Xie Yuanjiu took a bite of food next to him, quietly lowered his head, and remained silent.

However, Second Master Xie frowned a little reluctantly.

"The prince asked Ning Ning to go by name, but you sent Yuan Jiu in, won't the prince be angry?"

Xie Suzhi also sank his eyes and said, "Second brother and sister, it is best for Jiu Jiu to avoid participating in the selection of female officials by the Nine Emperor Princes now. ”

"If there was a problem before, although it can't be completely Yuan Jiu's fault, but when someone with a heart sees her entering the palace to run for election, they will definitely stare at her, and it will not be a good thing for her at that time."

He made all the shortcomings of the matter clear.

If it weren't for the family, Xie Suzhi would never have told him like this.

However, Second Mrs. Xie put down her chopsticks: "Big brother, what you said is not very good." ”

"That day, it was the day that the people did not fulfill their wishes, and it was not that we did not do a good job, even if Concubine Rong was to blame, she had to think about why she didn't choose a good day!"

Xie Suzhi's face changed, and he slapped the table suddenly: "Presumptuous, how can you talk about the palace concubine!" ”

Second Master Xie tightened his brows: "You're afraid that others won't think too much, aren't you?" ”

Second Mrs. Xie pursed her lips unconvinced, and lowered her head: "Hey, I'm also for Wishing Jiu, it's just that the female official can't be elected, offended Concubine Rong, how bad is it to spread it?" ”

You must know that after Concubine Li was beaten into the cold palace, Concubine Rong became the person in power in the six palaces.

The high-ranking members of the family are all people who see the wind and steer the rudder, knowing that Xie Yuanjiu has offended Concubine Rong, how can she still socialize in the circle of noble girls?

Xie Mingxu listened coldly, with a calm expression that had nothing to do with himself.

However, Yu Guang kept paying attention to Shen Ningning beside him.

From the beginning of the meal to the present, the little guy has been holding a big bowl and burying his head in the serious cooking.

As if what they were discussing didn't matter at all.

She ate so deliciously that Xie Mingxu couldn't help but chuckle and sandwiched another chopstick meatball for her.

Second Mrs. Xie insisted on her opinion, and Second Master Xie looked ugly.

Finally, Xie Suzhi looked at Xie Yuanjiu, who had been silent.

"Yuanjiu, what do you think?"

"I ......" Xie Yuanjiu lowered his eyebrows: "Uncle, I want to enter the palace because I am unwilling." ”

"Last time, it can be said that I was unlucky, I encountered heavy rain, this time I want to rely on my strength to compete for the female officer, even if I can't succeed, but I also proved myself to Concubine Rong." She finally told the truth in her heart.

Xie Suzhi sighed: "You have to think about it, this time when you enter the palace, there will be other ladies competing with you." ”

"At that time, no matter how good your relationship is, she will treat you as an opponent, and she may sneer at you because of her previous failures, and you can accept it?"

Xie Yuanjiu nodded heavily: "Yes." ”

In this way, Xie Suzhi nodded: "Okay, our Xie family has always respected the child's own wishes, since you insist, then I will help you one last time." ”

Xie Yuanjiu's eyes rose with joy: "Thank you, uncle!" ”

"Ningning." Xie Suzhi suddenly spoke.

The little guy looked up from his rice bowl, and his mouth was shiny.

"Huh?" The corners of her mouth were stained with rice grains, and she blinked her big round eyes and looked at Xie Suzhi.

Xie Suzhi smiled lightly, wiped the rice grains from the corners of her lips for her, and said, "Since the prince asks for it, and you are willing, the godfather will not stop it." ”

"Wait until the day you enter the palace, and you and Yuan Jiu will enter the palace together."

Shen Ningning has no objection to this: "Good godfather! ”

Xie Yuanjiu's fingers pinching the chopsticks tightened slightly.

She pretended not to care and asked, "Uncle, Ning Ning is so young, and she wants to run for female office?" ”

Xie Suzhi's face was pale: "The reason why the prince invited Ning Ning is just to use the reason for selecting female officials. ”

"Ning Ning will not delay your election of a female official, but you have to remember to take care of her when necessary."

