Forcing me to become a concubine? Remarrying the Ninth Prince, she'll be pregnant all over the

Once the twelfth lunar month arrives, the princes who leave the palace to establish their own residences after the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, as well as the princesses and their husbands who are getting married, will enter the palace to accompany the emperor.

Because Wei Wujiu was a eunuch, he did not need to follow the etiquette of the inner palace. Every year, the emperor ordered him to stay in the palace like the princes until after the first month of the lunar calendar.

Wei Wujiu had already anticipated this, and accepted the decree without any apparent abnormality. After kneeling and paying his respects, Hua Ershisan also had some free time, so he accompanied him to Chentingxuan.

A palace built adjacent to the East Palace, which was also a residence specially granted by the emperor to Wei Wujiu for a short stay in the palace.

"I had someone clean Chentingxuan a few days ago. The palace servants are still the same as usual. Just use the ones you brought from your residence," Hua Niansan said as she walked.

Wei Wujiu nodded slightly: "Thank you for your concern, godfather."

Hua Ershisan smiled and chatted with him along the way. Judging that she still had to be on duty and couldn't stay long, she cautiously said before leaving, "Remember, have someone check the food and drinks at the palace banquet twice. The Crown Prince may be about to make a move."

"Your son will remember this, Godfather, rest assured."

"Also, have someone keep an eye on Lin Wantang to prevent her from offending the Crown Princess. It's not a good time to cause trouble at the end of the year."

Wei Wujiu's indifferent eyes were stern, and he frowned slightly, but he didn't say much. He just noted it down and had someone send Hua Niansan away. Then he summoned Ye Ying and said, "After she enters the palace, have someone find a pretext to bring her to my palace."

Night Hawk hesitated for a moment, then said with difficulty, "My lord, Miss Lin entered the palace half an hour ago. She went to pay her respects to the Empress first. The Crown Princess was also there at the time. We were just about to take Miss Lin back to the East Palace when Princess Yong'an arrived. She said that she and Miss Lin hit it off immediately and were very happy. So she asked the Empress for permission to take Miss Lin to the Brocade Palace."

"Princess?" Wei Wujiu murmured, frowning in disgust as he thought of Yong'an's previous actions. "Have someone keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn't suffer any losses."

Night Hawk considered Lin Wantang's style of doing things and felt that she wasn't the type to let him suffer a loss, but still nodded: "Yes."

Inside the brocade palace.

As soon as Yong'an returned with Lin Wantang, he dismissed everyone else, leaving only the two of them in the inner hall. Yong'an also dropped his airs, but still somewhat embarrassed, he pursed his lips and said, "I don't actually dislike you, and there's no animosity between us."

"After parting ways in Ding County, I've reflected on things carefully. Sister Wantang, you're right. I do admire Brother Wujiu, but this admiration is just a wish for him to be well and get better and better. There's no need to force anything between us. As for now, I just want to see him occasionally and have a chat. That's enough."

Forcing them to become husband and wife would be incredibly difficult, and even if they managed to do so, given Wei Wujiu's aloof nature, what good would Yong'an do if she became his concubine?

Yong'an had figured it out, and with a shy smile, she took Lin Wantang's hand: "Sister Wantang, I caused trouble before and almost targeted you in every way. I know you are magnanimous and don't hold it against me, but I still want to apologize to you."

As she spoke, Yong'an was about to rise and bow solemnly, but Lin Wantang could not accept it and quickly stopped her: "Your Highness is too kind. The etiquette between ruler and subject cannot be disregarded. I cannot accept Your Highness's bow. Let bygones be bygones, shall we not mention it again?"

Yong'an nodded repeatedly, then sat down to speak again, when a palace servant announced that someone from the Eastern Palace had arrived.

"You can't wait that long already?"

Yong'an was extremely displeased. After learning everything, she had seen through Shen Huai'an's pretense and also felt some dissatisfaction with Lin Qinglian.

