Although the peony is easy to embroider, but it is more difficult to be brilliant, Zeng Rong pondered for a while, she painted a blooming peony, the branches densely squeezed six peonies of all sizes, the largest two layers of petals covered the stamens, there are two exposed golden stamens, and two are half-opened buds, symbolizing the three generations of grandchildren, so it is more appropriate to call the rich and noble.

Because there were more flowers to embroider, Zeng Rong began to match the colors and lines after drawing the patterns, and after that, she barely looked up.

This time, she was the last to embroider, and when the maid announced that the time was up, she could have embroidered her name.

The palace maid put these purses and sent them out directly, the silk handkerchief embroidered before announced the ranking, Zeng Rong won the second, the first is the plum blossom embroidered by Amei, she embroidered the plum blossom is a must, plus Zeng Rong painted the plum blossom with the poem, both from the artistic conception and the aesthetic sense of the upper class, so she took the first without any controversy and suspense.

Zeng Rong's orchid is not controversial, she embroidered a nine-stemmed orchid, this orchid is relatively rare, and Zeng Rong's color is a bit wild and bewitching blue, which is different from the white or tender yellow that everyone usually sees, giving people a sense of amazement.

To Zeng Rong's surprise, the third place was actually Hongling, coincidentally, she embroidered plum blossoms, the plum blossom pattern is also good, the branches are strong and powerful, the plum blossoms are weak, and there are falling flowers fluttering in the wind.

The woman named Green Lotus is not bad, she got the sixth, but she doesn't seem to be very satisfied with her ranking, but she doesn't dare to complain about anything, she just takes Hongling's hand and dangles it, and keeps saying something about being reluctant to part with her good sisters.

Ah Mei was also quite surprised that she could win the first place, she didn't have too many surprises, but was a little apprehensive, because she knew that half of Zeng Rong's credit was in this honor.

And in this way, she completely broke off her idea of not wanting to enter the palace, so she could only go forward, fortunately, there was Zeng Rong with her, so she also grabbed Zeng Rong's hand and wanted to say something, Zeng Rong shook his head at her.

You must not say the wrong thing on this occasion, it will be troublesome to be heard by someone with a heart, Amei is not unincomprehensible, but she is too excited and forgets for a while.

Fortunately, someone soon brought hot tea and snacks, and everyone was busy for two hours, and they were indeed a little hungry, so they all sat down and ate in a proper manner.

After a stick of incense, Aunt Liu and Gonggong Liu came in with a palace maid, and the palace maid was holding a tray in her hand, and in the tray were Zeng Rong's embroidered purses and sachets.

This time, Zeng Rong took the first, Amei took the second, the third was still Hongling, and the one named Green Lotus still won the sixth, no matter what, it can be regarded as passing this level, seeing her happy face, Zeng Rong suddenly had a bad premonition.

It seems that this person also has an obsession with entering the palace, although it is not clear what her purpose is, as long as she has a plan, she will inevitably have disputes and contradictions with Zeng Rong, which will affect Zeng Rong.

The other two were selected from two other embroidery workshops, one from a family, both fifteen or sixteen years old, one was called Meiying, and the other was called Xiuzhen, and they couldn't see any temperament for a while.

The selected people stood in a line, Aunt Liu held a list in her hand, checked their identities one by one, and then an old palace maid who looked like she was forty or fifty years old took the six of them to the next room and examined them carefully from top to bottom, mainly to check their faces and hands and whether there were obvious defects in their bodies, and even a female doctor gave them a few pulses.

After some tossing, these six people stood in front of Aunt Liu and Gonggong Liu, Aunt Liu announced the rules of the Shang Gong Bureau in front of everyone, Zeng Rong learned that the six of them were assigned to the weaving and embroidery division of the Shang Gong Bureau, and the weaving and embroidery division was divided into two workshops, a weaving workshop and an embroidery workshop, and they were also paid by piece, and the specific remuneration was not mentioned, only that it was determined according to the quality of the embroidery.

The working time is similar to when Zeng Rong was in Jinxiufang, and it is also divided into seasons, basically four or five hours a day.

There is also a half-day holiday at the end of each month, you can see your family, but you are not allowed to go out of the palace, you can only meet your relatives in the fence outside, you can also give your own wages to your relatives and take them out of the palace, but you are not allowed to take anything else in the palace.

After the rules are announced, they will sign and draw a pledge, and if there is a repentance, they can also be raised at this time, just so that the people behind can be on top.

If you really come here, who would dare to go back?

I really want to regret it, don't think about taking over the business in the palace anymore from the embroidery workshop that recommended her here, and she herself, I'm afraid that no embroidery workshop will dare to accept her in the future.

Because most of the embroidery girls present were illiterate, and they were all from various embroidery workshops, a eunuch went out to bring in the four shopkeepers.

When Aunt Liu announced that Zeng Rong and the other six people had passed the screening, the four aunts in charge took out everyone's letter of guarantee, Zeng Rong's letter of guarantee was written by Mrs. Xu, and it was stamped with Mrs. Xu's seal, so Aunt Liu read it carefully after getting this letter of guarantee, and stared at Zeng Rong twice, but she didn't ask anything.

After collecting the six guarantees, Aunt Liu read the contract again, Zeng Rong read it carefully after getting the contract, did not mention selling his body, but put the rules that he had to abide by back on the paper in the form of words, the most important of which is the three precepts, abstain from hearing, refrain from questioning, and precept from preaching, do not listen to incivility, do not inquire, do not discuss.

Another point is that after entering the palace, they will be taught a lesson, and if they are born later, they will be handed over to the guarantor, that is, if they enter the palace, they need to follow the lessons of the palace grandmother, and if something happens, they will have the duty of chasing the guarantor.

Finally, it is also mentioned that the treatment after illness, those who are sick will be out of the palace, those who are weak can stay in the palace for three days, and those who are not good for three days will leave the palace.

Without hesitation, the six men pressed their handprints on the contract, and then the four treasurers also pressed their handprints on the contract.

At this point, the six of them can be regarded as people in the palace.

Fortunately, Aunt Liu felt sorry for them and rarely saw their families again from now on, so she gave them a day to pack their luggage, and said that when they would gather outside the small gate the day after tomorrow, Zeng Rong and his party came out of the palace.

At the moment of getting into the carriage, Zeng Rong turned his head to look back at the small door and palace wall in front of him, and he couldn't tell whether he was sad or happy, sad that she finally cut off her back road, and there was no possibility of being with Xu Jing, and the happy thing was that she was one step closer to her goal, whether it was to repay her kindness or revenge.

It's just that the road ahead is still bumpy, and there is still no hope, and she can only move forward with a load.