Chapter 218 Missed
Lin was given a full medical check-up by the imperial physicians and ultimately survived.
But the imperial physicians were not gods; they could not bring her soul back.
After Lin Daying woke up, she just stared blankly at the cobweb-covered roof beams with her empty eyes, neither speaking nor eating, as if her soul had gone with Xiao Duo, leaving behind only an empty shell with a heart ashen with despair.
Shui Xian was given full authority by Emperor Zhaoheng to handle this matter.
She moved Consort Lin to another palace room to avoid reminding her of him by looking at the objects.
Furthermore, Narcissus ordered people to keep an eye on her to prevent her from doing anything impulsive again.
As she had done in the previous days, Narcissus came to visit after finishing her meal.
Lin Daying remained silent. If it weren't for Shui Xian arranging for servants to force-feed her every day, Lin Daying would have been able to become an immortal and wouldn't even need to eat or drink.
After entering the hall, Shui Xian dismissed her attendants amidst the worried gazes of Yin Zhu and the others, and walked alone to the bedside.
Perhaps startled by the footsteps, or perhaps sensing the calm demeanor of Narcissus that was different from that of ordinary palace servants, Consort Lin's eyes moved very slowly, and her wooden gaze fell on Narcissus.
In the depths of Lin Daying's eyes, there was no resentment, no madness, only a deathly stillness.
However, unlike the previous few days when she remained silent, this time Lin Yingding made a move.
She struggled and struggled to sit up.
Then, she slowly and solemnly knelt down in front of the narcissus, bending over weakly and stiffly, touching the cold ground with her forehead.
"The sinner, Lin," her voice was hoarse like a broken bellows, yet carried an indescribable clarity, "knowing the enormity of her sins, she has no face to see the Emperor again..."
She paused, took a deep breath, and as if using all her strength, kowtowed heavily again, her forehead hitting the blue bricks with a dull thud.
"I humbly beg Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort to grant me permission to enter the Cold Palace and spend the rest of my life here."
There was no pleading, no explanation, only the most humble request.
During this time, Lin promised to commit suicide several times, but was stopped by people arranged by Shui Xian.
Consort Lin no longer wanted to waste her days in this secluded and remote palace. Besides, she had gradually recovered from Xiao Duo's death and finally realized that a concubine's suicide would implicate her family.
Then you can request to be sent to the Cold Palace. In the Cold Palace, when a concubine dies, she is simply wrapped in a straw mat, and the cause of her death is not investigated in great detail.
She wanted to die.
Lin was able to clearly hear her own inner thoughts.
Even if Xiaoduo's death was a complete accident, she pushed her to her death with her own hands. If she hadn't pushed her in her madness...
Lin Daying's face turned slightly pale, but fortunately her head was lowered so that no one could see her vulnerable and guilty expression.
Looking at her emaciated back, Narcissus felt little triumphant satisfaction, but rather a complex mix of pity.
Lin Daying's personality was perhaps a bit eccentric. Even now, Shui Xian doesn't understand why, despite the numerous times she helped Lin Daying, she didn't remember these acts of kindness, but instead only remembered the times when Lin Daying refused her.
But who in this world has a perfect personality?
If she hadn't been in the imperial harem, how could Consort Lin have ended up on this narrow path?
Narcissus remained silent for a moment, and instead of immediately agreeing to Lin's request, she took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her sleeve.
"This is what Xiaoduo left at Lihe Palace."
Narcissus had been waiting for the day when Lin Yingding would calm down.
She handed over the note, her voice calm, "She learned to read from Yinzhu, and her handwriting is crooked, but... these are the words she wanted to say to you."
Lin Yingying suddenly raised her head, and a slight fluctuation finally appeared in her empty eyes. With trembling hands, she almost snatched the note.
