It was the busiest time of the day on the streets of the capital city, and there were horse-drawn carriages passing by from time to time, and I could see pedestrians coming out of every alley.

In the shade of the trees on the side of the street, I sat on a stone bench with the girl in the purple skirt and talked, and the horse that had almost broken into a catastrophe was also taken aside by the handlebars and waited.

I was listening to the girl talk about the conditions for the selection of the palace maid.

This is the first time, except for Ji Jiu in the small courtyard, someone is telling me about the upcoming audition.

Thinking back to the scene where Ji Jiu and Xiao An came back to discuss after going out a few days ago, I realized that it was not easy to get an identity that met the conditions for entering the palace.

No wonder in those days, the two of them repeatedly sat under the persimmon tree to discuss.

When the conversation came to an end, the girl in the purple skirt saw that I was deep in thought, and asked curiously: "Xiaoling, are you not from the national capital?" ”

I can't help but smile in return, I want to say that she is also a dull person, and she has been talking for a long time before she finally remembers to ask this.

I was about to open my mouth to explain to her, when I thought about what Ji Jiu had taught in the past few days, shook my head and said according to the setting he had prepared for me: "I am from the national capital, but I was fostered in the countryside, and it has only been half a month since I arrived in the national capital. ”

The girl in the purple dress looked at her suddenly.

"Actually, I'm the same as you, and I've also signed up."

The girl in the purple skirt's eyes lit up, held my hand and said, "Sister, you said it earlier." ”

"I haven't asked you yet, what's your name?"

"My name is Gu Qimei and I live on Dongguangji Street."

Gu Qimei, I silently read her name, raised my head and smiled: "Then I can call you Xiaomei?" ”

She was stunned for a moment, and there was something strange on her face. I looked at her and felt that something was wrong, so I quickly asked, "Do you not like me to call you that?" ”

"No, Xiaoling, the way you smiled just now seems to be a different person."

"That's your delusion." I pursed my lips and grinned. "It's still the same."

"Have you heard about the selection in the palace?" Qimei glanced in the direction of the imperial city, and said in a low voice, "When I went out this morning, the streets were talking about the earthquake in the north. “

"I sat in several teahouses in the city, just to hear more news from the north."

It seems that I am not alone in thinking of a way to listen to the news! "I heard. The two sides have been facing each other for a long time, and for the sake of this earthquake, the battle has been postponed. “

I quickly nodded my head to indicate that I had heard about it too. "Xiaoling, do you think the selection of palace maids will be canceled?" Qimei hung her head. She looked worried.

I know the purpose of her entering the palace, in fact, I really want to say that female officials are probably not so easy to be, but people have ideals and ambitions, and I can't pour cold water on her at this juncture.

I thought about it for a while and comforted her: "Don't worry, if you really want to cancel it, it will definitely be announced." Don't worry about what is yet to come. "You're right." Qimei smiled and said, "I really have a relationship with you, but fortunately the carriage just now didn't hit you." "God is fair." I sighed. She was confused and looked at me with puzzled eyes.

I patiently explained her doubts: "Since ancient times, there has been a thin life, and if you grow up like me, you will live a hundred years." “

Before I reached the door of the house, I saw Ji Jiu standing by the wall.

When I appeared in his field of vision, I squinted and saw his tiger body shocked!

I just know. My new image is refreshing!

Walking in the door, Ji Jiu looked at me silently for a while. The look in Xiao An's eyes was not so friendly.

The so-called gaze is like a knife, one knife after another. Xiao An couldn't catch the trick, and the corners of his mouth pulled into a smile and said with an embarrassed expression: "It's safer to make it like this for her." “

Ji Jiu sat down in front of him noncommittally, glanced at him sharply under the persimmon tree, and said in a low voice: "You improve it for her, otherwise I'm worried that I won't be able to enter the primary." "Childe, the direction of the selection has changed recently, there were too many beauties called into the palace in the past few years, but this year is different." Xiao An patted his head. "Did you get the inside scoop?"

Ji Jiu's eyes looked at me, and after reading it, he looked back at the eunuch.

Xiao An said proudly: "Yes, I heard that there are new arrangements for this batch of palace maids this year, and you must know that there are not many places in the palace where there is a shortage of people." "At this juncture, the empress has not forgotten the selection of jì because there is a fixed place to place these newcomers."

Ji Jiu's eyebrows moved, and he raised his hand and waved at me: "Xiaoling, you go into the house." “

I'm listening, and it's about the direction of my life for some time to come.

Since Xiao An arrived in the national capital, his whereabouts are somewhat mysterious, and I still believe that he has found out the inside information.

I didn't expect Ji Jiu to send me away very unkindly, my fists were clenched, and I could only follow his instructions.

Depressed walked into the room, closed the door, I quickly flashed to the window, through the curtain gap, I wanted to see Xiao An's mouth, to understand what he was talking about.

