From then on, Baochai lived peacefully. Every day, he only took Mama Su and Ying 'er to pay his respects to Lady Wang during the day. If Lady Jia didn't call him, he never took a step into the main courtyard. Early in the morning and late at night, he locked the side gate. It was as if he didn't interact with others and only cared about his own leisurely life.

On the first day of the fourth lunar month, there was a message from the palace. The women who were selected to be servants were ordered to first hand in a list of names, including their ancestral home, birth, father's position, and personal appearance.

Baochai obeyed and handed over the prepared list to the eunuch who came to collect the items. The eunuch looked him up and down and grinned before returning to report. He dismissed the eunuch, whistled, and went to the Consort Zhen's palace when no one was looking.

It turned out that the present Emperor was fond of Taoism and blindly believed in the Taoist priests' methods of nourishing the body. Therefore, in recent years, there were quite a few young and beautiful girls of low birth who took the meaning of "plucking yin to nourish yang".

There were countless new nobles and talented people in the palace, and it wasn't strange for there to be no palace maids with no status. The old people were just relying on their past relationships to occupy the high positions. The lower ranks had long been filled with a foul atmosphere.

It was said that the concubines were connected to the previous dynasty. Many of the women who were sent into the palace fought for their families. It did not matter if the present emperor really doted on them or not. What they fought for was nothing more than face and the weight of their words.

The head palace maid by the Consort Zhen's side brought the eunuch in. The eunuch kowtowed and said softly, "Reporting to the Consort, this servant has already handed in the task. That girl from the Xue Clan's appearance is truly lovable. She's about eleven or twelve years old, with an oval face and almond eyes. Her skin is white and her hair is black and shiny."

The Consort Zhen sat at the head of the table and listened to him. She changed her hand to support her jaw. "Even you praised her. It can be seen that she's really good. Since the old madam has chosen her, she must have her reasons.

Think of a way to get rid of her. When you come in, don't let anyone see you to avoid new problems. "

What she meant was to send her out at the first hurdle. In any case, the Zhen family only intended to take this girl from the Xue Clan as a concubine. As a concubine, what reputation did she need?

However, when the subordinates received the decree, they didn't dare to think this way. It was the Old Madame of the Zhen family who had chosen it, and the Imperial Consort was also asked to personally inquire about it. From her words, it seemed that she was afraid that others would see it and snatch it away. Who would dare to look down on her?

Perhaps she wanted to be a match for the Fifth Prince. Since that was the case, there was a lot to learn about this.

For example, they couldn't use character, physique, illness, and other factors as excuses. They couldn't be rude when the nannies examined them either. Who knows when someone would take that position in the future, Ming 'er, who they made things difficult for today, would become a superior person.

Those who were able to live well in the palace and even receive a post were all people's sperm. When the eunuch went back and thought about it, he would have to send them to the last stage.

When the time came, she would move her name list and place them at the back. When the masters at the front got tired of looking at them, they would disperse. The ones at the back would often not even look at them and directly dismiss them. It wouldn't hurt their reputation, and they could do what the Imperial Consort had instructed them to do. Why not?

Therefore, when the people from the palace came to pick her up on the fifth day of the fourth month, Baochai herself was very surprised. Compared to her previous life, these eunuchs' expressions were different. In her previous life, they all looked like they owed them money. How could they greet people with smiling faces like now?

Previously, her mother had given a lot of money to Lady Wang. For the sake of choosing a servant, she was afraid that the future of the Jia family for two or three years would be taken care of by the Xue family. In the end, it was left unsettled.

Therefore, this time, she didn't have any ideas at all. She only thought of it as a formality to "accompany the Crown Prince in his study." She even secretly cut off the red packets she gave to the eunuchs. Unexpectedly, she received a good attitude.

She couldn't help but sigh. Although the servant selection this time was a small selection, in reality, it was to select servant girls to accompany the princesses and princesses. Compared to entering the palace as a palace maid, it was much lighter and more dignified. Therefore, many noble families also sent their daughters in. Before the sky even brightened, there was a small blue cloth sedan chair that took people to the palace gate.

Rongguo Province wasn't far from the palace. Baochai sat in the sedan chair for about half an hour before the eunuch's shrill voice sounded outside, "Miss Xue, please get off the sedan chair." She followed the eunuch's instructions and walked out with her head lowered. Naturally, a mama from the palace came up to take people to line up.

