Red Mansion Rebirth: Ghost Phoenix

As the saying goes, teach students in accordance with their aptitude. After thinking about it for a while during lunch break, Aunt Meng decided to only provide Wang Chenghui with general knowledge education.

“The East Palace is not very big, only one tenth of the size of the Imperial City.

“Since Cheng Hui has walked around the Imperial City, he should know that the Eastern Palace is on the east side of the Imperial City.

"Enter through the Jiafu Gate, and behind the triple gates are the Left and Right Spring Offices, where the Crown Prince's officials do their work.

"Going north from the two squares, after passing Chongjiao Gate, is where the prince studies and handles government affairs.

"Among the three palaces, Chongjiao, Lizheng and Guangtian, Lizheng Palace is the most important, and the crown prince usually stays there.

"During major festivals, the Crown Princess would temporarily borrow the Guangtian Hall to receive the worship of the ladies of the inner and outer courts. To the east of the hall was the Court of Ladies of the Imperial Courtyard, which was used exclusively for the ladies of the Imperial Courtyard who came to pay homage to the Emperor.

"Further north is where the Crown Princess and the concubines of the Eastern Palace live.

"The main hall, Cheng'en Hall, is where the Crown Princess lives. The main halls of the Yiqiu and Yichun Palaces on both sides are now empty, and everyone lives in the side halls.

“In addition, because Wu Liangdi gave birth to the prince’s eldest daughter, the prince allocated the West Pond Courtyard for the mother and daughter to live alone.

“In addition to the Crown Princess, the imperial concubines in the Eastern Palace should have two Liangdi, six Liangyuan, ten Chenghui, sixteen Zhaoxun, and twenty-four Fengyi.

“It’s just that the Crown Prince has not paid attention to the backyard since he was a prince, so now there are only three people: Wu Liangdi, Gu Liangyuan, and Zhai Zhaoxun.

“This time, His Majesty specifically pointed out you, Cheng Hui, and another one, Mei Cheng Hui, to the Crown Prince.

"The Crown Princess has always been tolerant and Cheng Hui has a cheerful personality. They should be able to get along well."

Wang Xifeng listened with great interest and asked, "What official position do you hold now, aunt? What's your rank? What about me?"

"My current position is the official of the Shangyi Bureau, and I am a sixth-rank official. Chenghui is also a sixth-rank official." Aunt Meng smiled, "Few people think of this."

Wang Xifeng also laughed and asked about the palace.

Aunt Meng then continued to teach her: "According to the rules, the palace has the ranks of Empress, Imperial Noble Consort, Noble Consort, Third Consort, Xuanyi, Concubine, Ronghua, Noble Lady, Beauty, and Talent.

"One person above the Third Consort, three people above Ronghua, and the rest are unlimited in number, it all depends on your majesty's mood.

"After your majesty turns sixty, no new people will be admitted into the palace.

"Many have passed away in the past few years. Now there are only the Empress, Concubine Zhen, the two Xuanyis, and the two Ronghuas."

Wang Xifeng's eyes flickered. "I heard that Concubine Zhen entered the palace as a widow. Is that true?"

Aunt Meng's face suddenly darkened: "Cheng Hui, don't be rude! How can you make a topic of conversation about the affairs of the elders in the palace?!"

Wang Xifeng was not afraid at all. She said, "If this is true, please tell me, aunt. Then I won't accidentally touch upon taboos when I walk around the palace in the future!"

This……

Aunt Meng hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly nodded: "When your majesty was touring Jiangnan, he saw Zhen, the returning lady, at the residence of Zhen, the president of Jinling Tiren Academy. He felt pity for her and took her back to the palace.

"When I was in Jiangnan, I was first given the title of Concubine. Less than a year after I returned to Beijing, His Majesty issued a general amnesty and conferred titles on the six palaces. The concubines were promoted one level each, and Concubine Zhen became Zhen Xuanyi.

"They passed away one after another, and the new queen was enthroned. Zhen Xuanyi embroidered a gift, and the new queen was very happy. His Majesty was pleased with the harmony between the queen and the concubines, so he promoted her to the position of consort."

When mentioning this person, Aunt Meng's face looked indifferent and her tone was flat. It was obvious that she did not like Concubine Zhen.

Wang Xifeng observed the man's expression and stopped asking questions. She nodded to indicate that she had remembered.

