In Yuexiu Palace, Princess Consort Yi sat gracefully on the rosewood couch, next to which rested a gilded copper furnace emitting a faintly sweet and intoxicating fragrance from the Yuezhi Fragrance of the Northwest.
It was Princess Consort Yi’s favorite scent.
Unfortunately, such a pleasant fragrance was of little interest to those present.
Lady Chu recounted the situation before Princess Consort Yi arrived, ranting furiously about Lin Wanyi’s behavior, almost labeling her as a fem fatale.
"Your Highness, that Lin Daying obviously seeks to charm Your Majesty. If he truly favors her, won’t it be like giving wings to the Imperial Concubine?"
She despised Lin Wanyi and wished to use Princess Consort Yi against Lin Wanyi, hoping to see her dead imdiately.
Yet, in truth, Lin Wanyi did not have much of a deep-seated feud with her.
It was likely driven by her pride.
During her ti in the boudoir, she was known for striving to outdo everyone.
Her striking beauty, especially among the military families gathered in the Northwest, stood out remarkably.
Now, entering the palace, her looks were rely above average.
Being selected into the palace, beauty was rely a criterion. Especially compared to Lin Wanyi, she seed ordinary, which frustrated her imnsely.
"The Imperial Consort can’t have her own, so she found a young beauty from her ho. Who wouldn’t see through her sches? Your Highness, although our Third Prince is now Your Majesty’s favored, if a string of princes are born, this favor might be diluted, potentially affecting the Third Prince’s future prospects, which would be unfortunate!"
The Chu Family was allied with the Marquis of Northwest, and Lady Chu naturally leaned on Princess Consort Yi.
These words hit ho for Princess Consort Yi. She toyed with a Jade Rolling Wheel in her hand, a gift sent by her family so ti ago, allegedly effective for preserving one’s appearance.
Though her features were average, she maintained herself well, appearing only slightly older than Lady Chu despite being several years older than Lin Guifei.
"What you can perceive, Lin Daying can perceive the sa. Don’t worry, the Lin Family’s waters run deep; let’s wait and watch the changes unfold."
"Your Highness..."
Having spent many years in the palace, Princess Consort Yi was well-inford about the affairs of various concubines’ families.
Thus, she had a clear understanding of the situation at Lin Xiangfu.
She even felt that with no intervention needed, Lin Guifei herself wouldn’t allow Lin Daying to climb too quickly.
Otherwise, with two tigers on one mountain, the Lin sisters could unite to solidify their favor or compete for favor separately.
Considering this, she found the situation more interesting.
Lady Chu was unaware of the underlying reasons, only feeling that Princess Consort Yi was releasing the tiger back to the mountain.
Why not suppress Lin Wanyi harshly while she just entered the palace rather than waiting until she beca a favored concubine to contend with her?
Feeling stifled with frustration but unable to act before Princess Consort Yi.
Still, Princess Consort Yi glanced at Lady Chu’s disgruntled face, knowing what she was thinking.
"Enough, this is Shengjing Imperial City, not the Northwest. Even if you want to deal with Lin Family, you must consider the Pri Minister’s Mansion behind her. Her grandfather is currently a highly influential figure at court; offending Lin Family, can Chu Family bear the consequences?"
Lady Chu’s arrogant spirit was subdued by Princess Consort Yi’s words.
"Isn’t it said she is not favored in the Pri Minister’s Mansion?"
"No matter how unfavored, she entered the palace under the title of the Second Miss of the Pri Minister’s Mansion. Her fate is tied to the mansion’s—either prosper or suffer together, understand?"
"I understand, Your Highness."
"rely understanding is not enough. Avoid causing trouble. Currently, your foundation in the palace is still unstable; your priority should be securing more favor from Your Majesty, rather than losing sight of the big picture."
With Princess Consort Yi’s advice, Lady Chu began to realize.
Even if Lin Wanyi gained favor, she was still a minor concubine, while Lady Chu held the position of a noble. If promoted one rank further, she would be a concubine.
Then, she would be able to reside in the main hall of Yihua Palace.
Thinking of the radiant splendor of Yihua Palace’s main hall, her aversion to Lin Wanyi seed less significant.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for enlightening !"
Seeing her arrogance not as pronounced as before, Princess Consort Yi relaxed her stern deanor and engaged Lady Chu in friendly banter, chatting about interesting anecdotes from the Northwest.
At the mont, Lady Chu was unaware that the two concubines residing in the sa palace were in the lively Imperial Garden chatting and teasing.
"As Sister knows, I hail from Huaiyang County in Jiangnan, where for most of the year various flowers can be seen, yet many of the flowers in the Imperial Garden I have never encountered before."
A casual gesture pointed to a sea of flowers.
Pure white blossoms with pale egg-yolk petals and orange centers blood beautifully.
"These are pink hibiscus from the Western Regions; I once saw a couple in Grandmother’s room, heard they are quite valuable."
"From the Western Regions?"
"Yes, so caravan teams from the Western Regions bring local flower seeds over, and there are skilled flower cultivators in Shengjing City, hence the appearance of these pink hibiscus."
"Pink hibiscus? Sister, you’re right; they do resemble hibiscus we usually see."
"Heard these pink hibiscus co in various colors, but yellow is revered in the palace, hence even pink hibiscus introduced have so yellow mixed in."
"Ah, I see. Sister, your knowledge is broad and insightful; I admire you!"
Lin Wanyi smiled; it was just a flower, really, not worthy of being called broad knowledge.
Yet she couldn’t help but recall the five years traveling mountains and rivers with her grandfather and two uncles, feeling sowhat anachronistic.
"If Sister feels comfortable, call Lan Chun in the future; it’s my maiden na."
"Lan Chun?"
"Yes, I was born in late March, and Father thought of the na amid the full spring in the courtyard, likely why I’ve loved exploring gardens since childhood."
"Then your birthday has passed."
With it now mid-April, naturally it was past.
Mu Daying rely nodded, a resigned tone in her voice.
"In past years at ho, birthdays were always accompanied by parents; now, this coming-of-age day, only Ying’er and I remain."
A girl’s coming-of-age ceremony was a significant event in Da Wei.
Of course, affluent families had their ways, ordinary folk had theirs.
Yet Mu Daying’s ceremony seed rather bleak.
Alone in the palace for her fifteenth birthday, with the future confined within these high walls.
Thinking this, Lin Wanyi found her pitiful.
She then gently smiled and comforted her.
"If Sister doesn’t mind, you can co to my side chamber later for longevity noodles; Chunqi’s cooking skills are excellent; I’ll have her make you a bowl."
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