The palace attendant couldn’t help but speak out, truly because Prince Wei’s choice was too astonishing—the four chrysanthemums Prince Wei had picked were all the same variety and color!

Didn’t this mean Prince Wei had only selected one noble lady?

But Prince Wei’s cold warning made the attendant shut her mouth.

Let the headache be the two noble consorts’ headache. She was just a lowly palace maid—there was no need to displease His Highness.

The palace maid followed Prince Wei back to Cuijin Pavilion, trembling with trepidation.

The madams in the pavilion, either craning their necks in anticipation or tense with worry, saw the chrysanthemums in Prince Wei’s hands and couldn’t help but stand there dumbstruck.

They—they were all the same?

Some even thought their eyes were playing tricks and quietly rubbed them.

They really were all the same!

Recovering from their initial shock, everyone immediately looked around, searching for the noble lady wearing the same chrysanthemum as those in Prince Wei’s hands.

People’s gazes settled on Lin Chan.

In Elder Miss Lin’s hair was pinned a chrysanthemum that was yellow tinged with red—precisely the Dian Jiang Chun variety in Prince Wei’s hands.

Prince Wei had chosen Elder Miss Lin?

Prince Wei had only chosen Elder Miss Lin!

Everyone’s eyes turned toward the two noble consorts.

By this time, Noble Consort Zhuang had already composed herself, her face revealing nothing. Noble Consort Jing, however, had lost some composure, her voice carrying an obviously restrained tremor: “Silang, you’ve returned so quickly?”

Prince Wei cheerfully presented the chrysanthemums: “Worried that Mother Consort would grow anxious waiting, your son picked the flowers and hurried right back.”

“Flowers are more beautiful when they’re varied and diverse.” Noble Consort Jing looked at her son, enunciating each word.

At this moment, if Prince Wei had said, “Then your son will go pick some other colors for Mother Consort,” this slip-up would have passed.

But Prince Wei’s answer disappointed Noble Consort Jing: “Your son thinks these look good. I don’t like any of the others.”

Noble Consort Jing’s lowered hands clenched tight, her complexion rather ugly.

These words had thoroughly offended all the madams present.

To publicly say he didn’t like any of the others was utterly face-losing.

What distressed Noble Consort Jing even more was that if he’d only selected one from among those ten, that would be one thing, but her son had chosen Elder Miss Lin, whom she’d never even considered.

Taking a wife was different from taking a concubine—what parents didn’t consider the woman’s family background? She hadn’t insisted her son marry a noble lady from a prominent family with powerful natal connections, but at the very least hoped her daughter-in-law’s family would be harmonious, not parents who had severed ties and become a laughingstock for the capital’s citizens at their leisure.

Yet it was precisely her son’s choice made before everyone’s eyes. Even if dissatisfied, she couldn’t expose it now.

Noble Consort Jing accepted the flowers Prince Wei had given her and looked at the Lin mother and daughter, forcing out a trace of a smile: “This Dian Jiang Chun still looks better worn in Elder Miss Lin’s hair.”

This was also part of the previously agreed-upon script, meant to make it clearer which noble ladies Prince Wei had selected and avoid mistakes afterward—only the predetermined four people had become one person.

By this point, even slow-witted Lin Shi had finally caught on.

She looked at the flower in Lin Chan’s hair, then at the flowers before Noble Consort Jing. The pastry she’d been eating fell onto the table.

The corners of all the madams’ mouths twitched in unison.

So while they had been consumed with worry after detecting the chrysanthemum viewing banquet’s purpose, Lin Wanqing had simply come to eat pastries.

Was this what they meant by fools having foolish fortune?

The vast majority of madams who’d hoped their daughters would become Prince Wei’s consort thought sourly.

Amid the sourness, they also felt inexplicably somewhat excited.

There was only one position of Prince Wei’s consort. Getting to witness an imperial family scandal—perhaps… this trip wasn’t wasted after all?

Under countless gazes, Lin Shi had only one thought in her mind: Prince Wei wants to marry Chan’er—that ball wants to marry Chan’er!

This wouldn’t do!

Lin Shi’s hands pressed against the table as she stood up.

Lin Chan was still in tremendous shock from being selected. Seeing Lin Shi rise, she hurriedly stood as well, curtsied toward Noble Consort Jing’s direction, and spoke first: “Your Highness flatters me too much. This commoner’s appearance doesn’t measure up to one ten-thousandth of Your Highness’s.”

