Upon arriving at Linfeng Residence, the two young eunuchs immediately scurried away, as if unwilling to stay even a second longer.
Lin Mingyan took a quick glance around. The courtyard was quite spacious, with a main hall and two side wings on the east and west sides, along with two rows of servants’ quarters at the edges.
There were no rare or expensive flowers or plants in the yard, but the ordinary trees and greenery were thriving and vibrant.
Before she could examine the place more carefully, two young maidservants around fourteen or fifteen years old hurried over to greet her.
Further back, she could also see a timid-looking eunuch peeking out.
Clearly, this was her entire team in Fourth Master’s residence.
Three servants—Ling Lan and the young eunuch Su He—were fresh recruits assigned by the Neiwufu.
Du Juan had worked in the servants’ kitchen for a while. Lin Mingyan briefly inquired about her situation.
Du Juan stepped forward and explained, “The Princess Consort lives in the main courtyard, which you’ve already visited.”
“Concubine Song is pregnant, and the Princess Consort, out of consideration for her, has arranged for her to stay on the west side of the main courtyard so she can be cared for more easily.”
“Then there’s Concubine Li, who lives in Shaoguang Courtyard, which is closer to the Front Courtyard.”
“As for you and Lady Zhang, you are here in Linfeng Residence, while Lady Zhang is in Ruixue Tower.”
“Linfeng Residence has a main hall, east and west side wings, and a back-facing room…”
Lin Mingyan’s eyes lit up: A separate courtyard, covering over two hundred square meters—twice the size of the old Lin family home!
She was clearly quite satisfied with her own territory.
Seeing her interest, Du Juan even took her on a tour of the entire place, inside and out.
Who wouldn’t covet a nearly two-hundred-square-meter courtyard house?
Thinking of this, she felt fortunate to have arrived at a relatively good time, as Fourth Master’s rear courtyard wasn’t crowded yet.
All the residents could be counted on one hand.
Otherwise, she might not have been assigned a separate, independent courtyard.
After a moment’s thought, she asked Du Juan, “Is Lady Zhang’s courtyard the same as mine?”
“How could that be? Every courtyard in the Prince’s Residence is unique,” Du Juan explained. “Linfeng Residence is spacious and not far from the gardens and lakes.”
“Ruixue Tower is much smaller, with only three rooms and a cramped courtyard.”
“I suppose it’s because you are a Banner woman, while Lady Zhang is Han Chinese. The Princess Consort must value you more.”
As she spoke, Du Juan couldn’t help but feel relieved, clearly thinking she had been assigned to the right place.
“Oh? Is that so?” Lin Mingyan raised an eyebrow, deeply impressed by the Princess Consort’s shrewdness.
Outwardly, Mingyan showed no sign, but inwardly, she was pondering.
As newcomers to the household, she and Lady Zhang had entered the residence together and should have been natural allies, supporting each other.
But the Princess Consort’s move—elevating one while suppressing the other—had dismantled their potential alliance before it even began.
Since she was given preferential treatment in every way, she naturally had to be grateful to the Princess Consort for her favor.
Meanwhile, Lady Zhang, who was treated as inferior in every aspect, would likely feel even more compelled to demonstrate her loyalty to the Princess Consort.
The Princess Consort might be young, but her mind was far from simple.
“Which of our two courtyards is closer to the Front Courtyard?” Lin Mingyan asked, taking an unexpected angle.
Du Juan was momentarily taken aback but replied after careful thought, “Ruixue Tower is closer to the Front Courtyard, but Linfeng Residence is much closer to the main courtyard.”
With this, Lin Mingyan had a clearer understanding. It seemed the Princess Consort favored Lady Zhang more.
The preferential treatment given to her was merely for show, while the practical advantage of being closer to the Front Courtyard was genuinely granted to Lady Zhang.
But none of this mattered much. As long as Fourth Master favored her, everything else was trivial.
After all, if a man truly cares for you, he’d climb the Himalayas just to see you, let alone within the same residence.
She set a small goal for herself: not only to gain favor but also to strengthen her body, striving to live longer than Fourth Master and his wife combined.
Living to 107—was this goal too outrageous?
After settling in, it was soon time for lunch.
Since Du Juan had worked in the kitchen before, she still had some connections there.
She brought the lunch early and set it up in the main hall.
Four dishes and one soup—delicious!
