dognovel Chapter 114 Lin Cainu Enters the Palace!
Chapter 114 Lin Cainu Enters the Palace!
The first snowflakes, as light and delicate as goose down, drifted across the earth on a soft glow, nurturing the green buds and new shoots of the coming year!
Jiangnan has always been known for its beautiful women, but once they enter the palace, time flies by!
At the imperial concubine selection ceremony, the noble ladies from official families who were fortunate enough to be chosen by the emperor, led by Xiao Anzi, looked at the cannibalistic imperial court of Shangjing with inquisitive expressions and bright eyes.
With spring in full bloom, the lively Lin Zhuzhu stands at the head of the picking maidens;
Lin Zhuzhu lowered her head, appearing humble and submissive, but in reality, she was sticking out her tongue and making faces at the leading father-in-law.
Xiao Anzi naturally knew what the noble lady behind him was gesturing about;
However, due to the Empress's status, he could not and dared not punish this young lady!
Xiao Anzi pretended not to hear and continued to lead the ladies-in-waiting into the inner courtyard to serve.
At dawn, the capital city was still shrouded in a white, misty snow.
Last night, an unprecedented light snow fell quickly and went away just as quickly.
The other old man leading the group muttered to himself, his hands shivering as he kept pulling them into his thin sleeves.
"Eunuch An!!"
"Eunuch An!!!"
Bai Si, the head maid of Qinrou Palace, was leading a group of maids toward them.
When Xiao Anzi saw the newcomer, he realized she was a head maid from the Empress's palace. He immediately raised his hand to signal the ladies-in-waiting behind him to pay their respects.
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
"Ladies, hurry up and pay your respects!"
Lin Zhuzhu glanced thoughtfully at her aunt, the Empress's, palanquin, and curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!"
"Haha, ladies, no need for such formalities!"
"Get up quickly! It's freezing cold, don't hurt yourself!" the woman in white said.
"Haha~ Get up quickly, Manager Bai has already given the order!" Xiao Anzi chimed in, going along with the flow.
"Thank you, Eunuch An! Thank you, Steward Bai!" The maids bowed and thanked them in unison.
"Manager Bai, what brings you here?!" Eunuch An asked, his fingers forming delicate pinky as he looked on with a probing gaze.
"Eunuch An, Her Majesty the Empress is thinking of Zhu'er so much!" Bai Sili moved lightly and bowed to Eunuch An.
"Oh my gosh~ This is a big deal!"
"Lady Lin, come here, follow closely behind Steward Bai!" Eunuch An gently pulled Lin Zhuzhu out of the group.
"Aunt Bai~!"
Lin Zhuzhu has always been mischievous and naughty. In her early years, the family hired many tutors, but she managed to drive them all away.
Only when she was thirteen years old did the family, for the first time ever, invite the head of the Empress's palace to teach her the rules and precepts for women.
That was also the first time Lin Zhuzhu was afraid of the palace rules and regulations.
At the mansion, because of the year-long tutoring relationship with Bai Si, she, a noble lady from an official family, had to address Bai Si as Aunt Bai.
"Aunt Bai~!!"
Lin Zhuzhu, who had just turned fourteen, was at the age of childlike innocence. She poked her head out from behind Eunuch An, her round almond-shaped eyes sparkling.
"Noble lady, Her Majesty the Empress misses you dearly. Come, hurry, come back to Qinrou Palace with this servant!"
With a smile on her face, Bai Si stepped forward and embraced the petite noblewoman, who was half her height, in a way that was both alluring and seductive.
"The palace has prepared plenty of imperial snacks for breakfast, and many fine clothes and gowns await the noble ladies!"
"Aunt Bai, I've grown up now; please, please stop making fun of me!"
Seeing that Consort Lin was not happy, Bai Si added, "Consort, His Highness the Crown Prince is also in the Empress's palace!"
"What?! The Crown Prince is here too?!"
"Aunt Bai, let's hurry, don't keep Cousin Crown Prince waiting!"
