Mutton… hotpot?

The corner of Lin Hao’s mouth twitched slightly.

She had just eaten it at lunch—

Just as she was about to politely decline, she heard the young princess say indignantly: “My eldest brother is too much! He knows so many delicious places, but breaks his promises and won’t take me. Every time he takes friends instead—I don’t even know who this friend is…”

Lin Hao swallowed back the words “I just ate it at lunch” that had been on the tip of her tongue, and smiled somewhat guiltily at Qi Qiong: “Sure.”

Qi Qiong immediately broke into a bright smile and said as she walked arm-in-arm with Lin Hao: “I originally made plans with my second brother to go eat together tonight. I’ll have a maid go tell him in a bit.”

“Since the princess already made plans with your brother, why don’t we go another day?” Lin Hao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Though mutton hotpot was delicious, eating it twice in a row was a bit much.

Qi Qiong waved her hand: “It’s fine. My second brother eats out every day—he won’t miss this one meal.”

Later, Qi Huan, who received the message from the maid: “…”

Just as Lin Hao had predicted, after the troublemaking beggars had eaten their jail meals, the Lin residence immediately became peaceful. The elderly were responsible for cooking and cleaning, the young began learning to read, and the slightly older children, in addition to reading, were assigned to shops under the General’s Mansion to learn trades. The dozen or so children selected by Uncle Liu ate meat every day and were visibly becoming sturdier.

For Lin Hao, life settled down peacefully, but in reality, new rumors appeared in the capital—still about the Crown Prince.

It turned out the Crown Prince’s assassination attempt had nothing to do with the previous dynasty’s national preceptor stirring up trouble. Rather, years ago, the Crown Prince had violated the assassin’s older sister.

A wind rises from the tips of green duckweed—though even with the Jinlin Guard’s capabilities they couldn’t trace where the rumor originated, it spread like wildfire, quickly becoming the talk of everyone.

Emperor Tai’an flew into a rage, reprimanded Jinlin Guard Commander Cheng Maoming, and went to the Eastern Palace to thoroughly scold the Crown Prince.

Dark clouds hung heavy over the imperial palace, but they couldn’t stop the common people’s good mood as they welcomed the New Year.

The General’s Mansion also began preparing New Year goods. This was the first New Year since Madam Lin had returned with her two daughters, so they placed even more emphasis on it than in previous years.

This year had one special aspect—as a young woman already betrothed, the General’s Mansion received New Year gifts sent by the imperial family.

The New Year gifts were personally delivered by Prince Wei.

Regardless of whether the old madam and Madam Lin were satisfied with Lin Chan’s future husband, when an imperial prince arrived, they had to personally welcome him.

Madam Lin was shocked the moment she saw Prince Wei.

He had lost weight again! You could actually see his refined features now!

Prince Wei felt somewhat uncomfortable under Madam Lin’s gaze. After sitting in the room drinking tea for a while, he proposed to take his leave.

“Won’t Your Highness stay for a meal before leaving?” The old madam extended the invitation.

Prince Wei politely replied: “There are still some matters at the mansion. I’ll come visit you again after the New Year.”

According to custom, a prospective son-in-law coming to deliver New Year gifts should stay for a meal, but the imperial family was different from ordinary families, so the old madam didn’t insist.

Once Prince Wei left, the old madam and Madam Lin exchanged glances and said in unison: “Finally we can relax.”

“Mother also noticed Prince Wei lost weight again?” Madam Lin asked delightedly.

The old madam gave her daughter a deep look and said wearily: “What I mean is, since he’s an imperial prince who personally came to deliver New Year gifts, Chan’s life in the future shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Marrying into the imperial family, wanting an exclusive husband was impossible. For a woman marrying up, having concubines wasn’t frightening—what was frightening was a husband who had no respect for his wife.

With respect came boundaries.

Hearing this put Madam Lin in an even better mood. She turned around and immediately shared the good news with her eldest daughter: “Chan, Prince Wei came today and has actually lost even more weight. Now he just looks like an ordinary fat person…”

After hearing her mother string together praise for Prince Wei, Lin Chan smiled shyly: “That’s quite good then.”

