bestfiction Chapter 140 The Court Assembly Begins!
Chapter 140 The Court Assembly Begins!
The Imperial Kitchen was a place managed by eunuchs. When palace maids like Jiang Zao were transferred there, they were assigned to do the dirtiest and most tiring jobs.
In fact, it's not even as good as her old laundry room.
After paying money, she was transferred to the laundry room to iron clothes, which was much easier than washing clothes before.
Faced with Zhou Wei's question, Jiang Zao felt a pang of sadness.
"Originally, I was to be transferred to the Eastern Palace, but for some reason, the steward of the Eastern Palace said that the Crown Prince's Palace did not need any manpower for the time being, so he sent me to the Imperial Kitchen."
Zhou Wei frowned as she listened, knowing that Jiang Zao had spent money specifically to go to the East Palace.
Is that all?
The money has been received. Even if I can't go to the Crown Prince's Palace, I can still go back to the laundry room to iron my clothes!
He was transferred to the Imperial Kitchen and was mistreated by the eunuchs. What kind of situation is this?
Zhou Wei noticed the way the head eunuch looked at Jiang Zao earlier; it was clear he had ill intentions.
On such a cold day, they dragged Jiang Zao, a mere palace maid, to deliver meals, and made her do all the work.
It was clearly a malicious act of coercion!
"Where is your lover, Xiao Yuanzhe?"
Zhou Wei remembered that Jiang Zao went to find Qiu Ming because of Xiao Yuanzhe's matter.
Qiu Ming is now the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so finding a good job for Xiao Yuanzhe shouldn't be a problem.
Jiang Zao's expression became complicated when Xiao Yuanzhe was mentioned.
"Brother Yuanzhe has been transferred to the Imperial Guard."
The Imperial Guards were the Crown Prince's personal guards, with a fixed number of three thousand men. This was equivalent to the Crown Prince's military power within the palace, and he always kept a close watch on them.
Everyone entering or leaving must get his approval.
Even if Qiu Ming were the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he wouldn't have the ability to transfer Xiao Yuanzhe to the Golden Guard.
"How much silver did you spend to get him into the Imperial Guard?"
Jiang Zao shook her head: "My silver isn't enough, it's...it's..."
As she spoke, Jiang Zao lowered her voice.
"It is Her Majesty the Empress who has spoken."
So it was Jian Xiyan!
No wonder!
"Xiao Yuanzhe went to the Imperial Guard, which makes him a high-ranking person in the palace. Everyone knows that the Imperial Guard is the Crown Prince's personal guard, and everyone is eager to curry favor with them. Can't you even move you to a more leisurely palace?"
Jiang Zao lowered her head and pursed her lips tightly.
Seeing his reaction, Zhou Wei was somewhat displeased.
"What? Could it be that Xiao Yuanzhe has forgotten you now that he's in power? You two were childhood sweethearts, and you even saved up money to find him a job. Now that he's escaped this hellhole, he's not even going to lend you a hand?"
Jiang Zao said helplessly, "No, I have nothing to do with Xiao Yuanzhe anymore."
What do you mean by that?
When two people go through thick and thin together, they're inseparable. But once Xiao Yuanzhe becomes successful, is there no longer any relationship?
Faced with Zhou Wei's suspicious gaze, Jiang Zao could only sigh.
After a long while, she finally mustered up her courage and said, "Aunt Zhou, I've been keeping this to myself for a long time and have no one to confide in. Now that you've asked, I might as well tell you."
“Xiao Yuanzhe and I were indeed childhood sweethearts, but back then I was desperate to climb the social ladder, and he thought I was not respectable.”
“He has some connections with the Empress, and I suggested that he go to the Empress to plead on his behalf, but he said it wouldn’t be proper.”
"Later I found Brother Qiu, and he agreed to help. When I came back and told him, he was furious."
Jiang Zao's voice was low, but she spoke very quickly.
After hearing this, Zhou Wei understood what had happened.
Xiao Yuanzhe is quite an interesting person. Jiang Zao asked him to beg the Empress, but he refused, feeling it was beneath him.
But Jiang Zao asked Qiu Ming for help, which offended his male dignity. He immediately disregarded his dignity and went to the Empress for help.
His respectability is like that of someone in flexible employment!
"So, even if you go to the Imperial Kitchen now, you don't plan to ask him for help?"
