“So Qiong’er is here.” Prince Wei greeted Qi Qiong with a smile—his first words since entering the garden.

Qi Qiong concealed her astonishment and responded appropriately: “I saw this cluster of green chrysanthemums blooming especially well, so I came to admire them. Has Cousin come to visit Noble Consort Jing?”

“Indeed. It’s been some time since I’ve seen Mother Consort. I heard from the palace attendants that Mother Consort and Noble Consort Zhuang were appreciating flowers at Cuijin Pavilion, so I came over.” As Prince Wei spoke, he discreetly observed the Lin sisters beside Qi Qiong.

He first paid attention to Lin Hao.

At Green Deer Temple, Lin Hao’s remark “it might rain soon” had aroused his curiosity. When rain did indeed fall later, it made him feel this young lady was rather mysterious.

Prince Wei couldn’t help but pay attention to people who piqued his curiosity.

It was now early winter. Lin Hao wore an apricot-colored jacket and smoke-blue pleated skirt. A pair of translucent emerald green teardrop-shaped jade earrings playfully brushed against her fair cheeks, adding a touch of liveliness to the incomparably beautiful young lady.

What caught Prince Wei’s attention, however, wasn’t any of this, but rather her expression.

In those bright eyes was inquiry and curiosity.

Prince Wei found it somewhat amusing. So while he found Second Miss Lin peculiar, Second Miss Lin was also curious about him.

This was a rare and different emotion he’d encountered along his walk.

Observing Prince Wei at close range, Lin Hao was somewhat surprised—Prince Wei had actually lost some weight since Green Deer Temple.

It had only been such a short time, and he’d already slimmed down?

In people’s eyes, Prince Wei still looked like an inflated ball. When plump to this degree, losing ten pounds wouldn’t be noticeable. But Lin Hao had seen what Prince Wei looked like when thin. Because she knew he would slim down and was curious how someone fat since childhood could transform from a ball with squeezed and distorted features into a graceful, handsome gentleman, she was naturally more perceptive about Prince Wei’s weight than others.

Prince Wei’s peripheral vision fell on Lin Chan, and he paused slightly.

He had seen curiosity in Second Miss Lin’s eyes, but what he saw in Elder Miss Lin’s eyes was calm.

The kind of calm where looking at him was no different from looking at anyone else.

She didn’t force herself to cater to him because he was a prince, nor did she show disgust because of his obesity.

This made Prince Wei suddenly experience an indescribable feeling.

Qi Qiong’s guard went up.

With Prince Wei this close to her, wouldn’t he see all of Elder Sister Chan’s and Ah Hao’s beauty?

This wouldn’t do.

“Then Cousin should go quickly. Noble Consort Jing will certainly be overjoyed to see you.”

“Then enjoy yourselves. I’ll head over now.” Prince Wei nodded slightly and turned to leave.

His purpose for appearing in the garden was self-evident—chatting too long with his cousin wouldn’t be appropriate.

Prince Wei walked unhurriedly toward Cuijin Pavilion. When he encountered exceptionally beautiful noble ladies, he would reveal a smile, causing their faces to turn pale with fear.

Prince Wei’s heart was cold, but his face maintained a smile as he walked into Cuijin Pavilion.

The madams’ chattering and laughter stopped.

The ball had arrived!

The moment they saw Prince Wei, even those few madams who valued interests over their daughters’ happiness nearly wavered.

He really was too plump, especially when viewed from the perspective of evaluating a son-in-law!

Toward teasing and intimidating noble ladies, Prince Wei still had some interest, but toward the madams who both wanted to be his mother-in-law and found him too plump, Prince Wei couldn’t even be bothered to spare them a glance.

He moved before Noble Consort Jing and Noble Consort Zhuang to pay his respects.

Noble Consort Jing looked her son over and exclaimed in surprise: “Having not seen you for some days, my son has slimmed down.”

The madams: “…”

Prince Wei was deeply moved.

Mother Consort truly cherished him—only she would observe so meticulously.

He had indeed slimmed down.

Previously, he had tried dieting too. Apart from becoming dizzy with hunger, it had no effect. Who would have thought that taking the medicine prepared according to Scholar Yang’s prescription with an attitude of simply trying it out, his stubborn weight had finally begun to change.

If it weren’t for the vexing matter of consort selection, Prince Wei’s recent mood would actually be excellent.

His peripheral vision swept over the madams’ speechless expressions, and he sneered inwardly.

