Empress Dowager was born beautiful when she was young and was often known for her very unassuming beauty. Now that she had become old, her skin was slacked and her facial features looked very prominent. Her cheekbones were especially high, showing a bit of a harshly sharp appearance that intimidated others just by the sight alone.
The Empress Dowager remembered that she even scared her own grandchildren and made them cry out of fear. They would cry as soon as she carried them, making the concubines panic slightly.
And as her grandchildren grew older, although they no longer cried and made a fuss, they maintained a very respectful and well-mannered persona in front of her, not showing the slightest sliver of familial affection.
It seemed to be her karma— fated to not being able to bask in the never-ending love and cheers from her grandchildren.
But after practicing the art of Buddhism for so many years, the Empress Dowager had long accepted the fact by being detached, not taking it personally. Thus after reminiscing during a long journey, she finally arrived at the palace that she once avoided.
Naturally, Emperor Lin brought along a group of concubines and royal children to receive the Empress Dowager. When she was alighting from the carriage, her eyes quickly took a casual glance. From there, she found that her grandchildren have grown a lot taller compared to when she last saw them.
So much so, she quickly noticed that standing between the 4th Imperial Prince and the Crown Prince was an eye-catching young girl. She was the shortest out of all the royal children and even had two buns styled on both sides of her head, secretly looking at her with a pair of intelligent eyes.
The Empress Dowager’s other grandchildren lowered their heads out of fear, concealing their dread by bowing out of respect, but only she remained indifferent as if there was nothing to be afraid of. When the Empress Dowager met her gaze, she cowered to hide like a small animal, but her eyes were devoid of any fear and only filled with blinking curiosity.
The Empress Dowager thought to herself, could this be the Little Fifth Princess that the Emperor mentioned in the letter?
She didn’t have a chance to look closer as everyone began to bow and greet her out of courtesy. The Empress Dowager was of an old age and she travelled a long way, so by the time the greetings were finished, her back started to become sore and she went on to the Yiqing Palace. She made a verbal statement that there was no need to greet her should there not be any emergencies or major issues so as to refrain from being bothered.
She just returned to the palace today and was getting tired, so everyone didn’t want to risk offending her. If there was truly something important, they would visit her separately after this.
Lin Jingyuan accompanied Lin Feilu back to the Mingyue Palace. Casually holding onto a flower branch in his hand, he danced around and questioned, “Little Lu, how was it? Was the Imperial Grandmother scary?”
Lin Feilu replied, “No, she wasn’t.”
Lin Jingyuan was not convinced, “How so? Everyone among us juniors is afraid of her. If you don’t believe me, ask the 1st Imperial Brother!” He shouted to Lin Ting who was walking in front of them, “1st Imperial Brother! You’re afraid of the Imperial Grandmother as well, aren’t you? “
Lin Ting turned back and warmly rebuked, “Don’t speak of nonsense. The Imperial Grandmother treats us very well. As a junior, I am only in awe and filled with admiration.”
Lin Jingyuan spreaded his hands in protest, “Listen to that, First Imperial Brother lied behind the facade of euphemism to express his fear.”
Lin Ting smiled helplessly, but he didn’t refute it.
Lin Feilu stretched her hand across the flowers on the side of the road as she said softly, “The point is that I’m not afraid anyways.”
Lin Jingyuan looked at her lovingly before he sighed quietly, “Those who know of nothing are truly fearless.”
The cogs in his mind turned quickly. Hurriedly putting the topic behind him, he turned around excitedly, “Little Lu, your birthday is only two days away. Why don’t you guess what present I have prepared for you?”