Less than two days after Shangguan Jingyi finished his performance, it was Tianyun's turn to draw lots.
Lingqi, that little girl, was eager to try, and even boasted that she had worn a whole body full of Buddhist amulets!
It was her luckiest moment, but she insisted on drawing lots for her.
Tianyun let her have her way, but this made Xie Xiaoni a little jealous.
She said sourly, "You spoil that girl too much, you're almost better to her than to me!"
“You and that girl are both people I cherish, there’s no need to compare yourselves,” Tianyun said affectionately, flicking her forehead, finding it somewhat amusing.
Why are they all so jealous?
Lingqi's luck isn't that good.
Among nearly a hundred excellent students, she was drawn number thirty-three, and unfortunately, she was drawn right after Qin Yuwei!
This disrupted Tianyun's original plan.
She originally planned to withdraw from the competition and then explain to her mother that she had caught a cold and was feeling weak due to illness.
My mother certainly won't pursue the matter.
This will put His Highness at ease.
But now, she's ranked behind Qin Yuwei. If she doesn't perform, given Aunt Liu's unforgiving nature, she'll definitely accuse her of being suppressed by Qin Yuwei's dancing skills and losing the courage to even go on stage!
The mother will also be ridiculed because of this...
After much thought, I still have to go on stage!
The dance costume I prepared a few days ago needs to be changed at the last minute...
As Qin Yuwei passed by, Lingqi caught a glimpse of her smug expression. Lingqi returned, her face pale, and said, "Miss..."
I wasted my money on this amulet!
It's utterly useless!
If she draws a card after Qin Yuwei, the girl will likely be suppressed by her, after all, Qin Yuwei climbed to the top sixteen in previous years on her own merit, and she should not be underestimated.
Tianyun patted her head reassuringly and softened her voice: "Don't be afraid, you did a great job."
Since fate has arranged things this way, it's probably useless anyway. Besides, there's no need to be afraid.
※※※※
The Emperor of Liang knew that Xiao Ziyan's injury could not be kept secret from Consort Lin for long.
However, Consort Lin was less than three months pregnant and the pregnancy was not yet stable, so she could only keep it a secret for the time being.
Coincidentally, the Imperial Concubine was making a fuss yesterday, wanting to eat pastries from the Fragrant Garden outside the palace, specifically red tea sweet velvet.
Spending all day in these four high walls, pregnancy symptoms are also a torment.
Emperor Liang simply granted her request, allowing her to return home to visit her family and stay at her parents' house for a few more days, eating whatever she wanted.
This is an immense honor; no other concubine would dare to dream of such a blessing.
In the present Great Liang Dynasty, only Consort Lin, the mother of the Second Prince, is truly exceptional!
The imperial concubine's palanquin arrived in front of the Lin residence. Although the old Duke had passed away, the grandeur of the Lin residence had not diminished.
He had a beloved daughter who was favored by all the concubines, and a grandson who was the most likely to succeed in the succession. He was destined for everlasting glory and wealth.
At the entrance of the Lin residence, an old nanny who had received a letter from the palace rushed forward respectfully as soon as she saw the Imperial Concubine descend from her entourage, fearing that something might go wrong.
Nowadays, everyone knows that His Majesty values the imperial heir in the Consort's womb most, and who would dare not serve her wholeheartedly!
The privilege of being able to return home to visit one's family while pregnant is not something everyone can have, but the Second Prince's injury...
The servants at the mansion were told to keep their mouths shut!
"Granny Wu, please help me go and pay my respects to my mother." Consort Lin smiled and put her hand on Consort Wu's arm, unaware of Consort Wu's slightly evasive gaze.
Granny Wu was an old servant in the household, and the indenture she signed was a death contract, so naturally she wouldn't dare to betray her master.
Upon hearing this, he immediately fawned, "This old servant obeys the decree. The room has been prepared, and everything the Consort needs during her pregnancy has been provided."