Lin Wantang comforted him with a smile, and Yong'an finally suppressed his annoyance and gestured for someone to come in.

The one who arrived was Zhu Jin, the head maid of the East Palace, who brought more than a dozen maids, each carrying various porcelain cups, glass and jade ornaments, etc.

Zhu Jin bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty is pregnant, and the imperial physician has advised you not to overexert yourself. The Empress has asked Your Majesty to stay at Chengqian Palace for a chat, but Your Majesty is concerned about the palace banquet and has specifically sent me to inquire of Miss Lin whether these things are in order."

As she spoke, the maid walked slowly to Lin Wantang and bowed to present him with a tray.

Yong'an immediately said in a deep voice, "What does Your Highness mean by this? Just now in Chengqian Palace, didn't I ask Her Majesty the Empress to allow Lin Wantang to come to my palace to keep me company? Why have you changed your mind?"

This statement invoked the Empress's name, implying that Lin Qinglian was overstepping her bounds.

Zhu Jin quickly bowed again: "This servant dares not. The Crown Princess did not mean that. It's just that the palace banquet is very complicated, and it's the first time Your Highness has hosted such a large banquet. Moreover, Your Highness is pregnant. The Empress is also very considerate and caring, which is why she specially summoned Miss Lin to the palace, isn't that right?"

What a brilliant move, using minimal force to deflect a great weight, circling back to Lin Wantang with the problem.

Whether Lin Wantang accepts the offer to help Lin Qinglian with the arrangements for the palace banquet or not, she is caught in a dilemma.

Yong'an got angry and was about to lash out when Lin Wantang quickly got up to stop her. After all, the task was hers to do, and if she didn't accept it, it would be disobeying the imperial decree. What would it look like if she dragged Yong'an into it?

After calming Yong'an down with some persuasion, Lin Wantang had no choice but to lead Zhu Jin and the others out of Jinxiu Palace. They remained silent all the way to the East Palace, where she stopped outside the hall and had Zhu Jin order the maids to present all the items.

After carefully verifying each item and meticulously avoiding any mistakes, Zhu Jin was about to order someone to take away the verified items when Lin Wantang stopped him.

"Wait a minute. The palace banquet is a matter of great importance and cannot be neglected in the slightest. I am unworthy and ignorant of the palace rules, and I dare not make decisions on my own."

Lin Wantang spoke softly, and while Zhu Jin was still in a daze, she instructed again: "Someone, send these verified items to Chengqian Palace one by one, and ask Her Majesty the Empress to verify them again."

"To avoid any mishaps, Qiuying, take my name card to Fuchun Palace and ask Princess Anyang to go to Chengqian Palace to accompany and assist Her Majesty the Empress in handling the verification, so as to prevent Her Majesty's health from being affected."

Lin Wantang was meticulous in every aspect. Lin Qinglian wanted to take advantage of the situation, tamper with the items she had inspected, and then frame her? Then she would drag the Empress and Anyang into it and see what Lin Qinglian would dare to cause trouble!

"If there's nothing else, Aunt, I'll take my leave now."

Ignoring Zhu Jin's multifaceted expression, Lin Wantang remained respectful and courteous, taking two steps back before turning and leaving.

"Aunt, how...how are we going to explain this to Her Majesty?"

The maidservant anxiously stepped forward and whispered her question.

Zhu Jin watched the departing figure with a sense of frustration, but also realized that Lin Wantang was no pushover; she could see the danger in the smallest things and nip it in the bud.

Even the Crown Princess might not be a match for her.

"Alright, just do as she says for now." Zhu Jin sighed repeatedly, "I'll talk to the Crown Princess."

The palace rules were strict. Lin Wantang walked along the road, intending to leave the palace and return to her residence, but with the sound of footsteps, the sedan chair stopped beside her.

"Miss Lin, please get into the sedan chair."

Lin Wantang paused upon hearing the voice, then turned to look at the speaker and was suddenly stunned.