In Linzi Palace, the ailing Lin Guifei had reached a point where dicine could no longer cure her.
Since the fall of Prince Zhan’s Mansion, she had been receiving a series of bad news.
Today, it was her mother and brother who died of illness; tomorrow, it was her grandmother who passed away.
And the family of her uncle, on whom she relied, had all beco criminals in Da Wei.
As for her grandfather and father, they left Shengjing City without looking back.
This undoubtedly told her that she had been abandoned.
The once bustling Linzi Palace was now deathly silent, save for a few palace attendants who continued their routine tasks.
Since she beca ill, only Princess Ming Ruo visited her every few days.
No one else ca.
The entire palace felt as cold as an ice cellar.
Even though spring had arrived, it still felt cold.
Yet, the chill within the palace couldn’t be dispelled.
Cough, cough.
There always seed to be phlegm in her throat, no matter how much she coughed, it couldn’t be cleared.
This also caused her appetite to decrease significantly.
Without eating, naturally, she grew thinner.
She was never plump to begin with, but now she was terribly thin.
Her arm had barely any flesh when she raised it.
The beauty and dignity she once prided herself on were things of the past now.
The palace maid Qin Liu brought a bowl of dicine and a plate of preserves.
Lin Guifei’s dicine was bitter to the extre, so she needed sothing else to wash it down before she could swallow it.
Holding her breath, she drank the dicine in one gulp.
She quickly put the preserves in her mouth to suppress the bitterness.
But the more she held it in her mouth, the less satisfying it seed.
Her life now wasn’t much better than that bowl of dicine.
So, she spat out the preserves.
Qin Liu found it strange and asked in a low voice.
"Madam, what’s wrong? Is the preserves not to your taste? Should I get you so plums?"
"No need, whatever you get is the sa, the dicine is bitter, my mouth is bitter, and my heart is bitter, nothing tastes right."
Qin Liu sighed inwardly.
There was no other way, fortune was not on their side. The fact that Linzi Palace still retained the honors due to an Imperial Consort was considerable in itself.
Otherwise, if the Emperor wanted to implicate them over Prince Zhan’s affair, it wouldn’t be impossible.
At that point, the only thing awaiting them might be the leftovers in the Cold Palace.
Where would there be days like these?
Therefore, Qin Liu thought it best to serve Lin Guifei well.
As long as she’s here, these days could continue.
But Lin Guifei did not think that way.
She was raised by Princess Rongkang, and they were alike in many ways.
Rather than living on in such an agonizing way, it would be better to die with glory.
There’s nothing in this world she cared about but Ming Ruo.
Her daughter.
Now being raised by the Empress Dowager, everything seed fine.
But she feared that one day, if a foreign tribe ca to request marriage, she’d be the most suitable candidate for such a union.
Not every princess sent to marry could be as fortunate as Yu Wenjie.
If she married poorly, wouldn’t her life be ruined?
Thinking of this, Lin Guifei continuously planned to arrange Princess Ming Ruo’s marriage before her own death.
This way, even after she closed her eyes, she’d be at peace underground.
Hence, she considered the selection of companions for the Princes.
At the turn of the year, it was ti for the Second Prince and Third Prince to choose their study companions.
Among these companions, most were outstanding talents of the sa age group.
They not only needed good family backgrounds and handso looks but also keen minds to guide the Princes themselves.
If she could choose a suitable one to beco a Prince Consort,
Lin Guifei could feel at ease.
So she asked.
"How goes the matter I asked you to inquire about?"
Qin Liu nodded.
"Princess Consort Yi had already brought the young masters from the list into the palace yesterday, a total of six. They are the most outstanding sons of foreign officials in Da Wei. They are now studying and practicing riding and archery with the Second Prince and Third Prince, and I hear that the selection will be made in three months."
"Hmm, good news, bring the list for a look."
"Yes."
Although Princess Consort Yi’s influence had waned these two years, there were tis of glory in the past.
Therefore, upon receiving the list, she quickly began to think.
To be a companion of the Prince was not sothing just anyone could do.
Likewise, being selected as a Prince’s companion also signified the alignnt of the family behind them.
The Second Prince’s maternal family was a rising star, highly favored by the Emperor.
The Third Prince’s maternal family was an old noble house holding significant power.
This choice was not easy. Once chosen, it was impossible to change sides if they wished to later.
Thus, although six young masters entered the palace, not everyone desired to be chosen as a Prince’s companion.
Among them, Lin Guifei had her eye on two.
They were the third son of Marquis Zhongyong Mansion, Fang Yuanbin, and the legitimate second son of Scholar Zeng from the Cabinet, Zeng Konghou.
Both were around eleven or twelve years old and not only had impressive family backgrounds but also possessed both civil and military talents.
Especially Scholarly Zeng’s son, Zeng Konghou.
Rumor had it he beca an honorary disciple of the Imperial College at ten.
This honor was highly sought after.
But once earned, it usually guaranteed the top three in the imperial exam.
Such a remarkable background, securing his favor, would likely make him an important aide in the future.
Therefore, Lin Guifei surmised that the Second Prince and Third Prince would fiercely compete for this person.
Rather than let him be taken by the Second Prince, Lin Guifei preferred the Third Prince.
Princess Consort Yi had grudges and enmity with her.
But compared to Lin Wanyi, she was slightly preferable.
She would not forget that it was Lin Xingzhi who led the people to search Prince Zhan’s Mansion.
And it was Mr. Lin who destroyed the Earth Dragon Qi of Prince Zhan’s Mansion.
The main house lineage indeed never got along with their second house side since birth.
Otherwise, why would one rise and the other fall?
But fortune’s wheel turns.
They had beco the "worn down" ones.
Thinking of this, she said to Qin Liu,
"Send soone to Yuexiu Palace with a ssage, saying that this palace’s illness has not improved and wishes to receive more food and dicinal supplies, following the Empress’s portion."
Qin Liu was astonished, wondering why Princess Consort Yi would consent to such a gesture.
"Madam, wouldn’t this anger Princess Consort Yi? Wouldn’t that be counterproductive?"
"Angering her is precisely the point, this way she will be angry enough to confront , allowing to reach so private agreents with her."
Ah, so that’s how it is.
Qin Liu thought for a mont and nodded, going out to pass the orders.
As she left, she glanced back at the plaque hanging high in Linzi Palace.
Rou Jia possesses virtue.
It seed to wear a mocking smile, watching everyone within the palace.
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