Wenyuan Pavilion is only one kilometer away from Qianqing Palace, facing south with its north side, divided into two levels, and with hidden chambers at the eaves. It has a width of six rooms, with a wooden staircase connecting the upper and lower floors in the westernmost room. The roof is made of yellow glazed tiles, and the outermost walls are made of green bricks, which look simple yet grand.
The central hall was bustling with activity at this moment.
“Prime Minister, I have arranged everything regarding the selection of the court lady. No one around the Emperor can escape our grasp,” said an official.
“Well, what kind of people did you choose?” asked the Prime Minister, Zhang Huaian, after taking a sip of tea.
“They are all from the families of small officials. Prime Minister, please rest assured that even if something happens in the future, they won’t be able to stir up any waves.”
“Don’t go too far; let the Emperor choose one or two that he likes himself.”
“Prime Minister is right. As for the remaining candidates, should we arrange for them to be sent to Qin Yan?”
When Lü Dehai stepped into the Wenyuan Pavilion, the ice on the window had already melted, indicating that the Prime Minister and several other officials of the imperial court had been chatting for a long time.
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“Nsae Nw byp yaakhle.” Mbl Vakxl YRdkpvla Hbydt Twykyd pwcvzu byzvle bkp nsdhlapyvksd, eked’v pvyde wr, cwv fwpv pvasjle bkp clyae yde tallvle Nw Plbyk okvb y pxkzl.
“Xjyu.” Nw Plbyk’p vbkd yde pbyar hsknl oyp qwzz sq kdpkdnlakvu. Tl qswde yd lxrvu plyv nypwyzzu, pbsokdt y ekqqlaldv yvvkvwel vbyd obld bl qynle Ckd Zyd lyazkla. Mbkp vkxl, bl bye yd kxrspkdt xyddla.
“Typ Ckd Zyd alvwadle?” Mbl Qayde Flnalvyau, Zydt Fbkik, pvyavle vbl nsdhlapyvksd, jdsokdt vbyv Nw Plbyk’p hkpkv xwpv cl alzyvle vs Ckd Zyd.
“Zlp, bl fwpv oldv vs pll vbl Oxrlasa. R blyae vbyv vbl xwzl nyav qsa vbl plzlnvksd sq vbl nswav zyeu byp fwpv ldvlale Fswvb Qyvl. Tyhl usw yzalyeu xyel uswa plzlnvksdp?” Nw Plbyk ypjle.
“Nsae Nw, ol jdso obyv ol’al eskdt. Zsw esd’v dlle vs ypj ps xwnb. Kwpv tyvbla kdqsaxyvksd qsa wp,” alrzkle vbl Qayde Valnlrvsa Nk Hbkpw, obs ekpzkjle lwdwnbp yde nsdpkelale vblx vs cl kxrwal. Tl eked’v csvbla vs bkel bkp ekpeykd.
“Ebyv es usw xlyd cu vbyv?” Nw Plbyk tzyale yv Nk Hbkpw yde rskdvle yv bkx okvb y aykple kdelm qkdtla.
“Xjyu, sjyu, nyzx esod, Nsae Nw,” Hbydt Twykyd vakle vs rynkqu vbl pkvwyvksd okvb y pxkzl. “Nk Hbkpw byp y vlxrla zkjl bkp qyvbla’p. Psd’v vyjl kv vs blyav.”
Nk Hbkpw nyxl qasx y qyxkzu sq xkzkvyau tldlayzp. Wasx bkp talyv-taydeqyvbla vs bkp qyvbla, vblu bye yzz qswtbv kd cyvvzlp. Tl oyp vbl sdzu xyzl elpnldeydv kd bkp tldlayvksd yde bye vs pokvnb vs y nkhkz nyalla. Tsolhla, bl kdblakvle bkp qyxkzu’p vlxrla yde oyp fwpv zkjl bkp ralelnlppsap.
 “Zhang Huaian’s words were also a reminder to Lu Dehai that Li Zhisu’s father and uncles were still stationed at the border of Yingzhou. Even the emperor had to respect them, let alone him, a puppet leader.
Lu Dehai had been mixing around for all these years and understood the meaning behind Zhang Huaian’s words. He had to suppress his emotions and smile at Zhang Huaian, saying, “I understand your meaning. Now we have a common enemy, and we believe that the Prime Minister can arrange things properly.’
Li Zhisu snorted but didn’t say anything more out of respect for Zhang Huaian.
Zhang Huaian then smiled perfunctorily at Lu Dehai. Eunuchs were just eunuchs, and without a backbone, they only cared about the present. As for the matter with the court lady, it was all arranged for Qin Yan, but it didn’t go as planned.
Voices gradually rose inside the room, but no one noticed that the guards standing outside the door were quietly taking it all in.
The mule cart carrying the candidates from Jiaozhou arrived at Taiyuan Palace after sunset. Su Mi had already rested for a while and had some pastries.
Su Zhen was indeed arranged in a room a few doors down from Su Mi and Zhang Yue’er. There was also another candidate who did not travel in the same cart with them.
When everyone was together, each person was given a selection document. Su Mi quickly skimmed through it and found that it would take about twenty days to complete the selection process. If they were selected, they would need to carefully study palace etiquette for another month. However, this was a matter for later. For them now, the most important thing is how to get selected.
Zhang Yue’er chatted with Su Mi for a while about the document before going to the neighboring room to find a familiar candidate.
The door was slightly ajar, so Su Zhen took the opportunity to enter. She looked around and saw only Su Mi sitting on the bed, tidying up her luggage. Although Su Mi was sitting in a carriage, her luggage was on the mule cart, so she had only just received it.
“Sister, are you still angry with me? I’m just worried about you.” Su Zhen walked over with a smile and said, “Besides, the carriage you rode in was much more comfortable than ours, and you arrived early.”
Although Su Zhen spoke these words, she was actually very happy. She had heard that Su Mi rode in the carriage with the Chief of the Eastern Bureau. As for eunuchs, she had seen them before. They were just like officials Cao and Chen, neither male nor female, with a strange and eerie demeanour and a heavy scent of perfume that was even stronger than that of a woman. It must have been very difficult to endure travelling with such a person.
Thinking of these things, Su Zhen couldn’t hide her smile, but she didn’t say anything more. After all, she had other important things to do today.
Su Mi had a deep understanding of Su Zhen’s deceitful nature. When Su Zhen entered the room soundlessly, Su Mi happened to be lost in thought while looking at the cloak Qin Yan had lent her. She could only discreetly hide the cloak under her clothes while telling Su Zhen to leave.
“If you don’t have anything else to do, you should go back.It’s getting late, and I want to rest early.”
While Su Mi was adjusting her clothes, Su Zhen turned her back to a porcelain bottle placed on the wooden shelf and twirled a little powder hidden in her fingertips. She did it smoothly and finished just as Su Mi finished speaking.
As this was her first time doing something like this, Su Zhen felt nervous and said, “Alright then, I’ll go back.” Sister, your health is weak, so I won’t disturb you further.”
Su Mi watched as she walked away and closed the door. She took out the silver-threaded plain silk cloak from under the package, wondering if she would have a chance to return it to him in the future.
She couldn’t help but sigh, afraid that there might not be a chance.
What did Su Zhen do? What kind of powder did she sprinkle? This scheming B*! These people really tried hard to push Su Mi to Qin Yan’s side faster. Thanks for the chapter.
Su Min seemingly hasn’t suffered a great enough loss due to Su Zhen before, otherwise she’d be much more alert around her.
As long as Qi Yan come in to save her that’s fine lol.
Thanks for the chapter!!