It was the first time Ning had seen such a tragic situation, she felt as if her throat was choked and she couldn't make a sound, and her whole person froze.

This is the real palace, not the place she usually imagined after tea and dinner. To what extent the imperial power in this world is supreme, she finally knows. A show girl who entered the second selection, although I don't know if she is really "unclean", but several eunuchs and palace maids accused her of bullying the king, saying that she would be killed. It's such a scary place!

Although she had been careful to live in the past, it turned out that she could not be too careful. This is not the peaceful, civilized world she has lived in for more than twenty years. No matter how good her family background is, no matter how high her background is, under the premise that the entire Eight Banners is the emperor's "minion", what can she rely on?

Wan Ning was also stunned, her eyes widened, and she muttered: "How can you ......" She suddenly had a spirit, and was about to rush up, but before she took two steps, she was grabbed by someone, and when she opened her mouth, the person immediately covered it tightly, and it hurt her teeth. The man pulled her back into the crowd before stopping, and she looked back angrily to see that it was actually Yuan Ning.

Yuan Ning gritted her teeth and whispered, "You don't want to die?" What is this place? What is that show girl's crime? You rush up and beware of people thinking you're not clean anymore. When the time comes, don't talk about the prince Fujin, you won't even have a concubine! ”

Wan Ning shuddered and gradually calmed down. Seeing this, Yuan Ning said again: "I'll let you go, don't mess around." The Great Uncle's previous instructions. Don't forget again. ”

Wan Ning nodded, and when she regained her freedom, she said coldly: "The fourth sister really deserves to be the daughter of the second uncle, she is very shrewd, but unfortunately she is too cold-blooded and even has no conscience." If you are so sensible, you will surely have great things in the future. Then he snorted softly, and looked out hesitantly, and saw that the showgirl was silent. He couldn't bear to turn his head away and look no more.

Yuan Ning listened to her words, her face turned white, and she bit her lip. Although most of the ladies in the house were paying attention outside the hall, their sisters' movements were not too big. But there are still some who see it. Some are wooden, some are scared, and some don't care, but some agree with Wanning's words. He looked at Yuan Ning with disdain and whispered. Yuan Ning only felt ashamed and angry, and her eyes couldn't help but turn red.

Shuning managed to put her attention back to the hall, and only then did she feel some sensation in her hands and feet. I moved hard, and finally regained my mobility, and the temperature slowly returned to my body. But it was still shivering with cold. She walked slowly to Yuan Ning's side. Open your mouth. But I still feel a little speechless.

Yuan Ning tugged at the corners of her mouth and said, "Third sister." Do you think so too? Seeing the tears hidden in her eyes, Shuning took a few deep breaths and said a little hoarsely: "No matter what she says, what you did was right, you saved her." There's nothing we can do about it. Yuan Ning smiled reluctantly, her face still very pale.

At this time, the matter outside was over, and the little eunuch in charge of the prison entered the hall to report to the chief manager Tang who was watching the carving on the pillar, the latter nodded, whispered something again, and the little eunuch went out. After a while, the courtyard outside had been cleaned up, and the two grandmothers returned to the room where they had been examined.

Manager Tang clapped his hands, and waited for the show girls to look at him again, before he squinted and sneered: "Little masters, this is the end of the girl's family without knowing how to check." Don't think that if you pass the primary election, you will be able to pass the test in the dark! Royal decency is inviolable! If anyone knows that there is something wrong with him, he can stand up as soon as possible, and he will suffer less! ”

Show girls, you look at me, I look at you, no one stands up. Seeing this, Manager Tang changed his smile again, and said kindly: "Then please stand up quickly, little masters, let's continue." The show girls took action one after another, and it became a mess for a while.

Shuning tightened her handkerchief and walked back to her place, waiting blankly. It wasn't until Yuan Ning secretly pushed her that she realized that it was her turn.

She walked into the hut in horror, and there were only the two grandmothers who had just been found to be "unclean" show girls. She nervously took off her flag dress as instructed, and placed the two gold and silver coins and bamboo silk purses that were originally in her sleeves on the table next to her.

