In early winter, the long-awaited beautiful ladies from all over the court entered the palace one after another. This is His Majesty's first draft, and logically speaking, they should be widely selected, but in the end, Zhao Jie only decided on 20 beautiful girls to enter the palace. The beautiful ladies enter the palace and live in the Chuxiu Palace. In the past few days, the beautiful ladies will learn the etiquette and rules of the palace here and wait to meet His Majesty in five days. Except for Chu Liuli, most of the beautiful ladies who entered the palace were the daughters of high-ranking officials in Shengjing City. They knew each other, and they were all between fourteen and seventeen years old. They were all kind-hearted. Only Chu Liuli looked arrogant and looked down upon all living beings. But it happened that the Empress Dowager specially named her to come to the palace. Although Zheng Xiuxiu and others didn't like Chu Liuli's appearance, they didn't say anything more. Hua Xiangrong made no secret of his displeasure with Chu Liuli. After Chu Chi settled the beautiful ladies, he returned to Shang Gong Bureau and met Chu Qing. Chu Chi asked: "Second brother, why did you come to the harem?" Chu Qing looked at Chu Chi and said, "His Majesty asked you to go to Tai Chi Hall."
Chu Chi replied: "Okay." "Sister..." Chu Qing looked at Chu Chi, "Did His Majesty say why he would seal you?" Chu Qing was always by Zhao Jie's side, so he knew the unknown secrets between His Majesty and his sister. Chu Chi said: "Second brother, the rain, dew, and thunder are all your kindness. No matter why your Majesty appoints me, it all depends on your Majesty's wishes." Chu Qing lowered his head and said: "It's all useless to me. If I were more powerful, I wouldn't let you, sister, follow Your Majesty like this without any status." Chu Chi put his finger to his lips, "Shh, you have been in front of His Majesty for so many years, and you still don't know what to say and what not to say?" Chu Qing lowered his head and said no more. Chu Chi entered the Tai Chi Hall and looked at the young emperor standing in front of the desk with his head bent and writing. He was about to kneel down to salute when he heard Zhao Jie say, "I have told you many times that you don't need to salute when you see me." Chu Chi Fushen said: "Your Majesty, the rules cannot be abolished." After Zhao Jie signaled Chu Chi to come closer, he put down the brush in his hand, pressed Chu Chi against the desk, bowed his head and kissed her red lips... It was very cold in the early winter night, but there was no such thing as cold in the emperor's bedroom, and the incense charcoal was burning brightly. Half an hour later, a thin layer of sweat appeared on Chu Chi's forehead. Zhao Jie pressed Chu Chi's forehead without disdain and said in a deep voice: "After the draft is over, I will make you a concubine." Chu Chi looked at Zhao Jie in surprise. She didn't expect him to be of such a high rank. In this harem, the queen is the most respected, and then there are the noble concubines and the virtuous concubines. The position of the virtuous concubines is the highest among the high positions in the palace. "Your Majesty..." Zhao Jie asked: "Is it too low? But I need to give the position of imperial concubine to Chu Liuli, otherwise my mother will be in trouble for a long time and be very annoyed. Otherwise, I will make you the imperial concubine." Chu Chi said: "I don't think it's low, but this position is really too high..." Zhao Jie looked at Chu Chi through the candlelight beside the bed, hiding the guilt in his heart and said: "It's okay if it's not too low." Although he is the emperor who is the lord of the world, he still has many helplessness. With the regent and the Qi family on one side, and his mother and those aristocratic families who were secretly trying to seize power on the other, he couldn't let his heart go and marry Chu Chi.
