Her words made Lin Shi’s eyelids jump, revealing a thoughtful expression. After a while, she said to Ji Chun, “Do as Imperial Consort Yang suggested and send the summons.”

“Yes.” After Ji Chun left, Lin Shi noticed the staghorn begonia in Ruyi’s hands, “This flower is quite interesting. Is it also for me?”

Liuxia laughed at the side, “I’m afraid not. If this servant hasn’t guessed wrong, this pot of flowers should be for Consort Xian.”

Lin Shi was startled, then suddenly understood, “That’s right, Consort Xian loves this kind of fleshy flower. Last time she even took two pots from me, saying she wanted to appreciate them for a couple of days, but I never saw them returned.”

Yunyi smiled with pursed lips, “Consort Xian is close to Your Ladyship and knows Your Ladyship wouldn’t mind.” After a pause, she added, “If Your Ladyship likes them, I’ll bring a few more pots next time. There are still some in the residence.”

“No need. Just these narcissus flowers are enough for me to appreciate and care for. Besides, I don’t particularly like this type of flower.” Speaking to this point, Lin Shi’s gaze kept circling on Yunyi’s face. The latter smiled and said, “Does Your Ladyship have something to ask me?”

“Indeed I do.” Saying this, Lin Shi said, “From what you said earlier, do you think the two Yin ladies are not the orphans the Crown Prince claimed them to be?”

Yunyi didn’t answer her question but turned her gaze to Liuxia, “Can you read?”

Liuxia was stunned for a moment and answered truthfully, “When I was at the Governor’s residence, thanks to Your Ladyship’s teaching, I learned to recognize a few characters.” Before her words had finished, Yunyi’s voice continued, “Then do you know music, poetry, books, and chess?”

Liuxia shook her head, “I know none of them.”

Yunyi nodded slightly and asked again, “What about Ji Chun?”

Liuxia thought for a moment and said, “This servant and Ji Chun have served Your Ladyship together for many years. From what this servant knows, Ji Chun should also know none of these.”

Lin Shi was completely confused and asked puzzledly, “Yunyi, why are you asking this?”

Yunyi smiled slightly, “Your Ladyship, think about it—Liuxia and the others have followed you for so many years, yet they only roughly know how to read and write. But what about Talented Lady Yin?”

Lin Shi lowered her head without speaking. Liuxia said, “Talented Lady Yin and Lady Zhang not only know how to read and write, but they’re also versed in music, poetry, books, and chess. Last time she even played a tune in Shanglin Garden. It seemed… seemed to be called…” She tried hard to remember but couldn’t recall that refined name.

Lin Shi slowly said, “Green Ravine Flowing Spring.”

Liuxia nodded repeatedly, “That’s right, that’s right, it was called ‘Green Ravine Flowing Spring.’ After His Majesty heard it, he kept praising how well Talented Lady Yin played.”

Yunyi fiddled with the handle ring of her hand warmer and said softly, “In recent years, with wars breaking out everywhere and people unable to make a living, except for those from prominent families and wealthy households, common people can barely get enough to eat. How would they have the leisure money to teach their daughters to play flutes and qin, or compose poetry?”

Speaking to this point, Lin Shi already understood her meaning, “You’re saying that those two are not the orphans the Crown Prince claimed to have accidentally rescued? But even so, it’s nothing much.”

“Is it truly nothing much?” Yunyi’s counter-question left Lin Shi stunned, “What do you mean by this?”

“Based on what Talented Lady Yin and the others know, they definitely don’t seem like daughters of common families, but they wouldn’t be from prominent families or wealthy households either—otherwise, why would His Highness the Crown Prince need to tell such lies?”

Liuxia frowned, “But you just clearly said that unless they’re from wealthy families, it’s impossible to learn music and poetry. Doesn’t this contradict itself?”

Lin Shi also said, “Yes, Yunyi, your words don’t make sense.”

Yunyi smiled with lowered eyes, “Your Ladyship finds it illogical because you don’t know that between these two categories, there’s another type of person who, though not born of prominent families, is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—knowing and excelling in all. I only just thought of this myself.”

Liuxia asked curiously, “What kind of people are they?”

Meeting Lin Shi’s equally puzzled gaze, Yunyi slowly uttered four words, “Courtesan women!”

Hearing this, not only Liuxia but even Ruyi and the others couldn’t help but exclaim in shock. Before coming, they hadn’t heard Yunyi mention this—courtesan women, this… how could this be possible!

Lin Shi also showed complete shock on her face. After composing herself, she shook her head repeatedly, “This is impossible. The Crown Prince would never select courtesan women to serve His Majesty. This… wouldn’t this defile the Emperor and also defile Taiji Palace?”

Courtesan women had extremely lowly status. For such women, occasional pleasure-seeking was acceptable, but very few would redeem them to bring home. Even if brought back, most would be housed in separate courtyards, unable to appear in public. If this was the case in ordinary families, how much more so in the imperial family.

“If they’re not courtesan women, how does Your Ladyship explain how these two, though of common birth, are skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? And also… their ability to bewitch His Majesty so completely?”

This question immediately stumped Lin Shi. She stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, her expression uncertain with shock and suspicion. She didn’t believe Li Jiancheng would do such a thing, but she couldn’t explain Yunyi’s questions either. After a long while, she stopped and said in a concentrated voice, “If they were courtesan women, they wouldn’t be chaste, but the Palace Administration Bureau clearly recorded that both women were virgins. How do you explain this?”

“I can’t explain this point either. Perhaps when the Crown Prince brought them back, they hadn’t yet begun receiving clients, or perhaps they used some method to deceive His Majesty and the Palace Administration Bureau. Brothels, though they can’t appear in public, should have no shortage of various methods.”

Liuxia had now composed herself and bit her lip, “If it’s truly as Imperial Consort Yang says, and those two are of brothel origin, once His Majesty learns of this, he’ll surely be furious and drive them both from the palace. Even the Crown Prince would be punished, since… it’s really too lowly.” Speaking to this point, a trace of joy appeared in her eyes, “This way, the palace would return to its former tranquility, and Your Ladyship wouldn’t need to worry about those two anymore.”

Lin Shi didn’t acknowledge her words but stared at Yunyi, “If what you say is true, why would the Crown Prince risk so much to send those two into the palace? Just to please His Majesty?”

Yunyi smiled ambiguously, “Isn’t this reason sufficient?”

Lin Shi was silent for a moment, then said, “As an imperial prince, it’s understandable to please His Majesty, but… if this matter is exposed, he would face severe punishment. Is it necessary to take such a risk?”

“Your Ladyship cannot deny that having these two women by His Majesty’s side brings great benefits to the Crown Prince. As for exposure… how easy would that be?”

Jixiang casually said, “What’s so difficult about it? Hasn’t the Princess seen through it at a glance?”

Yunyi shook her head, “Not to mention that all of this is currently speculation, even if we truly guessed correctly, proving these two people’s identities in the vast sea of humanity—how easy would that be? The Crown Prince calculated precisely this point, which is why he dared to send Talented Lady Yin and Lady Zhang into the palace to serve His Majesty.”