In the Chu Lineage, Chu Ruoyan already had a maid. All that remained was to have her mother choose another.
Though called a maid, the girl could actually be a cousin of Chu Ruoyan's or someone similar, hoping to secure a position.
As long as her background was thoroughly checked, she could be selected to enter the palace.
But Chu Ruoyan's mother would certainly choose a loyal maid. She feared that, before Chu Ruoyan's place at Li Chen's side was secure, those cousins might compete for his favor. That would spell serious trouble.
After Chu Ruoyan paid her respects to the Empress Dowager, Chu Ruoyan's Mother received a summons and entered the palace with two maids.
Once they passed through the gates of the Imperial Palace, all three of them felt terrified and uneasy.
They had belonged to a second-rate aristocratic family before. How could they ever have qualified to enter the Imperial Palace?
Now things were different. They were relatives of the imperial family.
Even the palace maids and eunuchs treated them exceptionally well.
Chu Ruoyan's mother still knew enough to hand out a few gratuities.
When she saw Chu Ruoyan returning from the Empress Dowager's Bedchamber Palace, she was beside herself with excitement.
Her daughter wore an elegant Palace Dress, and with her stunning beauty and bearing, she really did look rather like an Imperial Consort.
Pah! Pah!
My daughter IS an Imperial Consort!
Besides visiting her daughter, Chu Ruoyan's mother had also brought a request from Chu Ruoyan's father.
He wanted to invite Li Chen to grace the Chu Lineage's Housewarming Banquet the day after tomorrow.
"Actually, you don't need to pay your father any mind. Come home if you have time. If you don't, stay in the palace, look after your health, and take good care