If not abolished

Chapter 167 A way out

While Zhu Zhanji and Hu Shanxiang were enjoying the hot spring, someone in the palace was plotting something big.

At this time, most of the palaces in the palace were locked, and only the palace guards on night duty could hear people whispering in a small corner where no one knew about it. Normally, their whispers should not be heard, but the entire palace had fallen asleep at this time, and the silence was a little scary, so the whispered conspiracy became somewhat obvious.

"Sister, is this possible?" one of the younger palace maids said timidly.

The older one seemed to be uncomfortable with her behavior and said with some disdain: "If you are scared, forget it. I came here alone and you can just pretend you don't know." With that, the older one was ready to turn around and leave.

"Sister, I'm not afraid, I'm just worried. What if it doesn't work?" The little palace maid hurriedly grabbed her.

"Our current situation can't get any worse. If we want to stand out, what's the point of worrying about this and that?"

"So what's your plan, sister?"

"Isn't the palace going to release a group of palace maids recently? Many palaces will be short of staff now. Let's find a way to ask the eunuch in charge to send us to the empress's palace. Only then will we have a chance." The older palace maid talked about her plan.

"But I don't want to go to those concubines' palaces. I think the Sixth Bureau of the Shang Palace is pretty good. If we work hard for a few years, we can make a name for ourselves." The little palace maid said with shining eyes.

The older palace maid laughed and said, "You still want to go to the Shanggong Bureau? Stop dreaming, okay? If we were ordinary palace maids, we might have a way out if we worked hard in those places. But don't forget that we are the daughters of guilty ministers. Even if we have outstanding abilities in the future, we can't be allowed to be female officials. And don't think that you will have the opportunity to leave the palace when you turn 25 like those people. If you don't want a good way out, you will have to waste your whole life in the palace? Have you ever thought about such a life? I don't want to, so I must make a name for myself." She said firmly.

"But sister, the only way out is to go to the empress's palace." After hearing this, the little palace maid didn't have any clear goals, but she didn't want to live like this for the rest of her life. If she could climb up, who would be willing to be an ant that could be stepped on to death at any time?

"Given the current situation, if you want to stand out, the Eastern Palace is the most suitable place." The older one said with his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Why the Eastern Palace? Don't His Majesty's concubines in the harem have opportunities as well? If I gain His Majesty's favor and become an imperial concubine, wouldn't it be better than being a concubine in the Eastern Palace?" The little palace maid simply thought that His Majesty was the one with the most power in the palace. Everyone said that the prince was not liked by His Majesty, and it was hard to say whether he could ascend the throne in the future. So if one wanted to make a name for himself, wouldn't His Majesty be better?

The older maid looked at her helplessly and said, "You are right. If we really win the favor of His Majesty, we can indeed become the imperial concubine. But don't you think that our goal is just to become the imperial concubine? Don't forget that when His Majesty dies in the future, the concubines without heirs will be buried with him. Think about it, His Majesty is already this old, how can he still have an heir?"

"So sister, what you mean is that our ultimate goal is to have a baby?" The little palace maid was still a little confused.

"This way there will be a guarantee that concubines who have children generally don't have to be buried alive with the emperor. And if they are lucky enough to give birth to a boy, he can be made a king in the future and have his own fiefdom." She said as she imagined such a scene.

"Sister, please follow my instructions." The little palace maid knew that she couldn't do all this with her own brain, so she could only rely on her.

"Sister Yingyue is so beautiful that she will surely be successful immediately." She said to her with a smile.

The two of them reached a consensus.

The next day, by the palace wall, the older palace maid from last night was talking to a eunuch, and while she was talking she stuffed something into the man's sleeve.

"Please help me, father-in-law." She pleaded.

The eunuch shook the things in his sleeves and said with a bright smile: "Don't worry, Miss Qingluan, I will definitely help you with this little matter."

"Thank you so much, father-in-law. If it's done, please let me know if you need anything in the future."

"Miss Qingluan, don't forget about me when you arrive at the Eastern Palace. Maybe I will have to rely on you in the future." The eunuch had been in the palace for quite a few years, so he could tell who could make it in the palace.

"Then I will accept your good words, Grandpa."

After Qingluan returned, Wu Yingyue quickly walked up to her and asked in a low voice, "Sister, is it done?"

"It should be almost done. Our names should appear on the list of the East Palace by then."

"That's good. I also want to thank my sister for planning it for me." Wu Yingyue said gratefully.

"We are all sisters, no need to be so polite. I hope we can be assigned to the same palace so that we can support each other."

"That's what my sister said."

In the afternoon, the head nanny came to inform them to go to the new place. The names were called one by one. Wu Yingyue and Qingluan were indeed assigned to the East Palace, and they were really assigned together, in Concubine Guo's palace.

