The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 24 - Hosting the Banquet

"It seems Ying Pin is not planning to give me face."

Kneeling, Ying Pin couldn't help but swallow nervously. Facing Lin Guifei's pressure, she was somewhat scared.

But no matter how scared she was, she had to refuse. So, she clenched the handkerchief in her hand and continued to speak with a stiff upper lip.

"Your Highness misunderstood me. How dare I disrespect you? It's just that I lack the ability and fear that if I mess up, it will affect your reputation, and that would be my fault."

Lack the ability?

She dared to use that as an excuse.

Her father was the Vice Minister of Rites, and she had been exposed to these rules since childhood. How could she not be able to handle a banquet?

There must be a reason behind it.

Thinking of this, Lin Guifei changed her aggressive attitude to a gentle tone and continued.

"I was just joking with you. Since Ying Pin can't handle the banquet, then..."

Her eyes swept over the other concubines, some eager, some deliberately avoiding, and some curious.

"Let Ye Guiren and Du Changzai handle it together. You two have served His Majesty for many years and are familiar with the rules, especially Ye Guiren. I remember you were originally from the Inner Court before serving His Majesty, so you must have handled many banquets. Make sure it's decent and thorough, understood?"

This tone was no longer a discussion but a direct order.

Du Changzai was naturally overjoyed. It turned out that her decision to cling to Lin Guifei was correct.

If she could use this opportunity to gain the emperor's attention again, her days in the harem would be more comfortable.

So she got up and sincerely thanked Lin Guifei.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, I will be careful and not embarrass you."

With these words, Ye Guiren had no way to refuse and could only kneel and thank as well.

Lin Wanyi, because of the earlier incident, looked at her more closely. Although she agreed readily, her face did not show the excitement of Du Changzai.

It seemed she was someone who could hide her thoughts.

Why would such a person speak up to help earlier?

While she was thinking, Mu Daying looked at her and secretly gave a thumbs up. Lin Wanyi immediately understood that she had misunderstood.

Mu Lanchun thought Lin Guifei was deliberately giving her face.

After all, Chu Guiren, who had offended her with disrespectful words, had been effectively confined, and Ye Guiren, who had helped her, was now handling the banquet, which was a task that required effort but also gained favor.

Such a display was to let everyone know that Lin Wanyi was not to be easily offended.

Lin Wanyi was very worried about this.

If Mu Lanchun could understand, so could the others.

For her, it reduced many threats, but facing such "kindness," what did Lin Guifei want from her?

First, using her brother's future as bait, then boosting her own prestige.

It all seemed like a trap.

Even if she saw through it, she couldn't refuse.

She could only wait for Lin Guifei to reveal her cards, and whether she could handle it would be up to Lin Wanyi's ability.

Regarding the Dragon Boat Festival, Lin Guifei gave a few more instructions.

Using the excuse of reading family letters, she kept Lin Wanyi behind.

Before leaving, Mu Daying whispered to her.

"Take your time, sister. I'll go see Chunqi making green plum pastries."

She seemed to be in a leisurely mood, while Lin Wanyi felt her future was uncertain.

She braced herself to face Lin Guifei.

After everyone left, Qin He instructed all the palace staff to wait outside, leaving only Lin Guifei and Lin Wanyi in the hall.

Lin Wanyi felt that this matter must be significant.

Sure enough, Lin Guifei's words shocked her.

"Ying Pin has been pregnant for four months, but no one in the harem knows."

A concubine not reporting her pregnancy, why?

Seeing Lin Wanyi's confusion, Lin Guifei explained.

"She has been in the palace for so long and only now got pregnant, so she has to be cautious. She must be waiting for the right time to announce it."

"So, Your Highness means..."

"There are now two pregnant concubines in the palace, both of high rank. If they successfully give birth to sons, their ranks will have to be promoted."

Promoted again!

Ying Pin becoming a consort was fine, but if Lan Fei was promoted again, would there be two Guifei in the palace?

This had never happened in history.

No wonder Lin Guifei reacted this way.

"At this point, I won't beat around the bush. When I gave birth to Mingruo, I hurt my body, so after so many years of recuperation, I haven't conceived again. You must have guessed why you were brought into the palace."

Lin Guifei was straightforward, without any pretense.

"Before the fruit is ripe, it's hard to say if the child can be kept. Even if born, it's uncertain if they can be raised in the palace. The First Prince and Second Prince are examples."

Suddenly mentioning the two princes, Lin Wanyi became even more frightened.

"The First Prince was born to Empress Xu, the emperor's eldest son with high hopes, but he died of illness at around six years old, causing the empress to fall into despair and pass away a year later."

"The Second Prince was born to Su Fei. She had a difficult labor for three days, and the child was born with deficiencies. She died of excessive bleeding, and the child became Lan Fei's adopted son."

Lin Guifei watched Lin Wanyi's face as she spoke.

Sure enough, she looked pale.

A mocking smile appeared on her lips. After all, she was new to the palace and couldn't handle such matters.

But she didn't stop talking.

"Yi Fei's Third Prince is healthy and intelligent, the most presentable in the palace."

Mentioning "presentable," Lin Wanyi clearly felt Lin Guifei's resentment.

It seemed the Third Prince was already a thorn in her side.

If not for Yi Fei's protection, many in the harem would have targeted this healthy Third Prince.

"Now there are two more pregnant, if both are princes, then there will be a Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince, making the palace even livelier."

As she spoke, her eyes seemed to recall something, becoming distant.

Lin Wanyi listened quietly. These matters were not for her to comment on, especially without Lin Guifei's clear intentions. It was better not to speculate.

Hiding her abilities would make her life more comfortable.

After a while, Lin Guifei returned from her thoughts and looked at Lin Wanyi with more scrutiny.

"Although you entered the palace late, I see you have potential. But situations like yesterday, where you accompany but do not serve, should happen less."

Being directly pointed out, Lin Wanyi pressed her lips together, feeling very embarrassed.