The selection was originally the fate of a small number of official women, aiming to select talented and beautiful official women to enter the palace, enrich the backyard, open branches and leaves for the royal family, and extend the heirs. During the period of Tang Xuanzong, he sent flowers and birds to select the world's beautiful women to summon them into the deep palace, and they didn't even look at the door and identity, but only paid attention to the posture, and the beautiful people could enter the palace as the emperor's wife. Now, more than 130 years later, this method of selection still exists.

The "Xiao family" in the queen's mouth refers to the eldest daughter of the Xiao Mansion, named Xiao Heling, the woman's maiden name, which has never been an outsider, so the queen only calls her "Xiao family".

Xiao's Mansion is located in the southernmost part of Chang'an City, the door is not high, and the queen only heard that Xiao Heling was born with a sinking fish and a goose, so she thought that such a show girl could not only share the favor of Concubine De, but also did not have enough family background to compete with herself, so she was naturally suitable for retention.

In this way, the Xiao family began to carefully prepare to send Xiao Heling into the palace, and even the orderly maid Fu'an was in a hurry, for fear that something would go wrong.

Such a busy time is more than a month.

The night before entering the palace, Xiao Heling sat under the window, facing the cool breeze, looking at the hustle and bustle of Chang'an City, unable to sleep, the lord and the lady had already burst into tears.

Mrs. Xiao wiped her tears with a silk again and again, but she couldn't wipe them clean: "Mother is just such a daughter as you, now that your brother has gone to the battlefield, you have been selected again, and you have to enter the palace, and my mother is reluctant." ”

The tears on Xiao Heling's face have dried: "My daughter can't accept happiness, she just wants her parents to be safe and smooth." The daughter is in the palace, and I just hope that it will not affect the family. ”

The maid Fu'an also said with tears in her eyes: "Miss, go to bed early, it's going to leave for the Great Yin Palace on a cloudy day, you sit under the window, beware of the cold." ”

"If you can't stand this cold, how will you gain a foothold in the palace in the future?"

Fu'an brought a cloak and put it on Xiao Heling: "Miss, three years ago, there was a disaster in Chang'an City where a draft girl was robbed on the way to the palace. Therefore, the slave maid thought, after we set off on a cloudy day, we will take a detour from the south, and first disguise ourselves as ordinary people, so that no one will see that the young lady is a selected show girl. ”

Xiao Heling nodded, smiling: "In troubled times, you think very thoughtfully. ”

"The slave maid is also for the sake of the young lady, if the young lady has no other instructions, the slave and the maid will help the old man and the lady to rest, and the young lady will go to bed early."

The mother and daughter hugged each other again, and it was not easy to see each other again in the future.

Xiao Heling watched her parents walk out of the boudoir with tears in her eyes, and suddenly stopped Fu'an again: "Fu'an, you stay and talk to me for a while." ”

Fu'an nodded and smiled, sent Master Xiao and Mrs. Xiao out of the room, and then stood back beside Xiao Heling to serve.

Xiao Heling took Fu'an's left hand and said with concern: "Are you really willing to accompany me into the palace?" ”

Fu'an didn't speak, only nodded firmly, as if this was more comforting than a word.

The tears on Xiao Heling's face gradually dried, he looked at the palace clothes he was going to wear on a cloudy day, and said to Fu'an: "Now that I have won the selection, I can't help myself, I can only enter the palace." It's just that you went to the palace with me, and you will inevitably have to do a lot of things in the future, and your hands are ......"

Fu'an shook his head with a smile, his voice was crisp and playful: "Miss, the slave's arm injury has been a long time ago, and it has been a hundred days since the injury was made, and it has been hundreds of days, Miss, don't worry." ”

Outside the window, the lights of Chang'an City are scattered like twinkling stars, unpredictable.

Xiao Heling paused for a moment, let go of Fu'an's hand, and said, "If I hadn't sneaked out to play that day, you wouldn't have been injured trying to protect me." I'm going to enter the palace on a cloudy day, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to honor my father and mother in the future, my father and mother broke my heart for me, but now I don't know how to repay them, and I feel guilty when I think about it. ”

The flickering candle flame seemed to resist the night wind leaking through the cracks in the window, reflecting Fu'an's face dim. Fu'an knelt beside Xiao Heling and said with concern: "Yes, it's good to live in an ordinary family, you don't have to go through such a parting." Later, when I went to the palace, I didn't know how much suffering I had to receive. ”

"This is a bad statement," Xiao Heling looked at Fu'an, as if comforting himself, and said: "Whether it is ordinary people or nobles in the palace, they all have their own affairs and their own masters. Although ordinary people do not have many rules in the palace, they are inevitably worried about firewood, rice, oil and salt; Although the palace does not worry about food and clothing, there are more restraints, and they can't experience the warmth of ordinary people. ”

Hearing this, Fu'an bowed his head, deeply understood, and asked, "It seems that Miss is fully prepared." ”

Xiao Heling smiled faintly: "I'm just at ease with what happens, not to mention that if I am favored in the palace, I will be able to win glory for my father and mother and my family, which is also a blessing." You follow me into the palace, and when you are old, I will find a good family for you and marry you beautifully. ”

