Chapter 2 The Kingfisher Enters the Cage Like a Feather Clipped
Turning west and walking for a while, we finally came to the courtyard of the Fourth Division Manager.
The little eunuch ordered these people to stand still, and the big eunuch went in to report.
After a while two young eunuchs came out, carrying a large armchair and placed it in the corridor.
Then a eunuch about fifty years old came out, wearing a chinchilla skin robe and holding a stove.
This man was sitting on a chair, saying nothing, only staring at the people standing below the steps with his two black eyes.
The previous eunuch hurriedly took out the name list from his arms, held it in both hands and handed it to the man and said: "Chief Qian, these fifty people have already signed up twice at the north gate."
The chief eunuch of the Fourth Division was named Qian Sanchun. Because he had round shoulders and a hunchback, and had two thin legs, people always called him Qian Quail behind his back.
Qian Sanchun called a young eunuch next to him and said, "Chunming, please call their names one by one, and whoever you call will come to the front."
He looked at these people one by one, looking at each one very carefully.
He has an extraordinary ability. As long as he has met this person, he can still recognize him and call him by his name accurately, even after more than ten or twenty years.
When it came to Xue Heng's photo, Qian Sanchun's eyes stayed on her for significantly longer.
Xue Hengzhao's beauty is unique and slender, just like the detailed portrait of a lady on a silk palace lantern.
But compared with her dignified demeanor and indifferent expression, appearance is not the most important thing.
After everyone stood back to their original positions, Qian Sanchun began to lecture: "I know that you all grew up in Qiluocong Jinxiudui.
But after all, it’s this moment and that moment, and when you get here, you have to stick to your duty.
Be diligent with your hands and feet, talk less and do more.
The most important thing is to keep your mind at peace and never have any inappropriate thoughts!
You are serving as servants in the palace. This is the grace of the Holy Emperor and the noble concubine. You should always think of your master as a good son.
Otherwise, he would be exiled to all over the world with his family, or he would be sold to a place like Jiaofang Lesi.
What that feels like, you probably know it without me telling you. After all, you are considered blessed.
Forget it, go to the lower room to settle down first, and someone will teach you the rules then.
These two months before the beginning of the year are a busy time, so you must not be lazy. Otherwise, if you tell me, I will never listen to you."
The residence of Xue Hengzhao and others was a row of low wing rooms. There were two large wooden bunks in the north and south of each room, and each side could sleep twenty people.
Fifty people living together are naturally a bit crowded, but we have to make do with it.
The room was dark, cold, and had a lingering musty smell. There was only a brazier with more ash and less carbon in the center of the room, which was the only place that had any warmth.
"Oh my God! How can we live here? It's worse than a locked-up place. It's still a palace after all!" With no guards around, someone immediately started complaining.
Xue Hengzhao remembered these people when they called their names outside the palace. The one who complained loudly was named Qu Linglong. She probably had a domineering temperament to begin with.
Even if your status has plummeted, your character is the hardest thing to change.
A few people complained softly along with her, but most people chose to remain silent.
Knowing that nothing can be changed, what else is there to complain about?
What's more, once you get here, you have to learn to swallow your anger.
They had been freezing in the wind and snow for half a day. Although the room was not warm, it was much better than outside.
Everyone sat down, rubbing their hands and beating their legs.
Lin Fufei deliberately showed her kindness to Xue Hengzhao: "Miss Xue, let's live next to each other! We can also take care of each other."
"It's up to you." Xue Hengzhao said seriously, "But you'd better not expect me to take care of you."
Once you get to this place, you have to adapt as soon as possible if you want to survive.
She didn't want Lin Fufei to become dependent on her, as that would be of no benefit to anyone.
At this time, a woman named Jin Yu'e came over. She smiled and said to Xue Hengzhao: "Miss Xue, I have heard of you for a long time. It is better to meet you than to be famous. Now that we are both reduced to human beings, we should take care of each other here."
, life must be a little easier."
Xue Hengzhao just smiled at her and said nothing.
Jin Yu'e has said similar words to almost everyone.
However, it is very different from the care that Lin Fufei said. This is just a smooth talk.
At this time, two young eunuchs came in, each carrying a wooden barrel.
One bucket is filled with brown rice, and the other is filled with boiled vegetable stems without oil and water.
"Eat quickly, and we'll come back to get the bucket after a stick of incense."
The so-called hungry people don't choose what to eat. For these people, having a hot meal and a hot dish at this time is already a blessing.
After eating, we went to get the bedding. Some people couldn't stand it for a long time, so they put the bedding away and quickly climbed up and lay down.
"I don't know what is happening to my parents now," Lin Fufei suddenly fell on the edge of the bed and cried, "I still have food to eat and a cover to cover, but they..."
Her father was a member of the civil service, and the whole family was sent to Mobei to guard the border. The suffering was understandable.
"What's there to cry about!" Qu Linglong snorted coldly, "It's so noisy that I can't sleep! I really can't stand you for being such a coward!"
"It's my fault that I'm crying. What does it have to do with you? Have you never cried before?" Lin Fufei replied with a trembling voice.
Someone advised: "It's time now, so don't start any more disputes. We are already pitiful enough, why bother making things difficult for each other anymore?"
Qu Linglong has always been unforgiving, not to mention she was originally at odds with Lin Fufei, so she continued to protest: "Of course I haven't cried before, you can't see me crying!"
Lin Fufei was so shocked by her that she didn't know what to say.
Xue Hengzhao next to her suddenly smiled, and Qu Linglong rushed towards her and asked sternly: "Why are you laughing?!"
She looked at Xue Hengzhao, feeling a little jealous of her beauty and despising her weakness.
"Nothing to smile about." Xue Hengzhao said and turned around.
But Qu Linglong was reluctant: "Xue, tell me clearly! I don't want to rub sand in my eyes!"
"Have you really never cried?"
"I, Qu Linglong, have never cried once since I was born from my mother's womb!" Qu Linglong said with her eyes widened, "Even a five-year-old child in our Qu family has a solid body."
"You're bragging." Xue Hengzhao's expression was calm and his tone was cool.
"I've long heard that the girl from the Xue family is a sick girl, but now it turns out that it's true. A guy like you is bound to cry every day, right? Be careful not to cry to death!" Qu Linglong said fiercely, "You also said
I'm bragging!"
"Miss Qu, I kindly advise you not to talk too much. It's for your own good. Why are you so arrogant?"
Don't say that, or it will kill you."
"Ha!" Qu Linglong sneered, "Who are you trying to scare with these words?! Tell me, why are these words going to kill me?"