Lu Wanyi looked unwilling and wanted to say more, but Lu Wanyun didn't give her the chance to speak. Instead, she said, "It's not often that my younger sisters get to enter the palace. Don't just stay in my room—let Hongjian take you around for a stroll."
Everyone looked to Madam Lin, who nodded. "Go on."
Lu Wanyi glanced at Lu Wanyun, then at Madam Lin, her eyes shifting quickly. "Grandmother, Big Sister, I want to stay here and keep you company."
Lu Wanyun said nothing, but Madam Lin frowned and scolded, "I told you to go, so go. Why so many words?"
Lu Wanyi had no choice but to leave with the others, face full of reluctance.
Once Lu Wanning and the others were gone, and only Madam Lin and Lu Wanyun were left in the room, Madam Lin finally spoke. "Your Ladyship thinks Ning girl is suitable?"
Lu Wanyun nodded. "She seems honest and proper. Didn't Grandmother also say Fifth Sister is obedient and fairly sensible?"
Madam Lin hesitated.
Lu Wanyun looked at her and said, "If Grandmother has concerns, please speak freely."
Madam Lin replied, "Ning girl is indeed good, but her mother, Madam Tao, has already made arrangements for her to be engaged—apparently to her cousin from her mother's side. It hasn't been finalized yet, but it's practically settled. If we raise the idea of her entering the palace now, I'm afraid Madam Tao won't agree."
"As long as it hasn't been settled, it doesn't matter much." Lu Wanyun continued, "Among our sisters, the third one also seems decent, but she has her father and elder brother supporting her. If she were to enter the palace and bear a child, she might grow too ambitious, which could lead to disharmony in the household."
"The fourth sister is clearly naive and foolish. If someone like her enters the palace, she'll only be a burden to the family."
"As for the sixth sister…" She's not an easy one either, but Lu Wanyun knew that Madam Lin had always been fond of her fourth son and, by extension, his children, so she didn't speak too harshly. She only said, "If Sixth Sister were to enter the palace and something happened to her, I fear Grandmother would be heartbroken."
"In the end, only Fifth Sister is truly suitable. Not only is she beautiful and well-mannered, but with her father and brother both gone, she has no one to rely on but the marquis household. Even if she does bear a child in the future, there's no risk of her harboring other ambitions."
Madam Lin was silent for a moment after hearing Lu Wanyun's reasoning. "If Ning girl is the only one suitable, then there's no other choice. As for Madam Tao…"
"As for Third Aunt, Grandmother will need to put in some effort—don't let her cause a scene," Lu Wanyun reminded her. "If she truly refuses to let Fifth Sister enter the palace, then don't force her. It just so happens that Prince Yu recently entered the palace to ask the Empress Dowager for help finding a new wife. The Empress Dowager is troubled over it. If Third Aunt doesn't want her daughter in the palace, we can have Fifth Sister become Prince Yu's new wife instead."
Madam Lin nodded. "Rest assured, Your Ladyship. I'll handle it."
Meanwhile, Hongjian took Lu Wanning and the others for a stroll through the imperial garden. After estimating that the conversation between Lu Wanyun and Madam Lin had likely finished, she brought the group back to Zhaoyang Palace.
The day's palace visit was complete. Madam Lin didn't stay longer and, bringing the girls with her, took leave of Lu Wanyun.
As Lu Wanyun was still unwell, she didn't insist they stay for a meal. She instructed Baoqing to escort them out of the palace and reminded him to send the two bolts of Shu brocade to Lu Wanning as promised.
As they exited the palace gates, Baoqing hadn't yet gone far when Lu Wanyi, staring at the fabric in Lu Wanning's arms, couldn't help but sneer, "Fifth Sister really made the most out of this palace trip. Not only did you get praised by the Noble Consort, but you also scored two bolts of Shu brocade. Unlike us, who came for nothing and left with empty hands."
Lu Wanning glanced at Lu Wanyi and calmly replied, "Sixth Sister, you're still a young lady of the marquis household. Why are you being so shallow like a common market woman? It's just two bolts of cloth. Is that really worth getting worked up over?"
She usually couldn't be bothered to argue with Lu Wanyi, but she had things on her mind today, and Lu Wanyi just had to provoke her at this moment. She wasn't about to hold back.
Watching from the side, Lu Wanrou quietly whispered to Lu Wanqing, "No wonder she dares to speak so boldly now—she's the one who got rewarded by the Noble Consort."
Lu Wanqing only smiled and didn't respond.
Lu Wanrou curled her lips disdainfully. "What a show-off."
Lu Wanyi hadn't expected the usually gentle and tolerant Lu Wanning to snap back. She glared fiercely at her. "You… what are you so smug about? It's just two bolts of Shu brocade—who cares?"
Lu Wanning replied coolly, "Yes, just two bolts of brocade."
Lu Wanning hadn't even said anything more, but Lu Wanyi was even angrier. "Lu Wanning…"
"That's enough. What are you doing, quarreling in public? Have you no shame?" Madam Lin shot a warning glare at both Lu Wanning and Lu Wanyi. "Let's go back. Yier, you ride with your Third and Fourth Sisters. Ning girl, you come with me."
"Hmph!" Lu Wanyi snorted at Lu Wanning and stormed toward the smaller carriage.
Lu Wanning ignored her. She tucked the two now slightly "hot" bolts of cloth into the carriage and helped Madam Lin climb in.
Once inside, Madam Lin leaned against a soft pillow and closed her eyes to rest.
Madam Lin said nothing, and Lu Wanning didn't speak either. She quietly pondered Lu Wanyun's intentions.
Four sisters had entered the palace, and only she had received a gift. There was no way Lu Wanyun didn't have a reason. But what exactly did she want? Lu Wanning couldn't figure it out.
That kind of feeling—knowing someone wants something from you but having no idea what—is incredibly frustrating.
After a while, Madam Lin opened her eyes when she realized Lu Wanning wasn't speaking. She looked at her, seemingly lost in thought, and asked, "Ning girl, what did you think of the palace visit today?"
Lu Wanning came back to her senses and replied cautiously, "The flowers in the imperial garden were beautiful. The Noble Consort was very kind."
"Then if I say that you could visit the imperial garden whenever you like from now on, would you be willing?" Madam Lin asked with meaning.
Visit the imperial garden anytime? What did that mean?
How could someone outside the palace possibly go there whenever they wanted? The only people with that kind of privilege were those who lived in the palace.
Suddenly, a flash of realization struck Lu Wanning.
Next year would be the year of the grand selection. Could Madam Lin be hinting that she wanted her to enter the palace?
But their Marquis household already had Lu Wanyun serving as Noble Consort. Was there really a need to send in another girl?