LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 59 - The Fortunate Ladies
Among this batch of maidens, there were indeed some beauties, so the Lin sisters did not stand out as the most exceptional. In terms of background, they didn’t pose a threat to those ambitious girls. However, as soon as they were summoned by Consort De, a stir immediately arose among the other maidens.
Consort De had given birth to three princes, two of whom had survived: the Fourth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince. The Fourth Prince had long been married, but the Fourteenth Prince had only taken a secondary consort and had not yet married a primary wife. He was sixteen years old, and it was expected that his marriage would be arranged this year.
Though there were rumors about who might be chosen, until the day of the official selection, no one dared to be certain. The Fourteenth Prince was favored, and his mother, Consort De, was one of the four highest-ranking consorts, so many people had set their sights on him.
While the Lin sisters’ status made it impossible for them to become his primary wife, with their looks, entering any prince’s household and vying for favor wouldn’t be difficult. Thinking this, some began to worry.
Yingyu and Luoyu, upon being summoned to Consort De’s palace, were also anxious. They had no idea why Consort De would suddenly call for them.
The Lin family had no connection to the Uya clan (Consort De’s family), nor did they have any network of relationships that could explain this. The only possible link was through the Jia family—Jia Yuanchun, their cousin, served as a lady-in-waiting in Consort De’s palace.
The problem was, from what they had heard, their cousin Yuanchun wasn’t doing well in Consort De’s service. Every so often, she had to request large sums of money from her family to manage her situation. This suggested that the Lin sisters might have been caught up in trouble by association.
How could they not be anxious?
When they arrived at the palace, they were greeted by a plump palace maid with striking, dignified features. Her attire was slightly different from that of ordinary maids, and there was something vaguely familiar about her.
Because of that sense of familiarity, they had a suspicion. When the maid introduced herself as Yuanchun and said she would lead them, the two sisters exchanged a glance and confirmed—this was indeed their cousin.
However, in the palace, they had to adhere to decorum; it wasn’t a place for casual conversation, and there were others present, so they said nothing.
Seeing their group arrive, someone went inside to announce them and then invited them in.
Consort De’s palace was, of course, beautiful, with every piece of decor being exquisite and tastefully arranged. However, at this moment, the sisters had no mind to appreciate the palace’s furnishings and layout. They remained calm and, according to etiquette, did not look directly at their superior. “We pay our respects to Consort De.”
Consort De smiled warmly and asked them to be seated.
“The Lin family is truly fortunate to have raised two such outstanding daughters. Which of you is the elder sister, and which is the younger?”
She, along with the other three consorts, presided over palace affairs, and naturally, she was well-informed about the profiles of these ladies.
Yingyu respectfully replied, “Your Highness, I am the elder sister.”
“Good child, come forward.” Consort De beckoned her closer for a careful examination.
Yingyu’s heart raced as she felt the intense scrutiny, beads of sweat forming on her back, as if she were being seen right through.
After a long moment, she was finally sent back, and then Luoyu was called forward for the same careful inspection.
Consort De asked, “I’ve heard you are a twin?”
Luoyu replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”
Consort De inquired, “Do you and your brother look alike?”
Luoyu answered, “Not very much, Your Highness.”
Consort De smiled, “Alright, no need to be so formal.”
Even as she said this, Consort De appreciated their respectful demeanor. She gifted each of them a pouch and specifically instructed, “Yuanchun, you escort them back.”
As they left the palace, a palace maid stepped forward. “Does Your Highness have anyone in mind?”
Consort De gently closed her eyes and had someone massage her shoulders. “No rush, take your time.”
With that, she let out a slow sigh. The eldest son of the Fourth Prince had passed away, and he was the only legitimate child. Ulanara was nearly in tears, and the Fourth Prince was also mourning the death of the eldest prince.
She understood; her own sixth son was gone as well.
Looking back, the Fourth Prince’s lineage was too sparse. The Emperor had specifically reminded her to select two fortunate young ladies for him to expand his family.
What does “fortunate” mean? It could refer to a family with many male offspring or one of distinguished origin.
Naturally, those of too high a status couldn’t be assigned to the Fourth Prince. The next criteria were that they should have many brothers or, like the Lin family sisters, be twins raised safely—this too was a kind of fortune.
As she observed the two sisters standing before her, she noted their excellent physiques and extraordinary looks, each with their own merits. However, if one were to consider health, it was the younger sister who stood out.
She had someone jot down their names: “Third-rank Han military flag illegitimate daughters, it would indeed be a blessing for them to enter the Fourth Prince’s courtyard.”
The old matron remained silent, letting out a sigh within.
Though both were born from the consort, comparing the prominent Manchu families in the Fourteenth Prince’s courtyard, and then the Han women in the Fourth Prince’s courtyard, she could only sigh inwardly. If these Lin sisters could go to the Fourth Prince, it would already be a rise in status.
“By the way, have someone investigate whether they have ambitions,” Consort De said, a glimmer flashing in her eyes.
The Emperor’s vigor had not waned. Though at her age, she no longer concerned herself with how many nights the Emperor stayed with her each month, she placed more importance on her children’s prospects. Yet, if the palace had fewer eligible young men, it would certainly ease her worries.
These sisters were both naturally beautiful; if they could avoid entering the palace, it would be better for them.
The old matron received the order and then recalled something: “Your Highness, regarding Jia Yuanchun…”
Consort De chuckled, “It’s been a while; let her relax a bit.”
