A-Wu looked at the female official in confusion.
The female official smiled and said, “If Your Ladyship listens carefully, you will understand.”
The female official then explained in detail, and A-Wu finally learned that the Great Hui Dynasty valued both royal offspring and the selection of their maternal lineage.
However, they disliked the influence of external relatives, so most women in the harem were from respectable commoner families.
These women went through a series of selections before entering the harem, either to become female officials or as potential concubines.
To become a female official, one naturally had to be literate and well-versed in literature, starting as a female scholar, then advancing to a female historian, then to a palace official, and finally to the head of one of the six bureaus.
As for the harem, they selected women of upright character and literary knowledge, but it also depended on the Emperor’s preferences.
Initially, they were given a rank based on the Emperor’s favor, and then they had to study the Four Books and Five Classics, learn funeral rites, master the etiquette of receiving guests, and even practice music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
In short, they had to study.
If they did well, there were annual assessments—yes, assessments!
A female scholar?
If they performed well in the assessments, they had the chance to be promoted.
A-Wu felt her legs go weak.
She was indeed literate and had read some books, but… after finally entering the palace, she was now expected to take exams to become a female scholar?
She could barely stand, trembling as she leaned against the screen, and asked the female official, “Besides studying, are there other ways to get promoted? Or…”
Her initial enthusiasm had completely evaporated, and she asked weakly, “Can I just barely get by with these fifty-something taels of silver every month?”
The female official looked at A-Wu’s lack of ambition, thought for a moment, and nodded.
However, she still reminded her, “But if that’s the case, Your Ladyship will naturally lose face in front of Her Majesty the Empress, and His Majesty will also be displeased.”
“In the past, His Majesty has always favored those with outstanding literary talent. For example, Lady Hui, who excelled in her studies, has been praised by His Majesty several times.”
As A-Wu listened, she suddenly remembered that Emperor Jingxi had entrusted her to Lady Hui, asking her to “take good care” of her.
So, this “care” meant finding her a senior fellow student to follow and study with?
Trembling, she clung to her last hope and asked, “Is there anything else?”
The female official thought for a moment and added, “According to the ancestral rules of the Great Hui harem, if His Majesty visits the harem and you are favored, you can receive additional rewards.”
Silver, and beyond that, if one could help the royal family expand its lineage and prolong the imperial reign, it wouldn’t just be a reward of silver there would also be additional promotions.”
A Wu: “Oh, so that’s how Consort Kang achieved her status?”
The palace maid, however, was reluctant to comment on Consort Kang and simply said, “Everything in the palace is done according to the rules.”
A Wu quickly assessed the situation in her mind.
Emperor Jingxi had few heirs, and so far, only two women in the harem had been granted such an honor, one of whom had already passed away from illness.
She felt that she probably didn’t have the good fortune to bear a child for Emperor Jingxi and would likely have to rely on frequent visits to his chambers to be promoted.
That shouldn’t be too hard, right?
She could just flirt a bit more and get him to sleep with her a few more times!
But as she rubbed her hands together, planning to diligently accompany him in bed for a promotion, she felt that something was off.
Were the women in the harem his wives and concubines, or were they his subordinates?
Did he think he was running a school or training soldiers?
What kind of ridiculous rules were these!
The palace maid looked at A Wu with some pity but still reminded her, “According to the rules, every year the ladies of the harem must undergo a special examination conducted by the palace maids and eunuchs. If they fail this examination, their names won’t be written on the summoning plaque.”
A Wu: “What do you mean? Summoning plaque? What’s that?”
The palace maid patiently explained, “The emperor’s visits to the harem are all regulated. Usually, before dinner, the summoning plaque is issued, and based on it, the concubines to be summoned that night are announced.”
“After that, the eunuchs of the Imperial Household Department and the palace maids in charge of the harem’s daily affairs record it. If a lady’s name isn’t written on the summoning plaque, she won’t have the chance to be visited by the emperor.”
She looked at A Wu, thinking to herself that even if a name was written, it wouldn’t matter.
The emperor hadn’t visited the harem according to the rules for years.
He wouldn’t even call the concubines over for tea to maintain appearances, not even the most basic courtesy.
It was rumored that the emperor’s health had long been ruined, and he was no longer capable, but she didn’t dare say that.
Since the visits had stopped, everyone had lost their enthusiasm and was just slowly passing the years.
Moreover, the emperor wasn’t easy to please.
A man who dominated the court could see through the women of the harem at a glance.
None of them dared to approach Emperor Jingxi, so their greatest efforts were instead directed at pleasing the Empress Dowager and the Empress…
As for the harem concubines, it was a good thing if Emperor Jingxi didn’t involve himself in harem affairs or ask about them.
If he ever did ask, everyone would tremble with fear.
A Wu could hardly believe it.
She widened her eyes and slightly parted her moist lips: “If, if one doesn’t study well, then…”
The palace maid looked at A Wu expressionlessly and coldly told her the truth:
“If you can’t serve in the bedchamber, you’ll have even less chance of being promoted.”
A Wu: “…”
She felt like all her paths were blocked!
“How am I supposed to live like this?”
The palace maid left, and a palace maid came forward to ask about the tea and snacks.
It turned out that in the palace, there were two meals and one tea session each day, and it was now time for tea.
