Didn't Love You Enough

After leaving Pei County, watching the distance from home, there were soft cries in the carriage.

The group of people spent another day and arrived at the post station in Xuzhou, the provincial capital.People from several other counties came to gather here one after another.

After waiting for a day, the collection was finally completed.A total of ten large carriages set off for the capital from the official post.

It used to be a relatively spacious carriage for 10 people, but now it is crowded with 20 people, which seems very crowded.

Each car is accompanied by a father-in-law in charge.The father-in-law of Lin Jiabao and his car, surnamed Zhao, is about 35 years old, not tall, and very thin.His expression is very serious, and he is also very strict to them. Everyone is afraid of him.

Along the way, everyone gradually became familiar with each other.Especially those who come from one place, most of them form small groups.Lin Jiabao was the only one who came out of Pei County, and was vaguely excluded.Lin Jiabao also didn't take the initiative to come forward, obediently obeying the arrangement of his father-in-law.Eunuch Zhao saw that he was doing his duty, so he treated him kindly.

After walking for nearly half a month on the road, they finally arrived at the post station on the outskirts of the capital.

This inn is very large, and there are already many carriages parked in the stable.People from all over the country gather here.

"Get out of the car and take your things. Don't talk, don't look around, follow me."

Everyone got out of the carriage without rushing to speak, and followed with their heads down. Eunuch Zhao took them to a room in Datongpu to settle down.There are several basins of clean water in the house, let them wash their faces and wash their hands.

After that, I took them to have dinner, and each gave them a bowl of polenta and a thick noodle nest.Although simple, it is much better than the dry food pancakes along the way.I was very hungry at the end of the day, and everyone devoured everything.

Eunuch Zhao asked them to go to the toilet again, then took them back to Datong Shop and locked the door.

After everyone entered the house, they rushed to get their berths first, and those from the same village also helped each other to occupy a favorable position.Lin Jiabao is small and weak.Immediately he was pushed to the door.

Lin Jiabao didn't want to compete with them either, so he hugged his little bundle and slept on the outermost position of the bed.

"Hey, get to sleep. Don't lean against me!" The girl sleeping next to her said fiercely to Lin Jiabao.

This girl also came from the Lin Family Village, and she spoke very badly towards Lin Jiabao.He looked at him as if it was something dirty.

Lin Jiabao didn't speak, but moved his body towards the door.

We were very tired after a day, and everyone soon fell asleep.

The next day, Eunuch Zhao woke them up before dawn, and after breakfast, they got into the carriage again.

The carriage entered the capital city and stopped at the imperial city.After getting off the carriage, everyone was shocked by the majestic city wall.

Lin Jiabao looked at the vermilion city wall, it was very high, and the city wall stretched on and on without end.In the morning light, the palace with red walls and yellow tiles is extraordinarily solemn.Today is the day when the palace people enter the palace, and the Xuanwu Gate opens early.

First of all, they were taken to the five other schools for the first round of screening.

The first round of screening is very simple, mainly to see if they are well-groomed, articulate, and there are no disabilities or peculiar smells on their bodies.

Although the process was simple, nearly a thousand people entered the palace this time, and the waiting time was very long.

Lin Jiabao was assigned to a team of twins, and passed the first round of screening very smoothly.By the time everyone in the team had been screened, it was already noon.

Then they were taken as a party to lunch, which would have been better in the court after all.

Each person has a bowl of vegetable porridge and white steamed buns.There are not only vegetables in the vegetable porridge, but also some minced meat.These people only had dry food on the way, and they hadn't touched meat for a long time, and they all swallowed their saliva when they smelled the smell.

Lin Jiabao took a sip of porridge, it tasted delicious, and he swallowed it faster.

"It's white flour steamed buns. It's so delicious! I've never eaten such delicious steamed buns." A pair said, biting the steamed buns.

"Really, it's delicious, it's delicious." Several Shuang'er on the side also echoed in unison.

