"Do not worry, my lady," said Qiu Ming gently. "If your rank were a bit higher, and if you were to conceive, you'd be permitted to summon your family to the palace. That too is a rule laid down by the late ancestors."
Lin Wanyi understood the kindness behind his words but chose not to respond.
Conceiving a child was the last thing she could afford right now. Which meant the hope of reuniting with her family would remain out of reach for some time still.
She would wait. Once the storm passed, perhaps she could entrust Nanny Fan to deliver a message to her grandmother. If all went well, her mother and the rest would come to know she was safe.
With that thought, her mind returned to the upcoming dragon boat races—her only chance to glimpse her brother in the open.
The days passed swiftly, and before long, the Dragon Boat Festival arrived.
That morning, Lin Wanyi rose early to wash, dress, and ate a light breakfast. After a few days under Qiu Ming's firm instruction, Chunqi had grown noticeably steadier.
As she prepared to style Lin Wanyi's hair, Chunqi spoke up, "My lady, how about I do a peach-heart bun today? I'll use the peachwood hairpin and place a few mother-of-pearl beads at your temple—understated, yet not overly plain. What do you think?"
Lin Wanyi trusted Chunqi's hand.
"You decide. That sounds just right."
At the same time, Xia An brought out her court robes—a pleated skirt of pale celadon patterned silk, paired with a moon-white outer robe embroidered with branching blossoms.
Lin Wanyi glanced at the ensemble and smiled softly.
Her thoughts drifted back to the visit fromNoble Lady Ye and Changzai Du the day before.
"This residence of yours is so serene," Changzai Du had remarked the moment she stepped in, her tone both bright and flattering. "The whole palace is abuzz with preparations, and yet here you are, like a secluded fairyland—so quiet that no one dares disturb it."
Ever since Changzai Du received Noble Consort Lin's orders to oversee the festival arrangements, she had shed her usual low profile and now greeted everyone with smiling exuberance.
Noble Lady Ye, by contrast, was more reserved. She simply offered a composed nod and said, "Sister Lin, I hope you are well."
Lin Wanyi had kept to herself while recovering from her injuries, rarely seeing visitors. She only received them now because of an imperial edict.
The Emperor, reminiscing about the late Empress Xu's frugality, had decreed that the palace should observe a measure of mourning—no excessive decoration or extravagance in holiday festivities.
But with the Dragon Boat Festival so near, drastic changes were impossible. The best the consorts could do was temper their attire and conduct.
"You've both worked hard these days," Lin Wanyi said warmly. "Please, have some tea and rest your throats."
With that, she invited them inside.
"We wouldn't have troubled you if you were still unwell," Changzai Du replied with a coy smile. "But today we came to deliver the bamboo-handled fans. I hope you'll forgive the intrusion."
As she spoke, the maid behind her stepped forward with a tray.
Lin Wanyi lifted one of the fans for a closer look. The silk face was simple, embroidered with a few sprigs of orchid and two playful butterflies—plain, yet elegant.
Seeing her examine it closely, Changzai Du eagerly continued, "These fans nearly exhausted the seamstresses! After the Emperor's edict forbade extravagance, the Noble Consort instructed that we all receive matching fans like this for the palace banquet. Look closely—each floral design was stitched to match the blooms Her Highness gifted us that day."
"Her Highness is most thoughtful," Lin Wanyi replied politely. "I quite like this."
Compared to the previous black silk fan adorned with the Five Poisons, this fan was far more ordinary. And yet, in Lin Wanyi's hands, that very ordinariness looked graceful.
"Yes, Her Highness has always been considerate toward us consorts," Changzai Du added, beaming. "I can't wait to greet her at morning court and express my thanks!"
Changzai Du made no effort to hide her allegiance to the Noble Consort. It seemed she wanted the whole palace to know who had elevated her status.
Noble Lady Ye, meanwhile, remained quietly seated, offering little more than a faint smile. Though she outranked Changzai Du, she carried herself with such restraint that one might've mistaken her for the lesser.
Just then, Chunqi waved a hand before Lin Wanyi's face. "My lady?"
Lin Wanyi blinked, returning to the present. "What is it?"
"I was asking which pair of earrings you'd like to wear today," Chunqi said, holding up two modest sets—elegant but unobtrusive.
Lin Wanyi gestured toward the one on the left. "That one."
"Yes, my lady."
Once she was fully dressed, Lin Wanyi sat down for her morning meal. Today was her first time attending a formal gathering since recovering from her injuries. She could not afford to be late.
Before leaving, she picked up the plain silk fan bestowed by the Noble Consort, her lips curving into a serene smile.
"Let's go."
—
At Linzhi Palace, many consorts who hadn't met in days had already gathered, waiting in the courtyard. Lin Wanyi was neither early nor late. She greeted those of higher rank with appropriate courtesy, then took her place beneath the eaves.
Sure enough, ever since the Emperor's decree, the palace's once-vibrant colors had softened. Those who previously competed in flamboyance were now competing in simplicity.
Yesterday, everyone strove to outshine the blossoms. Today, they vied for quiet grace.
Even the colors of their robes seemed coordinated—soft pinks, pale aquas, gentle yellows. Not a single bold hue in sight.
Each woman carried the same bamboo-handled fan from the Noble Consort, a visible sign of her favor.
Before long, the eunuchs outside announced:
"Consort Yi has arrived."
"Consort Lan has arrived."
"Concubine Ying has arrived."
A stream of high-ranking consorts entered in turn. Despite Linzhi Palace's spacious halls, it now felt rather full.
Everyone lined up obediently to pay their respects.
Lin Wanyi had met Consort Yi and Concubine Ying before. But this was her first time seeing Consort Lan—the one currently carrying the imperial heir.
She wore a long gown of green satin embroidered with osmanthus blossoms and auspicious ruyi medallions. Pale periwinkle trim adorned the edges, with a subtle design of melon vines—symbolizing fertility. It suited her slightly rounded figure well.
The morning sun cast a warm light on her, giving her an air of gentle tranquility.
Lin Wanyi glanced at her and was immediately struck by those limpid eyes—clear as spring water, softly rippling with emotion.
No wonder she had captured the Emperor's affection. Truly, beauty in the harem came in many forms.
"Rise," said Consort Yi. As the highest-ranking of the three, her voice was the cue for the rest to stand.
Just then, Qinhe, the senior maidservant beside Noble Consort Lin, emerged from within and bowed respectfully.
"Her Highness the Noble Consort has prepared tea and refreshments. She invites Consort Yi, Consort Lan, and all esteemed ladies to join her inside."
Consort Yi spared Qinhe a disdainful glance and strode in first without a word. The others followed in her wake.
As Lin Wanyi entered, she caught a sharp, cold glance from behind. It belonged to none other than Noble Lady Chu, recently released from house arrest.