Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite
Chapter 44 The Imperially Bestowed Palace Name

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 The Imperially Bestowed Palace Name

"That’s very good. Prime Minister Lin is indeed a backbone minister of my Da Wei, and his granddaughters should also strive like him for the Royal Family."

Strive?

Lin Wanyi was somewhat puzzled upon hearing this. Why mention striving all of a sudden?

Perhaps seeing Lin Wanyi’s bewildered expression, the Emperor casually remarked.

"The Imperial Consort visited me the other day, and she mentioned in passing that once your leg injury heals, you should swiftly serve. It seems your elder sister has great expectations for you."

Upon hearing this, Lin Wanyi felt a deep sense of anxiety.

Though, upon reflection, Lin Guifei’s tactics seemed truly skilful.

First, she used her brother’s inclusion in the dragon boat list as bait to make her volunteer to participate in the Dragon Boat Festival, then she mentioned the matter of serving the Emperor again.

To outsiders, naturally, it would seem like she, the newly favored concubine, is worried about losing favor due to a prolonged illness, hence all these exertions.

Once such a message spreads, whether outsiders believe it or not doesn’t matter.

What matters is how the Emperor views her.

Fortunately, she hadn’t rushed to Qian’an Hall these past days; if she had made even one move, this "accusation" would have been cemented.

Seeing her not reply for a long time, the Emperor probed further.

Lin Wanyi picked up the paper with floral patterns and spoke.

"This maid enjoys the current days. Back in the mansion, there was no time for such things, always helping mother with accounting and affairs or listening to rules from grandmother. Busy all day without knowing what was accomplished, but now there’s much more leisure."

She didn’t directly answer the Emperor’s words but expressed her heart.

Indeed, she was sent by the Lin Family, but she was also a living person.

She wasn’t a pawn or ornament in Lin Guifei’s hands, required to do whatever she was told, with even her palace reputation controlled by Lin Guifei.

This puppet-like life had been lived by the main house and their entire family for many years.

In the future, she didn’t wish to continue it.

"Imperial Concubine is grandmother’s legitimate granddaughter, spoiled since childhood, with many attributes of grandmother in her actions and speech, but this maid is different. Her biological grandmother passed early; maternal grandmother’s family was just ordinary merchants, needing caution in speech and deeds from a young age. A sparrow is not a swan; this maid has neither aspirations to soar nor the means to stride forth, so best to guard what’s in front."

These words wouldn’t have been uttered by Lin Wanyi in the past.

Carrying a hint of defiance, even a fool would detect it.

Seeing her slightly agitated, the Emperor’s tentative suspicion dissipated.

"I believe it is indeed so; among all the palaces, only your left-side hall is comfortably arranged."

Seeing no reply, the Emperor then interjected.

"Does this side hall have a name?"

"This maid doesn’t know; since coming, it has always been called the left-side hall."

"Then today I shall bestow it a name."

He turned towards the study and walked straight over.

Dong Yuzhong and Qiu Ming hurriedly stepped forward, one attending to ink and brush, the other smoothing the paper.

The Emperor glanced at Lin Wanyi and muttered softly.

"The way is sufficient with few possessions, the mind unfettered feels expansive. This line of poetry suits you, so let’s call it Xianyi Palace."

Xianyi Palace indeed matched her mood, Lin Wanyi thought to herself, murmuring it repeatedly.

The more she spoke it, the more she liked it.

The Emperor had already finished inscribing the calligraphy.

"Instruct the Inner Court Department to craft the plaque immediately and hang it for Lin Daying, so I don’t have to see it barren every time."

"Yes, the servant obeys!"

Qiu Ming carefully packaged the Emperor’s calligraphy and hurried to personally deliver it to the Inner Court Department.

With this interruption, Lin Wanyi’s earlier annoyance dissipated.

"Before coming, I instructed the Imperial Kitchen to prepare several Shu dishes, thinking you love them, and reminded them to add more chili peppers."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration."

Then came to her front, gently lifting the trouser leg to check the injury.

The bruise seemed less than before, yet still not entirely healed.

"You really are delicate; such a small injury takes so long to recover. If it were me, I would be up in three to five days."

"Your Majesty’s physique is precious; how could you be injured?"

The Da Wei Empire was military-oriented; every Emperor had to learn horse riding from a young age!

So during practice, falling from horseback was a common occurrence, making injuries inevitable.

The Emperor’s eyes dimmed, seemingly avoiding the topic, murmuring faintly.

"Fell while horse riding as a child."

Lin Wanyi didn’t press further; she naturally wasn’t one to speak much, and had a bit of tact.

Instead, she shifted the conversation to casual topics.

In Xianyi Palace, spent until after supper before the Emperor rinsed his mouth with tea, then took leave with his attendants.

These two or three hours tired Lin Wanyi, who had been vigilantly accompanying him.

Once the Emperor left, Xia An approached to serve, massaging her shoulders and neck.

Closing her eyes to feel Xia An’s strength, Lin Wanyi mentally reviewed her earlier words, ensuring no indiscretions, finally relaxing.

Displaying her temperament before the Emperor was indeed a risky move.

If she hadn’t illuminated her situation in the Prime Minister’s Mansion, there would be further probes in the future.

Instead of boiling water in a pot, it would be better to extract the firewood from the source.

Revealing from the onset that she wasn’t aligned with Lin Guifei might ease the Emperor’s concerns.

The entry of a noble family woman into the palace, spoken nicely as glory, but in the Emperor’s view, likely arouses more suspicion than favor.

Especially with children, which poses an absolute threat to imperial power.

Because previous dynasties saw frequent occurrences of external relatives interfering with governance, no one wished to be a puppet Emperor.

After leaving Xianyi Palace, the Emperor Yu Wenhong’s face showed a deeper seriousness.

"Go, summon Geng Caiyou for me."

"Yes."

Speaking of which, Geng Caiyou was the Commander of the Classical Examination Department, overseeing secrets from royalty down to common folk, without exception.

This Dark Guard Agency was directly under successive Emperors, the sharpest hidden weapon in the Da Wei Emperor’s hand.

Inside Qian’an Hall, Geng Caiyou knelt on one knee, respectfully saluting Emperor Yu Wenhong.

His entire body was covered in black brocade, and his face partially obscured by an iron mask, revealing no emotion.

"Your servant Geng Caiyou greets the Emperor, wishing him eternal peace."

Seeing him, the Emperor softly spoke, his tone laced with intense seriousness.

"Investigate the matter concerning the Prime Minister’s Mansion’s main house, the more detailed, the better."

"Yes, your servant takes the order!"

After his departure, the Emperor’s thoughts drifted back to years ago.