Chapter 89: A Reunion in the Inner Palace
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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After the banquet at the central palace concluded, Lin Xiu and Marquis Ping’an left the imperial palace and found the Lin family carriage. Madam Ping’an was already inside. It seemed the banquet in the inner palace had ended earlier. This meant Lin Xiu wouldn’t be able to see Xue Ninger and would have to find another opportunity.
On the way back to the Lin residence, Lin Xiu listened as Zhou Jun recounted an incident.
Madam Ping’an sighed. “That plump girl from the Ningguo Duke’s family is truly audacious. She dared to instigate a palace maid to frame someone else at the Grand Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. The Song family and Consort Xian have utterly lost face…”
Lin Xiu hadn’t expected such a drama to unfold at the inner palace banquet.
Last time, his intervention had prevented Song Yuzhi’s revenge against Xue Ninger from succeeding. He hadn’t expected her to persist, going so far as to act during the Grand Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet. A woman’s jealousy was truly a formidable force.
If it weren’t for the Noble Consort’s protection, Xue Ninger would have been the one humiliated in front of all the noblewomen and young ladies of the capital.
But why did the Noble Consort help Xue Ninger? They didn’t seem to have any connection. He would be visiting the Changchun Palace tomorrow, so he could ask her then.
The Xue family was equally puzzled.
After returning home, Xue Ninger recounted the night’s events to her father and uncles. A sturdy middle-aged man, upon hearing how Song Yuzhi had tried to frame her at the banquet, slammed his palm on the table, shattering it. “This is outrageous! They bully Ninger repeatedly. Do they really think the Xue family is powerless?!”
Another, more scholarly-looking middle-aged man spoke after a moment of thought. “Brother, calm down. We will have our revenge on the Song family sooner or later, but we must not forget the Noble Consort’s kindness. Prepare a generous gift immediately. Ninger, you will enter the palace tomorrow and personally thank the Noble Consort…”
If it weren’t for the Noble Consort’s intervention, it would have been the Xue family, not the Song family, who lost face. Regardless, the Xue family owed the Noble Consort a great debt of gratitude.
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The next morning, Lin Xiu slept in until he woke naturally. After breakfast, he first went to the Jiangnan restaurant he had taken the Noble Consort to, packing several of her favorite dishes in a special food box he had designed.
At the bottom of the food box, he placed a layer of hot water-boiled pebbles wrapped in cotton for insulation, ensuring the dishes remained warm.
He then carried the food box and leisurely entered the palace.
Meanwhile, in the Changchun Palace, Xue Ninger bowed to the Noble Consort. “Thank you for your help last night, Noble Consort. I wouldn’t have known what to do without you…”
She had come to see the Noble Consort early this morning, bearing gifts from the Xue family. Men were not allowed in the inner palace, but women could enter with permission from the concubines.
The Noble Consort, cradling her spirit pet, glanced at the earrings on Xue Ninger’s ears. “What is your relationship with Lin Xiu?”
Hearing Lin Xiu’s name unexpectedly, Xue Ninger’s heart fluttered. She didn’t understand why the Noble Consort would ask such a question. Thinking of their past, her heart ached. She lowered her voice. “We… we were once friends.”
The Noble Consort said, “In my opinion, you are more than just friends. Otherwise, why would you be wearing the earrings I gave him?”
Xue Ninger was startled. Were the earrings Lin Xiu gave her originally the Noble Consort’s? Realization dawned, and her face paled. She suddenly knelt before the Noble Consort, pleading, “I snatched these earrings from him. If you must punish someone, punish me. It has nothing to do with Lin Xiu…”
A gift from the Noble Consort would normally be treasured. Yet, Lin Xiu had given them to her. The Noble Consort certainly had reason to be angry. And if she were to be punished…
Xue Ninger didn’t want Lin Xiu to be punished, so she took all the blame.
The Noble Consort rolled her eyes. “Who said I would punish him? Get up. If others see this, they’ll think I’m mistreating you.”
Xue Ninger was intelligent. Seeing the Noble Consort’s attitude, she realized that the Consort had intervened last night because of Lin Xiu. She had seen the earrings and decided to help her.
But why would the Noble Consort help her for Lin Xiu’s sake? Xue Ninger couldn’t understand. Just then, a figure entered the Changchun Palace. Lin Xiu, upon seeing Xue Ninger kneeling and the Noble Consort standing there, was taken aback. “What’s going on…?” he muttered.
The Noble Consort’s spirit pet, seeing Lin Xiu, flew towards him excitedly. The Noble Consort also hurried over to him, eyeing the food box in his hands. “What’s this?”
Every time Lin Xiu came to the Changchun Palace, he brought a little surprise, so she had been anticipating his arrival.
Lin Xiu handed the food box to the little palace maid, Linglong. “It’s food from that Jiangnan restaurant. It’s still warm. If you haven’t had lunch yet, Your Ladyship, you can try it.”
The Noble Consort’s face lit up. “How did you know I was craving their food…?”
