The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 68 - Gathering Fragrance (Huifang) Courtyard

Lin Wanyi smiled gently, her eyes full of tenderness.

"Welcome, my lady."

"Welcome, my lady."

Chunqi and Xiao Luzi hurried forward to greet Lin Wanyi.

"Rise, you've done a good job with the arrangements."

With that, she took off two rings from her fingers and handed them to Xia'an to give to them.

Both were delighted to receive the gifts, but more importantly, they were happy to see their lady comfortable and content.

"Thank you, my lady."

"Let me show you around, my lady. Many of the items here were sent by the emperor, adjusted to make you feel at home."

No wonder she felt a sense of familiarity upon entering.

"Let's go for a walk."

Huifang Courtyard was located on the west side of the villa, closest to Zeping Isle.

Zeping Isle had a separate courtyard called Qiqing Hall, which was the late emperor's favorite place. Due to the continuous expansion of the royal gardens, it had become somewhat "remote."

Most of the concubines preferred to stay closer to Qinxian Hall, where the emperor resided, to be more accessible for favor, so they mostly lived on the east side.

This arrangement suited Lin Wanyi perfectly.

The villa was less strict than the imperial city, so it was normal for people to move around more freely.

Since they were here to spend the summer, it would be a waste to focus too much on interacting with the other concubines.

So, being farther away had its advantages.

Lin Guifei's careful arrangements inadvertently allowed Lin Wanyi to relax.

If Lin Guifei knew what Lin Wanyi was thinking, she would probably be furious.

"This courtyard may not be large, but the surrounding scenery is beautiful. I've already walked around. To the north is a lotus lake, which will be full of blooming lotuses in a month. My lady, don't you love boating? We can go there later."

"To the south is a path leading to Zeping Isle. This servant asked around, and it's mostly unoccupied now, so it's fine for imperial concubines to visit."

"And behind us is a peach grove. The peaches are almost ripe. When they are, I'll make peach jam. My lady loves peach syrup? Freshly picked peaches make the sweetest jam!"

Chunqi introduced the surroundings to Lin Wanyi as they walked.

Her endless chatter was very much in line with her personality.

No matter where they went, she could quickly familiarize herself with the place and make arrangements accordingly, which Lin Wanyi appreciated.

While they strolled outside, Xia'an was inside organizing everything.

Many of Lin Wanyi's usual items, like pillows, blankets, and some leisure books, were brought along.

Most importantly, the materials and threads for sewing clothes for the emperor were also packed, as Lin Wanyi had instructed before they left.

She openly said that if the sun was too strong, it would be more comfortable to stay indoors and do embroidery.

Xia'an smiled, not exposing her lady's love for idleness.

After Lin Wanyi and Chunqi finished their tour, she seemed like a different person compared to her time in the imperial city.

It was as if she had returned to her days in the east wing of the Prime Minister's residence, with a constant smile on her face.

"My lady, please sit. I've already prepared soup in the small kitchen. I'll cook two more dishes, and we can eat."

"There's a small kitchen here too?"

"Yes, I asked around. All the courtyards in the villa have small kitchens, in case the ladies need something to eat. Unlike the palace, where the imperial kitchen is nearby and food can be easily delivered, here we can cook our own meals if we want. We just need to collect ingredients from the dining hall daily."

"That's convenient for you, and we get to enjoy good food."

Chunqi's cooking skills were praised even by the picky emperor, so they mostly ate her food while at Xianyi Hall.

Lin Wanyi had expected some inconvenience at the villa, but it turned out to be just like before.

She grew even fonder of Huifang Courtyard, feeling more free and comfortable here than at Xianyi Hall.

The lush scenery outside lifted her spirits more than any day since entering the palace.

After a hearty meal, Qiu Ming explained the villa's rules and arrangements.

"In the villa, the ladies only need to pay respects to Lin Guifei on the first and fifteenth of each month. The rest of the time is free. The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is held at Wanhe Tower, and specific arrangements will be made half a month in advance. At that time, the ladies may need to prepare a gift for the emperor to show their appreciation."

"Is this a rule?"

"Yes."

Lin Wanyi found this open gift-giving rule a bit strange.

But palace rules were to be followed, whether she liked them or not.

However, deciding what to give was a challenge for Lin Wanyi.

It couldn't be too extravagant, nor too perfunctory, which was quite a headache.

Fortunately, there were still two months to go, so she wasn't in a hurry. She decided to focus on her embroidery for now.

As night fell, Lin Wanyi, tired from the day's activities, was about to bathe and rest.

Unexpectedly, Dong Yuzhong arrived.

It took at least half an hour to walk from Qinxian Hall to Huifang Courtyard. Why was he here?

"Eunuch Dong, is there something urgent?"

"Yes, my lady. The emperor has ordered that tomorrow's lunch will be at Shengjing Tower in Qinxian Hall. All the accompanying concubines must attend, so I came to inform you."

"Thank you for coming all this way at night. Chunqi, serve tea to Eunuch Dong."

"Yes."

"After this walk, I am indeed thirsty. Thank you, my lady!"

Dong Yuzhong smiled and drank the tea in one gulp.

After chatting briefly, Lin Wanyi had Qiu Ming escort him out, reminding him to carry a lantern to avoid tripping in the dark.

She then went to the side room to bathe and change.

Soaking in the hot tub, the day's fatigue melted away.

The tub was filled with a special essence that Chunqi had brought from home.

It was a high-quality magnolia essence that Madam Dong had bought at a high price. Regular use not only left a pleasant fragrance but also made the skin smooth and fair.

The magnolia scent was well-balanced, not overly sweet, and very comforting.

Xia'an used the same essence to wash Lin Wanyi's hair.

Looking at the silky, ink-black hair, Xia'an couldn't help but exclaim.

"My lady, you are truly beautiful."

She remembered being stunned by Lin Wanyi's beauty when they first met.

Her beauty was both subtle and captivating.

It wasn't just her delicate features but also her graceful and serene demeanor.

This beauty was approachable and humble, which was why the emperor was so fond of her.