The Female Lead is Quite Unusual - Episode 60

When the eunuch delivering the imperial edict arrived, Lin Wan and her family were admiring an embroidered painting.

Lin Wan never expected that the women she had helped would gift her such an embroidery. Every woman from the Ten Thousand Flowers Workshop had contributed to this piece: the front displayed blooming flowers, while the back bore the embroiderers’ names.

These women had worked for over a month to complete it before the New Year and sent it to the Lin family.

The embroidery was exquisitely crafted; despite countless flowers, the surface remained smooth to the touch without a single loose thread.

Deeply moved, Mother Lin held Lin Wan’s hand and sighed repeatedly, “I used to think that if a woman never married, she would have no support and be doomed to a miserable life. But seeing what you’ve accomplished recently, I’ve come to realize that not marrying isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

“Even as a woman, you can become someone else’s pillar of strength.”

Listening to her mother’s words, Lin Wan felt a surge of joy. She had never expected any repayment from those unfortunate women; she had acted purely from her heart. Yet, despite their hardships, they still thought of repaying her.

Suffering itself isn’t worthy of praise, but the blossoms of kindness that grow from it will always move the heart.

Lin Wan began formulating her next plan, intending to expand the workshop and eventually open others in different locations.

Mother Lin fully supported her decision and enthusiastically offered to donate funds.

Just as everything seemed harmonious, the sudden announcement of the imperial consort selection list struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

Everyone in the Lin household was stunned: No one from their family had submitted Lin Wan’s name, so why did it appear on the list?

It was Father Lin, with his worldly experience, who reacted first. He discreetly slipped a substantial amount of silver to the eunuch to uncover the truth. The eunuch finally hinted.

“Your family indeed didn’t submit the name, but there is a minister in your clan who is eager to share His Majesty’s burdens.”

The eunuch spoke no further, only mentioning that the selected women were to gather and enter the palace on the eighth day of the second month after the New Year before taking his leave.

Father Lin went out to investigate the matter, while Lin Wan and her mother stayed home awaiting news. Though Lin Wan outwardly comforted her tearful mother, assuring her that everything would be fine, inwardly she felt lost.

She had never imagined entering the palace.

She had already charted her future path.

Yet now, with the imperial edict issued and her name clearly inscribed, defiance would bring the emperor’s wrath upon the entire Lin family.

Was she destined to spend the rest of her life within palace walls?

It was then that Lin Wan realized the darkness and ignorance of this era. Imperial authority loomed like a mountain over everyone, and those dwelling in its shadow could be swallowed at any moment.

Before long, Father Lin returned in a rage: he had uncovered the whole story.

It was the doing of the minister son of Third Uncle, the one who had lost his front teeth.

After their unpleasant parting that day, Third Uncle had stormed off in humiliation, spreading malicious gossip about Lin Wan’s family. When his son returned from his official duties, he naturally complained.

“It’s just an unmarriageable girl putting on airs. So, what if she has a bit of money? Does she think she’s worthy of princes and nobles?”

A casual remark from one person may be taken seriously by another. After learning that her father had fallen out with Lin Wan’s family, the minister, who had been worried about losing the Lin family’s financial support, suddenly had an idea.

In recent years, due to the chaos of war, most merchants had suffered losses. However, the Lin family, having their own escort agency, had managed to avoid significant damage.

The wealth accumulated by Old Master Lin over the years was estimated to be enough to fill nearly half of the depleted national treasury. With the new emperor now on the throne and deeply concerned about the treasury’s emptiness, the minister thought that if he suggested bringing Lin Wan into the palace as a low-ranking consort and granting Old Master Lin an honorary official title, it would be an opportunity too good for a merchant family to refuse.

Once Lin Wan entered the palace, no matter what, Old Master Lin would have to generously contribute to the treasury, thereby alleviating the urgent financial crisis.

