Prince Wei was excellent in every way, except he was rather too plump—so plump that those who truly cherished their daughters couldn’t bear to marry them to such a round ball.

Lin Shi, for instance.

However, Lin Shi wasn’t worried. Unlike the other madams who, upon seeing Noble Consort Jing appear, immediately thought of Prince Wei having reached marriageable age, she hadn’t yet thought in that direction.

Most people, though, were delighted.

What did being plump matter? No matter how plump, he was still an imperial prince, one of the Emperor’s two precious sons.

The Crown Prince’s position as heir was secure, and Prince Wei’s position as a Prince of First Rank was equally secure. Any daughter who married him would become a Princess Consort of First Rank—what glory and prestige that would bring, not to mention the tremendous support it would provide to the family.

Quite a few madams immediately perked up, their gazes toward the other madams taking on a subtle shift.

What had been companions exchanging gossip together now became rivals competing to be Prince Wei’s mother-in-law.

Noble Consort Zhuang observed everyone’s reactions, her peripheral vision involuntarily sweeping toward Noble Consort Jing.

She found it hard not to suspect that Noble Consort Jing’s timidity and propriety were all just surface appearances.

The Emperor had assigned the chrysanthemum viewing banquet to her and Noble Consort Jing to organize together, but when they met to discuss it, Noble Consort Jing had suggested not mentioning her name on the invitations sent to various households.

At first, she had disagreed. The true purpose of the chrysanthemum viewing banquet was to select a consort for Prince Wei—what sense did it make for the birth mother to hide behind her, the one helping out?

Noble Consort Jing had pleaded again and again, saying she wanted to observe each household’s genuine reactions when they learned the banquet’s purpose, and asking for her help.

Noble Consort Jing had assumed such a humble posture, tearful and pitiful, that she had ultimately agreed.

Thinking about it now, Noble Consort Jing was truly a clever person. Regardless of what each household thought, at least none had found excuses to avoid attending this chrysanthemum viewing banquet.

Noble Consort Jing’s lips curved in a smile, still maintaining her gentle and quiet demeanor.

Noble Consort Zhuang spoke some polite words: “That day, Noble Consort Jing and I were strolling through the garden and felt the chrysanthemums were blooming beautifully, so we wanted to invite all you madams to appreciate them together.”

The madams all expressed their thanks.

“Please, everyone sit. This is meant to be a casual flower viewing and relaxation—no need to be formal.”

Noble Consort Zhuang came from a prominent family. Her manner was both affable and dignified, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Of course, the relaxation was only superficial. The madams were actually keeping their eyes and ears wide open, constantly alert to movements around them.

Some hoped Prince Wei would appear, anticipating their daughters’ rise to glory, while others dreaded Prince Wei’s appearance, fearing their daughters would catch the attention of a ball.

Lin Shi ate what was offered, drank what was served, and was the most relaxed of all.

Noble Consort Jing quietly observed everyone’s movements. She could more or less discern each person’s attitude—only Lin Shi puzzled her.

This was being far too relaxed.

Finally, Noble Consort Zhuang tactfully broached the main topic: “We can chat amongst ourselves, but let’s not constrain the children. The flowers are blooming so beautifully—let them go stroll through the garden.”

The scene fell quiet for a moment, then quickly resumed its liveliness.

“Go ahead and enjoy yourselves, but don’t wander carelessly and disturb any nobles,” the madams instructed their daughters.

By this time, the young ladies had already received hints from their elders and knew the true purpose of this chrysanthemum viewing banquet.

Unlike most madams who welcomed this development, the vast majority of young ladies were resistant from the tips of their hair to the tips of their toes.

This was precisely the age of first romantic stirrings—who wouldn’t want to marry a handsome young man?

Perhaps for the sake of a prestigious marriage, one could sacrifice a small bit of beauty—note: just a small bit, absolutely not someone like Prince Wei.

Some noble ladies even felt nauseated at the thought of Prince Wei’s face, where his features were all squeezed together and barely visible.

The Lin sisters hadn’t received any warning from their lady mother, but fortunately Lin Chan was observant. She pulled her younger sister aside and whispered quietly, “Prince Wei will probably come later.”

Lin Hao wasn’t slow either and nodded to show she understood.

“Second Sister, don’t be too nervous. Given our family’s situation, we probably aren’t within the imperial family’s consideration. We just need to avoid any impropriety in front of the nobles.”

