Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 9

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

 The evening before entering the palace.
Qin Ling and Si Yue sat in Lanxu Pavilion to have tea.

The courtyard was large, and the wind was cold. Qin Ling gathered her cloak and spoke: “After tomorrow, where can Lady Si Yue go?”

“I haven’t thought about it for the time being.” Si Yue put down her teacup and smiled, “I’ll probably return to Jiangnan and look around.”

Hearing what was said, Qin Ling lowered her head, fished out several banknotes from her sleeves, and handed them to her.

After Si Yue looked clearly, but she pushed back in refusal and said: “Eldest Miss has given me enough. I’ll be ashamed if I accept more.”

“Lady Si is both a friend and a teacher to me, why should you be ashamed if you accept some more. Tomorrow, we’ll go our separate ways and it will be hard to see each other again in this lifetime. If you regard me as a confidant, then accept it.” Qin Ling said again with a bright smile: “Although money is somewhat vulgar, it is more practical, isn’t it.”

Si Yue’s nose became sour.
She was 20 years old this year. She had been bought and sold four times in total, however, the number of men who had loitered by her side was not limited to four.
The money thrown at her body was countless, and yet she only had some silver hairpins on her hand.
She had endless shows, endless debts, and endless guests.
She had never thought that she could become a confidant of a noblewoman like Qin Ling.

After a long time, Si Yue slowly spoke: “Once I leave the capital, everything in Qin residence, Si Yue will never mention it to anyone in this lifetime.”

“Thank you.” Replied Qin Ling.

***

4th year of Yanxi era, September 16th.
The sky was clear. Refined and graceful candidates arrived one after another at the Shenwu Gate at the northern part of the Forbidden City in mule carts.

Even though Qin Ling had already known at an earlier time that there would be 5.000 candidates, when she stood there and witnessed with her own eyes the magnificently dressed gorgeous women, she could not help but paused her breath.
Some were plumps, some were thin as swallows, each had their own strengths, but the garden was filled with the colors of spring.

The candidates walked in a line to enter through Shenwu Gate, and they arrived at Yuhua Garden.

There were 12 supervisors to maintain the order.

After one shichen, one could hear the voice of Eunuch Zou Yang who was given the responsibility to act as the superintendent: “Are the people all here? Is the palace gate closed?”
A young eunuch bowed and answered: “Answering Gonggong, everyone is already here and the gate is already closed at an earlier time.”
“En…” Gonggong Zou smiled: “Do you still remember the things that I told you yesterday?”
The young eunuch replied: “Naturally I still remember. Later when inspecting the candidates, those that are too tall, too short, too plump, too thin, and those who cannot speak clearly will be escorted out.”
Gonggong Zou said again: “How many people will be escorted out?”
The young eunuch answered: “3.000 people.”
Gonggong Zou raised his chin, feeling satisfied: “Then go.”

[Gonggong: A call to address older and higher positioned eunuch]

Soon after, 1.000 palace eunuchs entered Yuhua Garden.
Each and every woman would be sized up carefully by them.

At the period of wushi, the sun shone splendidly.
Qin Ling watched as the people before her became sparse.

[period of wushi: 11am-1pm]

The candidates who had to leave were more than the ones who could stay. Some who did not want to stay at the palace were overwhelmed in joy, while some who had high-ego cried.

Soon after, a young palace eunuch walked to Qin Ling’s side and made a circle.
Qin Ling was wearing a coral-colored satin floor-length skirt that was tailored personally by Si Yue. Her hair was rolled in a high bun, with a pair of cloud-shaped golden hairpins inlaid with rubies obliquely inserted on the bun. This attire, aside from the fact that it lined perfectly with one’s body shape which showed a good appearance of youth, could also reveal the waist and the fair neck of the owner.
It seemed simple, but it actually concealed many hidden intents.

