After the written exam, a group of concubines looked displeased.
Even Consort Ji, who was originally confident, had a cold face, her hand clenched into a small fist under her sleeve.
What kind of questions did the Empress come up with!
For the past month, the concubines had been studying diligently to ensure smooth assignments to palace quarters—entertainment in the palace was scarce, and Nanny Ye kept a close eye, so the concubines had nothing else to do but study. Through such high-pressure concentrated learning, everyone had memorized the Palace Rules by heart, and they anticipated scenarios that would test their temperaments and family upbringing.
For example, [How would you handle it if your palace maid received a reward from other concubines?]...
For such questions, concubines from lower backgrounds might struggle, but for those like Consort Ji and Attendant Lady He with good backgrounds, they would easily handle them, if not perfectly, at least appropriately.
What made the concubines show difficult expressions were the numerous questions about palace festival etiquette.
Especially those related to the three major court celebrations.
There are twelve places for the New Year sacrifices, besides the ones the Emperor personally attends. The Empress would also lead the concubines to perform grand ceremonies and congratulations, and nothing in the entire process, from dressing to order, could be wrong.
Attendant Lady Zhang was annoyed: "Isn't this deliberately making it difficult for us? Aren't the servants already arranging all this, why do we need to worry?"
"Miss, you are mistaken."
These words were heard by Nanny Ye, who then smiled and said: "Details should be prepared by the servants, but if the masters are not clear in their hearts, there's no guarantee that servants won't neglect their duties. When that happens, crossing the boundaries could lead to punishment for the mistress. Moreover, there needs to be a procedure for everything to manage a palace's staff, but if Miss Zhang thinks of not wanting to manage, the servants can relay this message to the Lady."
Only those of concubine rank or above are the main position of a palace.
If Nanny Ye were to embellish this statement and pass it along to Jianzhang Palace, in future promotions among the Six Palaces, they could use these words as a leverage to keep Attendant Lady Zhang firmly below concubine rank.
"…Nanny, please don't blame me, it was a slip of the tongue."
Attendant Lady Zhang paled, biting her lips and bowing her head in apology.
Nanny Ye: "If Miss passes the exam smoothly, I hope Miss will speak cautiously in the future."
"Nanny's advice is correct."
It wasn't until Nanny Ye left that Attendant Lady Zhang dared to look up.
As soon as she did, she saw Yun Jiao's sweet lotus-like smile, instantly provoking anger: "Why are you smiling? Are you happy to see everyone did poorly on the exam?"
Attendant Lady Zhang's words pulled resentment towards Yun Jiao.
"Not necessarily."
"Why are you smiling then?"
"I'm happy to see you did poorly on the exam."
Sincerity is always the trump card.
Attendant Lady Zhang had long viewed her as an eyesore, so Yun Jiao naturally wouldn't bother trying to please her or change her image.
Others heard and felt Yun's honesty was too blunt, yet couldn't help but chuckle: "You provoke Yun all day, why can't she be a little pleased at your misfortune?"
Attendant Lady Zhang was furious, stomped her foot, and turned to seek help from Consort Ji.
Unexpectedly, Consort Ji glanced at her: "You're not familiar with Yun, so speak less with her. You aren't able to argue, nor win in a fight. Do you expect me to go and seek justice on your behalf? You aren't justified."
"Sister Ji is a Consort; even if unjustified, she can't be defied…"
Hearing this, Consort Ji frowned and sent her away.
…
While Attendant Lady Zhang hid away sobbing, the exam papers were soon sent to Jianzhang Palace.
Along with the papers, came Lady Shufei's homage.
Dong Qin pulled out a ruby hairpin of excellent quality from the gift, clicked her tongue: "Lady Shufei really went all out for her sister."
Another palace maid chimed in: "Would Lady Shufei genuinely strive to secure a future for her sister? It's said they didn't have good relations in the house."
The Empress coldly said to Dong Qin: "It's rare for Lady Shufei to bow before me; it's just a matter of assigning a good palace room, accommodate her, and see who among Lady Shufei and her sister has greater fortune."
With that, she began reviewing the papers.
Seeing many people answered horribly, she, as the one who posed the questions, actually smiled: "Later, send the papers to Weiyang Palace for the Emperor to peruse."
Normally, matters concerning the harem shouldn't disturb the Emperor.
However, the current Emperor had a strong desire for control and didn't mind the Empress consulting him on palace affairs, for him, no task delivered to hand was left unfinished.
The Empress understood the Emperor despised fools.
Well then, let him see this group of nitwits chosen based on family background and appearance.
The exam papers were arranged by family status and rank, and upon seeing the last one, the Empress's smile slightly froze.
Dong Qin brought hot tea: "Lady?"
"This paper is well answered, not a single mistake."
Dong Qin couldn't read, so she called Dong Hua over to look together.
As the one who posed the questions, the Empress knew she had buried some "sure-fail" questions in the exam, such as the taboo characters for dismissing lanterns in Longevity Festival or fixed dishes at the Ancestral Temple feast. The former had been briefly mentioned by Nanny Ye in a lively context; the latter was discussed in the culinary lessons only, who expected the exam to be this detailed and meticulous?
And Yun's handwriting was graceful yet firm, showing the writer's confidence in her answers.
The Empress, with her nail-polished hands, lightly picked up Yun Jiao's paper: "If it were Consort Ji's paper, I would suspect Jianzhang Palace of leaking exam questions." Not to mention Yun's impoverished background, even if she had some silver, a few silver taels couldn't open paths to Jianzhang Palace.
It was entirely based on capability.
The Empress imagined a clever and spirited face and thought of the Emperor's preferences; though she appeared unaffected, her mood worsened slightly: "Let Yun reside in Xianfu Palace."
After all, she had personally said that exam results would be linked to palace room assignments, so naturally, she couldn't treat Yun Jiao unfairly, who handed in a perfect answer sheet. Xianfu Palace wasn't close to the Emperor but was part of the palace rooms that had been renovated by the Imperial Household after his ascension.
Yun Jiao's background and rank were low.
Unless she gained favor later, palaces like Chengqian, Yikun, and Yonghe, the top three palaces, wouldn't be hers.
Xianfu Palace was already the best room she could attain.
"Yun receiving gentle treatment from the Lady shows others her just and clear rewarding and punishing."
Dong Hua's words praised the mistress, finally bringing a slight smile to the Empress's lips.
…
Though the Emperor and Empress were not close, the Empress understood the Emperor very well.
Upon receiving the exam papers, Xie Zhixing was not only indifferent to the work but approached them with a state of mind as serious as a scholar selecting exam papers, carefully reviewing them.
His mood after reading was akin to a mentor looking at a graduate thesis, purposefully irritated by stupidity.
What was written anyway?
After a month of schooling in Chuxiu Palace, this is all they've learned?
Except for Consort Ji's acceptable answers, the rest were carelessly handled.
Questions deemed insurmountable by the concubines, when falling under the gaze of the paper-expert who once dominated the Imperial Study, was nothing! A question about fixed patterns at a banquet? Wasn't that just rote memorization to score a full mark? No need even to think!
Xie Zhixing's brows wrinkled until he saw Yun Jiao's paper, then relaxed.
Hmm, only this Yun Family member is considered smart.