When Spring Comes, Who Takes Charge of Youth (Part 2)

  The so-called second round of selection is actually a test for the girls who stayed in the palace for a month, by the eunuchs and old ladies from the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Rites, to examine their etiquette and manners, such as walking, eating, drinking tea... whether they pass or not. Yunzhu believes that apart from the formal inspection, their daily life is also being observed secretly at any time, although these observers are well hidden, but what kind of person is Yunzhu? With over a decade of daily meditation and yoga practice, plus constantly eating Yulan flower and fruit, her body and mind are extremely sensitive, far surpassing ordinary people.

  This second round of selection may be a bit difficult for the young ladies from humble families, but for those born into noble and aristocratic families, it's as easy as eating. What they need to do is try their best to make their behavior more elegant and dignified, and their words and actions more refined and noble... This can be seen in Yunzhu's room, where Koriliyete Guxin struggles every day, while Yilun Arolu Shulan and Yunzhu are at ease. However, Yilun Arolu Shulan is always surrounded by her cousins and friends, such as Gu Zhen, and they make a big show of themselves, which attracts attention. On the other hand, Yunzhu behaves just like she does at home, following the crowd when summoned for inspection, and in her free time, practicing calligraphy, embroidering flowers, or taking a stroll in the garden... She gets along well with many of the young ladies, discussing clothes, music, books, paintings, or food... In short, she never engages in shallow conversations or sensitive topics.

  One of the approachable Xiū girls was Zhāo Jiā, a cousin's daughter of Yì Qīn Wáng Fū Jìn. She was the daughter of Qián Guì, a cavalry officer, and belonged to the Zheng Bai flag. It is unknown what Yì Qīn Wáng Fū Jìn said to her, but this 13-year-old (11 years old in Western age) Xiū girl came to meet Yun Zhu on the fourth day. The young girl had a lively personality, but was not reckless; her words were also not straightforward. After spending some time together, the two felt very compatible and gradually increased their interactions over the following days.

  Spring is originally the season when hundreds of flowers bloom. Yunzhu has been going to the Imperial Garden for a stroll and flower appreciation whenever she has time, because even in ancient times, appreciating flowers was a luxury - it's not hard to find one kind of flower, what's difficult is gathering all kinds of famous and precious flowers from all over the world in one garden. Fortunately, the emperor set the date for the selection of imperial concubines during this fine spring season, if it were in previous years, wanting to come out and have some fun would be afraid of being sunburned by the sun, so there are not a few showgirls who share the same interest as Yunzhu.

  It's easy to say at home, but for a life-changing event like the draft, you can't be too self-indulgent. So, whether it's calling friends or inviting companions, they all have to come out and take a walk, and even if there are no companions, you can still get to know a few people.

  On this day, Yunzhu invited Yugui to the Imperial Garden to admire the flowers. The two were just lamenting that the crabapple blossoms had no fragrance when they ran into a familiar face - He Lan, someone Yunzhu didn't particularly want to see.

  "Yunzhu, you've been in the palace for so long, why don't you ever come find me to play?" Helan seemed to have completely forgotten about the Zhuang Shizi's manor and walked over with Xiu Nu, saying.

  "It's not like I can just wander around everywhere at home, besides, I don't even know where you live."

  He Lan hummed, and said with a smile: "Yes." Then he enthusiastically introduced the beautiful woman beside him, "This is Fu Cha Jia Hui, a beauty from the same house as me, Yun Zhu. Her older sister is a gege by the side of the Fourth Prince."

  Dizzy, how come every time Helan recognizes someone... Yunzhu doesn't know what to say anymore.

  "Cloud Pearl sisters, who are they?" Yu Gu asked stiffly, her eyes darting back and forth between He Lan and Fu Cha Jia Hui's faces, making the two of them increasingly embarrassed.

  "Let me introduce, this is Zhao Jia Yu Gui, thirteen years old, from Zheng Bai Qi, her father is Qi Wei Tang Gu Tu; this one is Ba Lin Nu Mu He Lan, sixteen years old, from Menggu Zheng Lan Qi, his father is Cha Har Zong Guan Bu Tan; as for Miss Jia Hui——"

  Fu Cha: "My father is Lang Zhong Tushiba, a member of the Red Banner tribe. I am 14 years old."

  Yunzhu didn't know how much Helan had told her about herself, so she also bowed and introduced herself.

  After introducing a few people, He Lan didn't joke around like she did with her close friends. She saw that Yunzhu was being cold towards her and knew that she was still resentful about the incident at Prince Zhuang's mansion. He Lan felt a bit annoyed in her heart, thinking that Yunzhu was petty-minded. Although she had humbled herself to greet Yunzhu, Yunzhu was still distant. It seemed like Yunzhu didn't appreciate their friendship from Chahar. However, despite her discontent, He Lan's expression remained warm and friendly towards Yunzhu. After entering the capital for the selection process, He Lan finally understood the influence of Yunzhu's family and Ma Qi's significant position in the imperial court. She realized that it wasn't like before, when she would just hear rumors and think that Ma Qi was old and that Ma Wu had passed away, and that the Fuca family wasn't very prominent.

  Unfortunately, the news of Emperor Xianfeng's generous reward to Li Rongbao came too late, and the incident at the "Golden Petal Gathering" had already caused a rift in their friendship. Thinking about this, she not only blamed Yunzhu for being narrow-minded but also felt somewhat dissatisfied with Empress Dowager Ci'an of the Guo clan. If she hadn't listened to her words, how would she have ended up doing something that displeased Yunzhu...