The young eunuch lowered his head and glanced at the booklet, then spoke: “This miss is…”
Qin Ling said word by word: “Daughter of Grand Scribe Qin, Qin Ling, age 16.”

Seeing her picturesque feature, refined and elegant speech, and excellent proportion, the young eunuch lowered his head and wrote an “A” character on the booklet.

After this, the primary selection could be regarded as finished.

After the primary selection, there was a re-selection on the next day.
The re-selection was much more complicated than the primary selection. To put it simply, the primary selection checked the ears, eyes, mouth, nose, hair, skin, neck, shoulder, back, and voice.
While the re-selection checked the wrist thickness, the length and curvature of the foot, one’s countenance, and other subtleties.
As long as one was not good in one aspect, one would be escorted out by the palace eunuch.

Under such strict screening, only 900 people remained from 5.000 people.

***

Third day.
Another daybreak. The palace people carried rectangular-shaped palace lanterns and walked down the lofty building in a row, leading the candidates into a hidden chamber.
There were two old palace maids waiting inside each chamber.

Qin Ling stood outside a chamber and couldn’t help but let out a huge sigh. She was already clear about what these old palace maids would be doing later.
In Qin Ling’s eyes, the back palace and the court were places where there would be no fishes if the water was clear.

As long as the emperor had not nodded his head to keep someone, the candidates could be obstructed at any time.
One’s middle part disposition, whether one’s appearance was jade-like and beautiful like fairies, each and everything would be noted down in an instant by the old palace maids.

As soon as Qin Ling entered the chamber, she heard an old palace maid said smilingly: “Miss, please change your clothes.”

Qin Ling raised her arms, turned around her wrists, and conveniently stuffed two first-rate sheep-fat white jade into the old maids’ sleeves.

This palace was filled with shrewd people whose true faces would be revealed when their stomachs were filled with jade.
The two old maids immediately hooked the corners of their mouths.

Exploring the breasts, smelling the armpits, and inspecting the skin texture were the final steps of the draft. (1)

Qin Ling closed her eyes.
The two old maids stroked her body from the bottom to the top.

The palms passed through the armpit from behind and squeezed. Seeing that the weight was also excellent, the old maid could not help saying: “Miss is the most beautiful that this old servant has seen today. This is such a blessing.”

That old maid started writing in her note, while the other one spoke: “Daughter of Qin family, Qin Ling, age 16, has a refined and plump body, flesh white as jade, beautiful eyebrow and white teeth, red lips like cherry, no scars or ulcers, no black spots, wounds, and other diseases. (2)

Qin Ling got another “A” character.

After this appearance inspection round, there were specialists who would inspect one’s skill in literacy.

5.000 had become 300. The ones left were not the noble ladies from prestigious families of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but beautiful and stunning women whose appearance stood out from the rest.
However, in fact, only ten people got a “double A” score.

According to Great Zhou’s custom, the remaining 300 people who were “on their way to success” would enter the Chuxiu Palace on that night.

Each room would be occupied by four people.
When Qin Ling entered the room, the other three girls were chatting with each other. When they saw her coming, one of the girls in blue clothes blinked and smiled: “I remember you. You’re one of the ones who got double As, aren’t you?”
Once hearing the two words double As, the other two girls’ gaze became profound in an instant. Only womankind could understand this kind of profoundness.

Qin Ling smiled faintly: “Miss has a good memory.”

The girl in blue’s appearance was fair and clear, her two big eyes were like black grapes. She smilingly said: “I’m the 9th Young Miss of the Duke of Ying’s residence, Luo Yingcai. Which family are you from?”
Qin Ling answered: “Qin family’s eldest daughter, Qin Ling.”

“Qin family? Which Qin family?” Luo Yingcai said: “Big Sister Qiao, do you know?”

The one she addressed as Big Sister Qiao shook her head.

Qin Ling’s complexion did not change. She was thinking, the Qiao clan?
Su family had never had contact with the several families surnamed Qiao in the capital. Before, at palace banquets, she had also never specially invited any women of the Qiao clan to chat with her, so her impression was not deep.

