The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 6 - Careful Preparation

The green plaque had barely been sent up before a response came so quickly that Lin Wanyi was a bit taken aback. But after a moment's thought, she realized it made sense. She had been brought into the palace to help Lin Guifei secure her favor with the Emperor, so it was only natural for her to attend to the Emperor early on. This would also settle the hearts of those both inside and outside the palace.

With this in mind, she accepted it calmly.

"Thank you for informing me, Eunuch Qin. Xia'an, please serve tea to Eunuch Qin."

In terms of rank, Lin Wanyi was only a Ninth Rank Daying, while Eunuch Qin, though a servant, held the position of Deputy Chief of the Inner Court, a Seventh Rank official who had access to the Emperor. It was only proper for her to show him some extra courtesy.

"You're too kind, my lady. A momo from the Sizhen office will come shortly to instruct you on the protocols for attending to the Emperor. You just need to follow their guidance."

"Thank you, Eunuch Qin."

Chief Steward Quan was right—this newly appointed Daying was indeed something. Not only did she handle herself gracefully, but she was also very polite and considerate in her interactions. It's well known that palace servants often fawn over those in power, but no one is inherently like that; they're simply more respectful when treated kindly.

"These must be Miss Chunqi and Miss Xia'an, yes? If anything is needed in the palace, just let my apprentice, Little Luzi, know. He is diligent and attentive, and I've specially assigned him to run errands for you, my lady."

After speaking, Eunuch Qin signaled with his eyes, and soon a young eunuch with a pleasant appearance stepped forward.

"Your servant, Xiao Luzi, greets Lin Daying and wishes you well."

As soon as he finished speaking, he bowed deeply—a straightforward and sincere gesture.

Technically, Lin Wanyi's rank as Daying didn't entitle her to have a personal eunuch servant, but Deputy Chief Eunuch Qin still sent Xiao Luzi to her. This was undoubtedly a calculated move by the Inner Court. If she became favored, she would naturally remember their kindness, making it a win-win situation. If she didn't, it wouldn't matter—they could always find an excuse to reassign him, as his official record still tied him to the Inner Court.

Such long-standing palace officials certainly knew how to play their cards. Lin Wanyi's face remained serene, with her usual gentle smile that gave nothing away.

"In that case, I appreciate your kindness, Eunuch Qin."

"You're most welcome, my lady."

Leaving Xiao Luzi behind, Eunuch Qin took his leave. Xiao Luzi would serve during the day and return to the Inner Court at night, so there was no need to arrange separate quarters for him. Being new, he wasn't sure of Lin Wanyi's personality yet, but keeping quiet and doing his job diligently wouldn't steer him wrong.

When Chunqi mentioned that the water tank in the side room needed to be filled, Xiao Luzi quickly volunteered to take care of it. Watching him bustling about, Chunqi couldn't help but feel a bit pleased.

"My lady, this Xiao Luzi is quite hardworking. If it were us fetching water, it'd take at least half an hour, but look how quickly the tank is almost full."

"Xiao Luzi has backers in the palace, so be respectful when you speak and act. Don't make mistakes over small things."

"Don't worry, my lady, I understand."

Though Chunqi was bold and straightforward, she never bullied the weak and was quick on her feet. Lin Wanyi wasn't concerned about her behavior.

Not long after the water tank was filled, the Sizhen momos arrived as expected. Four of them stood in a row, neatly attired in dark blue long robes, with their hair styled impeccably. The lead momo had a round and kind face, clearly experienced in dealing with the nervous and shy palace consorts. Lin Wanyi's calm and composed demeanor left a favorable impression on her.

With a gentler tone, she began to explain the protocols for the evening.

"At the hour of You, a soft sedan chair will come to escort you to the side hall of Qian'an Palace. After a bath, someone will guide you to the inner chamber. You only need to wait for His Majesty there."

With that, she handed over a palace manual. Chunqi took it and passed it to Lin Wanyi, who, after flipping through just two pages, felt a flush creep up her cheeks. Although she had never been with a man, the instructions were clear enough to make her feel embarrassed.

The momo, having seen this reaction many times, reassured her,

"This is a matter of continuing the imperial lineage, my lady. There's no need to feel shy."

Suppressing her embarrassment, Lin Wanyi accepted the manual and thanked the momo for her guidance. The momo, noting her composed demeanor, became more confident. Consorts who were overly flirtatious or nervous before attending to the Emperor rarely fared well. In contrast, those who were calm and poised often found more lasting success.

This Lin Daying had a promising future, the momo thought, growing more meticulous in her service.

At the appointed hour, Lin Wanyi was escorted in the soft sedan chair to the side hall of Qian'an Palace. Standing outside, Chunqi and Xia'an watched nervously, their hearts filled with excitement. In contrast, Xiao Luzi remained calm—he had seen such scenes many times before and thought little of it.

Qian'an Palace, being the Emperor's residence, had a side hall that was larger than Lin Wanyi's entire quarters by half. Upon entering, she was greeted by seven or eight palace maids who curtsied and said,

"Greetings to Lin Daying."

The lead maid was the same one who had instructed her earlier, and Lin Wanyi acknowledged her with a nod. After taking a deep breath, she extended her arms, allowing the maids to help her undress. She was then bathed in warm water infused with a special essential oil from the Imperial Medical Bureau, designed to leave a subtle floral fragrance that the Emperor favored.

Without needing an explanation, Lin Wanyi quickly understood how the scent was crafted. She had been trained in embroidery, tea-making, flower arranging, and incense blending since childhood—skills expected of noblewomen. Though she rarely showed off these talents, her mother, Madam Dong, had been quietly pleased, often saying that her daughter was more gifted than most.

Though it was awkward to bathe under the watchful eyes of so many attendants, Lin Wanyi closed her eyes and allowed them to wash her. These palace maids were long-time attendants of Qian'an Palace and could usually predict whether a consort would win favor. Even they, having seen countless beauties, couldn't help but be captivated by Lin Wanyi. Not only was she beautiful and young, but she also possessed an unusual air of serenity for her age.

Thinking back on the consorts who had recently attended to the Emperor, they all agreed—Lin Wanyi had the best prospects.

Finally, after what felt like ages, they lifted her from the bath.