Lin Mingyan suddenly realized:
Living in a big house, being served by three people, and enjoying fresh dishes prepared by a chef.
Wasn’t this her lifelong wish from her previous life?
What kind of heavenly life was this?
Suddenly, Lin Mingyan remembered that she had burned incense at Yonghe Temple, made this very wish, and then fell to her death.
She had poured out her heart in prayer, and now it had all come true!
Too bad it was in ancient times.
The authentic scent of Yonghe Temple incense.
Thinking of this, Lin Mingyan felt a bit of gratitude toward Fourth Master, whom she had never met.
She decided that as long as he wasn’t in a state like the “Fourth Uncle,” she would fulfill her duties properly.
Lin Mingyan happily finished her meal and even took a nap afterward, completely carefree.
Meanwhile, in the main courtyard, the Princess Consort, who hadn’t slept well for days, looked as pale as a scholar drained of his vitality.
Nanny Gui was heartbroken and quickly urged, “Princess Consort, why are you torturing yourself like this?!”
“If you’re unwilling, just don’t let those two in. Why harm your own health?”
It was all because of that little vixen Madam Li, causing the Princess Consort so much suffering!
“If I don’t agree, Mother would worry too much,” the Princess Consort waved her hand, leaning halfway on the Guifei couch. “I don’t mind these two. A concubine coming in won’t amount to much.”
“As Mother said, whether it’s Lady Zhang or Lin Shi who gets pregnant, the child will be mine.”
“To put it more broadly, even if Madam Song or Madam Li gives birth, the child will still be mine and will call me the rightful Mother…”
Nanny Gui sighed inwardly upon hearing this: Could a child born to someone else ever be the same as one of your own?
Who didn’t know the fate of a rightful wife without her own children?
But she couldn’t say it. The Imperial Physician had just diagnosed the Princess Consort as having poor health and difficulty conceiving. She couldn’t add salt to the wound.
Nanny Gui poured a cup of milk and served it to the Princess Consort. “My dear Princess Consort, just relax. You were personally chosen by His Majesty for this marriage. Even if our Ye becomes a prince in the future, you will undoubtedly be the Princess Consort.”
The Princess Consort didn’t say anything more but closed her eyes as if to rest.
Nanny Gui helped her adjust to a more comfortable position and then signaled with her eyes for the maids to withdraw.
Not long after, Zhao Lesheng, the apprentice of Su Peisheng, the chief eunuch by Fourth Master’s side, came to deliver a message.
He said that Fourth Master had returned from his studies and would come to the Princess Consort’s place for dinner in the evening.
Nanny Gui’s eyes crinkled into a smile. She gave Zhao Lesheng the largest pouch and saw him off properly before returning to inform the Princess Consort.
The Princess Consort hadn’t fallen asleep either. Ever since her last health checkup, she hadn’t slept well.
Nanny Gui entered and helped her sit up halfway. “Princess Consort, the master will be coming over tonight. Should we prepare the dinner…”
Truthfully, Nanny Gui wasn’t too worried. They were still a young couple; as long as they slept together, there would eventually be a child.
After all, the Imperial Physician had said it was difficult to conceive, not impossible.
These Imperial Physicians were quite cunning, afraid of taking responsibility. What was only a one-tenth difficulty, they would exaggerate to eight or nine-tenths.
Finally, she was cured and became pregnant, wasn’t that his credit?
Pah!
“No need to prepare,” the Princess Consort said with little interest. “Later, let Ye choose one to go to.”
She was referring to the newly arrived Lady Zhang and Lin Shi.
This was what Fourth Master had promised. Since they had already entered the household, he should at least choose one today.
Upon hearing this, Nanny Gui choked back her words: “It doesn’t have to be today. Let them wait a few days…”
“Today it is!” The Princess Consort finished speaking and fell silent.
If new women entered today, yet Fourth Master stayed with her, she could already imagine how Madam Li would mock her tomorrow!
The Princess Consort was strong-willed. Although Nanny Gui had been her wet nurse since childhood, she dared not oppose her further.
She could only silently pray in her heart, hoping that Fourth Master would be in a good mood today.
Please don’t let them argue over someone else’s affairs again. If the Princess Consort gained no advantage and the newcomers failed to stand out,
and that cunning Madam Li ended up benefiting instead, it would truly break her heart!