Two
The head of Shaoguang was bowed low, and the body slightly curled, causing the dark strands of hair to cascade down the slender shoulders, casting a shadow over the face, which was shrouded in gloom. Zhong Yilan squinted, unable to see clearly, only sensing that the long eyelashes seemed to flutter slightly. After a moment, a faint and delicate voice reached her ears: "This servant is not skilled in needlework, but is well-versed in many trivial matters. If Master Zhong could show some leniency, this servant is willing to offer everything, presented with both hands..."
Zhong Yilan slightly curved the corners of her lips, "Indeed. Before Xie Wenjin took charge, you had already been promoted to the Chaoxia Palace, succeeding as the chief palace maid. Coming from a common family, you have surprisingly gained the favor of both the former Empress Song and the Empress Dowager. Your abilities are indeed remarkable"
In the days of past glory and prosperity, several women who held the highest ranks in the Chaoxia Palace were noble and proud, standing high above others. When did they ever regard the six officials? At this moment, they find themselves relegated to the inner court, yet still must struggle to survive, treading on thin ice. Such humility indeed brings shame to the lineage of noble families.
The Bureau of Rites is not suitable for me
Shaoguang looked at her and asked, "Why don't you go in?"
She really stayed!
Zhong Siyi naturally does not lack for money and silk. Shaoguang slowly raised her head, the gloom receding, revealing her pale face, with pitch-black pupils and a flickering glimmer in her eyes. "But Zhong Siyi has her own desires."
When Ning Shuang and Qing Mei delivered the fabric to the Inner Palace Supervisory Office, the eunuch in charge of inspection did not even glance at it, and the items were sent directly to the residence of the chief eunuch Zhao Fuquan
Qiluo smiled and said, "Just come with me, that house is too ominous, it would be better to change to a more spacious place"
On the east side of the courtyard, Xiu'er leaned against the rack, gazing intently, not even noticing when the wooden pestle slipped from her hand. As the sunlight brushed aside the hanging cloth, it inquired: "Is there a share for you in that delicate softness as well?"
Zhong Yilan placed the teacup on the table, causing the surface to shake slightly and spill some of the steaming fragrant tea
I was once nurtured by the former palace official, Song Yuanyong. By the time the current palace official, Xie Gongzheng, took office, I had already left the palace office.
I escaped with my life from the internal strife; had it not been for the timely resolution, I would not have reached this point. Perhaps I am weary, or perhaps I am lying low and waiting in silence. Since my wings have been clipped, it is difficult to achieve anything for the time being. Therefore, retreating for now may not be a bad thing
Xiao Dezai arrived very early. As soon as he reached the entrance of the courtyard, he saw Ning Shuang standing behind the threshold, waving at him
Zhong Yilan wore a smile that was neither fully a smile nor a frown, as she slowly reached out to smooth the silk cord on her pendant. The people in the room were all skilled in women's handiwork; she did not lack for proficient maidservants. As for the so-called 'trivial matters'—'though it is a useless piece in the game, it excels in boldness and ingenuity. Rather than letting others benefit, it is better to keep it for oneself, as it may bring unexpected rewards.'
The foremost Shaoguang was fortunate to escape—only later, during the Empress's serious illness, did she engage in rampant profiteering. The Director of the Palace Justice could no longer tolerate this and reported her to the Mingguang Palace. In a fit of rage, the Empress Dowager had her detained in the Palace of the Noble Consorts. Less than half a month later, the Empress passed away unexpectedly, and Shaoguang was subsequently exiled to the Violent Chamber, thus avoiding being implicated in the Empress Dowager's great purge.
Zhong Yilan is a clothing officer in the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau, holding the rank of Fifth Grade, and her status is subordinate to Cui Peizhi, yet she stands above thousands. At this moment, she took a sip of tea, glanced at the woman below, and immediately spoke: "I once inquired with the Palace Official Xie about your family background and social standing. Unfortunately, it seems that the people in the Palace Official's office do not have much knowledge about you."
"Ah Shao, since you have been detained in the Palace of the Imperial Concubines, many people have been inquiring about your news." Qi Luo brushed off the green caterpillar from her embroidered skirt, raised her head, "But you have escaped from the violent chamber, why do you not come to the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs, why do you not come to find me"
Ning Shuang cast a sidelong glance and said, "Who doesn't know that you are from the residence of the Zhao Chamberlain? What other options could there be?"
As I raised my gaze, I caught a fleeting glimpse of complexity and reluctance in the depths of Qiluo's eyes
The serving maid knelt beside the table, pouring the freshly boiled tea into the cups, presenting it with both hands
No one dares to display such a casual and indifferent attitude in the dressing room. A trace of displeasure flickered in Zhong Yilan's eyes, "You should understand the meaning of the phrase 'the past is not the same as the present.' What was once prosperous has become a thing of the past, and today is so humble. Even according to your words, do I still lack that little bit of money and silk?"
