Chapter 7 Jin Ling 7
In the sixth year of Huichang, Jin Ling was twenty-five years old. She had just walked into the Imperial Garden after sending the treasure hairpin from Concubine Wang, when she saw Sanhao, head bowed, holding a familiar phoenix hairpin.
"Sanhao, why are you here?" Jin Ling, holding a mahogany tray in her hand, smiled and patted Sanhao on the back.
"Jinling? Oh, I saw something shining by the grass, and it turned out to be this hairpin." After Sanhao carefully examined the phoenix hairpin, he found that some parts were indeed loose.
"Huh? Isn't this the Phoenix Rising Sun made by Madam? I remember it was given to the Concubine Dowager by the Grand Empress Dowager, who ordered her to wear it every day to pray for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty."
Jin Ling took the phoenix hairpin from her hand. It was not as rough as in the TV series, but as exquisite and luxurious as described in the drama.
The kingfisher feathers and the night-shining pearls on the phoenix's tail feathers are each beautiful in color and echo each other. Even if she had decades of craftsmanship from the original owner and was influenced by modern aesthetics, it would be difficult for her to create a work that surpasses this phoenix hairpin.
"Yes, ever since the Empress Dowager gave this hairpin to the Concubine Dowager, she has worn it every day and never dared to take it off. I'm afraid it was accidentally left here today. Let's send it to the Concubine Dowager as soon as possible. If the Empress Dowager finds out that the Concubine has not brought the Phoenix Rising Sun, she will definitely not let her go."
Jin Ling nodded, and the two of them hurried to the concubine's bedroom, but they ran into the Queen Mother and Concubine Zheng meeting at the corner.
The two saw that the Empress Dowager was about to punish the Concubine Dowager. This time, before Sanhao could rush out, she took the hairpin and placed it on the tray, then quickly stepped forward to the Empress Dowager.
"This servant pays respects to the Empress Dowager and the Concubine Dowager."
Jin Ling held the tray in front of the Dowager Consort with both hands, her voice steady and respectful, "Two days ago, the Dowager Consort asked the Shanggong Bureau to reinforce the Night Pearl. We did not dare to delay, and delivered it today as soon as it was completed. Please do not blame me, Dowager Consort."
Concubine Zheng quickly took the phoenix hairpin and inserted it into her bun. She smiled generously at Jin Ling and replied with gratitude in her eyes:
"It's okay. I know your Shang Palace Bureau is busy. Just send it over."
The Grand Empress Dowager glanced at the two of them with a half-smile, and gently pointed at Jin Ling with her painted nails: "You arrived just in time..."
When Concubine Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave, he suddenly took her to visit the garden and asked casually before leaving:
"By the way, what's your name? Why don't I seem to have seen you in the fourth room?"
"I am Yao Jinling, the female historian of the Sizhenfang Palace." The beautiful palace maid still lowered her head and bent over to answer, her posture upright, like a vibrant green bamboo that dreams of growing out of the palace wall; her voice is crisp and clear, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Very good, Yao Jinling. I am so relieved to have a servant like you who is so loyal, conscientious and responsible in the Shanggong Bureau. However, loyalty alone is not enough for a servant. You also need to be smart and know who is the master and who is the servant. This is the most important thing."
The Empress Dowager kept hitting and beating Concubine Zheng until she turned pale and was about to collapse. Jin Ling also kept the posture of saluting under the sun.
Jin Ling certainly understood that her behavior would cause dissatisfaction from the Empress Dowager, but she also knew that given the Empress Dowager's temperament, she would not beat a servant to death for this reason.
What's more, her physical fitness after being enhanced by the medicine is extremely strong. Not to mention squatting in the sun for half an hour, she can even squat for half a day in Africa without changing her expression.
Seeing that she had no reaction, Guo felt bored and was too lazy to waste time on such a little palace maid. Finally, she waved her hand and asked Jin Ling to leave.
"I was scared to death. When you rushed out just now, I was afraid that the Empress Dowager would punish you!" Sanhao took Jinling's hand and carefully checked her up and down for a long time before he breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he patted Jin Ling's shoulders twice with some fear: "You, when you see injustice, you should draw your sword to help. That's the Empress Dowager, and you dare to rush out!"
