As night fell, the sound of the clappers at the hour of Xu echoed, and soon after, the bustle of Shengjing City gradually faded. The streets that had been crowded during the day were now left to the government sweepers cleaning up.
Located on Chang'an Street, the nearest street south of the imperial city, the Prime Minister's Mansion was steadily lighting up. In the backyard, the maids and servants were lighting the lamps in an orderly fashion.
Once the exquisite sheep-horn palace lanterns were lit one by one, the entire mansion was filled with a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. In the main room of the east wing, the eldest lady, Madam Dong, sat crying with her head lowered, trying hard to suppress her sobs and not make too much noise.
Sitting beside her was Lin Guangzu, the eldest master of the Lin family, who was frowning, clenching and unclenching his fists. In the end, he could only sigh deeply. When he looked at his wife, he seemed hesitant to speak.
"Master, what can we do? We only have one daughter—why must we send her to the palace to be a concubine? The people in the West Courtyard spoke nicely, but in truth, they saw that their daughter has only produced one princess after all these years in the palace, so now they send Qianqian to consolidate favor. Isn't this just sacrificing her?"
Thinking of her daughter's sensible appearance, Madam Dong couldn't hold back her tears. She clutched her handkerchief tightly, wishing she could tear up the imperial edict that ordered her daughter's entry into the palace.
"I originally wanted to keep her for two more years and slowly arrange a marriage. Who would've thought the old woman in Ronghe Hall would be so scheming? If I had known this would happen, we'd have married her off as soon as she came of age."
Uncle Lin, full of regret, punched his leg—so hard he didn't even feel the pain. This man, who always emphasized filial piety, had just referred to his stepmother as "the old woman in Ronghe Hall," which startled Madam Dong enough to pause her crying.
He continued, voicing the long-standing grievances he had held in his heart.
"Our Xingzhi is now 23 years old, yet he's still only a palace guard without rank. Who would believe it? The eldest grandson of Prime Minister Lin is just a seventh-rank guard—the lowest possible. It's a joke."
"Muzhi is now 13 years old. He can't even enter the prestigious Imperial College and has to be taught at home by a private scholar. Even if he has grand aspirations, how can he take flight?"
The more he spoke, the sadder he became. His eyes were red and swollen.
Seeing how his whole branch had become little more than a foil for the West Wing's rise, he hadn't expected that even their only daughter wouldn't be spared.
Hearing his wife's reproach and recalling how the First House had been either overlooked or suppressed for decades, Uncle Lin grew indignant—but all he could do was punch the air in frustration.
What could he do? His stepmother was none other than Princess Rongkang from Prince Zhan's Mansion. After decades of accumulating power, she now controlled the household, with influential connections in the court and the palace.
And her true granddaughter, Lin Wanzhou—the eldest granddaughter of Prime Minister Lin—was now an imperial concubine, second only to the emperor himself.
No wonder the servants often said the West Cross Courtyard was the real master of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
If not for Madam Dong's family, the Dong clan, supporting them, the people of the East Cross Courtyard might already have been banished to the ancestral home in the countryside.
With a long sigh, the eldest master of the Lin family felt helpless and wronged on behalf of his children.
The candlelight stretched the couple's shadows onto the window. Outside the door, Lin Xingzhi and Lin Wanyi—brother and sister who had come to deliver sweet soup—heard everything clearly.
Lin Wanyi was stunned, her brow furrowed as she processed what she heard. Lin Xingzhi's hand, which held the wooden tray, was clenched tightly, veins bulging and his face dark with anger.
He had just returned from duty and happened to meet his sister on the way to see their parents. But what they overheard made his blood boil—the West Wing wanted to send his sister into the palace.
He was about to storm in, but Lin Wanyi stopped him. She shook her head slightly and tugged on his sleeve, whispering softly:
"Brother, come with me."
Then, she led him back to her own courtyard.
"Qianqian, why wouldn't you let me go in and ask them directly?"
Lin Xingzhi was extremely emotional about anything concerning his sister. Hearing that this was the West Wing and Ronghe Hall's doing, the fire in his chest was on the verge of exploding.
Lin Wanyi looked at her brother and could already imagine how distressed their parents were. The evening breeze along the way had cooled her mind.
"What would be the point, brother? No matter what you say, it won't change the fact that I'm going to the palace. Worse, it might only upset Father and Mother further. Why make it harder for them?"
"But this is your entire future! The West Wing has gone too far!"
He slammed his fist against the pear wood table. The celadon teacups on it rattled and clinked from the impact.
Lin Wanyi stepped forward and looked at his hand—it was only a bit red, nothing serious.
So she spoke slowly. Her voice showed no fear or sorrow, only calm determination.
"It's done. The emperor's order cannot be defied. Our family is barely holding on. If my marriage were to anger the princess or the West Courtyard, how would Mother survive in the backyard? Grandfather just arranged a position for Father at the Imperial Observatory. If my entry into the palace can exchange for our family's peace, then Brother, I'm willing."
Her eyes were full of sincerity and love for her family.
Seeing how sensible she was, Lin Xingzhi felt even worse. She was only seventeen. She should've had the chance to marry into an ordinary household and live a peaceful life. Now, it was all gone.
Entering the palace sounded like an honor, but how many thorns lay hidden in that path? Lin Wanzhou had become an imperial concubine—but did she truly live a happy life? What fate awaited his sister?
"Qianqian…"
Lin Xingzhi wanted to say more, but didn't know where to begin.
That night, everyone in the East Courtyard had a restless sleep.
At dawn the next day, as the clouds began to part, Madam Liu from Ronghe Hall personally came to the East Courtyard to summon Madam Dong and Lin Wanyi for a talk. Her face bore an unusually kind expression.
"The Second Miss is truly blessed. Soon she'll enter the palace as a noble lady. Madam, you need not worry. Our Imperial Concubine will take care of her. The Second Miss won't suffer. Perhaps she'll even gain favor and rise—won't that be a blessing for the First House as well?" she said gently as they walked.
Madam Dong's eyes were still slightly red, her lips tightly pressed together. Beneath her wide sleeves, she gripped Lin Wanyi's hand tightly, reluctant to let go.
Lin Wanyi returned the grip, hoping her steady composure could comfort her mother's trembling heart.