CHAPTER 482: CHAPTER 482: LEAVING THE PALACE ONE AFTER ANOTHER

Then, Lin Wanyi personally bent down to help Consort Qian up.

She spoke to her.

"Consort, you are too serious. Since you have decided to leave, I wish you and the Third Prince a smooth journey."

Lin Wanyi didn’t say any polite words either.

Not because she disdained it, but because she felt there was no need.

The two had no interactions before and there would be none in the future.

At this moment, what is the point of pretending to be close sisters?

Consort Qian felt the same way.

Seeing the Emperor not moving, yet standing behind Lin Wanyi.

Consort Qian also looked on with full admiration.

But she did not feel jealous.

She never coveted or expected the Emperor’s favor.

She cared more about the real things than the intangibles.

Such as the Third Prince’s recognition of her.

Such as planning for the future.

Thinking of this, Consort Qian lowered her head.

She hid the glint in her eyes in her heart.

Then she spoke.

"Thank you, Your Highness. Since we’ve said our goodbyes, I shall return to pack my luggage. There’s much to take, and the palace is still in disarray."

"Yes, take care, Consort."

After Consort Qian exited, Lin Wanyi turned to look at the Emperor.

She saw him staring at Consort Qian’s departing figure for a while, and was quite curious.

The Emperor was still in power, yet Consort Qian followed the Third Prince to his fiefdom.

Is this appropriate?

She didn’t know everything the Empress Dowager had arranged, so she was naturally quite puzzled.

The Emperor retracted his gaze and looked at Lin Wanyi.

He joked with a smile.

"I have no feelings for her; it’s better she’s gone, at least I don’t have to deal with her."

He found a seat and continued.

"With her gone, the palace is quieter, but in the traveling palace, there’s still the sick Princess Consort Ying, the imprisoned Du Changzai and He Changzai. I have already sent someone to inquire, Princess Consort Ying doesn’t want to leave, but Du Changzai and He Changzai want to leave the palace."

"Leave the palace?"

Leaving the palace with the status of a royal concubine might not be better than staying in the palace.

"Yes, make up an excuse, let them die in an accident, leave the palace with a new identity, as for how to live after that, it has nothing to do with me."

Although the Emperor said this, he still instructed Dong Yuzhong to prepare silver notes worth 5,000 taels each for them.

This money, though not extravagant wealth.

But in another place, to buy a home and save for old age, it is enough.

Especially for He Changzai, as her family is of merchants.

Presumably, she has some skills in making money since childhood, so there’s no worry of starving.

Lin Wanyi thought for a moment and added.

"I have some private savings, which can be given to them as some support. Outside the palace, especially being associated with deceased people with palace ties, they can’t return home, and who out there doesn’t have difficult times, so having money on hand is better."

She then asked Xia An to bring a silver note of 3,000 taels.

1,500 taels for each person.

Not much, but the Emperor saw this and felt deeply comforted.

As for He Changzai, he never favored her, so she was better off.

But Du Changzai once carried a child for him.

If not for her strong desire to leave the palace, the Emperor planned to shelter her in the traveling palace for life.

"Alright, I will have Dong Yuzhong convey your sentiment."

Lin Wanyi nodded.

Besides that, she couldn’t do more.

Ten days later, as Shengjing City entered the hottest days of June.

A piece of news stirred up the court furiously.

The Second Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Prince, and Sixth Prince all received fiefs and titles.

The Second Prince was titled Han King, with his fief in Yunzhou.

The Third Prince was titled Spirit King, with his fief in Ce State.

The Fourth Prince was titled Prince Pei, with his fief in Changzhou.

The Sixth Prince was titled Prince Xiao, with his fief in Huazhou.

Such extensive fiefdom granting and title designating have already made the Emperor’s intentions clear to the world.

There are currently three daughters and five sons in the imperial family.

The remaining four have fiefs and titles.

Only the Fifth Prince does not.

The implication is more than obvious.

Some court officials began eagerly building connections while others watched calmly waiting for official announcements.

All awaited with anticipation.

Indeed, the next day, another imperial edict was issued by the Emperor.

The Fifth Prince was appointed Crown Prince, and two words were added to Consort Yin Ning’s title.

She was honored as Consort Xiaoxian Yin Ning.

Such lengthy word additions left not only the officials but even the Empress Dowager amused and puzzled.

Not honoring her as Empress, but instead adding to the title of consort.

Why bother?

But she was old and didn’t want to meddle in these affairs anymore.

Now that the Third Prince and Consort Qian were sent away, she planned to find a suitable day to return to Wutai Mountain after the Fourth Prince returned from the Northwest.

So she simply pretended not to hear or speak a word.

Seeing the Empress Dowager silent, those looking for trouble fell quiet before making a fuss.

Meanwhile, the news spread quickly across Da Wei.

The Fourth Prince on his way back learned about it.

Lin Xingzhi, recovering secretly from his wounds, learned about it.

Lin Muzhi, studying diligently at the Imperial College awaiting exams, learned about it.

Members of the Dong Family and the Lin Family first branch learned about it.

Of course, not excluding the retired Prime Minister Lin in his hometown.

When he heard the news, a wide smile appeared on his lips.

"Ah, truly worthy of the Lin family descendant, one day the hidden dragon will certainly emerge to soar!"

Beside him, Lin Runzhi, over two years old, was filled with curiosity.

Since the family left the capital, Lin Runzhi was raised by Prime Minister Lin himself.

Therefore, he received early enlightenment.

He was clever and quick-witted.

Now he spoke fluently and recognized a few simple characters.

If not for his small age and insufficient wrist strength, Prime Minister Lin might have started teaching him calligraphy by now.

"Grandfather, what does it mean for the hidden dragon to emerge?"

Prime Minister Lin affectionately looked at the grandson he had raised and taught.

Although deeply contemplating, he chose not to reveal it.

"Runzhi is still young, grandfather will explain it to you in the future."

"Oh, alright!"

Lin Runzhi nodded, then continued to listen to his grandfather’s lessons.

Prime Minister Lin, who once served as an Imperial Tutor, naturally knew how to educate a child.

Here, the rare warmth of family affection was evident between grandfather and grandson.

After the matter of the Crown Prince settled, the Third Prince and his mother Consort Qian left without much disturbance.

After all, what happened to the Northwest Liu Family and Imperial Concubine Yi, they all knew.

Spending effort on the Third Prince, who had no chance of ascension, they were not fools.

Thus, on the road to Ce State, the Third Prince felt somewhat downhearted.

But beside him, Consort Qian was full of schemes.

One day, she would surely return to Shengjing City.

Everything that belonged to her son would eventually return to its rightful owner.