"Cut! It's just a few white steamed buns." A delicate-looking Shuang'er said disdainfully.

Lin Jiabao also looked at the white steamed buns in his hand. The Lin family ate very little white steamed buns, because there were so many people in the family, they usually ate them with cornmeal.

Lin Jiabao took a bite of the steamed bun, chewed it slowly, there was a slight sweetness to it, it was really delicious.

Everyone ate a lot for lunch today. Lin Jiabao ate two steamed buns and a bowl of porridge.Lin Jiabao rubbed his stomach, this was the most filling meal he had eaten in the past half month.

In the afternoon, the father-in-law in charge came to fetch them and took them to a large bathhouse to let them wash themselves.

Then, they need to go into a room one by one, naked for two old nuns to see.

Lin Jiabao stood stiffly, and turned around according to the old mother's request.Go to a small couch and lie down again, let the nanny check the lower body.

One of the nuns saw that he looked good, and touched him, "This skin is really slippery."

Lin Jiabao blushed with shame, and dared not move or speak.

After the inspection, the old nanny asked him to stand up.A nun dipped a brush into the Shougong cinnabar in the porcelain bowl on the table, and applied it to the inside of Lin Jiabao's arm.

Afterwards, the nuns didn't make things difficult for him and asked Lin Jiabao to get dressed and go out.

Lin Jiabao left the house and came to a large courtyard.The people who had been inspected earlier were already waiting aside, and Lin Jiabao stepped forward to stand with them.

Lin Jiabao was fascinated by the bright red dot on his arm. This is the Shougong sand mole, which symbolizes chastity.

Suddenly there was a loud noise from the other side of the yard, and a girl was dragged out from another room, "Mammy, please forgive me, Mommy, please forgive me! Please forgive me!" The girl cried out loudly.

Several eunuchs pinned the girl to the ground and beat her with long, thick wooden sticks.

"Anywhere in the palace, anyone who is dirty and smelly can come in. Anyone who dares to come here to play tricks is a dead word." An old woman said loudly in front of a whole yard.

The girl's cries turned from loud to soft, and then became inaudible, leaving only the sound of the stick hitting the flesh.

Blood splashed out along the stick, and the girl's lower body was already bloody.

The people around were so scared to death that they didn't dare to make a sound.The few timid ones almost fainted.

Lin Jiabao didn't dare to look again after looking at it twice, his face was pale.

After a while, the girl was confirmed to be out of breath and was dragged away, leaving a large pool of blood on the ground.

This was the first time for Lin Jiabao to see a dead person, and also the first time to understand the cruelty in the palace.He secretly told himself that he must not make mistakes, his family members were waiting for him, and he had to leave the palace properly.

After all the pairs of their team had been checked, it was time for dinner again.

A group of people went to have dinner again, and the dinner and lunch were the same minced meat porridge and steamed buns.

After what happened in the afternoon, everyone's complexion is not good.

Lin Jiabao felt a little nauseated when he thought of the scene he saw in the afternoon.Reluctantly, I drank a bowl of porridge and ate a steamed bun.

At this time, the father-in-law came in accompanied by a nanny in gray palace clothes. Everyone put down their bowls and stood up when they saw it.

"This one is Nanny Xi. In the next month, you must learn the palace rules from Nanny Xi." The father-in-law introduced.

"I'm Nanny Xi, you thirty Shuang'er Palace Attendants will be under my supervision for the next month. From tomorrow on, you all have to learn the rules and etiquette in the palace with me. Now I will give you Send palace attendants, you will not be able to wear your own clothes when you enter the palace. Now you go and change first, then take your own things and come here to gather. I will take you to the place where you live."

"promise."

Yuan Fu found that His Highness the Crown Prince was very strange these days, especially today.

After His Royal Highness finished the morning court, he did not deal with government affairs, but sat in the inner study for a long time.The expression looked so...happy, so...excited.

