Palace Selection in Two Months

"Xiao Yu, how am I? I don't have amnesia, do I?" Louis Lin asked.

"Let me ask you one last question," Grace said.

Ask away! I'll tell you everything, no secrets!

"Who did the General meet at Moonwater Abbey that day?"

Hm? Why are you asking that?

To check if you can remember the details of something you think you remember so well.

"Huh?" Louis Lin was a bit dizzy.

"It's just for the diagnosis. Just answer the question."

"Well... I only know it was an old friend of the General. I don't know much else."

"Was it a man or a woman?"

"I don't know," Louis Lin said nervously. "It's definitely not that I can't remember—it's just that the General never told me!"

"Hmm... Alright, I can basically say you don't have amnesia for now, but I'll keep observing you," Grace said.

Great, then I'll rely on you, Little Fish, to keep a close eye on me!

Grace nodded, and said earnestly, "Don't worry. With me around, you won't get such a scary illness."

Little Fish, it's truly our blessing to have you in the General's Manor...

Grace covered her mouth and coughed, trying to keep a low profile as she smiled.

She really needed to figure out who Evan Xiao met with that day.

Why did he sleep with her after meeting that person?

If she could figure out the reason, would she have a new direction?

Since Louis Lin didn't know, maybe Steward Qin would...

So she went to find Steward Qin, humbly asking him about all sorts of things, like whether the General needed new autumn clothes, how many to order, and which embroidery shop to use...

Seeing that he wasn't busy, Grace started probing: "Steward Qin, I heard from Louis Lin that on May First, there was a strange phenomenon in the sky?"

"That's right!" Steward Qin replied. "Didn't you know before?"

"Honestly, I didn't. We live outside the city, can't see much. Our home is so isolated, we don't even have neighbors, so we never heard a thing."

"Oh!" Steward Qin nodded. "Your home really is a bit remote."

"Louis Lin said the General was supposed to meet someone at Moonwater Abbey that day, but after the phenomenon, the Emperor summoned him to the palace to discuss it," Grace continued probing. "So did anyone figure out what the omen on May First meant?"

"According to the Imperial Advisor, the Azure Phoenix is one of the five phoenix birds, often seen beside the emperor. It means two things: first, it represents women; second, it means companionship for the emperor," Steward Qin said. "The Imperial Advisor suggested that the harem should not have only the Empress, but should accept new consorts into the palace."

Grace raised her eyebrows—Leon Zane?

That guy just wants to get his sister into the palace. He's just using this as an excuse, isn't he?

"Did the Emperor agree to it?" Grace asked.

"The Empress Dowager has already issued the decree—Palace Selection in two months."

"Oh..." Grace nodded, then casually asked, "By the way, Moonwater Abbey is a nunnery. Why would the General meet someone there?"

"An old friend of the General—a woman—was passing through Danyang and stayed at Moonwater Abbey. The General just went to see her."

"I see!" Grace raised her eyebrows. "Is she still at Moonwater Abbey?"

"Why do you want to know?"

Grace scratched the back of her head, a little embarrassed. "Isn't my home right at the foot of Moonwater Abbey? I was thinking, if that old friend is still there and the General needs something, maybe you could send me. I'd love to visit my mom."