Rongxi Hall, the backyard of the inner house.

Mrs. Wang sat on the soft couch and chatted with Aunt Xue. The two of them were talking about Baochai's participation in the palace selection.

The reason why Aunt Xue stayed in Rongguo Mansion was because she wanted to use the Jia family's connections to bring Baochai into the palace to be a female historian and replicate Jia Yuanchun's experience of rising to power.

Mrs. Wang: "I heard from the empress that the old concubine has decided to choose a concubine for Your Majesty this autumn. This is an excellent opportunity. My sister must make arrangements early."

Aunt Xue said happily: "I will go back and talk to my brother and ask him to help with this matter."

Mrs. Wang: "Don't alarm brother beforehand. Brother Zhen from the East Mansion is familiar with Eunuch Zhou from the inner palace. My sister can go to Brother Zhen's wife and ask her to speak in front of Brother Zhen and help with the matter."

Aunt Xue: "I don't know her very well, I'm afraid she won't help."

Mrs. Wang: "As long as you have money, are you still afraid that he won't use your strength?"

Aunt Xue felt a pain in her body when she heard that. She had just received hundreds of thousands of taels of silver from Lin Yun, and she was already bleeding profusely even before she could keep warm.

Mrs. Wang knew her sister's thoughts very well. Just when she was about to give her some advice, she saw Zhou Rui's family walking in in a hurry.

The Zhou Rui family first paid homage to Aunt Xue, and then reported to Mrs. Wang: "Madam, Brother Yun from my aunt's house is here again."

Mrs. Wang: "You don't have to worry about what you said he did."

From Zhou Rui's family: "I heard that Brother Yun is going to help Miss Shi Da's birthday, and I would like to pick up Mr. Bao and a few girls to come over."

When Mrs. Wang heard this, she immediately frowned. Her hopeless son wanted to see her sister-in-law's daughter, which really upset her.

She thought for a while and said, "Tell Baoyu later and ask him to come back to Wang's house with me tomorrow to pay his respects to his uncle."

From Zhou Rui's family: "I will remember this."

Mrs. Wang said to Aunt Xue again: "Sister, you can also take Pan'er and Bao Yatou with us."

Aunt Xue was in a dilemma after hearing this. If she stopped Baochai from going, she would definitely offend Brother Yun to death. But now that her sister has made it clear that she wants her to take sides, this matter will be difficult to handle.

Mrs. Wang sent Zhou Rui's family away, and then asked Aunt Xue: "Is my sister in trouble?"

Aunt Xue: "It's not an embarrassment, it's just that Bao Yatou promised Miss Shi that she would celebrate her birthday. If she is not allowed to go now, I'm worried that she will get into trouble."

Mrs. Wang's face turned dark when she heard this. Her sister didn't want to sever the relationship with Brother Yun.

She said to Aunt Xue: "In that case, let Bao Yatou go."

Aunt Xue: "After all, it's my uncle who has the upper hand. I'll discuss this matter with Bao Yatou when I go back and persuade her to visit my brother."

Mrs. Wang naturally understood that this was her sister's excuse, and she lost interest in continuing the conversation. "

When Aunt Xue saw this, she got up and left on the pretext of going back to ask Baochai.

Mrs. Wang did not try to persuade her to stay and asked her maid to send Aunt Xue out."

…

Since there was an additional opera troupe in Rongguo Mansion, Aunt Xue's family moved to a small courtyard in the northeast, leaving Lixiangyuan to the opera troupe.

Aunt Xue returned to her yard and heard from the maid that Baochai had come back. She hurriedly asked someone to call Baochai over for questioning.

Not long after, Baochai walked in gloomily.

Aunt Xue quickly stepped forward and took her daughter's hand, sat down on the soft couch, and asked with concern: "Chai'er, what's wrong with you?"

Baochai forced out a smile and said, "I'm fine. Mother doesn't have to worry about her daughter."