Outside the palace gate, there were armored and armed Imperial Guards to intimidate the left and right. The head eunuch took the name list and checked it one by one before letting people in. If there were any doubts, he would take them down and send them directly to the Imperial Guards who were waiting to be interrogated.

The sedan chair that took people in had already left long ago. There was still a need to hurry to the next one.

Baochai followed the line and moved forward bit by bit. The girls who were sent to be servants were all dressed plainly according to the rules. Their faces were covered with simple oil that didn't have any smell. Rouge was not allowed. Their hair was also tied up in a simple bun with silk flowers.

When she felt that her legs were a bit sore, she was finally close to the front of the line. There was already a long line behind her.

The head eunuch called out her name. Baochai went forward and curtsied. After a round of confirmation, she was allowed to pass.

After passing through the outermost gate of the palace, there were many pairs of eyes waiting for them inside.

From here on, the test of the servant girls' manners and words began. Last time, there were some careless girls who were directly sent out and lost all face.

Baochai really didn't plan to enter the palace, but she also didn't want to be kicked out like a dog that had fallen into water. Therefore, she didn't deliberately do anything inappropriate. She obediently followed the old female servant and continued to walk inside.

By this time, the sky was already bright. The sun shone on the yellow glazed tiles of the palace walls and climbed up little by little. Baochai was about to sigh when she suddenly heard a commotion and loud noise from the palace gate behind her.

She turned around and saw a girl wearing a moon-white gown pulling out a hairpin from her hair bun and pressing it against the throat of another girl beside her. The Imperial Guards had surrounded her.

The girl who was being held hostage shouted that her father was a fourth-ranked Imperial College Chancellor. For a moment, the soldiers didn't dare to shoot the rat for fear of breaking the vases. They only surrounded the palace gate so that not even a drop of water could trickle through.

While they were arguing, a streak of light like an arrow flew in from the side. It directly pierced through the girl who was being held hostage and the girl who was being held hostage.

The two girls stopped making any noise and fell to the ground. It looked as if they were about to die from exhaling too much air.

The surrounding girls who didn't have time to go far screamed and trembled when they saw this scene. They were immediately blocked by the eunuchs behind them and dragged away. The selection of servants had nothing to do with them anymore.

The instructor nun urged the girls who had already entered to stop looking. While she was moving, a burly man with an embroidered spring saber blocked her way, "Wuna nun, leave these girls where they are. We will only talk about the selection of maids after we find out the truth and verify their identities!"

The group of young girls hurriedly turned their backs to avoid him. The old female servant was about to go forward to reason with him when the man unsheathed his shiny saber without saying a word. "Just now, an assassin sneaked into the selection of servants. I don't know who died and who didn't. If I'm rude again, please don't blame me."

Baochai and the group of seven people hurriedly stood at the foot of the wall and waited in a shady place. The burly man didn't do anything else but stared at them and didn't ask them to leave.

After a while, two eunuchs came with a booklet with the appearance of each girl. They interrogated them and even asked about their grandfather's generation in detail before they were willing to let them go.

Some of the seven girls were calm and composed while others were sobbing quietly. Each of them answered the eunuchs' questions. Baochai heard the sound of clothes rustling behind him. A man's voice sounded with a slight smile, "The one on the left wearing a pink and blue robe, take her away."

Before the crowd could figure out which one was standing on the second left, Bao Chai suddenly felt the world spinning around her. She also felt something cold and sharp pressing against her neck. Her heart was in a state of panic. 'Bang, bang, bang!'

The pleasant male voice's smile became more obvious, "Look, I said that this person was killed by his own stupidity. The fate of the example just now is still on the ground. Can't you think of something a little more novel?"

The woman who grabbed Baochai's neck was quite tall. There was an indescribable smell on her body. Perhaps it was a string of spices.

She wasn't afraid. She only tightened her grip on the hostage in her hand and said leisurely, "You dare to kill one, you dare to kill the second?

These girls, big or small, are going to be sent to the palace. Aren't you afraid that the old Emperor will punish you? "

The man finally strolled to the front. It was only then that Baochai saw clearly that this man was wearing a red flying fish embroidered single muslin robe. His eyebrows and eyes were grave and stern. His entire person was like an ice sculpture. However, there was a smile in his voice.

The last girl who was held hostage by a criminal came from a fourth-rank imperial college. She also didn't escape with her life. Baochai didn't think that Ziwei Jiren's granddaughter could win this man's favor. Perhaps she had to rely on herself to survive.

She lowered her eyes and raised her hand to cover her chest. Suddenly, she said, "Good sister, please be gentler. I can't breathe."

