The next day dawned bright, and the grand hall of the Ji family was already filled with palace eunuchs and maids waiting for the time to enter the palace.

Ji Mingxuan walked out, her nurse recalled to the palace early this morning. As an adopted daughter of the Ji family, she might not be as favored as the legitimate daughter, but she still had one personal maid, two second-class maids, and three third-class maids.

There were four main maids in the palace. Generally, before entering the palace, concubines would bring their own family members. Who knew if the maids assigned to them were loyal? The personal maid, Zhichao, was personally selected by Aunt Yue, and she had always been loyal to Ji Mingxuan. So she was one of those chosen ones.

Zhichao's eyes were filled with joy. Entering the palace was indeed a matter of honor.

She swept her gaze over the expectant looks of the two second-class maids and three third-class maids. Unfortunately, these maids were arranged by her mother. These maids' families' contracts were still held by her mother. If she ever had a conflict with Ji Mingfu, these maids could become a source of trouble. Therefore, she did not want to take them into the palace.

After much thought, she still decided not to pick any.

Seeing this, although Zhichao was surprised, she still helped Ji Mingxuan out of the courtyard.

On the way, they met Ji Mingfu leading three maids from the other side, and she only had three main maids.

Ji Mingfu looked at Ji Mingxuan with surprise, "Sister, aren't your servants not trustworthy? Only bringing one person is too cold."

Ji Mingxuan said, "I like Zhichao. Today, those maids look at me as if I'm meat for the wolves. I don't like it at all."

Ji Mingfu was stunned, thinking carefully, indeed so. The maids in her family naturally also wanted to accompany their mistress to enjoy life in the palace.

She wanted to say more, but Ji Mingxuan couldn't let her say it, so she hurriedly said, "Alright, it's almost time. Sister, let's go!"

Then she dragged Ji Mingfu's hand.

Ji Mingfu's face changed. She said, "Sister, slow down!"

Ji Mingxuan was taken aback, seeing Ji Mingfu's 'burden' that seemed elegant and beautiful, she felt embarrassed on her face.

Ji Mingfu heaved a sigh of relief, then her personal maid, Qin'er, quickly helped her up.

Ji Mingxuan could only help Zhichao, slowly walking along.

In the grand hall, the Jis knelt in the center.

Surrounding them were many eunuchs, maids, and guards.

Ji Mingxuan and Ji Mingfu were not allowed to enter the grand hall; instead, two eunuchs escorted them onto the two carriages outside the corridor.

As they left the Ji residence,

the sound of firecrackers could still be heard faintly from outside. Ji Mingxuan clenched her hands tightly, a determined look flashing in her eyes.

The Imperial City, Grand Han Palace.

Serene and solemn, the carriages stopped at the side gate of Grand Han Palace.

Ji Mingxuan stepped out of the carriage, and the carriage was quickly removed.

A small eunuch bowed respectfully, "Your Excellency is safe!"

Ji Mingxuan immediately called him up.

The small eunuch spoke politely, "By the imperial decree of Queen Dowager, Your Excellency is granted a residence in the eastern pavilion of Jing'an Palace."

Ji Mingxuan didn't know where Jing'an Palace was, but it clearly wasn't well-known.

"Please lead the way." The small eunuch chirped.

At the same time, Ji Mingxuan heard another eunuch tell Ji Mingfu his living quarters, Qi Fang Palace west pavilion. Qi Fang Palace was not where Consort Chang lived.

They entered the palace gates, one going east and the other north.

Slowly moving forward, the Imperial City was vast, and they encountered many eunuchs and maids, but fortunately, they hadn't met any palace mistresses.

As they walked further, it became increasingly quiet and secluded, seemingly farther away from the palace gardens?

Ji Mingxuan now guessed where she was heading, fearing Jing'an Palace was near Empress Dowager's Longevity Palace.

Zhichao supported Ji Mingxuan, her hands trembling slightly.

Ji Mingxuan patted her hand, that place was really nice!

