After Consort Ye left, Ming Changzai and her maid Pei’er were left without any inclination.
Of course, there was grievance.
But what the palace lacks the least is grievance.
Today’s Bai Pin can do this, so tomorrow someone else will seek trouble.
Without backing, she would find it difficult to take a step in the harem.
She must grasp Lin Guifei!
Only then will she have a chance of gaining protection.
Although currently, it is Princess Consort Yi who manages the palace, Bai Pin is under her command. How could she possibly get in?
Thinking of this, she increasingly told herself not to panic.
She needed to carefully think about the next steps she should take.
The turmoil in the woods essentially passed into oblivion with Ming Changzai’s silence.
Meanwhile, Lin Wanyi in Huifang Courtyard lived an even more comfortable life than usual.
These days, the Emperor neither visited nor rested here.
Those unaware of the situation were growing anxious.
Yet, she seemed as if nothing was amiss, either sewing clothes or experimenting with food.
Recently, she had taken a liking to tending to flowers and plants.
Perhaps the flowers and plants in the traveling palace were flourishing, making them easy to care for.
The Second Prince had observed her for days, seeing no reaction from her.
In his mind, he could imagine quite the drama.
He wondered whether Lady Lin appeared calm in public but secretly shed tears in private.
That day, while accompanying Lin Wanyi to water the plants in the courtyard, he couldn’t hold back and spoke up.
"Lady Lin, aren’t you afraid?"
"Afraid? Afraid of what?"
Lin Wanyi, suddenly caught off guard by the question, looked slightly puzzled.
"People outside are saying that Father... Father recently favored a new Ming Changzai, said to be much adored."
"People outside? Where did you hear this from? It’s all unfounded, completely false."
The Second Prince seemed even more shocked by this answer.
"Indeed, how could it be new? Ming Changzai entered the palace back in March as a concubine and has served at the imperial court."
Upon hearing this explanation, the Second Prince felt it was better left unsaid.
It didn’t hit the point at all!
"Lady Lin, I’m serious!"
Seeing his little face puffed up, Lin Wanyi couldn’t help but be amused as she put down the wooden ladle.
She looked at the Second Prince, and after a moment, said calmly.
"If I were afraid, wouldn’t your father refrain from having other concubines?"
"If I were afraid, would your father spend every day at Huifang Courtyard, ignoring everyone else?"
"Besides, there are two concubines in the palace due to give birth soon. If your father also ignored them, how could you be sure he would always treat me as before?"
This was indeed the case.
As an Emperor, he was destined to have three palaces and six courtyards.
It was just a matter of giving more or less focus.
"Compared to other concubines, your father treats me very well. If I were to yearn for more, life wouldn’t be as free."
The words were not fully spoken, but the Second Prince understood what was left unsaid.
However, was it really as Lin Wanyi said?
Could contentment really bring freedom?
Hearing her words, the Second Prince couldn’t help but ponder.
After a while, he came to his own conclusion.
"But in the palace, no one has such good temperament. Lady Lin, even if you don’t seek trouble, trouble will seek you."
The Second Prince had lived in the palace longer than Lin Wanyi.
The experiences he went through were more perilous than Lin Wanyi’s.
So he didn’t believe that if he didn’t offend others, they wouldn’t offend him.
After all, few in the palace shared Lin Wanyi’s calm demeanor.
The lure of power struggles and endless riches, who wouldn’t be tempted in such a setting?
Looking at the Second Prince’s determined eyes, Lin Wanyi, for the first time, found truth in his words.
She picked up the wooden ladle again without responding to him.
She watered the plants while earnestly contemplating the Second Prince’s words.
Nanny Du stood not far from the two.
Therefore, she naturally heard their conversation.
When Lin Wanyi spoke those words, her heart skipped a beat.
Could events from years past be repeating?
But could the Emperor withstand the pain of another parting?
Her eyes, aged yet keen, harbored a myriad of unspoken complexities.
In the small kitchen, Chunqi hadn’t had much enthusiasm for cooking these past couple of days.
Though her hands never stopped, her mind wandered more.
To never have is fine, it doesn’t hurt as much.
But to have and then lose, it alters one’s mindset.
Previously, they hoped the Emperor would visit less often for some peace.
They relied on the Emperor’s favor for their mistress.
But now, they hoped the Emperor would visit more often; otherwise, the rumors outside could truly crush the spirits of everyone in Huifang Courtyard.
She didn’t dare voice any of these concerns.
Even with someone as close as Xia An, she carried her worries.
Afraid that her loose tongue might bring calamity to her mistress.
Coincidentally, she ran into Xia An coming to fetch medicine, and seeing Chunqi’s dismal face, she thought Chunqi was simply fatigued.
So she glanced around, saw no one, and took Chunqi’s hand to check her pulse.
"Nothing wrong, maybe just a bit of heat exhaustion?"
"Ah, I’m fine. I’m used to working. You should worry more about our mistress; she’s still watering the plants outside in this scorching sun."
Hearing Chunqi’s comment, Xia An couldn’t help but smile.
She relayed Lin Wanyi’s reasoning.
"Our mistress said with weather so hot that even humans struggle to endure it, imagine how the plants must feel. They need plenty of water to quench their thirst."
Seeing Xia An could still jest, Chunqi’s worries eased slightly.
But Xia An didn’t miss that hint of concern in Chunqi’s eyes.
"What’s the matter? Why so low-spirited today?"
"Ah, it’s the rumors outside. The Emperor hasn’t come for days; do you think..."
As she said this, Chunqi leaned out to peek outside.
Finding no one, she spoke quietly.
Xia An immediately grasped her concerns.
Indeed, she too once worried about the absence of favor, much like Chunqi.
But probably because of spending so much time with Lin Wanyi, she too fell into her mistress’s calm, becoming steady.
Now, she was peaceful at heart.
She then reassured Chunqi.
"When we were at the Prime Minister’s Mansion, did we ever hope for anything from Ronghe Hall or the second branch?"
Mentioning them sparked Chunqi’s previously drooping spirits to life.
Her eyes nearly shone with righteous indignation.