But Aunt Meng seemed to have remembered something, snorted lightly, and asked back: "Your family is also a former official in Nanjing, aren't your father and mother in the old house now?

"What's more, the Zhen family and the Jia family to which your aunt married are old relatives, and they have been in contact for a long time.

"Cheng Hui doesn't know the details of Concubine Zhen?

"But I don't believe it!"

Wang Xifeng was stunned and said hurriedly, "My mother has been ill for a long time. Zhen is a member of the Zhen family. How did my father know about this?"

"What's more, if you count the days, my father hadn't returned yet when His Majesty went on his southern tour last time!"

"Forget it!" Aunt Meng sneered, "Although your cousin Miss Jia was selected, His Majesty intends to arrange a marriage for her with a member of the royal family.

"The Jia family got Concubine Zhen's help, which allowed her to enter the Shangyi Bureau and become a female historian serving the Queen!"

Wang Xifeng opened her mouth in surprise: "Ah?!"

Seeing her genuinely shocked expression, Aunt Meng took a deep breath, calmed down her agitated emotions, and lowered her eyes.

"I lost my composure, please don't blame me."

Wang Xifeng frowned, puffed her lips, turned around and ordered Ping'er: "Go ask sister Luan'er to see if cousin Yuanchun is really going to be a female historian."

Ping'er responded and left.

Aunt Meng also frowned: "Chenghui, do you not believe what I said?"

Wang Xifeng waved her hand and ordered An'er, "I am thirsty, and so is what my aunt has been talking about for a long time. Go get me a refreshing drink."

An'er understood and took the order to go out, and sent away the two maids guarding the door.

When they were the only ones left in the room except for a black cat sleeping under the table, Wang Xifeng smiled at Aunt Meng and said softly:

"Aunt, I'm not a fool."

Aunt Meng was stunned.

“Why did my father go back to the south?

"Why did the only Jinshi of the Jia family, the head of Ning Mansion, want to practice Taoism?

"Why did the eldest master of the Xue family in Jinling die of illness at such a young age?

"Why did the late Lord Shihou lose his own life and his son's life just for offering sacrifice to the ancestors?

"Also, the eldest sons of all the princes and dukes have almost all given up their titles in the past three to five years. Why is that?!"

Wang Xifeng asked a series of questions in a low voice, and Aunt Meng stood up suddenly, her face pale and her whole body trembling!

“I told you, my father raised me as a boy.

"While he was discussing things with my second uncle, I often hid in the cubicle of his study and played with the account books.

"My second uncle didn't know I was there. But I heard everything."

Wang Xifeng told a huge lie without changing her expression.

Anyway, there is no way Aunt Meng would go to Jinling to confront her father!

But Aunt Meng was so frightened that she was weak all over. She held onto the table, pressed down her hand on the edge of the table, and asked in a trembling voice, "What do you want to do, girl?!"

"Originally, I didn't want to do anything." Wang Xifeng lowered her eyes, gently held her hand, supported her arm, and let her sit firmly again:

"My father left me in the capital because he thought that going back to Jinling would hinder my future. He still wanted my second uncle to find a good family in the capital.

"But my aunt should have guessed that my uncle and aunt had both made up their minds to sell me in exchange for benefits.

"I might as well tell you the truth, Auntie. The Jia family's Second Master Lian, whom they plan to marry, is only fifteen years old this year, but he already has two maids!

"Aunt, I know that with my status, I shouldn't enter the East Palace.

“The prince is only interested in my father, so he will never like me.

“Compared to the Jia Mansion, I would rather go to the Eastern Palace and enter the Imperial City in the future.

"In a small palace, even if no one cares about you, you can live and die peacefully."

Aunt Meng stared at Wang Xifeng in a daze, feeling compassion and sympathy. After a long while, she finally let out a bitter smile with a hoarse voice: "Silly girl, once you enter the palace, you will have no choice!"

Wang Xifeng looked at her straight, and slowly smiled widely: "If my aunt were with me, I wouldn't be afraid!"

How come the idea hit me? !

Aunt Meng was speechless.

"Aunt, just tell me what you want and I'll do it for you!" Wang Xifeng smiled.

Looking at the cunning little fox in front of her, Aunt Meng suddenly realized:

It turns out that this young lady is not stupid, it is I who am stupid!