Arrangements have already been made at Xinxiang Garden, and they will send a messenger over shortly so that Your Highness can have some pastries to tide you over after you have met the Old Madam.”
Consort Lin gestured with her delicate hand. A palace maid stepped forward and handed Wu Mama a few golden melon seeds.
"Not bad, you've done your best." Consort Lin smiled languidly. "Here's a reward for you."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Granny Wu discreetly stuffed the golden melon seeds into her pouch.
After Consort Lin had finished paying her respects to her mother, the servant boy from Xinxiang Garden arrived.
"Let him in." After standing in the main room for a while, she felt even more tired.
She rubbed her aching back and frowned as she asked Granny Wu, "I just noticed that Mother looked worried and her face seemed troubled. Has something happened at the manor these past few days?"
Consort Lin had an exceptionally keen sense of smell.
Wu Mama's brow twitched: "Your Highness...you're overthinking it. Everything is fine in the manor. The old lady's headaches have eased a lot in the past few days, and she can even eat more."
Actually, that's not the case. Since the news of His Highness's serious injury reached the capital three days ago, the old lady has not slept well for two nights, and naturally looks a bit haggard.
She replied calmly. Although Consort Lin felt something was strange, she couldn't see any flaws and had no choice but to give up.
"This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine."
The person kneeling below the steps is Zhang San, the errand boy from Xinxiangyuan.
"No need for formalities," Consort Lin said lazily, rubbing her temples.
Zhang San got up, and the food box in his hand was taken by Granny Wu.
Outside the mansion gate, guards thoroughly searched him to ensure he was not carrying any weapons, but those of unknown origin were still not allowed to approach the Imperial Concubine within ten steps.
Zhang San bowed his head respectfully and waited a few meters away.
Granny Wu took out the pastries and tested each one with a silver needle. Only after the silver needle had turned black could the imperial concubine eat them.
Consort Lin noticed that Zhang San would look up at Granny Wu every few breaths, seemingly getting impatient with her dawdling and tedious movements.
She hadn't left the palace for several years and hadn't seen such a vibrant face and expression in a long time.
A thought struck her, and she asked him, "What, where are you rushing off to?"
Zhang San knelt down in fear and trembling: "Your Highness, please forgive me. This humble subject has been disrespectful and disturbed Your Highness. I deserve to die!"
Consort Lin picked up a piece of peach blossom pastry, took a small bite, and said, "Tell me your story, and I will forgive you."
Seeing her phoenix eyes narrow with satisfaction, Granny Wu smiled and said, "This peach blossom pastry was Your Highness's favorite pastry before you got married. It seems that its status in Your Highness's heart is no less than it was back then!"
She smiled without saying a word.
Zhang San kowtowed repeatedly in the hall, drawing back Consort Lin's attention: "This humble subject will later go to the back garden of Tonghua Terrace to deliver pastries to Miss Mu Yaozhi."
Consort Lin suddenly remembered, "Oh? Yao'er?" It was the time when the Hundred Flowers Banquet was in full swing, and it was very lively.
If she weren't pregnant and afraid of being offended, she would have loved to go and witness this grand feast!
"Indeed, the news of Miss Mu's hunger strike with the Left Chancellor has spread throughout the capital. The Left Chancellor, out of love for his daughter, finally compromised first and specially ordered some of Miss Mu's favorite pastries from Xinxiang Garden in order to break the deadlock between father and daughter."
Yao'er has always been spoiled, and this isn't the first or second time she's gone on a hunger strike.
Consort Lin was delighted and asked with a smile, "So that's how it is. What's the reason this time?"
After Zhang San mentioned Mu Yao, Granny Wu had a bad feeling and hurriedly returned the food box to him, wanting to urge him to leave quickly.
Before she could stop him, Zhang San replied firmly, "The Second Prince was ambushed by Turkic troops in the southern desert and was seriously injured!"
Miss Mu was determined to travel to the southern desert to investigate personally, but her plan was forcibly suppressed by the Left Chancellor, leading to her hunger strike.
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