It was even more strange in the afternoon, His Royal Highness did not go to Beidaying, but took him around the palace.

And the more he walked, the more he walked, he only chose the remote paths in the palace.

The sky gradually darkened. "His Royal Highness, where are you going?" If you walk any further, you will reach the Outer Five Palaces.

At this time, a group of people in pea blue palace uniforms were walking towards this side, Xuanyuan Hancheng was overjoyed when he saw the color of the palace uniforms.

Xuanyuan Hancheng stepped forward quickly, and Yuan Fu quickly followed.

Nanny Xi led a team of palace attendants walking along the palace road, and saw two people coming from a distance.

The leader was wearing a purple uniform with a gold border on the lapel.A eunuch followed behind him, approached to see if this was Yuan Fu from the Crown Prince's East Palace.

The one who is the leader is..., "See Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Nanny Xi stepped forward to salute and knelt down.

As soon as Nanny Xi knelt down, Lin Jiabao and others behind her also hurriedly knelt down.

"Are you...? Where are you going?" Xuanyuan Hancheng asked Madam Xi, but his eyes searched for something behind her.

Soon Xuanyuan Hancheng found the person he had been thinking about day and night.Lin Jiabao, dressed in bean green palace attendants, knelt there, Xuanyuan Hancheng clenched his fists and restrained himself from going forward.

Lin Jiabao was only 12 years old at this time, and there was still a childish look on his face.Wearing a large palace attendant, the person looks extraordinarily petite.Baby's complexion is not good, lowering his head, he vaguely saw those two little dimples, so cute!

"Back to His Royal Highness, the old slave is the maid Xi of the Outer Five Palaces. Today is the day when the new palace people enter the palace. Behind me is the palace attendant who entered the palace this time. There are more people entering the palace this time. If they can’t stay, the old slave is preparing to take them to the Xili Hall to resettle them.”

"Get up." Xuanyuan Hancheng fixed his eyes on Lin Jiabao, "Hurry up and take them to settle down."

"promise."

Xuanyuan Hancheng looked at it twice more reluctantly, and then left quickly.If he didn't leave again, he was afraid that he would hug Lin Jiabao excitedly.It's not the time yet, and he doesn't want to scare him.

"Xili Palace..." Xuanyuan Hancheng whispered happily.

Yuan Fu was very puzzled by His Highness the Crown Prince's expression. His Highness the Crown Prince had been staring at the group of palace servants just now. Could it be who he has taken a fancy to?

Yuan Fu thought for a while and then shook his head, he hadn't seen any pretty ones just now.Moreover, these palace servants are very young, and they haven't grown up yet.He must have thought too much.

Lin Jiabao and his servants would memorize the palace rules with Nanny Xi every morning, and learn how to behave and behave in the afternoon.

Almost all those who entered the palace were illiterate, they could only memorize the awkward palace rules by rote, and they had to memorize the routes to the palace, the routes to the Shangyi Bureau, the Imperial Dining Room and other palaces, which they had to memorize .In addition, they also need to know what places are forbidden to enter and other taboos.

These are not difficult for Lin Jiabao. If the elder brother taught him some words, he can remember them with his heart.Back it up a little faster than others.

It is more difficult for them to behave in a manner of etiquette.When walking, keep your head down, your eyes down, and your chest in your chest, without making a sound.How to salute and kneel is exquisite.

When answering, your articulation should be clear and your sentences should be concise.The voice should be neither soft nor loud, and the speaking speed should be steady, neither fast nor slow.

Learn to make tea and practice serving tea and water.The hands and feet should be nimble, but also light. The cups and bowls placed on the plate must not make any noise, and the tea must not be spilled.

Lin Jiabao studied very seriously and practiced hundreds of times every day.

After nearly a month, Yuan Fu was sure that His Highness the Crown Prince had taken a fancy to a servant in Xili Palace.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would go to Xili Palace almost every day, sneaking into the courtyard and peeking in from the window.Every time Yuan Fu followed, he was always on tenterhooks.