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Finally, Jing'an Palace arrived.

The palace was large, carrying an aura of ancient simplicity. Turning right into the eastern pavilion, it reached. This eastern pavilion was also very large, with spacious garden rest areas. It was even rare that it was kept so clean and tidy.

Entering the eastern pavilion's grand hall, there were six eunuchs and maids kneeling on the ground.

The eunuch who led them into the palace again bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Excellency, tomorrow at dawn, Miss Newbie will go to Zhaofeng Palace to pay respects to Queen Dowager."

Ji Mingxuan said, "Your Excellency obeys the imperial decree of Queen Dowager."

The small eunuch then stood up, bending his waist and retreated.

Zhichao supported Ji Mingxuan as they sat on the main seat in the grand hall.

Looking at the kneeling eunuchs and maids, together with the four personal maids, she still had two senior eunuchs, two middle-ranking eunuchs, and two junior maids.

Seeing the people here, she smiled inwardly. They probably hadn't expected her to only bring one maid into the palace.

Ji Mingxuan smiled and said, "Tell me your names."

"Nobleman Xiao Dingzi/Noblesse Xiaosuzi/Nobleman Xiaozhuangzi/Nobleman Xiaozhongzi pays respect to Your Excellency!"

Noblewoman Hongzhu/Huangzhu/Zizhu gives Your Excellency greetings, Your Excellency is well."

Ji Mingxuan asked, "Who are the senior eunuchs?"

Xiao Dingzi and Xiao Suzzhi knelt forward a step.

"Nobleman, I am!"

Ji Mingxuan asked, "Have you always served in Jing'an Palace, or were you transferred here?"

Xiao Dingzi said, "I have always served in Jing'an Palace."

Xiao Suzzhi said, "I used to be a janitor in the Imperial Garden, but the supervisor allocated me here."

Ji Mingxuan gave Xiao Suzzhi a special glance, while the other eunuchs and maids remained expressionless, but they secretly hoped for his favor.

Ji Mingxuan just gave a hint, then looked at others and said, "Tell me."

Ji Mingxuan listened smilingly as Xiao Zhuangzi and Xiao Zhongzi were both middle-ranking janitors in the Imperial Garden. As for Sanzhu, she was actually trained by the Inner Household Bureau as a new maid.

New maid? Ji Mingxuan smiled inwardly, that was good.

"I'll choose one of you as my personal maid within three months if you perform well." Their experience was shallow, being able to be allocated to a new emperor's court as a lower-ranking maid meant either having influential connections or performing exceptionally well. Otherwise, the Inner Household Supervisor wouldn't dare release them, after all, if anything went wrong, it would be the Supervisor's failure. Now giving them a chance, Ji Mingxuan could test something out.

Surveying them, Hongzhu's face lit up with happiness, Huangzhu tugged at her sleeve, and Zizhu was quite calm.

However, what Ji Mingxuan was most satisfied with wasn't Zizhu, too calm, indicating she was very smart and patient. She needed a maid, not a strategist.

Ji Mingxuan said, "Get up! My rules are the same as those in the palace, nothing needs to be added. So, if you break palace regulations, I'll send you to the Criminal Investigation Office."

Everyone was shocked. This was the first time a new mistress directly sent her eunuchs and maids to the Criminal Investigation Office. After all, palace mistresses usually took care of their own people, sometimes even shielding them. They often privately punished them, rarely sending them to the Criminal Investigation Office, since once inside, they weren't necessarily guaranteed to come out whole.

Ji Mingxuan continued, "If you do your duties properly and don't make mistakes, you'll receive rewards." Ji Mingxuan finished speaking, and Zhichao understood, taking out some silver coins from her bag and handing them out to everyone.

These silver coins weren't much, but for them, it was extra money.

Seeing them bowing, Ji Mingxuan waved her hand.

Sanzhu and the two middle-ranking janitors retreated.

