Several flowers bloom, each showing its own beauty.
Wen Baolin lived in the most remote palace because of her lowest rank. But she was eager to be brought out by the emperor, ready to compete for his favor.
"Baolin, His Majesty went out hunting with Concubine Zhuang early this morning. I heard that he left Concubine Ning to live with them..." The maid told him the news she had found out.
Wen Baolin's mind sank. His Majesty had Concubine Zhuang accompanying him during the day, and Ning Wanyin, that vixen, at night...
When will she have the chance to sleep with him?
"It would be fine if it was Concubine Zhuang, but Ning Wanyin actually lives with His Majesty. How dare she hook up with His Majesty and not give others a chance!" Wen Baolin was very angry.
She couldn't even raise her head after entering the palace for a month and still hadn't been able to serve the emperor in bed.
While the master and servant were talking, the eunuch who led the way came in and reported, "Wen Baolin, Minister Wen is here!"
"Please invite father in!" Wen Baolin said happily.
Wen Baolin dismissed all the extra palace maids, leaving only his personal maid, and looked at Minister Wen and said anxiously:
"Father, my daughter is not favored in the palace. You must help her!"
Minister Wen's face was serious, and he asked in reproach, "How could you be on good terms with Concubine Cen?"
"Didn't father teach his daughter that after entering the palace, she should not be jealous and should make friends with others..." Wen Baolin asked doubtfully.
"That's to let you make more friends with Concubine Song and other noble ladies, so that you won't be alone in the palace." Minister Wen was disappointed:
"We in the Wen family have never made friends with Xue and Cen's factions. Do I need to remind you of this?"
Wen Baolin did not think she had done anything wrong, and she argued, "My daughter knows that your majesty and the queen mother are not on good terms. Your majesty let Concubine Shu take charge of the six palaces to use the Cen family to check and balance the queen mother. My daughter helped the Cen family deal with the Xue family, which can be regarded as sharing your majesty's worries!"
"You are so smart! The emperor's mind is unpredictable. How dare you guess his majesty's plan? You think you are helping his majesty to share his worries, then why does his majesty treat you coldly?" Minister Wen asked back.
Wen Baolin was speechless for a moment.
"Look at Concubine Ning, the most favored concubine in the palace. What did she do?" Minister Wen said sharply, "She didn't give any face to either the Xue or Cen families. She stepped on them and became the emperor's favorite concubine."
Wen Baolin was completely stunned, as if the clouds had been cleared and the sun had come out. "Father means... Ning Wanyin is favored because she did not rely on the two masters..."
"The harem cannot be the world of the Xue and Cen families. Your Majesty must always have some people of his own." Minister Wen reminded.
Wen Baolin finally reacted, "My daughter understands! My daughter must draw a clear line between herself and the Cen family!"
"It's good that you figured it out. Don't worry, since His Majesty brought you to Xiashou, he doesn't completely dislike you. You just need to wait patiently for the right opportunity. By the way, you can make more friends with Ning Wanyin when you have time, which will be of great benefit to you!"
Wen Baolin nodded and said, "My daughter understands. His Majesty is currently doting on Ning Wanyin, and it would be unwise for my daughter to offend her by competing for her favor. Don't worry, my daughter will definitely make friends with her."
She has to draw a clear line between the two major forces of Xue and Cen, so Ning Wanyin is the only one left in the palace who can make use of something.
…
Concubine Song in the palace next door also met her parents and brother.
Her father, Song Gu, the Right Censor-in-Chief, was the emperor's right-hand man.
My elder brother, Song Chengyi, who is from the same mother as me, is very handsome. Last month, he took the imperial examination and was chosen by His Majesty as the third place in the imperial examination.
Both the father and son of the Song family were the emperor's favorite ministers. Although the emperor rarely saw Concubine Song, he gave her many rewards one after another. Among the newcomers, she was also favored.
The family exchanged some private words.
Song Qingzhi stammered, "It has never happened before that Ning lives with Your Majesty... Previously, all the ministers have criticized Shou'an Earl for not teaching his daughter well, and Ning's behavior is out of line..."
When Song Chengyi heard this, his eyes flashed and his expression changed slightly.
Song Gu's eyes fell on her face, his gaze sharp: "Do you want your father to go to see her?"
Song Qingzhi met Song Gu's gaze and avoided it, "Dad is a censor, and it is Dad's duty to advise His Majesty..."
"As a minister, it is indeed my duty to advise the monarch. But what matters in the court are more important than a concubine. Compared with corrupt officials and the livelihood of the people, which concubine the emperor favors is not worth mentioning? The censors focus on the affairs of the court and the world, not your majesty's private affairs." Song Gu stared at Song Qingzhi and said word by word:
"Moreover, you and she are both concubines. For your sake, I must also avoid suspicion and be cautious. Otherwise, His Majesty will suspect that you are abusing your family background to seek personal gain and exclude dissidents. How will you prove yourself? At that time, all the ministers came to visit Shou Anbo, but I did not say a word, firstly because the matter was not worth mentioning, and secondly, to protect you."
Song Qingzhi's face turned pale and she was filled with shame.
"Now that you are a concubine, you can no longer do whatever you want as you did at home. You should think twice before doing anything." Song Gu sighed.
Mrs. Song stayed to talk to her daughter.
The father and son took their leave first.
The eunuch leading the way led the father and son out of the palace, and happened to meet Madam Ning and Cheng coming out of the warm room.
Song Chengyi couldn't help but look in their direction twice more.
When he didn't see the pretty figure, he looked away.
After leaving the palace, only the father and son were left.
Song Gu suddenly looked at his son and said, "Father suddenly remembered something. Last year, you asked me to go to the Shou'an Marquis's Mansion to propose marriage. The Miss Ning you had your eyes on is now Lady Ning."
"You didn't agree." Song Chengyi lowered his head.
"Of course I won't agree. As a noble family, we Song family cannot make friends with nobles. If you like noble women, or even the daughters of merchants, I can propose marriage for you, but not the daughters of nobles." Song Gu paused, patted his son's shoulder, and warned him earnestly:
"Now she is His Majesty's new favorite. If you don't want to kill yourself and her, just pretend you don't know her. Look less, listen less, and care less."
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