The two grandmothers glanced at each other, and one of them slowed down his expression and said, "Come and lie down." ”

Shuning obediently walked over and lay down, enduring the humiliation again, I don't know if it was the puff of money that played a role, she felt that the mother's movements were much lighter, making her less uncomfortable. When she got up to dress again, the purse was gone, and she could faintly hear the whispers of the two grandmothers: "How is it?" "No problem." "It seems to be Weiyuan Bofu Digege, my father is a Taoist, and my mother is Xiang's niece." "This gold coin is less than two taels, and the purse is also quite valuable......

The two of them quickly turned around and said to Shuning with a pleasant face: "It's been tested, little master, please take it." Shu Ning smiled reluctantly, and when she went out, there was already a little eunuch waiting outside to lead the way, and she was about to leave, but she could not have heard Manager Tang say: "What?!" Did the prince say that? Her heart tightened and she stopped.

The chief manager didn't notice the situation here, but hurriedly followed the little eunuch who came to deliver the message to the back hall, and passed in front of Shuning like a gust of wind. The ladies in the hall looked at each other, not knowing what had happened, and whether someone was going to be unlucky again.

Shuning followed the little eunuch out of the apse, but saw some clues. Chief Manager Tang was talking to a thin-faced old eunuch at the corner not far from the right front, and the old eunuch took out a small bottle, then pointed to the two burdens carried by the little eunuch next to him, and said a few words expressionlessly.

Shuning couldn't stop and take a closer look, so she could only hurriedly follow the eunuch who led the way through the corridor on the left, passing outside a large house where many beautiful girls gathered, and came to another

Child.

There are not many people here, most of them are the two red flag show girls they have seen before, forming two or three small ***, talking about the show girls who died tragically, and they seem to have taken this matter as a topic of small talk after being taken aback. Wan Ning sat alone on the chair in the corner, her eyes a little straight.

Shuning couldn't help but feel sour in her heart, and walked over to sit with her. There are many people in this world who don't care about human life, especially most of the people here are from official families. This kind of thing is probably not uncommon on weekdays. Maybe only Wan Ning could understand the fear in her heart, right? She suddenly felt that she had never been so close to Wan Ning, and even the little resentment she had for this cousin who wore the same clothes in the past had disappeared a lot.

The medical examination procedure lasted for a long time. The show girl with two yellow flags and two white flags in the neighboring house completed this task one step earlier, and was led to the place where she lived first. The show girls in the house where Shuning was located heard the sound of them passing by the door, and they all stopped in front of the window to watch and discuss. Wan Ning also pulled Shuning over, but Yuan Ning followed behind her sisters unhurriedly.

Among the group of show girls, there is one person who is very conspicuous. She was about sixteen or seventeen years old, and she wore a light blue flag like everyone else, except for a few satin trims. There is no decoration at all, and the hairstyles and accessories are no different from other show girls, but for some reason, others are among dozens of girls. I saw her at first sight. She is beautiful and elegant, but not particularly outstanding, but faintly reveals a kind of majesty, and her bearing is very extraordinary. The gestures are particularly elegant and dignified. When the other show girls saw someone looking at them here, they all turned their heads to look back. She was the only one, still not squinting. Keep your head up and your chest high.

Shu Ning was guessing who this person was, when she was suddenly pulled by Yuan Ning's sleeve and whispered, "Look." It's cousin Sussa. She looked along. Sure enough, I saw that Susu was walking about three-quarters of the way back of the line. My eyes were a little red, and I wondered if I had just cried.

Sushua also saw them. He raised his hand and waved, revealing a smile. But the show girl in front of her turned around and said something, and she immediately put down her hand, looked at her cousins a few times with some pity, bit her lip, and walked away with the team.

Shuning watched them go away, but she heard someone next to her talking, "Why can they go first?" They took the lead, and it was our turn last. "Don't complain, it's on the three banners, and the Son of Heaven is personally led, of course it is more noble than us." "Oh, isn't that white flag man miserable? They also went down the Five Flags. I'm going to be bullied......"

When Shuning heard this, she was a little worried about Susu, her temperament, if she was really bullied, she was afraid that most of her would swallow her anger and cry secretly, right? I don't know where she lives, is it possible that she is?

