Lin Mingyan anxiously asked, “What time is it? Why didn’t Ye wake me when he got up?”
“It’s already Chen hour. Master specifically told us to let you sleep longer,” Du Juan came over to help her change clothes.
In her hands was a qipao she and Ling Lan had worked on tirelessly yesterday, burning the midnight oil to finish it in time.
Though it lacked any elaborate patterns or embroidery, the fabric Fourth Master had sent was of excellent quality, making it quite presentable.
Lin Mingyan didn’t particularly care about what she wore to pay respects to the Princess Consort, so she simply put it on.
Truth be told, she would have preferred wearing her old clothes from home, but she couldn’t disregard the effort her two maids had put in.
The dress wasn’t eye-catching anyway, so it was fine to wear it.
After washing up and enjoying a lavish breakfast with six accompanying dishes, Lin Mingyan contentedly headed to the main courtyard to pay her respects.
There was no daily ritual of paying respects in Fourth Master’s rear courtyard, but as a newcomer who had just received favor, she was still expected to serve the concubine tea the following day.
Of course, others would also choose to come and meet her, such as Madam Song and Madam Li.
Lady Zhang wouldn’t attend, as she wasn’t yet qualified.
When Lin Mingyan arrived, the main courtyard was still quiet, clearly indicating that Madam Song and Madam Li hadn’t come yet.
She breathed a sigh of relief and, after having Du Juan announce her arrival, waited by the entrance.
After a full quarter of an hour, she was finally led inside by a young maid and seated.
Not long after, the pregnant Madam Song arrived, leaning half-reclined in her chair.
Lin Mingyan greeted her openly and politely, though she dared not get too close.
This was the famously frail Madam Song from all the novels, and now with her difficult pregnancy, it was best to keep a distance.
Madam Song was a quiet person, and feeling unwell made her even less talkative. The two of them sat in silence.
When a coquettish voice sounded from outside, Lin Mingyan felt goosebumps all over as she saw a figure in white enter.
Madam Li, who was deeply favored by Fourth Master in the early stages… was actually like this?!
Wasn’t she the epitome of a delicate white flower?!
As soon as Madam Li entered, she affectionately took Lin Mingyan’s hand. “Oh, this younger sister is truly charming and exquisite~”
Having navigated the workplace for so long, Lin Mingyan was adept at subtly flattering senior colleagues who were highly capable and favored by their superiors.
Moreover, she had a killer skill—sincerity.
Seemingly innocent, romantic, and straightforward in her words, she managed to praise everything from appearance to figure in clever ways.
Even though Madam Li’s voice gave her goosebumps, Lin Mingyan’s own words flowed as sweetly and melodiously as a nightingale’s song.
Madam Li took great pride in her voice, and being praised so aptly made her burst into “silvery laughter.”
The “silvery laughter” described in novels materialized in Lin Mingyan’s ears, assaulting her senses.
But being a green tea was instinctual—she held her ground and even chatted happily with her senior.
When the Princess Consort emerged, she saw this scene: one beauty and one stunning beauty, laughing so brightly it was almost blinding.
Holding Nanny Gui’s hand, she couldn’t help but tighten her grip for a moment.
This Lin Shi had actually managed to outshine even Madam Li.
Seeing Madam Li’s hypocritical smile and the way she unconsciously clawed at her handkerchief, the Princess Consort knew that jealousy was practically overflowing from her heart.
Hmm, not bad!
The Princess Consort gently allowed the three of them to rise from their bows, asked a few questions about Madam Song’s pregnancy, and, noticing Madam Li’s handkerchief was already frayed, smiled even more broadly.
Lin Mingyan then bowed to each of them in turn, receiving a pair of gold bracelets from the Princess Consort and a gold hairpin from Madam Song.
As for Madam Li, she presented a full set of head ornaments, which appeared far more impressive than the Princess Consort’s pair of gold bracelets.
Oh dear!
This is trouble!