The criminal and the man who seemed to be the leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guards were talking back and forth. Suddenly, Baochai laughed and said, "Good girl, I didn't expect you to be so daring …" She was about to say something when a pair of small hands held the hairpin. The girl in her arms suddenly lowered her body and jumped behind her back. Then, she felt a sharp pain in her forearm. She was pinned to the wall by a little girl.

The Imperial Guards around with swords rushed up and grabbed the person tightly. Baochai was pushed out by the soldiers. She felt that her legs were a little weak. At that moment, she seemed to remember that she was led out and exiled like a sheep in her previous life. She gritted her teeth and exerted all her strength. Unexpectedly, she sprained her wrist.

The red-robed young man ordered his men to take care of the assassin. Then, he turned around and looked at the hostage carefully.

Baochai had never seen anyone look at her like that. She turned her body to avoid arousing suspicion and said, "Thank you for saving me, sir." After that, she didn't know what to say.

The man was still waiting for her to continue. When he saw that she stopped talking, he said with dissatisfaction, "Didn't the ladies in the picture book say that 'I can't repay the kindness of saving my life, so I can only repay it with my body'?

Why is it that when it comes to a girl like you, there's nothing else? "

Baochai didn't know where she got the courage to continue, "Then I'll have to trouble you to wait. Didn't they say that 'I can't repay the kindness of saving my life, so I can only repay it with my body in the next life'?"

The man choked. The ice at the corner of his eyes and eyebrows broke. He pursed his lips and said with a smile, "What a sharp-tongued girl. Isn't it a pity that you're in the palace?"

Baochai knew that she had made a mistake. She didn't say anything more. She lowered her head and stood behind the instructor.

When the man saw this, he knew that his actions and words were a bit out of line. He clenched his fist and coughed lightly, "This official was rude. Since the investigation has been completed and the assassin has been arrested, I ask the instructor to take these girls away."

The instructor didn't say anything else. She immediately led the remaining six people inside.

After passing through the corridor, they arrived at the inspection area. Because it was a small selection, there weren't as many people as there were during the general election. A few eunuchs and an instructor only needed to go back and forth twice.

There was a girl who had a birthmark that looked like a snake on her waist and was sent away. The remaining five people continued to walk inside.

When they arrived at a side hall, a girl who was walking with a slight limp was led away by a eunuch. There were four people at the door of the hall. They tidied their clothes and were led in and arranged seats.

There were already a dozen or so girls sitting inside. On the short table were writing brushes, ink sticks, paper, and ink stones, as well as silk thread embroidered with needles and cloth. A high-ranking female official stood at the head. Baochai raised her head and saw that it was Yuanchun, who had entered the palace as a female official during the small selection.

Yuanchun held a roll of paper and said in a warm voice, "You are all young ladies from influential families who have come to apply to be the Princess's study attendants. Since you are the study attendants, you must be tested on your knowledge of teaching.

We don't intend to have a female top scorer in the exam. We only ask each of you to write a piece of writing. No matter what the content is, it will be collected after the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. "

After she finished speaking, a young palace maid came forward and lit a stick of incense and inserted it into the incense burner. After the sound of paper flipping, there was only the sound of brushing brush and ink.

Most of the people who had just walked with Baochai were still trembling. They could barely hold the brush, and the writing was far worse than usual.

She was the only one who calmly sat in the corner and seriously wrote a piece of filial piety. Just as the stick of incense burned out, she put down the brush and blew on it before putting it on the table.

The time was up. The young palace maid collected the writing. Yuanchun said again, "Next, the time limit will be the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. Young ladies, please do not limit the material, the needles, and the thread, just the auspicious pattern will be enough."

Baochai fiddled with the things on the table and found that several of them were not suitable to be made together. She immediately gave up and only picked up the thread and tied a set of 'plum blossoms' fan pendant knot. The incense had not yet burned out.

The young palace maid came down again to collect the needles and thread. Yuanchun said, "There is a reason for today's incident. Several young ladies have suffered some fright. Therefore, we will not keep you waiting in the palace for too long. When the masters have made a decision, we will invite the selected to enter the palace for a chat.

Please? "

The girls who were selected to be attendants stood up one after another and saluted. Then, following the young palace maid who led the way, they slowly walked out. The journey was incomparably smooth. They did not encounter any more thrilling situations. They arrived safely at the palace gate.

The sedan chairs that had come to pick up the girls in the morning were waiting here. One by one, the young ladies were sent back to their respective manors.