As for the minister himself, by offering this solution to the emperor’s predicament, a promotion and a higher rank would surely be within reach.

Thus, the minister immediately returned to draft a memorial, stating that a wealthy relative in his clan had an unmarried daughter who wished to serve the emperor in the palace.

Little did anyone expect that the very clan relative who had been treated so generously in the past would be the one to harm the daughter!

Old Master Lin, whose health had only recently recovered, was so enraged upon learning the truth that he collapsed once again.

Lin Wan had to care for her ailing father while managing the family business. Within a few days, she had visibly lost weight.

She had always been emotionally steady. Even though this sudden imperial decree had completely disrupted her plans, she quickly accepted reality.

Now, hearing that Huang Fu was still in the rear palace and given her relationship with the new emperor, it was likely that Huang Fu still held authority over the palace affairs. However, as long as Lin Wan stayed out of the emperor’s sight and quietly served as a low-ranking palace maid, she might be able to wait out the five-year term and be released from the palace.

Even if she ended up trapped in the deep palace, she would deal with challenges as they came, worrying in advance wouldn’t solve anything.

The only person Lin Wan was truly concerned about was Sheng Qian.

Sheng Qian was still young and exceptionally beautiful. If she were to encounter danger, Lin Wan feared she wouldn’t be able to protect her in time once she was confined to the palace.

Therefore, after learning that she would enter the palace after the New Year, Lin Wan wrote a letter to Sheng Qian, who was once again escorting goods with Hu Yi, explaining the situation. She hoped Sheng Qian would return early so she could give her some advice.

By her calculations, the letter should have reached Sheng Qian by now. Moreover, before leaving, Sheng Qian had promised to return and celebrate the New Year with her. Yet, as the year drew to a close, Lin Wan still hadn’t received a reply from Sheng Qian.

Had something gone wrong?

Worried that something might have happened to Sheng Qian, Lin Wan sent another letter. This time, she finally received a reply.

Sheng Qian’s response was extremely brief.

“Wanwan, I’ve run into some trouble here. It’s a long story, and I won’t be able to return to celebrate the New Year with you for now. Take good care of yourself and don’t panic. I will always protect you.”

Reading Sheng Qian’s letter, Lin Wan felt both worried and amused: she didn’t know where Sheng Qian had picked up this habit of speaking like an adult despite her young age.

How could someone so young be the one to protect her?

Along with Sheng Qian’s reply came a large quantity of rare and invaluable medicinal herbs, including several that were urgently needed for her father’s recovery.

After taking the medicine, Old Master Lin’s health gradually improved.

Lin Wan wrote another letter, wanting to ask about the origin of the herbs, but fearing that Sheng Qian might be in a hurry or in trouble, she decided to urge her to return as soon as possible.

However, before the letter could reach Sheng Qian, news spread across the nation during the Minor New Year celebration. The newly appointed chieftain of the Leyi tribe revealed herself as the daughter of a palace consort who had been murdered by the treacherous concubine Huang Fu. Under the banner of purging the court and eliminating evil, she raised an army and marched toward the capital!

Amid the war, communication through the courier stations was severed, and Lin Wan’s letter simply couldn’t reach the Leyi tribe.

No one knew why the new chieftain chose this moment to rebel. After all, her soldiers, accustomed to the southern climate, were ill-suited for the harsh northern winter, hardly a wise decision.

But the Leyi tribe had spent years recuperating and building strength, and their accumulated power was not to be underestimated.

This was the first battle since the male lead, Gu Ze, ascended the throne, yet he showed no signs of panic. He quickly appointed generals to lead the troops into battle.

Lin Wan didn’t believe Gu Ze would lose.

After all, Gu Ze was the male lead, blessed with immense luck and favored by the world’s consciousness. Moreover, he commanded military forces on par with the Leyi tribe, and since childhood, the Prince of Yunyang had sent him to the army, where he earned a reputation as a young general with strategic prowess akin to a divine commander.