The words of refusal stuck in Lin Shi’s throat as she looked at Lin Chan.

Lin Chan seemed oblivious to her mother’s gaze, maintaining an impeccable curtseying posture, her lips curved in a perfectly appropriate smile.

Chan’er is actually willing?

Lin Shi’s moment of stunned distraction caused her to miss the opportunity to speak.

The dust had settled. The vast majority of noble ladies secretly breathed sighs of relief, casting sympathetic or amused glances at Lin Chan. Most madams, meanwhile, felt somewhat dejected.

Noble Consort Jing couldn’t wait to question her son privately and could no longer bear to stay.

Noble Consort Zhuang offered a few polite words, and the meticulously prepared chrysanthemum viewing banquet thus dispersed.

“Noble Consort Jing, I have a bit of a headache and will take my leave first.” Knowing the mother and son had matters to discuss, Noble Consort Zhuang tactfully excused herself.

Noble Consort Jing forced a smile: “Safe travels, Elder Sister. Thank you for your hard work today.”

“You’re too kind, younger sister.” Noble Consort Zhuang returned to her sleeping quarters with mixed feelings and dispatched palace attendants to report the results to the Emperor.

She had done everything she should. If they were dissatisfied with the results, that couldn’t be blamed on her.

Come to think of it, having a son like Prince Wei who didn’t play by the rules was quite headache-inducing.

Noble Consort Zhuang took a sip of tea, feeling something between sympathy and envy for Noble Consort Jing.

With no outsiders present, Noble Consort Jing’s expression darkened: “Follow me back to Ningxin Palace.”

Returning to her sleeping quarters, Noble Consort Jing dismissed the palace attendants and asked the question she’d been holding back: “Silang, it was agreed you’d select four you found pleasing from among the ten noble ladies wearing famous chrysanthemum varieties. Why did you choose Elder Miss Lin!”

Faced with Noble Consort Jing’s interrogation, Prince Wei’s mouth twisted.

This was what Mother Consort had decided—it wasn’t something agreed upon with him. When had he ever consented?

Of course, he couldn’t say this aloud, lest he anger Mother Consort.

“Mother Consort, I carefully observed all those noble ladies and felt none of them were suitable.”

Noble Consort Jing’s voice rose slightly: “What do you mean unsuitable? Most of the noble ladies who came to the chrysanthemum viewing banquet were suitable. Silang, you cannot be this willful. This is selecting a princess consort, not taking a concubine based solely on personal preference.”

“Your son knows that, but when those noble ladies saw me approach, their eyes only held wariness and disgust. Mother Consort, surely you don’t want me to marry a wife who’s climbing the social ladder yet actually looks down on me?”

Noble Consort Jing was momentarily stumped by the question, then showed an angry expression: “You are a prince—no one would dare slight you.”

Prince Wei produced an aggrieved expression: “They wouldn’t dare slight me because of my status, but they don’t like me in their hearts. Mother Consort, can someone who despises me truly be a good wife and make me happy?”

Seeing Noble Consort Jing open her mouth, Prince Wei didn’t give her a chance to interrupt: “Yes, you might think that even if they don’t care for me as a person, those noble ladies could still be good mistresses of the prince’s household and even provide assistance. But your son is already a prince—what use do I have for that kind of assistance? I want to marry a wife who, even if not enamored, at least respects me, not gain another stewardess to manage the household.”

Watching her son, plump as a ball, speak these heartfelt words, Noble Consort Jing fell silent.

She had never entertained thoughts of the heir apparent position. For her, it was enough if her son lived peacefully and safely.

If that was the case, then perhaps the princess consort’s natal family’s support wasn’t as important as her son’s happiness?

Noble Consort Jing had to admit—she was moved by Prince Wei’s words.

From childhood to now, her son had experienced much unhappiness because of his obesity. Perhaps it was time to let him be happy.

“Mother Consort, your son didn’t fall for Elder Miss Lin at first sight. Rather, after walking around the entire garden, only Elder Miss Lin’s expression made me feel comfortable.”

Noble Consort Jing’s heart had already softened, though her mouth couldn’t help but complain: “Even so, you shouldn’t have publicly selected only Elder Miss Lin alone. You should have selected four people including Elder Miss Lin, then made the final decision afterward. That way, no one could find fault.”

Prince Wei spread his hands: “Mother Consort, if there really were four candidates, could Elder Miss Lin still have been chosen in the end?”

Noble Consort Jing fell silent.

Just then, a palace attendant called out: “The Emperor arrives—”