After what had happened last night, he wouldn't leave the person behind to fend for herself.
The maid standing guard at the palace gate saw Lu Huaijin and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Highness, may you be in good health. The princess was still talking about Your Highness when she got up this morning, and now Your Highness has come."
As she spoke, the maid pushed open the palace gate and went in cheerfully to announce his arrival.
Lu Huaijin, with a cold and aloof expression, stepped over the threshold and walked in.
Lin Wanyu followed closely behind. After Lu Huaijin was seated, she obediently stood behind him.
There seemed to be the scent of benzoin incense wafting in the palace. The fragrance was subtle yet lingering, making one feel drowsy.
A quarter of an hour later, a maid in a cyan silk dress supported a noble and elegant lady out of the inner palace.
Lu Huaijin stood up and bowed with a calm expression. "Mother."
Lin Wanyu's heart skipped a beat. Not knowing what kind of salute to perform, she simply walked around to Lu Huaijin's side, knelt down on the ground, and bowed deeply.
"Paying respects to the princess."
He Shulan, still supported by the maid's hand and not yet seated, saw this scene. A smile immediately appeared on her noble face.
She walked to the main seat and sat down, saying in a deep voice, "Raise your head!"
Lin Wanyu knew this was addressed to her. She propped herself up and raised her head, with beads of nervous sweat breaking out on her forehead.
He Shulan looked her over carefully and said gently, "You're truly a beauty. What's your name?"
Lin Wanyu lowered her eyes and replied truthfully, "My name is Wanyu, Your Highness."
Given her current awkward situation, it was always right to follow the way others addressed themselves.
"Wanyu?"
The Wang family was really generous to have chosen such a beautiful and talented girl. Weren't they afraid that their daughter would be outshone when she came later?
He Shulan looked up at Lu Huaijin sitting beside her. Her willow eyebrows furrowed slightly. "This name is not good. How about following the naming convention of the maids in the mansion and calling you Chunyu?"
"Mother, there's no need to worry. I think the name Wanyu is quite suitable."
He Shulan had intended to teach Lin Wanyu a lesson, warning her not to be presumptuous just because she had won Lu Huaijin's favor. But Lu Huaijin didn't appreciate her efforts.
Since that incident, the relationship between mother and son had become much more distant.
Over the years, she had tried to make amends, but Lu Huaijin had always remained cold and aloof towards her.
Now that there was finally a girl Lu Huaijin took a fancy to, for the sake of their fragile mother - son relationship, she had to indulge him a bit.
"If you say it's good, then it's good."
"Now that you're serving in the heir's chambers, you must be dutiful and put the heir's interests first. Don't overstep your boundaries. Do you understand?"
He Shulan knew and had agreed to the Wang family's act of sending a girl to her son.
She knew the Wang family's intentions well. They were just afraid that their daughter would be at a disadvantage after marriage, and worried that there would be too many concubines in the mansion and their daughter would have no close confidants. So they sent this girl over in advance to take a look.
After all, she was of low - born status. If her son liked her, he could keep her. No one could say anything.
Lin Wanyu knelt down and replied, "I'll follow the princess's teachings."
After she finished speaking, Lu Huaijin stood up and said calmly, "If mother has nothing else to say, I'll take my leave. There are still some matters in the military camp. Also, please mother not send me any tonics in the future. I'm in good health."
Back at Yuncheng Residence, Lu Huaijin ordered Sichen to arrange for Lin Wanyu to stay in the Huanhua Pavilion near the main hall. After giving the order, he strode out of the door with another guard named Chuncheng.
The Huanhua Pavilion was separated from the main hall by a wall. The yard was not large, looking like an annex to the main hall.
Sichen escorted Lin Wanyu to the door and said in a deep voice, "Please stay here for the next few days. If there's no urgent matter, don't go out."
Lin Wanyu was a bit puzzled but still agreed.
Pushing open the door, Lin Wanyu looked at the place that was many times larger than her previous residence. She couldn't tell what she was feeling.
Now it seemed that Lu Huaijin wouldn't let her go back so soon. She could only wait patiently for the upcoming grand wedding. After the girl from the Wang family arrived, she would find an opportunity to leave the mansion.
No matter how good the prince's mansion was, it wasn't a place for someone like her.
There was no one around at this moment, so Lin Wanyu relaxed the tense string in her heart a bit. Just as she was about to lie down on the couch beside her, the yard gate was suddenly pushed open. A gorgeously dressed woman entered with her maids.
"Sister really has good tricks. You've only been in the mansion for a short time, and you've already climbed into the heir's bed."
When Lin Wanyu heard the voice and turned around, the visitor had already walked through the yard and reached the door.
The woman's peach - blossom eyes were now full of meanness and contempt.
Just from her words, Lin Wanyu knew that this woman came with ill intentions. But this was the prince's mansion, and she didn't want to cause any trouble.
"Sister, what are you talking about? It's just that His Highness took pity on me for the sake of the Wang family."
She lowered her stance and looked submissive. Under normal circumstances, no matter how angry others were, they wouldn't hit someone who was smiling.
But Lin Wanyu underestimated the resentment of the woman in front of her. With a loud "pop", Lin Wanyu was knocked to the ground uncontrollably.
Her cheek was burning with pain.
"What do you think you are? How dare you show off in front of me?"
Feng Yunyun looked down at the beautiful girl in front of her. The more she looked, the more she wanted to scratch her face with a hairpin.
She had been in the mansion for almost a year, but she rarely even saw Lu Huaijin's face. As soon as this little slut came, not only did she win Lu Huaijin's favor and spend the night in the main hall, but she also showed up in front of the princess and got a separate yard.
She was just a low - born slut, yet she had more prestige than she, the illegitimate daughter of the Minister's Mansion. How could she swallow this humiliation?
Lin Wanyu frowned tightly and propped herself up. Her soft voice turned cold. "Sister, you've misunderstood me."
Feng Yunyun sneered. "Misunderstood you? Hehe, today I not only misunderstand you, but I'm also going to beat you to death, you little vixen."
If she tolerated this vixen now, there would be no place for her in the future.
She was just a powerless maid. Even if Lu Huaijin blamed her later, out of respect for the Minister's Mansion, he would probably just scold her a few times.
Thinking of this, Feng Yunyun stroked her nails and calmly ordered, "You two, grab her and throw her into the well in the yard."
As soon as she finished speaking, the two maids standing behind Feng Yunyun rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward. They grabbed Lin Wanyu from both sides and dragged her outside with force.
Lin Wanyu never expected this woman to be so vicious. It was as easy for her to kill someone as to crush an ant.
"Sister, aren't you afraid that His Highness will hold you accountable? He ordered me to be placed here, and I'll be dead in just one day. A living life. Won't His Highness conduct a thorough investigation?"
Feng Yunyun sneered and turned around to follow them out. She said indifferently, "Lives also have different statuses. A slut like you is not worthy of His Highness's thorough investigation."