Chapter 117: Big Sister is Right
The Imperial Garden in late autumn, unlike the bleakness outside, was filled with blooming flowers.
Various autumn chrysanthemums were in full bloom, competing for beauty in the Imperial Garden.
Xingqing casually looked around as she followed behind Princess Changle.
Xingnong’s words last night had made her relax.
Now that she had eased her mind, she was in the mood to appreciate the scenery of the Imperial Garden.
Last night, her sister had told her that even if she entered the palace to see the Empress Dowager, she just had to perform the proper greetings and there was nothing to be afraid of. She didn’t owe them anything!
Moreover, they were the ones trying to scheme against her, which meant they were the ones “asking” for something from her.
Until they achieved their goal, they would endure whatever she did.
Therefore, she could be confident and free in front of them, doing whatever she wanted.
Princess Changle glanced back and was surprised to see that Xingqing’s demeanor was natural and poised, without any sign of fear.
She glanced at Shen Ruolan.
Shen Ruolan lowered her head, looking timid and cautious, making people disdain her.
Princess Changle couldn’t help but think highly of Xingqing.
She was indeed much better than her own mother.
Shen Shi had entered the palace many times, but every time she still trembled with fear and couldn’t handle the situation!
She glanced at Xingqing again and pursed her lips. Although she was bold enough and not afraid of entering the palace for the first time.
She was still from a humble background, hadn’t seen much of the world, and didn’t understand etiquette. She was like a country girl entering the city, looking around and finding everything new!
How rude!
She couldn’t help but quicken her pace!
Xingqing thought: It wasn’t often that she had the opportunity to enter the palace, so of course, she had to take a good look! She could tell everyone back in the village what the Imperial Palace looked like.
Thinking this way, she looked even more carefully, as if she were visiting a tourist attraction.
Soon, the group arrived at the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, led by a Momo.
Princess Changle took the lead in bowing: “Changle greets Imperial Grandaunt. May Imperial Grandaunt enjoy good health and peace!”
“Your subject/This common woman greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be blessed!”
The Empress Dowager was an old woman in her fifties, holding Buddhist prayer beads. Her hair was black, her face was round and plump, and her skin was very fair. She looked kind and benevolent, and it could be seen that she must have been a beauty when she was young. She smiled and said, “No need for formalities, rise!”
The three of them: “Thank you, Empress Dowager!”
“Someone, bring seats! Changle, sit beside me and let me have a look. You haven’t been to the palace to accompany me for quite some time! I miss you so much!”
Changle smiled and sat on the Empress Dowager’s soft couch: “Changle also misses Imperial Grandaunt. Imperial Grandaunt, my elder sister has come to the capital, and with her accompanying me in the residence, I’m finally not so bored! Today, I specially brought her to the palace to express gratitude to Imperial Grandaunt!”
Upon hearing this, Xingqing stood up and bowed: “This common woman thanks the Empress Dowager! May the Empress Dowager have ten thousand blessings and peace!”
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, “No need for formalities, rise, come closer and let me have a look!”
Xingqing pinched her handkerchief, but remembering Xingnong’s words, she took a deep breath and walked over calmly and confidently.
That’s right, both the Empress Dowager and the princess “needed” something from her, they wouldn’t do anything to her before they achieved their goal!
They might even treat her extremely well and grant her every request!
No need to be afraid!
The Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered as she saw that Xingqing wasn’t afraid at all.
Xingqing knelt down in front of the Empress Dowager.
“You child, why are you so formal! There’s no need for formalities here with me! Come and sit beside me with Changle!” As she spoke, the Empress Dowager pulled Xingqing up and made her sit beside her.
The Empress Dowager picked up an exquisite brocade box beside her, opened it, took out a white jade bracelet from inside, and put it on Xingqing’s wrist: “This is a meeting gift from me for our first meeting.”
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Xingqing hurriedly said, “This common woman is overwhelmed, I cannot accept a reward without merit! This is too precious, this common woman cannot accept it!”
Shen Ruolan never dared to speak in front of the Empress Dowager unless she was asked a question. Seeing the Empress Dowager reward such a good jade bracelet to Xingqing, she felt happy in her heart.
The first time the Empress Dowager summoned her, she had given her a show of force!
Now it seemed that after all these years of wholeheartedly taking care of Princess Changle and the heir apparent, the Empress Dowager had seen it and finally truly accepted her.
“A gift from an elder cannot be refused, keep it! Your mother has been meritorious in taking care of the princess all these years, and you, child, have suffered a lot in the countryside! How can you say you have no merit?!” The Empress Dowager said probingly, then looked at her.
Xingqing smiled ingratiatingly: “Thank you, Empress Dowager! It is Mother’s blessing to be able to take care of the princess! I have my grandmother to take care of me in the village, and I haven’t suffered much.”
Her sister had said that she must accept any reward offered, don’t let it go to waste!
Besides that, she also had to act very greedy for money and try to get as many benefits as possible from them, squeezing them until their hearts and lungs ached, squeezing them until they were afraid, that’s right! She had come all this way, she couldn’t leave empty-handed, she had to get some appearance fee!
She felt her sister was absolutely right!
How much she could earn next depended entirely on her acting skills!
Everyone was acting, let’s see whose acting skills were better!
Thinking of this, Xingqing deliberately touched the bracelet, looking like she couldn’t put it down.
The Empress Dowager’s eyes flickered, and she smiled: “You child are so sensible and understanding! I like sensible children like you the most.”
The Empress Dowager took out another red gold butterfly hairpin from the brocade box and inserted it into Xingqing’s hair: “Children your age should dress up more. Look, after dressing up like this, you are even more beautiful than Changle!”
Xingqing’s eyes lit up and she smiled, “Thank you for the Empress Dowager’s praise! But how can I compare to Princess Changle? A princess is a princess, the Empress Dowager is the Empress Dowager, the noble aura can be seen at a glance, it can’t be faked!”
After saying that, her gaze couldn’t help but fall on the brocade box again.
The Empress Dowager saw Xingqing’s small movements and felt disdain in her heart!
As expected of someone from a humble background, she was short-sighted and greedy for money!
However, it was good to be greedy for money, as such people were easier to control!
Princess Changle, however, had a thought. Right, if she wanted to attract the attention of the Zhao Kingdom envoy, she had to create that noble aura!
Although it pained her heart, she really had to prepare some things for her.
Princess Changle smiled and said, “Sister, I told you, right? Imperial Grandaunt is the kindest person in the world! You don’t have to be afraid!”
Xingqing smiled, “The Empress Dowager rules the world and loves the people like her own children, just like the Bodhisattva in the sky who saves all living beings. They are all the kindest and most benevolent people, how could this common woman be afraid?”
The Empress Dowager looked at Xingqing with a smile: “Haha… You child have such a sweet mouth, did you smear honey on it? Haha… The chrysanthemums in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom, let’s go for a walk.”
So the group got up and walked out.
However, as the Empress Dowager stood up, her wide and heavy palace dress accidentally knocked over a teacup, wetting her sleeve, “I’ll change into something more comfortable. Changle, you take Shen Shi and Xingqing with you.”
“Yes.” Princess Changle responded with a smile, then said, “Second Mother, Sister, let’s go!”
“Alright.”
Surrounded by palace maids, the group walked towards the Imperial Garden.
Halfway there, a palace maid carrying a tray hurried out from a small path and bumped into Princess Changle, spilling the fresh fruit juice on her tray all over her.
Shen Ruolan’s clothes were also stained.
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