The handwriting on the paper was indeed immature, uneven in size, and even some strokes were wrong, but it was written with utmost care:
【My lady, you must take good care of yourself. I'm clumsy and don't know how to speak properly. But I don't want you to drink those medicines. Physician Xu is a bad person, and Sister Cui Zi is a bad person too; they've deceived you. I'm reporting them because I'm afraid they'll harm your health. I don't want to hurt you, my lady; I only wish for your health and happiness.】
This note was written by Xiaoduo herself when Shuixian hid her in the Lihe Palace.
Although she was naive, she knew that what she had to do was to report her mistress.
Xiaoduo also struggled with the decision, and even on the day she finally reported it, she didn't know if she had done the right thing.
But she couldn't bear to watch Physician Xu and Cui Zi push their mistress step by step into the abyss. As long as she could save their mistress, she was willing to bear the infamy of betraying her mistress!
Lin held the light piece of paper as if it were a heart weighing a thousand pounds.
Lin Daying's fingertips trembled violently, and her vision was quickly blurred by the gushing tears.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out; only large tears fell onto the crooked handwriting, spreading wet patches.
First came silent tears, followed by suppressed sobs squeezed out from deep in her throat.
Finally, she could no longer hold back, hugged the paper, prostrated herself on the ground, and burst into tears.
In those cries, there was heart-wrenching regret, endless longing for Xiaoduo, and long-suppressed pain.
She missed out on so much, including Xiaoduo's unwavering loyalty.
Because Xiao Duo's undignified behavior after entering the palace reminded her of her own background, she really didn't want to continue to embarrass herself, so she allowed the Imperial Household Department to send her personal maid and even distanced herself from Xiao Duo.
It wasn't until she lost it that Lin Yingding truly understood what she had once possessed and what she had destroyed with her own hands.
She searched for true love throughout the palace, but never found the most sincere affection that had always been by her side!
Narcissus stood quietly to the side, not disturbing her.
At this moment, what Lin Yingding needs is not anyone's comfort, but a complete emotional release.
After crying for an unknown amount of time, Lin Daying's sobs gradually subsided, turning into intermittent sobs.
She carefully wiped away her tears with her sleeve, then meticulously smoothed out the tear-soaked note and tucked it away close to her body.
Then, she reached into her bosom and pulled out an old sachet that was somewhat faded but had fine stitches.
That was a sachet that Xiaoduo embroidered for her, depicting the scenery of the Lin family courtyard that she had left behind after entering the palace.
Under the big locust tree, there was a master and a servant, and two young girls, gazing at each other with smiling eyes.
She clutched the sachet tightly in her hand, raised her head, and looked at the narcissus.
"Your Highness, I will not forgive you. You were not sincere towards me either."
Lin still held onto the memory of her downfall and went to find Shui Xian, but Shui Xian failed to notice her despondency in time and did not let go of these small things.
"Between us, there is only success or failure, not gratitude or righteousness."
“But,” she paused, her gaze falling on the tightly clutched sachet, her tone softening, “I missed Xiaoduo… I can’t let her down again with her last wish.”
"I will not attempt suicide again."
"Your Highness, please release me from the Cold Palace!"
She didn't want to stay in this palace anymore; it was a place where she had become unlike herself and lost Xiaoduo.
Narcissus promised her that arrangements would be made for her to be sent to the Cold Palace.
Emperor Zhaoheng entrusted her with the entire matter, as he had no feelings for Consort Lin anymore.
Even if Consort Lin isn't sent to the Cold Palace, she'll probably never have the chance to meet the Emperor again in her lifetime.
Lin Ying left without any regrets, following the people from the Imperial Household Department towards the Cold Palace.
There, she will begin a new life.
As Narcissus watched her slender yet resolute figure disappear around the corner of the palace gate, her pity deepened.
She whispered to Tinglu beside her, "Go find Consort Liu in the Cold Palace, tell her about the situation here, and ask her... to secretly look after her and prevent anyone from bullying her again."
That's all she can do.