His Royal Highness even climbed onto the tree in the courtyard of Xili Palace to look at the palace servants in the courtyard.

Whoops!My Highness, what are you going to do!If this is seen by the patrolling guards in the palace, what should I do!How embarrassing!Yuan Fu is going crazy.

He has been with the prince for so long, and he never knew that His Royal Highness had such a hobby.I like that Shuang'er is still so young!

Yuan Fu was really curious about what kind of pair it was that hooked up His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in such a way.

In the inner study that day, Xuanyuan Hancheng called Yuan Fu to him and drove away all the servants. "I think you've guessed it too. There is your future master in Xili Palace. I'm going to tell you one thing, and you must do it well. How is your relationship with Lin Nanny, who is the imperial housekeeper in my mother's harem?"

After much deliberation, Xuanyuan Hancheng decided to put Jiabao in his mother's harem. He was worried that his own palace hadn't been cleaned up yet.

The Royal Dianfang is a small kitchen in the mother's harem that specializes in tea and snacks. It does not have much work on weekdays, and it is not very hard.There are not many people in the imperial room, and there are few disputes.

He knew that Nanny Lin was the queen mother's dowry, a child of the family, and was related by marriage to the queen mother's confidant, Nanny Zhou.Nanny Lin is very skilled, and she has a bit of face in front of her mother.

Moreover, Nanny Lin has a good temper, and she will not easily beat and scold the palace servants below.Put his baby there first, so he can rest assured.

"This...the friendship is pretty good." Yuan Fu thought about it, and his popularity in the palace was quite good.

Xuanyuan Hancheng nodded, "Let Nanny Lin choose someone to work in her imperial room and take care of him. His name is Lin Jiabao, and his name is An Zhu in the palace. He is 12 years old and is from Pei County. He has big eyes. , there are two small dimples on the face. You go to the small warehouse, if you don’t do it well this time, you don’t have to follow me in the future.”

"No. The servant will definitely get it done." Yuan Fu quickly replied seeing the serious expression on His Highness the Prince's face.

Yuan Fu got the prince's order and went to the Yongshou Palace of the Queen's Empress.

When Yuan Fu came to the imperial dining room, Nanny Lin was making snacks with several court ladies.Seeing Yuan Fu coming, he put down the work in his hand and went forward. "Eunuch Yuan Fu, why are you here at this time, but what orders does His Royal Highness have?"

"Then what, His Highness the Crown Prince ate the kidney bean cake made by the Imperial Dianfang last time at the Empress's place, and he liked it very much. The cook who went back to the East Palace also made it, and His Highness the Crown Prince said that the taste is different. If not, I will come here."

"Then I'll do it now, Eunuch Yuanfu, please wait a moment." Nanny Lin was also very happy to hear that His Royal Highness liked to eat the dim sum she made.

"Mommy, don't be too busy, let your subordinates do it. I'm not in a hurry...hehe..." Yuan Fu quickly pulled Nanny Lin back.

Sister Lin saw Yuan Fu's expression and knew that he had something to say.He ordered the maids around him to make pastries, and he dragged Yuan Fu out of the kitchen to the house in the back row.

Nanny Lin took Yuan Fu to her room.As the nurse in charge of the imperial room, Mother Lin has a relatively large room, with two rooms inside and outside.

Nanny Lin took him to the outside room and sat down, "What's the matter, Mr. Yuanfu?"

"Nurse Lin, we are old friends. To be honest, I really have something to ask of you this time." Yuan Fu said to Nanny Lin, "This time there are newcomers in the palace, and we will assign them tomorrow. Yes. I have a distant relative among them. I think that Lin Yu is kind and kind, and your craftsmanship is so good. It would be great if I could work under you. "

"That's it, it's not a difficult task." Mother Lin thought it was a tricky task. There were not many people on her side, so it would not be a problem for one more person to come over.

