HELP! These Girls Wants To Kill Me

Chapter 273 273: 273

"This is where the recruitment is being held?" Holding the umbrella in his hand, Yang Ze couldn't help but look at the scene in front of him.

Contrary to his guess, the recruitment of the new members was taking place in the outer city. But what surprised him even more was the fact that there didn't seem to be so many people eager to participate in it.

There were fewer than fifty women standing in an empty field, each one holding an umbrella and whispering amongst themselves while pointing at the centre where a small platform was etched.

Unlike the other platforms, which were just a large circle made up of stones, the platform was cluttered with numerous miscellaneous things and had a large roof over it, saving it from the constant rain.

On the platform, a bunch of women wearing neat uniforms were discussing amongst themselves while writing on empty pieces of paper.

"When are they going to start the recruitment process?" Yang Ze couldn't help but ask in a soft voice. He had yet to see the participants.

"An hour at most." Chen Meili replied subconsciously as her eyes kept darting around while she clenched her legs tightly.

"There doesn't seem to be a lot of people present here."

"Aren't people excited to get such a rare chance of entering the Imperial palace?"

The more Yang Ze thought about it, the more confused he got. In his eyes, this was the perfect opportunity for the people of the Imperial City to enter the Imperial Palace. He just couldn't understand why the people wouldn't gather for such an important event.

"Of course, they are excited." Chen Meili scoffed in response as she gently tugged her hair behind her ear while glancing at the figure beside her from the corner of her eyes.

"It's just that the requirements are too strict."

"Besides… there aren't that many children in the Imperial City in the first place. They usually live outside the Imperial City."

Yang Ze was about to ask why that was the case, but suddenly remembered the things he had learned during his stay in this imperial city. Due to the fact that men were not allowed to enter the imperial city, most of the women had to go out if they wanted to start a family. Usually, it was only mortals or body forging women who conceived children.

This was Yang Ze's brief understanding of the imperial city. Although he could try to find more information, he didn't think it was necessary.

"Even with this recruitment, there aren't that many qualified people. And the rest simply didn't come because it doesn't concern them."

Ignoring Yang Ze's dazed expression, Chen Meili kept on speaking.

For the next hour, the two of them were engaged in a simple conversation, with Yang Ze asking questions and Chen Meili answering them.

Gradually, without him even realising it, the number of people around him has already increased by ten per cent. Even though it wasn't much, Yang Ze noticed it.

And the most important part… There was an additional group of young girls gathered in front of the platform.

Looking at the group of girls that didn't exceed ten, Yang Ze's eyes flashed as he quietly observed everything.

"Is everyone here?" It wasn't until fifteen more minutes had passed that one of the women on the platform stepped forward while glancing at the small crowd gathered in front of her.

After taking a glance at the crowd, she then focused on the group of girls standing on the corner before nodding to herself.

"Good." With a nod, she took out a small bell before ringing it.

"The recruitment officially begins."

With that, she signalled the group of girls to step onto the platform as she gave them some instructions.

"As you all know, we are here to recruit members for the Imperial Palace."

"There is no need to be nervous." Speaking till here, her lips curled up with a smile as she spoke further.

"For you all, this is a heaven-sent opportunity."

"Usually, only after serving in one of the pavilions, one would be qualified to serve the Imperial palace, but this time, there have been some changes."

"As long as you are talented, you will be allowed to join the Imperial palace directly."

"There are no limited spots. As long as you show talent, you will be taken in immediately."

"As for those who couldn't join… Don't worry. If you are qualified, you will be able to join the pavilion."

Even though the woman spoke with great excitement, the reaction from the crowd was rather lukewarm.

The only ones to react strongly were the group of girls whose eyes were lit with hopes for their future.

"Let's start." The woman seemed to be used to the lack of reaction as she simply waved her hand, inviting the first girl.

"Name?"

"Mo Ran."

"Place your hand on this."

Pointing at the hexagonal crystal placed beside her, the woman quietly watched as the small girl with rather crude clothes placed her hands nervously on the crystal and in the next instant, twelve specks of light appeared on the crystal.

"Age twelve." With a nod, the woman noted her name and age before asking her the most important question.

"What's your talent?"

"I… I…" The girl's flustered voice echoed as she nervously looked behind her, focusing her gaze on the middle-aged woman who was constantly nodding to her as a way of encouragement.

The examiner didn't interrupt her but waited patiently.

"I… I know about medicines."

After some nervousness, she managed to finish her sentence.

"Oh!?" The examiner merely raised an eyebrow before pointing her towards one of the examiners in the back.

"Go there."

Although the young girl didn't know why, she still gave her a respectful nod and walked towards the other examiner.

"You know about medicines, huh?" The second examiner merely smiled before taking out a bunch of herbs and placing them in front of her.

"In that case, you have an incense worth of time to tell me about these herbs."

"Three mistakes and you will fail the test."

Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, the girl nodded nervously as she began to observe the herbs in front of her.

"Next." The examiner at the front called out to the next girl, who, after stating her name, placed her hands on the crystal.

"Sixteen years old."

The examiner nodded before asking the same question.

"What is your talent?"

"I have some understanding of the pill refining."

"Interesting." The examiner took one look at her luxurious clothes before pointing her to the examiner in the back.

"Go there."

Just like the first girl, the second girl was also given a task, but instead of herbs, what was placed in front of her were a number of mixtures. Some powders and some liquids.

"You have an incense worth of time to tell me about them."

