CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: THE COMPANION

Dong Yuzhong frowned and touched the water temperature, it was normal, no different from usual.

But he still repeatedly apologized.

"Your Majesty, forgive me! I’ll have them change the water right away."

After a long night’s ordeal, they finally finished cleaning and had a meal. Outside, it was already completely dark.

Only then did the Emperor remember what he needed to discuss with Lin Wanyi today.

He picked up the memorial beside him, pondered for a while, and then said.

"Dong Yuzhong, make a trip to Xianyi Palace and bring back the summer coat Lin Changzai sewed, then tell her that her brother has been arranged to serve as a trusted aide to the Fourth Imperial Uncle, so she can rest assured."

"Yes, I will obey."

After Dong Yuzhong left, the Emperor took a deep breath and concentrated on reading the memorial again.

In Xianyi Palace, Dong Yuzhong arrived just as Lin Wanyi had finished her meal.

He explained his purpose, and Lin Wanyi immediately instructed.

"Xia An, wrap the summer coat and give it to Mr. Dong."

"Yes."

"It’s getting late and the dew is heavy, sorry to trouble Mr. Dong to make this trip."

"You are too polite, Miss, this is what I should do."

Learning of her brother’s situation, Lin Wanyi understood that it was thanks to the Emperor’s concern for her, so she sincerely expressed her gratitude.

"Please thank His Majesty on my behalf."

Dong Yuzhong smiled, knowing Lin Changzai was now highly favored, he naturally had to do this task well.

Especially when it was about thanking the Emperor, he was more than willing to convey the message.

"Rest assured, Miss, I will definitely convey your words."

Xia An timely brought over the summer coat, and Dong Yuzhong, having received it, quickly took his leave.

After he left, Lin Wanyi glanced at the high-hanging moon outside.

She showed a bright and contented smile.

The following afternoon.

In Linzi Palace, Lin Guifei looked at the records in the Diary, her expression inscrutable.

After closing the booklet, she asked Mr. He from the Jingshi Room.

"Has the Emperor only summoned Lin Changzai in recent days? None of the other concubines?"

"In response to Your Highness, both Ming Changzai and Mu Daying have accompanied the Emperor a couple of times, but only in the study to attend to the ink. The Emperor also visited Lady Lan and Noble Princess Consort Ying several times, but just briefly, whereas Lin Changzai not only accompanied but also waited on His Majesty last evening."

While saying this, Mr. He thought that Lin Guifei was pleased.

After all, Lin Changzai was her biological sister.

Unexpectedly, when he looked up at Lin Guifei, he saw her expression was even more severe than usual.

This scared Mr. He into quickly restraining his smile, returning to a calm and composed demeanor.

After a moment, Lin Guifei instructed.

"Are the green cards for the concubines accompanying the Emperor to the traveling palace prepared?"

"Yes, Your Highness, they are all prepared."

"Hmm, remember to bring Bai Pin’s green card too."

Mr. He frowned, why suddenly mention Bai Pin?

But with Lin Guifei’s orders, he dared not disobey and immediately replied.

"Yes."

After arranging everything and sending Mr. He off.

Chief Palace Maid Qin He brought a cup of tea and then quietly asked.

"Your Highness, Bai Pin has often been disrespectful to you in the past, and we only just managed to topple her, confining her to Zhongcui Palace. Why do we let her out this time?"

Lin Guifei raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"In the harem, everyone is an adversary, but when needed, they can become allies, can’t they?"

Seeing Qin He somewhat confused, Lin Guifei continued to explain.

"Among all the concubines in the palace, who can match Lin Wanyi’s beauty?"

Qin He suddenly understood.

For Lin Guifei, what she needed was not a high-rank concubine who could bear children, but rather one not overly favored by the Emperor.

So, favor can exist, but excessive favor cannot.

Thinking back to when Bai Pin entered the palace, she too was once greatly favored, which made Lin Guifei’s lips curl.

Her eyes showed a look of someone eager to watch a drama unfold.

Soon, the list of those accompanying the Emperor was circulated to all the palaces.

Apart from Lin Wanyi, those traveling included Consort Ye, Ming Changzai, Du Changzai, Mu Daying, and Lady He.

Du Changzai was aligned with Lin Guifei, Consort Ye and Ming Changzai, though not having much favor in the harem, were still concubines remembered by the Emperor, so it wasn’t surprising they would accompany him.

But how did Mu Daying and Lady He secure their spots?

This puzzled Lin Wanyi quite a bit.

Qiu Ming also heard about this list and quickly connected it to the day he saw Mu Daying outside Yao Yue Palace.

He then expressed his observations.

"Never would have guessed, this Miss Mu is so smooth-tongued, she could coax the birds off the trees."

Chunqi was quite displeased with those who only sought to rise in status, well aware that in the harem, there were too many like her.

So, despite her dislike, she didn’t say anything sarcastic.

"Miss, there’s something I casually heard the servants talking about. I’m not sure if it’s true or not."

Qiu Ming was always careful with his words, never speaking without reason.

This, of course, piqued Lin Wanyi’s curiosity.

"What is it?"

"I heard that Mu Daying and Noble Princess Consort Ying get along very well, and seems there’s a sign of her moving from Yihua Palace to Yao Yue Palace."

Hearing this, Lin Wanyi fell into deep thought.

Mu Daying’s intentions were obvious to anyone who cared to notice.

It was merely an attempt to use the Emperor’s visits to Noble Princess Consort Ying as an opportunity to make her presence known.

This wasn’t a major issue.

But what Lin Wanyi couldn’t comprehend was, if Mu Daying’s intentions were so transparent, given Noble Princess Consort Ying’s years in the palace, she certainly couldn’t miss seeing through them.

"Are there any movements from Noble Princess Consort Ying?"

"The news came from Yao Yue Palace. They said they’ve already started cleaning the rear hall."

The rear hall?

That’s a place only someone above the rank of Changzai could reside, meaning Mu Lanchun was also about to be promoted to Changzai?

Xia An and Chunqi noticed the underlying scheme and immediately frowned, looking at Lin Wanyi.

In terms of favor, none of the newcomers to the harem could compete with their own Miss!

Mu Daying only occasionally had the chance to show herself in front of the Emperor, how could she rise so quickly?

"Miss, why is this?"

"In the imperial harem, and all political affairs, everything is connected. The promotion of a concubine doesn’t always reflect favor; it could also be due to the influence of her family. It seems Mu Daying’s father and brothers must have achieved something significant in the court, hence the rumors."

Mu Lanchun’s father was merely a county magistrate in Huaiyang.

Making any remarkable accomplishment would be difficult.

So there’s another possibility that the Mu Family latched onto some noble family, providing a chance to exert influence, just like the Chu Family attaching itself to the Marquis of Northwest, the Liu Family.

Hearing Lin Wanyi’s explanation, they finally understood.