, not being promoted to the rank of a noble consort. Your words do not apply to me!"

"Whether there is a misunderstanding or not is a matter for later discussion. In any case, this time you have caught the attention of His Majesty, which is a good thing. Moving forward, you will have the opportunity to achieve something significant." Chang Man Shou imagined this with great pleasure, "You see, this trip has been quite timely. Put in your best effort, and your brothers at home will be counting on you for your promotion!"

This uncle of the state is indeed warm-hearted, and since he is not considered out of place, I express my gratitude sincerely, "Thank you for the grace of the young prince"

The afternoon was not as busy as the morning, but there were still various trivial matters that kept coming up. Coincidentally, while selecting boards for the old master’s coffin, she curiously leaned in to take a look. When she stepped back out, her mind was a complete blank, and she had indeed forgotten all about her master.

Thus, holding the incense plate in her hand, she found herself unable to advance or retreat. Seeking mercy and forgiveness was already a kindness; how could she still take someone else's belongings? She raised it slightly and said, "This stone railing is quite rare; I feel rather embarrassed."

What is the bell ringing? The bell ringing is a type of clapper made of human flesh. Every day at the first watch and at the gate of the palace during the evening, and during the night, one must rise to change the guard until the fifth watch in the early morning. At each change of the guard, one must raise their head, puff out their chest, march in a straight line, shake the bell, and sing loudly "Peace under Heaven." It is called bell ringing, but it would be more appropriate to call it weeping bell. Not being able to sleep well is secondary; the life-threatening issue is that the weather is getting colder. When it rains or snows, one is not allowed to seek shelter, nor to use an umbrella or wear an oilcloth raincoat, which truly feels like one is going to freeze to death.

What does it matter! You are still young. After a while, take a trip to the border camp, earn some military merits, and getting promoted is not far off...

"Next time, you should take it easy. There is nothing wrong with being close to His Majesty, but you must never offend the imperial presence again. However, I can see that after these two encounters, His Majesty has truly remembered you. " Changmanshou laughed so hard that she trembled like a flower, "It was worth my effort to bring you out of the palace; this is a rare opportunity, and indeed, you have seized the chance."

She is a bit at a loss for words, "Have you studied the art of physiognomy? Is the little immortal on the bridge an old acquaintance of yours?"