Chapter 369 Foreign Aid
Jiang Huan smiled as she looked at He Ling's worried expression.
She naturally understood He Ling's concerns. Maintaining family ties while concealing the transmigrator's identity was indeed a delicate task.
Wasn't it the same when she first met her parents?
"Alright, don't scare yourself." Jiang Huan patted the back of her hand, her tone relaxed. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. You've already risen through the ranks to become Consort Hui in the palace. They'll only be happy to see you, they won't think so much. Besides, don't you still have me?"
He Ling's eyes lit up as if she had grasped a lifeline. She quickly grabbed Jiang Huan's arm and pleaded pitifully.
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty, you are my greatest ally. When they enter the palace, you must be there to help me keep things in order. If I say or do anything wrong, you must help me cover it up!"
Jiang Huan was amused by her, and deliberately put on a stern face to tease her: "Help you smooth things over? That depends on my mood and your performance."
He Ling immediately clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture: "Your Majesty, you are the best! Don't worry, I will definitely work harder in the future to grow more delicious food to honor you and the future young masters!"
After joking around for a while, the two of them made an agreement.
A few days later, He Ling's parents were ordered to enter the palace to visit their daughter.
Lord He was a kind-faced, slightly plump middle-aged man dressed in a silk robe. His face showed a shrewdness of a businessman, mixed with awe of imperial power.
Madam He has a gentle demeanor and is well-maintained; she is currently adjusting her sleeves.
Led by eunuchs, they passed through numerous palaces, feeling both proud of their daughter's "favor" in the palace and somewhat uneasy.
Finally, they arrived at the palace where Consort Hui resided.
But when they entered the hall full of anticipation and saw their daughter coming to greet them, their smiles instantly froze.
The woman in front of them was dressed in the palace attire of a concubine, with exquisite hairpins and ornaments. She was indeed their daughter, He Ling, but what was wrong with her skin color?
Mrs. He blinked subconsciously, even wondering if she was getting old and her eyesight was failing.
In my memory, my daughter wasn't exactly a top-tier beauty with fair skin, but she still had delicate skin and a pampered, sheltered look, typical of a daughter of an official.
But the face in front of me looks like it just came back from sunbathing, and it was sunbathing at the most intense time of day, at noon!
What's even more alarming is that when the daughter saw them, she grinned and flashed an incredibly bright smile.
That smile was quite something; two rows of neat, white teeth stood out dazzlingly against his shiny black face, making Lord He and Madam He's eyes dazzle for a moment!
Madam He stumbled and almost lost her balance, but Lord He quickly supported her. Lord He's lips twitched, and he barely managed to keep from losing his composure.
"Father! Mother!" He Ling forced a warm smile and quickly went to greet them.
She was also nervous, and tried her best to imitate the demeanor of the ladies from noble families in ancient times that she remembered.
Lord He and his wife snapped out of their daze and hurriedly prepared to kneel and pay their respects: "Greetings, Consort Hui..."
"Oh dear, Father and Mother, please don't stand on ceremony." He Ling quickly helped them up with one hand each, and said with a hint of coquettishness, following the words that Jiang Huan had taught her beforehand, "There's no need to be so formal in front of family."
Supported by her daughter, Madam He's gaze couldn't help but linger on Ling'er's face and hands. Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a trembling voice, "Ling'er, you... what kind of suffering did you endure in the palace? Why have you become so thin and dark?"
She imagined her daughter to be plump and beautiful, with fair skin, enjoying the riches of the palace. How come this one looks like she's worked in the fields?
Lord He also frowned, looking at his daughter with a mixture of apprehension and hesitation.
He Ling then realized what was happening, touched her face, chuckled, and explained, "Father, Mother, you've misunderstood. I didn't suffer. It's because the Emperor values me and has granted me special permission to be in charge of an experimental field in the palace to research high-yield crops."
"This is a great thing that benefits the country and the people. My daughter is serving the court. What does it matter if she gets a tan? She's very happy!" she said, waving her arms.
Mr. and Mrs. He were dumbfounded.
Experimental fields? Farming? Their daughter is in the palace... farming!?
This was so different from what they had imagined the life of a concubine to be like that that the two of them looked at each other, not knowing how to react.
Just then, a palace attendant's voice came from outside the hall: "His Majesty has arrived—The Imperial Noble Consort has arrived—"
Huo Lin led Jiang Huan in slowly. He seemed to be in a good mood today. Although his face was still cold, his eyes were gentle.
Jiang Huan wore a loose-fitting palace dress, which made her look radiant, and her eyes were filled with a gentle smile.
Lord He and his wife immediately knelt down and performed a grand salute, not daring to raise their heads.
Huo Lin said calmly, "Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Majesty."
The two stood up, hands at their sides, feeling both excited and nervous.
The Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort's personal presence is an immense honor, indicating that the daughter is indeed highly valued in the palace.
Huo Lin's gaze fell on He Ling, and he said, "Consort Hui has had a hard time these past few days."
He's parents were overjoyed, thinking that the emperor would praise their daughter for her virtue and kindness, or for her meritorious service.
Unexpectedly, Huo Lin continued, "The new varieties you have cultivated are growing very well, and the yield per mu is expected to increase by another 20%. This is a great achievement that benefits the country and the people, and I am very pleased."
He's parents: ? ? ?
He Ling puffed out her chest, looking proud: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I will certainly continue to work hard."
Jiang Huan almost burst out laughing when she saw the stunned expressions on the faces of He's parents, as if their worldview had been reshaped. She secretly squeezed Huo Lin's palm.
Huo Lin's expression remained unchanged, but he felt a little smug inside.
[See? I praised him perfectly, didn't I?]
Farming is much more practical than all that empty hype.
Although He Ling is a bit loud and boisterous, she works incredibly hard, getting tanned like a little charcoal briquette – her spirit is truly commendable.
Hearing his thoughts, Jiang Huan smiled and spoke up to ease the atmosphere: "Lord He, Madam He, please don't stand on ceremony, please sit down. Sister He is straightforward and has a talent for farming. She manages that experimental field very well. I admire her."
Her words were both to support He Ling and to tell the truth.
He Ling's parents felt even more conflicted when they heard the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine praising their daughter's farming skills.
On the one hand, she was happy that her daughter had gained the favor of a benefactor, but on the other hand, she felt that the direction of the praise was quite unexpected.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Huan suggested, "Since you're here today, why don't you two stay in the palace for a simple meal and try the vegetables that Sister He has personally grown?"
When Jiang Huan spoke, the two men naturally dared not refuse and thanked her repeatedly.
The banquet was held in the small flower hall, and the dishes were exquisite, with several seasonal vegetables looking fresh and tender.
Lord He and his wife tasted it with trepidation. It was indeed quite good, but the strange feeling in their hearts grew stronger and stronger.
Their daughter's greatest achievement in the palace was growing delicious vegetables.
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