Fu'an's face was slightly red, and he closed his eyes and shook his head, "Why did Miss suddenly talk about this today, the slave doesn't want to get married." ”

Another breeze blew, Xiao Heling wiped the corners of his eyes, and sobbed: "Because I want to enter the palace, my father and mother will not see me getting married in this life." Fu'an, what I can't do, I really hope you can do it for me. Although you are my maid, but in the end it is my hand that has caused you to fall into the root of the disease, and I am ashamed of too many things to my parents, only if I marry you to a good family with my own hands, can I compensate you and compensate my father. ”

Fu'an's tears flowed quietly, and at this moment, Xiao Heling and her seemed to have no distinction between master and servant, only about friendship. Fu'an nodded: "If watching the slave maid marry can end a matter of Miss's heart, then the slave maid is willing to listen to Miss." It's just that, miss, you don't have to think about others in everything in the future, you always worry too much and worry too much. ”

Xiao Heling breathed a sigh of relief, turned his face to the window, and smiled happily: "It's okay, it's okay, if I want to see you happy, I will rejoice in my heart, don't deprive me of the right to be happy a little." Now our family is frequently bullied by other businessmen in business, and when I enter the palace and am favored, I will definitely be able to change the status quo and make everything go well for my father and mother from now on. ”

Fu'an deeply understood, and the four hands of the master and servant were clasped tightly with each other: "The slave and maid wish the young lady in advance to make progress and gain His Majesty's Sacred Heart." ”

A night of silence.

On the second day, it was only the fourth watch, Xiao Heling got up early, took a bath, dressed up, and didn't dare to slack off. As soon as the sky was bright, Xiao Heling and Fu'an stepped into the carriage and walked away.

On the side of Chang'an West City, Jiang Chengzheng was ordered by the queen to go to the south of the city to welcome Xiao Heling into the palace.

Jiang Cheng has served as a court guard in the Dayin Palace for several years, and now he is Chinese New Year's Eve five, and he is deeply relied on by the emperor, and he has made sufficient preparations for patrol this time; At the same time, Sikong Jun, the commander of the forbidden army, also received a holy decree and just set off from the Great Yin Palace and headed for Xiangzhou.

The fog gradually dissipated, and there was a rare breath of silence floating in Chang'an City.

Xiao's carriage bypassed from the south and headed for Xishi, and there seemed to be a sound of carriages and horses in the distance, as if following Xiao Heling's carriage, breaking the silence of the early morning.

Seeing that he was about to go to Xishi, suddenly, a noise sounded like a monstrous wave, and a group of people with long swords surrounded Xiao Heling's carriages and horses, and several freight carriages around him dragged a few wooden boxes, surrounding the place.

Xiao Heling was shocked, and before she could come to her senses, several masked men came out from the halfway point, drew their swords out of their sheaths, and crossed in front of Xiao Heling's carriage. The coachman looked terrified, and before he could call for help, he was beheaded with a knife, and blood splattered all over the ground like fireworks.

"Assassin!"

Xiao Heling's exclamation also became hoarse, his eyes closed, just waiting for the inescapable pain to come, and his mind seemed to be filled with nine cold ice, blank.

This sudden catastrophe caused chaos in the south of Chang'an City, and Jiang Chengzheng came quickly with his subordinates, breaking through the morning fog and heading straight to the south of the city.

The group of people who kidnapped Xiao Heling quickly divided into two teams, the rear team hijacked Xiao Heling's carriage, and hurried towards Anhuamen, and then another vermilion carriage came from the south and stopped where Xiao Heling had been.

Seeing that the stealing of beams and changing pillars had been successfully completed, the two teams of assassins quickly returned to the first team and prepared to flee towards Anhuamen together, but Jiang Cheng drove in with his subordinates, and the two teams immediately fought together.

Jiang Cheng's martial arts were not inferior to those of the assassins, and the light and strength of the long knife in his hand were pressed directly towards the eyebrows of the leading assassin, and in an instant, the helper on the side hurriedly rushed up, and the thunderbolt was deafening.

There are too many stabbing guests, and there is a carriage carrying goods dragging wooden boxes to cover, Jiang Cheng's forehead is like a waterfall, if it drags on for a long time, it will be difficult to protect himself! But the Assassins didn't seem ready to fight back, instead pushing the scarlet carriage forward.

Jiang Cheng ordered to retreat: "A few of you, take care of the vermilion carriage, it is the show girl who entered the palace." ”

Several of his men dismounted and circled the carriage, and the Assassins not far away, seeing this, retreated a few steps to the south. Jiang Cheng's expression was relieved, his purpose was to ensure that the show girl was safe and sound, and now that the assassins ran away, they could still be investigated, and his own forces were too weak, so he really couldn't fight with them.

Seeing that Jiang Cheng did not move for a long time, those assassins dragged the wooden box towards Anhua Gate, and there were frequent cold arrows along the way, Jiang Cheng did not even bring out the bow and arrows, and there was no way to pursue them, and since they could escape from Anhua Gate, then Anhua Gate would definitely be lost.