Jiang Zao nodded: "I have nothing to do with him anymore. I used to be so blind that I wanted to climb up the social ladder with Xiao Yuanzhe and save up some money to marry him."
"His actions have made me see many things clearly. Xiao Yuanzhe is not someone I can entrust my life to."
Zhou Wei smiled upon hearing this. It was wonderful that Jiang had come to her senses so early.
In the past, it was she who insisted on pushing Xiao Yuanzhe to improve himself.
Xiao Yuanzhe is lazy and unwilling to work hard, and even says that Jiang is not respectable.
But when a competitor appeared, and whose status was higher than his, Xiao Yuanzhe's pitiful pride suddenly awakened.
It's estimated that Xiao Yuanzhe is still sitting with his legs crossed, waiting for Jiang Zao to beg him!
Unfortunately, Jiang Zao was too strong.
Even if things are really bad for me, I won't talk to someone I've completely given up on.
Zhou Wei gestured with her eyes to the head eunuch who was still trying to curry favor with Jiang Yueli.
"This person seems to have ill intentions!"
Jiang Zao said she knew and would be careful.
Just as Jiang wanted to say a few more words, the eunuch began urging her to get to work.
Jiang Zao gave Zhou Wei a helpless smile and then prepared to pack her things.
But Zhou Wei said, "If you really have nowhere else to turn, you can come to the Princess's Mansion to find me. If it's inconvenient at the Princess's Mansion, go to the soup kitchen in the west of the city and find a Miss Ning. She will also help you."
Jiang Zao nodded gratefully, quickly composed herself, and began to tidy up the dishes.
After Jiang Zao and the head eunuch left, Jiang Yueli came over.
"Weiwei, do you know this palace maid?"
“Princess, have you forgotten? I mentioned her to you, Jiang Zao.”
Upon hearing the name, the eldest princess took a closer look at Jiang Zao's back.
"This woman has a beautiful face and a great figure; she would stand out even among palace maids."
"But why did her career decline so much? She went from the laundry room to the Imperial Kitchen?"
That's exactly how a heroine whose luck has been stolen is!
The harder you work, the more unlucky you get; all your hard work is in vain.
Just like modern-day cattle and horses, it's heartbreaking to hear about them.
At this moment, a sliver of light gradually appeared on the horizon, and the court officials who had been waiting for a long time began to tidy their clothes.
The Crown Prince arrived late at this time. Li An merely glanced at the Crown Prince before turning his head away, his expression revealing neither his joy nor displeasure.
It's time for the morning assembly.
The gates of Fengtian Hall opened, and a eunuch walked out.
"The time for the morning court has arrived, and all officials enter the hall."
The officials lined up, with civil and military officials in separate groups, and slowly entered the Fengtian Hall.
The eldest princess walked at the head of the military officers, while the crown prince was ahead of everyone else.
As the group entered the Fengtian Hall, they heard the eunuch continue to shout.
"All officials, bow!"
Today is not a grand court assembly; all that is required is a bow. The court officials clasped their hands and bowed in greeting.
Chen Wenyu stood in the front row, extremely excited!
After waiting for more than ten days, His Majesty finally came to court.
He even reviewed the matters he was to report to the emperor several times at home, striving to ensure that he could speak them accurately during the court assembly.
The snow disaster in the capital caused great hardship for the people, and many places in the south saw a surge in displaced people.
The country has many problems that urgently need to be solved!
However, when Chen Wenyu and other officials finished bowing and straightened up...
But then the eunuch continued, "Welcome...the Imperial Noble Consort!"
The entire audience erupted in uproar!
Even Jiang Yueli and the Crown Prince, who were standing at the head of the table, looked astonished, thinking they had misheard.
It wasn't until Bai Xiaoxiao, dressed in the court robes of an Imperial Noble Consort, walked out with a smile and slowly sat on the dragon throne that everyone realized they hadn't misheard.
Chen Wenyu trembled all over, staring at Bai Xiaoxiao, before angrily rebuking her after a long while.
"Imperial Noble Consort, how dare you! How can you sit on the dragon throne?"
Bai Xiaoxiao showed no anger in the face of the reprimand, but simply looked at the eunuch beside her.
The eunuch understood and immediately said:
"His Majesty has decreed that the Imperial Noble Consort shall take charge of state affairs. If any of you gentlemen have matters to report, you may directly request the Imperial Noble Consort's information."