“It’s nothing much, just that I saw the narcissus flowers blooming in the residence, and remembering that Your Ladyship is most fond of this type of flower, I brought a few pots for Your Ladyship.” As she spoke, Jixiang had already arranged the narcissus flowers on the small table. The tips bore several cup-shaped blossoms that emanated a subtle, elegant fragrance.

Under Lin Shi’s delighted gaze, Yunyi said, “The gardener said that this narcissus has many fine leaves, so he gave it a name—’Silver Goblet Jade Platform.'”

“Silver Goblet Jade Platform…” Lin Shi caressed the snow-white petals and laughed softly, “This name is quite lovely. How is it that those gardeners in the palace can’t come up with such pleasant names?”

“They’re not as leisurely as the gardeners in my residence. They’re busy cultivating rare flowers and exotic plants for Your Ladyship, so naturally they don’t have time to think about such things.”

Lin Shi’s eyes flashed coldly as she sneered, “They are indeed busy, but they’re busy pleasing Noble Consort Wan and Talented Lady Yin and the others. It has nothing to do with me.”

Yunyi asked in surprise, “Why does Your Ladyship say such things?”

Liuxia handed back the hand warmer that had been refilled with charcoal to Yunyi, saying, “Imperial Consort Yang doesn’t know—Your Ladyship has always loved narcissus. As soon as winter began, she urged the flower house to carefully cultivate narcissus, saying that as soon as they bloomed, they should be sent immediately to Zhaoqing Palace. But now that the New Year has passed, they still haven’t sent any. Your Ladyship was anxious and sent this servant to check the flower house, only to discover that they hadn’t put their hearts into cultivating narcissus at all. They were all busy cultivating gaudy flowers and plants—it’s truly infuriating.”

Jixiang quickly asked, “Were they taken to please Noble Consort Wan?”

Liuli shook her head, “If that were the case, it wouldn’t be so infuriating. Besides the portion sent to Shangyang Palace, the rest were all sent to the Lateral Courts.”

Jixiang asked in confusion, “The Lateral Courts? Why send them there for no reason, and even neglect Your Ladyship for this?”

Yunyi’s mind turned as she probed, “Were they sent to Talented Lady Yin and Lady Zhang?”

Liuxia said angrily, “Exactly! They’re just two low-ranking consorts, yet they’re worth such flattery. If Your Ladyship hadn’t been unwilling to argue with them, they would have bitter consequences to swallow.”

Yunyi glanced at Lin Shi and asked softly, “Are Talented Lady Yin and the others truly so favored in the palace?”

Upon hearing this, Liuxia immediately opened her floodgates, “Indeed they are! Ever since they were granted titles, His Majesty spends most of each month with them. He comes to Zhaoqing Palace much less frequently than before, and even Zhengyang Palace is the same. You tell me, Noble Consort Wan had just selected many beautiful palace ladies for the palace, but His Majesty barely glanced at them before casting them all aside. All he thinks about and remembers are those two, Yin and Zhang. Who knows what strange seductive techniques they used to bewitch His Majesty to such an extent.”

Lin Shi glanced at her and said calmly, “You’re talking nonsense again.”

Liuxia realized she had gone too far and lightly slapped her own cheeks twice, saying, “This servant knows her crime, but what this servant said is entirely true. It’s only been such a short time, yet His Majesty has already promoted their ranks consecutively. This servant worries that before summer arrives, they’ll be promoted again. Then they’ll be even more pleased with themselves. Your Ladyship must quickly think of a solution! Last time when this servant went to the Palace Wardrobe Bureau to retrieve Your Ladyship’s ceremonial robes for mending, I happened to encounter Lady Zhang, and she certainly put on great airs before this servant.”

Lin Shi fiddled with the pebbles in the narcissus pot and said indifferently, “If His Majesty truly intends to promote them, what can I do about it? Should I go before His Majesty to stop him?”

Liuxia knew this couldn’t be done, but she still couldn’t swallow this grievance, puffing out her cheeks as she sulked.

Yunyi said slowly, “I remember that both Talented Lady Yin and Lady Zhang were presented to the palace by His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Lin Shi nodded, “That’s correct. The Crown Prince said they were two orphaned girls whom he accidentally rescued and had been sheltering in his residence until His Majesty encountered them when he went to the Eastern Palace to admire plum blossoms, after which they entered Taiji Palace.”

“Why did His Majesty suddenly think to go to the Eastern Palace to admire plum blossoms? From what I know, Taiji Palace’s plum garden is much larger than the Eastern Palace’s.”

“The Crown Prince brought it up, saying he had found several extremely rare plum trees. His Majesty was momentarily interested and moved to the Eastern Palace to admire the plums.”

Yunyi laughed softly, “I’m afraid the plum trees were just a pretext—letting His Majesty see Lady Yin and Lady Zhang was the real purpose.”

Lin Shi wiped away the water stains on her fingers from the narcissus pot and said coolly, “You understand this point, I understand it, and His Majesty’s heart understands it equally well. But what use is that? Doesn’t he still dote on them to his heart’s content?” Speaking to this point, she sighed deeply, “It’s no wonder. At my age, how could I compare to their youthful charm and pitiable nature?”

Ji Chun quickly said, “Your Ladyship is in the prime of life, graceful and noble. How could Talented Lady Yin and the others compare?”

Liuxia took up the conversation, “Exactly! Your Ladyship looks like someone in her twenties—you’re so young. As for Talented Lady Yin and them, His Majesty is just temporarily attracted to their novelty. Once that enthusiasm passes, he’ll naturally return to Your Ladyship’s side.”

Lin Shi smiled bitterly, touching her cheek, “You two don’t need to comfort me here. I know in my heart that I’m old.”

This topic made the atmosphere in Zhaoqing Palace extremely stifling. Ji Chun and the other wanted to offer some comfort but didn’t know where to begin, so they could only look at Lin Shi with worry.

Yunyi said gently, “Your Ladyship may not match their youthful beauty, but Your Ladyship has a princess at your knees. His Majesty will not forget Your Ladyship.”

“Perhaps.” Though she said this, the silent dejection in Lin Shi’s eyes never faded.

Yunyi laughed softly, “I keep hearing Liuxia and the others mention Talented Lady Yin and Lady Zhang, but I’ve never seen them. I’m truly quite curious.”

Jixiang followed her words, “This servant is also curious, but Talented Lady Yin and the others live in the Lateral Courts, and we’re not familiar with them, so it’s inconvenient to visit rashly.”

Ruyi glanced at Lin Shi and said softly, “Actually, if you want to see them, it’s not difficult. As long as Consort Shu issues an oral decree, you can summon them over.”

Ji Chun disagreed, “They’re still just like anyone else—two eyes and one nose. What’s so interesting about seeing them? If you ask me, it would be better never to see them in this lifetime.”

“You silly girl, talking nonsense again.” Lin Shi lightly scolded, then said to Yunyi, “Summoning them over is nothing much, but everything needs a pretext. I can’t very well summon them for no reason.”

“A pretext…” Yunyi stared at the narcissus flowers in various poses on the table, “What does Your Ladyship think of using flower appreciation as a pretext?”

Lin Shi neither said good nor bad, but looked steadily at Yunyi, “Is it truly just curiosity?”

Yunyi lowered her eyes, “To be able to receive such favor from His Majesty despite being mere servants is indeed curious. I’d like to see what kind of heavenly beauty they possess. Moreover…” Her eyes shifted as she said in a low voice, “I’m very curious to know where His Highness the Crown Prince found two such outstanding orphaned girls.”