Lianxing's appearance was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, stirring up huge waves in Xi Linghao's long-dormant heart and completely disrupting the seemingly calm but actually turbulent waters of the harem.

Lianxing was placed in the "Lanyue Pavilion," which was closest to the Emperor's bedchamber, by Xi Linghao. Overnight, her status rose from a lowly palace maid to "Lady Lianxing."

Xi Linghao's doting on Lianxing was almost obsessive, and also carried a kind of morbid compensatory mentality.

He bestowed upon her countless treasures and silks, decorating the Lan Yue Pavilion like a celestial palace, with furnishings even more exquisite than those befitting the Empress. He was infatuated with Lian Xing's face, which bore a striking resemblance to A Yuan's birth mother. Often, between reviewing memorials, he would gaze at her profile as she quietly ground ink, her eyes lowered, her gaze unfocused, as if seeing his beloved consort, who had passed away many years ago, through her. He ordered the palace painters to paint a portrait of Lian Xing, demanding that it capture that aloof and proud air so similar to his deceased friend.

Even more astonishingly, Xi Linghao made an exception and allowed Lianxing to stay overnight in the imperial bedchamber! This was an unprecedented honor in Xi Ling's harem. He summoned her every night, as if pouring his longing for his deceased wife and his yearning for youthful vitality into this substitute. Lianxing, in turn, did her utmost to be tender and tactful, every move, every smile, deliberately mimicking the image of A Yuan's birth mother, firmly holding Xi Linghao in her grasp.

Faced with this sudden and overwhelming favor, Empress Lin remained remarkably "magnanimous" and "calm." She continued her daily routine of chanting scriptures and copying texts at the Buddhist hall, seemingly oblivious to the extravagance of Lan Yue Pavilion and Lian Xing's exclusive favor. Occasionally, when she "accidentally" encountered Xi Linghao and Lian Xing strolling in the garden on the palace path, she would merely bow respectfully from afar, a gentle and dignified smile on her face, her eyes calm and unwavering, as if genuinely pleased that His Majesty had found a new love, without a trace of jealousy.

"Her Majesty the Empress is truly virtuous and magnanimous..."

"Yes, Lady Lianxing is so favored, yet Her Majesty shows no displeasure whatsoever..."

"Her Majesty the Empress even made way for Lady Lianxing last time!"

The palace servants whispered amongst themselves, expressing both surprise and admiration for Empress Lin's "transformation."

Inside Qiwu Palace, A Yuan listened to the palace servants' report and looked at the bleak autumn scenery outside the window, her brows furrowed: "Kang Kang, the calmer Lin Shi is, the more alarmed I feel. This is not like her usual style. Lin Shi has become unusually low-key since she came out of confinement this time."

"Even the shadow guards couldn't find any trace of her. She just copied scriptures and recited the Book of Poetry every day."

Xiao Chengkang put down the pestle in his hand, and the aroma of medicine filled the room. He walked to A Yuan's side, his gaze calm: "Something unusual must be going on. The timing of Lianxing's appearance is too coincidental, and the resemblance is too high. This is definitely not a coincidence. How could Lin find and train such a woman during her confinement? Her offering of Lianxing is definitely not just for the sake of vying for favor."

"As for the Shadow Guards," A-Yuan turned to look at him, "do you have any news about Lianxing's background?"

“We’re investigating.” Xiao Chengkang’s eyes were sharp. “This woman’s entry record into the palace has been wiped clean, as if she appeared out of thin air. I’ve already sent the head of the Shadow Guards to personally investigate the secret networks of the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Music Bureau outside the palace. And Lin Shi, she chants scriptures and worships Buddha every day, there must be something going on behind the scenes. Xi Yu, the personal maid of Empress Lin…” He recalled the anomaly that A Yuan had mentioned earlier, “that palace maid, have the Shadow Guards keep a close eye on her, she might be the only crack that can be pried open around Lin Shi.”