"Because when you enter the palace, you represent the Xie family, Yuanjiu, you are older, you should understand this truth."

Xie Yuanjiu looked at Shen Ningning, the little guy was feasting, and he didn't care at all that they were talking about himself.

A faint dissatisfaction rose in her heart.

However, he still said: "Uncle, don't worry, I have long regarded Ning Ning as my godsister, and I should take care of her." ”

Second Mrs. Xie was the most happy, and laughed: "Naturally, it's all a family, and we want Jiu to be very good at being sisters!" ”

So, the matter was settled.

Concubine Rong selected female officials for the Nine Emperor Princes, and there were five specially invited ladies on the list.

They are Shen Ningning, as well as Ye Shangyi of the old lady Fu family, and three other noble girls.

According to the past practice, every time a female official is selected, the ladies who are specially invited are basically internal candidates.

In the end, the female officer must have chosen one of these five people.

However, there are exceptions.

When the emperor was still a prince, Concubine Rong was not a specially invited lady, but she also stood out from the nobles and was selected by the emperor as a female official to accompany her, and later became a concubine.

This time, in addition to Shen Ningning and their five specially invited ladies, there are also fifteen high-ranking concubines.

There are twenty people in total, and they have to spend five days in the palace during the selection period.

During this period, the palace secretary will judge whether the behavior of the noble lady meets the requirements of the female official through various aspects.

I heard that not only do you need to be proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, but also you need to be smart, knowledgeable, and have a city.

Shen Ningning left countless supplies for the wolf and grandmother, enough for these five days.

She went to see them by the way, and also brought a lot of food.

On the eighth day of December, Shen Ningning was in Xie Mansion, preparing to set off to enter the palace with Xie Yuanjiu.

The palace sent guards to greet them, and the tall horses stood in the bleak north wind, which was even more majestic.

Xie Yuanjiu had already boarded the carriage.

Xie Suzhi took Shen Ningning's little hand and explained some matters to her at the door.

"Ning Ning, your status is more noble than theirs, so, under normal circumstances, you will not be punished and embarrassed."

"But if someone bullies you, you go to the palace department and find an aunt named Fang Min, and she will help."

The little guy is wearing a beautiful pink and white jacket skirt today, and the white rabbit down around his neck makes his face even more petite and white.

She blinked her clear black eyes: "Okay, I remember, godfather, don't worry about me, I'll just go in and play!" ”

Anyway, I've been in the palace many times.

Well, this time, it's best to reconcile with my brother and let him stop being angry.

Xie Suzhi touched the little guy's head and handed her a gilded stove: "Go ahead." ”

Shen Ningning waved goodbye to Xie Suzhi and got into the carriage.

Xie Yuanjiu looked at her and smiled slightly: "Sister Ning Ning, don't be afraid after entering the palace, I will take good care of you." ”

Shen Ningning hugged the gilded stove, her long eyelashes blinked twice, and she nodded obediently.

However, as soon as the carriage entered the palace gate, near the water pavilion where the nobles were resting, the Praetorian Guards left them here and left one after another.

A group of ladies had already arrived here, looking at the palace in the center of the lake, looking at each other.

Someone complained: "Why don't you even have an aunt to lead the way?" ”

"That's right, there are no boats, no bridges, how can we get there?"

The cold wind swept over the lake, and snow fell from the surrounding trees.

The young ladies who are usually pampered are shivering from the cold, and their faces are pale and complaining.

Only Shen Ningning, a small figure, stood in a group of ladies older than her, like a pink and white porcelain ball.

She held the small stove given by Xie Suzhi and stood there with a bright face.

The little face was red, and the eyes were extremely black and bright, as if he was not afraid of the cold wind, and he was not cold at all.

Xie Yuanjiu was keenly aware that there was no way to the Water Pavilion Flower Dock, which must be the first test left for them in the palace.

She thought for a while and said directly: "Since there is no boat, it means that the steward eunuch here is lazy." ”

"Let's go to the steward and let him support a few ships."

A few ladies felt that what Xie Yuanjiu said was quite reasonable, and they wanted to follow her.

However, Shen Ningning raised his little hand: "No, this is not a boat." ”

The ladies cast suspicious glances at her: "Do you know how to go?" ”