  He Lan thought she had hidden her concerns well, but unexpectedly Yun Zhu's eyes were sensitive and caught the subtle expressions on her face and the emotions in her eyes. In her heart, she coldly sneered, if not for being in the palace, she really wanted to turn around and leave immediately.

  Suddenly, a noisy sound came from one side of the fake mountain, and Helan and Jiahui's eyes lit up. "Let's go take a look." They ran around the fake mountain in small steps. Yunzhu and Yugui hesitated for a moment, and also followed suit. At this time, not only them, but also the nearby Xiuniang were attracted to come over.

  "What are you going to do now?" The little eunuch's eyes were red, pointing at the few extremely beautiful peonies on the ground: "'Zi Erqiao' is nothing, but 'Huangguan Shou'an Hong' is the empress's most favorite, and now it has been picked by you..."

  A bean-sized girl in a light yellow embroidered cherry blossom flag dress said timidly: "We didn't know it was so valuable, thinking of picking some to wear..."

  Didn't her mother teach her that even the ants in the palace can't be trampled on? Yunzhu looked at this little girl with a somewhat naive expression, who seemed to be around the same age as Yugui, and had a complexion as delicate and beautiful as the cherry blossoms embroidered on her clothes.

  "It wasn't us who picked it, it was her!" Another young woman wearing a purple embroidered apron with plum blossoms immediately pointed at the speaking young woman and said, "If you want to punish someone, punish her! We just happened to be together admiring the flowers... why should we suffer for something we didn't do?"

  The woman in red cheongsam with embroidered peony flowers pulled her hand down, but was shaken off by her. The woman in light green cheongsam looked at her in surprise: "Wasn't it you who wanted to pick it? How did I end up picking it?"

  "Hmph, it was you who picked it." The girl in the purple flag clothes turned her head to ask the one in the red flag clothes, "Rulian, didn't you say so?"

  "This..." Na Ruoling hesitated.

  "What's going on?" A busy auntie rushed over and looked at the peony on the ground, asking sternly.

  "Sister Su, what can we do? This is the Empress Dowager's favorite 'Crown of Red Peony'. Just the other day she said that when it blooms, she wants to move it to Jingren Palace. The little eunuch hastily wiped away his tears and said, "This peony likes sunlight, and this place is cool and not stuffy. I was ordered by my master to bring the peony here every day to bask in the sun for an hour. Today when I came to move it back to the flower house, I ran into them picking the peony..."

  Su Auntie's face changed color, and she was also embarrassed. The Empress Dowager didn't have a special liking for flowers, but peonies were the king of flowers. Every year when the peony bloomed, she would always find a few good pots to be placed in the Jingren Palace for appreciation... This matter is difficult! It seems that only the offending Shu girl can be locked up for now. "Three young masters, follow me first, and wait until this matter is reported to the Empress Dowager before you will be released..."

  "I don't want to, it wasn't me who picked it, I don't want to go!" The girl in the purple flag clothes pulled hard on the girl in the red flag clothes next to her, "You say, was it her doing?"

  The girl in red cheongsam hesitated for a moment and nodded slowly.

  "It wasn't me..." The girl in the lotus-colored dress asked, her voice trembling with tears, "I thought you two were good friends, and I was willing to take responsibility together with you. It's clear that one of you picked it, why are you pushing the blame onto me?"

  The woman in purple clothes sneered, "Who wronged you?"

  Su Auntie frowned and said: "Besides you three, who else can prove it?" These palace maids were not ordinary palace people, and she couldn't casually wrong them.

  ……

  Yu Gu asked in a low voice: "Who do you think picked it?"

  Yunzhu smiled: "Can't you understand by asking the flower?" Cutting off the stem requires force.

  He Lan heard and stepped forward two steps loudly saying: "Sister Su I have an idea."

  Everyone looked over here, Yunzhu stood calmly, keenly feeling that there was a gaze focused on herself.

  "Tell me," said Aunt Su.

  "The person who pinched the flower must have left some marks on their hands, Auntie can just check and it'll be clear who did it." He Lan raised an eyebrow and smiled, seemingly oblivious to the fiery gaze of the girl in purple uniform, which seemed to want to pierce through her body.

  "Go and take a look," said Su Aunt to the two maids behind her.

  Those two strong and skilled women subdued the purple-robed woman who still wanted to resist, twisted her hand, and indeed, there were still faint green stains on her pale pink fingernails. The same was true for the red-robed woman, but the hands of the woman in the lotus-colored robe were delicate, white, clean, and beautiful.

  ……

  After this matter was reported, the virtuous Empress Dowager smiled and let it pass: "A girl of just over ten years old, what can she know? It's just a few flowers, they'll bloom again next year, so be it."

  Starting from the second day, Xiū Girl Middle School was filled with rumors about the Empress's kindness and benevolence, Helan's beauty and intelligence, as well as the strong sense of justice and innocence of that Tú Jiā girl (the one wearing a lotus-colored uniform)...

  "Those Guo Luoluo, Fangling (the beauty in purple) and Suo Chuiro, Ruling (the beauty in red) are really lucky!" Shulan pouted.

  Good luck? Yunzhu smiled and thought that with such a reputation, they would be lucky to find any decent family willing to marry them.

  "Is that Helan, Yunzhu sister, really your good friend in Chahar?" Yugui asked, with a hint of disdain in her eyes. Shulan and Guo Xin had some doubts, but she didn't mention the fact that Yunzhu's idea was taken by Helan.

  "Good friends are what she said." Yunzhu said leisurely, without admitting it.

  Jade Guan covered her mouth and smiled lightly.