The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 13 - Unstable Foundation

In the Yuxiu Palace, Yi Fei sat gracefully on a rosewood couch. Beside her was a table holding a gilded bronze incense burner, filled with moon branch incense from the northwest, its faint sweetness refreshing and soothing. This was the scent Yi Fei loved the most.

Unfortunately, the pleasant aroma seemed to fail to capture the interest of those present.

Chu Guiren indignantly recounted the events preceding Yi Fei's arrival, expressing her disdain for Lin Wanyi and almost labeling her a femme fatale. "Your Highness, that Lin Daying looks like nothing more than a seductress. If the Emperor truly favors her, won't that make Lin Guifei even more powerful?"

Her hatred for Lin Wanyi was palpable; she would gladly send her to her doom through Yi Fei's influence. Yet, if one were to delve deeper, there was little enmity between her and Lin Wanyi. It was likely her pride that fueled her resentment.

In the boudoir, she had always been someone who liked to stand out. Especially in the northwest, where her striking beauty made her shine like a star among the military families. Now that she had entered the palace, her looks were merely considered average. Being selected for the palace was based on beauty as a prerequisite, and compared to Lin Wanyi, she felt decidedly inferior, which fueled her annoyance.

"Lin Guifei can't bear children, so she sought out a young and beautiful one from her family. Who can't see what she's up to? Your Highness, although our Third Prince is the most favored by the Emperor, if a series of princes are born, that favor might dwindle at any moment. If it affects the Third Prince's future, it would be troublesome!"

The Chu family relied on the northwest marquess, and naturally, Chu Guiren also leaned on Yi Fei.

Each of her words struck a chord with Yi Fei, who was toying with a jade roller—an item sent by her family a few days ago, reputed to be excellent for maintaining youth. Although her features were ordinary, she had maintained herself well, so despite being older than Lin Guifei, she looked not much older than Chu Guiren.

"Things that you can see, Lin Guifei can see just as well. Don't worry, the Lin family has its own complexities; we'll just wait and see how it unfolds."

"Your Highness..."

Yi Fei had spent many years in the palace and was well-versed in the affairs of the various consorts and their families. She had a general understanding of the situation in the Lin household and felt that she wouldn't need to intervene. Lin Guifei would not let Lin Wan Yi rise too quickly.

After all, two tigers cannot coexist, and since the Lin sisters could consolidate favor together, they could just as easily fight for it.

With that thought, she found the situation all the more interesting.

Chu Guiren, unaware of the deeper implications, felt that Yi Fei was effectively releasing a tiger back into the mountains. Why not suppress Lin Wanyi hard while she had just entered the palace? Was she really waiting for her to become a favored consort before confronting her?

Though she simmered with anger, she didn't dare express it in front of Yi Fei.

Yi Fei, catching a glimpse of Chu Guiren's sulky expression, could guess her thoughts. "Enough, we are in the imperial city of Shengjing, not the northwest. Even if you want to deal with the Lin family, you have to consider their powerful connections. Her grandfather is currently a highly influential figure in the court. Can the Chu family afford to offend the Lin family?"

Chu Guiren felt a significant reduction in her earlier arrogance after this rebuke.

"Isn't it said that she is not favored in the Lin household?"

"Even if she's not favored, she still enters the palace under the name of the Second Miss of the Lin family. Her fortunes are tied to the Lin family's; understand?"

"I understand."

"Understanding is not enough; avoid causing trouble. Right now, your foundation in the palace is still unstable. It's more important to gain the Emperor's favor rather than lose the small advantages you have by picking fights."

After hearing this, Chu Guiren realized the truth. Even if Lin Wanyi was favored, she was still just a lowly consort, while she was a noble lady. If she could be promoted to a consort, she would then occupy the main hall of Yihua Palace.

The thought of living in the radiant main hall of Yihua Palace made her disdain for Lin Wanyi feel less significant.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness!"

Seeing her demeanor softened, Yi Fei relaxed her previously sharp tone and chatted amicably with her, reminiscing about some interesting stories from the northwest.

At this moment, Chu Guiren was unaware that two other consorts in the same palace were enjoying a lively conversation in the spring-blooming imperial garden.

"Sister, you know I'm from Huaiyang County in Jiangnan, where we see all kinds of flowers for most of the year. Yet, there are many flowers in this imperial garden that I have never seen before."

She casually pointed to a sea of blossoms.

The pure white flowers, with centers of pale egg yolk and orange, were stunning when in full bloom.

"This is the pink hibiscus from the western regions. I've seen a couple of them in my grandmother's room before; they are said to be quite valuable."

"From the western regions?"

"Yes, some trading caravans from the west bring over local flower seeds, and there are also experts in Shengjing who cultivate flowers. That's how we have this pink hibiscus."

"Pink hibiscus? Sister, if you look closely, it does resemble the hibiscus we usually see."

"I heard there are several colors of pink hibiscus, but since the palace respects bright yellow, the introduced pink hibiscus also has some yellow mixed in."

"I see. Sister, you are so knowledgeable; I admire you!"

Lin Wanyi smiled; it was just a plant, nothing to boast about. It reminded her of the five years spent traveling mountains and rivers with her maternal grandfather and uncles, feeling as if it were a lifetime ago.

"If you don't mind, please call me Lanchun from now on; that's my name."

"Lanchun?"

"Yes, I was born at the end of March, and when my father named me, he was inspired by the spring colors all around the yard. Perhaps because of this name, I've loved wandering through gardens since I was a child."

"Then your birthday must have passed already."

It was nearly mid-April, so of course, it had passed.

Mu Daying nodded, her tone tinged with helplessness. "In the past, I always celebrated my birthday with my parents. But this year, for this coming-of-age ceremony, it's just me and my maid, Ying'er."

The coming-of-age ceremony for young ladies is a significant event in the Wei dynasty.

Of course, wealthy families have their ways of celebrating, while ordinary folks have their own. However, Mu Daying's celebration seemed rather bleak.

Not only did she spend her fifteenth birthday alone in the palace, but her entire life was now bound to these high walls.

Thinking about this, Lin Wanyi felt a bit sorry for her.

She smiled gently and comforted her, saying, "If you don't mind, we can share a meal together later in the left hall. That girl, Chunqi, is an excellent cook; she can make you a bowl of longevity noodles."