An Lingrong after rebirth

The emperor was carefully reviewing the memorials in the imperial study, the Su Pei memorial. His eyes were focused and serious, and the red pen in his hand kept annotating opinions and decisions on the memorials. A quiet atmosphere permeated the room, and only the occasional sound of flipping through the memorials broke the tranquility.

Suddenly, the door was gently pushed open, and a figure appeared at the door. Su Peisheng stood outside the door respectfully, bent down and reported to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the Queen is here."

The emperor raised his head, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and said, "Please let her in!"

The queen slowly supported Jianqiu and walked into the imperial study. Her steps were graceful and dignified. She was wearing a dignified and elegant phoenix robe and an exquisite phoenix crown on her head.

Her face was dignified and beautiful, and her eyes revealed tenderness and kindness. She walked in front of the emperor, knelt slightly and saluted, and said softly: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

The emperor raised his hand and said, "Stand up, you are here to talk about the title!" The queen said, "This time, the eight girls were selected in the selection. I and Concubine Hua have seen their family backgrounds. Shen Zibai's daughter Shen Meizhuang was given the title of noble lady, Murong Xue was given the title of noble lady, and the others were given the title of concubine. Do you think it's okay?"

The emperor said; Zhen Huan will be given a title (Wan)! The queen smiled and replied: "Your Majesty is wise, these sisters are all excellent.

But isn’t it a bit inappropriate to use the word “Guan” as a title?” The emperor asked in confusion, “Why do you think so?”

The queen explained softly, "Although the character 'Guan' is beautiful, when read together with the surname 'Zhen', it is easy to associate it with the meaning of 'returning the jade intact to Zhao', which may be ominous. It would be more appropriate to change it to another character."

The emperor thought for a moment and said, "That's right. Then, according to the queen, which word is better?"

The Queen thought for a moment and suggested, "Why not use the word 'Wan', which is gentle and soft, and more in line with Zhen Huan's temperament." The Emperor nodded in agreement, "Very good! Just give her the title 'Noble Lady Wan'." The Queen thought to herself, she was given a special title because she looked more like Queen Chunyuan!

The Queen smiled and thanked: "I thank the Emperor on behalf of my sister Zhen Huan." Then, the Queen discussed some trivial matters in the harem with the Emperor and then said goodbye and left.

The Queen helped Jianqiu out of the Imperial Study and said to Jianqiu, "Zhen Huan lives in Suiyuxuan, which is a good place! Although it is a little remote, it is quiet. I think it would be better to give her two osmanthus trees in the yard to add to the joy."

After hearing this, Jianqiu nodded and replied softly, "Yes, Your Majesty has thought it through carefully." She knew in her heart that the Queen was trying to show her goodwill to Zhen Huan, to express her importance and concern, and she just wanted to see if she would follow suit.

The Queen continued, "Zhen Huan has just entered the palace and needs time to adapt to palace life. We must let her feel the warmth and care of the royal family and let her know that we sincerely hope that she can live a happy life here."

Jian Qiu agreed, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Zhen Huan is someone the Emperor values, so we should naturally take good care of her."

The queen smiled slightly, with a hint of deep meaning in her eyes: "Yes, we must let Zhen Huan understand that in this palace, only we are the most reliable support. As long as she knows how to be grateful, she will definitely become our right-hand man in the future."

Jianqiu nodded in agreement, and understood the Queen's intention. They both knew that Zhen Huan's arrival might disrupt the existing structure of the harem, and the Queen hoped to win Zhen Huan over to her camp in this way.

The queen sighed softly and continued, "The emperor is very satisfied with this selection. As the masters of the harem, we must also do our best to assist the emperor and manage the affairs of the harem."

Jian Qiu quickly said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will do my best to assist Your Majesty in handling the affairs of the harem."

The queen nodded with satisfaction, then left the imperial study with Jianqiu. Jianqiu arranged to deliver osmanthus flowers to Suiyuxuan.

The emperor continued to review memorials, but in his heart he cared a little more about the newly promoted Noble Lady Wan (Wan). After all, there were not many people who looked so much like Empress Chunyuan, and An Lingrong only had a similar voice.

After An Lingrong learned that she was conferred the title of "Changzai", she felt extremely complicated. She was filled with irrepressible excitement, as well as nervousness and anxiety about the future.

She knew very well what this title meant - she was about to step into the solemn and mysterious world of the palace and face countless challenges and unknowns.

Soon after the imperial decree was issued, the sisters gathered together again, their eyes sparkling with anticipation and curiosity, and everyone was filled with inexplicable excitement.

"Sister Lingrong, congratulations on being conferred the title of Changzai." Shen Meizhuang said with a smile, her eyes revealing genuine joy.

"Sister Meizhuang, you have been conferred the title of noble lady. Congratulations. We can support each other in the palace in the future." An Lingrong responded excitedly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes, we must work together to show our talents and charm in the palace." Shen Meizhuang said gently, her eyes firm and warm.

