When that day arrived, someone indeed fell ill. Some people had diarrhea all night and couldn't get up in the morning. Others managed to get up, but their faces were sallow and they looked like they had contracted a disease. In this state, it was impossible for them to see anyone.

  Chao Sheng has only eaten coarse biscuits for the past two days and hasn't touched any soup or dishes. He also fetches water to drink by himself.

  If it weren't for this, she would probably be just like these people too.

  Feng Yan's reminder that day still left her with doubts, but she indeed narrowly escaped disaster because of it.

  Of course, if Feng Yan didn't remind her, Chao Sheng might not have fallen for it.

  But why did Feng Yan want to help herself? One less opponent is one, isn't it?

  That morning, she got up early and put on her best dress - the only one that hadn't faded or been patched. She applied some hair oil and styled her hair into two buns, looking very neat. It wasn't possible to be too fancy, as palace maid hairstyles were limited to either three braids, double buns, longevity locks, or round peach styles. Among them, the three-braid style was not popular, while the double buns were the most common.

  She doesn't need to stand out now, she needs to give people a harmless, honest and ordinary impression.

  Feng Yan was different, she had a bun with a silver hairpin inserted at an angle, and on the pinhead was a bright red coral bead. However, in Chao Sheng's current eyes, that coral bead didn't look quite real.

  It doesn't matter whether it's true or false here. What matters is that the delicate red tassel on her hairpin sets off Feng Yanzhi's eyes and eyebrows, making them look even more beautiful and elegant.

  Man'er also dressed up carefully, and even applied lipstick and powder on her face. She inserted a bone comb into her hair.

  Others in the courtyard, regardless of whether they had the same idea or not, all carefully tidied themselves up.

  There is an old saying that goes: three parts talent, seven parts dressing up.

  They usually look dull and sloppy, but today they seem like a completely different person. Even Man'er looks lively and has a few touches of a young girl's elegance and beauty.

  Chao Sheng stood in the courtyard, and for some reason, suddenly thought of her situation when she entered the palace.

  It was about the same as now, with a gloomy sky and uncertain whether it would rain. The humid air in the air condensed on clothes and skin, making people feel very uncomfortable.

  At that time, the person standing in front of her was Cai Zhen, and the one standing behind her was Han Xiang.

  When her stomach was growling with hunger, it was Han Xiang who secretly handed her half a bun.

  At this moment, in front of her stood Feng Yan, and behind her stood Man Er.

  After standing for a long time, Chao Sheng felt that her feet were a bit sore. Man'er gently pulled her from behind and asked in a low voice, "Chao Sheng, can you help me see if my hair is messy?"

  "Looks good."

  Man'er touched the bone comb in her hair with some uncertainty: "Really?"

  Chao Sheng nodded and continued to stand with his head down, being honest and obedient. In the morning, he didn't dare to drink porridge, only drank a few mouthfuls of water, and nibbled on a piece of hardtack. The hardtack was so hard that it couldn't be chewed. He had been eating this for three days, and Chao Sheng felt like vomiting whenever he saw it.

  No matter what happens today, at least I won't have to keep eating that kind of bread anymore.

  Suddenly, someone near the front gate said: "He's here."

  "Hurry up."

  The crowd that had been standing for half a day and was already relaxed suddenly straightened up, and some people even took a step forward without being noticed.

  The tide was about to rise in front of her, but she took a small step back instead.

  Of course, there are advantages to going forward. The first impression is always deeper and it's easier to pick out the good ones. The further back you go, the more tired and numb you'll become, and your patience will wear thin, so you might not even make it to the very end.

  The one who came with the person was not Liu Aunt, but Wu Mom, which made Chao Sheng a little surprised. The people from the Yuting Palace were a man and a woman, the woman was naturally the official in charge of the affairs, and the man was an eunuch wearing a linen robe.

  "Are you all here?" The woman's voice asked. Her voice was a bit low and sounded like she wasn't easy to get along with.

  "Wu's mother's voice was not as loud and casual as usual, but rather polite and reasonable: 'There are sixteen people in total, all here, please take a look.'"

  The people at the bottom of the station all have a little number in their hearts. Usually, there are also people coming to the courtyard palace, but if they can make Wu's mother so polite, they must be quite influential.

  If people are going to enter the palace, they definitely won't just be selected from Huanyi Alley; there will certainly be others chosen from other places.

  But I just don't know how many of these sixteen people in Huan Yi Xiang can get a spot on the list.

  Tide Sheng thought in his heart - it shouldn't be more than five.

  Chao Sheng was not familiar with the Yikun Palace.

  Although Huanyi Lane is also part of the Yeting Palace, Chao Sheng was assigned to the Yanxia Palace after staying in the Yeting Middle Lane for a few days when he first entered the palace. The Yanxia Palace is located near the east side of the entire imperial palace, and it is separated from the Donggong by a palace lane, and it is as far away from the Yeting Palace on the west side as the entire imperial palace.

  The female official in charge slowly walked from one end of the line to the other, asking each person: What's your name, how old are you, where are you from, and how long have you been in the palace. Actually, all these were clearly written on the roster.

  Some people answered smoothly, while others were either nervous or not eloquent in their daily lives, stuttering and stammering. Some had voices that were too soft, so fine they sounded like mosquitoes humming, and if you didn't listen carefully, you couldn't make out what they said at all.

  The tide was previously anxious in his heart, but when it came to the head, he became calm.

  At most, it's just a matter of not being able to choose her, it won't be any worse.

  The female official in charge circled around and stopped in front of Man Er, asking her the same questions. However, Man Er's background was different from others. She had no registered permanent residence, her age was just an estimate, and her surname was directly followed by Wu Mama's surname.

  The woman official in charge was slightly surprised and turned her head to ask Wu's mother, "Is this the child you picked up back then? He has grown so big."

  "Wu's mother felt a little sentimental: 'Isn't that so... time doesn't spare anyone, and in the blink of an eye, it's been all these years.'"

  "She seems very obedient and sensible, so why didn't you keep her by your side to take care of you in your old age?"

  "I'm still young."

  What Mom Wu said sounds very natural.

  Then he asked about Chao Sheng.

  Chao Sheng was neither arrogant nor condescending, not appearing too cold or trying to curry favor. The female official in charge didn't linger around her either and asked Feng Yan instead.

  Feng Yan

  Now that all the questions have been asked, it's time to announce the results. Who was chosen and who wasn't will be clear immediately.

  The female official in charge didn't mention it, but she and Wu's mother went into the house together, don't know what they were talking about.

  The eunuch who came with her walked over and turned around in front of the two rows of people. He didn't ask a single word, but stared at everyone's face, looking carefully at each one.

  The way this person looks at others makes people feel very uncomfortable.

  The cold and gloomy atmosphere made her break out in a cold sweat on her back, she didn't know how others felt, but she herself felt like the cold sweat was flowing down.