The lady seemed to be in her thirties.
She was buxom with a beautiful appearance.
That lady was a down-to-earth type of woman, quite different from the usual ladies with a title.
But, she, wearing a luxury robe, looked arrogant.
Lin Mengya guessed that, the lady must be someone’s vice princess.
Even she was the first princess; she must come from a common family.
“Isn’t it the Duchess Qinan? She just managed to become the wife of Duke Qinan. How dare she show no respect to Concubine De. How mean she is.”
Another harsh voice came. Lin Mengya slightly turned her eyes to another lady.
That lady was noble, but there was some unkind intent in her eyes.
Besides, she must come from a noble family, as she was so outspoken.
Indeed, the lady, who was referred to as the wife of Duke Qinan, fell speechless when hearing that unkind lady’s words.
But, there were still some complaints in her eyes.
“Greetings, Concubine De. Greetings, Princess Yu.”
That lady hummed, but still behaved herself, and greeted Concubine De and Lin Mengya.
Lin Mengya returned the greetings in the same manner. Since Concubine De was there, she would not easily open her mouth.
“Princess Lingnan, long time no see. You are still outspoken. Ya’er, she is your sixth aunt.”
‘Princess Lingnan?’ Lin Mengya raised her head, and silently looked up and down at the lady.
‘How coincident it was to encounter Princess Lingnan.’
But, Concubine De seemed to be familiar with that princess.
‘Didn’t she care about the scandal between her husband and the Concubine?’
‘But she looks like the kind of woman who would care about the scandal.’
All female guests were sent to the Chunen Hall by sedan chairs one by one.
Only Baisu followed Lin Mengya, as well as Jinyue, who was sent by Concubine De in case that she might get into trouble.
“Aunt, that lady seems to be close to mother.”
In the sedan chair, Lin Mengya failed to control her curiosity, and asked.
Jinyue lowered her voice, and answered her question in a simple way.
“Princess Lingnan is the younger female cousin of Concubine De. They are always close. And Prince Lingnan loves Princess Lingnan very much, even though she failed to carry a baby. Of course, Prince Lingnan does this for the sake of Concubine De to a certain extent.”
A woman with no child, still had her husband’s love.
Lin Mengya seemed to have understood something. After all, not all women in ancient times wanted a dedicated love.
Lin Mengya suddenly got interested in the love between Concubine De and Prince Lingnan.
It was no wonder that a thing between a peerless beauty, and an outstanding prince, would cause a hot discussion among people.
The Chunen Hall had been decorated again. At the Mid-Autumn Festival, the surroundings had to be elaborately decorated.
Jinyue held Lin Mengya to rest in the side hall next to it.
Inside the side hall, Concubine De was sitting on the main seat while Princess Lingnan was sitting in the right hand seat.
“Ya’er, come here. We’re talking about you. Come to sit by my side.”
Concubine De waved to Lin Mengya as she approached the hall.
Some had seen her while it was the first time for others among those female guests.
Some knowing of her legendary stories, started to spread those stories around.
“Yes, mother.”
Lin Mengya walked toward Concubine De in a polite manner. She was born to be beautiful, being the best among those ladies.
Lin Mengya didn’t feel it unexpected as she caught some unkind looks on her.
“Ah! We’re old enough now. Some years ago, Prince Yu was still a boy when I met him. Now, he has a wife. Time passes so fast.”
Princess Lingnan really got along well with Concubine De.
She said that in a quite natural way. In front of Concubine De, Lin Mengya just wanted to act as a lovely daughter-in-law.
Lin Mengya smiled, and then, shyly lowered her head.
“Oh, sister De, I have something to bother you with this time.”
Princess Lingnan switched her topic from Lin Mengya to other things, and she looked at Concubine De.
“Oh? What kind of thing? Tell me.”
Concubine De, who was clearly in a good mood, wore more gentle smiles on her face.
“Hui’er, come here and greet Concubine De.”
Instantly, an elegant, beautiful lady in white, lightly walked close to Concubine De, and then, extended her greeting.
Lin Mengya silently scanned over the lady, who was slim, weak, but had shy, sweet smiles.
Especially her simple white robe set her off to look more beautiful.
Two clouds of flushes emerged in her cheeks, making her look beautifully more bashful.
“Hui’er bows in respect to Concubine De, Princess Yu.”
Her timid voice sounded soft and delicate. She was indeed an extraordinary beauty. But, instantly, an idea occurred to Lin Mengya.
“Arise. What thing…”
Concubine De looked up and down at that lady, and then, confusedly looked at Princess Lingnan.
“She is the eldest daughter of my big brother. Her name is Shangguan Hui, fifteen years old. She is a well-educated, reasonable lady.”
Lin Mengya was not too stupid to know what she meant.
