The Xiao family continued to put the blame on Xiao Lan, thinking that Emperor Lin was unhappy with her cousin because of her. Not a single letter was sent to the palace all these years, let alone arranging Xiao Lan to be taken care of.
Xiao Lan was even drowning in tears during the early days of no longer being favoured as she despaired, disappointed in her parents’ shallow love towards her. But later with both her children by her side, she started to become more open-minded.
Now that the news of her regaining imperial favour was spreading like wildfire, the Xiao family also started to make moves. When they caught wind early on that Lin Feilu had accompanied Emperor Lin on the outing, the Xiao Family were already making small signs of taking action.
The Fifth Princess was the Xiao family’s granddaughter, after all.
But when they thought about how the foolish Lin Zhanyuan, whose presence constantly angered the Emperor, was still around and the fact that they weren’t sure how long the Fifth Princess could retain her favour, they temporarily halted all actions.
Currently, their concerns were abated, which led to a letter being sent from the Xiao family into the palace.
Throughout countless nights of weeping, Xiao Lan had this thought in mind: If Mother and Father could just offer me one sentence of comfort and tell me that “you still have us, don’t worry about it,” it would have been enough. Even if it was nothing but a lie, I would have been satisfied with that.
But there was nothing— outsiders, strangers and family members, everyone shunned her regardless.
She sent someone to deliver a letter to her parents, but the reply she received was no longer than a single line, stating that the Xiao family never raised a daughter like her. “Forget about losing favour, don’t drag your maternal family into your own troubles.”
And after experiencing long bouts of emotional pain, she became numb to it.
What her parents didn’t provide her; she showered everything she had, all to her children.
So when she received a letter from home after so many years as she looked at the familiar handwriting filled with words of concern and sweet nothings, Xiao Lan wasn’t as moved as she thought she would be.
After reading the letter calmly, she folded it in half and proceeded to throw it into the brazier that Lin Feilu used to dry her flowers.
When the Xiao family didn’t receive a letter of reply from their daughter, they sent another letter within the next couple of days. Once again, they did not receive any news either. Mother Xiao then worriedly spoke to Father Xiao, “I think Lan’er is still holding a grudge due to how coldly we treated her all these years.”
Father Xiao didn’t bother to hide his anger, “As a child, what rights does she have to bear grudges with her parents? I think that this unfilial child has been in the palace for far too long— even her heart has transformed into a stone now!”
Mother Xiao pondered slightly before she spoke, “Next month is the Little Fifth Princess’s birthday. We will enter the palace to join the banquet, so let’s talk to Lan’er face-to-face when we see her. This child was always soft-hearted— she might just be a bit annoyed; however, when she sees us, she wouldn’t be able to turn a blind eye against us either.”
The breath of spring changed from faint to rich before it gradually faded again.
When the leaves turned green in the late spring, Lin Feilu’s six-year-old birthday finally arrived.
Emperor Lin ordered a large-scale celebration that no one in the palace dared to object, done in accordance with the standards of a state banquet. The Emperor’s relatives and friends were invited and they even prepared gifts for the little girl.
Not only that, but Emperor Lin even personally wrote a letter to the Empress Dowager, who was practicing the way of Buddhism in Mount Wutai. In the letter, he stated that the Little Fifth Princess’s birthday celebration was coming up and she hadn’t been to the palace for a little over a year. Hence, it was about time for her to return.