Seeing Ning Wanyin's sincere desire to help her cousin, Old Lady Ning finally gave Ning Wanyin a smile:

"Although you have caused some trouble to the family, since you are willing to help your sister enter the palace, it can be considered as a compensation for your faults."

Ning Wanyin smiled without saying anything. It was clearly because of her that the Cen family gained their favor, yet they were actually blaming her for it.

But she didn't waste too much time talking to the old lady, and said, "Grandma, you should accompany my cousin to prepare the painting. His Majesty may be back in a while."

"Indeed..." Madam Ning nodded and took Ning Ziyin to the quiet room next door to prepare the painting and wash and dress.

After these two people left.

Cheng was angry and anxious, her eyes red: "Wanwan, I'm sorry for making you feel wronged."

"My daughter doesn't feel wronged. Since grandmother wants to send my cousin to the palace so much, then of course I have to fulfill her wish." Ning Wanyin gently held Cheng's hand with a slightly cold smile.

Of course she could refuse Madam Ning.

But why refuse?

She needed this good show to let the emperor know that there was no one behind her.

If you are alienated from your family, you can only rely on the emperor's lone ministers, who will be the most useful.

Furthermore, this was a good opportunity to attract the emperor's sympathy.

Compassion is also love.

She never thinks it is too little.

As a concubine, you must plan every step carefully in order to obtain the power and affection given by the emperor.

"How is everything going lately, mother?" Ning Wanyin looked at Cheng with concern. "My daughter has caused quite a bit of trouble in the deep palace, and mother is worried."

Cheng held Ning Wanyin's hand tightly, "As long as you are doing well, I have nothing to worry about. I am fine. Your father wrote to me a few days ago, saying that he was promoted by the Marquis of Changping and was promoted to a higher rank."

A promotion? Combined with Tang Miaoling's various actions, it seemed like he was trying to show his goodwill to her.

Ning Wanyin seemed to be thinking about something.

"And your brother, he also sent a letter from Nanshan. He is recovering well now, you don't need to worry about us, the most important thing is that you are well."

Cheng had a son and a daughter.

The eldest son drowned in his early years and was only half alive after being rescued. He was sent to Nanshan for treatment by a miracle doctor and has been there for many years.

Perhaps it was because of her brother's experience that Cheng was frightened, so she was very careful when raising Ning Wanyin. She often woke up in the middle of the night and came to Ning Wanyin's room to see if she was sleeping peacefully before she could rest assured.

Cheng's over-caution had some influence on Ning Wanyin's character. She knew her mother's greatest wish for her was to live in peace.

She also cherishes her life very much and makes her mother feel at ease.

The mother and daughter talked about some personal matters in detail.

It was not until late that news came from the hunting ground ahead that the emperor was on his way back. Only then did Cheng and Old Madam Ning take their leave, leaving Ning Ziyin behind.

Ning Ziyin dressed up again, wearing a new skirt made of soft jade brocade and two butterfly hairpins in her hair.

He also carefully painted an excellent picture.

Ning Wanyin cooperated well and painted a picture that was not as good as hers. She then went to the quiet room to change her clothes and put on makeup, and told Lianrui to dress more simply.

"Miss, why do you have to help Miss Ziyin like this!" Lian Rui was filled with resentment:

"The old lady favors the fourth room and always gives them the benefits of our mansion. Even when you entered the palace and were favored, the fourth room was jealous and had to compete for your favor!"

The old lady has two sons. The eldest son is Ning Wanyin’s father, and the youngest son is Ning Ziyin’s father, ranking fourth.

The second and third wives are born out of wedlock.

The old lady has always favored her youngest son.

Even the title is biased towards the fourth branch. Although it is the system of primogeniture, if the eldest son has any faults, such as being extremely unfilial, he will be disqualified from inheriting the title, or if he dies of illness, or if he has no offspring and his nephew is adopted, there are many twists and turns in this process.

The matter was finally settled because Ning Wanyin's fourth uncle died.

How did he die?

Because he wanted to get rid of Ning Wanyin's father.

But the position of Lady Shou'an can only be given to her mother.

"Her father is dead, so just let her be." Ning Wanyin said calmly as she sat in front of the dressing table.

Lian Rui was still depressed.

Ning Wanyin chuckled and comforted her, "Don't worry, she won't enter the palace."

Just now when they said goodbye, her mother hugged her and cried.

She said, "Wan Wan, other concubines have their families to help them, but the Ning family not only cannot help you, but also forces you to do things you don't want to do, making your life in the palace even more difficult."

Mother was wrong.

Precisely because she had been accustomed to intrigues and deceptions since childhood, the road in the palace was easier for her to navigate than those daughters of wealthy families who had a smooth and easy life in the first half of their lives.

Even though they have the guidance of their elders and the protection of their families, they still have to step into the pitfalls of life themselves to know the pain.

To Ning Wanyin, this harem was like a larger earl's mansion.

The road looks harder.

But she also has more cards in her hand.

…

At dusk, Helian Qi and Concubine Zhuang returned to the palace together.

Concubine Zhuang knew that Ning Wanyin lived with Helian Qi, but she was even more dissatisfied and insisted on being with Helian Qi, so she found an excuse to send Ning Wanyin away.

Did she really think that if the emperor allowed her to live with him, she would have all the favor?

Both of them had just returned from the mountains and forests, with their military uniforms still on. Surrounded by the scorching sun and the smell of smoke, they saw at a glance the two women kneeling in front of the main hall to welcome the emperor.

"Get up." Helian Qi waved his hand casually.

Concubine Zhuang deliberately ordered Ning Wanyin, "I have just returned from hunting with His Majesty and need to bathe and change clothes. Go and arrange it."

She was a high-ranking concubine, so it was natural for her to say this.

Ning Wanyin accepted everything and bowed, "Yes, I will go down and prepare it right away."

After saying that, Ning Wanyin took her leave.

Ning Ziyin, who encountered such a situation for the first time, stood there confused.

Concubine Zhuang also noticed her and asked in confusion, "Who is this?"

The woman was dressed up in fancy clothes and was obviously not a palace maid.

Ning Wanyin just walked to the front of the palace gate, bowed and said, "I was careless and forgot to report it. This is my cousin. She came with her grandmother to visit me today and discussed painting with me. I forgot the time... Cousin, please go back to the warm room first."

Ning Ziyin finally got to see the emperor, so how could she be willing to leave? Helian Qisheng was handsome and elegant, wasn't he better than the young men her grandmother had shown her?

The painting has not been shown to the emperor yet. How can we attract his attention?

"I heard that Your Majesty often discusses painting with my sister. Today, I happened to be painting with my sister. I hope Your Majesty will give me some comments." Ning Ziyin glanced at Helian Qi, her pretty face slightly blushing.