Upon hearing that the Crown Prince was also present, the hesitant Lin Zhuzhu pretended to lift her fluttering skirt and hurried away.
Leaving behind Eunuch An and the other concubines who had entered the palace, Bai Ribbon, accompanied by the young noblewoman, hurried towards Qinrou Palace, chatting and laughing.
The remaining concubines stared longingly at Lin Cai Nu, who was as cheerful as a little bird, their hearts filled with resentment and hatred!
After all, they had been in the palace for more than half a month, and apart from eunuchs, fathers-in-law, and servants, they hadn't seen a single person.
Even more so is our Emperor, whose handsome appearance has never even been seen before!
And look at Consort Lin, she can easily enter the inner palace to see the Emperor and the Crown Prince!
Lin Zhuzhu, who only cared about the Crown Prince, didn't care about the envy, jealousy, and hatred of these other children!
She was bouncing around, full of curiosity!
Before long, the Empress's palace came into view.
"Crown Prince Cousin!!"
"Hey! Lady, slow down! Lady!!"
Bai Si watched Lin Zhuzhu disappear in a flash, and was so frightened that she only dared to chase after her to warn her.
The inner palace of Qinrou Palace!
Having postponed the morning court session, Crown Prince Qing Tingyu was currently sitting on a soft chair carved from golden nanmu wood in the inner palace.
Lin Qinrou, lying ill in bed, spoke weakly through the curtain, "Yu'er is so kind and compassionate, I wonder whose nature she inherited from?!"
Qing Tingyu's face was cold and his expression aloof. Hearing his birth mother's mockery, he lowered his voice and sneered.
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I have no idea whose temperament I inherited this from!"
"Your Highness, Your Highness is truly heartless! Now, you don't even want to acknowledge your own mother?!"
"Your Majesty, be careful!!" The attending maid lifted the curtain and carefully helped the Empress up from the bed.
Lin Qinrou, dressed in a thin, plain dress, her long black hair cascading down, sat unsteadily on the low couch.
Upon seeing this, the other palace maids quickly presented them with warm robes and incense burners to keep their hands warm.
"Your Majesty should be careful—don't let your feet get cold, or you might develop a chronic illness!"
"Cousin Crown Prince!"
"Crown Prince Cousin!!"
Lin Zhuzhu rushed into the inner hall shouting, and when she saw the direction of the Crown Prince, she rushed towards him in one stride.
"Oh dear, young lady, be careful! Don't hurt His Highness the Crown Prince!!"
Qing Tingyu caught Lin Zhuzhu, who lunged at him, and scolded, "This is outrageous!!"
When Lin Qinrou saw Zhu'er arrive, her arrogant and domineering attitude subsided somewhat!
"Pearl?! Is it Pearl?!"
"Hahaha~ Quick! Bring up the breakfast fruits and vegetables prepared by the kitchen!"
"Last night it suddenly snowed lightly, you all go and prepare some melon porridge for Zhu'er to warm her up!"
Empress Lin was overjoyed and, at a loss for what to do, ordered the palace maids to bring out all the delicious food, fun toys, and useful items.
Qing Tingyu held the young noblewoman in his arms and rested his head on her delicate shoulder, taking in the sight of Empress Lin's animated movements with a playful expression.
"Zhu'er, Her Majesty the Empress misses you all dearly~ Hurry up and go to her side to wait for her!"
Lin Zhuzhu was delicate and precious, and after walking a long distance, she was now being held in the arms of the person she had been longing for. She couldn't possibly think about the Empress at all!
"Waaaaah~ Cousin Crown Prince, Zhu'er walked such a long way, my legs are so sore!"
Lin Zhuzhu complained childishly, her face lively and cheerful, her rosy baby face very endearing.
"Aunt, you're not angry, are you?!" The little noblewoman looked innocent, only concerned with snuggling into the warm embrace.
"Haha, Pearl, why would your aunt be angry?!"
"When Auntie learned that Zhu'er was going to the palace to visit her, she was overjoyed!"
Qing Tingyu: That's right!
So happy I can even talk like a human!