"Then I'll take it as your promise! Haha, Nanny Lin, you've helped me a lot this time." Yuan Fu excitedly told Nanny Lin about Lin Jiabao's situation.

"My relatives are very well-behaved and sensible, and I will trouble Nanny Lin to take care of them in the future." Yuan Fu said, he took out a brocade box from his chest, and handed it to Nanny Lin. "I heard that Mammy's birthday is next month. It's a small gesture, Mammy, don't dislike her."

"Oh, father-in-law, you are really polite. Don't worry, I will take care of you." Nanny Lin accepted it with a smile.

The two talked for a while, and Nanny Lin and Yuan Fu went back to the kitchen.

"Mother Lin, the kidney bean cake is ready, take a look." Yushuang, the oldest under Mother Lin, was holding the pastry for her to check.

Nanny Lin looked at the shape and took one to taste.Nodding his head, "It's well done." He gave Yuan Fu a few more to taste.

"That's the taste, it's so delicious. Nanny Lin is a good teacher, and it's really a blessing to work under you." Yuan Fu praised vigorously.

Nanny Lin is also very proud. Yushuang is her right-hand man and has learned seven or eight points of her skills.

Afterwards, Yuan Fu packed the snacks in a food box and went back to meet his errands.

As soon as Yuan Fu left, the other two court ladies also surrounded him. "Mama is so amazing, even His Royal Highness is thinking about the cakes in our imperial bakery!" Said the youngest and liveliest Yu Ling.

"Yes! We are really blessed to learn how to make dim sum with Nanny Lin." Yu Taki, who was a little older, was also flattering.

Mother Lin was naturally happy when she heard that, "Okay, you guys are the sweetest, go do something."

At night, Nanny Lin returned to her room and opened the brocade box.There is a jade tablet inside. The jade is full of water and is extremely transparent.The green pine and longevity characters are carved on it, which is very delicate.Mother Lin played with the jade token in her hand, she couldn't put it down.

There was a stack of square bank notes under the jade plaque, and Nanny Lin thought to herself that this blessing was really thoughtful.

Opening up the bank note, Mother Lin's eyes widened.The denomination of the bank note was actually 1 taels of silver, which really surprised her.

So much silver!

Sister Lin thought that the person she had to take care of might not be as simple as Yuan Fu's distant relatives... Thinking of Yuan Fu's backside... Sigh!This should come down, and it can only be done.

Nanny Lin carefully collected the bank notes and rested early.She was planning to go to Xili Palace to lead people tomorrow morning, but she didn't dare to delay.

In Xili Palace, where Lin Jiabao lives, everyone is discussing where they will be assigned tomorrow.

"If you want me to say, if we are assigned to the palace of a favored noble lady, our life will be easier." A pair of children said.

"How can there be such a good thing? I heard that many palaces don't want Shuang'er palace servants. And the emperor loves the empress the most, so it's not easy to get into Yongshou Palace." Another Shuang'er retorted him.

"That's right, I've asked the father-in-law in charge, and the places we go most often are the Shanggong Bureau, Shanglin Bureau, and Imperial Dining Room."

"It would be great if I could enter the East Palace of His Royal Highness to do things." A long and delicate pair said, "I took a peek at that time, and His Highness is very handsome and has a very gentle voice."

"His Royal Highness..." A pair of children lowered their voice mysteriously, "I heard Madam Xi chatting with some father-in-laws, saying that a court lady accidentally bumped into His Royal Highness and was immediately killed with a stick. "

"Really, it's terrible." Everyone unconsciously thought of what they saw on the first day they entered the palace. "It's terrible..."

"If you want me to say, it's better to go to the imperial dining room, there are a lot of delicious food." Shuang'er said.

"Haha, you just know how to eat..." Everyone laughed, and the worries and fears about tomorrow also dissipated a lot.

Lin Jiabao thought silently before going to bed, hope God will bless him, but don't assign him to the palace of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.