But after carefully looking, he saw nothing extra in the main hall.
So he didn’t know what Mrs. Lin had brought in.
He wasn’t sure, so he wouldn’t just blurt it out to Dong Yuzhong.
Now that he is the Chief Eunuch of Lin Changzai, how could he betray her interests?
"Hmm, I know what you’re referring to, but the waters in the Prime Minister’s Mansion run deep; be careful not to get involved lightly, understand?"
Qiu Ming nodded, not denying this.
"However, His Majesty has just issued an edict saying that Imperial Consort Lin’s head ailment has flared up, so she must stay in the Yao Tai Pavilion to recuperate. Thus, the affairs of the Six Palaces are temporarily handed over to Princess Consort Yi, Princess Consort Lan, and Noble Princess Consort Ying. This decree is still fresh, and by tomorrow, it should be well known in the Six Palaces."
Qiu Ming looked at his master, Dong Yuzhong, with surprise, then bowed his head in silence.
The matter of confining the concubines is not a big deal, as with so many women in the palace, there’s always some intrigue.
For example, the previous Bai Pin or Lady Chu a while ago.
But this is the first time the management of Six Palace Affairs has been delegated.
Previously, when Empress Xu was alive, she held power alone without any assistants.
But since her passing, the power shifted to Imperial Consort Lin.
Similarly, there was never an order for assistants in managing the Six Palaces.
The most crucial power in Imperial Consort Lin’s hands was thus seized!
Now, she is truly becoming a laughingstock in the harem.
Could it all be related to the affairs in the Prime Minister’s Mansion?
For a moment, Qiu Ming speculated various possibilities but became more alarmed when he saw the Emperor and Lin Changzai affectionately together in the distance.
Lin Wanyi leaned against the Emperor’s embrace for a while.
Her body became much warmer.
But seeing the weariness between the Emperor’s brows made her feel compassion.
"Your Majesty, let’s go back inside, I feel a bit cold."
But her hands have become much warmer!
Yet, seeing the trace of pity in Lin Wanyi’s eyes, he immediately responded.
He replied with a smile.
"Alright, let’s go in."
Inside the room, agarwood burned, calm and soothing to the heart.
This scent was Lin Wanyi’s favorite, and now it became a beloved aroma for the Emperor as well.
After assisting the Emperor to wash, Lin Wanyi lay beside him.
The palace lanterns outside had all but two extinguished, and tonight’s watch was in the hands of Dong Yuzhong and Qiu Ming.
With the canopy down, the bed seemed like a hidden sanctuary.
Considering the warmth next to her, Lin Wanyi hesitated on how to start the conversation.
"Do you have nothing to say to Me?"
Since the Emperor arrived at the Huifang Courtyard, he had been waiting for Lin Wanyi to speak.
Yet she only talked about trivial family stories.
Sometimes it was celestial stories, other times mundane sibling matters.
Not once mentioning her family’s affairs.
He wondered if Madam Lin had failed to inform her after entering the palace.
Thus leaving her in the dark.
But after hearing the Emperor, Lin Wanyi only let out a long sigh.
"What does Your Majesty want to hear? About how my main family was bullied for over twenty years? My brother beaten unconscious by evil servants, and we’re still unsure if we can save him? That I feel helpless, trapped here, unable to do anything? Or about how my mother uses the account books as leverage to divide the family?"
Lin Wanyi sat up from the Emperor’s embrace, returning his gaze with determination.
"These things, surely Your Majesty already knows."
Her certainty piqued the Emperor’s curiosity.
"How are you so sure?"
"If the Emperor were unaware of the origins, how would you reward Mother with gifts and come to the Huifang Courtyard overnight with such a heartache?"
The Emperor never realized how transparent his emotions had become.
Even a mere palace concubine could see through him.
In the years of ruling, he had become accustomed to concealing his emotions.
Yet, unfortunately...
In front of Lin Wanyi, he felt completely exposed.
"You don’t intend to report this?"
Lin Wanyi gave a bitter smile.
"As a child, I once raised a puppy named Snow White, but because Princess Rongkang disliked it, the dog died in the courtyard corner. By the time my brother and I found it, it was already decomposed. My brother said it was poisoned."
"Unable to swallow the anger, I wrapped Snow White and went to report to Grandfather, but he merely glanced and said, ’Just a dog, don’t keep it.’"
"From then on, I understood a truth: reporting is useless. Our main family’s not like the West Wing next door."
As she spoke, a faint sense of detachment and fragility surrounded her.
Although she was talking about a mere puppy, it seemed to encapsulate endless grievances.
The Emperor watched her, suddenly reminded of someone who always lingered in his heart.
His mother, Consort Xian.
Before her passing, she had the same demeanor.
He was so startled that he immediately embraced Lin Wanyi, fearing she might just vanish silently like his mother had.
"No, I am here, I am here."
For the first time, the Emperor didn’t use "We."
That simple "I" broke through the defenses of Lin Wanyi’s usually strong heart.
Held tightly in his arms, the grievances within her finally poured out.
When her mother left in the daylight, she had wanted to cry.
Yet she didn’t know why her eyes remained dry.
Beyond the initial sting of her nose, there was only confusion.
Most of her young life, she was pushed along by others.
Apart from the carefree five years at her maternal grandfather’s household.
The rest was learning how to navigate the inner household.
The palace was no different after entering.
Though she didn’t scheme to climb higher like other palace women.
She still had her share of strategies.
Sometimes, facing the Emperor’s sincerity, she didn’t know how to respond.
Should she accept her role as one of the favored among many concubines?
Or strive for family interests by learning to compete?
Or maybe join forces with others to eliminate obstacles?
Everything seemed like a blank page left for her to decipher.
She thought by shrinking back, she could avoid thinking or confronting.
But she hadn’t expected her family outside the palace to struggle even to survive.
Of course, she hated.
She wished to ally with Princess Consort Yi and bring down Imperial Consort Lin.
To let the second family taste the bitterness of helplessness.
Yet the Emperor’s words filled her with warmth.
It was as if in the dark night, where she had been alone braving thorns, a dependable shoulder suddenly appeared beside her.
She cherished this concern and affection.
But at the same time feared it was only fleeting.
After all, there were so many women around the Emperor, and she was just one of them.