CHAPTER 181: CHAPTER 181: THE RISE OF THE NEW FAVORITE

This time, Mrs. Yun left the palace discreetly, but the carriage that sent her off was filled with imperial gifts.

The value of these items didn’t matter; what was most important was the Emperor’s sentiment.

The Dong Family was just an ordinary family recently removed from the merchant class, but they received imperial gifts.

Not many families can bear this kind of honor.

Lin Wanyi also escorted her to the entrance of the traveling palace, and it was only after seeing the carriage gradually leave that she regained her composure.

She recalled the advice given by her second aunt before she left.

"Your cold ailment is almost cured, and conceiving right now might be difficult. It just so happens that I have to enter the palace every half month to treat the Second Princess. If you plan to conceive, I can help you during this time."

Mrs. Yun meant well, as her physique differed from others, requiring extra caution.

But Lin Wanyi resolutely refused.

Not mentioning anything else, the Second Princess just narrowly escaped death. If she were to become pregnant now, how could she then care for her?

She didn’t see herself as a saint.

When it comes to her own children, she would surely be biased.

But this would be unfair to both the Second Prince and the Second Princess.

She still had the choice to bear children or not, but the siblings only had her to care for them wholeheartedly.

Therefore, it was not a good time for her to get pregnant.

Mrs. Yun knew her determined nature and did not continue to press her.

After all, the treatment of the Second Princess’s illness required a long process, and her palace visits had become simpler than before.

Thus, she felt relieved.

She gave some advice on caring for the Second Princess before leaving.

Lin Wanyi walked on the cobblestone path, feeling genuinely happy.

These days, her mind was entirely focused on the Second Princess, unaware of affairs outside her window.

But now, she realized that the scenery within the traveling palace had shifted from the scorching summer to early autumn.

Autumn, for Lin Wanyi, is a most beloved season.

The air is filled with the fragrance of melons and fruits, and the harvest is bountiful.

It seems as if all the year’s hard work culminates in autumn.

But she hadn’t forgotten, Doctor Dou had mentioned before.

Autumn could be quite challenging for the Second Prince.

Thus, she immediately instructed Qiu Ming and the others accompanying her.

"All the flowers and plants in the backyard need careful attention. If there are any that might trigger the Second Prince’s cough, remove them immediately. Chunqi should also take extra care with the meals. It took a lot of effort to nurse the Second Prince back to health; we mustn’t let him fall ill again due to an autumn breeze or rain."

"Yes, understood," replied the servants.

As she and her attendants discussed these matters along the way, they didn’t feel lonely on their return journey.

By chance, they encountered Ming Changzai, who just came from the East Garden. She was sitting high on a sedan, waiting to be taken to Qiqing Hall to accompany the Emperor.

Seeing Lin Wanyi, she seemed slightly surprised.

She immediately stopped the sedan, smiled, and said,

"Sister Lin, you seem to be in good spirits. I’ve been to the West Garden many times, but I’ve never seen you. Are you out for a stroll?"

The Emperor had covered up Mrs. Yun’s affairs very well.

So, within the traveling palace, no one knew an outsider had stayed in the West Garden for over half a month.

Lin Wanyi naturally wouldn’t betray that information.

She immediately smiled and replied,

"Yes, the weather is so agreeable in autumn. Sister, are you going to accompany His Majesty?"

Lin Wanyi asked knowingly.

She noticed a moment of discomfort flash across Ming Changzai’s face, but it quickly vanished.

Then she wore the expression of a favored concubine, looking somewhat pityingly at Lin Wanyi, said,

"Yes, His Majesty wants to watch me dance again, so he summoned me specially."

The word "again" highlighted her current situation vividly.

If Lin Wanyi hadn’t known earlier that she was merely used by the Emperor as a cover, she might have thought, like others, that she was the new favorite on the rise.

"Your dance is indeed breathtaking. Not to mention His Majesty, even the sisters in the palace enjoy it greatly."

Everyone likes to hear such compliments, and Ming Changzai was no exception.

She didn’t harbor much hostility towards Lin Wanyi.

Firstly, she found Lin Wanyi’s temperament to be tranquil, somewhat akin to Consort Ye, with whom she was on good terms.

Secondly, she and Lin Guifei shared the same mentor; thus, she naturally treated Lin Wanyi with kindness.

After some thought, she said,

"If Sister likes it, then it’s my good fortune. I should invite you to visit my courtyard someday to watch me dance. But not today, as I’m rushing to see His Majesty. I won’t delay any longer."

"Sister, you should hurry, so as not to keep His Majesty waiting," Lin Wanyi responded, as calm as ever. Seeing this, Ming Changzai didn’t linger.

She raised her hand, signaling the Palace Attendant to continue forward, leaving Lin Wanyi and her attendants standing there.

When they were far away, Chunqi dared to take a closer look.

But she didn’t voice a single complaint, perhaps because Qiu Ming was present.

"Today’s event, let’s pretend we didn’t see it, and just head back," Lin Wanyi advised, not wanting to stir up unnecessary complications.

She felt somewhat awkward when facing Ming Changzai.

After all, she had shielded her from many rumors and jealous scheming.

If she didn’t discern the situation carefully, she might end up trapped in this confined world.

Fighting every day with others over a bit of favor.

That’s something she neither liked nor wanted.

The attendants who had been with her for months already understood her nature.

So naturally, they followed her lead, and they returned to Huifang Courtyard in a proper manner.

As soon as they entered, they saw Eunuch Qin An waiting in the courtyard.

Lin Wanyi felt somewhat puzzled.

"Why has Mr. Qin come here? Is there something wrong?"

Her second aunt just left, so it shouldn’t be about the Dong Family.

Lin Wanyi couldn’t quite figure it out for a moment.

But Qin An’s smile never left his face. He said to Lin Wanyi,

"Congratulations, my lady, congratulations, my lady. The Emperor has decreed to grant you the largest courtyard in the West Garden, Ruiyang Pavilion. I came here today to ask if there’s anything from Huifang Courtyard you want to move. You can start packing and relocate in the coming days."

Ruiyang Pavilion?

Lin Wanyi wasn’t familiar with the layout of the courtyards in the traveling palace, so she looked at Qiu Ming.

Qiu Ming was quite knowledgeable about the area and quickly explained,

"Ruiyang Pavilion is located on the south side of the West Garden, about a half incense stick’s walk from Huifang Courtyard. Since you hardly walked around after arriving at the traveling palace, you haven’t been there yet."

Lin Wanyi remained silent. Indeed, she hadn’t been there.

But why did the Emperor suddenly make this decision? She quickly realized.

Perhaps he also agreed to her request, planning to have her stay in the traveling palace with the Second Prince and the Second Princess.

But Huifang Courtyard clearly wasn’t large enough for them to reside in, hence the relocation.