Lin Wan said in front of everyone, not afraid of Xiang Fei and others teasing her for not seeing the emperor for many days, so she was lovesick. Anyway, the emperor in front of her had sparked her interest.

  She no longer spoke, but let the crimson color of the sunset spread across her face, and then bashfully lowered her head.

  The woman standing by the river, gazing at the moon and pounding clothes, if she could await her husband's return, would probably look like this.

  In the attic, the emperor's hearty laughter kept ringing out.

  That night, the one who served as a sleeping attendant in the Tingyu Pavilion was still Yun Guifei. The emperor did not break the rules of flipping cards. Lin Yan bid farewell to the emperor and Xiangfei at dinner, saying that she had already received the emperor's favor and was able to appreciate Yun Guifei's pipa, so she didn't dare disturb her again. Yun Guifei couldn't wait for her to leave quickly and sent her out with a push of water. The emperor also did not insist on keeping her back. However, when Lin Yan retreated, the emperor casually rewarded her with a peacock cloak made of ink-colored silk.

  As for Xiang Fei, since she was pregnant, she couldn't serve the emperor in bed. The emperor had her and the Chu sisters dine together, and after dinner, he ordered Yao Fu Sheng to personally escort her back to Lin Zhi Palace.

  Lin Yuan slowly paced back and forth, wearing a peacock cloak.

  It was already summer, and although there was some wind at night, the fur coat was not very useful. Lin Wan walked halfway and felt hot, so she had to take it off and hold it in her arms. Chu Tao followed beside her, whispering with a smile: "The emperor is still considerate of the empress."

  This time coming to Qingwei Garden, because it was necessary to accompany the emperor, a large group of people were waiting outside the emperor's house, which didn't look good. Lin Yu usually only brought one palace maid with her. Seeing that Chun Tao was clever and sometimes gave her face, Lin Yu would take her out alone, leaving Chun Xue in the palace to manage the palace staff.

  Listening to Chun Tao's words, Lin Yan smiled and said that it was just a fur coat. The big boss who didn't understand the common sense of life had sent the wrong season, which couldn't be considered considerate.

  Well, at least there's something to send.

  "But Master..." Chū Táo spoke again, her voice somewhat low: "Today the Emperor and you had a pleasant conversation, laughing and chatting; I heard it all from outside. Why didn't you take the opportunity to stay behind..." Before she finished speaking, Chū Táo had already lowered her head.

  Lin Yandan glanced at her faintly, shook her head and smiled: "I didn't plan to stay there. I used the words from 'Flower Moon Night' to win favor, it was just a temporary whim, and I didn't want to compete with Yun Guibao for this night's opportunity."

  "Ke Chu's sisters have been serving the emperor one after another, and today the young master finally has an opportunity." Chū Táo still didn't understand: "The opportunity to serve the emperor in the palace is so precious, if the young master can get a night it would be a good thing. The thoughts of the people in the palace are all focused on Shèng Fēi's pregnancy and Ke Chu's sisters' favor... even if the young master gets some attention, it won't bring disaster..."

  "You're thinking correctly." Lin Wan nodded in approval, she had already intentionally cultivated Chu Tao as her own business backbone. Many times, she would also say a few more words to her: "But the matter of imperial favor cannot be rushed, I'm already doing my best by making the emperor happy today. Even if I didn't serve him tonight, he won't forget me in a short period of time..." As she spoke, a mysterious smile gradually appeared on her face: "If I really served him, how would I fulfill the reputation of the Chu sisters' dominance over imperial favor?"

  Chū Táo's eyes widened in surprise.

  "Yu Gui Fei's obsession is too strong, she wants to be on an equal footing with Xiang Fei so much that she's being overly anxious and has managed to get the Emperor's exclusive favor. Lin Yuan's smile grew thicker: "Not everyone has Xiang Fei's abilities to handle being exclusively favored. Just wait and see, it won't take long, just one month. If all the nights in this month are spent with her sisters serving the Emperor, then things will get lively in the palace."

  Chu Tao also understood, at this time her eyes lowered in admiration. She thought that she had indeed chosen the right master.

  Lin Wan finished speaking, but let out a barely audible sigh. The current situation is nothing more than Xiang Fei and the Chu sisters vying for imperial favor, while the Empress and Rong Fei watch from the sidelines. These intense struggles among the palace's elite are something Lin Wan doesn't have the qualifications to participate in - she's too weak, and if she really got involved, she'd just become cannon fodder.

  Look at what the emperor means today, he is very willing to use himself as cannon fodder!

  During these days when Yu Guifei was in favor, Lin Wan had been thinking - although Yu Guifei was beautiful and charming, she couldn't compare to Xiang Fei. In the past, her sisters hadn't hesitated to curry favor with the Emperor, but they had never received such exclusive favor as today... The more she thought about it, the more she suspected that Tuoba Hong intentionally supported them in order to suppress Xiang Fei.

  Think about it again. Today, Tuoba Hong summoned himself to accompany the emperor, probably also with the intention of using him. The pregnancy of Xiang Fei made Tuoba Hong feel pressure, but he didn't want to add bricks and tiles to the power of the empress and Rong Fei... So he had to use the method of dividing his favors.

  In the face of Emperor's tactics, Lin Wan felt very annoyed and helpless. Tuoba Hong, you want to lift me up, I naturally like it. But can I be the same as the noble-born Chu sisters?

