Chapter 23 Jin Ling 23
Everyone in the palace was preparing for the conferment of the title of consort, but Jin Ling, one of the parties involved, was left idle.
To be precise, she is now tasked with chatting with her future mother-in-law.
As usual today, Jin Ling arrived at the Cining Palace on time. The empress dowager, who had finished her breakfast, was already waiting for her in the main hall.
Seeing Jin Ling come in, he hurriedly pulled her to sit next to him: "Come on, we will be a family in a few days, no need to be so polite."
Jin Ling still performed the formalities before carefully sitting down beside the Queen Mother: "Etiquette cannot be abolished."
"You are such a polite child." Although she said so, judging from her obviously happier expression, Jin Ling's behavior was more to her liking.
The two of them sat there chatting enthusiastically. Queen Mother Zheng saw that her every move was becoming more and more graceful and dignified, and she couldn't help but feel proud of her ability to manage people.
Zi Lan, who had walked in from outside the palace, glanced at Jin Ling with some concern and reported to the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, Madam Wan and her daughter have come to pay their respects to you."
Upon hearing this, Jin Ling hurriedly stood up from the Empress Dowager's side. No matter what her future status would be, she was still just a servant. Naturally, she couldn't leave any excuse for her to be accused in front of outsiders.
The Queen Mother smiled and patted her hands, then signaled Zilan to welcome them in.
"Your servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother sat on it and was equally gentle to the female relatives, and she quickly called out.
After Baoxian accepted the gift from the Queen Mother, he also gave over the gift he had prepared.
Jin Ling was standing aside. She naturally reached out to take it and unfolded the painting for the Empress Dowager. After just one glance, she couldn't help but smile and said to the Empress Dowager:
"My lady, you are truly devoted to your child."
The Empress Dowager was surprised to hear this and looked at it. Seeing that there were indeed two sheep in the painting, one big and one small, she couldn't help laughing.
Wan Baoxian and her daughter looked at the smiles of the two people above them with confusion, not understanding what was so funny.
Especially Wan Baoxian, who already had a prejudice against Jin Ling, saw the tacit understanding and familiarity between Jin Ling and Queen Mother Zheng, and couldn't help feeling dissatisfied with being excluded. At that moment, he couldn't even pretend to be calm on the surface.
"Empress Dowager, is there something wrong with my painting? It actually made this... palace maid laugh." Wan Baoxian couldn't help but speak first, but the arrogance revealed in his words made the Empress Dowager feel a little uncomfortable.
Empress Dowager Zheng had suffered from the torture of Empress Dowager Guo, and now Wan Baoxian showed a character similar to that of Empress Dowager Guo, which could not win her favor.
And if I remember correctly, Wan Baoxian once shamelessly discussed her origins as a palace maid with Ma Yuanying, saying that she was a slanderous and flattering beauty who brought disaster.
The subconscious words people say when they are relaxed will reveal their true feelings.
Jin Ling smiled and glanced at the Queen Mother's expression.
Empress Dowager Zheng's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes were expressionless, and she didn't respond. Seeing this, Jin Ling quickly smiled and said, "Miss Wan's painting skills are unparalleled, and this painting of a loving mother is so vivid and lifelike. The Empress Dowager and I are simply amused by the fact that Miss Wan and Your Majesty are so connected that they both gifted the painting of a loving mother to the Empress Dowager."
The Queen Mother was truly laughing this time. The painting of the mother tiger and her cub, showing their deep affection for each other, was clearly Jin Ling's suggestion and was painted by the mother and her cub together.
The tiger cub was painted by the Empress Dowager, while the mother tiger was painted by the Emperor. Finally, it was framed by Jin Ling herself and is now placed in the Empress Dowager's bedroom, which is of great significance.
Jin Ling never mentioned any of this, obviously paving the way for them to save face.
Madam Wan was naturally delighted to hear this: "So that's how it is. I didn't expect that Your Majesty and our Baoxian have such a good understanding. This is truly a match made in heaven!"
Although Wan Baoxian felt that the two people's smiles were quite meaningful, when she heard her mother say this, she still showed the demeanor of a little girl, lowering her head shyly, but she could not hide the pride in her eyes.
After dealing with the mother and daughter, Jin Ling helped the empress dowager sit down and gave her a detailed massage.
These tasks, with Jin Ling's memories of her past life, were much easier for her to perform. Empress Dowager Zheng felt her headache ease after only a quarter of an hour of massage. She sighed in relief, "Thanks to you, I've been able to sleep peacefully these days."
Jin Ling smiled and stopped, then lit some cypress incense in the incense burner. Then she stopped and sat down next to the empress dowager.
"It's hard for you to deal with them today." The Queen Mother sniffed the light and elegant fragrance, and her mind became more calm and focused.
"I am only trying to share the Queen Mother's worries. It's not right to leave her there alone." Jin Ling showed her girlish and delicate side at this moment, and naturally acted coquettishly towards the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother looked at her helplessly: "You are always so hard-mouthed but soft-hearted. That Miss Wan has never had a good attitude towards you, and you are still trying to smooth things over for them."
Jin Ling pouted, "Then I can't just leave the guests alone and let others say that the Empress Dowager is not treating her guests well. Besides, they are not wrong..."
At this point, she lowered her head and twisted the red string on her wrist: "I am indeed just a palace maid now."
"Nonsense!" The Queen Mother slapped her hard. "In a few days, you will both be conferred the title of Consort. How could she treat you so lightly?"
Seeing the Queen Mother's anger, Jin Ling quickly tried to calm her down: "The Queen Mother is right. When I become a concubine, I will naturally not allow her to humiliate me at will."
Seeing her sincere promise, the Queen Mother finally felt relieved. After a few more words, Jin Lingfang said goodbye to the Queen Mother and left the Cining Palace.
When he came out, the Queen Mother stuffed a bunch of treasures and rare toys into his hands.
Jin Ling held these rewards, feeling very satisfied. All her careful service to the Queen Mother these days was worth it, and she had even used the excuse of asking for advice on etiquette for the Queen Mother's concubines to build a closer relationship with her. Now, she not only had the Queen Mother's life-saving grace, but also a mother-daughter bond.
Especially after meeting Wan Baoxian today, Jin Ling was even more satisfied when she found that she had indeed been a noble lady who looked down on others.
Goodness comes from comparison, especially when facing the mother-in-law.
Obviously, she and Wan Baoxian had completed a comparison in front of the Queen Mother today. As for who won and who lost?
Jin Ling stopped and smiled at Wan Baoxian who was waiting in the pavilion:
"Greetings to Miss Wan."
Wan Baoxian was standing there, a proud and arrogant smile on his face. "Ms. Yao, I have some questions I'd like to ask you. I wonder if you're free?"
"Since Miss Wan has invited me so graciously, Jin Ling will naturally tell me everything she knows."
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