Once Jiang Heqing finished speaking, he ordered the servants to present the items.
The sachets and silk threads appeared to be standard palace fare—nothing out of the ordinary. But the Five Poisons fan was another matter entirely.
Embroidered on jet-black silk were the five deadly creatures: scorpion, gecko, toad, centipede, and snake—rendered in exquisite, gleaming threads.
The bamboo handle was cool to the touch, clearly a rare and finely crafted object.
Yet it was not something a woman of her rank should rightfully possess.
Lin Wanyi offered a soft smile. She picked up the fan with deliberate grace and said,"My sincere thanks to Her Highness for her generous gift. I am... deeply honored."
She glanced at Qiu Ming, who promptly stepped forward and added with a knowing tone,"What a thoughtful gesture from the Noble Consort. This Five Poisons fan resembles the one presented by Xuzhou last year. I recall clearly—when His Majesty saw it, he praised its exquisite craftsmanship and gifted it to the Noble Consort herself. Who would've thought we'd see it resurface?"
"Oh? What a remarkable coincidence," Lin Wanyi said, feigning surprise.
"If it was truly bestowed by His Majesty, then I dare not accept it. I must trouble Eunuch Jiang to return it on my behalf."
"There's no need for concern, my lady," Jiang Heqing replied smoothly. "Since the item has been delivered to you, it is now your blessing to receive. Most of the Noble Consort's possessions were granted by the emperor himself. If none of them could be given away, wouldn't that contradict the imperial family's reputation for generosity and grace? My lady should feel at ease in accepting it."
Having made his case, Jiang Heqing turned to Qiu Ming and continued,"Eunuch Qiu once served at the emperor's side as well. Tell me—have I said anything that goes against palace protocol?"
As the chief eunuch of the Noble Consort's residence, Jiang Heqing now held a rank second only to Dong Yuzhong. Given the current political climate, Qiu Ming had no choice but to concede.
With a composed expression, he replied,"Eunuch Jiang is absolutely correct."
Lin Wanyi cast a long, thoughtful glance at Jiang Heqing. It was clear she had no choice but to accept the fan.
"In that case, I shall not stand on ceremony. Please convey my heartfelt gratitude to Her Highness."
"You're far too gracious, my lady. I will deliver your words faithfully."
Jiang Heqing had arrived with formality and departed with satisfaction.
Once he was gone, however, both Lin Wanyi and Qiu Ming fell silent, their unease evident. Neither was comfortable with the fan.
"My lady," Qiu Ming began, his tone cautious, "black silk is a material reserved only for the highest-ranking nobles in Great Wei. Forgive me for speaking so plainly, but even Consort Yi is not permitted to use it freely. If you appear at the Dragon Boat banquet holding this fan, I fear it may be construed as overstepping your station."
His insight was sharp, and his words cut to the heart of the matter.
Everyone present widened their eyes in alarm.
"Then why would the Noble Consort send it to my lady?" Chunqi asked in a rush. "Is she trying to disgrace you in public?"
"To disgrace me? Not quite. She intends to make me shine—too brightly," Lin Wanyi said coldly, examining the fan once more.
She saw right through Noble Consort Lin's schemes. And the consort, for her part, didn't care if her motives were transparent—this was clearly a calculated trap.
Just days ago, she had set Lin Wanyi up in front of the emperor. Now she followed it with this so-called "gift."
Even with Qiu Ming already appointed as the head eunuch of Xianyi Hall, she still dared to send Jiang Heqing here, bold as daylight—clearly unafraid of exposure.
It left Lin Wanyi with no easy options.
If she used the fan, she would no doubt become the center of attention—but would also invite jealousy from the harem and seem arrogant in His Majesty's eyes.
But if she refused, it would be seen as an affront to the Noble Consort—and that, too, would carry consequences.
No matter how she weighed it, she was boxed in on all sides.
The Noble Consort had certainly mastered the art of using rank to apply pressure.
"Eunuch Qiu," Lin Wanyi said calmly, "go to Qian'an Hall. If His Majesty is free, ask if he would be willing to take supper here at Xianyi Hall tonight."
This was the first time since entering the palace that Lin Wanyi had sent someone to the emperor directly.
Qiu Ming looked up at her, quickly grasping her intention.
"At once, my lady."
After he departed, Lin Wanyi turned to Chunqi.
"Prepare a few seasonal dishes—keep them simple. Ideally, the kind of fare one might find in a common household."
Though Chunqi didn't fully understand her mistress's intentions, obedience was second nature. She nodded and hurried out.
Xiaoluzi followed to assist, while Xia'an remained in the inner chamber to attend to Lin Wanyi.
"My lady," she asked hesitantly, "isn't it a bit forward to summon His Majesty like this?"
"I no longer have the luxury of caution. Better to meet him here in private than to be accused of arrogance before the entire court."
Xia'an's heart sank slightly. Life in the palace was truly unrelenting—one wave barely passed before the next came crashing in.
When Qiu Ming returned, it was with good news.
The emperor—along with Dong Yuzhong—had been intrigued by Lin Wanyi's uncharacteristic initiative and had agreed without hesitation.
Thus, the entire afternoon was spent preparing for the emperor's arrival.
The imperial kitchens had been notified early, and soon sent over a proposed menu.
Lin Wanyi glanced through it: most dishes were His Majesty's favorites, and two happened to be her own.
The imperial kitchen staff were nothing if not astute.
They had been tracking the consumption of every meal—how much was eaten, what was left—so they could refine their selections over time and cater to individual tastes.
Lin Wanyi removed the dishes she personally enjoyed, along with a few that were overly rich.
This evening's meal needed to be simple—deliberately so.
Qiu Ming, reading over the menu, showed no reaction.
But when Eunuch Pan from the kitchen saw it, his round face creased with confusion.
"My lady, with such a plain menu... will His Majesty be satisfied?"
"Just follow the list, Eunuch Pan. Chunqi has prepared a few side dishes as well. Let's not be wasteful."
"As you command."
So, Lady Lin wanted to make an impression tonight? Very well—he would go along with it.
At the tail end of the shen hour, the emperor arrived earlier than expected.
Lin Wanyi's leg had improved slightly since the incident, enough that she could walk to the gates to receive him.
The moment she saw his arrival, she stepped forward and knelt with graceful composure.
"Your servant, of the Lin clan, offers greetings to Your Majesty. May you enjoy peace and good health."
"Rise. Your leg is still recovering—no need to greet me in the wind."
The emperor stepped down from the palanquin and came to stand before her.
Today, she appeared even more understated than usual—no rouge, no ornaments—yet that only served to highlight her natural elegance and clarity.
Compared to the painted faces of other consorts, her untouched beauty felt almost startling.
He found himself remembering the heavy makeup of others with a trace of boredom.
"So... proactive today. What's the occasion?"
Together, they made their way from the gates into the inner hall—where, quite "coincidentally," the sachets and silk threads sent by the Noble Consort were laid out, clearly in view.