Anyway, one, the Qiao family did not have outstanding military achievements, two, was not of the nobility and was not one of the four influential families either. This Miss Qiao identity must be lower than the daughter of Luo family.

At this time, sitting upon a black table inlaid with seashells with pearl patterns, the girl wearing an orange short coat leaned her head for the first time: “You’re the daughter of Grand Scribe Qin?”
Qin Ling answered: “Yes.”
She sized Qin Ling up for a long time, then slowly said: “I’m the daughter of Mu family, Mu Wanqi.”

Xue, He, Chu, Mu.
First-class noblewoman from an influential family.

Qin Ling replied: “I’ve seen Miss Mu.”
Mu Wanqi nodded her head a little but did not say anything.

Luo Yingcai spoke again: “My mother likes to hold banquets the most, what flower appreciation banquets, cuju competition, every month there will be new ones. Big Sister Qin is so beautiful, how come I’ve never seen you before?”
That Big Sister Qiao interrupted: “Could it be that… Miss Qin isn’t from the capital?”

[cuju:ancient China football]

Qin Ling continued softly: “Yes, the Qin family has just moved to the capital half a year ago.”

Luo Yingcai said: “Oh, so that’s the case.”
Luo Yingcai rested her chin in her hands and sighed: “Ai, I’ve never been out of the capital. Big Sister Qin, where were you before coming to the capital? Luoyang? Suzhou?”

Qin Ling’s smile did not change: “My ancestors were from Qian’an. Aside from Qian’an, I haven’t been to any other places either.”
Where else could she live?
At 17 years old she had lived in Jin Mansion, at 19 years old she had lived in Kunning Palace.
She had never been to Qian’an either.

Miss Qiao covered her mouth and laughed, “Younger Sister Luo, what’s the use of sighing right now, when you officially enter the palace later, you won’t be able to go anywhere in the future.”
“What is Big Sister Qiao saying? Are you making fun of me?” Luo Yingcai’s cheeks reddened. That was the bashfulness unique to a young lady.
Miss Qiao continued saying: “How can I make fun of you. Younger Sister Luo is a daughter raised like a pearl in the palm of the Duke of Ying’s residence, who was also born an outstanding beauty. His Majesty will certainly keep your sign.”
“How can you even dare to joke about His Majesty ah.” Luo Yingcai covered her mouth at once.

After a while, Miss Qiao lowered her voice and asked: “His Majesty has been on the throne for more than three years, why the draft was only held on this year?”
Luo Yingcai said: “I heard that the late empress…”

Mu Wanqi could not help frowning: “Shangqin Lu may come over at any time, so please speak carefully.”

[Shangqin: The position of head of the Shangqin Bureau or the Bureau of Housekeeping. Their duties are to manage imperial drapery, tents, and mattresses. I’ve explained this in detail in Chapter 1]

Miss Qiao’s complexion was not too good.

Mu Wanqi directly said: “Shangqin Lu is a fourth-ranked female official. If she catches you privately speaking about the matters of the inner court, be careful that she punishes you.”

Qin Ling was pondering over where the eldest prince was staying in the palace when she heard the three words, Shangqin Lu.

Her heart thumped.

These past two days, the young eunuchs and the old palace maids that she saw were either new faces, or they had never served in the inner palace before. However, this Lu…

Her heart had not fully fallen when the door was opened with a creak.

Shangqin Lu’s gaze was solemn, both of her hands were below her chest. While she was about to open her mouth, she faced Qin Ling first, and the four eyes met.

There was silence.

Immediately afterward, Shangqin Lu knelt on the spot with a ”thud”, and tremblingly said: “Your Majesty the Empress!”

The author has something to say:

5.000 little ladies. Please pick 00!

(1) (2) Reference-based on historical data on the election of Empress Zhang of the Ming Dynasty.