Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 366: Enemies and Friends

When the matter reached Princess Consort Yi’s ears, it was just as Lin Guifei had predicted.

Princess Consort Yi immediately became angry.

"Does she not know the fate of Prince Zhan Mansion? And the outcome of Lin Xiangfu? At this point, it’s already quite generous for me to let her continue enjoying her peace as an Imperial Consort, yet she still dreams of the Empress’s privileges? Could she be thinking that after her death, she could ascend to the main position of the harem like Empress Xu did?"

Utterly delusional!

Ruyi and Ru Huan were attending to her cautiously from the side.

Instead, Ruan Ming stepped forward and reminded her softly.

"Your Highness, please don’t be angry. I believe there’s something fishy about this matter."

"Oh?"

Princess Consort Yi frowned and looked at Ruan Ming.

His mind has always been meticulous and alert. Over the years in the palace, many times it was his reminders that helped her get through safely.

Therefore, Princess Consort Yi very much trusted his words.

"How so?"

"Considering the past situations of Lin Guifei’s struggles against you, she is not a foolish person. Why would she deliberately provoke you when her own life expectancy is uncertain? Especially since you hold power over the harem affairs, with just a slight oversight, you could directly cut off her livelihood. Thus, there must be deeper intentions behind her actions."

"Deeper intentions?"

Princess Consort Yi pondered for a while, and her eyes shifted from the former anger to a certain solemnity.

"Could it be that she feels her time is short and wants to entrust her children?"

After all, she has given birth to Princess Ming Ruo.

But this thought doesn’t seem right either.

Isn’t Princess Ming Ruo doing well in the Empress Dowager’s Palace?

If she was sent to Yuexiu Palace, who knows what kind of life she would lead.

And why does Lin Guifei think she can take in Princess Ming Ruo?

A series of questions jumped out from her mind.

Instead, Ruan Ming reminded her from the side.

"Your Highness mustn’t forget, there are no permanent friends in the harem, and naturally, no permanent enemies either. Compared to the one in Yihua Palace, the Imperial Consort surely trusts you more, as well as trusts the Marquis and our Liu Family’s abilities."

Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Yi nodded slightly.

Indeed.

This is undoubtedly true.

She is quite familiar with the twists and turns in Lin Xiangfu.

Just like in families with numerous wives and concubines, the legitimate children and illegitimate children never get along.

So, the children of the first wife and subsequent wives are the same.

The hatred might even be deeper.

Thinking of this, her lips curled slightly, and she said to Ruan Ming.

"You should make a trip to Linzi Palace, bring some valuable medicinal materials and listen carefully to what kind of scheme Lin Guifei is peddling!"

"Yes, I understand."

Then, Ruan Ming left Yuexiu Palace to arrange the matter.

A message was sent after half a month, but there was no reply.

Lin Guifei wondered if the information was lost.

Then, at noon that day, she heard that Ruan Ming, under Princess Consort Yi’s orders, was supposed to deliver some festive foods for Dragon Boat Festival to each palace.

Nowadays, there are not many concubines in the palace, so to showcase Princess Consort Yi’s benevolence, Ruan Ming personally led the delivery.

The first destination, of course, was Linzi Palace.

When Lin Guifei heard of Ruan Ming’s arrival, her lips curled up.

She coughed twice and had Qin Liu help her up.

She went to the Linhua Copper Mirror and applied a bit of makeup.

After making herself look less sickly, she changed clothes and sat on the throne in the main hall to meet Ruan Ming.

"Servant Ruan Ming greets the Imperial Concubine. These are specially sent by Princess Consort Yi, aside from the Dragon Boat Festival items, these are good for replenishing blood and vitality. Please accept them graciously, Your Highness."

"Hmm, Eunuch Ruan, you’re too polite. Qin Liu, take them."

"Yes."

From those words alone, Ruan Ming knew he guessed correctly.

Otherwise, who in the past would Lin Guifei have ever addressed so kindly to the people from Yuexiu Palace?

Qin Liu brought up the items and then left with the staff.

Thus, the main hall was left with only Lin Guifei and Ruan Ming.

At this moment, Lin Guifei maintained her demeanor, fearing she might give something away in front of Ruan Ming.

However, she did not have much time and feared that further delays would be hard for her body to bear.

So, she preemptively spoke.

"Since Princess Consort Yi sent you over, she must have understood my intentions, right?"

"Forgive this servant’s dullness, but what intention does the Imperial Concubine have? I honestly don’t know. It’s merely Princess Consort Yi following palace rules, instructing this servant to deliver some items to the various palaces."

Lin Guifei was momentarily taken aback, then quickly realized.

With a hint of mockery, she said.

"There’s no point in speaking behind someone’s back in front of a wise man, Eunuch Ruan. Why all this pretense?"

"Your Highness is overthinking. This servant is indeed not wise, please enlighten me."

Ruan Ming would never rush to say anything.

After all, it was Lin Guifei who was pledging allegiance to them, so it was better for these things to come from Lin Guifei herself.

Having understood Ruan Ming’s intentions, Lin Guifei struggled but eventually conceded.

At this point, she had nothing left to contend against Princess Consort Yi.

Thus, she sighed deeply.

She coughed twice and looked at Ruan Ming with an obscure gaze.

Then spoke earnestly.

"Since that’s the case, I’ll speak frankly. Regarding the matter of the Third Prince choosing a study companion, does Princess Consort Yi have any thoughts?"

Seeing Lin Guifei had spoken, Ruan Ming finally relaxed a bit.

"Regarding this, ultimately the Emperor will decide, so when the Imperial Concubine asks this servant, I can only say I’m not entirely sure."

"Whether certain or not doesn’t matter. The important thing is whether the final choice is what Princess Consort Yi and the Liu family want. Though the Marquis of Northwest has power and influence, it ultimately isn’t within Shengjing City, therefore, such entwined relationships need someone to clarify."

"You’re right, Your Highness."

"I’d rather be direct with you."

"The Cabinet Scholar Zeng’s legitimate second son, Zeng Konghou, is quite a suitable choice. However, Scholar Zeng is extremely cautious, and if his son is chosen as a study companion, he might not be genuinely pleased. Hence, I can give a push to help the Third Prince."

"But I have my own agenda. Once this matter is settled, Ming Ruo must marry into the Zeng family."

Just as Ruan Ming expected, Lin Guifei had an ulterior motive.

Besides, the Cabinet Scholar is originally a disciple of Prime Minister Lin.

Therefore, if Lin Guifei’s proposal is followed, this matter might indeed succeed!

And Lin Guifei guessed correctly; their desired study companion for the Third Prince was indeed Zeng Konghou.

Yet, at this point, he needed to conceal.

After all, they have a card to play, while Lin Guifei does not.

So, he smiled and said.