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the two red flags and the two blue flags were also completed. At this time, they were already tired and hungry, and this room was not very airy, but there was a big sun outside that was rarely seen recently, so they were sweating and their clothes were sticky. Shuning felt very uncomfortable and just wanted to find a place to freshen up and eat as soon as possible. She didn't expect to have another physical examination after entering the palace, and it would be delayed until so late, so she didn't prepare snacks at all.

But the arrival of Manager Tang shattered their expectations. He smiled and said to everyone: "Little masters, please wait a little longer, there is one thing to deal with." The show girls responded in fear, waiting for him to tell who was unlucky this time.

The little eunuch Xiao Fanzi put the two burdens on the table and retreated. There was a commotion among the show girls, and Shuning had noticed that there was a person opposite whose face suddenly turned pale, knowing that it must be her thing.

I saw that Mr. Tang took out a small bottle and said, "This is something I found from the baggage, it's a good thing." Which one is the Eji clan of the Zhenglan Banner? Admit it. ”

Everyone talked for a while, and the show girl's legs were weak, she fell to her knees, and looked at Manager Tang with tears in her eyes. The latter smiled and said, "It's you, I heard that Ling Zun is a prefect?" That little master is also a lady of everyone, how can there be such a dirty thing? And brought it into the palace. Isn't it...... What's the plan? ”

Eji cried and begged: "Father-in-law, I don't dare, please spare me, I'm just confused for a while......" Manager Tang still smiled and said: "I know you are confused for a while, but how can you enter the palace with such an unsightly thing?" I'm so sorry. After that, he motioned to the palace maid next to him: "Take her out of the palace." ”

When the Eji clan heard this, he cried even more, pounced, hugged Manager Tang's legs, and shouted: "Father-in-law, father-in-law, please, let me see the emperor, let me see the emperor......" Manager Tang was unmoved, but asked someone to pull her out.

The show girls talked a lot, and Shuning sighed in her heart, this Eji clan was already lucky, at least she was just kicked out of the palace, not killed. Don't know what's in that bottle?

Manager Tang raised a smile on his face and said to the show girls, "Okay, the matter is over." The little masters must remember that their daughter's family must abide by the rules. Those things that girls shouldn't touch. Don't touch it. You know what? ”

Where did the show girls dare to refute, naturally they all responded yes, and followed the little eunuch he sent to the place where he was going to live in the next few days.

They live in Zhongcui Palace, and Chuxiu Palace, where they live with two yellow flags and two white flags, are located on both sides of the imperial garden. This made Shuning a little worried, and it might be very inconvenient to visit Susu.

In the front yard of Zhong Cui Palace, there were already people waiting for their arrival. The palace maid at the head looked to be nearly thirty years old. Claiming to be Wen Jing, she is the aunt in charge here. Although she looks mediocre, she has a white sweet potato seed face, which makes people look very comfortable. speaks and acts neatly, but her words also show that she is kind and should not be difficult to get along with.

There were also four palace maids. respectively

Rui Xin, Rui Dan and Rui Zhi are dedicated to taking care of the daily life of the ladies in the Zhongcui Palace, and there are also local people such as the little eunuch who guards the palace gate and the coarse slave in Huanyi, but they are all responsible for their daily affairs.

As soon as the show girls heard about them, there were thirty-eight of them. There were only four palace maids who could summon them, and they all complained. But Wen Jing coughed lightly and glanced at the show girls. said lightly: "There are rules in the palace. It doesn't matter what the little masters are like when they're at home. When you arrive in the palace, you must abide by the rules of the palace. I hope you will follow the rules. Be cautious in your words and deeds, don't do things that violate the rules of your ancestors, or ......" She didn't say any more, just smiled slightly.

This makes people feel chills in their hearts, and they can't help but think of the two people who came before. The show girls straightened up one after another, and saluted dignifiedly: "Aunt Xie's teachings." ”

Shuning saluted with everyone, and when she saw that Wanning didn't move, she pulled her. Wan Ning frowned and blessed her body, and followed the palace maids with everyone to see the assigned room.