Xu felt guilty, but Zhao Jie let Chu Chi go early today. After washing, Chu Chi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I'm going back first. I'm afraid there are still things at Chuxiu Palace that require my busy work." Zhao Jie replied: "Yes." When Chu Chi was about to leave the Tai Chi Hall, he saw that there had been a statue of Guanyin Buddha in the outer hall. Seeing that the sandalwood incense was about to be burned out and the Bodhisattva was about to have no incense, Chu Chi took three sandalwood sticks on the side and picked them from the side. He took fire from the candle, lit the sandalwood, and put the sandalwood into the incense burner. …… In the princess's mansion. Before Qi Yuning fell asleep, she was thinking about the affairs in the palace and said to Lu Ze, "Have you ever asked Zhao Jie who he likes to be the queen?" Lu Ze said: "He is very resistant to the draft. I look at Zhao Jie as if he already has a woman he likes in his heart. I practiced martial arts with him a few days ago and saw red marks scratched by his nails on his back. I thought it was someone who was lucky. The maid is attracted to that maid." "What?" Qi Yuning frowned, "Have you found out who the palace maid is?" "Tai Chi Palace is like a copper wall and an iron wall, it cannot be discovered by casual prying." Qi Yuning said: "Your Majesty is young and can't hold back the sight of beauties. It's really inappropriate to resist the draft for a palace maid. After all, this grand harem cannot be controlled by a palace maid. His Majesty is about to take charge, and the harem management is We should find a virtuous, virtuous and wealthy daughter to manage it, Zhao Jie should not be confused and delay the important draft for a palace maid." The more Qi Yuning thought about it, the more she couldn't do it. The next day she went into the palace to find Chu Chi. When Chu Chi saw Qi Yuning, he saluted and said, "Princess Princess." Qi Yuning took the tea brought by Chu Chi and said, "Do you know if your Majesty has a palace maid?" Chu Chi shook his head and said, "No." From the bottom of her heart, Chu Chi did not dare to tell the truth to Qi Yuning. She was afraid of betraying the princess's trust in her. Although the princess would know it was her in a few days, Chu Chi also wanted to keep it secret for how many days. Qi Yuning raised his eyes and looked at Chu Chi and said, "Are you so sure?" Chu Chi said: "Yes, no." Qi Yuning looked at Chu Chi and said, "Among these beautiful women, I think the one who is most worthy of being the queen is Qin Yinqiu from the Duke of Qin's palace." Qin Yinqiu is the daughter of Qin Feng's second brother. She has just turned fifteen this year. As the eldest daughter of the Duke of Qin, Qin Yinqiu has been well-educated since she was a child. She is dignified and polite, and has both good looks and good looks. Qi Yuning sipped tea and said: "Originally, we should not interfere with His Majesty's selection, but there is Chu Liuli in front of him, and now there is a maid who is dear to His Majesty's heart. For the sake of the peace of the harem, I have to intervene. Please help me during the selection." Help Qin Yinqiu." Chu Chi responded: "Yes." After Qi Yuning left, Chu Chi went to Chuxiu Palace to see Qin Yinqiu. Qin Yinqiu, who had just turned fifteen, was fair and beautiful. Although not as bright as a girl, she was very dignified. "Aunt Chu." Seeing Qin Yinqiu, Chu Chi chuckled and said, "Can Miss Qin play the guqin?" Qin Yinqiu said: "I understand a little bit." Chu Chi whispered: "Your Majesty likes the song "Peony Fairy" the most. Miss Qin might as well practice it more these days." Qin Yinqiu said: "Peony Fairy? I have never heard of it."
Chu Chi walked to the side where there was paper and pen and wrote down the music score: "Miss Qin just practice according to this score." The closer to the draft, the more things Chu Chi has to do. These show girls may become mistresses in the palace in the future. Although Zhao Jie has promised her to become a concubine in the future, Chu Chi does not dare to neglect. Wu Shanggong is old and can no longer take care of things. Although Chu Chi is not Shanggong now, he is no different from Shanggong and is in charge of all the affairs of Shanggong Bureau. Chu Chi returned to her bedroom and suddenly saw Zhao Jie inside. She was startled and said: "Your Majesty, why are you here?" Zhao Jie held Chu Chi in his arms and said: "You are about to become a concubine, and we no longer have to avoid people. I have called you several times today, but you have always avoided being busy..." Chu Chi said: "I'm really busy and there can't be any mistakes in the draft." Zhao Jie frowned when he heard the word "draft". He heard the sound of the guqin not far away from Shang Gong Bureau, and looked down at Chu Chi, "Who is playing the guqin?" "I'll take Eunuch Xu to Chuxiu Palace and ask." Chu Chi said in a low voice. Zhao Jie's eyes were full of anger. He let go of Chu Chi and said angrily: "You don't know who played it? This Peony Fairy is a score I wrote for you. You are the only one who has played it and listened to it. I’ll let you alone know it, so don’t excuse yourself by saying that the other maids and chamberlains in the Taiji Palace listened to the music scores that were passed out several times.” Chu Chi even knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty." Zhao Jie said: "Princess Qi came to the palace today. I think she came to you to arrange for my queen, so you gave the Peony Fairy Book to her designated queen? Chu Chi, you are loyal to your master!" After Zhao Jie finished speaking, he left angrily. Chu Chi clenched her hands, her heart full of panic. She was not afraid of being punished by Zhao Jie, but she was afraid that Zhao Jie would hate Qi Yuning because of this. She even chased after him, "Your Majesty, Princess Qi didn't want to interfere with your selection of queen." The reason is that she saw that you resisted the draft for the person you like, and was afraid that you would be confused by your beauty for a while. For the sake of the future peace of the harem, she wanted to help the slaves to find the most suitable candidate to be the queen..." Zhao Jie lowered his eyes and said to Chu Chi: "You still know that I am resisting the draft for you! But you told others about Peony Fairy for your master, so trampling on my feelings for you!" Chu Chi panicked and said: "Your Majesty..." Zhao Jie said coldly: "Don't follow me." Zhao Jie left angrily, leaving Chu Chi standing there, at a loss. At the gate of Chuxiu Palace, Chu Liuli, who had received the news that His Majesty had come to Chuxiu Palace, had been waiting at the gate of the palace for a long time. Unexpectedly, His Majesty came out of the Shangfu Bureau next door. Chu Liuli didn't expect that she could hear this secret behind her back. How could Chu Chi, a female official from the Shang Palace Bureau, be worthy of His Majesty's sincerity?