Xiao Lan was feeling very perplexed as she was reminded of her daughter’s odd behavior last night. She told Qingyan, “You serve the food. I will go and wake up Feilu.”
She went into Lin Feilu’s room and woke her up.
Lin Feilu was still asleep, and had only been woken up by Xiao Lan. As soon as she rubbed her eyes, she heard Xiao Lan ask, “Lu’er, did you see His Majesty last night?”
Lin Feilu was blank for a moment, then she laughed, “Did Father give me something?”
Xiao Lan said, “The Great Reunion Banquet.”
She got up from her bed, Xiao Lan dressed her, and while she was washing up, she roughly repeated what had happened last night. She did not tell Xiao Lan that this encounter was a deliberate plan of hers, only that she actually accidentally ran into the emperor while waiting for Lin Jingyuan.
Xiao Lan did not harbour any suspicions. She just sighed and patted on her daughter’s head as she said, “You’re born so smart, Mother doesn’t know whether it is good or bad. From now on, you must be careful about everything involved with His Majesty.”
Lin Feilu nodded seriously.
Today’s lunch at Mingyue Palace was a feast. She got her wish fulfilled and tasted every dish. These few dishes were the ones that Emperor Lin thinks were good out of the ninety-nine dishes usually served, and they were still hot and fresh, thus the taste was naturally excellent.
Lin Feilu was very satisfied with this feast. However, at the same time, the Imperial Harem exploded because of this incident.
Who said that Xiao Lan had zero chances of being favored again? Why did His Majesty go to Mingyue Palace to send gifts on the first day of the New Year?!
What was even more puzzling was that the reward was not some precious jade or exquisite brocade, but a dozen plates of food???
What kind of game was the emperor playing? No one could figure him out!
It was not until mid-afternoon that news came out that the dozen or so dishes were not rewarded to Honorable Lady Lan, but to the fifth imperial princess.
When everyone heard it, they became even more curious.
The fifth princess had always been a nobody to the emperor. How did she suddenly come into His Majesty’s view without any notice and also received a reward?
Although it had nothing to do with Honorable Lady Lan, once the fifth princess was favored, and since a mother’s honor depends on her children’s standing, would Xiao Lan’s good days return? The concubines who had oppressed her before were feeling a little worried now.
Consort Xian was very happy to hear about this as she chatted with her palace maids, but even so Lin Jingyuan happened to hear it.
Lin Jingyuan had been trying to figure out what was the cause of Little Lu’s peculiar behaviour last night. Hearing about this news at this time, he remembered how she had stopped talking last night. Suddenly he could not sit still and ran over to Mingyue Palace in a hurry.
Lin Feilu was sitting on the threshold of the palace gates with Chang Er as she fed him food.
Seeing him coming, she yelled out “Brother Jingyuan”, and he could not wait but asked, “Did you see Father last night?”
Lin Feilu was smiling and grinning, but when she heard what he said, she looked startled, and suddenly bowed her head somewhat nervously, with an expression of bewilderment at what she had done wrong. She buried her small head, and a choked voice came out, “Brother Jingyuan…I’m sorry…”
She looked up at him, her eyes were a little red, and the bridge of her nose was tinged in pink. She spoke in a milky voice, “I…I just…wanted to see the emperor…I had never seen him…”
Lin Jingyuan was so distressed, he quickly coaxed her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
She sobbed, “I originally wanted to tell you last night… but I was afraid you would be angry…”