The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 58 - Reasons for Joining the Army

Translator XiaoBai: I will be releasing a lot of chapters for this novel today as a special treat for you. If you have been enjoying the novel so far, please consider liking and following me :)

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"Even if he joins the Imperial Guards, so what? He's just a squad leader. Not to mention whether he can advance, if he unfortunately dies in some bandit suppression or attack on rebels, it would be a pity for the Lin family's eldest grandson!"

Hearing this, the second madam's eyes lit up.

"Mother-in-law is right, I was overthinking."

Princess Rongkang glanced at her daughter-in-law, Wang Shi, who wasn't very smart but came from a good family.

So sometimes she just turned a blind eye.

"You don't need to worry about the main branch's affairs. They have their own hardships to endure. How is Guangzhi doing? Is he doing well at the Imperial Academy?"

Lin Guangzhi, mentioned by Princess Rongkang, was the second young master of the Prime Minister's residence.

He was also the only grandson of Princess Rongkang's lineage, so the Lin family valued him greatly.

However, he was raised too pampered and had some spoiled tendencies, so Princess Rongkang sent him to the Imperial Academy for some discipline.

It's been two months, but no news has come back.

Princess Rongkang, who was very concerned about her grandson, worried every day about missing any letters.

When Wang Shi mentioned her son, she naturally beamed with joy.

"Mother-in-law, don't worry. You know Guangzhi's nature. He's lively and likable. It's said that everyone at the Imperial Academy treats him well."

"I mean, how is Guangzhi doing academically?"

Princess Rongkang snorted coldly.

With people from the Zhan Wang Mansion and the Prime Minister's residence's cherished grandson entering the academy, would anyone dare to trouble him?

This second daughter-in-law really lacked brains.

"Guangzhi is learning quickly, but he is a bit playful. Given time, he will achieve great things."

The saying "a doting mother spoils her child" was indeed true.

Fortunately, he was still young. After he comes of age, they would find him a job to temper his character.

Thinking of this, Princess Rongkang relaxed a bit.

She and Wang Shi continued chatting about the bustling Shengjing city.

Meanwhile, in the East Wing, Madam Dong almost lost her breath upon hearing that Lin Xingzhi was going to join the army.

"Are you crazy? Qianqian is now in the palace, and it will be difficult to see her in the future. Your father and I only have you two brothers by our side. If you leave, what will we do? The battlefield is dangerous. If... how will your father and I live?"

Madam Dong cried and scolded.

Lin Xingzhi knelt on the ground, letting her speak, but his determination was unwavering.

Master Lin Guangzu also looked at his son with a worried face, unable to speak.

Instead, the younger son, Lin Muzhi, stepped forward, first helping Madam Dong to sit down and then handing her a handkerchief.

He softly comforted her.

"Mother, elder brother is not impulsive. He must have a reason for doing this. Listen to him first before making a decision, okay?"

Although Lin Muzhi was young, his words were very convincing.

The young boy's face, though still childish, showed a lot of calmness. Among the Lin family's grandchildren, he resembled Prime Minister Lin the most.

Unfortunately, being born in the East Wing, he received little attention from his grandfather.

Now, at the age of thirteen, he had seen his grandfather only a few times.

Not to mention any nurturing or guidance.

"The child is right. Listen to what Heshong has to say."

Master Lin also comforted his wife. There was no enmity in the family; things would be fine once they talked it out.

Seeing that her husband and son made sense, Madam Dong slowly stopped crying.

With red eyes, she looked at her eldest son and said.

"Speak up, why do you insist on joining the army?"

Lin Xingzhi took a deep breath and looked seriously at his family.

Especially his mother, who looked older than her years compared to the second madam in the West Wing.

He then slowly said.

"Mother, I saw Qianqian during the dragon boat race."

"What? How is she? Is she okay? Has she lost weight?"

A series of questions came out, and Lin Xingzhi couldn't answer them all.

Seeing Madam Dong's anxious face, he felt a pang of guilt but had to tell the truth.

"Not good. She looks thinner. Although she didn't speak, I noticed her legs seemed to be injured, probably recovering from a sprain."

Hearing this, Madam Dong collapsed onto the bench. If Lin Muzhi had not supported her, she would have fallen to the ground.

Instantly, she felt a deep sorrow.

"My child, why is everyone suffering so much!"

She cried bitterly, but Lin Xingzhi didn't stop, continuing to add to her pain.

"Moreover, she was framed and fell into the water that day. If I hadn't been there to pull her out, we would have heard bad news by now."

"What!"

Master Lin angrily slammed his fist on the table and stood up, ready to rush out.

"Father, where are you going?"

"I'm going to the West Wing to ask them. Isn't their daughter a Guifei in the palace? How can she watch her sister being bullied like this! Aren't they all Lin's bloodline? Don't they care about family at all?"

Hearing this, Lin Xingzhi sneered.

"Father, don't you understand by now? When did the West Wing and Ronghe Hall ever consider us family? They forced Qianqian into the palace to secure Lin Guifei's favor, suppressing me and my brother, not allowing us to rise. They make life difficult for mother every day. Over the years, except when they need money, when have they ever treated us kindly?"

"You want to reason with them? Do you think Uncle or Aunt will listen to you? One is the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the other is the daughter of the Minister of War. Look at us, mother is the daughter of a merchant, and you are just an eighth-rank minor official in the Astronomical Bureau. What do we have to compare or compete with them?"

Lin Xingzhi, with red eyes, laid out the facts of their family's suffering over the years.

Everyone in the room was stunned, especially Master Lin, who stood still, not daring to move.

"Mother asked why I want to join the army? Because I no longer want to be at the mercy of others! If we don't strive to rise, staying in this confined space, one day my brother and I will become stepping stones for the West Wing. And Qianqian, a concubine without family support, do you know what her life will be like?"

"Today, she might still be useful to Lin Guifei and can stay alive, but who knows what the future holds? Should she rely on Lin Guifei for the rest of her life? Think about it, is that reliable?"