The Imperial Concubine is the Most Favored in the Harem

The elite Royal Guard, under his command, was one of the two most formidable military forces in Great Wei.

These two legendary armies were known as the Twin Pillars of Wei. One was the Northwest Army, passed down through generations of the Marquis of the West, and had long been under the stewardship of the Liu family since the time of the founding ancestors. Now, five generations later, the current Marquis of the West served as the supreme commander, having grown up amid the harsh conditions of military life. With over six decades of service, his battle honors were unmatched and his military exploits legendary.

He commanded an imposing force of six hundred thousand troops stationed across the sixteen prefectures of the northwest, forming an unbreakable line of defense against the barbarian tribes of the North and the Western Xirong. Many of his sons and clansmen occupied key positions within the ranks of the army.

Among the common folk, they were often referred to simply as the Liu Marquis Army.

The other force was the Royal Guard—only two hundred thousand strong, but handpicked from thousands. Each soldier was a veteran who had survived countless blood-soaked battles. Though smaller in number, they were no less fearsome than the core of the Northwest Army.

Stationed in Huazhou, the Royal Guard served as the bulwark defending the capital of Shengjing and the fertile plains surrounding it. In all these years, they had never allowed war to so much as graze the city's walls.

One to the north, the other to the south—they stood together as the Twin Pillars of Great Wei.

For the hot-blooded young men of Great Wei, earning a place in either of these two armies was considered a lifetime's highest honor, a badge of glory.

At the sound of the Fourth Prince's hearty voice, many among the audience turned their heads toward the lake. The surface of Shounan Lake teemed with people—the dragon boat race was clearly about to begin.

It was a grand event.

And this year's celebration was the grandest yet.

The teams were divided by color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and white. Each contestant wore a cloth band tied around their upper arm to indicate their team, and matching tassels hung from the bows of the dragon boats to distinguish them.

Lin Wanyi craned her neck, trying to get a better view, but the distance was too great. She could barely make out the dragon boats, let alone her brother's figure.

Her anxious expression didn't escape the emperor's notice.

With a light cough, he suddenly spoke, "Fourth Uncle, watching from here doesn't quite do the scene justice. Why don't we move to the front?"

The Fourth Prince slapped his thigh with delight. "Excellent! Your servant shall accompany Your Majesty!"

The emperor smiled and turned to the gathered nobles. "This is a celebration, not a formal audience. Those who wish to watch up close may do so freely."

He then led the way outside.

From the terrace of the pavilion, the view opened wide. Standing by the carved balustrades, one could see every detail on the young rowers' faces—even the resolve in their eyes.

The emperor placed both hands on the railing, his gaze sweeping across the scene before him. Watching the youth of Wei in all their spirited glory, a rare light shone in his eyes—filled with lofty ambition.

Not to be left behind, Noble Consort Lin stood gracefully and addressed the others with warm composure. "Since His Majesty has spoken, let us go and enjoy the view as well."

She was the first to follow the emperor, joined soon after by Consort Yi, Consort Lan, the Fourth Prince's Princess Consort, and the other ladies.

With the leaders paving the way, Lin Wanyi seized her chance. She quickly rose to her feet and joined the procession.

Fortunately, the terrace was long enough to accommodate everyone.

Soon enough, Lin Wanyi found her brother among the blue-clad team members. That single glimpse hit her harder than she had expected.

Once, they had seen each other every day, and parting seemed impossible. Now, seeing him from a distance—his silhouette across the water—her eyes stung, and her throat tightened.

Thankfully, she had brought a round silk fan. Holding it to her face, she discreetly wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes, stifling a quiet sob before trying to regain her composure.

Mu Lanchun, ever by her side, noticed her odd expression and asked with a hint of concern, "What's wrong, Sister Lin?"

"My eyes are sensitive to the wind," Lin Wanyi answered softly. "It's nothing serious."

Mu Lanchun chuckled. "That sounds just like my grandmother. I always thought only the elderly wept from a bit of wind."

Lin Wanyi offered a faint smile but didn't respond.

At that moment, Lin Xingzhi—her brother—was scanning the terrace, searching anxiously for her.

Standing beside him was a delicate-looking young man with refined features and a surprisingly composed demeanor. "Brother Heshong, are you sure your sister is up there? I don't see her."

Heshong was Lin Xingzhi's childhood name, used only by those closest to him.

The speaker was none other than Jiang Huanqing, the only heir to the disgraced Earl of Rongchang.

Though only seventeen, he had the bearing of someone far older.

Once a noble household of prestige, the Rongchang family had long since fallen from grace. Years ago, they had been engaged to the powerful Prince Zhan's family, but scandal struck during a mourning period when the Earl took favor with a concubine. The engagement was broken with harsh words, and Prince Zhan declared that the Rongchang family would never rise again—not in three generations.

Now, the once-mighty household was down to just one heir, and his future was bleak. Yet somehow, Jiang Huanqing and Lin Xingzhi had become fast friends—two lost souls clinging to hope.

When Lin Xingzhi heard that the dragon boat festival would allow him to see his sister, he had begged and pleaded until Jiang Huanqing arranged a way in.

As Jiang had put it, "A half-dead camel is still bigger than a horse. Getting you into a rowing team isn't too difficult."

"Of course she's here," Lin Xingzhi replied confidently. "She's one of His Majesty's ladies now. She should be present at a celebration like this."

Then, as if guided by fate, his eyes landed on her.

"There she is!"

He pointed across the lake.

Lin Wanyi spotted the gesture. Their eyes met across Shounan Lake—no words were spoken, but everything was understood.

With the emperor present, everyone around them was busy calculating how best to impress. This was, after all, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch the emperor's eye.

Lin Xingzhi didn't care about any of that.

They had tried so many ways to contact Wanyi in the palace, all to no avail. Now, finally able to see her, how could he let the moment pass?

Lin Wanyi longed to run to him and speak freely, but she knew it was impossible.

Still, she silently willed him to seize the moment. Even if he couldn't soar into the sky, perhaps today he could plant the seed of future success—leave some mark, however small.

They were siblings—separated by walls, but never in heart.

Meanwhile, Noble Lady Chu was an altogether different sight.

Today, her every glance was filled with haughty pride. The feud with Lin Wanyi seemed all but forgotten as she gazed at the man below with undisguised excitement.

"Look! That's my brother!"

She beamed as if her brother were a god descending from the heavens.