  Since you want to use me to oppose Xiang Fei, you should at least give me a slightly higher position! A sixth-rank concubine is not a proper concubine. According to the palace rules, consorts below the fifth rank are not listed in the imperial family register and can be demoted by an edict from the Empress or a casual remark from the Emperor. They can even be punished by consorts of higher ranks without needing to report to the Empress. In other words, Xiang Fei can openly try to get rid of her, but if she wants to get rid of a fifth-rank consort, it depends on whether the Emperor and Empress agree or not.

  In the entire "Anti-Xiang Fei" strategic plan, the Emperor placed Yun Guifei's sister in the position of "General", and Lin Yin was placed in the position of "cannon fodder". Lin Yin knew clearly that someone with a humble background like herself was the most convenient to sacrifice, low cost and high yield, can be used without being fed grass but still produce milk, and when she was squeezed to death by Xiang Fei or Yun Guifei, the Emperor would still smile and say "using things to their fullest use".

  If there was a slightly reliable family to rely on, like the White family, the emperor would at least take into account the face of his father and brother and not use him to death.

  The pawn in the emperor's hand is not easy to play. But on the other hand, if one doesn't even have the value of a pawn, then this life would be truly hopeless. Lin Yu secretly calculated in her heart that as long as she endured until she became a concubine, just a fifth-rank concubine, she would be able to escape this cannon fodder fate.

  At this time, in the Nongyu Xiao Zhu, Chu Huaxin was smiling and welcoming.

  Tuoba Hong was savoring the moment. He held onto Chu Huaxin's waist, panting and smiling: "The two sisters of the Chu family are truly peerless beauties... My beloved queen excels at music and chess, while Huashang excels at poetry and books. I wish you could merge into one person, then there would be no other women in the harem who could compare to you..."

  Chu Hua Xuan's face, with its gentle and soft smile, seemed to have some disturbance when he mentioned his own sister, Hua Shang. Suddenly, she regained her composure. Every time he indulged himself, the Emperor would think of Chu Hua Shang. Damn it! She was just a tool sent into the family to be favored by him, and yet she dared to be compared with her!

  Chu Hua Xin didn't actually like this so-called younger sister. But there was no way around it, if not for Hua Xiang, she wouldn't have today's glory. All these years she had been very spoiled, but herself knew how much ability she really had, and being able to be spoiled for three to five more years was already the limit. Moreover, she hadn't even managed to keep her child... Wanting to go further, she could only let Chu Hua Xiang enter the palace...

  Forget it, now is not the time for internal strife... The pregnant Xiang Fei is at her weakest moment. If she can be overthrown in one move, then the person who will replace her and become the most favored among the six palaces will be herself. Chu Huaxin thought to herself, and slowly felt a sense of comfort rising up inside.

  Since Lin Wan went to Nong Yu Xiao Zhu, the emperor's summons have become more frequent.

  In the history of every night, the name is still Chu Shi. The two sisters are hard to count who has more, and it should be about the same. As for Lin Yuan, she was only passed on to accompany the emperor during the day and had never served in bed at night.

  The special favor shown to the Chu family opened the eyes of the people in the harem, and many palace maids whispered among themselves that the Chu family might produce a new imperial concubine. However, others were disdainful of this, saying that the former Empress Sheng's prestige was far greater than that of the Chu sisters. The Empress Sheng had risen to power alone, while the Chu sisters had worked together as a pair, and yet they still couldn't surpass her. This showed just how formidable the Empress Sheng was. If she hadn't become pregnant now, this honor would never have fallen to the Chu family.

  In short, Xianfu Palace and Linji Palace are now at odds with each other. The Empress and Rongfei are silently watching the commotion, perhaps still harboring ulterior motives in their hearts; the rest of the consorts naturally resent them to the point of gnashing their teeth, secretly cursing both members of the Chu family as being fox-like. Lin Wan occasionally appears before the Emperor, every few days, and although she hasn't gained any substantial benefits from doing so, at least it's better than the other consorts who can't even get an audience with him.

  The lively days of May slowly passed. During this time, the Chang Le Palace was summoned again, but this time it happened that the Empress Dowager was present, she came to report her work to the Queen Mother, including the eating and dressing expenses of the six palaces, personnel adjustments and other trivial matters, all of which had to be told to the Queen Mother one by one. Even if the Queen Mother didn't care about these things, the Empress still had to ask a question "How do you think these things are handled?" This is the respect of a daughter-in-law for her mother-in-law.

  So, in the Chang Le Palace, from start to finish, it was all about the Empress and the Dowager speaking, Lin Yin and her companions didn't even have a chance to interject half a sentence, they were completely just decorations for the two dignitaries. Lin Yin didn't think much of it, this kind of service to elders was normal, in ancient times it was called "standing by rules", standing as an ornament was also serving! Those palace maids in the main halls usually stood beside their masters every day, even if there wasn't anything important, they still had to stand where they should. It's just a pity for Wu Guiren and Xu Ronghua, these days they weren't summoned by the Emperor, cooped up in the palace reciting Buddhist scriptures all day, eating ink but not getting a chance to show their faces.

  The last queen got a compliment from the empress dowager, "capable", and bid farewell with a smile. The empress dowager turned around and waved to Lin Yu and others, meaning that your task for today is completed, you can leave.

  After this, the Chang Le Palace was quiet again. Lin Wan shook her head, perhaps the Empress Dowager just wanted to observe these few people constantly. It's also unknown what the Empress Dowager is thinking now, and how she plans to arrange the fate of each person among these four newly selected individuals.

  Perhaps Tianliang's wife will really win the favor of the Empress Dowager. Who knows?

  Before I knew it, it was early June. The sweltering heat of the capital city gradually spread, and at this time, according to convention, one should leave the palace to avoid the heat.