No wonder the notoriously domineering Madam Li was so amiable today—she was setting a trap right here.
The Princess Consort’s smile froze on her face. If looks could kill, Madam Li would already be riddled with holes.
Madam Li pretended not to notice and deliberately asked Lin Mingyan, “Sister Lin? What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”
If Lin Mingyan refused, it would be a public slap in Madam Li’s face, and word would surely reach Fourth Master, bringing her no good.
After all, Fourth Master was a man who cherished old ties. Madam Li had been with him for so long; their bond was undoubtedly stronger than hers.
But if she accepted, the Princess Consort’s dignity would be undermined.
This Madam Li truly had more schemes than a sieve has holes!
Yet Lin Mingyan was unafraid. What kind of workplace tricks hadn’t she encountered before?
She picked a pair of exquisitely crafted gilt hairpins from the tray and promptly inserted them into her own hair bun.
With a smile, she said, “Is Sister Li letting me choose for myself?”
“I like these hairpins. Aren’t they just what my hair was missing?”
Seeing her skillfully evade the trap with a small force to defeat a great one, Madam Li wanted to say more, but the Princess Consort spoke first:
“Alright, now that the greetings are done, everyone may disperse. I am tired.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Shi and Madam Song fled faster than rabbits, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Only Madam Li was a step slower. Once outside, she tossed a torn handkerchief onto the tray and said, “This Lin Shi is quite slippery!”
She had clearly inquired beforehand—this Lin Shi came from a very poor family, with a deceased father and a timid mother.
When she entered the mansion, she didn’t even bring a trunk, only a small bundle.
How could she refuse such priceless head ornaments?!
Her maid, Yingxiang, quickly consoled her, “Gege, it’s her who doesn’t know what’s good for her. Please don’t let anger harm your health.”
“Just wait until the master’s birthday next time—we’ll see her make a fool of herself!”
“Hmph, let’s see what she gains from kissing up to the Princess Consort,” Madam Li said in a charming voice laced with venom.
Meanwhile, in the main courtyard, the Princess Consort let out a sigh of relief and said to Nanny Gui, “This Lin Shi does have some skill. Watching Madam Li suffer a setback is truly satisfying!”
Then she recalled the child she had lost early in the year—gone without a trace before she even knew of its existence.
At that time in the palace, there were only two people present. Who else could it have been but Madam Li?
Miscarrying just as they were leaving the palace to establish their own residence, she forced herself to manage everything. By the time things settled and she called for an Imperial Physician, her health had deteriorated to the point where conceiving again became difficult.
The Princess Consort had been terrified then. On this ground alone, the Emperor would have reason to replace her!
Fortunately, Fourth Master said that difficulty conceiving didn’t mean it was impossible, which eased her worries slightly.
Nanny Gui also grieved for that child, her eyes welling with tears as she said, “Madam Li deserves to be humbled!”
“Mother’s choice this time was quite capable,” the Princess Consort said, her mood lifting considerably.
Nanny Gui nodded in agreement. “It’s also Lin Shi’s good fortune. Originally, Lady Zhang was arranged to be closer to the Front Courtyard.”
Lin Shi was too beautiful, and they dared not let her stand out too much. Lady Zhang was the more reassuring choice.
“Never mind. Everyone has their own fate. If Ye doesn’t go, I can’t force him,” the Princess Consort waved her hand. “Send some gifts to both sides.”
“What about… the medicinal decoction…” Nanny Gui hesitated slightly.
In the first year after the Princess Consort married into the household, both Gege had been drinking the anti-conception decoction.
Yet she remained childless for a long time, and the palace consort hinted that the anti-conception decoction should be discontinued.
But while they agreed on the surface, they secretly continued to administer it.
Now that they had left the palace and new women had arrived, should they still avoid pregnancy?
“From now on, stop the actions,” the Princess Consort closed her eyes and settled down. “Let whoever can bear children do so—the more, the better.”