Yaohua Hall.
As the weather gradually warmed, Wen Lier, unusually proactive, ventured out of the main hall with Qing Zhu and Qing Mei to visit the Plum Blossom Garden, where she gathered several plum blossom branches.
There were red, yellow, and white blossoms, each adorned with green leaves.
Intertwined together, they were indescribably delightful.
The once gloomy palace instantly felt brighter with these plum blossoms.
Wen Lier sat by the window, reading in the morning and studying a chess manual in the afternoon.
During the evening meal, she accidentally overate again.
So, she took Qing Zhu and Qing Mei for a stroll in the courtyard to aid digestion.
Mama Qin accompanied them.
Unexpectedly, at this late hour, Qiu Momo, who served Lin Fujia in the West Hall, came over.
Mama Qin looked at her curiously and asked, “Why are you here so late?”
Qiu Momo beamed, her tone tinged with pride.
“Someone from Yuqing Hall just came to fetch Lin Fengyi. With my mistress away, I had nothing to do, so I thought I’d come chat with you, old sister.”
Tsk…
So she came here to show off.
Mama Qin rolled her eyes, thinking this old woman was shallow.
Their Wen Fengyi had already served twice, and Your Highness had bestowed gifts both times.
Yet they hadn’t gone around boasting.
Lin Fengyi was only on her first night, and her future prospects were still uncertain, but this old woman was already running her mouth.
If things went poorly, wouldn’t that be a slap in Lin Fengyi’s face?
But since someone had come to flaunt, Mama Qin wouldn’t back down.
She replied sarcastically, “After all this time, Your Highness has finally remembered Lin Fengyi. That is indeed worth celebrating. Our Wen Fengyi is different—she’s already served twice, so she knows how to keep her composure.”
With a light humph, she ignored Qiu Momo, supporting Wen Lier as they turned back.
“Mistress, you’ve walked enough today. Let’s return to your room and review the chess manual.”
Qiu Momo had naturally heard that Wen Fengyi received a chess manual after her second night with His Highness.
Having made a fool of herself, she slunk away.
Wen Lier didn’t have many thoughts about Lin Fujia going to Yuqing Hall to serve.
As His Highness’s concubines, being summoned was entirely normal.
Back in her room, she took out the chess manual again, studying it while playing against herself.
But before she could finish one game, Qing Zhu entered and whispered a report.
“Mistress, Lin Fengyi has returned. Wan An and Wanquan saw with their own eyes—she came back in tears.”
Wan An and Wanquan were the eunuchs of the East Hall in Yaohua Hall, assisting Wen Lier with chores and errands.
Wen Lier was surprised.
She returned in tears?
Was it because the first time was too painful?
She thought of her own first time—she had wanted to cry too.
But wasn’t it still too early?
His Highness must have been unusually quick this time.
Mama Qin had no idea what her mistress was thinking. Recalling Qiu Momo’s earlier boasting in the East Hall, she felt a bit smug.
“Lin Fengyi returning so early and crying without regard for decorum likely means she angered His Highness. Qiu Momo will probably be crying too.”
See, one shouldn’t get carried away with pride.
In all matters, it’s best to be cautious—you never know what might happen.
Hearing this, Wen Lier couldn’t help but feel a little worried for Lin Fujia.
After all, since entering the Eastern Palace, Wen Lier could only confide in Lin Fujia.
Naturally, she hoped Lin Fujia could advance further.
Wen Lier rose, intending to visit the West Hall to see Lin Fujia, but upon second thought, it seemed inappropriate.
Lin Fujia had just returned weeping from Yuqing Hall—visiting to comfort her now might appear as if she were reveling in her misfortune.
Forget it, better to sleep first.
Wen Lier set aside the chess manual and pieces, washed her hands, and then climbed into bed.
…
The next day.
Waking early and finishing breakfast, it was time again to pay respects to the Crown Princess.
Arriving at the entrance of Yaohua Hall, Wen Lier paused as usual, waiting for a moment.
Lin Fujia arrived late, her eyes swollen and face haggard, clearly having cried all night.
Wen Lier was about to ask what had happened last night.
But she swallowed the words back.
Better to wait a little longer.
When someone is upset, the more comfort they receive, the more they feel like crying.
“Let’s go pay our respects first, we mustn’t be late.”
Lin Fujia nodded and followed her toward Fuyao Hall.
Seeing that Wen Lier hadn’t asked anything, Lin Fujia couldn’t hold back herself.
She said, “Sister Wen, I feel too ashamed to show my face.”
“How could that be?”
Wen Lier gently squeezed her hand, comforting softly, “Don’t panic. Even if the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up. The fact that you’re standing here safely means everything else is trivial.”
Lin Fujia seemed to have finally found someone to talk to. She sobbed, “His Highness didn’t touch me at all last night.”
Wen Lier was startled.
“Didn’t His Highness summon you to attend him last night? If he didn’t touch you, what did you do?”
Lin Fujia hung her head. “We played chess.”
Wen Lier thought to herself that the procedure wasn’t wrong—she had also played chess first.
It seemed His Highness truly enjoyed playing chess.
Curious, she pressed further, “And then?”
Lin Fujia pouted, looking as if she might cry again.
“And then… there was no ‘and then.’ After the chess game, His Highness sent me back!”
“Did you upset His Highness?”
Lin Fujia shook her head. “Wuwuwu… I didn’t! I don’t even know how I might have offended him.”
Wen Lier took a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped Lin Fujia’s tears.
“Don’t cry. Perhaps you were just unlucky, happening to encounter His Highness when he wasn’t in a good mood.”
Lin Fujia nodded vigorously, as if that were indeed the reason.
Wuwuwu… she was truly too unfortunate!
Why, of all times, did she have to attend him when His Highness was unhappy?
Having missed this opportunity, who knew how long it would be until the next one?
The more she thought about it, the sadder she became, exuding an air of dejection.
When Wen Lier and Lin Fujia arrived at Fuyao Hall, Yang Ni Shan was already there.
Her gaze fell on Lin Fujia, filled with disdain and mockery.
Lin Fujia was so ashamed she nearly buried her head in her chest, wishing she could disappear into a hole.
The palace maids and eunuchs weren’t even hiding their smirks!
Wuwuwu… she didn’t want to live anymore.
Wen Lier observed Yang Ni Shan and the two maids behind her gloating, then noticed the maid pouring tea for Lin Fujia.
She seemed to be stifling laughter so hard that she overfilled the teacup.
Without wiping it clean, she simply stepped aside.
Wen Lier sighed inwardly.
In the imperial palace, flattering the powerful and despising the weak was the norm.
It seemed the news that His Highness hadn’t touched Lin Fujia last night had already spread.
One by one, they had already concluded that Lin Fujia would not gain favor in the future.
Otherwise, how would they dare to watch the spectacle so blatantly?