Zhongcui Palace is a two-hall compound, the main hall is for the show girls to eat and gather, and the other side rooms are counted to be just twenty empty houses. The show girls live in two rooms and live in the front and back yards. Wan Ning lives in a room with the big girl, and Shu Ning shares the same room with Yuan Ning. The room is still the earth, the bed, the cabinet, the basin, etc. are all two, and there is also a table and four chairs. A large screen is placed at the back of the house, and behind it are toilets and bathtubs. The room is not luxurious, it can be seen that it is some years old, but the things inside are gorgeous, and they are very different from the things outside.

The show girls roughly divide the house according to the flag and the year, but there are also people who have to live with the flag people from other places. Because a blue flag had been walked before, and a room was vacated. A palace maid discussed a few words with Aunt Wen Jing, and the latter announced that there were not enough rooms in Chuxiu Palace, so one had to be transferred.

Shuning didn't care much about it, in fact, almost all show girls didn't care too much. Because now after everyone enters the room, they are busy sorting things out, and they are busy calling for water to freshen up, so they don't have time to pay attention to others at all. Shuning saw that there were too many people queuing up for water, so she went back to the house to pack her luggage first.

Actually, there's nothing to pack, just put the baggage in the cupboard. The things brought in, jewelry, gold and silver and other things are not missing, but there are two less purses for rewarding, but fortunately, they are only two taels of seals. In order to reduce the weight, most of the money she brought was a small amount of silver tickets, ranging from five taels to fifty taels, wrapped in cloth, and kept close to the body.

As soon as she put away the salute and made the bed, Wan Ning shouted to get water, she went out to take a look, and only then did she know that Wan Ning had spent money to buy the palace maid Ruixin to help carry two large buckets of water, but it was not Yuan Ning's share. Shuning sighed, took a purse to Ruixin, and asked her to bring another bucket, and Ruixin went with a smile.

After Yuan Ning found out, she just thanked Shu Ning, but she was very indifferent to Wan Ning's approach. Shuning didn't persuade much, but when she saw that there was something she could help, she took a hand.

After taking a bath, Shuning changed into homely clothes and went to the main hall with Yuanning for dinner. She went to find Wan Ning first, but Wan Ning seemed to be still washing her hair, so she took the first step. There were not many people in the main hall, and only a few tables sat in the house, but there was something to eat. The show girls have the same portion, three meats, one dish and one meal, as well as soup, which is quite hearty.

Shuning was chatting with Yuanning, waiting for the food to be delivered, but suddenly a person sat down next to her.

It was the lord of Nadanzhu of Korqin.

Shuning was very surprised, and Yuanning was even more inexplicable. The county lord stared at Shuning with resentful eyes, and sneered, "You actually have the face to appear in front of me?!" ”

What is this?

Shuning frowned and said, "What does the county lord mean by this?" ”

"What are you pretending to be stupid? You two brothers and sisters are treacherous, wolf-hearted......"

"Stop!" Shuning glanced around, and said lightly: "The county lord should be cautious when he speaks, when will our brother and sister be treacherous?" I don't know what faith or righteousness the lord has with us. You are now a show girl, and you are in the palace, so it's better not to say these words. ”

Nadanzhu raised her eyebrows: "You! ”

Shuning smiled and said, "Speaking of which, my brother got married in the first month of this year, and it was a marriage given by the emperor." I heard that the county lord's family is also preparing a dowry for you? Congratulations. ”

Nadanjoo bit her lip and went indignantly.

Yuan Ning asked, "Is this still a county lord?" What the hell is going on? ”

Shuning shook her head and said, "It's nothing, it's just that I didn't know anything when I was a child." "This matter is related to my brother's reputation, so it's better not to let so many people know.

Yuan Ning didn't care, she seemed to see a friend she knew, said a word to Shu Ning, and went over to another table.

After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms, some gathered in one place to chat, some entertained themselves, and some wanted to go out for a walk, but were stopped by Aunt Wen Jing. Wanning's hair was not dry, and she couldn't get out of the palace gate, so she had to take a walk in the front and back yards. Shuning stayed in the house to practice.

Yuan Ning didn't come back from outside until the first watch, and said to Shu Ning: "Third sister, do you know why that show girl was killed today?" ”

Why? Isn't it because he was found to be a virgin?

Yuan Ning shook her head and said: "I've already experienced it once, if not, how could I find out until the second election?" In just the past few days, is anyone really so bold? ”

Shuning was stunned and immediately sat down to listen.