Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 310: The Joy of Returning to the Palace
How could there be such a screen in the boudoir?
Yet brother still thinks of it as a great blessing from the Emperor, standing earnestly before that screen for a while before performing the conjugal rites each time.
Grateful for the Emperor’s painstaking care.
Before the Empress Dowager led the concubines back from the traveling palace, a light rain fell in the palace.
It wasn’t heavy, but its drizzle stirred some melancholy within.
The Second Prince’s long-awaited autumn hunt was canceled.
The reason was a dry and windy season, where a farmer, burning straw in his field, accidentally spread the fire.
Not only did it ignite a mountain fire, but it also damaged part of the royal traveling palace at the mountain’s base.
Although the fire wasn’t severe, it was quickly extinguished by the Imperial Armor Army.
But the symbolism was never good, and several animals perished in the blaze.
If the autumn hunt were to proceed, it might impact the spring breeding next year.
Thus the Emperor wielded his brush and canceled this year’s autumn hunt.
The Second Prince, prepared and practiced, found his efforts in vain.
Lin Wanyi, seeing his state, felt the urge to comfort him.
That day, the Second Prince had just returned from school and came to pay respects to Lin Wanyi.
"Son pays respects to Mother Consort."
Since Lin Wanyi’s ascension in position, the Second Prince’s form of address had also changed.
Previously, he called her Lady Lin, but now he addressed her as Mother Consort.
He had also grown considerably, not much shorter than the Third Prince who used to be taller.
Having practiced riding and archery throughout spring and summer, he had become tanned and robust.
He no longer appeared as gloomy and fragile as before, exuding more youthful vitality.
However, today his expression was drooping.
Lin Wanyi put down her needlework and asked Xia An to serve him a cup of Juyin Tea.
"Take a few sips to moisten your throat; we’ll have our meal soon."
"Mmm."
Taking the cup from Xia An without much thought, he gulped it down in one go.
His behavior sparked a bit of concern in Lin Wanyi.
"What happened? Did the Grand Tutor say something to you during school?"
"No, it’s just that the autumn hunt I’ve longed for is not happening, making me a bit upset."
"But didn’t your father privately explain the reason to you once? Still can’t figure it out?"
"Sigh, I understand, it’s just that I’ve never been outside the palace. I thought I could fulfill my wish, but now it seems I’ll have to wait another year."
Seeing him sigh like this, Lin Wanyi couldn’t help but laugh.
"Alright, be careful not to eat too much frustration, or you won’t be able to enjoy your meal. Don’t you just want to go outside the palace? When your granduncle marries, we’ll all go out of the palace to congratulate him, okay?"
"Really?"
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince’s eyes shone brightly.
In his heart, the autumn hunt itself wasn’t the most important thing.
The important thing was whether he could step outside the palace gate!
"Really, that’s what your father said to me. Even if it rains knives from the sky, we’ll go, okay?"
The Second Prince’s earlier unhappiness disappeared, and he beamed with joy.
He loudly proclaimed.
"Okay!"
In his mind, Mother Consort’s words were far more reliable than Father’s.
So he firmly remembered Lin Wanyi’s promise.
He immediately washed his hands, waiting eagerly to dine.
At the table, the Second Princess could already say some simple repeated words.
"Want, want."
Pointing here and there, making Nanny Ji’s eyes spin in confusion.
Since her first birthday, the Second Princess could eat more foods; by now, at almost one year and four months old, she could walk steadily and was beginning to speak clearly.
Because the Second Prince and the Second Princess both enjoyed eating, all the food was kept light in flavor.
Occasionally, when Lin Wanyi craved something spicy, Chunqi would prepare a dish just for her.
She savored it with gusto, while the Second Princess watched with curiosity.
Despite Lin Wanyi’s warnings, the Second Princess insisted on trying it, and after being spiced to tears, she no longer had any interest in Lin Wanyi’s food.
As a result, there were finally some appetizing dishes on Lin Wanyi’s table.
The Second Prince, in high spirits, served some food to the Second Princess.
In his view, being an elder brother means understanding the need to care for parents and help with any tasks he could manage.
Like taking care of his second sister and spending more time with his fifth brother and third sister.
"The last time I visited Fifth Brother and Third Sister, they even smiled at me, probably because they understood the books I’ve been reciting daily and were thanking me."
The books the Second Prince spoke of were sent by the Emperor.
They were said to be selected for him by the Empress Dowager in the past.
Lin Wanyi went through them carefully, finding them to be rare, excellent books.
There were stories with moral lessons, illustrated catalogs, and some records of folk anecdotes.
In short, they weren’t pedantic high-flown discussions that sent people off to sleep.
Indeed, Lin Wanyi thought the Empress Dowager was much more effective in raising children than she was.
Currently, she still focused on ensuring the children were well-fed, clothed warmly, and kept in good spirits, but the Empress Dowager took a more comprehensive approach in child-rearing.
She knew how to delegate areas she wasn’t good at and focused on what she excelled at.
Lin Wanyi once thought treating all children equally with care was enough, but now her perspective had shifted.
Compared to the infantile Fifth Prince and Third Princess, she realized she needed to focus more on the Second Prince’s growth and the Second Princess’s needs.
The former, already over seven years old, was beginning to develop his own views on the world.
The latter, nearly two years old, was in the age of loving to talk and jump around.
Thus, after thinking it over, she came up with a plan.
Aside from studies and riding lessons during the day, she’d have the Second Prince spend more time in the Empress Dowager’s Palace.
Firstly, to show filial piety, and secondly, to make up for his lack of extensive exposure under the Empress Dowager’s guidance.
Lin Wanyi, raised in the Lin Family’s main house, had everything she needed except for broad exposure.
Following her maternal grandfather’s family travels, it always circled back to commoners’ lives, day-to-day matters.
But when it came to discussing the previous dynasty or history, the Empress Dowager’s vast knowledge surpassed hers by hundreds or thousands of times.
She feared she might delay the children’s education due to her shortcomings, which prompted her new plan.
Yet she hadn’t proposed it formally.
She intended to bring it up with the Emperor once the Empress Dowager returned to the palace.
"These books were once prepared for your father by the Empress Dowager, so do read them well and broaden your horizon; it’s always beneficial."
"Rest assured, Mother Consort, I’ve taken note."
With lively chatter, the family finished their evening meal.
At the turn of autumn and winter, there wasn’t much excitement.
Thus, everyone busied with their studies or needlework in peace and harmony.
Three days later, the Empress Dowager and her entourage finally returned to the Imperial City.
And the 18th year of Yuanhe was only two months shy of turning over a new Chapter.
This time, welcoming the Empress Dowager back, only two concubines stood by the Emperor’s side.
One was Lin Guifei, who had just returned not long ago, and the other was Lin Wanyi, who had just been elevated not long ago.
