Chapter 131 An Lingrong 72
Some days later, when her mother brought Zhu Hong to the palace to pay her respects, she told Lin Xiu about the good news.
"This is all thanks to the great blessing of the Emperor and His Majesty. His aunt and I have been worried these days. Now that we have this news from His Majesty, we are relieved."
Lin Xiu finished talking to Ling Rong with a smile, then looked at her hesitantly, as if she didn't know how to start the conversation.
"Mom, is there anything we can't talk about?"
"...I'm just afraid of making the Empress sad." Lin Xiu said that she was afraid of making her daughter sad, but her eyes were already red. Ling Rong seemed to feel something but was speechless.
"Alas, I plan to return to Songyang in a few days."
"Why are you so anxious, mother? Wouldn't it be better for you to stay with your daughter for a few more days?" Lingrong hurriedly held her mother's hand, tears streaming down her face.
Lin Xiu quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Actually, I should have left years ago. I'm a concubine living alone in the capital, leaving my husband in Songyang. If I stayed for a short time, I could say I was here to take care of the Empress out of the Emperor's grace. But if I stayed for a long time, who knows what people might say. It would be bad if it implicated the Empress and the Sixth Prince."
Ling Rong shook her head and gritted her teeth, "I don't care."
"Rumors are terrifying. A thousand-mile dam can be breached by a single ant's drop. Your Majesty, please do not underestimate the power of these rumors." Lin Xiu gently counseled her child, though her words were choked with sobs. "Now is the perfect time to go back and visit the various families in Songyang. If you delay any longer... Mother, I'm afraid I won't be able to leave."
"Then don't leave. Wait until spring comes, or you can leave next year. Wouldn't it be better to go back when spring is warm and flowers are blooming?"
"You left your father alone in Songyang? People would point fingers at me and curse me. This is how the world works. Even if I came here, I would have to wait until I had spent the New Year with him and arranged for someone to take care of him before I could enjoy the blessing of the capital in the name of the Empress."
Mother Lin, fearing her daughter might be feeling sad, turned to talk about Hua'er: "Come to think of it, why didn't I see Sixth Prince today? Isn't he usually awake at this hour?"
Lingrong didn't want to worry her mother, so she continued, "The child doesn't like to play with his toys anymore. These days, he asks people to read to him whenever he sees him. My daughter's throat hurts, so I don't dare ask anyone to bring him in anymore."
"This shows that our Sixth Prince is smart. Isn't Bai'er the same? He has a sharp mind and is eager to learn. There is no master who doesn't like him."
Seeing that Lin Xiu was happy, Lingrong naturally did not want to ruin her mother's mood, so she asked Biqing to bring Huaer over.
As soon as Bai Tuanzi came in, his eyes were fixed on his mother. Even when he was held in Lin Xiu's arms, he did not forget to turn around with difficulty to look at Ling Rong.
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you. Mother will bring the book over later, okay?"
Hua'er still stared at her with her big eyes, neither speaking nor moving.
Ling Rong was completely helpless, so she turned to Rong Lu and said, "Go and get the first volume of that set of books." Rong Lu smiled and turned to go to the study.
After a while, Rong Lu came in holding a book of unclear weight. It was titled "Qiyou Jingshibu". Lin Xiu was curious and opened it to take a look.
Although she only started to learn to read in recent years, she could roughly tell that most of the things listed here were historical allusions, and there were annotations at the end, expressing someone's views on this historical allusion.
"This book looks really good. Why haven't I heard Bai'er mention it before?"
"It's very good indeed. Hua'er loves it dearly. In the past, he wouldn't let anyone touch his books unless they were being read to him." Lingrong took the books with a smile. "It's no wonder Bai'er didn't want them. These books were compiled by the Emperor himself, and were intended for occasional reading by the younger princes. They were meant to be entertaining and educational. He even wrote annotations on these books himself."
"So that's how it is. The emperor is busy with state affairs every day, but he still doesn't forget the education of his princes. He is truly a kind father." Lin Xiu said sincerely. She really felt that the emperor, who was busy with all kinds of affairs, could still find time for these small matters. It can be seen that he is not only a responsible emperor, but also a responsible father.
Lingrong felt that Big Fat Orange was enjoying it very much. Although the Big Fat Orange in the play was much better than the real character in many ways, his personality of doing everything by himself and keeping everything in his hands remained unchanged.
Not only did he compile books for children, he even found time to write annotations, and even managed to deliver the first set of books here in a short time after going through several rounds of officials. Ling Rong found it simply terrifying.
Before her mother left, Lingrong packed some things for her mother to take back.
"Your Majesty, there is no need to do this..."
Before Lin Xiu could finish, Ling Rong grasped her mother's hand and said, "I feel guilty that I can't fulfill my filial duty. Mother, are you unwilling to give me even this little chance to make amends?"
"this……"
"These are just some nourishing herbs, some cloth and jewelry. They are not overly expensive, just as befits your mother's status." Ling Rong said, not allowing her to refuse: "The Emperor knows all of this, and I dare not go beyond that."
After escorting Lin Xiu to the palace gate, they were both silent for a moment. Ling Rong gave her mother a few words of advice, asking her to take care of herself. Then, as if to distract from the sorrowful atmosphere, she smiled and said, "If the herbs look good, Mother, make some for Ke Di. He works so hard, don't let them hurt him."
"Well, okay. My family always prepares nourishing Chinese medicine and soup for him. I think the medicine sent by the Queen will be more effective." Lin Xiu nodded. Although she knew that her daughter was trying to change the subject, she still kept it in mind.
After watching the sedan go away, Lingrong walked back silently. Before she could feel sad, she saw her son sitting on the bed, holding the book in his hands and looking at her.
"I won't go back on my word. Mother will read it now, okay?" Ling Rong picked up her son and kissed his chubby face hard. Then she spread out the book in her hand and continued with the content of yesterday.
The situation remained peaceful for a short while before word spread that Concubine Jin, who had offended Zhen Huan before, had fallen seriously ill. After she recovered, she began to avoid Zhen Huan and became much less courageous. Her timid appearance quickly eroded the emperor's sympathy and she completely fell out of favor.
Meanwhile, the former dynasty was also in turmoil. Prince Dun first assaulted a censor, then petitioned the emperor to confer a title on his biological mother.
After the beautiful and charming Zhen Huan helped to deal with the matter, Concubine Nian, who had been guarding the Yikun Palace in the harem, was released again and even restored to the position of Concubine Nian.
For a time, there were a series of disturbances in the former dynasty and the harem, which made the water turbid and those involved could no longer see the undercurrents underneath.
Including Zhen Huan.
[Being the emperor's advisor is a dangerous thing in this world.] Ling Rong stroked her son's head and added with a smile: [Of course, if it was his own mother, that would be a different matter.]
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has just issued an edict that Concubine Nian has been restored to the rank of Concubine Hua." Feng Sanman waited for Ling Rong to finish telling the story before speaking calmly.
"I understand." Ling Rong casually placed the book in her hand on the table. The sunlight shone through the bright window frame, illuminating a few large characters: Duke Zheng defeated Duan in Yan.
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