Everyone here has their own desires
After much wandering, Qiluo brought the fleeting moments to the courtyard outside the Western Palace
As time passes, "This servant is not skilled in women's embroidery."
Perhaps, Shaoguang's situation is not as dire as it is rumored within the palace, facing imminent disaster and being caught in a dilemma. She was indeed imprisoned in the death cell of the Shangong Bureau and endured torture, but it was not due to being implicated; rather, it was because of her involvement in corruption.
I have also turned against you, how could I blame you
The wisteria on the trellis has long since bloomed, sprawling and winding in layers, blocking out the sky and sun. Standing inside, one cannot discern anything from the outside. Shaoguang glanced at the tightly obstructed flowers and trees around, unable to help but let out a bitter smile
Upon exiting the inner chamber of the Baotang, it had just passed the hour of 3 PM
Xiu'er nodded timidly, wishing she could curl up into a ball and hide in a corner
I never expected that I would end up staying in the clothing room after all
The head of the clothing department is benevolent, and one should not harbor any illusions of being able to shirk responsibilities or engage in misconduct. The clothing department is not a place for idlers! The position of a seventh-rank clothing officer requires one to naturally exhibit the demeanor of an elder in every gesture and action.
The woman with a beautiful appearance and exquisite features, serving in the Department of Ceremonial Affairs, is one of the powerful female officials within the palace. She had also served in the Chaoxiang Palace but ultimately lost in the struggle against Shaoguang, and later went to the Department of Ceremonial Affairs, where she took over the management duties
Zhong Yilan took it, using the cup lid to skim off the foam, "The Si Yi Room is affiliated with the Palace Bureau, but it is somewhat different. Those who can remain are all experts; merely knowing how to serve is not enough. I wonder what exceptional skills you possess"
Qiluo shook her head, "If it weren't for the early preparations, I fear even you would..."
Xiao Dezi hesitated for a moment, glanced around, and then lowered his voice to say: "Recently, the palace gates have been under strict scrutiny, especially regarding the waist tokens and the timing of entry and exit; we cannot afford to delay too much."
Qiluo raised her eyes in a daze, only to see her lonely figure reflected in those dark pupils. She suddenly felt that Shaoguang's words seemed not only to be directed at her but also to herself.
The beautiful light quietly gazed at Qiluo
Ultimately, she was both puzzled and alarmed by Shaoguang's depth and foresight
Not speaking is tantamount to acquiescence. Accepting bribes has always been a grave taboo. My department's clothing room is but a small temple, and it seems I cannot retain such a great Buddha as you
Why have you been so hard to find lately
"Zhong Siyi, have you truly decided to keep her?"
The daylight is splendid, after several days of gloom, it has finally cleared up.
The head of the Imperial Garment Bureau, Cui Pei, is a diligent and strict individual who places great importance on the skills of the palace maids. In the courtyards of the seamstresses, dye vats have been set up. The maids, being resourceful, have taken advantage of various dyes to weave and dye small trinkets, which they then present to the eunuchs responsible for procurement in exchange for some money and silk.
Zhong Yilan's hand holding the teacup paused for a moment, and after a brief silence, she raised her eyes and said, "Are you joking with me? Not skilled in women's work, yet you dare to think of staying in the garment room! You have just entered for a few days, and without any division of labor, you have already incited the palace maids to secretly hide palace silk and engage in private transactions. Lacking any skills, how dare you be so audacious? Who gave you the audacity?"
At this moment, a palace maid dressed in apricot yellow silk entered with a register, calling for Shaoguang. Feiyi glanced over and recognized that it was the customary registration of names by the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs, so she waved her hand to let Xiuer move the grid rack to the courtyard.
The fragrant incense fills the treasure hall, with light smoke resembling a dream. Stepping through the purple sandalwood door adorned with gold-carved bat patterns, one is greeted by a gold-carved open chair with blue enamel finish placed in the inner hall, alongside a large back screen made of wisteria wood with pure silver relief carvings. The gauze curtain hangs low, and on the open chair sits a woman dressed in a golden-orange pleated palace gown, her hair styled in two high buns, radiating a brilliance akin to moonlight, making others appear insignificant in comparison
After instructing the maidservants to leave, the woman in the apricot-yellow sheer skirt gracefully turned around, sizing up from head to toe, and covered her lips as she laughed, saying: "This outfit suits you quite well, equally devoid of any liveliness."
Since the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, the Mingguang Palace has rapidly risen to prominence, causing the power of the noble families to collapse in an instant
During the lifetime of the Empress, the power of the noble families once spread throughout the inner palace, while the then Empress Dowager remained hidden behind the curtains, resembling a timid and ignorant woman. The Empress, of the Dugu clan, unabashedly cultivated her influence, even overshadowing the six departments. Among the most cunning maidservants, there was almost a mutual infiltration, collectively supporting the most prosperous period of the noble families. This included women from noble families, such as those in the registry office, as well as palace attendants dispatched elsewhere under various pretexts.
