The Empress Dowager thought that the Princess, who would be conferred the title of Empress upon marriage and also grew up with Song Jinglan, would be prideful since she had received imperial favour. The elder woman originally wanted to put down her air and prestige, but seeing that she was so well-behaved, she could not say anything more. Therefore, she ordered the palace servant next to her, “Give her a seat.”
Lin Feilu sat down obediently, neither looking around nor moving about. She just sat there for a while before she suddenly heard the Empress Dowager ask her, “I heard that you and His Majesty have known each other many years ago?”
Then, Lin Feilu raised her head. With curved lips, she replied, “Yes, I have known His Majesty since I was a child.”
The Empress Dowager asked, “How did you two meet?”
Lin Feilu tilted her head and thought for a while before smiling and saying, “His Majesty lived in Cuizhu Villa at that time and I liked fishing by the pond. I happened to pass by the Cuizhu Villa after I went fishing, so I shared my catch with His Majesty. Gradually, we started getting to know each other better after that day.”
Listening to her innocent and pure tone, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help imagining her son’s childhood life along with her words.
The mother-son duo had been separated for many years, so she didn’t recognise him when he returned to the Song Empire.
The previous Emperor was seriously ill when her son first returned. The government was in chaos, several Princes seized the chance for the throne, and dangerous incidents occurred everywhere. She didn’t have the time or even the thought to care about what he had gone through for more than a decade. After successfully ascending the throne, she became the Empress Dowager. By then, even though she wanted to get closer to her son, she realised that there was already a natural rift between them.
He revealed nothing about his life in the Great Lin Empire.
He was not close to her because of her sternness when he was but a child. And at present, he was nothing but a stranger.
The Empress Dowager was absent from the most important stage of his life, so she couldn’t even inquire about it.
At this time, the girl’s brisk and joyful voice was like the ink that filled a blank scroll with contents as it filled in a piece of her that she didn’t realise was missing.
“There is a large bamboo forest in front of the Cuizhu Villa. Every spring, fresh bamboo shoots will grow on the ground. His Majesty would dig the bamboo shoots whereas I will go fishing. Then, we will cook the bamboo shoots and fish together.”
“His Majesty and I also sit in the first row of the Imperial School. Sometimes, when I am too sleepy and doze off in class, His Majesty will help me look out for the mentor. When I am called to answer questions, he would also secretly write the answers for me.”
The Empress Dowager couldn’t help laughing, “Then the mentor should punish both of you together.”
Lin Feilu smiled sheepishly.
Lin Feilu ended up talking for half an hour before finally wetting her lips. The Empress Dowager saw that and ordered, “Serve some tea for the Princess.”
Lin Feilu smiled obediently, “Thank you, Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager looked at the girl for a while. When Lin Feilu finished drinking the tea, the elder shook her head with a smile and sighed, “No wonder why the Emperor likes you.”
The Empress Dowager thought that the Princess, who would be conferred the title of Empress upon marriage and also grew up with Song Jinglan, would be prideful since she had received imperial favour. The elder woman originally wanted to put down her air and prestige, but seeing that she was so well-behaved, she could not say anything more. Therefore, she ordered the palace servant next to her, “Give her a seat.”
Lin Feilu sat down obediently, neither looking around nor moving about. She just sat there for a while before she suddenly heard the Empress Dowager ask her, “I heard that you and His Majesty have known each other many years ago?”
Then, Lin Feilu raised her head. With curved lips, she replied, “Yes, I have known His Majesty since I was a child.”
The Empress Dowager asked, “How did you two meet?”
Lin Feilu tilted her head and thought for a while before smiling and saying, “His Majesty lived in Cuizhu Villa at that time and I liked fishing by the pond. I happened to pass by the Cuizhu Villa after I went fishing, so I shared my catch with His Majesty. Gradually, we started getting to know each other better after that day.”
Listening to her innocent and pure tone, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help imagining her son’s childhood life along with her words.
The mother-son duo had been separated for many years, so she didn’t recognise him when he returned to the Song Empire.
The previous Emperor was seriously ill when her son first returned. The government was in chaos, several Princes seized the chance for the throne, and dangerous incidents occurred everywhere. She didn’t have the time or even the thought to care about what he had gone through for more than a decade. After successfully ascending the throne, she became the Empress Dowager. By then, even though she wanted to get closer to her son, she realised that there was already a natural rift between them.
He revealed nothing about his life in the Great Lin Empire.
He was not close to her because of her sternness when he was but a child. And at present, he was nothing but a stranger.
The Empress Dowager was absent from the most important stage of his life, so she couldn’t even inquire about it.
At this time, the girl’s brisk and joyful voice was like the ink that filled a blank scroll with contents as it filled in a piece of her that she didn’t realise was missing.
“There is a large bamboo forest in front of the Cuizhu Villa. Every spring, fresh bamboo shoots will grow on the ground. His Majesty would dig the bamboo shoots whereas I will go fishing. Then, we will cook the bamboo shoots and fish together.”
“His Majesty and I also sit in the first row of the Imperial School. Sometimes, when I am too sleepy and doze off in class, His Majesty will help me look out for the mentor. When I am called to answer questions, he would also secretly write the answers for me.”
The Empress Dowager couldn’t help laughing, “Then the mentor should punish both of you together.”
Lin Feilu smiled sheepishly.
Lin Feilu ended up talking for half an hour before finally wetting her lips. The Empress Dowager saw that and ordered, “Serve some tea for the Princess.”
Lin Feilu smiled obediently, “Thank you, Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager looked at the girl for a while. When Lin Feilu finished drinking the tea, the elder shook her head with a smile and sighed, “No wonder why the Emperor likes you.”
