The next day, after the residences were assigned, Attendant Lady He, who was assigned to Yonghe Palace, reluctantly held Yun Jiao's hand: "We must keep in touch in the palace in the future, our friendship must not break."
"As long as you don't mind me bothering you, sister."
"How could I mind?"
The attendant waiting to lead the little masters didn't dare to delay the hour any further. After Yun Jiao arrived at Xianfu Palace, she first greeted Concubine Li residing in the main hall at the front courtyard; only with her permission could Yun Jiao return to her room on the west side.
Concubine Li stared at her face for a while.
When she squat down for her greeting and her legs were numb, Concubine Li seemed to come back to her senses and allowed her to retreat and rest.
As Yun Jiao had just stepped out, a palace maid supported her: "See, little master, the four rooms on the west side where you'll be staying are spacious, even if they're not the main hall."
Yun Jiao turned around: "You're the palace maid sent by the Imperial Household, right?"
Two palace maids introduced themselves and requested names from their master.
Yun Jiao took a breath, hoping the system would add a function to automatically change names.
She's hopeless at naming!
In the games she played about palace intrigue, she named the maids "lackey 1" and "lackey 2" for simplicity and clarity, easy to remember.
At this time, a palace maid carrying a teapot passed by Yun Jiao.
She had an idea: "In the future, my palace maids will be named after tea leaves. You two can choose one you like."
The two were visibly grateful.
After all, the name is something called out every day, everyone wants a nice-sounding one.
In the end, they chose the names Xue Ya and Gong Mei, happily thanking their master.
Yun Jiao wiped her sweat after hearing that.
Luckily, the two understood tea, otherwise, with her limited knowledge, she could only name them "Black Tea," "Green Tea," "Pu'er," and "Oolong," unable to come up with elegant or proper names.
"The names are quite nice. Above us, Concubine Li is in charge, I only ask you to follow the Palace Rules and act discreetly."
"Understood,"
Xue Ya said regretfully: "Actually, I wanted to be named after the tea you like most, but unfortunately, you wouldn't reveal anything."
Yun Jiao felt there was nothing regrettable.
After all, nobody would want their name to be changed to "Taro Bobo Milk Tea Full Sugar plus Milk Cap."
...
Yun Jiao got up particularly early the next day, freshened up while saving a file.
She went to wait in the main hall for Concubine Li to rise.
"Is this the new Servant Consort Yun? You're up really early." Yun Jiao turned around and saw a young girl in a thin persimmon-colored palace dress walking towards her, glancing at her. She curtsied: "Greeting Attendant Lady Sun."
"Mm, rise."
Attendant Lady Sun glanced at her and mumbled: "Without you, I'd still have a seat and a warm cup of tea."
Concubine Li wanted to set rules for the new Servant Consort Yun, deliberately letting them wait in the corridor where the cold wind painfully stung their faces.
After a while, Concubine Li emerged, dressed in an elaborate outfit.
To show her graceful figure, she didn't have the palace maids support her, swaying her waist.
"You..."
Before the two could salute and greet, Concubine Li stumbled over the threshold and fell.
"Lady!"
The palace maids quickly helped Concubine Li up from the ground.
Concubine Li gritted her teeth, seeing Yun Jiao cover her face, she couldn't help but ask: "Why are you covering your face? Remove your hand, is this how Chuxiu Palace taught you the rules?"
Yun Jiao: "Pfft."
Yun Jiao: "To answer Lady, I received proper training at Chuxiu Palace, I generally wouldn't laugh. This time, I couldn't help it, sorry Lady."
The expression management in palace intrigue of those born in the 2000s needs improvement.
Before Concubine Li could get angry, Yun Jiao quickly saved the situation.
...
"Whew."
Yun Jiao sighed, hearing Xue Ya's gentle reminder: "Concubine Li is particularly strict with young Concubines who are pretty, even if wronged, you must endure, never offend Concubine Li or life will be hard later."
"You're right, I'll be more careful this time."
Yun Jiao agreed, nodding.
She went to the main hall to wait for Concubine Li again, seeing her gracefully fall once more—
And this time, she caught up!
"Ah!"
Concubine Li exclaimed, Yun Jiao reacted faster than anyone present and supported her first, preventing any embarrassment. Still uneasy, Concubine Li leaned against the reliable little Servant Consort, her delicate hand on her chest.
"Lady, be careful!"
"Lady, Lady are you alright?"
Attendant Lady Sun, aiming to flatter, was a step late and fell short.
"I'm okay."
Concubine Li said.
This time she looked at Yun Jiao with a much gentler gaze than before: "Wait, why are your hands bare? Qiu Luo, bring a jade bracelet," After a palace maid quickly brought a plain jade bracelet, Concubine Li put it on Yun Jiao's hand, nodding: "Looks much better."
"Thank Concubine Li for the gift."
"Don't miss the hour to pay respects to the Empress, let's go."
"Yes."
Throughout the process, Attendant Lady Sun couldn't say a word.
She could hardly believe it!
Servant Consort Yun reacted as if she anticipated it all along.
Despite her long efforts to ingratiate with Concubine Li, she never received any jewelry, yet Servant Consort Yun did effortlessly, jealousy consuming her, how could anyone have such luck?!
...
Upon arrival at Jianzhang Palace, Yun Jiao saved another file, just in case.
This time she was overthinking.
Because little Servant Consorts couldn't even enter the main hall, could only wait outside like decorations, until their meeting was over and dismissed. Concubines talked in tender voices, in the doorway even gossip couldn't be overheard, chit-chat was definitely out of the question, just standing.
Standing for half an hour, they safely dispersed.
Returning to Xianfu Palace, Yun Jiao lay on the couch, the two palace maids attentively gave her shoulder and leg massages.
Comfort, bliss!
"Coincidentally, little master helped Concubine Li the first day, also received her gifts, surely won't be called to learn the rules, can rest well, wait for the Emperor's favor."
"Though the Emperor hasn't come to the harem for a long while…"
Yun Jiao rested her chin on her hand.
During the selection, she couldn't look directly at the Emperor, later she didn't know what he looked like.
As long as she could save files anytime, she relied on mixing and matching in the palace—she admitted she wasn't outstandingly smart, a fish relying on guides to play palace intrigue games, dared not rush into this devouring vortex? Worried about dealing with the Emperor and Concubines smartly every day.
Upon hearing Consort Ji was sent to attend the Emperor but returned to Yanxi Palace again, Yun Jiao was more determined to be low-profile in the harem.
Anyway, today she attempted three times and got braised duck soup!
Delicious!
At this time, the Emperor in Weiyang Palace, crossed Consort Ji off a list.
"This one won't do either."