Xiao Dingzi and Xiao Suzzhi followed the backroom protocol of informing Ji Mingxuan about the news in each palace.

Fang Da, the environment is great. She brought Zhi Cao to explore Jing An Palace.

After dinner.

Ji Mingxuan was about to go back to her room.

Then Xiao Dingzi came and reported.

"Master, Ji Beauty has arrived."

Ji Mingxuan said, "Quickly invite Miss over."

Beside her, Zizhu suddenly said, "Master, since you are now a Honorable Person, it's not proper to call Miss 'sister' anymore. If the Empress Dowager and Empress Consort De catch wind of this, they might... "

Ji Mingxuan was stunned for a moment before coughing.

Zizhu immediately stopped talking. Ji Mingxuan gave her an appreciative look. Zizhu bowed down but did not seem happy with the praise.

At that moment, Ji Mingfu supported her personal attendant, Servant Yin, who walked in.

"Your Excellency!" Ji Mingxuan quickly helped Ji Mingfu up and said, "Third Sister, please get up."

When Ji Mingfu heard Third Sister, she paused for a moment, then looked at Ji Mingxuan approvingly, having finally remembered the court rules. Although Third Sister wasn't suitable, there were no mistakes.

Ji Mingxuan waved for everyone to leave.

Zhi Cao and Servant Yin also left.

"I've heard that Fourth Sister was summoned by the Empress?"

Ji Mingxuan nodded, not asking why Ji Mingfu knew so much about what happened when she just entered the palace. She smiled and said, "The Empress is very kind. Third Sister, I met His Majesty today."

Ji Mingfu said, "Tomorrow, the Empress will summon you. Fourth Sister, be careful not to act rashly."

Ji Mingxuan frowned. "What's wrong?"

Ji Mingfu sighed, "Today when you met His Majesty in the Empress's palace, Lady Chang already knew. She told me herself."

Ji Mingxuan understood right away. Someone had started stirring up trouble between her and Ji Mingfu from the beginning.

"Don't worry, Third Sister. I'll listen to you tomorrow."

Ji Mingfu nodded.

She certainly envied her younger sister's high position and favor from the Empress and Emperor, but she wouldn't do anything to embarrass herself.

Ji Mingfu and Ji Mingxuan talked about some things to pay attention to in the palace.

As night fell, Ji Mingfu was ready to leave. Ji Mingxuan escorted Ji Mingfu out to the gate. Before Ji Mingfu could leave, a group of people rushed over.

Ji Mingxuan knew it was coming!

Ji Mingfu looked at the leading eunuch in surprise. She had seen him bring gifts to Lady Chang on an imperial order earlier. Lady Chang treated him very politely because he was the emperor's trusted chief eunuch, Chang Quanhua.

Chang Quanhua was followed by other eunuchs without any rewards. Ji Mingfu seemed to realize something and turned around to see Ji Mingxuan, feeling complex emotions inside.

"Please greet Your Excellency!" Seeing Ji Mingfu again, she bowed: "Your Excellency!"

Ji Mingxuan had also met Chang Quanhua in the Empress's palace. The emperor trusted him greatly; such eunuchs weren't someone a concubine could command.

"Chief Eunuch Chang does not need to bow so much."

Chang Quanhua paid no mind to Ji Mingxuan's polite words. He calmly said, "Congratulations, Your Excellency. Tonight, the emperor has chosen Your Excellency to stay in his quarters. There will be a royal carriage to take you at 9 p.m. Please prepare yourself!"

As soon as Chang Quanhua finished speaking, the eunuchs and maidservants in Jing An Palace all showed joyous expressions. Ji Mingxuan also wore a smile.

"Thank you, Chief Eunuch." Chang Quanhua respectfully bowed and said, "Servant is following orders. Servant will not disturb Your Excellency. Servant takes leave!"

Ji Mingxuan nodded and said, "Chief Eunuch, take your time."

Chang Quanhua had no expression, leaving quickly after arriving and leaving even faster!