Jin Ling took Sanhao's arm and shook it flatteringly. Her beautiful eyes were full of obedience and flattery. Her voice was as sweet as honey: "Sanhao~ I was wrong, don't be angry~"
Seeing that Sanhao still turned his head away and ignored her, he also turned to the other side and grabbed the corner of her clothes, shaking it vigorously: "Don't worry, I know what I do and won't do anything rash. Giving the hairpin to the concubine may seem risky, but it's actually very safe."
San Hao was so angry that she dared to say that she knew her limits, but she couldn't bear to scold Jin Ling. She really didn't know what to do with her.
"Oh, I really know my limits. And even if I hadn't gone, you would have gone anyway, right?" Jin Ling sensed the heroine's anger level dropping and hurriedly approached with a smug look on her face. "I know Sanhao best. You definitely wouldn't have ignored Concubine Zheng's situation."
Miyoshi:……
"Okay, you always have a point. But next time you encounter something like this, don't just rush out. You must tell me. We sisters should share the hardship."
"Yes, Ms. Liu. I will follow your instructions~" Jin Ling bowed to her in a strange voice, which made Sanhao reach out to scratch her. Jin Ling laughed and turned to run away, not forgetting to turn back and make faces at her.
Sanhao also smiled cheerfully as she led him. The two of them played and joked all the way, and in the sound of summer cicadas chirping, they passed through layers of palaces and gradually went away.
Half a month had passed since the day when Concubine Zheng was rescued. Sanhao just thought that the Empress Dowager had no intention of pursuing the matter and was very relieved for Jinling. However, Yao Jinling knew very well that the Empress Dowager was not someone who could be fooled so easily.
That day, she and Sanhao were called to the main hall of the Shanggong Bureau. Shanggong Cai told them that the Empress Dowager had decided that the two departments would each send a female historian to explain the matter tomorrow, and she also specifically instructed the Sizhenfang to send Yao Jinling.
Ruan Sizhen frowned and looked at Jin Ling, who was standing respectfully. His words were quite meaningful: "Usually, only those at the director level are qualified to explain. Do you have any doubts about being allowed to do so this time?"
Cai Shang Gong took over the conversation and said earnestly, "You must know that there are no secrets within the palace. Although there is no evidence that Concubine Zheng lost her hairpin, can you cover it up by yourself?"
"Jin Ling has considered this, but saving people is like putting out a fire. If the Empress Dowager gets angry this time, Jin Ling is willing to take full responsibility, even if it means death, and will never implicate the Shang Palace Bureau."
The three men did not expect this woman to be so strong-willed. Instead, they were stunned by her selfless appearance. When they came to their senses, they saw Liu Sanhao also kneeling beside Jin Ling, expressing that he would share the blame with Jin Ling.
Cai Shanggong couldn't help but feel a headache. Among the four departments, the most important one was the Department of Treasures, followed by the Department of Manufacturing. Yao Jinling and Liu Sanhao's talents and virtues were a hundred times more outstanding than those of Ruan Zhong and his companions before.
Besides, this incident wasn't a big deal; they just had to be careful. It was just that the three of them felt that Yao Jinling and Liu Sanhao were one too stubborn and easily broken, the other naive and kind, so they wanted to use this incident to teach them a lesson.
As a result, looking at their appearance, it is clear that the two of them have no common sense at all, and they even want to advance and retreat together.
The three of them looked at each other helplessly, and it was the eloquent Zhong Xuexia who spoke first, her sarcastic words were mixed with wise words:
"Take it all on yourself? Deep sisterly love? Do you think you are nobles? You are just a small palace maid. If the Grand Empress Dowager really blames you, how can you have the face and ability to ask her not to implicate others?"
Cai Shang Gong also shook her head and sighed, "We call ourselves court ladies, but in reality, we are nothing more than handy servants in the eyes of our master. The palace is not a place where you can impose the laws of heaven and the king. There is only one principle here, and that is the Empress Dowager's likes and dislikes."
Ruan Cuiyun saw that the two of them seemed lost in thought, knowing that they had taken her words to heart, so she softened her tone and ordered them to stand up. "It's a good thing that you haven't been corrupted by the intrigues and strife in the palace, and instead have maintained a pure heart."
"Just think twice before you act next time. Don't be careless or impulsive. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Jinling/Sanhao understands."
"Alright, since this is the order from the Grand Empress Dowager, you must be fully prepared. You must not lose your composure or cause any unnecessary complications."
"yes".
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