The bright sun shone on her as she walked slowly, supported by Pei Yun's hand. When they reached a place where no one was around, she couldn't help but smile contemptuously.

"Even if the Third Prince's affair wasn't orchestrated by the Li family, what about the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Princes? They may appear innocent, but they'll likely remain so."

She gazed at the bright sunshine and murmured, "It's June already. By this time next year, the new brides should be entering the mansion, right? And shouldn't all the glory and favor bestowed upon her by Madam Li be going to the new brides?"

Wu Shi was unwilling to admit that she was jealous of Li Shi's beauty.

Even when they wished for Li's misfortune, they always carried a sense of compassion and empathy.

Pei Yun dared not say much, but couldn't help being lost in thought.

She had stolen a glance when she followed her princess into the pavilion.

The concubine had indeed been in the household for over two years and was considered an elder. She had just finished her postpartum confinement, so she should have been either plump or haggard.

Just now, she noticed that the concubine was sitting upright with her back to the bright sun. There weren't many pearls or jade ornaments in her hair, and the pair of jade pendants on her ears seemed to be trying to rival her fair neck.

Her lips were likely adorned with lip rouge, a vibrant orange-red that complemented the light blush on her delicate face. As the wind occasionally blew by, it seemed to veil her face, eyebrows, and eyelashes with a hazy mist.

Like the crabapple blossoms at this time of year, they display their graceful figures with brightness, elegance, and composure.

This made Pei Yun suspicious.

Will the saying "only the new concubines are seen laughing while the old ones are seen crying" truly apply to this concubine?

Will the new concubines entering the household next year truly be able to steal some of the favor from the secondary consorts?

Peiyun was unaware of this at the time.

She simply lowered her head and watched her own princess walking ahead.

Hopefully, a concubine will eventually grow old and lose her beauty, won't she?