However, Ji Jiu is like having eyes behind him!

He stopped the conversation, stood up, sat down in a new place, and blocked my view!

Now I can't see anything but his back.

Frustrated, I lay down on the table, opened my makeup, took out the map I had read many times, and continued to familiarize myself with the terrain of the palace.

I plan to memorize the entire layout with my head, even to the point where I can easily draw the terrain everywhere.

I've recently had a new pleasure in simulating in my mind how I can escape as quickly as I can if I am being tracked by someone somewhere in the palace.

There will be such new fun, which is naturally closely related to what I have to do when I enter the palace.

On-the-spot drills, but also need opportunities!

At the dinner table, as usual, four people sat together.

Ji Jiu and Xiao An heard that I met a girl who was going to enter the palace together on the street, and asked about the other party's situation in unison.

I relayed what Gu Qimei told me.

Ji Jiu exchanged a look with Xiao An, and seemed to have some understanding of Gu Qimei's origin.

But they don't go into details, and I don't bother to ask, I learned something a long time ago. Even if others are willing to sue me, I will listen patiently, and what others are not willing to say, I actually ask a lot, and what I get may not be the truth.

If there is a choice. I really want to know what Ji Jiu agreed with Xiao An, otherwise he wouldn't have changed his attitude overnight, so he tried his best to help me get into the palace, and used his own strength to open up the situation for me.

Uncle Liu, who has been in the national capital all the year round, mentioned that the house on the side of East Guangji Street is a place where large families gather in the national capital.

I understand what he means.

The chopsticks wander around. The atmosphere at the table became quiet, the food was just as delicious, and I began to feel sad in my heart.

I can feel the skirt getting tighter and tighter these days, but I hope the selection is not delayed for too long, otherwise I will really become a veritable black fat man as soon as I change my appearance

The rules of the palace were rehearsed in the house. Ji Jiu pushed the door and walked in, pulled out a chair at the table, sat down, looked at me intently, and said in a gentle tone: "Since you have decided to enter the palace, no matter what, you must let yourself stay and stand out during the selection." "Your appearance has been restricted, but Xiao An is right, the wind direction is likely to change recently, not when I was in the palace a few years ago." "The steward of the palace must be more willing to see a person who is proficient in the rules and can teach him, but he has an ordinary appearance."

I glanced at Ji Jiu in confusion and said, "This Sealand Palace is the place of the empress, and you still need to avoid suspicion?" ”

In my impression. Isn't it necessary to care about the appearance of the palace maid when the three thousand beauties of the harem compete for favor?

In my previous life, I also saw a lot of stories about palace fights, this palace maid was on the throne, and the concubine was demoted. But it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the empress being a dynasty.

My heart suddenly jumped, and I thought of another possibility, and looked at Ji Jiu in amazement without speaking.

Since he finished discussing things with Xiao An, he looked very bad, and when he saw my expression at this moment, he sighed and said, "Don't think about it." Practice your rules well. ”

"Well," I thought he was leaving. hurriedly shouted to stop him and said, "I heard that Gu Qimei said that many female officials in the court entered the palace when they were primarily elected palace maids. Later, if you get a chance, you can be promoted, is this news reliable? "She still has such an idea?" Ji Jiu subconsciously glanced at me and said, "If you want to take this path now, I'm afraid it's not so easy." "However, when you enter the palace, you may not have no chance," he paced back and forth indoors, stopping beside me and said, "Now the war on both sides is stalemate, because the earthquake has been postponed for the time being, and the imperial court is employing people, if she has the heart to study, it is also possible." "She would be glad if she heard that."

"It's just that" Ji Jiu hadn't finished speaking, there seemed to be a hidden secret, but I didn't think much about it, and I was still thinking about how it would be more appropriate to relay what Ji Jiu said if I saw Gu Qimei. "Xiaoling, what did you want to ask me?" "Ah, what I want to ask is, if I am chosen, how many years will it take for me to come out after entering the palace?"

I tried to recall the impression I had of the palace maid when I was at the Snow Country, but unfortunately, my stay was too short for me to find a memory of this. "Two years."

Ji Jiu stood in front of me with his hands down, looked at me strangely and said, "Where can you stay so long!" “

I made eye contact with him, and some uneasy feelings welled up in my heart.

After a few seconds, I smiled and said, "You know my appearance very well, but unfortunately I want to say that the situation is changing, maybe after I entered the palace, I also had the idea of being promoted to a female official like that Gu Qimei?" "You won't." Ji Jiu ignored what I said, just threw down a sentence coldly, and left without looking back.

I muttered behind his back, "You're not me, how can you know my decision." ”

Two years is actually a short period of time, not a long time

(ps:It's late because I'm always incompetent in naming ah.,Do you want to get a name next time?) :) to be continued