The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 155 - The Feelings Between a Man and a Woman

After hearing those words, Lin Wanyi was left unsure of what to do. Her previously good mood was clouded by dark thoughts.

Outside, the sky gradually brightened inch by inch, and by the time sunlight filled the entire Huifang Courtyard, Lin Wanyi was still sitting on the veranda, leaning against a red lacquered pillar, motionless. Normally, by this time, she would have been out watering the flowers and plants. But today, her entire demeanor radiated discomfort.

There was no denying that Dong Yuzhong's parting words had deeply affected her. She had never expected that the Emperor would treat her this way. In her life, the only people who had ever shown her affection were her parents and maternal grandparents.

Affection between husband and wife?

She almost laughed at the thought. What right did she have to speak of such feelings with the Emperor? In truth, everyone in the palace was just one of his concubines. The only one who could truly claim to be his partner in marriage had been the late Empress Xu.

But ever since she entered the palace, the Emperor had shared his heart with her on several occasions. Once, he had rushed to comfort her after dealing with Lin Guifei when he heard that her younger brother had been beaten. Another time, he had shared stories of his past with her under the moonlight. And again, today, he had spoken of the challenges within the palace but hadn't let go of her hand.

Each time, it was the Emperor who took a step closer, while she lingered, unwilling to meet him halfway, either unable to respond or holding back.

The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt, and the knot in her heart only tightened. Her sighs, one after another, nearly drove Xia An, who stood behind her, to despair.

This was the scene that Du Momo walked in on. Watching Lin Changzai from the side, she couldn't help but think—how different was Lin Changzai from the late Xian Fei? Could it be that the palace truly couldn't accommodate even a hint of love? Any woman who dared feel affection would ultimately suffer, leaving only memories behind?

Her thoughts, interrupted by memories from the past, lingered for a moment before she took a resolute step forward. She greeted Lin Wanyi with a bow.

"My lady."

"Du Momo, what brings you here?" Lin Wanyi, drawn from her troubled thoughts, looked up.

"The Second Prince rose early but has dozed off again. I have something with me, and after some thought, I decided it was best to show it to you, my lady."

"Something?"

Lin Wanyi was curious. She rose and instructed Xia An, "Wait outside the courtyard. Du Momo and I will speak inside."

"Yes."

The two entered the inner room, and Xia An closed the door behind them, then moved to the veranda, ensuring she couldn't overhear their conversation.

Lin Wanyi sat quietly on a round stool, watching as Du Momo seemed to come to a decision. She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a piece of silk cloth.

The silk cloth was slightly larger than a typical handkerchief and was made from fine, lustrous fabric. Taking it, Lin Wanyi noticed it was embroidered with a landscape scene. The design was somewhat reminiscent of the painting the Emperor had once made for her—though one had a grander, more majestic quality, while the other was more delicate and graceful.

A pang hit her heart. Could this be one of the late Empress Xu's belongings? Was Du Momo giving this to remind her she was merely a replacement?

Suddenly, Lin Wanyi's emotions were thrown into disarray. She didn't know how to respond. But before she could gather her thoughts, Du Momo began to speak.

"I once served as a wet nurse to Xian Fei, and since His Majesty's birth, she assigned me to care for him. I've done so for over twenty years."

Lin Wanyi already knew this—bits and pieces of it had come up in conversation with the Emperor before. But what did these old memories have to do with the handkerchief?

Lin Wanyi was puzzled but waited patiently for Du Momo to continue.

"This silk cloth was one of Xian Fei's belongings. If it hadn't been left unfinished, it would have been buried with her in the imperial tombs upon her passing."

As she spoke, Lin Wanyi examined the handkerchief more closely, noticing that some areas of the landscape were incomplete.

"So Xian Fei was skilled in embroidery?" she asked.

"Yes, not just embroidery."

Mentioning Xian Fei, Du Momo's usual serious expression softened as she began to reminisce.

"Xian Fei was once the finest woman in the world. She was gifted, virtuous, and talented in all the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, and embroidery. When the master and madam were still alive, they raised her exceptionally well. I had thought Xian Fei would find an honorable husband and live a peaceful life, but everything changed when the late emperor spotted her during his eastern tour."

"The late emperor was captivated at first sight and selected her to enter the palace. Within three years, she went from a minor consort to the cherished Xian Fei. Many in the harem envied her, but their jealousy was futile, for the late emperor only had eyes for her."

"At first, life was pleasant. Though there were inevitable ups and downs, the late emperor always supported Xian Fei. But everything changed with the emperor's birth."

As Du Momo spoke, her gaze turned sharp.

"The emperor is the late emperor's eldest son. The empress back then, who is now the Empress Dowager, had been in the palace for years but only had two daughters. Finally having a prince after all this time, she naturally wanted to raise him as her legitimate son. Unfortunately, Xian Fei's health had been poor since his birth. Coupled with continuous petitions from the empress's family and the court officials, the emperor was ultimately sent to be raised in the empress's quarters."

"He was raised there for many years."

"Xian Fei had fame and the late emperor's favor but lacked the fortune to stay with him until old age. When the emperor was five, she passed away, holding my hand with countless instructions to watch over him."

"I... swore to protect the emperor with my life."

The memories poured out from Du Momo, filled with regret, as if she were reliving a distant past. As it turns out, being separated from one's child is a fate that has befallen more than just her. Even a beloved like Xian Fei had experienced this.

No wonder the emperor seemed to treat her differently since she entered the palace. Perhaps he saw in her the same helplessness and struggle that Xian Fei once faced.