Chapter 5 Mrs. Zhao

"Wangfei, Concubine Zhao and a few other concubines have come to pay their respects to you, and they are now waiting in the courtyard."

The one who came to report was the courtyard cleaner Dongqing. Lin Jiaojiao had completely forgotten that there was a Concubine Zhao and three other concubines in the Prince Manor.

They were all sent by the Empress Dowager to monitor the manor.

After all, the Empress Dowager didn't trust Yan Sihan, the Regent King, so she sent a woman into the manor every year.

Naturally, the Prince Manor would accept them, but none of them had even seen Yan Sihan's face, let alone anything else.

For her, these women were not threats. Once she had settled in, she could send them all away.

However, Concubine Zhao was not an easy person to deal with. Her maternal family was the Grand Commandant's family, and she was the Empress Dowager's own niece. Because the Prince didn't care about domestic affairs, the inner court of the manor used to be under Concubine Zhao's control.

Naturally, her own identity wasn't bad either. The Late Emperor personally conferred her as Princess Yong'an, which served as a good talisman for her.

The Lin family was headed by a third-ranked Minister of Rites, in charge of the Imperial Examination and etiquette.

Her older brother Lin Xingzhi was the current emperor's teacher, and her maternal Chen family was as wealthy as a rival country.

That's why she became the object of marriage proposals for most people in the capital.

However, Yan Sihan protected her too closely. Just as she reached the age of fifteen, he forcefully took her as his wife.

In her past life, Concubine Zhao had also come to pay her respects. Every word and action of hers had been a provocation, demonstrating the attitude of a mistress of the house.

In her previous life, she didn't care about these things, but today was different. She was now the rightful mistress of the Prince Manor.

"Let them wait in the main hall."

Having said that, Lin Jiaojiao looked at the bronze mirror inside the room. Although her outfit was valuable, it was indeed too simple for a Wangfei.

"Xuemei, help me change my clothes."

At this time, the main hall was bustling with activity.

It was even busier than usual holidays.

A few gorgeously dressed women sat on both sides, chatting and laughing, without any proper etiquette.

In the past, these concubines would not dare to behave like this. Even without the Prince's control, Concubine Zhao kept them in line. After all, she was the legitimate daughter of the Grand Commandant's family, a well-educated person.

So their behavior must have been permitted by Concubine Zhao.

Concubine Zhao couldn't sit still today, probably because the Prince had spent the whole night in Wangfei's room during their grand wedding yesterday.

To think, when Concubine Zhao was welcomed into the family, Yan Sihan hadn't even shown his face.

"My lady, don't be angry. After all, she is the Wangfei." An old nanny was advising Concubine Zhao by her side.

Maid Wang came from the Empress Dowager's Palace and naturally observed the rules. She also looked down on Concubine Zhao's insistence on becoming a side consort.

Although she was advising Concubine Zhao not to be angry, in fact, she wanted her to remember her place.

After all, a concubine was still a concubine. Back then, it took Concubine Zhao a month of crying and begging the Empress Dowager to agree, even if it meant just becoming a concubine.

The Regent King was a man admired by all the women in the capital, but they only dared to look from afar, not to blaspheme.

Although the Regent King had numerous military achievements and was a talented man, his temper was not good. The whole capital knew of his violent and tyrannical ways.

If anyone dared to climb into the Regent King's bed, they would be thrown into a mass grave the next day.

He was like a living King of Hell in the capital, and nobody dared to provoke him. When Lin Jiaojiao became Wangfei, many envious women changed their tune and started pitying her instead.

As the Empress Dowager's own niece, Concubine Zhao had different plans for her marriage. Knowing what kind of person the Regent King was, she was strongly opposed. However, when her niece threatened to starve herself to death, she finally agreed and issued an imperial edict.

The Empress Dowager was disappointed in her but couldn't help that she was her niece, so she sent her trusted Maid Wang to protect Concubine Zhao.

This was all done to protect Concubine Zhao.