The two were extremely excited. Everyone in the palace knew that Concubine Guo was very favored, which was the best thing for them.

"That's great, sister. We can be together again."

"Okay, don't get too excited. New challenges are waiting for us when we get to the East Palace."

"I always listen to my sister." said Wu Yingyue.

Qingluan looked at her innocent face and thought that she was easy to deceive because she was young. She would make good use of her when the time comes.

The two packed up their things and went to the East Palace to report in. Everyone first greeted the Crown Princess, and then was led to their respective palaces.

"Girls, this is Lady Guo's place."

"Thank you, aunt, for leading the way."

"Okay, let's go in."

"Greetings, Queen Concubine. These are two new palace maids. The Crown Princess asked me to bring them to you." Yun Jin said while bowing.

When Concubine Guo saw that it was Yun Jin who came in person, she was flattered and said, "Thank you for bothering Miss Yun Jin to come here in person. It's hard work. Can you have some tea before you leave?"

"Thank you for the reward, Concubine. It is true that there are still some matters with the Crown Princess. I will take my leave after sending her there."

"Then take care." Concubine Guo said this just to be polite, and of course she didn't really want to keep her.

After Yunjin had left her sight, Concubine Guo turned to look at Qingluan and the others, "Raise your heads so I can see."

The two of them looked up. Concubine Guo took a look and said, "She is quite pretty." Then she told Lanzhi to take them away and take care of the arrangements.

"Yes." Lanzhi turned to them and said, "Come with me."

The two of them had just arrived, so naturally they didn't dare to say much and just followed closely.

On the way, Lanzhi said to them, "Among the two people who left earlier, one was specially responsible for combing the queen's hair. Who of you two can comb her hair?"

"In reply to sister's question, I can comb your hair." Qingluan said immediately.

Lanzhi didn't say anything, but asked Wu Yingyue: "What about you?"

"I'm not very good at combing my hair." Wu Yingyue said timidly.

"Then you come. By the way, what are your names? I don't know how to address you."

"In reply to my sister's words, this servant Qingluan."

"Your servant Wu Yingyue."

Lanzhi nodded to show that she understood.

"Okay, this is where you usually rest. Since you can't comb your hair, you can take up night duty."

"Yes."

The two of them stayed in Concubine Guo's palace. Qingluan got along very well with the other palace people because of her ability to talk, and within two days she became like their sisters.

I combed Concubine Guo's hair into several new styles. Once when the Crown Prince came over, he praised her, "Your hair is combed very nicely. It seems a little different from before."

"Your Highness has a discerning eye. I just got a new maid who can comb my hair. She is really skillful."

The prince nodded. He just thought that the hair was combed beautifully, and did not make any other comments. Concubine Guo did not suspect anything else either. After the prince left, she naturally rewarded Qingluan well.

"Sister, you are so awesome. Even the Crown Prince praises you." Wu Yingyue said with some envy.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince was praising the Concubine's beautiful hair, not talking about me." Qingluan said modestly.

"Why not? That hair was combed by my sister for the concubine. Isn't it a compliment to you?"

Although the Crown Prince did visit Concubine Guo's palace quite often, Qingluan and the other two actually had very few opportunities to come into contact with Zhu Gaochi.

To be honest, Qingluan doesn't have as many opportunities to see the prince as Wu Yingyue, who is on night duty.

"Well, speaking of it, you keep night watch for the Concubine, so you have more opportunities to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince than I do. I just comb the Concubine's hair, and I basically have no chance to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I want to switch roles with you." Qingluan suddenly said this one day.

"In fact, I am on night duty outside, so I can't see His Royal Highness. But I am stupid, so I might not know what to do if I really have the chance."

"You, too, should think carefully about yourself. Even if there are no opportunities, you should create opportunities for yourself." Qingluan nodded her head and said.

"Sister, why don't you try to keep watch? Sister is so smart that she will definitely find an opportunity."

"Isn't this bad?" Qingluan naturally thought about it, but she had to pretend to refuse.

"There's nothing wrong with this. Next time the Crown Prince comes, I'll tell Sister Lanzhi that I'm not feeling well and you can just take my place." Wu Yingyue knew Qingluan's plan and she needed such an opportunity.

"Thank you very much, sister." Qingluan would naturally not let go of such an opportunity.

"You're welcome, sister."

Within two days, the prince arrived.

"Sister Lanzhi, I don't know what happened. I suddenly feel unwell. I'm afraid I will have to keep watch tonight..." Wu Yingyue said weakly with a pale face.

"What's wrong with you? You were fine yesterday. If that's the case, then you should take a rest today and see who can take your place."

"Thank you sister."