They despised his plumpness now, but sooner or later there would come a day when these people regretted it.

Various thoughts churned in Prince Wei’s mind, but his face showed nothing as he chatted and laughed with the two noble consorts for quite some time.

At this time, all the noble ladies admiring flowers in the garden received chrysanthemums bestowed by the two noble consorts.

The chrysanthemums were personally delivered into their hands by palace maids. Forty-nine noble ladies, each receiving one bloom—either different varieties or different colors, no two were alike.

Lin Hao received a purple chrysanthemum, Lin Chan received a Dian Jiang Chun variety, and Young Princess Qi Qiong also received a Pink Lotus variety.

Qi Qiong immediately felt relieved.

The two noble consorts bestowing chrysanthemums upon the noble ladies was certainly related to Prince Wei’s consort selection.

Although she didn’t understand the specific circumstances, she could deduce that noble ladies receiving valuable varieties were favored by the two noble consorts, who were hinting for Prince Wei to choose from among these ladies.

But Lin Hao and Lin Chan had only received ordinary chrysanthemums, clearly not within the two noble consorts’ consideration.

Thank goodness, thank goodness—Elder Sister Chan and Ah Hao were safe.

The Young Princess relaxed.

At the palace attendants’ reminder, the noble ladies inserted the chrysanthemums in their hair and returned to Cuijin Pavilion.

Upon seeing them, Noble Consort Zhuang laughed: “Youth is wonderful—truly, the ladies outshine the flowers.”

Thinking of the enormous chrysanthemum atop her head, Lin Hao’s lips twitched slightly.

How could Noble Consort Zhuang say “the ladies outshine the flowers” with such a straight face?

Fortunately, based on the chrysanthemums bestowed, she could guess the imperial family’s targets. She and her sister only needed to wear these large chrysanthemums a while longer before they could leave the palace safely.

Lin Hao adopted a spectator’s mentality, lowering her eyes to act as an invisible person.

Prince Wei, meanwhile, as Noble Consort Zhuang praised the noble ladies, silently scanned the large chrysanthemums atop the ladies’ heads.

They had coordinated beforehand—today’s chrysanthemum viewing banquet would first select four people from among the dozens of noble ladies, with the Emperor making the final decision. And just now, Noble Consort Jing had slipped a small note to Prince Wei when no one was paying attention. The note listed ten chrysanthemum names—the noble ladies wearing the corresponding chrysanthemums were the candidates Noble Consort Jing favored.

Of the forty-nine noble ladies, several like the Young Princess couldn’t appropriately be excluded from the invitation, and another dozen or so like the Lin sisters were merely making up numbers. The remaining thirty-plus were all deemed suitable by the two noble consorts for the position of Prince Wei’s consort. Noble Consort Jing had coldly observed the reactions of the various households’ madams and young ladies, then selected ten from among those thirty-plus.

Green Clothes Red Dress, Phoenix Spreading Wings, Snow Pearl Red Plum… Ten noble ladies wore famous varieties. What Prince Wei needed to do was select four who caught his eye from among these ten—at least giving Prince Wei some freedom.

Prince Wei seriously scanned the noble ladies wearing the famous chrysanthemum varieties, but in truth didn’t remember a single one.

There was nothing worth remembering. Why select a wife who both despised him and wanted to curry favor with him, just to vex himself?

Noble Consort Zhuang continued with polite conversation. Noble Consort Jing felt it was about time and glanced at Prince Wei.

Prince Wei nodded slightly.

Noble Consort Jing couldn’t help but let the corners of her lips rise, knowing her son had made his selection.

“Seeing the young ladies look so lovely with flowers in their hair, I’m rather envious.” Noble Consort Jing spoke with a smile.

Noble Consort Zhuang took the hint and smiled at Prince Wei: “Did you hear that, Your Highness? Why don’t you quickly pick some flowers for your mother consort.”

Prince Wei rose and went to the flower garden. Walking and stopping along the way, he picked a chrysanthemum branch.

The palace attendant following Prince Wei showed an unusual expression.

The chrysanthemum Prince Wei had picked wasn’t among those ten varieties!

Because it was too ordinary, they couldn’t even recall which noble lady wore it.

Prince Wei remained completely calm and soon picked four chrysanthemums.

The palace attendants’ faces changed: “Your Highness—”

Prince Wei glanced at the attendants and said coldly, “Don’t be meddlesome.”