With the outbreak of war, Lin Wan couldn’t contact Sheng Qian and could only hope that Hu Yi would protect her in the chaos.

Clearly, Gu Ze also believed the forces he dispatched would not be defeated. After the New Year, he proceeded as usual, opening the palace gates to select new consorts.

Lin Wan had no choice but to entrust Sheng Qian to her parents and entered the palace with a heart full of anxiety.

She stood in the selection procession, keeping her head down and eyes lowered as she followed the crowd inward, hoping to remain as inconspicuous as possible and simply endure five years in the palace before leaving. But things did not go as planned. As soon as she took her place in the line, a commotion erupted up ahead.

“Where is Lin Wan?”

Lin Wan heard a woman’s voice asking.

The voice carried a smile, sounding extremely enthusiastic, yet Lin Wan instinctively sensed danger. She straightened her back, a chill running down her spine.

“Come quickly and pay respects to Consort Huang!”

The eunuch in charge, holding a register, beamed as he called Lin Wan out from the crowd and led her before a woman.

The woman stood at the center, surrounded by a retinue of palace maids.

She appeared to be in her late twenties, a smile on her face, with faint gold powder dusted beneath her eyes, giving her an exceptionally alluring look. Though the weather was still cold, she wore a light spring gown, a slender belt cinching her delicate waist. As she moved, the intricate layers of her skirt seemed to bloom like flowers.

This must be Huang Fu, right?

Uncertain of Huang Fu’s intentions, Lin Wan glanced at her before lowering her eyes, her mind filled with confusion: In this era, makeup trends favored elegance and subtlety, yet Huang Fu’s style diverged from the mainstream, seemingly blending elements of modern aesthetics.

What shocked Lin Wan even more was that Huang Fu also possessed 10% of the luck value!

How could this be?

To others, Lin Wan’s astonishment appeared as fear.

“Don’t be afraid, lift your head.”

Seeing Lin Wan bow her head like a timid quail, a flicker of contempt passed through Huang Fu’s eyes, though she spoke softly, “I’ve long heard you are a kind-hearted girl and wanted to meet you.”

With Huang Fu addressing her this way, Lin Wan could no longer keep her head down. She raised her eyes to look at Huang Fu once more, the 10% luck value still shone brightly above Huang Fu’s head!

“What a lovely young lady.” After clearly seeing Lin Wan’s face, the smile in Huang Fu’s eyes deepened as she stepped forward and took Lin Wan’s hand.

Huang Fu’s hand was extremely cold, and a chill ran through Lin Wan at her touch, causing her to instinctively shiver.

“I feel like we’ve hit it off right away today,” Huang Fu said, patting Lin Wan’s hand with a smile despite the varied looks from the others. “From now on, you’ll stay in my Sandalwood Palace. I will make sure to introduce you to His Majesty as soon as possible.”

Lin Wan had no idea what Huang Fu was scheming, but with Huang Fu making such an offer, she couldn’t refuse. She could only lower her head again, silently accepting the arrangement.

In Huang Fu’s palace, Lin Wan once again met the male lead, Gu Ze.

Lin Wan had seen Gu Ze from a distance once before, back when he had 30% of his luck. But this time, when she looked at him, his luck value had dropped to only 22%.

Watching Gu Ze standing beside Huang Fu and speaking softly, a strange feeling suddenly surged in Lin Wan’s heart: she couldn’t help but feel that Gu Ze’s declining luck was somehow connected to Huang Fu…

“Your Majesty, this is the Lin Wan you mentioned to me.”

After chatting with Gu Ze for a while, Huang Fu seemed to remember Lin Wan and pushed her forward, introducing her: “She…”

But before Huang Fu could finish her sentence, a frantic knocking sound suddenly came from the door.

“Your Majesty!”

A young eunuch rushed in, his face full of panic, and knelt on the floor with a thud. “General Chang, has been defeated in battle!