As carriages were not permitted within the imperial palace, upon entering the palace gates, Lin Qingge and her family of three were politely asked to disembark by the eunuchs delivering the message.
"Lord Lin, please follow this servant," the eunuch said.
Lin Qingge followed behind the eunuch, with Leng Ningyue holding Lin Zimo's hand as they walked beside her.
It was her first time entering the palace.
While Lin Qingge maintained a composed facade, the person within her heart was emitting a squirrel-like shriek, akin to Liu Grandma entering the Grand View Garden.
Amidst her exclamations, a poem she had read in her past life surfaced in her mind:
Gilded eaves and verdant tiles adorn the celestial tapestry,
Jade balustrades inlaid with soaring dragons.
Phoenix palaces, clouds and dragons entwined around jade pillars,
Golden bridges and emerald waters encircle the imperial court.
Heavens above!
Compared to this imperial palace, the mansion she had just moved into instantly became an unremarkable courtyard house!
But this palace is so vast, how many maids and eunuchs must be employed for its upkeep?
With that money, couldn't they do something better?
If they truly had more silver than they knew what to do with, they could have given it to her!
As Lin Qingge channelled her inner Zhou Ba Pi, Lin Zimo, also seeing the world outside for the first time, exclaimed in admiration:
"Father, this place is so big and beautiful! One garden here is larger than Little Lin Village!"
"Of course, this is the imperial palace, the residence of the most esteemed person in the realm."
After her moment of reflection, Lin Qingge patted the young child's head and asked with a smile, "Then, Mo'er, do you think this resplendent imperial palace is better, or our old home, Little Lin Village?"
"In terms of goodness, it's certainly the imperial palace. But if I had to choose, I would choose Little Lin Village. It's beautiful here, but it's too quiet and stifling. I can barely breathe. And it's too big; if we played hide-and-seek, I'd definitely get lost!"
Lin Qingge heard this and playfully poked the child's forehead, "Have you finished your homework for today? All you think about is playing!"
At this moment, Leng Ningyue suddenly stopped.
Before Lin Qingge could inquire, a sharp, acrimonious female voice drifted from the distance:
"Tsk, who is guarding the palace gate today? How can such riffraff be allowed to wander into the palace?"
The eunuch leading the way heard this and hastily knelt down, kowtowing, "Imperial Concubine Ruan, may you live ten thousand, ten thousand years. This servant is acting on His Majesty's orders to escort Lord Lin and his wife and son to the Imperial Study for an audience."
After kowtowing, the leading eunuch quickly retreated to Lin Qingge's side and whispered, "Lord Lin, this is Imperial Concubine Ruan Yu, the former Emperor's most favored concubine during his lifetime. This Imperial Concubine Ruan, due to her family's status as Duke of the Nation, is notoriously arrogant and domineering within the palace, and no one dares to provoke her. Moreover, she is the birth mother of the Fourth Prince. Imperial Concubine Ruan's presence here most likely means she intends to make things difficult for you, Lord Lin. Please do not act rashly; endure it, and it will pass."
As soon as the leading eunuch finished speaking, Imperial Concubine Ruan, walking with an air of grace amidst a throng of eunuchs and palace maids, spoke languidly:
"Oh, so you are that Lord Lin who is the subject of so much gossip? From what I see, you are nothing special. One knows you are a county magistrate, but without knowing, one might mistake you for a refugee fleeing from famine! Especially this little one, looking like a destitute beggar. The more I look, the more repulsive he becomes!"
Unexpectedly encountering a mad dog, or rather, a troublesome imperial concubine as soon as she entered the palace, Lin Qingge grabbed Leng Ningyue, who had already clenched her seven-inch dagger, and walked forward with a smile:
"Your humble servant Lin Jingxing, Prefect of Shun Tian Prefecture, pays his respects to Imperial Concubine Ruan, may you live ten thousand, ten thousand years!"
As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face. Imperial Concubine Ruan, full of pride, responded coldly, "Hmm."
Despite being met with a cold reception, Lin Qingge maintained a smiling demeanor and continued, "My humble son is visiting the capital for the first time and is naturally a bit excited. If he has offended Imperial Concubine Ruan in any way, I beg Imperial Concubine Ruan not to hold it against a mere child. After all, while the beautiful scenery within the palace may be ordinary to Imperial Concubine Ruan and your esteemed selves, to humble servants like us, it is an unparalleled spectacle."
Imperial Concubine Ruan, her sense of superiority soaring, curled her lips into a proud and contemptuous arc. However, before this arc could last long, Lin Qingge calmly spoke again:
"After all, only such an exquisitely beautiful cage is worthy of a goldfinch like Imperial Concubine Ruan, who sits in a well, unaware of the world's suffering."
"How dare you—!"
Having enjoyed her way in the palace for years, never having been ridiculed like this, Imperial Concubine Ruan immediately became enraged, her eyebrows furrowed as she pointed at the presumptuous prefect before her:
"Guards, slap his face for me!"
The eunuchs following Imperial Concubine Ruan had just stepped forward when Leng Ningyue, having lost her patience, kicked each of them, sending them flying far away.
Imperial Concubine Ruan, who had intended to avenge her son, was shocked that the other party dared to openly resist and retaliate within the palace. She stumbled back several steps and shouted furiously:
"Y-You dare! Imperial Guards! Someone is attempting to assassinate this imperial concubine, quickly seize these assassins and throw them into prison!"
However, the Imperial Guards did not appear. Instead, an aged woman of imposing dignity and well-preserved elegance walked over from a distance. She spoke with a strong voice:
"Imperial Concubine Ruan, I believe it is you who is truly audacious! Causing such a commotion like a shrew within the imperial palace, have you learned no manners after all these years?"
Upon seeing the newcomer, Imperial Concubine Ruan's eyes widened as if she had seen a ghost, and she was rendered speechless. It was not until the eunuchs and palace maids behind her knelt down, shouting, "Empress Dowager, may you live ten thousand, ten thousand years," that she managed to find her voice:
"Empress... Empress Dowager, weren't you in Putuo Temple, accompanying the green lamp and chanting Buddhist scriptures daily? What wind has blown you back?"
"Does Imperial Concubine Ruan mean she does not wish for this Empress to return?"
"N-No, I dare not!"
"Hmph, I don't think you dare, rather, I think you dare a great deal! I had no idea this imperial palace had become the sole domain of you, Imperial Concubine Ruan! Our ancestors decreed that the Inner Court shall not interfere with state affairs. Who gave you the audacity to trouble a court official? If something important is delayed, can you bear the responsibility? Furthermore, if I do not return soon, for how long do you all intend to deceive me?"
Although the Empress Dowager directed the last sentence towards Imperial Concubine Ruan, her gaze was fixed on Lin Zimo.
"Oh, whose little child is this? He is so handsome. Come here quickly and let this Empress have a good look!"
Lin Zimo, who was best at reading the room, immediately scurried over on his little legs and, clinging to her leg, said, "Hello, beautiful Grandma. My name is Lin Zimo, and I'm almost five years old!"
"Clever Mo'er, this Empress has just ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some pastries. Come, let's go to my Yongshou Palace and try them."
The Empress Dowager said this and took Lin Zimo's hand, preparing to leave.
Seeing this, Imperial Concubine Ruan mumbled under her breath, "Tch, what's so great about a beggar child? As expected, after spending so long in a temple, you find even a dog endearing!"
The Empress Dowager's forward steps suddenly halted. She slowly turned around, her expression unclear, and said, "Ruan Yu, no matter how you threw tantrums before me, I did not quarrel with you. Do you know why?"