It is clear that the Emperor arranged for Lin Cairen to be here, hoping that Lin Cairen would not be bullied by the Main Lady and would have the rights of a palace owner even before reaching the necessary rank, showing the Emperor’s affection for Lin Cairen. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

No wonder the Noble Consort was furious when the Emperor favored Lin Cairen, as the Emperor’s current affection for Lin Cairen clearly surpassed that for her and Lianpin, who were former favored concubines of the Emperor for a long time.

Just like today, after coming out of Lianpin’s palace, the Emperor’s first instinct was to go to Lin Cairen’s Chunfeng Pavilion, even though he had to pass by the Noble Consort’s Yingyue Palace on the way, the Emperor didn’t even think of going to Yingyue Palace.

In the past, whenever the Emperor passed by Yingyue Palace, it was always very quiet, but today was different. When the Emperor passed by, he faintly heard the sound of a zither, and most importantly, it was a piece the Emperor had never heard before.

The zither music was melodious and lingering, with a strong sense of tranquility, as if an unworldly hermit was wandering between mountains and rivers. Yet, the intermittent zither sound was never clear enough, making one’s heart itch.

Seeing that the position in front of him was Yingyue Palace, the Emperor knew that the person playing the zither must be the Noble Consort. Naturally, the Emperor wouldn’t wrong himself, so he immediately patted the armrest of the Imperial Carriage and said, "To Yingyue Palace."

The Emperor often changed his mind about which concubine to favor, so the servants who attended him were quite accustomed to it. The Chief Eunuch, Song Lin, flicked his horsetail whisk and called out, "Proceed to Yingyue Palace!"

Upon arriving at Yingyue Palace, the Emperor stopped the servants from voicing their greetings at the door to avoid disturbing the Noble Consort; what if the music was interrupted? He came precisely to hear the music.

The sound of the zither was coming from the peach forest. The Emperor followed the sound and saw a Noble Consort, as beautiful as a fallen plum blossom fairy, amidst the verdant leaves, stunning the Emperor’s eyes, which had seen many beauties.

Red plum blossoms dotted the white hemline, a perfect blend of plain and vivid, exuding a dreamy, ethereal aura. The Emperor stood at a distance, watching the Noble Consort playing the zither with her head down, feeling like the scene before him was a perfect painting, one he did not wish to disturb.

When the music ended, the zither sound stopped, the Noble Consort raised her head, and the Emperor was once again amazed. Today, the Noble Consort wore almost no makeup, her nearly bare face surpassed the beauty of the three thousand beauties in the Emperor’s harem, filling his heart with a strong sense of novelty.

The Noble Consort smiled gently, got up, and greeted the Emperor with a flowing motion of her sleeves. Whatever she said was unheard by the Emperor; he only had eyes for the astonishing and novel beauty before him.

The Emperor had always thought he liked flamboyant beauties, but at this moment, he suddenly realized that such a fairy-like beauty moved his heart even more.

The Emperor couldn’t help but walk quickly to the Noble Consort’s side, took her hands and helped her up, smiling with admiration, "My beloved concubine’s attire today is truly beyond comparison, making me greatly fond of it."

The atmosphere between the Noble Consort and the Emperor was excellent, while Shuangshuang continued designing the clothes that the Noble Consort was to wear in the room. She did not intend to appear before the Emperor because she did not want to become his woman.

The Emperor, though diligent, seemed to have inherited his father’s lustful nature, with countless women in his harem known by name.

Most of them were not high-ranking concubines, and the lower-ranking Changing Clothes Maids were countless, like the countless little flowers blooming in the corners of the harem.

The Emperor and the late Emperor both had an unfeeling attitude towards women; when they saw a beauty, they wanted to sleep with her, and even after sleeping with her, were reluctant to grant her a rank. The only difference was that the Emperor would not, like the late Emperor, send women to the Cold Palace over small matters.

Nangong Shuangshuang knew she was extraordinarily beautiful. If the Emperor saw her, it’s very likely he would want to bring her into his harem. Then, even if Shuangshuang could resist the Emperor’s temporary interest, it would still leave an impression in the Noble Consort’s heart, so she preferred to keep her distance.

Nangong Shuangshuang wasn’t a Chief Palace Maid and could slack off, but Lan Ying, as the devoted palace maid of the Noble Consort, was very busy, though she was willing to be because when the master was favored, the servants benefited too.

Early the next morning, after the Emperor had left, Shuangshuang went to greet the Noble Consort. The Noble Consort was lazily half-lying on a beauty couch in the room, her face flushed, her eyes and brows filled with joy, while Lan Ying was joyfully massaging her back and legs.

Shuangshuang stepped forward to greet, and the Noble Consort immediately smiled broadly, saying, "Ah, it’s Shuangshuang, come over. In the future, in my presence, there’s no need for such formalities. This time it’s all thanks to your clever plan, which made the Emperor’s affection for me rise another notch."

Shuangshuang laughed and said, "It is my duty to serve and strategize for my lady. Just remember, while you have used small tricks to intrigue the Emperor temporarily, and gained more favor, this will only be temporary.

With more days of the Emperor’s affection, the harem women will soon follow suit, and it will be full of beauties appearing like fairies, and you will fade into the crowd, cast aside by the Emperor once more."

The Noble Consort frowned slightly, her joy fading, she sighed, "I know this very well, the reason I have stood firm in the harem for so many years is due to my bond with the Emperor.

The servants of the harem don’t know, they all say that my enduring favor is due to maintaining my beauty over the years, but that’s just their view. I understand my situation best, there is affection, but real favor has long faded.

After all, the Emperor has seen my face for over ten years, no matter how beautiful, anything viewed for a decade becomes tiresome, he’s long tired of my face.

If not for those bits of affection, today I would have been like a discarded flower, trampled by everyone. To truly establish myself where no one dares to offend, I must deepen my bond with the Emperor.

But despite my efforts over so many years, the bond remains thin, depending solely on the long time I’ve been with the Emperor; I am helpless."

By the end of her words, a trace of helplessness and desolation crept into the Noble Consort’s voice; she truly admired the Emperor with all her heart.