Aunt Xue: "I heard Brother Yun is here, have you seen him?"

"Saw it."

"Brother Yun is here to inform you to help Miss Shi Da celebrate her birthday?"

Baochai nodded slightly and said, "Mom's guess is right, Brother Lin is here just for this matter."

Aunt Xue: "Chai'er, your aunt just said that she wants you to visit your uncle the day after tomorrow."

"Well, my daughter has remembered it."

Baochai just responded, and then asked in shock: "Did mother say you will go the day after tomorrow?"

Aunt Xue nodded and said, "Your aunt said that your brother and Baoyu should also go together."

Baochai said in embarrassment: "Mother, is it okay if my daughter doesn't go?"

Aunt Xue: "If it were other times, it would be okay if you didn't go. But this time is different, you'd better go together."

"What does mother mean by this?"

Aunt Xue lowered her voice and said, "Your aunt said that there will be a talent show in the palace this autumn. Your aunt said this is an opportunity, so let us seize it."

When Baochai heard this, her face became even more ugly. She looked at Aunt Xue and said timidly: "Mother, my daughter doesn't want to participate in the talent show."

Aunt Xue's face froze when she heard this, and she quickly asked: "Isn't the draft something that has been agreed upon a long time ago? Why did you change your mind again?"

Baochai plucked up the courage and said: "At first, my mother was worried that our family's property would not be taken care of, so she asked her to participate in the talent show. But now that our family's business is doing well, why does my daughter need to participate in the talent show?"

Aunt Xue said anxiously: "Mother wants you to enter the palace because she wants you to be successful in the future, so that she can give your brother some support to prevent him from being bullied."

Baochai: "Isn't my brother doing well now? With Brother Lin and Brother Lian taking care of him, what does mother have to worry about?"

Aunt Xue: "Silly daughter, you can rely on outsiders for a while, but can you rely on others for a lifetime? Only when you are successful in the future can mother rest assured."

Baochai opened her mouth to say something, but swallowed it back.

Aunt Xue consoled her, "Let's do this. I'll take your brother to your uncle's side, and you can go to Linyuan to relax. Your aunt's side, mother will help you explain."

"Thank you, mother."

Aunt Xue added: "Mom heard that Brother Yun has a good relationship with the old eunuch in the palace. If you have a chance, talk to him and ask him to help you."

Baochai said anxiously: "What nonsense are you talking about, mother? How can your daughter talk about such things?"

Aunt Xue: "Okay, I'll ask your brother to talk to Brother Yun later and see if he can help you."

Baochai was upset after hearing this, so she stood up and said, "If mother is fine, my daughter will go back first."

"Then you go and rest."

"My daughter is resigning."

…

Baochai returned to her boudoir, holding a book in her hand, but she couldn't read it.

The little maid Ying'er came over with a tea cup and asked her, "What is the girl thinking about? She is so absorbed in her thoughts."

Baochai put down the book in his hand, took the fragrant tea handed over by Ying'er, took a sip of tea and said: "Ying'er, if I ask you to enter the palace and become a maid, would you be willing?"

Ying'er was shocked when she heard this, and she quickly said: "I would rather follow the girl for the rest of my life than enter any palace."

Baochai: "If you enter the palace, you will have the opportunity to be the empress, isn't it great?"

Ying'er: "I don't have that kind of luck as a slave, so I think it's best to follow the girl."

"Silly girl, if I participate in the draft and enter the palace, our master and servant will be separated."

"ah!"

Ying'er was shocked when she heard this, and she quickly advised: "Girl, it's so boring to go to the palace, how can it be better to be at ease at home."

Baochai sighed and said: "This matter has been arranged by the elders. It is my turn to make the decision."

Ying'er: "If you don't want to enter the palace, why don't you ask your young nephew for help? He is very capable and will definitely be able to help you."

Baochai's eyes lit up when she heard this. This was indeed a good idea. But thinking of what her mother had just said to her, she hesitated again.
Chapter completed!