Lin Nianzhi had never been slapped before as she was the precious and loved princess. Because of that, she covered her face and looked at her mother Consort in shock, as if she couldn’t recognise her. She then bit her lips slightly, tasting the metallic tang of blood as she ran out crying.
Consort Hui was so angry that her chest was rising and falling heavily. She said in a stern, low voice, “Watch her carefully! Without my explicit instructions, she is not allowed to take even one single step outside of the room!”
The palace staff dared not incur her wrath any farther, so he replied affirmatively in a hushed voice.
…
After dealing with Imperial Concubine Mei’s issues, Xiao Lan’s illness gradually recovered. Because of her good mood, her appearance became rosier than it was before she fell sick, and even her ever-stressed temperament was greatly reduced, showing a vibrant hint of life.
But for Lin Feilu, Imperial Concubine Mei was only downgraded and disfigured. She was still in the palace, and her maternal family’s power was not weak. When she put two and two together, she realized that she had forged a blood feud between her and Imperial Concubine Mei. Like a time bomb, she cannot afford to lower her guard, until the feud is over.
However, now that Imperial Concubine Mei’s influence has lessened, and thus her authority as well in the palace, it would be difficult for her to create further waves or instigate further trouble. Hence, Lin Feilu no longer has to be locked in the Mingyue Palace every day like a fragile treasure of the palace and can now resume classes as she likes.
She went to the Imperial School to attend classes for a few days, but she didn’t see Lin Nianzhi.
After returning from the palace, the Eldest Imperial Sister began to pull little stunts of her own. When Lin Feilu said hello, she pretended that she was nonexistent; when she saw the Fifth princess, she would immediately run away as well. Lin Feilu thought about it but she didn’t know if she had offended her in any way. And when she finally planned to coax an answer out of her, she ended up absent for a few days.
After inquiring about it, it was said that she was sick and took medical leave of absence. Lin Feilu thought for a while before she went back and asked Xiao Lan to help her make a sachet. Then, she went over to the Imperial Hospital to find Meng Fuji to prepare a prescription of medicine which could calm the nerves and aid in sleep. After crushing the powder and filling it into the sachet, she sent it to the Yaohua Palace.
Although Consort Hui would always make things difficult for her when she came over to visit the Yaohua Palace in the past, she could still have access beyond the palace gates. However, for some reason, this time the palace staff stopped her outside the gates with a look of embarrassment, claiming that it was the imperial doctor who explained that the Eldest Imperial Princess needed some peace and quiet and was not allowed visitors.
Lin Feilu had no other option but to have the palace staff give the Eldest Imperial Princess the sachet in her stead.
As soon as she left, the palace staff immediately presented the sachet to Consort Hui. She didn’t even look at it as she expressed coldly, “Throw it away.”
Lin Feilu didn’t know that she was completely blacklisted in the Yaohua Palace. When she happily skipped back to the Mingyue Palace, Xiao Lan was sitting in the courtyard as she was weaving rabbit crafts with Lin Zhanyuan.
Xiao Lan had very nimble fingers— not only was she good at needlework, but she was also gifted with dexterous hands as well. In the spring, when the grass and leaves were lush, Yunyou would pick a lot of them so Xiao Lan could use these flowers, grass, branches and leaves to weave small animal toys out of them.