One of his subordinates pointed to some black marks in the distance and said, "Lord Jiang, what are those?" ”

Jiang Cheng stepped forward, leaned over and touched it, and said, "It's like gunpowder." ”

"Gunpowder? You mean, that box contains gunpowder? ”

Jiang Cheng nodded, "It looks like gunpowder, and now the assassin has escaped, go back and report it to Dali Temple, and see if the show girl in the carriage is injured." ”

A burst of gunpowder smoke dissipated, and the south of Chang'an City once again regained the tranquility of the early morning, the assassin had already fled, leaving only the vermilion carriage to stop firmly in front of Jiang Cheng's eyes.

Jiang Cheng's heart was relieved, and he shouted inside: "Is the girl okay?" ”

After a while, out of it came a woman with pear blossoms and rain and her attendants, whose beautiful face was slightly stained with a little dust, and she must have been frightened by the fright just now.

Seeing Jiang Cheng, the woman pulled her maidservant to kneel down and saluted: "Thank you for saving your life." ”

Jiang Cheng picked up the woman and sighed: "It's Weichen's dereliction of duty, Weichen originally escorted the girl into the palace safely, but caused the girl to meet an uninvited guest halfway." ”

The woman shook her head, looking shy, and did not reply.

Jiang Cheng quipped: "The ancients said that once you enter the Hou Gate, it is as deep as the sea, and the sinister nature of the deep palace has harmed many people, and the women in the past did not want to enter the palace, but now that the world is chaotic, the palace is about to become a place to live." ”

Seeing that this woman never liked words, Jiang Cheng was a little uncomfortable, so he asked casually: "This girl must be the show girl Xiao, right?" ”

The woman's expression was shocked, as if countless uneasy thoughts flashed, and she nodded for a long time before she replied: "Yes, the people's daughter Xiao has received the grace of the adult to save her life today, and she will definitely repay her in the future." ”

Jiang Cheng shook his head: "Where the responsibility lies, Miss Xiao is serious." ”

The woman looked at Jiang Cheng, bowed slightly, and said, "I don't know your surname?" ”

"Oh, Weichen is not surnamed Jiang."

"Thank you, Lord Jiang, for today." The woman said, looked at Jiang Cheng's eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief.

In this instant, Jiang Cheng found that in addition to the appearance of a sinking fish and a wild goose, the woman also had a pair of unique pupils, and only after a closer look could he find a faint different color inside.

The woman also looked at Jiang Cheng's deep eyes and was silent, and the two looked at each other for a moment, their eyes full of each other's reflections.

Jiang Cheng realized that he was rude, slightly embarrassed, and said: "Weichen is out of order, it's just that the girl's pupils are so special." ”

The woman's expression was a little evasive, and she said with a smile: "What's so special, I'm just a draft girl, the most important thing in the palace is beauty, everyone has their own special." ”

After that, Jiang Cheng escorted her to the carriage, and then he also rode on his horse and headed in the direction of the Great Yin Palace.

In the vermilion carriage, the woman breathed a sigh of relief, as if she was extremely nervous, even her eyes were slightly red, and the maid beside her gently comforted her: "Sister Qingyun, you are no longer Qi'er Qingyun now, but Xiao Qingyun, the royal wife of His Majesty today!" Master Jiang has carefully arranged all this, and you must not reveal your background. ”

Qing Yun also stroked her chest and said, "But just now, Lord Jiang, he, he found my pupil color, if he investigates deeply, he will know ......"

The maid shook her head: "It's okay, there have been too many changes today, and this little thing, Lord Jiang won't remember." ”

Hearing this, Qingyun was a little relieved, and only then did she calm down, opened the curtain, and looked at the prosperity of Chang'an City, her eyes full of anticipation.

The sun is getting higher and higher, the hour is not early, and the palace has begun to prepare all kinds of things for the arrival of the draft girl.

However, early this morning, Concubine Xian of Zhu Jingdian suddenly felt unwell, in fact, this symptom was there yesterday, first drowsy, then abdominal pain, and then pale, resulting in no energy even to get up now.

Concubine Guo is the biological mother of King Di. King Di is the second son of the emperor, named Li Zhen. Concubine Xian is very popular in the palace, and she has such symptoms for no reason, which cannot but make the emperor and the imperial doctors anxious.

In this room, Lang Xia was just waiting for Concubine De to change her clothes and make up.

The incense hall in the morning is very quiet, the rafter carved beams are painted, and the powder wall is plain and colorful.

There are few concubines in the harem, and Concubine De has been favored for several years, but she only has one son under her knees, that is, King Jing, the sixth son of the emperor, Li Ji. King Jing was crowned king at the same time as the third highness King Qian and the fifth highness King Sui, and he was also very loved by the emperor.

Although Concubine De loved King Jing, the only son, she didn't let him enter the palace often, saying that the rules came first, and the ambition of a man should stand on the battlefield, not a place where children like the harem grew up.