"Miss, miss, this maid heard something."
Mo Cao took three steps in two and rushed back to the Mingya Pavilion. She strode all the way into Lan Xin's bedroom. Her voice was soft but could hardly conceal her excitement.
Lan Xin was applying makeup in front of the mirror. Hearing Mo Cao's words, she immediately turned around. The Yunxiang powder in her hand tilted, and she accidentally ate a mouthful of it.
"Pah, pah, pah."
She meant to spit it out, but with a big movement of her hand, the Yunxiang powder scattered on her face like a cloud, instantly making her look like a snowman.
Mo Yun was startled. She quickly took the powder from Lan Xin's hand and carefully wiped Lan Xin's face clean with a handkerchief.
Both Mo Yun and Mo Cao were Lan Xin's personal maids.
Seeing Mo Cao so excited and causing her to get a face full of powder, Lan Xin complained a bit.
"You little hussy. I sent you to eavesdrop, but you're so loud. What did you hear? Don't keep me in suspense."
Lan Xin sent Mo Cao to find out the news because her father and mother had gone to the Marquis Mansion without her knowing. She was worried that her father might want to bring Lan Miao back.
"Sorry, miss. This maid was just too happy."
Mo Cao stuck out her tongue when she realized she might have caused trouble. She quickly came over to redo Lan Xin's hair. She had closed the door when she came in. There were only the three of them in the room, but she lowered her voice even more.
"Miss, this maid was eavesdropping under Master's window just now. I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't hear it all. I not only heard some news about the woman from the Marquis Mansion, but also some news about you..."
"Tell me about my news first." Lan Xin frowned.
"Master seems to intend to send you into the palace."
"Really?"
Lan Xin was overjoyed.
Mo Cao smiled with her eyes curved, "This maid heard Master and Madam mention that there will be a noble in the palace from our mansion, and then they mentioned your name. Since you're the only unmarried young lady in the mansion, doesn't that mean they want you to enter the palace?"
Lan Xin's eyes sparkled.
She was stunned for a moment.
Going into the palace as a concubine was such a great honor. Although the current emperor was much older than her, he was in his prime, with outstanding appearance, temperament, and ability.
At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet last time, she caught a glimpse of the emperor in the crowd from afar. The emperor was handsome, tall, and imposing. She never dared to think that she would catch the emperor's eye and enter the palace to serve him.
If she was lucky enough to give birth to a son or daughter for the emperor, her future would surely be bright, and she would outshine all her sisters and brothers.
"Miss? Miss?"
Lan Xin was sitting in a daze in front of the mirror, smiling foolishly from time to time. Mo Cao and Mo Yun had to remind her.
Lan Xin raised her eyebrows, "Shut up. I wasn't distracted." The corners of her mouth curled up, and there was an uncontrollable pride in her eyes. "I'm naturally beautiful. Entering the palace will surely lead to smooth progress."
In the Jing Dynasty, the imperial selection was usually held once every three years, but the current emperor had changed it to once every five years. Each time, very few were selected.
So court officials would occasionally recommend excellent women to enter the palace, but of course, they had to be liked by the emperor.
After hearing Mo Cao's words, Lan Xin naturally thought that the emperor had also noticed her when she saw him at the birthday banquet.
"Quickly, tell me what else you heard?"
Lan Xin couldn't keep the smile off her face and asked again.
This time, Mo Cao sounded a bit dejected.
"This maid also heard that the widow from the Marquis Mansion is coming back... back. Master went to the Marquis Mansion today just for this matter." Mo Cao smacked her lips, and her tone was somewhat complaining.
"What?"
Lan Xin slapped the table in disbelief.
The excitement in her heart just now instantly disappeared. Her father really wanted to bring Lan Miao back? Why? She should have stayed in the Marquis Mansion to observe her widowhood for the rest of her life. Anyone who got involved with her would be unlucky.
"Lan Miao is old. She's been a widow for five years, and now she wants to divorce the Marquis Mansion. She's really not ashamed." Just thinking about it, she angrily threw the gold hairpin in her hand on the table, making a loud noise and disturbing the quiet boudoir.
Mo Yun and Mo Cao didn't dare to say a word for a while.
"Yeah, I really don't understand what Master is thinking."
Mo Cao carefully continued. After thinking for a while, she added, "Madam also seems not to want to bring the third young lady back, but Master seems to have made up his mind."
"..."
Lan Xin felt a sudden blockage in her heart.
It was really a mixture of joy and sorrow.
She couldn't help but think that if the matter of Lan Miao's intention to divorce the Marquis Mansion became widely known, would it affect her reputation? How would others view the daughters of the Lan Mansion?
If it reached the emperor's ears, would he still let her enter the palace?
The more Lan Xin thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
Lan Miao was really shameless.
She had been a widow for five years, and the Marquis Mansion had treated her well. Why was she still thinking about divorce and remarriage?
"Hurry up. I'm going to find mother. We can't let them bring Lan Miao back."
Lan Xin suddenly stood up, and her ear - drops jingled.
The scene changed, and Lan Xin had already arrived at Qin's bedroom. She couldn't wait to enter. She saw Qin taking off a pair of green ear - drops by the window. The sunlight made the ear - drops shine brightly.
Lan Xin raised her voice.
"Mother, are you really going to bring Lan Miao back? No, isn't she ashamed? What face does a widow have to come back?" At home, without the restraint outside, Lan Xin's spoiled nature became more prominent. She pestered Qin for an explanation.
"How do you know?"
Qin gave her a cold look. Intimidated by her mother's authority, Lan Xin lowered her voice a bit. She sat on the beauty's couch by the window and played with the long pillow.
"Daughter guessed. You and father both went to the Marquis Mansion today. I can guess what you want to do."
Lan Xin rolled her eyes and didn't dare to say that she had sent someone to eavesdrop. She flattered her mother coquettishly.
Qin's eyebrows were cold. After taking off the ear - drops, she walked up to Lan Xin and tapped the tip of her nose. "Since you already know, what else is there to ask? Your father is like this. You should know that once he makes a decision, ten horses can't pull him back."
"He could leave Lan Miao in the Marquis Mansion to be a widow five years ago and ignore her for all these years. Now that he wants to bring her back, no one can change his mind. Don't go to your father, or you'll just make him unhappy."
Looking at her inexperienced daughter, Qin sighed. Her eyebrows gradually softened, and she exhorted earnestly.
Lan Xin stopped all her small movements for a moment.
If she mentioned that she was going to enter the palace, her mother would surely know that she had sent the maid to eavesdrop. She might scold her again. She had to find another way.
Lan Xin lowered her head, and her eyes were rimmed with red.
"What about my marriage then?"
"What if someone mocks me because of Lan Miao's matter? She's so unchaste. Which good family would dare to marry into our family? Mother, you have to think about me."
Seeing her daughter crying in front of her, Qin frowned.
Although she had little contact with Lan Miao, she knew Lan Miao's character. Even though she was dissatisfied, she recognized Lan Miao's talent and beauty in her heart. If she compared Lan Miao with Lan Xin, Lan Xin really couldn't compare with Lan Miao in any aspect.
She disgustedly pushed away Lan Xin's hand.
"Your marriage will be discussed by your father and me. You should stop asking and don't worry. Just wait for your marriage in peace."