Shaoguang spoke softly: "What Zhong Siyi seeks is not like others who covet trivial gains. Within the palace walls, apart from the servants, there is likely no one else who can assist you in achieving your desires"
The time was brought to the clothing room, yet it was after that day
Since it is all about letting go, why not aim for something bigger
Ah Shao, among the six ministries and twenty-four offices, you have chosen the Bureau of Clothing, which is the farthest from the center of power
Bai Yi stared at the pendant, beneath the pattern of the magnolia flower were inscribed the three characters "Shangfu Bureau"
From the moment she stepped in, Zhong Yilan began to observe and investigate. Those who have experienced the harshness of confinement tend to exhibit some degree of timidity and shrink back, easily startled, and may be overly reserved. However, Shaoguang's demeanor showed no flaws; instead, it exuded the poise and grace that only a palace maid meticulously trained by the Bureau of Ceremonial could possess. Indeed, she had served in the inner palace, had once been imprisoned, and had endured punishment and torment. Yet, she still displayed an air of calm and composure, which precisely indicated that this woman was deeply calculating and worldly wise. Indeed, she had served in the inner palace, had once been imprisoned, and had endured punishment and torment. Yet, she still displayed an air of calm and composure, which precisely indicated that this woman was deeply calculating and worldly wise
Outside the courtyard, Qiluo has been waiting for a long time
Qingmei and Ningshuang took the washed fabrics from the backyard to dry, while Xiuer repeatedly scooped water to wet the fabrics, then immersed them into dye vats of either green or purple.
The palace maids delivered all the daily necessities to the courtyard, arranging and organizing everything with meticulous care. Ning Shuang and Qing Mei watched from the side, feeling both astonished and envious. At this moment, Shao Guang, dressed in a light gray palace outfit, stood in the southern corner of the courtyard. After giving orders with an arrogant demeanor, she handed the emblematic pendant, which symbolized her status, to Xiu Er.
The warm afternoon sun shone through the diamond-patterned window, scorching the lilac blossoms on the window frame. Zhong Yilan sat behind the desk and, upon seeing Fuyi, placed a glass ring pendant on the table, stating, "From now on, she will be a person of the clothing room. You are to begin giving orders to send the garments and accessories over, and the bedding should also be changed. The two of them will share one, to avoid embarrassing the appearance of the Cold Garment Bureau."
The woman reached out to pluck a leaf from a flower, blocking the sunlight that filtered through the vines. After her master passed away, the Chaoxiang Palace was placed under strict guard by the Bureau of Palace Maids overnight. She had long been prepared, but was unable to extricate herself in time, while most of the lower-ranking maids in the palace perished due to the calamities of imprisonment. In the past, those who had been close either died young or turned against each other, and now, only a few remained, isolated and alone.
The silver has been processed, the accounts have been settled, and there is no need to report the details of the inflow and outflow to the Palace of the Imperial Concubines. As for what the materials are used for and where they go, Ning Shuang and the others do not know, nor do they need to know. Compared to the small items sold in the streets, cloth and silk are indeed much more valuable, especially since they do not have to endure the exploitation of the young eunuchs
Fang Yi returned from Si Bao's room holding a flower, just in time to catch a glimpse of a slender silhouette.
With a hint of sorrow in her eyes, "A Shao, I know you blame me. Ever since the Empress passed away, the Empress Dowager has held absolute power. Before the mourning period was over, she launched a counterattack against the faction of the Morning Glow Palace. The Registry Office has been watching from the sidelines, but indeed, due to its limited strength, it is difficult to accomplish anything."
A serene voice gently floated up, drawing the astonished gazes of Ning Shuang and Qing Mei.
The courtyard where she resided was indeed ominous, as someone had died there not long ago. According to the rules, there were four maids living together, and before Shaoguang left, one had died, leaving only Ning Shuang, Qing Mei, and Xiu Er. The deceased maid was named Liu Ying, and it was said that she died of a plague; afterward, even the bed was taken out and burned. Ning Shuang and the others were very reticent about this matter, and Xiu Er even dared not mention it.
Ning Shuang glared at him and, while speaking, handed him a packet of fine silk, saying, "Be a bit more accommodating; in exchange, the big share will still belong to you"
Is this what you call spacious
Xiu Er nodded slightly. The annual allowance from the palace is not substantial, and it is only through those scattered small items that she can barely save some silver. Although it is truly frustrating that the eunuchs take away more than half, it is still better than living in dire straits
Time bows down, and the etiquette is both seasoned and solemn