She looked at Shangguan Hui speechlessly. ‘How charming the Prince is, so much that girls constantly try their best to be his vice wife?’
‘Or do they think she is too kindhearted?’
Lin Mengya didn’t know the reason. But, she had no good impression of that Princess Lingnan.
“Right, she looks good. There are many talented men in Capital City. Do you have any idea?”
Concubine De was clever enough to excuse herself from that request. She didn’t tell the truth.
“Marriage is a big event. It should be decided by parents. Hui’er will listen to her aunt’s decision.”
Lin Mengya couldn’t bear it anymore. Too many people desired to marry the Prince, including Jiang Ruqin and Ming Yue.
As the hostess, it was the time to show her authority.
“Right, I agree with you, Miss Shangguan. But, the prince is different. His marriage was all decided by me. Unfortunately, I am not a generous woman. I’m afraid that anyone who wants to marry the Prince may be bullied.”
Lin Mengya’s words sounded like jokes among women, but harsh enough.
In their eyes, Lin Mengya was always gentle and kind.
She had no more words, nor incurred in more hatred for herself.
Unexpectedly, she changed into another person. Her words embarrassed Shangguan Hui to some extent.
“Princess Yu, what do you mean?”
Princess Lingnan was indeed irritated, but no one would easily offend others openly in the Palace.
“You know what I mean, Your Highness.”
Lin Mengya chillingly looked at Princess Lingnan without flinching.
If Princess Lingnan really got along well with Concubine De, she should have brought Miss Shangguan to visit Prince Yu’s Mansion in a more private way.
Since so many years past, what did she mean to ask for that thing in the presence of all?
If Concubine De agreed with her, as Princess Yu, Lin Mengya would lose face for her.
If Concubine De disagreed with her, scandals would spread out all around.
Lin Mengya was clever, so was Concubine De. Concubine De just used a simple, direct way to show her refusal.
“Princess Lingnan, we are close. But anything involving Prince Yu is always decided by Ya’er.”
The Concubine stood by Lin Mengya’s side. She had already had enough of Princess Lingnan in those years.
Hearing that, Princess Lingnan’s face was downcast.
Her geniality, which was previously forced, disappeared.
Instead, she showed her hatred and jealousy.
“You are the concubine of the Emperor while I am just the wife of a prince. I am unworthy to seek connections with you. Argh! my poor prince. He is still missing Your Highness now…”
“How dare you!”
Lin Mengya’s face changed, and she yelled out.
Princess Lingnan never expected that, Princess Yu, who looked young, dared to shout at her.
In the past years, she had gained a firm foothold by using the scandal about Concubine De and Prince Lingnan.
Even in the Palace, Concubine had to bear with her.
Therefore, she had never expected that such a young person would yell at her.
And worse still, she shouted at her on such a formal occasion. Princess Lingnan immediately lost control over her face.
“Who do you think you are?”
Lin Mengya’s shining eyes instantly sent forth some killing intent, when Princess Lingnan was about to make a scene.
Lin Mengya approached Princess Lingnan, and gently spoke by her ear,
“Stop your nonsense, otherwise you will stay here forever.”
No warmth could be felt in her words. Princess Lingnan could only feel frozen, as if coming from hell.
“You—”
Princess Lingnan never expected that she would have such a forceful mental aura.
Even she had to step back, and dared not meet her eyes.
“Thanks for your approval, Your Highness. Mother, let’s have a walk outside. It’s too stuffy here.”
Lin Mengya returned to her mild smile. At the moment, she came to realize something—
The reason why Concubine De would have ordered Jinyue to remind her of those things.
It really was a planned dinner.
Lin Mengya held Concubine De up while those princesses, who had been waiting for the show to start, speechlessly stared at what was happening.
On every banquet held by the royal members, the Concubine was the frequent subject who others would make fun of.
Especially Princess Lingnan—who seemed to be close with Concubine De—in fact, would stir up trouble for Concubine De.
But at the moment, Princess Yu stopped her behavior, even silently beating her.
“I’ve already known that, Princess Yu is not a kind person.”
Among those female guests, Duchess Qinan’s eyes shone, and she excitedly looked forward to a show.
‘Tonight, a good show must be in store for the banquet.’
“Ya’er, do you think I was a profligate?”
Lin Mengya held Concubine De, and wandered around the Imperial Garden.
Looking at the grass and trees she was familiar with, Concubine De looked sorrowfully.
“No, I don’t. I just feel sorry for mother. How did you hear it in these years?”
Every woman would fall in love with a man when they were young.
It should have been a good much-told story. Although they didn’t have a good result, their love shouldn’t have a knife threatening Concubine De to be so cautious.
“You always know me the best. I didn’t choose to endure it because I was afraid of being found out.”
Concubine De looked confident, back to her noble calm. Her soft, sorrowful expression had already disappeared, totally different from what she looked like in the side hall.
