The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 158 - Guessing the Reason

Hearing this, Xia An understood what her mistress was hinting at. She stopped hesitating and spoke directly.

"My lady, you're referring to the Emperor's care for Third Young Master, aren't you?"

"Yes. If I hadn't known, I could ignore it, but now that I'm aware, it's hard to pretend I didn't hear. But if I want to return a gift, what could I possibly give His Majesty that would be appropriate?"

"My lady, you're overthinking. Of all the things in the world, is there anything the Emperor hasn't seen? If you wish to return a gift, it doesn't need to be something valuable. After all, nothing can match what the Emperor possesses. Perhaps you could give something that he enjoys."

"Like clothing my lady has sewn? Or the food prepared by Chunqi? Or something else entirely?"

Xia An's words were a wake-up call. She didn't need to match the Emperor's wealth but could give him something he liked instead. Yet she knew exactly what the Emperor favored. But could she truly offer her sincere heart? And if she gave it and he lost interest, then what?

Once again, Lin Wanyi was troubled by a multitude of questions.

Meanwhile, in the Dong household, the family that had sent the news into the palace was discussing matters. The men were in the front hall, while First Madam Dong was feeding red sugar millet porridge to Lin Muzhi, who still struggled with eating.

In truth, Lin Muzhi had begun to regain consciousness the night before. However, his injuries were so severe that he couldn't speak or move. By the time his awareness returned, it was nearly dawn.

During these nights, Xin Fei and Zhang Qing had kept vigil for him. So, early the next morning, when Zhang Qing saw Lin Muzhi open his eyes, he joyfully rushed to report the news to First Madam's courtyard.

In an instant, the entire household was stirred.

After Second Madam Yun's careful examination, she confirmed that his consciousness wasn't a mere temporary surge but that he had truly awakened. Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Eldest Master Lin and his wife wept with joy as they held their son, and the rest of the Dong family was thrilled that he had woken up.

It took a while, but he finally pieced together all that had happened since his coma. It was undeniably shocking. However, moving out of the Prime Minister's residence was a good thing; after all he'd been through, he truly couldn't imagine how he could coexist with the second branch of the family.

As the bowl of porridge was emptied, First Madam Dong quickly used a cloth to wipe the corner of his mouth, then asked with eyes full of concern.

"Are you full, Third Son? Would you like more?"

Lin Muzhi mustered a slightly weak smile and replied slowly, "Mother, please don't worry; I've had enough."

Having only recently regained consciousness, he naturally couldn't eat much. So, he was mainly consuming liquid foods. These meals, however, left him hungry quickly, so although he was scheduled for three meals a day, for him, it often became six or seven. Yet, whenever he felt hungry, he could get food almost instantly. Even the porridge was brought to him with different variations each time.

Such attentive care was undoubtedly thanks to the dedication of the Dong family, for which he was deeply grateful, especially toward his Second Aunt Yun. Without her extraordinary acupuncture skills, he feared he might have already met Yama, the god of death.

However, he still needed complete bed rest, unable to leave his bed. Otherwise, he would have bowed properly to express his deep gratitude to the elders who had spared no effort to save him.

"Your Second Aunt said that if you continue resting for half a month and feel less dizzy, you'll be able to sit up a bit. But you must still recover well. If you feel any discomfort, you must let us know immediately. Understood?"

Madam Dong was fearful now, worried that her son might be hiding some latent illness they hadn't yet noticed, which would be troublesome.

Lin Muzhi smiled at her words, blinking slightly to acknowledge her. His head was too sensitive to even nod, as even the slightest movement brought on intense dizziness. Walking was, of course, out of the question.

"Yes, I'll make sure to rest and not worry everyone."

Looking at her sensible and obedient son, Madam Dong couldn't help but smile, hoping this ordeal would be his last, and that only smooth roads awaited him in the future.

In the main hall, Old Master Dong sat at the head, with Eldest Master Dong, Second Master Dong, and Eldest Master Lin seated on either side. The four had gathered here to discuss something important.

Eldest Master Dong began, explaining briefly what he'd accomplished while searching around for the past few days.

"The residence my brother-in-law asked me to find is finally in sight."

"Oh? Where is it located?" Eldest Master Lin inquired with interest.

"Near the north of the East Market, in Xuanbei Ward. It's a two-courtyard residence—not very large but with good feng shui. Three generations have lived there, all of whom have been successful and long-lived. If it weren't for the family relocating to their ancestral home, they wouldn't even consider selling it."

Eldest Master Dong's words piqued Eldest Master Lin's interest. He wondered, however, if a two-courtyard residence might be a bit small, and raised his question immediately.

Eldest Master Dong reassured him with a smile. "Don't worry, I've looked into it. Two adjoining private homes in the back are also up for sale. I took a mason with me to inspect it thoroughly. If we join all three places, it will make a fine residence."

"Both Xingzhi and Muzhi are getting older and will need their own homes one day. This would suit the two brothers perfectly!"

Eldest Master Dong was known for his thoroughness, so Eldest Master Lin trusted him. "Since you say it's suitable, then let's settle it. Renovations will take some time, and once Muzhi has mostly recovered, we'll move in!"

Eldest Master Lin wasn't considering moving because he felt uncomfortable at the Dong residence. It was simply that in Shengjing, only a very poor man would live with his wife's family, aside from those who were live-in sons-in-law. Though the Dong family had no objections to him living with them, society at large did not view it kindly. Staying in his wife's family's home wasn't seen as respectable, especially since he held an official position. Protecting his reputation was crucial.

With this in mind, Eldest Master Lin took out the banknotes he had received from his second brother's household during the recent family division and handed them to Eldest Master Dong.

Eldest Master Dong looked at the amount, slightly surprised. "How did my brother-in-law get so much money?"

"It was given to me by the second household as a gesture of apology during the family division. It may not compare to the wealth my wife has spent over the years, but it should be enough for securing a residence."

When he'd accepted the banknotes, Eldest Master Lin had considered the high expenses involved in renting a property. Relying solely on the Dong family would leave him feeling uneasy. Now, the Dong family understood his intentions completely.

"It's enough, more than enough. That property isn't large, but it's in a prime location, so the price is high. I was actually planning to negotiate the price and wait a few more days. But with this money, it's better to finalize it quickly and avoid any complications."