As the eldest grandson of the Lin household, Yuan Geer’s name had been deliberated over again and again by Lin Ruhai. Just like when his previous children were born, he always felt the chosen name was somehow inadequate and kept delaying the decision.

Because the delay had gone on too long, the Old Madam first gave him the childhood name Yuan Geer to use, and thus this name spread.

Lin Daiyu also went along to the estate to relax. She originally didn’t want to go, wanting to stay behind to care for her father, but was “ordered” by the Old Madam to go together.

Daiyu was twelve years old this year. Next year she’d be thirteen. Next year was also the triennial selection, so if there were no unexpected circumstances, she would have to participate in the selection.

The Old Madam had already made up her mind—at that time she would have Daiyu fall ill to delay participation by three years.

The next round, Daiyu would only be sixteen, not over age. It wouldn’t be difficult to arrange.

But they couldn’t say with absolute certainty there would be no accidents. Moreover, staying at home, if something happened with the Matriarch over there and they said to have Daiyu go attend to her illness and show filial piety, refusing too many times would be bad for Daiyu’s reputation. Better to use the pretext that her granddaughter needed to serve her to take her granddaughter away. Over there, even if emotions weren’t deep, blood ties were real. Daiyu was already somewhat sensitive. Going to the estate could let her change environments and improve her mood.

When Yun Shuyao and the others arrived at the estate, the estate manager had already cleaned out the rooms. This estate wasn’t large, but it had an advantage—it was close enough to the capital. Many vegetables and fruits were planted here and regularly sent to the Lin household, so they didn’t need to purchase from outside.

Moreover, this place was much more refined than the estate in Baili County. While it couldn’t be called magnificently decorated, it could be described as exquisite and delicate.

After they settled in at the estate, the Fourth Prince’s side quickly learned of it.

Luo Yu was also at an estate. Her fetus had already reached three months. Traveling slowly by carriage wouldn’t affect anything.

Learning her natal family was nearby, she immediately smiled.

Having come to the estate, there weren’t so many rules.

“The live fish sent up today are quite good. Send a few over.”

Then soon, courtesy was reciprocated. She received two pots of peonies and a visiting card.

The Fourth Fujin received it. She naturally wouldn’t refuse, though she found the Lin family annoying—but this couldn’t be said aloud.

Although the Crown Prince had been reinstated, her natal family had also asked her—did the Fourth Prince have no hope?

Of course he did.

If the Crown Prince was deposed again, everyone had hope. Moreover, as his pillow companion, though it wasn’t spoken aloud, she could see some traces. As an imperial prince, everyone had designs on that position. If the opportunity came, it wasn’t necessarily impossible.

In that case, they couldn’t let go of any force they could unite with. The Lin family was still presentable.

When the Lin family members came, Luo Yu was happy to see them but also somewhat regretful: “It’s a pity Elder Sister can’t get away. We haven’t had a good chat in so long.” She hadn’t seen her for some time already.

Speaking of the eldest granddaughter, the Old Madam also sighed. It had been five years since she married into the Silin Gioro family. She hadn’t given birth in five years, and the pressure she faced was growing.

Because the eldest grandson-in-law was also determined not to let others bear children first, no illegitimate children had been born yet. But if there was still no good news this year, Da Chun couldn’t delay any longer either.

He could still use the reason that he needed to participate in this autumn’s provincial examination and couldn’t be distracted, but after he finished the exam, how could he continue delaying?

Because of the eldest granddaughter’s situation, the Old Madam even wondered if this was a curse hanging over the Lin family, inherited by someone in each generation.

Previously, because there was only one son, the son had difficulty with offspring. In the grandchildren’s generation, there were several children. The other two were fine—it manifested in the eldest granddaughter.

If it weren’t for both Luo Yu and Chen Yu having children soon after marriage, Daiyu, who hadn’t yet married, would inevitably face criticism in the future.

Luo Yu also inquired about Concubine Mei: “How is Concubine Mei now?”

Yun Shuyao: “Same as before.”

Concubine Mei didn’t come this time. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to come—she could only lie in bed being maintained with good medicine and couldn’t go out.

She was different from Concubine Chu. Concubine Chu had lost her child and with her heart dead from grief, lost desire for many things. But Concubine Mei was forced into this.

She was just enduring her days now.

These topics weren’t pleasant to discuss, so Yun Shuyao changed the subject: “The fish you had sent over earlier—did you raise them yourself?”

Luo Yu shook her head: “No, the estate people caught them in the mountains. Don’t you think they’re good too, Aunt? As soon as I tasted that fish, I could tell—it’s fresher and sweeter than ordinary wild fish…”

In this environment, there were no conditions for private conversation, so they chatted about food and clothing. These topics were safe.

Besides them, the Fourth Prince had another visitor today—the Fourteenth Fujin.

She hadn’t sent a visiting card in advance. While taking a stroll, she saw this place and came directly over, saying she wanted to rest her feet.

She didn’t need the Fourth Prince to entertain her. Fourteenth Brother had also gone to the frontier. Her days in the capital were quite carefree. Though she had no card, she was a sister-in-law by marriage. The Fourth Fujin received her well.

Currently, the relationship between these two sisters-in-law was acceptable. Though she had previously felt resentful about the differential treatment at their mother consort’s side, after the Fourth Fujin discovered the other’s temperament was decent, the two could talk when they met outside. Now that she had come and was interested in walking around, the Fourth Fujin accompanied her.

Thus the Fourteenth Fujin saw the Lin family members and discovered this whole family were beauties. Ce Fujin Lin’s good looks weren’t without reason—her whole family was attractive. The others were all married, leaving only a younger sister who hadn’t participated in selection yet and wasn’t married. This appearance was the type Fourteenth Master liked, just a bit young in age.

