CHAPTER 339: CHAPTER 339: SEEKING SOLITUDE

The boundless prospects make people grit their teeth in envy!

But no matter the envy, with the Emperor here, they dare not make a fuss.

They can only silently swallow their bitterness.

The future is long; who knows what winds will blow next year?

Second Madam Lin cast a glance at the row of nannies standing behind Lin Wanyi.

Of Princes and Princesses, she has many.

But how many can she actually keep?

Second Madam Dong, unaware of their acquaintance, inadvertently caught a glimpse of the envy in her eyes.

For the intrigues within these great mansions, she felt disdain from the bottom of her heart.

But one should not be without caution, and she still felt it necessary to remind Lin Wanyi.

After the ceremony, Miss Feng was sent into the room.

Meanwhile, Lin Xingzhi naturally stayed outside to greet the guests, and exchanged drinks.

With the Emperor present, these guests dared not cause a commotion.

Lin Wanyi thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Why don’t Your Majesty and the children come with me to sit in my brother’s courtyard?"

The Emperor understood her intention and did not object.

After all, if he stayed here all the time, there might not be much of a celebration.

"Hmm, as you say."

The couple from the Lin Family immediately stepped up.

"I shall have a table set in Mu Zhi’s courtyard and invite the Fourth Prince and Fourth Princess Consort to join us then."

The Fourth Prince laughed loudly.

"Madam Lin need not worry about me; many here today are from the Imperial Armor Army, so I must drink plenty of wine with them. However, Princess Consort, you just need to watch out for yourselves."

"Don’t worry, Prince, today I’ll make sure you won’t leave until you’re drunk!"

Mr. Lin was also uncharacteristically magnanimous.

He laughed and said.

The Fourth Princess Consort knew her husband’s nature, and he liked the lively gatherings the most.

And when he was in the army, he was always mingling with the soldiers, so she left him to his own devices.

Approaching Lin Wanyi, she said.

"Prince, go ahead and drink; today I shall have a good chat with the Empress, whom I haven’t seen for a long time."

Lin Wanyi looked at the Fourth Princess Consort and smiled knowingly.

"Daughter couldn’t have asked for more."

The Dong Family couple knew that Lin Wanyi had recognized the Fourth Prince and Fourth Princess Consort as godparents.

Such a good relationship, if in the past, they wouldn’t even dare to imagine it.

Now seeing their daughter genuinely close with the Fourth Princess Consort, Mrs. Dong was completely relieved.

So, she happily stepped forward and said.

"After I greet the guests in the hall, I will come and chat with the Fourth Princess Consort."

"Alright, Madam Lin is straightforward. I enjoy listening to you talk."

The two exchanged smiles, and the words of the Fourth Princess Consort unceremoniously elevated Mrs. Dong’s status.

To know, in the past, Mrs. Dong was suppressed for many years by Princess Rongkang and the second branch.

Let alone speaking with nobles at the table, even her appearances were rare.

Upon hearing this, Princess Rongkang directed even more malice towards the Fourth Princess Consort.

For in her view, the Fourth Princess Consort deliberately grew close to the main branch to spite her.

If it weren’t for the occasion being improper, she truly wanted to retort a few words.

Prime Minister Lin stood beside her, naturally sensing her anger.

Thus, he casually cast a side glance at her, a warning unmistakable in his eyes.

Princess Rongkang was unwilling but had no choice.

She could only endure it.

Seeing her suffer again, the Fourth Princess Consort felt a delight, and even saw Lin Wanyi and several children with more kindness.

Before Prime Minister Lin could say they should go with the Emperor to Lin Muzhi’s courtyard, Mr. Lin spoke first.

"Today is He Song’s joyous day, many court officials have come, and my son’s rank is still low, so I hope father can help bolster He Song’s position."

Mr. Lin’s words were quite true; Prime Minister Lin glanced at the Emperor and the others, knowing not much could be said there, he saw no reason to argue.

"Hmm, then let us go."

"Yes."

After turning to bow to the Emperor, he said.

"During today’s celebration, if there’s any lack of hospitality, I ask the Empress to forgive us."

His words made it sound as if he was the head of the household, indeed the old fox remains the old fox.

Yet today’s joyous occasion, no one would argue with him.

Carrying the title of Prime Minister Lin’s eldest grandson, he could still enjoy some conveniences outside.

With Prime Minister Lin staying, Princess Rongkang naturally couldn’t leave either.

But a joyful occasion that meant nothing to her made her unwilling to even pretend.

"Mother-in-law, let’s go and greet the guests too."

Beside her, Mrs. Dong smiled like a persimmon flower, so even if she didn’t like it, she could only force a smile and follow.

As for Old Master Dong and the old madam, they sat as the main guests today.

But most visitors were from official circles, and naturally, they couldn’t entertain many.

The Emperor saw this and spoke.

"Old Dong couple, come and rest with me, shall we?"

When the Emperor spoke, who could say no?

Those who thought the Dong Family would be sidelined at this moment were all stunned.

Compared to Prime Minister Lin in the front hall exchanging drinks, it seemed Old Master Dong, invited by the Emperor, was more in the spotlight.

The Dong Family couple were not ones who didn’t understand etiquette, they rose and said.

"We comply with the decree."

"We comply with the decree."

Given that Old Master Dong is now a seventh-rank Benefit People Medicine Bureau Ambassador, the self-reference is fitting.

A crowd followed to Lin Muzhi’s courtyard, and the Second Prince was reluctant as he walked.

After finally coming out of the palace, he only got to see the excitement for a short while before having to follow his father to rest in the courtyard.

He was unwilling.

But he understood well that as a Prince, he couldn’t act recklessly, so even though he was unwilling, he still followed the group and left.

Lin Wanyi noticed his thoughts and whispered in his ear.

"Later, I’ll have your uncle take you to the front hall to play, but remember to be careful, okay?"

The Second Prince’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

He nodded quickly, his joy akin to tasting honey.

In the front hall, there were separate tables for men and women.

At the men’s table, the honor naturally belonged to the Fourth Prince.

The two uncles of the Dong family joined in, and they drank with gusto.

On the women’s side, customarily, Princess Rongkang was the honored guest.

But in Lin Muzhi’s courtyard, with Lin Wanyi and the Fourth Princess Consort present, even if she wanted to show disdain and act superior, she had to consider the occasion.

She sat quietly, not standing to greet guests.

A smile that didn’t reach her eyes seemed to say someone owed her money.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Dong and the Dong Family’s madam were busy without respite.

Busy attending to this, busy attending to that.

Soon, relatives from the Feng family arrived too.

Mrs. Dong and Mrs. Feng got along enthusiastically, now family by marriage.

Naturally, they shared a kindred spirit and chatted warmly.