Chapter 1, Zhongcui Palace

She hails from the Plain White Banner, belonging to the upper three banners of the Imperial Household, and is a member of the royal family’s servants. In comparison to those of the lower five banners, her status is somewhat elevated.

Gazing at the window frame covered in cobwebs and the tattered, disordered curtains, Jingning smiled calmly, rolled up her sleeves, and began to clean.

The Forbidden City before me is covered with a thick layer of snow both inside and out. On the octagonal spires with eaves extending in all directions, glistening icicles hang, shimmering dazzlingly in the sunlight.

You members of the Eight Banners, entering the palace is not for the purpose of enjoying a life of luxury as masters; all of you need to stay alert!" Standing at the front delivering this admonition was an elderly eunuch in his mid-years, with a square face and narrow forehead, his eyes full of shrewdness. He was Li Dequan, the Grand Director of the Imperial Household Department.

Jingning used to fetch water, and she also came to help. With a slight sweat on her forehead, Jingning thoughtfully handed her a piece of cloth, which earned her a grateful smile in return

Similarly residing in the Zhongcui Palace, the ladies of the court occupy the front courtyard, adorned with a ceiling of exquisite craftsmanship, paved with square tiles, featuring ice-cracked patterns and splendid doors and windows; whereas they are relegated to the desolate back courtyard, overgrown with weeds and filled with dust.

By the second year's first month, the personnel of the Internal Affairs Office began to prepare for the Lantern Festival.

It is already a challenge to enter the palace in the same year, and being assigned to the same room is even rarer. Compared to others, there is an added sense of compassion among them.

Every three years, the Ministry of Revenue selects women of comparable age and outstanding appearance from the Eight Banners to enter the palace, either as candidates for the imperial consorts or to be married to the close relatives of the royal family

If we can successfully pass the training of the Shangyi Bureau, we may be assigned to serve the nobility or to be attendants or regulars. However, some will still have to perform menial tasks. The regulations in the imperial harem are strict, and the number of palace maids serving in each palace is limited, so there will always be some who are filtered out

Jingning, like the other women who came with her, was dressed in a deep brown qipao, her hair meticulously styled in a traditional manner, with her head bowed and eyes lowered, exuding a demeanor of submission and humility

Jingning smiled faintly, not responding. In fact, what difference does it make where one is assigned? Being a servant, one's life is of little value, especially since they hail from the lower five banners. If one could be assigned to a lower rank, it might not necessarily be a bad thing.

"In a month, the Shuxiu Palace will come to select candidates, and perhaps I will be chosen. At that time, I will serve the Empress, climb the social ladder, and it is possible that I could become a lady-in-waiting!" Over there, a delicate and lovely young woman sat beside a stone table, tilting her face up, looking proudly at several familiar sisters beside her

Jingning was momentarily stunned; at merely eleven or twelve years of age, she did not yet comprehend the sinister nature of the inner palace and the terrifying depths of human hearts. Yet, she already knew how to navigate the treacherous paths. The depths of the palace gates are profound, and it seems that in just a few years, she will undoubtedly have a boundless future.

The sixth day of the first month is the last day they will be taught. Tomorrow, the Empress will send someone for the final assessment. Of the fifty-six sisters who came together, only thirty remain. If they do not pass the final assessment, they will still be sent back to their original homes.

Pouting, she shook her head, "If you ask me, there might be hope, but it certainly won't be for me... Many people have secretly used money, and my family is poor, so I can't possibly come up with any money."

Indeed, it is good to be the elder sister, unlike us who can only be assigned to the East and West Six Palaces. Those with good fortune follow their masters to wealth and prosperity, while those with poor fortune may not see a bright future in their entire lives.

Jingning nodded and said, "They come from the Upper Three Banners. After training, they will be assigned to serve the Emperor, the Empress, or the Noble Consort, holding a status higher than that of ordinary palace maids"

From the grand distinctions among the ranks of the imperial concubines and how they are treated according to their status, to the minutiae of walking, greeting, and even eating and sleeping. During this period, women who are unruly or poorly taught would be relegated to menial positions such as the laundry department, never to be employed again

Tonight, they will be accommodated in the Zhongcui Palace

The cold moonlight streamed in through the window frame, casting a chill both inside and outside the room.