Mama Su was personally guarding the main gate of Pear Courtyard. When she saw the sedan chair, she hastily went forward to take the people out. The manservants who followed behind her hastily scattered the silver to thank the young palace eunuchs who were carrying the sedan chair.

Mama Su supported Baochai all the way back to the west wing of the main building in the rear courtyard. Ying 'er and Bai Lu had already prepared hot tea and snacks, as well as hot water for washing up. They served Baochai to wash up and change his clothes. Only then did he sit down and drink the tea peacefully.

Ying 'er was attentive. She noticed something was wrong with Baochai's sleeve. Hastily she stepped forward to take his wrist and looked. Unexpectedly, it was already swollen.

"My Miss!

What did you do to deserve this? "

Baochai glanced at her and said, "Don't make a fuss about nothing. It's just that I accidentally twisted my wrist when I came back to get on the sedan chair. Be quiet. Go to the chest and find some medicine for bruises that we brought. Melt it and apply it. If you make a fuss, you'll become a joke!"

Mama Su was old and shrewd. With one look, she knew that Baochai had encountered something in the palace that was inconvenient for him to talk about. Without batting an eyelid, she urged Ying 'er to go find something. She opened her dressing box and helped Baochai find a pair of wide bracelets with strings of pearls.

After the medicine was applied, she wrapped the bracelets and buckled them. As long as she paid attention not to use too much force when she moved, no one would be able to tell that she was injured.

After everything was done, Baochai looked around and stood up. He said, "We've been out for an entire day. I don't know how worried my aunt is. Mama, come with me. Ying 'er and Bai Lu will guard the house.

My brother is also going to take the prefectural examination in a few days. There might be some correspondence. You must remember to keep it safe for me. "

After everything was arranged properly, Baochai took Mama Su to Lady Wang's main courtyard. They had just sat down when the maid Yuan Yang, who served Lady Jia, came in to invite them. "Ancestor knew that Pao Girl went to the palace to choose a servant today. She waited anxiously for the whole day. When she heard that she came back, she hurriedly urged me to invite her over.

Fortunately, on the way, she met the sweeping woman who said that Miss was coming to Second Madam's place. Otherwise, wouldn't we have missed her? "

Baochai smiled and replied, "Because it was getting late, I thought that I would go see Ancestor tomorrow. Therefore, I came to my aunt's place first."

Yuan Yang said, "What a coincidence. Ancestor also said that Miss could have dinner at her place before coming back. She just thought of it as a welcome."

Baochai followed Lady Wang and stood up. "That's amazing. Ancestor's place has delicious food. She has been thinking about it every day.

I didn't expect that there would be such a good thing after going to the palace to join in the fun. Doesn't that mean that she looks forward to going there more often every day? "

Yuan Yang was overjoyed. "Everyone knows that Pao Girl is honest and doesn't talk much. I didn't expect her to talk like Second Young Mistress Lian. No wonder she's a relative.

Come with me quickly. I'm afraid that the food on the table won't taste good when it gets cold. Pao Girl will complain that it's troublesome to go to the palace and that we won't even give her a bite of delicious food! "

After saying that, she laughed crisply and reached out to lift the curtain for Baochai. Lady Wang and the others went to the main courtyard where Lady Jia lived.

When they entered the reception hall, they saw Baoyu, Daiyu, Yinchun, Tanchun, Xichun, and even the first branch's Lady Xing and Feng Jie sitting at the table and chatting. When they saw Baochai come in, they hurriedly surrounded him and asked him questions.

Baochai only picked out the scenery and described the things in the palace. He also talked about the various stages of the selection of servants. He didn't mention a word about the Jinyi Guards' arrest or the danger they encountered.

After a while, Hu Po came in and said that dinner was ready. Everyone then moved to the dining hall and sat down.

After the silent meal, Lady Jia also expressed her concern. Seeing that she was in high spirits and didn't look like she had been demoted, she leaned back on the couch. Seeing this, Baochai hurriedly excused himself by saying that it was late and left with Lady Wang.

"Did you meet your Da Jiejie Yuanchun when you went in this time?" Lady Wang put her hand on Jin Chuan's shoulder and walked in front. Baochai and Mama Su followed a step behind.

Hearing her question, Baochai said, "I didn't have time to talk about it. During the exam for teaching knowledge and needlework, I saw Da Jiejie as the examiner. Isn't she a female official?

Aunt Wang, don't worry. With Da Jiejie's pure heart, there will come a time when she will succeed. "