If possible, who wouldn’t want their husband to be elegant and distinguished?

Prince Wei’s weight loss was so noticeable that after the New Year passed, all the officials and nobility noticed. When the news spread to the inner quarters, countless madams felt sour in their hearts.

Previously they could console themselves that although Lin Wanqing’s daughter had made a good match, Prince Wei himself was too difficult to look at. Who would have thought that Prince Wei, who had been fat since childhood, would actually lose weight!

Could it be that the Lin family daughter brought prosperity to her husband?

With this thought, quite a few people turned their attention to Lin Hao, secretly deciding to go to the General’s Mansion to propose marriage once the first month passed.

The slimmed-down Prince Wei stirred up quite a bit of sourness among noble madams, while the men merely treated it as a novelty—interesting for a moment, then forgotten.

The officials and nobility hadn’t yet discovered the problem with the Crown Prince’s left hand.

This matter could be temporarily concealed from the civil and military officials, but it couldn’t make the Crown Prince happy. Especially seeing the slimmed-down Prince Wei made the Crown Prince even more agitated.

Of course, the Crown Prince hadn’t yet conceived the idea that Prince Wei posed a threat. After all, he had grown up holding the most legitimate heir identity. To him, obtaining the throne was a matter of course—sooner or later.

But he was still very unhappy.

His left hand was crippled while his fourth brother had become refined and elegant. At the New Year palace banquet, Father Emperor smiled much more looking at fourth brother, but kept a stern face when looking at him.

The Crown Prince was in a gloomy mood. Pacing back and forth in his bedchamber, he kicked away a brocade cushion.

The cushion rolled right to the feet of Emperor Tai’an, who had just reached the doorway. Emperor Tai’an’s voice, suppressing his anger, rang out: “Yuan’er, what tantrum are you throwing now!”

The Crown Prince, seeing Emperor Tai’an, silently cursed his bad luck and admitted his fault with a bitter expression.

Emperor Tai’an was exasperated at his failure to meet expectations: “Yuan’er, how many times has the emperor told you—don’t let your emotions control you. Learn to control your emotions.”

The Crown Prince hung his head resentfully: “Your son understands.”

“‘Understands’ again. Understanding means doing it, not just throwing tantrums!” Emperor Tai’an got angry just looking at the Crown Prince like this and left with a flick of his sleeves.

The Crown Prince kept his head lowered, clenching his fists tightly to suppress his rage.

Father Emperor spoke so easily—he wasn’t the one with a crippled hand!

Emperor Tai’an left the Eastern Palace, and in his irritation went to Ningxin Palace.

“This consort greets Your Majesty.” Consort Jing respectfully curtsied.

Emperor Tai’an pulled her up and strode inside.

Ningxin Palace was suffused with a faint, pleasant fragrance that put one at ease.

Emperor Tai’an took a sip from the teacup Consort Jing handed him and sighed: “Only at beloved consort’s place can I relax.”

Consort Jing moved behind Emperor Tai’an to massage his shoulders: “Is Your Majesty in a bad mood?”

Emperor Tai’an said angrily: “The Crown Prince’s behavior—” The rest of his words cut off abruptly.

Consort Jing’s shoulder massage didn’t change in the slightest, nor did she ask questions.

Emperor Tai’an was quite satisfied with Consort Jing’s discretion and volunteered: “Ever since the Crown Prince was injured in the assassination attempt, he’s been prone to tantrums. Not stable at all.”

“The Crown Prince is still young.”

“What young? How many years has he been married!” Thinking of the Crown Prince Consort’s death, Emperor Tai’an became even more stifled.

Consort Jing said gently: “Perhaps it’s because he has no one by his side who understands him.”

Emperor Tai’an turned around and had Consort Jing sit opposite him, considering her words: “Beloved consort’s words have some merit.”

The Crown Prince was over twenty years old, yet had not a drop of bloodline. Once the first month passed, they should indeed consider selecting a Crown Prince Consort.

For an ordinary family, remarrying so soon after a wife’s death would inevitably invite gossip, but for the imperial family it was nothing. The Crown Prince having no heir wasn’t just a family matter—it was also a state matter concerning dynastic succession.