I dress up as a poor noblewoman, and I bring my whole family home with my literary talent.

Chapter 53 First Day at Work

First day back at the palace

It was also the first day that the four people from Tingyu Pavilion officially worked in the harem. Xiao Minglan and Li Hewei went to the Shanggong Bureau, while He Qing and Song Lingyi went to the Shangyi Bureau.

The Shangyi Bureau was in charge of etiquette and daily life, and was divided into the Siji Division, Sibin Division, Siyue Division, and Sizan Division. Song Lingyi was assigned to the Siji Division, serving as the eighth-rank chief of records; He Qing was assigned to the Sibin Division, serving as the eighth-rank chief of guests.

The person who led the two of them to the Shangyi Bureau was one of the bureau's directors—Meng Shangyi.

Meng Shangyi, the fifth-rank official of the Shangyi Bureau, was in charge of the four departments and was a serious person. Song Lingyi and He Qing followed her with their heads lowered, looking very nervous.

The high and thick palace walls lock out a piece of heaven and earth

The palace servants coming and going were like ants in this world, small but abiding by order.

When they reached the Zhongsi Gate, Meng Shangyi almost ventriloquized as she retreated toward the wall, saying, "Follow me and salute."

He Qing and Song Lingyi were startled, and hurriedly followed her to the edge of the wall, bowing and saluting:

"Your humble servant greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Shen Liuyun was wearing a silver-gray soft round-collar robe. He was tall, straight and agile. Walking with the eunuchs and guards, he stood out like a crane among chickens.

He walked past the three people without even looking at them.

"Free gift"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

A group of people came in a mighty stream and left in a mighty stream.

Song Lingyi never saw Shen Liuyun's face clearly until Shen Liuyun walked past her. Then she raised her head slightly to look at his back, muttering in her heart: Prince? Persimmon?

The disaster at Hesi Tower spread throughout Chang'an, and Song Lingyi naturally heard about it. The woman she met that night was most likely an escapee from Hesi Tower. After returning home, she saw clearly that the jade pendant had a "Jin" tattoo on it, but she didn't dare to make it public. She never mentioned this to anyone, not even to ask about it.

She had no idea what the "persimmon" the woman was talking about.

But today I met "His Royal Highness" in the palace

Could it be that the woman actually said "Prince" instead of "persimmon"! ?

Thinking of this possibility, Song Lingyi's hair stood on end. If it involved a big shot, it would not be something that a small official like her could handle.

While she was lost in thought, He Qing gently nudged her with her elbow and quietly reminded her, "Sister Song, it's time for us to go."

Meng Shangyi glanced at the two of them calmly, and said as they walked, "The one just now was the prince of Jin. He had just returned to the capital recently after a great victory at the border. In the future, you should learn to keep your eyes and ears open and be cautious in your actions in the palace. Don't just walk with your heads down like you did just now. If I don't remind you, you will be guilty of disrespect."

"Yes," they both replied in unison.

After entering the courtyard allocated to the female officials by the Shangyi Bureau, Meng Shangyi asked them to change into the prepared aqua blue round-necked skirt for female officials of the eighth rank.

Now the female officials are on duty, and there are only two of them in the courtyard, so this gives them some time to catch their breath.

He Qing whispered, "Sister Song, I heard that Xiao Xuan scared your horse at the polo match at Wu'an Marquis's Mansion?"

Song Lingyi nodded, "But fortunately, Sister Zhao was here, so I only suffered some minor injuries."

He Qing curled her lips, "Xiao Xuan is Xiao Minglan's cousin. The Xiao family has not split up, and they live under the same roof, but their personalities are completely different. Although Xiao Minglan is arrogant, she is still polite to others and can be considered well-educated. But among the noble ladies in Chang'an, Xiao Xuan is notoriously arrogant and has offended many people. The news of her falling from the building in Xiangyuan has spread like wildfire in the circle. I heard that her injuries are serious, which can be regarded as evil deeds being punished."

Song Lingyi was not interested in Xiao Xuan's affairs at all. She just listened to He Qing quietly, but she was thinking about "Persimmon" in her heart. "Sister He, do you know the prince who just walked on the palace road?" Song Lingyi asked casually.

He Qing paused while sorting out her clothes, slightly surprised: "Sister Song, don't you know the Prince of Jin?"

……

Could it be that the Prince of Jin is a household name in Chang'an? She has been in Daliang for so long, but has never heard anyone mention his name.

Song Lingyi considered it for a moment and shook her head gently.
He Qing took a deep breath and jokingly said, "How can you, a famous and talented woman in Chang'an City, be so oblivious to what's happening outside?"

"...Sister He is familiar with the situation of the Song family. My father has no job, and I have not even been out of the Song residence many times before. How can I know who are the nobles in Chang'an?" Song Lingyi said.

He Qing felt a sharp pain in her heart. She suddenly realized how safe and warm she had been living in a place without seeing or asking anything. She said softly, "It doesn't matter if he doesn't know. The prince of Jin has been raised by your majesty since he was young. He is the most likely to inherit the throne in the future. Moreover, the prince of Jin is handsome and there are many noble ladies in Chang'an who admire him. Sister Song has been raised in the boudoir and is young. It's normal for her not to know."

It turns out that this prince of Jin has such a great background
"But doesn't Your Majesty still have Princess Qi Yang?" Song Lingyi couldn't help but ask. Since the empress could ascend the throne as a woman, why couldn't her daughter do the same? She had to choose a descendant from the royal family.

Hearing this, He Qing looked around in a panic and said in a hushed voice, "Sister Song, please keep your voice down."

"Although the customs of the people in Daliang have become much more enlightened under your majesty's rule, the idea of ​​male superiority and female inferiority has been deeply rooted for thousands of years. Not every woman can become an extraordinary figure like your majesty." He Qing said.

Song Lingyi understood.

Even if Her Majesty the Empress sits on the supreme throne, for the sake of the stability of the country and the throne, she cannot only consider herself.

…………

After noon, Song Lingyi was taken to the Siji Division by Su Siji.

Su Siji was only in her early twenties, but she had already reached the position of a sixth-rank female official. She was a serious and respectful person.

The Sijisi was mainly responsible for managing classics, books, pens, desks, etc. There were two eighth-rank registrars, two seventh-rank bookkeepers, and ten maids.

After entering the courtyard of the Sijisi and walking around the main hall, the three main rooms facing north and south are the office area of ​​the Sijisi.

The door is always open during the day.

The rooms on the left and right sides were used to store the palace's books. They were filled with bookshelves, with only a few sparse desks inside.

At this time, except for Su Siji, three other female officials of rank in the Siji Department were sitting in the main hall discussing things. When they saw the two of them come in, they looked at Song Lingyi calmly.

"Is Master Song here?!" The female official who spoke was wearing a green round-necked robe embroidered with egrets. She should be a seventh-rank official.

The uniform of an eighth-rank official is embroidered with quails, while the uniform of a sixth-rank official is embroidered with herons. They are quite easy to distinguish.

Su Siji sat down behind the table and said, "This is the new head of the household, Song Lingyi."

After introducing Song Lingyi, he introduced the female officials in the main hall one by one.

"These two are Ruan Dianji and Fang Dianji."

Ruan Dianji is the one who just spoke.

Song Lingyi bowed and said, "I, Song Lingyi, greet you two masters."

"Song Zhangji is well-known, and we in the palace have also heard of him. After seeing him today, we find that he is indeed extraordinary." Ruan Dianji said. She is young and has a lively personality.

(End of this chapter)