Xu Mei and Zheng Cairen were both overjoyed after learning that they could leave the palace.

But then there was a long silence.

The two looked at each other, confused and empty.

The emperor's will is indeed good.

Their first reaction after hearing this was indeed joy.

But where do they go after leaving the palace?

It’s not like I haven’t thought about the sky high and the sea vast outside the palace.

But when asked where they wanted to go, they really couldn't think of it.

The world is big, but they have seen very little and visited even fewer places.

I will definitely not be able to return to my original home.

Is there any reason to go back after entering the palace?

Otherwise, the emperor will not arrange new identities for them.

Furthermore, there is really no need to go back to their original home.

Xu Meiren is a concubine at home and has a lot of sisters.

She is one of them, and the most dispensable one.

At first, it was because she was frustrated at home and couldn't stay any longer. It happened to be the draft, and the local officials said she had a graceful appearance and recommended her to the palace.

She thought at that time that the situation would not get worse anyway, so she came to Beijing.

Zheng Cairen was almost the same, he was chosen by mistake.

Despite the initial joy, after thinking about it, they felt that leaving the palace would probably not be as good as the life in the palace.

There are monthly rituals in the palace, so they don't have to worry about food and clothing. The empress treats them well, and brings them fresh, delicious and fun food from time to time. Because of the relationship with the empress, the people who stay around and serve them are also friendly.

The most important thing is that there are not so many twists and turns, there are no messy things, and there is no need to worry about big or small things. You can enjoy chatting, drinking tea and eating snacks with your little sisters every day.

If the emperor doesn't look for them, they don't need to attend to his bed, they don't need to look at the emperor's face, and they don't need to be worried.

Thinking about it this way, they felt that, overall, their life was pretty good.

However, after living in the square palace walls for a long time, outside the palace... it is indeed quite desirable.

After thinking about it, they decided to ask if they could stay for now and wait until they thought about leaving later.

Qi Ranran agreed.

She can understand the moods of Xu Mei and Zheng Cairen.

Most women in this era are educated and confined at home. Not everyone has the opportunity to go out and see the world. There is always a process of adaptation.

**

According to the practice in previous years, after the twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month, local officials should prepare the beautiful women to enter the palace.

Calculating the time, it should be these two days.

Liu Wanwan specially prepared a spring dress in a particularly delicate and flattering color. She happily went to find Qian to ask about the situation, but she learned a shocking news.

"What, no draft?

If you don’t choose it this year, you won’t choose it in the future either!

Then, how can I enter the palace?"

Qian was also surprised for a long time when he heard the news that the emperor had canceled the draft.

However, the emperor's imperial edict has been issued and the news has spread from the palace. What can she, an official's family member, do about it.

Seeing her daughter's anxious look, Ms. Qian had no choice but to temporarily persuade her not to be anxious.

"Look at it later, maybe there are other ways!"

Liu Wanwan turned red with anxiety and stamped her feet,

"The emperor has said it himself, what else can be done?

Who in the world can have greater wishes than the Emperor?"

What made Liu Wanwan even more crazy was the news about Qi Ranran’s seal.

"Why would the emperor not choose her to be a queen?" Liu Wanwan speculated, "She must be jealous, how can she be like this!"

Qian was very alert and glared at Liu Wanwan, reminding her,

"In this case, you can just talk about it at home.

Don’t mention it again in the future,

It would be a great disrespect to spread such words."

Liu Wanwan was angry,

"Mother, I am not willing to give in.

The emperor is the emperor of the world, and it is not an exaggeration to have three thousand beauties in the harem, but now it has become like this!

Mother, mother, what to do!

You promised to let me enter the palace!"

Qian can understand her daughter's thoughts.

But now it is a problem that can be solved without giving up.

Patting Liu Wanwan's hand, Qian said politely,

"Should we wait any longer?

The emperor is doting on her now, so he will definitely treat her better.

After a while, when the novelty wears off, you might change your mind again.”

Liu Wanwan is angry now and can't listen to such words at all.

"Wait? Wait and wait, wait for what is the end!

I said I would wait a few years ago, but now it’s the New Year and I have to wait again!”

Seeing that people had been unable to persuade him, Qian was too lazy to persuade him any more.

"Since you are in a bad mood, then you should take a rest.

During this time, stay out of the house less and talk less."

Liu Wanwan wanted to talk again, but when she saw Qian's impatient look, she felt even more depressed.

She almost forgot that her mother was also worried about something recently.

Aunt Xiang is pregnant, and my father is very happy about it these days!

When I think about having a younger brother or sister in the future, my mood doesn't show any signs of getting better.

Coming out of Qian's courtyard, Liu Wanwan couldn't get over her emotions and glanced at her casually as she passed by.

It's an idle yard.

This is where Liu Wanrou lived before.

Liu Wanwan snorted coldly as she passed by.

Liu Wanrou used to live in the house, and she could vent her anger when she was in a bad mood.

Now that Liu Wanrou is away, she doesn't even have anyone to vent her anger on.

When this idea came to her, she stopped.

Yunque, who was following Liu Wanwan, knew that the young lady was in a bad mood today, so in order to avoid being used as a punching bag, she acted very carefully, not even daring to take a breath.

Liu Wanwan turned around, looked into the yard again, turned around and walked out.

"Prepare the carriage, I am going to the outskirts of Beijing."

Speaking of which, she had not seen Liu Wanrou since she moved out.

I'm in a bad mood today, so I just wanted to go meet him.

The carriage drove to the outskirts of Beijing. Liu Wanwan held Yunque's hand and got out of the carriage. She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief and frowned.

"Can people live in a place like this?"

No one who came with her dared to speak.

Liu Wanwan held Yunque's hand and walked inside.

The door was ajar, and when you opened it, you could see a desolate courtyard. In the courtyard, there were still clothes hanging on hangers supported by bamboo poles, and there were two simple rough-hewn rooms.

Liu Wanwan smelled the fragrance on the handkerchief.

No wonder it is a yard that has been idle. Apart from being slightly larger, this place is simply unsightly.
To be continued...