Consort Lin was demoted to a commoner and banished to the Cold Palace. Like a light snowfall on the eaves of the palace, after Emperor Zhaoheng finished his court session, he did not go to the Imperial Study to handle government affairs as usual, but went straight to the Lihe Palace.
At this time, it was the time for the imperial concubines to pay their respects in the morning. Consort De, Consort Wan, Consort Jing, and others were all in the hall, sitting upright according to their rank, chatting and laughing, but each of them had their own thoughts.
"The Emperor has arrived!"
As the announcement was made, the concubines quickly rose, tidied their appearance, and prepared to greet the emperor, their faces all bearing expectant smiles.
However, Emperor Zhaoheng strode into the hall, his gaze seemingly filtering out everyone else and landing directly on Shui Xian, who sat in the main seat.
Without stopping, he walked past the crowd who were all kneeling in greeting and went straight to Narcissus.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, who couldn't hide their envy, he took Narcissus's wrist, which was hanging by her side, with complete ease. He felt her warmth with his fingertips, his handsome brows furrowed slightly, and his tone was full of undisguised concern.
"I heard that you were busy with the Lin family's affairs last night and reviewed palace documents until late. You looked a little tired. Are you exhausted?"
Emperor Zhaoheng disagreed, saying, "These trivial matters can be left to subordinates; why do them personally?"
His words and actions seemed to disregard all the concubines in the hall, as if he and Shui Xian were the only two people in the Lihe Palace.
Despite the gazes coming from all directions, Narcissus maintained her polite smile.
"I am not tired, Your Majesty, please do not worry."
Emperor Zhaoheng, however, disagreed and turned to the chief eunuch Feng Shunxiang, who was bowing and standing at attention, and instructed him: "Go and send all the jewels in that box that Siam recently presented as tribute to the Lihe Palace. The quality of those items is acceptable. They can be used to set jewelry for the Imperial Noble Consort, to be inlaid on her clothes, or to be given as gifts."
A box of jewels presented as tribute!
It's a newly made tribute!
So casually, they just gave it all to Consort Jin to "play with"?!
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
Consort Wan's smile froze completely.
Consort De lowered her eyes and remained silent, seemingly unmoved.
The other concubines of lower rank didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
This undisguised favoritism filled every concubine with jealousy, yet they were helpless and could only swallow all their bitterness and resentment.
Emperor Zhaoheng seemed completely unaware of the commotion he had caused. He spoke a few more words to Shui Xian, and then, as if he had just noticed the concubines bowing in the hall, he casually waved his hand and said, "Rise, all of you. The Imperial Noble Consort and I have matters to discuss. If you have nothing else to discuss, then kneel and take your leave."
The concubines were filled with mixed feelings, but they could only force a smile and leave in order.
After the morning audience dispersed, Consort De did not leave immediately. She slowed her pace and waited until everyone else had gone far away before turning back. With a worried expression, she whispered to Narcissus, who was preparing to return to her inner chamber:
"The Imperial Noble Consort is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor and holds the palace seal, which is certainly a good thing. However..."
She paused, lowering her voice even further, "The taller the tree, the more the wind will blow. I'm afraid things won't be peaceful in Cining Palace and Jingren Palace. The Imperial Noble Consort must be extra careful and cautious in everything she does."
Her words were brief and to the point, but Narcissus immediately understood what she meant.
However, what she didn't understand was why Consort De, who was close to the Empress, would specifically come over to remind her.
"Thank you for reminding me, sister. I understand now."
Narcissus nodded, a faint alarm bell ringing in her heart.
After seeing off Consort De, Shui Xian was about to go to the inner chamber to meet Emperor Zhao Heng, but before she could even take a step, Yin Zhu rushed in and stopped her.
Yinzhu glanced towards the inner chamber, making sure Emperor Zhaoheng wouldn't hear, before leaning close to Shuixian's ear and urgently reporting in a very low voice:
"Your Highness, our spies planted outside Prince Duan's residence have sent an urgent message: Miss Biluo... her identity has been exposed and she has been captured by Prince Duan!"
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