She eagerly went inside to sample the food Lin Xiu had brought. Lin Xiu and Xue Ninger were left alone in the courtyard. Xue Ninger stood up, avoiding his gaze. She removed the earrings, held them out to him, and whispered, “I know you hate me, that you despise me. I deserve it. I’m not worthy of accepting your gift…”
Lin Xiu took the earrings from her. Xue Ninger kept her head down, her heart aching, fighting back tears.
However, Lin Xiu didn’t put the earrings away. He looked at her, picked up one earring, and gently lifted her earlobe, replacing the earring.
Xue Ninger looked up abruptly, tears shimmering in her eyes. She stared at him with a mixture of confusion and joy.
Lin Xiu picked up the other earring. “Don’t move,” he said softly.
After putting both earrings back on her, he gently ruffled her hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things to you the other day…”
Xue Ninger quickly replied, “No, you don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who should apologize. I only approached you to humiliate Zhao Lingjun. It was all my fault…”
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Lin Xiu shook his head. “That’s all in the past.”
A glimmer of light returned to Xue Ninger’s downcast eyes. She bit her lip and asked tentatively, “Are we… still friends?”
Lin Xiu gave her a light hug. “Of course. If Song Yuzhi bullies you again, I’ll still stand up for you.”
Xue Ninger’s tears finally overflowed. Leaning against his shoulder, she sobbed, “I’m so bad, yet you’re still willing to forgive me…”
Lin Xiu’s expression turned awkward, not because of her words, but because the Noble Consort, holding a pastry, was leaning against the doorway, watching them with amusement, a picture of a spectator enjoying a good show.
Xue Ninger quickly realized they were in the inner palace. She pulled away from Lin Xiu, her face flushing crimson as she saw the Noble Consort watching them. “Your Ladyship… I… I’ll take my leave…”
After Xue Ninger hurried out of the Changchun Palace, the Noble Consort walked into the courtyard and said to Lin Xiu, “I recall you having a marriage contract with the young lady from the Zhao family. When did you and the Xue girl become involved?”
Lin Xiu explained, “Your Ladyship misunderstands. We are just friends.”
“Friends?” The Noble Consort rolled her eyes. “Do you really think I didn’t see it? That girl’s eyes practically scream ‘I like you’…”
Lin Xiu didn’t argue because she was right.
Some things were unforeseen. Lin Xiu had initially only wanted Xue Ninger’s ability, but he had inadvertently captured her heart as well. While he hadn’t intended to deceive her, in a way, stealing a girl’s heart was more reprehensible than stealing her money or her body.
He might not love Xue Ninger, but he would take responsibility and help her out of her shadows.
Leaving the inner palace, Lin Xiu spotted a lone figure standing at the palace gates, seemingly waiting for someone.
He quickened his pace. “Ninger,” he said, “why haven’t you gone home yet?”
Xue Ninger looked up, her cheeks flushed from the autumn wind. “I… I wanted to go back with you,” she murmured shyly.
Xue Ninger had changed drastically in just a few days. Before, she had been coy and flirtatious, her voice often laced with suggestive undertones, constantly teasing him.
Now, she was shy, speaking softly, blushing frequently. She was like a young girl experiencing first love.
Lin Xiu had had several girlfriends, but only Xue Ninger looked at him with such tenderness and adoration.
Xue Ninger had arrived in a sedan chair. Since she wanted to walk back with him, her sedan bearers and guards had no choice but to follow behind. They both tacitly avoided mentioning the past, chatting as they used to. Lin Xiu escorted her all the way to the Xue residence.
The Xue family was delighted to find that the gloom that had hung over their household for the past few days had inexplicably lifted. Ninger was no longer confining herself to her room. She was smiling more, humming as she walked, and even ate an extra bowl of rice at lunch.
A young girl’s heart was difficult to fathom, but as long as she was happy, the Xue family was happy. Remembering her previous state, they felt a pang of heartache…
After escorting Xue Ninger home, Lin Xiu went to a flower and bird market.
Fifteen minutes later, he emerged, carrying a birdcage. Inside was a blue-crowned hanging parrot.
Parrots, with their ability to mimic human speech, were popular pets. Many people taught them auspicious phrases, keeping them at home or gifting them to friends and family, enjoying their daily greetings as a good omen…
Lin Xiu brought the parrot back to the Lin residence and stayed home for two whole days.
The Eastern Palace.
Located outside the imperial city, the Eastern Palace was the Crown Prince’s residence. Since the Emperor had appointed him as heir, the Crown Prince had moved here. The layout of the Eastern Palace was similar to the imperial palace, like a smaller version of it.
The Eastern Palace had its own eunuchs and palace maids, as well as instructors responsible for the Crown Prince’s arcane arts and martial arts training, and officials who assisted him with political affairs. It was effectively a miniature court.
At this moment, several palace maids sweeping the courtyard heard a series of clear bird calls. They looked up and saw a small bird with a short tail and a blue crown perched on the palace wall. The bird looked at them with its beady eyes and then flew towards the inner part of the Eastern Palace.
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