As Lin Chan saw it, their parents’ dramatic public severance alone disqualified them from the imperial consort selection criteria. This trip was merely to make an appearance.

The sisters were talking when they heard someone calling out.

“Elder Sister Chan, Ah Hao.” Approaching them was the Young Princess Qi Qiong.

Although this was a banquet for consort selection purposes, someone of the Young Princess’s status couldn’t possibly be excluded from the invitation.

Qi Qiong took Lin Chan’s arm with one hand and Lin Hao’s with the other, smiling cheerfully. “Let’s go walk over there.”

She had to keep a good eye on Ah Hao—she absolutely couldn’t let her elder brother’s beloved be snatched away by her cousin.

As for Lin Chan, presumably her ideal husband wouldn’t be someone like her cousin. For the sake of their friendship, she would do her best to protect her as well.

The place Qi Qiong led them to perfectly avoided the path Prince Wei would take entering the garden and going to see the two noble consorts in the pavilion.

“Elder Sister Chan, Ah Hao, I heard you were both at Green Deer Temple when Tang Wei had her accident. Tell me about it!” Qi Qiong released the curiosity she’d been suppressing for some days.

Truth be told, when she heard Tang Wei had met with misfortune, she didn’t feel sad at all. In fact, thinking about how Tang Wei wouldn’t be seeking her out every few days anymore made her feel a slight sense of relief.

After the two told her some details, Qi Qiong sighed a few times before shifting to Sun Xiuhua: “My cousin sent word a few days ago that she was bullied by Tang Wei.”

Family scandals shouldn’t be publicized, but one couldn’t keep everything bottled up either. It was acceptable to share with close friends.

Qi Qiong found Tang Wei domineering and Sun Xiuhua ridiculous in equal measure.

When eagerly becoming the Crown Prince’s concubine, she hadn’t considered whether her aunt approved. Now that she’d suffered bullying in the palace, she wanted her aunt to stand up for her.

Hearing her cousin was injured, Mother Consort had originally wanted to enter the palace to visit, but she had stopped her.

The reason was easy to find: if you stand up for Cousin every time something doesn’t go her way, might people misunderstand that you’re supporting her in competing with the Crown Princess, or even coveting the Crown Princess’s position?

Prince Jing’s household had maintained a low profile since arriving in the capital. Upon hearing these points, Mother Consort naturally abandoned the idea of entering the palace.

The Young Princess thought of Tang Wei, thought of her cousin, then looked at Lin Hao before her, and it was like seeing a celestial fairy.

Beautiful, interesting, could swim underwater, could tell stories—she was just too likable.

Thank goodness Elder Brother’s eyes weren’t blind.

The garden suddenly became somewhat quiet. Lin Hao looked over and could distantly make out a ball moving toward them.

Not far away, a noble lady couldn’t help exclaiming, “He really is too plump.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she’d spoken her thoughts aloud and hastily covered her mouth.

The noble ladies who heard the exclamation completely understood and pretended not to have heard.

He really was too plump!

As Prince Wei walked along, what he encountered were dodging, evasive gazes and concealing, hiding figures.

He was clear-hearted—in these noble ladies’ eyes, he wasn’t a high-born prince but a flood or wild beast.

Although he understood this in his heart, bitterness and dejection still bubbled up.

Ordinarily he could not care, but now that it truly came to consort selection, when all he saw in the noble ladies’ eyes was evasion and disgust, how could he possibly be happy?

And when Prince Wei saw several noble ladies forcing themselves to smile at him, he grew even more annoyed.

He might be plump, but he wasn’t stupid. These noble ladies didn’t want to marry him yet wanted the Princess Consort title. Even if a pig were walking toward them now, they would probably show the same smiling faces.

Because of his irritation, Prince Wei developed a mischievous impulse. Originally, if he’d walked a bit further forward, he should have entered Cuijin Pavilion to pay his respects to the two noble consorts, but his feet turned and he expanded the scope of his garden stroll.

Those who forced smiles at him, he ignored. Those who desperately wanted to hide, he deliberately looked at more. In short, those who made him uncomfortable wouldn’t be allowed comfort either.

Watching Prince Wei approach, Qi Qiong was somewhat dumbfounded.

Why was Cousin coming over here!