Chapter 19

Unknowingly, it had been five or six days since entering the palace. The day after entering, Su Mi underwent her first body check. The scar on the palm of her hand had already become very light, and the old maid who conducted the check saw that her appearance was outstanding and barely passed her. As for the subsequent screenings, Su Mi thought that in another half a month, the scar would have disappeared.

However, in her room, Su Mi looked at the scar on her palm, which had become cracked and bleeding again. She had thought that it would completely disappear in a few days, but these past two days, it had become increasingly worse after applying medicine.

Su Mi corked the bottle and put it back in its original place, thinking that she couldn’t use this bottle again in the future.

“Sister Su, Shen Mama is here,” Zhang Yue’er’s voice came from outside.

“Okay, I’ll be out soon.” Shen Mama was the senior palace maid in charge of teaching them basic etiquette. She came every morning after they finished breakfast to teach them the basic etiquette of the palace.

In front of the Taiyuan Palace courtyard, there stood a massive camphor tree in the southeast corner, encompassed by well-organized flower pots, thus forming a capacious open space.

The candidates were arranged in rows, their hands stretched flat, and a thick and thin book was placed on their heads and backs to adjust their posture.

It was almost the eighth month of the lunar calendar, and the heat had dissipated, but the midday sun was still somewhat stifling.

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Su Mi secretly glanced towards Qin Yan. He was wearing the indigo blue python robe she had seen him wear for the first time. His brows and eyes were carefree, exuding a faint smile.

He seemed to be very handsome, no matter where you looked at him.

Su Mi saw him walk towards the camphor tree and sit on the grandmaster chair that Feng Bao did not know where he had moved it from. In the instant he turned around, Su Mi immediately moved her gaze away guiltily.

This time, Qin Yan came to see Su Mi, and his gaze swept around before finally landing on her.

Her temples were damp with sweat, and her hair was disheveled, making her look a bit disheveled. However, her features were delicate, and her nose and lips were like carved jade, with a rosy flush on her cheeks, making her look like a ripe and sweet red plum that was incredibly tempting.

She had three books on her head and in her hands, and even though it was obvious that she was in pain from the sweat and strain, her arms remained straight and motionless, which was both admirable and heart-wrenching.

Feeling Qin Yan’s unabashed gaze, Su Mi’s heart was in a state of confusion. She must have looked ridiculous with her awkward posture, and he was probably finding it amusing to stare at her like that.

Surely that was it, or why else would he keep looking at her?

Just as Su Mi was lost in thought, the arm of the girl on her left suddenly swung and hit her fingertips. She was caught off guard and dropped the books she was holding onto the back of her hand, which made a sound that caught the attention of Shen Mama, who frowned and walked over.

“You just took a break, only half an incense stick’s worth, and you can’t even hold on?” Shen Mama knew Su Mi and had seen many beautiful maids and court ladies over the years, but she had rarely seen anyone as beautiful as her.

With her looks, it was only right for her to be selected, but it was a pity that she was the daughter of a merchant, with a low status. However, there was still a slight possibility for low-ranked concubines. With this in mind, Shen Mama didn’t usually reprimand Su Mi too harshly, and this time, she was only prepared to give her a little lecture.

Su Mi glanced at the candidates beside her who had hit her, but she pretended not to know. She wanted to explain, but this was the palace, and if she didn’t say anything, Shen Mama would only say a few words to her, and the matter would be over. If she did say something, and Shen Mama didn’t believe her, it would only make things worse. In fact, Su Mi had looked at Qin Yan, and she hoped he could speak up for her, but he just looked in their direction without saying anything.

“Mama, I just feel a little dizzy from the sun. I won’t do it again next time.” There was a hint of inexplicable disappointment in her tone.

“Okay.” Shen Mama didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. The stricter etiquette would be taught by the other senior palace maids after they were selected to enter the palace. For now, it was just to make them familiar with the basics and practise their temperament. As she picked up the fallen book, she noticed a drop of red liquid on it. Her eyebrows furrowed. Where did this come from?

At this moment, Qin Yan suddenly stood up and approached, saying, “Shen Mama, should a court lady who is not careful like this not be punished?”

Shen Mama’s thoughts were interrupted, and she replied, “Your Lordship, it was unintentional.” “This is a small matter and doesn’t require punishment.”

“Is that so?” “The Emperor’s affairs are not small matters.”

Shen Mama had little interaction with Qin Yan, only hearing about his ruthless methods. She didn’t expect him to catch such a small matter. Did she also have to be punished?

Qin Yan’s voice was not intentionally lowered, and everyone could hear it. Su Zhen’s eyes had been stuck on him since he entered the Taiyuan Palace. She remembered that the person who was in the same carriage as Su Mi seemed to be the Chief of the Eastern Bureau. She didn’t expect him to be such a handsome man. The joy in her heart disappeared.

The only thing worth celebrating was that this man was an eunuch and didn’t know how to appreciate beauty. Or maybe Su Mi had offended him on the carriage, and he came here to punish her? Su Zhen’s heart rose with a few expectations.

Shen Mama was silent for a while. Qin Yan was someone she couldn’t afford to offend, and it was Su Mi’s bad luck that he caught her taking a break. “My Lord, please instruct. I will follow your lead.”

“Come with me to the punishment room.”

Qin Yan said and walked towards a side chamber in the southwest corner of the Taiyuan Palace. Shen Mama had no choice but to take the book from Su Mi’s hand.

“Go; this is also your bad luck.” “Be careful when you speak later,” Shen Mama whispered.

Who knew that such a small matter could lead Qin Yan to find an excuse to punish them? Shen Mama watched as Qin Yan and Su Mi walked away, not understanding what the chief was thinking or why he couldn’t get along with that candidate.