Of course, not only did Fourteenth Master like her, she liked her too. Just looking at her was pleasing enough.

The Fourteenth Fujin greeted them amicably and even gave meeting gifts to the younger generation. Holding Daiyu’s hand, she praised repeatedly: “Truly a girl with exceptional spirit.”

She knew they had no conflict of interest.

This was Ce Fujin Lin’s younger sister from her natal family. If Fourteenth Master had such thoughts, Fourth Master certainly wouldn’t ignore it—this would be poaching. So now it was simply appreciating a beauty.

Daiyu’s face turned red from her praise: “Fourteenth Fujin is too kind.”

…

After the Lin family members left, in the carriage, the Old Madam was somewhat lost in thought thinking about the Fourteenth Fujin she’d just seen. The Fourth Prince and Fourteenth Prince were born of the same mother, yet their relationship wasn’t close.

The Fourteenth Prince was part of the Eighth Prince’s faction and had even been beaten with boards by the Emperor for the Eighth Prince’s sake. In the later stages, it seemed only these two brothers remained competing for succession. From this perspective, Consort De was a capable person.

However, the Uya Shi in the Fourth Prince’s household hadn’t learned any of Consort De’s methods. This time when the Fourth Prince brought his family to the estate, all his children came, but from the rear courtyard he only brought the Fujin, Luo Yu, Concubine Li, and Concubine Song. Everyone else was left in the capital.

Concubine Uya wasn’t included.

From this you could see she wasn’t favored by the Fourth Prince, otherwise he wouldn’t fail to give her this face.

In the Fourth Prince’s rear courtyard, her granddaughter currently held first place.

Uya Shi wasn’t an obstacle to her granddaughter. Previously she had worried about the Nian family, because in the dream world, she was the person most favored by the Fourth Prince.

Plus her background was so illustrious.

But now things were different.

Her granddaughter had already been assigned to the household earlier, occupied the position of Ce Fujin, and had children.

That Nian Shi was the legitimate daughter of First-Class Duke Nian Xialing, with two accomplished elder brothers as well. Nian Shi was said to be flower-like in beauty. In terms of background, she was higher than Luo Yu. But who told the Nian family to have previously invested in the Eighth Prince?

This matter hadn’t spread, but she had been secretly following the Nian family’s situation and discovered it. The Old Madam also believed this wasn’t a secret to the Fourth Prince either.

Even if the Nian family discovered the Eighth Prince’s situation was unfavorable and switched to the Fourth Prince’s camp, the Old Madam didn’t believe the Fourth Prince could be completely without reservations.

With a different mindset, many things would change accordingly.

Moreover, though the Lin family had few members and no longer had noble titles, her son’s current official rank wasn’t low and represented real power. The Left Censor-in-Chief was old and feeble, basically not managing affairs, so her son was the leader of the censorate. Plus her son and grandson each had their own teachers and fellow students, quite a number of them, and basically all served as officials at court. If you calculated it, that was also a vast network of relationships.

Even if the Fourth Prince hadn’t currently shown ambition for succession, and the Lin family hadn’t shown a political stance supporting the Fourth Prince, this marriage relationship was real and solid.

As Emperor, the ability to balance forces was masterful. With the Lin family, would the Emperor still look favorably on Nian Shi entering the Fourth Prince’s household during selection?

It wasn’t surprising that the Nian family had previously flirted with the Eighth Prince. Even now, the Eighth Prince’s faction was still a major force at court with many people supporting him. Moreover, the Eighth Prince’s Ce Fujin position was still vacant.

Thinking of this, the Old Madam closed her eyes.

The Fourth Prince’s Ce Fujin position also had one vacancy. If someone filled it before that time, even if the Nian family switched to the Fourth Prince, could they have the Nian family’s legitimate daughter become a concubine?

Thinking of this, the Old Madam had an idea. She should have someone drop hints in Concubine Li’s ear.

Having lost virtue first, even if her rank was elevated, she would forever be a head shorter than Luo Yu.

Not long after, while strolling, Concubine Li overheard young maids mentioning next year’s selection.

“Next year is the major selection, right?”

“Yes.”

“I wonder if our household will receive a new mistress.”

“Why talk about this? It has nothing to do with us.”

“How can it have nothing to do with us? If a new mistress comes, perhaps they’ll select people from the estate to attend to her. I want to participate in the selection to go to the household—the monthly wages would be more. I have four older brothers.”

“You’re overthinking it. Generally, a concubine’s attendants don’t have high monthly wages either. It’s not like being beside a Ce Fujin or Fujin.”

“A Ce Fujin isn’t impossible, right? The household currently only has one Ce Fujin.”

Concubine Li’s heart stirred upon hearing this. Yes, next year was selection again, and the household’s Ce Fujin position still had one vacancy!

If the palace assigned someone else, what would she do?

So… she needed to request the Fourth Prince to petition for her enfeoffment before that!

She had been behaving properly for so long. Now Lin Shi was pregnant again, and she had done nothing, said nothing but congratulations—she already knew her mistake. With so many years of feelings between them and three children, plus the Fourth Fujin had extended an olive branch, if she could also say some good words on her behalf, it wasn’t impossible.

Even without Fourth Master’s favor, having status and not dragging down the children would be enough.

When Concubine Li brought this up, the Fourth Fujin nodded. She had also thought of this before and had wanted to take initiative in the Second Prince’s marriage arrangements, using this as an exchange. Now that she had brought it up… it was the same.

Concubine Li nodded without concern.

So what if the daughter-in-law was chosen by the Fujin?

Would the daughter-in-law then stand on the Fujin’s side in the future? Her son was her own flesh and blood!