In the distance, the red walls and yellow tiles, the intricately carved beams and painted rafters, the pavilions and waterside pavilions of varying heights, all exude a sense of solemnity and grandeur. In the twilight, these supreme palaces and towers of the human realm appear particularly enchanting and gentle, resembling a paradise on earth

As soon as dawn breaks, the aunt from Chuxiu Palace will come to select people, and perhaps we might also be assigned to serve a high-ranking master... Sister, don't you think? The Clock Tower Palace is particularly quiet and deep in the dead of night, under the flickering candlelight, Yingzhu is clinging to Jingning's arm, her beautiful big eyes sparkling like stars.

Jing Ning looked at her carefully for a long while before suddenly realizing, "No wonder she looks familiar; she is the younger sister of the Su family"

Tomorrow marks the final selection. If one cannot pass smoothly, one will have to serve as a menial worker and sleep in a communal dormitory. Women of her background, though not of noble birth, have been pampered since childhood. If they are to become menial workers, most of them will likely not survive until next year.

The bedding has all been newly replaced; it is not made of brocade, but rather the most ordinary coarse cloth, which is neither lightweight nor comfortable, merely sufficient to keep out the cold. She helped her tuck in the quilt and then gently lowered the curtain.

When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten out. Go to sleep, for tomorrow we must rise early. Jingning extinguished the candle and led Yingzhui towards the bed.

The leading eunuch wore a stern expression, walking while reiterating the rules that had been explained multiple times.

She carefully took down the worn-out curtain, placed it in a wooden basin, and then moved it to the yard

Which banner does my younger sister belong to

Although the teaching was strict and harsh, the month passed quite well. Jing Ning was naturally cautious and prudent, and since entering the palace, he had become increasingly diligent in adhering to his duties. This earned him the admiration of the matron of the Shangyi Bureau, who occasionally showed leniency towards minor infractions and did not impose excessive punishment.

In the twelfth month of the eleventh year of the Kangxi reign, the palace matrons of the Zhongcui Palace began to teach the court etiquette to them

Jingning gently tugged at her hair and asked with a smile, "What did Yingzhui say?"

This is the Zhongcui Palace, yet they are not the imperial concubines

The terms "palace maid" and "beauty" differ by only one character, yet they represent a chasm of difference in status.

Hearing this, I couldn't help but ask, "Sister Ning, is what they said true?"

After passing through the Shenwu Gate, follow the crimson walls and walk along, bypassing the Imperial Garden, and you will arrive at the East Six Palaces

There is still some residual snow on the ground, and walking on it while stepping on the bottom of the flower pots is quite difficult with each step. However, for these well-trained women, it is not easy to fall down either.

The winter of the eleventh year of the Kangxi era was exceptionally cold

What about us

Among the commanders of the imperial guard, familial ties are always very close. Many years ago, when my mother was still alive, she had a very good relationship with a family surnamed Wuya. She still remembers the gentle and graceful woman who was by the side of Madame Wuya at that time

Then I must study hard, " Yingzhui tilted her head, her large eyes sparkling with anticipation, " I hope that by then I can strive to serve the noble, and at that time, there will surely be opportunities for promotion.

The night is cool as water, and the solitary lamp flickers dimly. It is likely that no one will be able to sleep tonight

These women are the talented women. The talented women must be daughters of officials, while they are the daughters of the servants and subordinates of the Internal Affairs Office, selected once a year, primarily to serve the various imperial consorts in the inner court, and are considered servants.

The girl living in the same room is very young; when she changes out of her ceremonial dress, she is dressed in simple cloth garments. Her pair of slender little hands is covered in calluses, indicating that she is accustomed to hard work.

I am from the Banner of Blue. My sister is also from the Banner of Blue, right? Our ancestors should have been in the same camp.

Such palace maids, even while sleeping, must not be careless—no talking in their sleep, no snoring, and they must not lie on their backs; they must sleep on their sides. These are all rules.

In the backyard, there is only one well, beside which stands a tall locust tree. During the harsh winter season, all the leaves have fallen, leaving only a bare trunk.