Emperor Zhao Qing had been on the throne for fourteen years. How many women were there in his palace?
When Yu Shu had just taken office, she had done a calculation. Three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy two imperial concubines. This was all fake. Under Empress Rui, there was one first-grade guifei, two second-grade palace concubines, eight third-grade palace concubines, thirty-two fifth-grade and above nobility. Below them were talented women, beautiful women, and virtuous women.
Speaking of the An Dynasty's concubine selection system, it was usually once every three years. Young women were chosen from the thirteen provinces and counties and sent to Jing after layers of selection. Even if less than a tenth entered the palace, it was still a significant number.
The most pitiful were the palace women that these places offered. If they had some family background, they could find someone to rely on in the palace. Maybe they could show their face in front of the Emperor. If they were lucky, they could become a talented woman, a beauty, and a master. Otherwise, they would basically be a widow for the rest of their lives.
Every month, Kun Ling Bureau would redraw the next month's Book of Great Earth. There were thirty days in this month. It was fixed that the Empress needed three days, the guifei needed three days, and Shu fei needed three days. That was one third. Other than that, the Emperor also needed to rest. Every month, there would be three to five days to cultivate. If he slept alone, there would only be half of the thirty days left.
There were at least eighty, if not one hundred, people lining up to sleep with the Emperor. Fifteen days wasn't enough.
That would depend on the arrangements of Kun Ling Bureau.
Yu Shu had studied it. The original purpose of setting up the Kunling Bureau was probably to limit the influence of the imperial harem on the emperor and the previous dynasty. She gave this right to change officials instead of being controlled by the "empress". It was for public affairs and private affairs. This also prevented direct conflicts between the emperor and the empress.
That was why this rule, which clearly interfered with the Emperor's personal freedom, could continue to this day.
Before today, Yu Shu had never thought that she would be able to gain any benefits from her position as the female official of the Kun Ling Bureau. It wasn't that she was timid or that she was a righteous person, but that she knew her own limits. She was just a fledgling new official and didn't have the ability to extend her hands into the Emperor's inner palace.
Even if Xue Rui had said it so directly, and with Xue Guifei's personal promise, she wouldn't be moved.
It was impossible for her to accept bribes in the name of compiling the Book of Earth.
"Big Brother, are you telling me to abuse my power for personal gain?" Yu Shu shook her head and said with a smile, "Forget it, I don't lack money to spend, I can only disappoint Your Highness' good intentions."
Even if Noble Consort Xue was protecting her because she wanted to return the favor and thank her for being willing to stand on her boat, she couldn't be blinded by the fame and fortune in front of her.
Moreover, she didn't trust Noble Consort Xue.
Her reaction was out of Xue Rui's expectation. He became serious and looked at her. After a while, he understood.
"Shu, are you afraid that Her Ladyship …"
"Hey, I didn't say anything," Yu Shu interrupted him with her chopsticks. She picked up a piece of jelly and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Oh right, I have to ask you to help me find out something."
Xue Rui knew of her misgivings and changed the topic. He silently praised her for being more and more thoughtful. There were some things that even he didn't think of, but she could detect them.
He didn't dare guarantee that Xue Guifei's words to Yu Shu to let her borrow the Book of Earth to gain benefits was to thank Yu Shu, or to tempt her greed and seize the opportunity to control her.
"What is it, say it."
Yu Shu poured another cup of wine for Xue Rui and moved closer to him. "Do you have any friends in the Ministry of Appointments who can help me find out which daren was the Suzhou Magistrate between the tenth and twelfth year of Baotai?"
The Suzhou Prefecture was Zhili and had a dozen or so counties under its jurisdiction. Among them was Yiyang City, where Yu Shu was from. The Suzhou Magistrate was to supervise the officials of the Suzhou Magistrate who were sent from the capital to the local areas.
Xue Rui's expression changed. He raised his eyelids and asked her, "Why are you asking about this?"
Yu Shu said vaguely, "Oh, I have something. Can you help me find out?"
She suddenly wanted to ask about the person who was sent to the south to be an official more than twenty years ago. Xue Rui instantly thought of Yun Hua, so he didn't want to be easily fooled by her.
"Is it related to the person you promised Yun Hua to look for?"
Yu Shu knew that she couldn't hide it from him. She hesitated for a moment and simply said, "Yes, it's because of Yun Hua."
Xue Rui suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Then this person who was once the Suzhou Magistrate is the person Yun Hua wants you to look for?"
Yu Shu shook her head and said gloomily, "If only it was so simple. I also don't know where to look for that person, but Yun Hua told me that if I can find this Suzhou Magistrate, maybe I can ask about that person's whereabouts."
Her words were incoherent, and it was difficult for Xue Rui to understand. He was suddenly full of suspicion and asked her, "Tell me honestly.
"Tell me honestly, who exactly did Yun Hua ask you to look for? Maybe I can even help you with some ideas. "
Yu Shu thought that he was right. She wanted to look for someone, but she couldn't do it in a big way. She definitely needed Xue Rui's help. Yun Hua didn't tell her not to tell others. If she told Xue Rui, it wouldn't be considered as a leak.
"Well, actually, it's not anyone else. Brother, do you remember the storyteller at the teahouse on the street that I told you about?" Yu Shu mentioned it to Xue Rui with a gossipy expression.
"What that person said was somewhat true. In the past, before Yun Hua went to the capital for the imperial examination, there was indeed a wife in his hometown, and she gave birth to a son for him. But later, he was forced to marry a princess, and he lost contact with his wife and children in his hometown. The person he wanted me to help him find was his eldest son, who had been missing for twenty years."
Xue Rui was stunned.
Yu Shu only thought that he was surprised. She sighed and said, "Who would have thought that the story of Yun Hua's son and Princess Luyue was actually like this? Poor mother and son."
Eldest Senior Brother was really a scumbag.
"… Then, what does this matter have to do with the Suzhou Magistrate back then?" he asked.
"Yun Mufeng is the pseudonym of Yun Hua's son. He was originally from Yiyang. When he was young, he traveled everywhere and befriended the Suzhou Magistrate who had just been sent down at that time. The two of them were close friends. Later, Yun Hua married a princess, right? He was afraid that someone would investigate his background and harm his wife and children, so he secretly wrote a letter to the Suzhou Magistrate to help him take care of his wife and children. Later, Yun Hua predicted that his wife was in trouble and knew that his wife was dead, but the whereabouts of his children were unknown. Could it be related to the Suzhou Magistrate, and he saved his children?"
As Yu Shu told him about this melodramatic past, she imagined it and analyzed it with him.
"If you ask me, it's very possible. If the Suzhou Magistrate is a true brother who values loyalty, he must protect the child's life. It's best if he treats the child like his own son and raises him until he's an adult. After eighteen years, he will tell the child about his past, so that he can avenge his parents."
Hearing this, Xue Rui tightened his grip on the wine in his cup, raised his head, and drank it in one gulp. There were all kinds of feelings in his heart, and the corners of his eyes were burning and sore. He lowered his eyes to cover his eyes, and could not help but laugh.
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