The tea and snacks had to be fetched by the palace maids from the Imperial Kitchen.
The noble ladies and above in the palace all had access to them, and A Wu, being a noble lady, was just at the threshold of being able to enjoy the tea session.
She almost missed it.
Unfortunately, A Wu had no appetite at the moment.
She weakly waved her hand: “Forget it, I don’t want any. You don’t need to fetch it.”
But when the palace maid heard this, she exchanged a glance with another palace maid, hesitating to speak.
A-Wu: “What’s the matter? Can’t we just not take it?”
Do we really have to force ourselves to eat it?
Are we feeding pigs here?
The palace maid stepped forward and reported, “Naturally, you don’t have to take it, but… if you don’t, it will just go to waste and benefit the Imperial Kitchen.”
A-Wu suddenly understood.
She looked at the two maids and asked, “What are your names?”
The two maids bowed and then introduced themselves.
One was called Yi-Lan, and the other Wei-Lan, both around fifteen or sixteen years old, about the same age as A-Wu.
A-Wu saw through their thoughts at a glance.
At this age, with nothing else to amuse themselves, they were probably just craving some snacks.
So she said, “I’ve already eaten at the Empress Dowager’s place today and I’m not hungry. You can go and fetch the tea and snacks for yourselves.”
The two maids were both surprised and incredulous, yet too embarrassed to accept.
A-Wu said, “Don’t stand on ceremony, go ahead.”
Only then did the two thank her and happily went out, perhaps truly craving the snacks, as their steps were quite light as they descended the stairs.
A-Wu watched their retreating figures with envy.
\Being able to eat is a blessing, and it’s a pity she no longer has that fortune.
A wave of sadness washed over her.
She never knew being a femme fatale who could bring down a country would be so hard.
She originally thought it would just involve swaying her hips and cooing a few times.
No wonder Emperor Jingxi didn’t want her to enter the palace and wanted to keep her outside.
Life inside the palace is indeed tough.
She also recalled the looks the concubines gave her earlier in Changshou Hall, which were not very friendly.
But now she somewhat understands them.
They must have gone through many trials to maintain their current dignity, excelling in literature and poetry, and having to learn household management, accounting, and various etiquettes.
Naturally, they would look down on someone like her who got in through the back door!
She also remembered the way Emperor Jingxi looked at her just now, it was deeply affectionate.
If she were illiterate and failed the harem’s assessments, would he still favor her?
Would he open a back door for her to continue their affection?
She thought he probably… would?
But everyone else entered the palace through rigorous selection, only she was forced in like this.
There’s probably no precedent for favoritism in the harem?
Perhaps he would say seriously, “A-Wu, you need to learn to stand by my side on your own… Study more, pass the assessments, and then come.”
A-Wu was instantly puffed up with anger.
If he had made it clear earlier, she might not have been willing to come and study.
There are plenty of places to learn in the world, why must she suffer in the palace!
At this moment, she suddenly remembered the gold and silver beans the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon her and hurriedly took them out to examine them carefully.
The gold beans were round and plump.
A-Wu estimated that one bean was probably worth one qian, and the Empress Dowager had generously given her twenty beans, so that would be twenty qian?
That’s also two taels.
If she ever leaves the palace and wants to sell them, she could probably get even more for them, as items from the palace are purer than those from outside.
This thought made her feel a bit better.
She also took out her luggage and belongings, which the eunuchs had helped her settle in Langhua Hall.
She checked everything and found nothing missing.
The gold she had received from the Crown Prince, the jewelry and gemstones from Emperor Jingxi-all were still there.
She placed the gold beans together with these valuable items and locked them away.
Holding these treasures, she looked around the room.
The furnishings were exquisite: a carved bamboo floor screen made of nanmu, one side adorned with a green gauze cabinet, the other with a railing screen, all framed with boxwood inlaid with rosewood.
The floor was paved with bricks, while the bedroom had wooden flooring covered with soft, plush carpets.
She found a spot to store her belongings and finally felt somewhat at ease.
At that moment, two palace maids returned.
They first served tea and snacks, inviting Awu to partake.
Awu glanced at them—they were indeed delicate and refined but she had no appetite and instead let the maids share them, which they happily did.
Awu, wearing only her white silk socks, walked casually on the floor, feeling the softness and warmth beneath her feet.
In the palace, every sleeping chamber was equipped with an underfloor heating system, with a charcoal-burning stove.
In winter, the palace would ignite silver charcoal elsewhere and then use iron carts to push the glowing embers into the chambers, keeping the entire room warm and cozy.
She stood by the window and looked outside.
It was a meticulously designed courtyard, with covered walkways connecting the surrounding buildings.
The structures featured tiled roofs with rolled eaves, front and rear verandas with handrails, and were adorned with wisteria trellises and rockeries, giving the impression of a secluded retreat.
At that moment, leaves were falling from the wisteria trellis, scattered and poetic.
A few young maids stood under the eaves, sharing tea and snacks, whispering among themselves.
They seemed both cheerful and slightly anxious, occasionally letting out soft laughter.
Awu also smiled faintly.
Suddenly, she felt that the deep palace wasn’t so frightening after all.
As for studying, she wouldn’t bother she’d just laze around, especially since she had fifty-three taels of gold.
As for serving the emperor or dealing with men, she could simply give them up!