She thought of the money Jia Yuanchun had spent in the palace and couldn’t help but laugh again.
Meanwhile, Jia Yuanchun was escorting the Lin sisters back to the Chuxiu Palace. Although the journey wasn’t suitable for conversation, they could still find moments to speak privately.
Upon reaching a corner and using a rockery for cover, Jia Yuanchun paused and greeted, “Cousins, I apologize for not being able to speak earlier.”
Yingyu and Luoyu replied, “No, it was us who were rude.”
After some pleasantries, Jia Yuanchun got to the point: “I wonder if the Jia family has sent any messages for you to bring to me?”
The Lin sisters exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.
They hadn’t seen the Jia family in a long time, and while there might have been attempts to check on her well-being in the palace, their grandmother hadn’t mentioned anything.
They only needed to follow their grandmother’s arrangements within the palace.
Jia Yuanchun felt disappointed but quickly rallied her spirits. “Could you help me pass on a message?”
She had nearly exhausted her funds; money was essential to establish herself in the palace.
The sisters exchanged another glance. “Cousin, you’re joking. How could we pass on a message?”
Yuanchun paused for a moment. “I misspoke. I meant to ask if you could bring some messages back to the family when you leave the palace.”
She realized that the two families didn’t have a good relationship.
Given their status as daughters of concubines, it was no surprise that their family wouldn’t prioritize them.
Jia Yuanchun looked at them with envy.
No matter what, after the selection, the sisters were likely to leave the palace, while she had to endure her stay here.
“How is my grandmother? And Baoyu? He’s grown quite a bit, hasn’t he?”
“We haven’t been out for a long time either and haven’t heard of any bad news. In fact, there’s good news—Sister Lian is pregnant.”
A complex expression crossed Jia Yuan Chun’s face. “She’s pregnant? That really is good news. Come with me; I’ll take you back.”
This was not a place where they could speak freely.
Once back, she needed to maintain her composure; she wondered what kind of favor Consort De was hoping to gain from this.
Leading them out, they arrived at Chuxiu Palace, and she returned to her quarters.
Upon their return, the sisters noticed that the way others looked at them had changed. As many gazes fell upon them, they felt a sense of foreboding, recognizing the hostility in some of those eyes.
This unexpected summons from Consort De had disrupted the delicate situation they had tried to maintain, but ultimately, they weren’t afraid.
This was the palace.
They were all showgirls.
Some received special treatment because they had a good sister or relative in the palace, while others came from noble backgrounds and looked down on others.
Though the Lin family might not be at the very top, they were not to be easily bullied.
Soon, someone came to inquire about the news. The first was a curious fourteen-year-old girl with a doll-like face. She looked over and asked, “Sister Lin, why did Consort De summon you? So you have ties to her family?”
Faced with the direct inquiries, the sisters put on polite smiles. “We don’t know either.”
“What did she say?”
“Nothing much.”
If they could find out anything, that would mean they had lost!
The doll-faced girl retreated, realizing that everything she had said was meaningless.
The next round of questioners was much more experienced, knowing how to use surprise and emotional appeal.
But the sisters remained steadfast, sending each one away.
They felt drained.
They were unaware of what some people were competing for, such as Consort De’s Fourteenth Prince, who was selecting a primary wife.
He already had a secondary consort, but since he was favored, he might choose others to be princesses as well.
In the eyes of those who viewed the Lin sisters as rivals, they were potential candidates for the favored princes.
If they were legitimate daughters, it would be one thing, but unfortunately, they were both born of concubines.
Moreover, being summoned by Consort De and receiving gifts made them seem like formidable competitors.
Though Yingyu and Luoyu had no such intentions, did it matter what they thought?
Would others believe them?
So, Yingyu and Luoyu’s calm was shattered. Even as Consort De continued to summon several more people, they still found themselves targeted.
Their clothes were accidentally torn, their jewelry knocked to the ground, and there were spills from tea cups on their beds. These minor mishaps aimed to embarrass them and provoke their anger, but they miscalculated.
Yingyu was skilled with a needle and thread, so she quickly repaired any damage herself.
They had spare jewelry; no one would bring just one set into the palace.
No one dared to cross lines easily. There was a previous incident where a conflict among a group of young women led to one falling into the water, resulting in punishments for everyone involved.
Now, it was just a matter of isolation and minor annoyances.
At first, Yingyu was panicked, but seeing her sister steady as a rock gradually calmed her down. They continued to act like wooden dolls in the storage palace.
Their demeanor drew silent nods of approval from the old matron observing from the shadows. It was said that the Lin family raised their daughters born of concubines with care, and it appeared the rumors were true.
They weren’t the most outstanding, but they faced problems without crying or causing a scene, handling issues steadily and even countering some of those who tried to undermine them. If they were matched with the Fourth Prince, it wouldn’t be bad at all.
Palace news wasn’t typically shared with the outside world, but complete isolation was impossible; information just tended to lag behind.
The old lady had heard of Consort De summoning her two granddaughters. Besides them, there were also the daughters of other notable families, such as the Wanyan family, who were tied to the Fourteenth Prince, as well as members of the Geng and Niuhulu families.
The Wanyan family was the Fourteenth Prince’s secondary consort. The old lady recalled that this year, the Fourth Prince’s legitimate eldest son had passed away. Given the Fourth Prince’s limited heirs, the number of women in his rear courtyard was already few, this thought caused her heart to race.
Could it be…