Zhen Huan was given the title of "Wan Chang Zai", a special title. The title of Chang Zai was decided by Concubine Hua, while the character "Wan" was awarded to Zhen Huan by the emperor himself.

This title seemed to imply that Zhen Huan was different from others, because she looked so much like Queen Chun Yuan that the emperor felt pity for her.

"Sister Zhen Huan, I believe you will shine in the palace." An Lingrong said confidently, her eyes flashing with admiration for Zhen Huan.

"Thank you, Sister Lingrong. I also hope that we can all live smoothly in the palace." Zhen Huan responded with a smile.

On the other hand, Tao Zhe, Lu Xuemei, Fang Chunyi and others were named "Da Ying". Although their status was relatively low, they were still grateful and determined to improve their status through their own efforts.

"I will definitely work hard to improve my status and live up to the emperor's kindness." Tao Zhe said with a determined light in his eyes.

At the same time, Xia Dongchun was also named "Da Ying", but she was arrogant and not satisfied with the title, and always longed for a higher status and power.

"With my beauty and talent, how could it be just a promise?" Xia Dongchun frowned and said with displeasure on his face.

"Sister Xia, palace life is full of endless challenges and unknowns. We can only take it one step at a time." Tao Zhe reminded kindly.

"Hmph, I won't be satisfied with the current situation. I will try my best to strive for a higher status and greater power!" Xia Dongchun said confidently.

In the following days, the ladies began their own palace life. An Lingrong often asked Shen Meizhuang for advice on palace etiquette and rules, and worked hard to learn and adapt to the new environment.

Zhen Huan: "Sister Lingrong, we are about to enter the palace now. We must learn court etiquette well so that we can gain a foothold in the palace." She said earnestly, with a determined light in her eyes.

An Lingrong: "Sister Zhen Huan, I understand. I will study hard." She lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of shyness and uneasiness, but her eyes revealed determination.

Shen Meizhuang looked at the somewhat nervous An Lingrong and said gently: "Sister Lingrong, learn carefully from the maids from the palace. It's not difficult!" An Lingrong nodded in agreement!

They sat down together in the teahouse, enjoying delicious tea and snacks while chatting. The atmosphere between the sisters was very harmonious and laughter continued.

After chatting for a while, everyone suggested going shopping. So, the group got up and left the teahouse, strolling together on the bustling streets.

As they walked, they came to a bustling restaurant, Zui Xiang Lou. Everyone walked into the restaurant with great interest, ready to enjoy a sumptuous lunch here.

In the restaurant, they met some other palace maids and eunuchs, who looked at them curiously and seemed to be full of expectations for them.

"Hey, aren't these the new ladies?" a sharp voice came.

An Lingrong and the others looked in the direction of the sound, and saw a palace maid dressed in gorgeous clothes walking towards them. Her face was covered with thick powder, her lips were painted bright red, she was wearing gorgeous clothes, and her hair was decorated with various hair accessories, which made her particularly eye-catching.

"Hello, I'm Nanny Li, and I'm responsible for teaching court etiquette to the new palace maids." Nanny Li said with a smile.

Nanny Li said, "My dear ladies, from today on, all the maids around you need to learn the etiquette of palace maids. This will not only improve their own qualities, but also enable them to better serve you, my dear ladies."

Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan looked at each other, and both knew in their hearts that this Nanny Li might be difficult to deal with.

"Hello, Madam Li." Everyone said in unison.

"Well, you are quite polite. However, the palace etiquette is not as simple as you think." Nanny Li looked at them with a sly look in her eyes. "From today on, your maids will come to me every day to learn etiquette until I think you are qualified."

"I understand, Mammy." An Lingrong and the others groaned in their hearts, but could only nod helplessly. Although Mammy Li explained it clearly, these rules were too complicated for them to remember. It was really not easy!

"Okay, let's eat first." Li Ma waved her hand and motioned them to sit down. The palace maids brought a sumptuous meal, including roast duck, braised pork, sweet and sour spare ribs and other delicious dishes. An Lingrong and others looked at these delicacies and couldn't help showing surprise. After all, they hadn't eaten such a sumptuous meal for a long time.

During the meal, Nanny Li did not stop her teaching. She kept talking about the various rules and precautions in the palace, such as how to perform etiquette, how to get along with other concubines, etc. This made An Lingrong and others feel a little stressed, and they even became cautious about eating.

After finishing the meal, they bowed to Li Ma Ma to express their gratitude. Then, they said goodbye to Li Ma Ma and continued to wander around the city. Along the way, An Lingrong couldn't help but sigh: "It seems that life in the palace is really not easy."

"Yes, but we can't retreat. Being a woman is not easy." Shen Meizhuang comforted.

"Well, thank you, Sister Mei." An Lingrong said gratefully, her voice trembling a little, her eyes slightly red, "I am really grateful to you. If it weren't for your help, I don't know what to do."

