Chapter 27: The Emperor’s Pity, Is Also Love

The old lady saw that Ning Wanyin was sincerely helping her cousin, and finally gave her a smile.

“Although you’ve caused some trouble for the family, since you’re willing to help your sister enter the palace, it can be considered a wash.”

Ning Wanyin smiled without saying anything. It was clearly because of her that they got the Cen family’s favor, but they were now blaming her.

But she didn’t want to waste her breath with the old lady, she said, “Grandmother, why don’t you accompany your cousin to prepare the painting? His Majesty might be back soon.”

“Indeed…” The old lady nodded and took Ning Zi Yin to the quiet room next door to prepare the painting, wash up, and dress up.

After they left.

Cheng Shi was both angry and anxious, her eyes were red, “Wanyin, I’m sorry you have to suffer.”

“Daughter doesn’t feel wronged. Since Grandmother wants to send my cousin into the palace so much, then I will naturally fulfill her wish.” Ning Wanyin gently held Cheng Shi’s hand, her laughter was slightly cold.

She could have refused the old lady.

But why refuse?

She needed this play to let the Emperor know that she had no one behind her.

Being estranged from her family, she could only rely on the Emperor, a lone minister, that would be the most useful.

Furthermore, this was a good opportunity to arouse the Emperor’s pity.

Pity is also love.

She wouldn’t refuse.

The power the Emperor gave her, the Emperor’s affection, as a concubine, she naturally had to plan every step.

“Mother, how have you been lately?” Ning Wanyin asked Cheng Shi with concern, “Daughter is in the deep palace, causing a lot of trouble, making Mother worry.”

Cheng Shi held Ning Wanyin’s soft hand tightly, “As long as you’re doing well, Mother doesn’t have anything to worry about. I’m fine, your father wrote a letter a few days ago, he was promoted by Marquis Changping, he’s been promoted one level.”

Promoted one level? Combined with Tang Miaoling’s various actions, it seemed like she was showing her goodwill.

Ning Wanyin pondered.

“And your brother, he also sent a letter from Nanshan. He’s recovering well now, you don’t need to worry about us, the most important thing is for you to be well.”

Cheng Shi had one son and one daughter.

Her eldest son had drowned years ago, he was only half alive after being rescued. He was sent to Nanshan to recuperate with the divine doctor, and it had been many years.

Perhaps her son’s experience scared Cheng Shi, she was extremely cautious when raising Ning Wanyin. She would often wake up in the middle of the night and go to Ning Wanyin’s room to check if she was sleeping soundly before she could rest assured.

Cheng Shi’s excessive caution had some influence on Ning Wanyin’s personality. She knew that her mother’s greatest wish was for her to live safely.

She also valued her life very much, to make her mother feel at ease.

The mother and daughter talked about some intimate things.

Until it was getting late, news came from the hunting ground ahead that the Emperor was already on his way back, Cheng Shi and the old lady left, leaving Ning Zi Yin behind.

Ning Zi Yin re-dressed and put on a new soft jade brocade dress, with two butterfly hairpins in her hair.

She also carefully painted a beautiful painting.

Ning Wanyin cooperated by painting a painting that was inferior to hers, then she went to the quiet room to change and dress up, instructing Lianrui to dress plainly.

“Miss, why are you helping Miss Zi Yin so much!” Lianrui was full of resentment, “The old lady favors the fourth branch, she always uses our Marquisate’s benefits for them, even when you became favored in the palace, the fourth branch was jealous and wanted to compete for your favor!”

The old lady had two sons, the eldest was Ning Wanyin’s father, and the youngest was Ning Zi Yin’s father, the fourth in line.

The second and third

The fourth branch was a concubine.

The old lady always favored her younger son.

Even the title was biased towards the fourth branch. Although it was a system of primogeniture, if the eldest son had any faults, such as being unfilial and losing his right to inherit the title, or dying of illness, or having no heir and adopting a nephew, there were many twists and turns in this.

In the end, it was settled because Ning Wanyin’s fourth uncle died.

How did he die?

Because he wanted to get rid of Ning Wanyin’s father.

But the position of the Countess of Shou’an could only be her mother’s.

“Her father is dead, let her be.” Ning Wanyin sat in front of the dressing table, saying calmly.

Lianrui was still depressed.

Ning Wanyin smiled lightly and comforted her, “Don’t worry, she won’t enter the palace.”

Just now, when they said goodbye, her mother hugged her and cried.

She said, “Wanyin, other concubines have their families to help them, the Ning family not only can’t help you, but they also force you to do things you don’t want to do, making your life in the palace even harder.”

Mother was wrong.

It was precisely because she had seen so much intrigue since she was young that she was better at navigating the palace than those ladies who had a smooth and easy life in the first half of their lives.

Even if they had elders to guide them and families to protect them, they would still have to step into the pits on the road of life to know the pain.

For Ning Wanyin, this palace was like a bigger Marquisate.

The road seemed harder.

But she had more cards in her hand.

…

In the evening, Helian Qi returned to the palace with Consort Zhuang.

Consort Zhuang knew that Ning Wanyin was living with Helian Qi, but she was even more dissatisfied, she insisted on being with Helian Qi, finding an excuse to send Ning Wanyin away.

Did she really think that the Emperor allowed her to live with him, and she could monopolize his favor?

Both of them had just returned from the mountains, their military attire was still on, carrying the scent of the scorching sun and dust, they saw two women kneeling in front of the main hall to greet them.

“Get up.” Helian Qi waved his hand casually.

Consort Zhuang deliberately instructed Ning Wanyin, “We’ve just returned from hunting, we need to bathe and change clothes, go and arrange it.”

She was a high-ranking concubine, so her words were naturally reasonable.

Ning Wanyin accepted without question, bowing, “Yes, I’ll go and prepare now.”

After saying that, Ning Wanyin left.

Ning Zi Yin, who was encountering this situation for the first time, was left standing there, not knowing what to do.

Consort Zhuang also noticed her, she asked curiously, “Who is this?”

This woman was dressed up in a flamboyant way, clearly not a maid.

Ning Wanyin had just reached the palace gate when she turned around and bowed, “I’m negligent, I forgot to introduce her. This is my cousin, she came to visit me with Grandmother today, we were discussing painting, and we lost track of time… Cousin, you can go back to the warm pavilion.”

Ning Zi Yin had finally met the Emperor, how could she leave? Helian Qi was handsome and charming, wasn’t he better than the young masters her grandmother had arranged for her?

She hadn’t shown her painting to the Emperor yet, how could she attract his attention?

“I heard that Your Majesty often discusses painting with my sister, today I happened to paint with my sister, please, Your Majesty, give us your opinion.” Ning Zi Yin stole a glance at Helian Qi, her face flushed slightly.