A few days later, the news that "the Emperor has bestowed the title of Imperial Merchant upon a Han Chinese woman named Lin" spread like wildfire throughout the Forbidden City.

Inside Yikun Palace

Consort Nian was reclining on her chaise longue, gently stroking the Persian cat in her arms. Upon hearing this, she immediately sat up straight, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

She looked up at the kneeling palace maid Cui'er and asked urgently, "What does this Lin woman look like? Where did she come from? How could she win the Emperor's favor so much?"

Cui'er bowed her head and knelt down, and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Lin Yun is a merchant girl from Shangyang City. She gained the Emperor's favor by presenting blueprints for a spinning machine. As for her appearance, this servant does not know and has not heard of her."

Consort Nian leaned back, gripping the armrest with her right hand, and sneered, "A mere merchant's daughter dares to associate herself with the royal family?"

She narrowed her eyes, inwardly seething with resentment. The Emperor had appointed the Thirteenth Prince to oversee the textile factory; it turned out she was the one who had provided the blueprints.

A few days ago, the Emperor even skipped the morning court session and stayed out of the palace for several days. Could it be because of her?

Thinking of this, she gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly, her knuckles turning white.

The palace maids standing nearby remained silent, none daring to utter a word.

Inside Changchun Palace, Empress Ulanara was sitting by the window chanting Buddhist prayers when she heard the news, and her prayer beads paused.

She looked up at the old woman beside her and said softly, "His Majesty's actions are quite rare."

The old woman whispered, "Your Highness, although Lin Yun is a merchant's daughter, I've heard she's incredibly talented. Perhaps the Emperor only values ​​her abilities."

The Empress smiled faintly: "His Majesty has always had a discerning eye. If she is truly capable, then it is no problem."

However, a hint of pleasure flashed in her eyes.

She and the Emperor were childhood sweethearts in the Prince's residence, and the Emperor had never before gone to such lengths for a woman.

Does his special care for Lin Yun mean that this woman is special to him?

But Han Chinese women were never allowed to be in the public eye during the Qing Dynasty. No matter how much she was favored, what could she do?

If we can use the Lin family to weaken the Nian family's influence, it would be a good move.

In Zhongcui Palace, Consort Qi, Lady Li, was playing with a caged thrush when she heard the news, and the birdseed in her hand spilled all over the ground.

She sneered, "A Han Chinese merchant girl deserves a personal reward from the Emperor? What a joke!"

She forgot that she was also a Han Chinese woman...

She turned to the palace maid beside her and said, "Go and find out what methods Lin Yun used to bewitch the Emperor!"

The palace maid quickly acknowledged and withdrew.

Jingren Palace

Consort Xi, of the Niohuru clan, was chatting with the palace maids when she heard about this. She frowned slightly and said, "His Majesty has never been interested in women, so it is quite strange that he is so interested in a merchant girl."

She thought to herself that the emperor usually only visited the inner palace a few times a month, and in the past two months he hadn't set foot in the inner palace at all.

But for this woman, he actually skipped court for several days and even appointed her as a royal merchant? Does she really have that much power?

But then she thought, the Emperor isn't the capricious type. Perhaps there's something they don't know about this.

The key to it couldn't be grasped in a short time.

Inside Yikun Palace.

The more Consort Nian thought about it, the angrier she became. She abruptly stood up, walked to her desk, dipped her brush in ink, and wrote a secret letter. The letter read:

"My esteemed elder brother: Recently, the Emperor bestowed the title of Imperial Merchant upon a merchant girl named Lin Yun. This woman's origins are unknown, and I fear she harbors treacherous intentions. I urge you to immediately dispatch trusted confidants to investigate her background. If anything is amiss, you must eliminate her to prevent future troubles."

After writing it, she handed the letter to Cui'er and said coldly, "Give this letter to my brother's confidant, and make sure he delivers it personally."

Cui'er took the letter and carefully withdrew.

Consort Nian gazed out the window, a ruthless glint in her eyes: "Lin Yun, if you dare to covet what you don't deserve, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Changchun Palace

The Empress sighed softly and said to the nanny beside her, "Consort Nian is impetuous; this matter may escalate."

The old woman whispered, "Your Highness, should we remind the Emperor?"

The Empress shook her head: "His Majesty has his own decision, and it is not appropriate for me to interfere."

If things really escalate, it'll be a good opportunity to get rid of the Nian family; she's had enough of them all these years.

Relying on his elder brother Nian Gengyao, he was determined to seize control of the emperor.

It's wonderful that a Han Chinese woman has come.

Qianqing Palace

While Emperor Yongzheng was reviewing memorials, Su Peisheng rushed in and whispered, "Your Majesty, there's some activity at Yikun Palace."

Yongzheng didn't even look up: "Speak."

Su Peisheng said cautiously, "Consort Nian sent a secret letter to General Nian, which seems to be related to Miss Lin."

Yongzheng paused slightly in his hand, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Keep an eye on it. If there is any unusual activity, report it immediately."

"Yes, sir." Su Peisheng withdrew.

Yongzheng put down his pen, looked out the window, and thought to himself, "Nian Gengyao, you mustn't disappoint me."

“In your previous life, you were arrogant and complacent. In this life, I have given you a chance. Don’t bring about your own destruction.”

————————

After traveling for five or six days, Lin Yun and her group finally caught a glimpse of the outline of Beijing in the distance.

The towering city walls are magnificent and imposing, and the city gates are bustling with people and carriages, creating a prosperous scene.

Xiao Tao lifted the carriage curtain, her eyes widening in amazement. "Miss, the capital is so big! It's much more lively than Shangyang City!"

Lin Yun smiled slightly, unable to hide her excitement.

Although she had seen the prosperity of modern metropolises, the Beijing before her eyes exuded a profound historical atmosphere, inspiring awe.

As the convoy slowly approached the city gate, a guard in official robes suddenly stepped forward, bowed, and said respectfully, "Is this Miss Lin's carriage? His Majesty has ordered this servant to wait here for quite some time."

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!