Shen Meizhuang smiled and shook her head, saying gently: "Lingrong, we are good sisters, there is no need to be so polite. Your business is my business, I will naturally help you."

An Lingrong held Shen Meizhuang's hand tightly, her eyes full of emotion, "Sister Mei, you are so kind. I really don't know how to repay you."

Shen Meizhuang gently patted An Lingrong's hand and comforted her: "Lingrong, you don't have to repay me. We are good sisters, and we should support each other. As long as you are doing well, I will be happy."

The two smiled at each other, as if they were closer to each other. They continued to stroll in the city, admiring the beautiful scenery around them. On the busy streets, the shouts of various vendors and hawkers were heard everywhere.

"Lingrong, look, there's a stall selling candied haws over there." Shen Meizhuang pointed to a small stall not far away and said excitedly, "Let's go buy a bunch."

An Lingrong nodded and said with a smile, "Okay, Sister Mei."

The two walked to the stall and bought a string of candied haws. Shen Meizhuang handed the candied haws to An Lingrong and said with a smile: "Lingrong, try it and see if it tastes good."

An Lingrong took a bite of the candied haws, and the sour and sweet taste spread in her mouth. She said happily, "It's delicious, Sister Mei."

Shen Meizhuang smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it. Let's go shopping again."

The two continued to stroll through the city, enjoying each other's company and quality time.

After lunch, they will go back to their homes and start learning etiquette from the maids from the palace! Get ready to enter the palace. After lunch, the ladies will go back to their homes with the maids.

After returning to the mansion, An Lingrong began to learn palace etiquette from Nanny Qiufang. She listened carefully to Nanny's teachings and tried to remember every move and detail.

"Ms. Lingrong, your movements are not quite standard. You need to pay more attention to them." Nanny Qiufang instructed An Lingrong on her movements. Nanny Qiuqiu added, "Yes, you need to be more graceful."

An Lingrong humbly accepted the instructions of the nanny and asked, "Excuse me, nanny, is this ok?"

Aunt Qiufang nodded and said, "Very good, Miss Lingrong, you are really smart and studious."

Xia Dongchun, however, disdained learning etiquette. She believed that her beauty and intelligence were enough to win the emperor's favor, and she did not need to spend too much time on these trivial matters.

"I, Xia Dongchun, am naturally beautiful. Why should I learn all these formalities?" Xia Dongchun said while fiddling with her hair accessories.

In contrast, Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang studied more diligently. They understood that in the palace, one's words and actions must be in line with the norms in order to gain respect and recognition from others.

Shen Meizhuang's etiquette was praised by the maids!

During the learning process, An Lingrong would ask the two maids when she didn't understand something. Maids Qiufang and Qiuqiu were both very happy with An Lingrong's eagerness to learn and explained things to her carefully and in detail.

"My Lady An, this is how you should do this..." Nanny Qiufang patiently demonstrated to An Lingrong.

"I understand. Thank you, Ma'am." An Lingrong said gratefully.

One day, An Lingrong and Xia Dongchun had a conversation while learning etiquette.

Xia Dongchun: "Sister Lingrong, what do you think of my makeup today?"

An Lingrong: "Sister is naturally beautiful, so she is naturally very pretty."

Xia Dongchun: "Humph, I told you, who in the harem can compare to me?"

An Lingrong: "Sister is right."

Xia Dongchun: "Look at you, you study hard all day and don't even know how to dress yourself up."

An Lingrong: "Sister is right, Lingrong will pay attention to it."

Xia Dongchun: "Look at me, I am not only beautiful, but also smart. I will definitely be the most favored one in the harem."

An Lingrong: "Sister will definitely do it."

Xia Dongchun: "You only know how to say nice things, but I like to hear them."

An Lingrong: "As long as my sister is happy."

At this time, the teaching nanny came over and frowned when she saw Xia Dongchun's behavior.

Matron: "Xia Changzai, how are you learning etiquette?"

Xia Dongchun: "Mammy, I have almost learned it. Look at my movements now. Are they very standard?"

Madam Teacher: "Well, not bad."

Xia Dongchun: "Of course, I am very smart."

Matron: "However, you still need to pay more attention to details and not make mistakes all the time."

Xia Dongchun: "Mammy, I understand. I will pay attention to it."

Madam Teacher: "Well, that's good."

After saying that, the teaching nanny turned and left.

Xia Dongchun: "Humph, this teaching nanny is always finding fault with me."

An Lingrong: "Sister, don't be angry, Nanny is doing this for our own good."

Xia Dongchun: "I'm not angry. I won't let her affect my mood."

An Lingrong: "Sister, you are really confident."

Xia Dongchun: "Of course, I want to be the most favored woman in the harem."

An Lingrong: "Sister will definitely do it."

Xia Dongchun: "You only know how to say nice things, but I like to hear them."