"Three mistakes and you will fail the test."

After hearing the familiar lines, the girl simply nodded confidently before focusing on the items in front of her.

"Next."

One by one, the girls introduced themselves, placed their hands on the hexagonal crystal to test their age and then introduced their talents before being assigned a simple task.

"Fail."

By the time the fifth girl placed her hands on the crystal, a sharp sound announced the result of the first girl, who was testing the medicinal herbs.

"This… I…" The girl's body was trembling constantly as her eyes darted between the herbs, the examiner and her mother standing amongst the crowd whose faces were darkening at a rapid pace.

She wanted to say something, but in the end, couldn't find the courage to. So, she just lowered her head and walked away from there, not daring to look at anyone.

But before she could walk further, a gentle voice sounded in her ears.

"Even though you can not join the Imperial Palace, there is a position suitable for you in the Resource Hall."

"If you want to, you can join."

As soon as these words were spoken, the girl immediately turned around and began to nod with all her might, afraid that they were going to change their mind.

"Good." One of the examiners just nodded in satisfaction before pointing at the corner of the platform.

"Wait there."

And with that, they once again began to test the rest of the girls.

Both Chen Meili and Yang Ze watched it with great interest. Some of the girls there were going to be their 'sisters'.

It takes almost an hour for the examiner to reach the last participant, and when she saw the last person, her eyes lit up immediately.

"Name?"

"Zi Han."

Looking at the girl in front of her, even the examiner who had seen countless people was stunned for a long time.

This was the first time in her life she saw a girl as beautiful as the one in front of her. A small body that was half her height, a headful of black lusturous hair, which seemed to be covering half her face and those bright eyes that were barely visible behind them… This, coupled with her small red lips, an oversized robe and a feeble appearance…

The girl in front of her looked like a delicate porcelain doll.

"Here." Without wasting another second, she pushed the crystal towards the girl who held it gently.

And in the next moment, the crystal lit up as eighteen specks of light appeared on it.

"Age… Eighteen!?" The examiner was stunned for a long time, clearly not expecting the 'doll' to be eighteen years old.

In her eyes, she was at most ten to twelve years old.

But after her initial surprise, she hurriedly came back to her senses and asked the most important question.

"What is your talent?"

The girl didn't give an immediate reply but stood there in silence for a while before answering in a low voice.

"Cooking."

"....."

"....."

"HUH!?"

This time, the examiner was obviously stunned, clearly not expecting her to give such an answer.

"Coo… Cooking?" She asked again, just to make sure she wasn't hearing things.

"Umm…" The girl gave her a gentle nod while lowering her head.

"That is…" For a moment, even the examiner was left speechless. When they said they would recruit people with talents, they meant people proficient in various practical skills.

Who would have thought that a girl claiming to have talent in cooking would jump out of nowhere?

Not to mention that every member of the Imperial palace eats fasting pills, even if they wanted to eat normal food, why would they invite a little girl? Wouldn't it be better to invite a prestigious chef from a restaurant?

For a while, she didn't know how to proceed with it. Should she disqualify her or should she let her participate?

Even if she were to let her participate, how was she going to judge her?

The more she thought about it, the more she found herself at a loss.

And just when she was wondering how she should proceed, her body stiffened, and her eyes narrowed into slits as she straightened her posture before nodding with a face full of awe.

"....." The girl in front of her also noticed this, but didn't interrupt. She just watched in silence at the examiner, who seemed to be receiving orders.

It wasn't until a few more moments passed that the examiner visibly relaxed and looked at the small girl in front of her with a complicated expression before standing up and signalling her to follow her.

In the crowd, both Chen Meili and Yang Ze's faces were filled with confusion as they looked at each other's faces, wondering what was going on.

"....."

"....."

"Since we didn't have any ingredients there to cook, I am taking you to another place."

"You have to cook one dish, and if you pass, you will be able to enter the Imperial Palace."

Speaking till here, she glanced at the girl from the corner of her eye, who seemed to be thinking about something.

"Okay." The girl gave her a simple reply as she continued to follow her.

After half an hour, the two of them finally reached their destination.

"Go on…"

"Another examiner would test you." After speaking these last words, the examiner took one last look at the 'doll' beside her, resisted the urge to pull her in her embrace and headed back.

The girl stood there in silence for a long time, looking around in confusion, wondering what she was going to do next.

"Follow the trail." And just when she was wondering what was going on, she heard a soft voice in her ears.

"Umm?" The girl's eyes narrowed into slits as she looked around, trying to find the source of the sound, but to no avail.

"Just follow my instructions, and you will reach me."

Once again, the soft, lazy whisper echoed in the girl's ears.

In the end, the girl gritted her teeth and began to follow the path.

After some twists and turns, the girl finally managed to reach her destination.

It was a small, exquisite hut surrounded by innumerable flowers and a blooming cherry tree in the middle.

Underneath that tree was an exquisite chair upon which an enchanting figure was lying lazily, with both her bare feet in the air, moving back and forth.

The girl narrowed her eyes and focused on the enchanting woman in the garden, but the moment she saw her, her eyes went wide with disbelief, and her breathing almost came to a halt. For a moment, she froze...

"FUCK."

"You have got to be kidding me."

She couldn't help but curse loudly in her mind while resisting the urge to turn around and run away from there as far as possible.

And the reason for that was the small row of text above the enchanting woman visible only to her.

[Name: Yun Ning]