First Meeting with the Emperor

Wrapped in a soft gauze, thinking of the rules of serving the emperor that the bedroom nanny had said before, Lin Wanyi was not very happy in her heart, but she did not show it on her face. Being carried into the inner hall naked and wrapped in a brocade quilt was a great honor in the eyes of others, but she felt it hurt her self-esteem. Unexpectedly, the bedroom nanny brought a set of palace dresses made of tribute satin and snow-white, and helped Lin Wanyi dress up.

"Mammy, didn't you say..."

Before Lin Wanyi could finish her words, the bedroom nanny said with some approval in her eyes.

"The emperor specially allowed the young lady to serve in palace dresses. This is a rare favor. The young lady is really blessed."

Lin Wanyi smiled and did not respond.

Others thought it was a blessing from heaven, but she felt that the tree that stood out in the forest would be destroyed by the wind.

The emperor's favor to her was either for Prime Minister Lin or for Concubine Lin. For her, if she was allowed to receive such a favor, she would inevitably be excluded in the future.

But this was not her business, so she could only let the palace maid help her dress.

Nanny Siqin originally wanted to put makeup on her, but Lin Wanyi was born with outstanding appearance, and the less makeup she put on, the more clear her beauty was.

How does the saying go, the lotus comes out of clear water, naturally without any decoration.

So, after applying only a little bit of moisturizing gel, Lin Wanyi was sent to the inner hall of Qian'an Hall.

The inner hall was larger than the side hall just now, and everything was top-quality treasures. The furniture made of nanmu was arranged in a staggered manner, and a faint incense was burning in the kirin gilded copper furnace in the middle.

Nanny Siqin led her to sit at the 18th table, and then quietly retreated.

It would be a lie to say that she was not curious. This was the place where the most distinguished people in the entire Wei Dynasty lived. Lin Wanyi turned her head and looked around. It must be said that it really exuded the style of an emperor.

In the Wei Dynasty, bright yellow and black are both symbols of the emperor. Ordinary people cannot use them indiscriminately. Even if someone like Concubine Lin is second to none, the yellow she uses is at most chrysanthemum yellow. In the Qian'an Palace, bright yellow is used to the extreme. The most eye-catching thing is, of course, the bright yellow curtain of the wide dragon bed behind the nanmu door with the swastika brocade. It looks like a cicada wing gauze, looming and unclear.

Just thinking about it, I heard footsteps coming from outside, hitting Lin Wanyi's heart one by one.

Her heart, which was not nervous at first, suddenly pounded, and she could only swallow her saliva slightly to relieve her emotions.

" Lin Wanyi greets His Majesty, please be safe."

She stood up, walked forward twice quickly, and then knelt on the round flower brocade blanket to pay her respects to the emperor.

This is the rule in the palace.

Soon, the pair of black brocade embroidered golden dragon boots stood in front of her. When she raised her eyes slightly and saw it, it would be a lie for Lin Wanyi to say that she was not nervous.

When she was in the Prime Minister's Mansion, the highest-ranking official she had ever seen was her grandfather.

Her grandfather was serious and taciturn, so she didn't know what the emperor in front of her would be like.

She knelt down quickly just now, so she didn't see the emperor's appearance clearly. Instead, the man seemed to look at her for a moment, and then spoke calmly.

"Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Following the rules, Lin Wanyi kept nodding her head, lowering her eyebrows and looking at the brocade blanket on the ground, very respectful.

"Don't be restrained, raise your head and let me see."

As soon as these words fell, Lin Wanyi pursed her lips lightly, and her body straightened up a lot, but her eyes were still drooping, reflecting the gentleness that a concubine should have.

It must be said that anyone who sees Lin Wanyi's appearance will be surprised, even the emperor who has seen countless people.

"The Prime Minister's Mansion has a good feng shui."

Lin Wanyi didn't know how to answer for a while after hearing this.

The two of them were sitting and standing, and although the distance was only three or two steps, it seemed that there was a layer of gauze between them, making it difficult to get close.

According to the instructions of the Nanny in Charge of the Bedroom, Lin Wanyi should show more kindness at this moment, so that the emperor can always remember her.   

But Lin Wanyi's feet were as heavy as a thousand pounds, and her mouth seemed to be sealed, so she could only stand there quietly and let the emperor look her up and down.

"How old are you this year?"

"I will be seventeen in June."

"What do you like to do on weekdays?"

"My mother is good at embroidery, so I learned some from her."

"Can you read?"

"I know a few."

The emperor asked a question, and Lin Wanyi answered it. She didn't look like a concubine who was about to be favored, but like a student answering questions in a school.

"I remember that when Concubine Lin first entered the palace, she had a very clever mouth. Obviously, you are sisters, but your mouth is a little stupid."

After saying this, he seemed to chuckle, not loud, but in Lin Wanyi's heart, she felt that this emperor was a difficult master to serve. There is a world of difference between a concubine and a imperial concubine. Let alone being stupid, I am afraid that you have to be inferior to others in everything to live a peaceful life.

But she couldn't say all these, so she could only answer after thinking about it.

"Your Majesty is right. The beauty of the imperial concubine is incomparable to that of a maid."

After hearing her "sincere" answer, the emperor was speechless.

Dong Yuzhong was the chief eunuch beside the emperor. When he heard this, he immediately stepped forward and whispered.

"Your Majesty's did not eat much. Do you need to summon them to send some more?"

"No, I'm not hungry."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Lin Wanyi's hands folded in front of her body gently pressing her stomach.

The emperor would naturally not be hungry, but since she went out, she had only eaten two pieces of cakes to fill her stomach, and now her front abdomen is close to her back.

But in front of the emperor, especially the concubine who was just about to sleep with him, how could she dare to say that she was hungry.

So she could only bear it.

Fortunately, she was not a greedy person, and she would find an opportunity to drink some tea later.

Her heart had already turned countless corners, but her face still looked humble and pleasing.

"Forget it, let the imperial kitchen bring some light porridge."

"Yes, I obey your command."

Soon, someone from the imperial kitchen brought a white porcelain cup. The lid was not opened yet, but the fragrance went straight into Lin Wanyi's nose.

The palace servants who were serving knew the rules. After the food was delivered, they quickly retreated. Soon, only Lin Wanyi and the emperor were left in the inner hall.

The white porcelain cup was placed on the eight-immortal table. The palace people had left, so the only one who came forward to serve the meal was Lin Wanyi.

"Are you hungry? Do you want some?"

Lin Wanyi's hand that was scooping porridge suddenly paused. The fish fillet porridge in front of her was cooked just right and looked delicious, but the nanny in charge of the bedroom had never said that she could eat at the same table with the emperor. If she agreed, would it break the rules?

So she had to tell the truth.

"I haven't had dinner yet, so I am a little hungry, but I am of low status and dare not eat with Your Majesty."

"You are honest."

The sitting emperor's tone was a little gentle, and it seemed that Lin Wanyi heard a slight laugh, not knowing whether it was an illusion.