When Xiao Zian heard that Lin Chujiu wanted to go. He seemed to have felt at lost. He wanted to open his mouth. But, Imperial Concubine Zhou opened her mouth first: "Chujiu, you rarely enter the palace. It's better to stay a bit more and talk. You can also try to taste some foods in the palace."
"Maybe some other day." Lin Chujiu gently declined. Imperial Concubine Zhou was a bit reluctant, but then she only insisted on sending Lin Chujiu out in the palace. However, Lin Chujiu also refused. She didn't want to go out with Imperial Concubine Zhou.
Xiao Zian looked at the departing figure of Lin Chujiu and his mother. The smile on his face had dim. And it took him a long time to regain the soul in his eyes.
Imperial Concubine Zhou was aware of how bad the Emperor and Xiao Tianyao's relationship was. But, she was really thankful to Lin Chujiu for saving Xiao Zian, so she would like to help Lin Chujiu within her ability.
When they arrived in front of Qinghe Palace, Imperial Concubine Zhou stopped walking. The smile on her face remained unchanged, but she said with a serious tone: "Chujiu, you saved Zian's life. I will always remember your kindness. I also want to warn you to stay away in the palace as much as possible." In this palace, everyone finds Lin Chujiu not pleasing to the eyes. Not only the Emperor.
Imperial Concubine Zhou's tone was very serious, but the smile on her face looked relaxed and casual. She only looked like thanking Lin Chujiu on the surface.
Lin Chujiu's looked also remained unchanged, she smiles lightly. "Imperial Concubine, just stay here. I can go by myself."
"I'll let my people send you out." Imperial Concubine Zhou's smile deepens a bit. She then asked a palace maid to send Lin Chujiu out in the palace. With this, those people who wanted to collide with her will have a second thought.
Lin Chujiu didn't refuse this time. She was not familiar with the palace. She doesn't want to commit any taboo rules.
However, Lin Chujiu just walked out of the Qinghe Temple, when the Empress's palace maid stopped in front of her: "Xiao Wangfei, the Empress has invited you to her palace."
After that, the palace maid put on a gesture of invitation. Giving Lin Chujiu no time to refuse.
Imperial Concubine Zhou's palace maid was displeased. She wanted to help Lin Chujiu, but Lin Chujiu stopped her: "Lead the way." The Empress wanted to see her. She can escape today, but what about tomorrow?
"Xiao Wangfei…" Imperial Concubine Zhou's palace maid looked embarrassed.
Lin Chujiu shook her head: "Go back and tell Imperial Concubine Zhou that I went to visit the Empress." The Empress doesn't mind letting Imperial Concubine Zhou know. She knew Imperial Concubine Zhou will not make a move against her.
With the Empress's invitation, Lin Chujiu went to Luan Feng Palace. But, she wasn't brought to the main hall. Instead, she was brought to the garden house. Lin Chujiu went along with them, and just watched the Empress watering the plants.
The Empress doesn't like a lot of people serving her. So, right now, aside from the old mama, no one else was inside.
"Xiao Wangfei, the Empress has been waiting for you in the garden house. This slave can only send you up to this place." Without waiting for Lin Chujiu's words, the palace maid bent her knees to pay respect and then left.
The Garden House was made of glass. The surrounding wall was transparent on all sides. So even from afar, she can see the red and purple flowers.
Lin Chujiu stepped forward, but stopped in front of the door of the garden house and greeted the Empress: "Greetings to the Empress."
"Chujiu, you came?" The Empress answered back and took a glance. The Empress didn't make her wait for a long time. She handed the kettle to the Old Mama beside her. Then, she took a towel on the shelf and wiped her hands: "Come in, what do you think of the flowers inside the palace garden?"
"Thank you, Niangniang." Lin Chujiu entered the garden house and looked around. Then, she smiled and said: "The flowers are beautiful." Lin Chujiu admitted that she didn't understand the essence of flowers. So, she could only use that adjective.
The Empress put the towel on the side and warmly said: "They don't look good now. But during winter, hundreds of flowers bloomed inside this garden house. It looks very beautiful. Bengong will take you to look at the potted flower that just bloomed the day before yesterday. The flower is very beautiful."
After that, whether Lin Chujiu was willing or not. The Empress pulled Lin Chujiu closed to it: "In only two days of effort, this flower bloomed. The color looked extremely attractive."
Lin Chujiu doesn't understand flowers, but she knew that purple peony flowers were like treasures in the East. Lin Chujiu didn't believe that the Empress asked her to come, just to simply look at the flowers.
That's why she didn't speak. She only listened quietly how the Empress praised the flowers.
And sure enough, after the Empress exaggeratedly praised her flowers, her topic changed: "This pot of purple peony completely surpassed bengong's expectation. This pot of peony has been raised in this garden house for so many years, but never bloom a flower. Bengong thought it was useless, so a few days ago, bengong asked the gardener to discard it. However, the gardener reluctantly moved it back. Bengong didn't expect that it bloomed a flower bud not long ago. The flower bloomed beautifully in just two days."
The Empress said it was a flower, but how could Lin Chujiu not understand it? The Empress was definitely not talking about the purple peony, but her.
The previous Lin Chujiu has been sheltered by the Empress before. So, she was able to act arrogant in the Lin Family and in the capital. However, she hasn't been able to pay back the Empress, but she was already branded as useless.
And after that, the Empress completely abandoned her by sending her to Xiao Wangfu. But, who would expect that she will become a blockbuster star? She did not only won Xiao Wangye's favor but also cured the third prince's disease.
The Empress was definitely dissatisfied with her!
Lin Chujiu smiled lightly, her face looked very calm. She acted like she didn't understand the Empress's words. She didn't show any restless behavior.
The Empress also acted ignorantly. She asked the old mama to pass her the scissors and in front of Lin Chujiu, the Empress trimmed the leaves of the purple peony: "No matter how expensive this flower is, there were still some leaves or stems that will affect its beauty. So this time, we can't miss to trimmed it."
*Kacha, kacha.*
The Empress skillfully cut off a few branches and leaves, then handed the scissors to Lin Chujiu. "Chujiu, do you want to try it?"
"I don't." Lin Chujiu honestly rejected. As for what the Empress might think, Lin Chujiu couldn't control it.
The Empress replied without hesitation: "There were things we have to learn for no apparent reason."
The Empress continued to trim the pot of peony: "If you want this flower pot to take the shape you wanted, you must have enough patience to trim it. Bengong always had long patience. But… … once this potted plant took a bad shape, bengong won't feel distressed in discarding it."
*Kacha.*
The Empress cut off a big branch. When a "snap" sound was heard, the purple flower fell on Lin Chujiu's feet. The flower petals were broken.
Lin Chujiu didn't move, she just calmly looked at the flower on the ground, while silently laughing… …
"Ah look at me, bengong is getting older, my eyes were not as good as before." The Empress calmly put down the scissors and reached out her hand to pick up the cut-off branch. The branch was not dropped on the ground, it was tossed without any care: "Unfortunately, this potted flower was off no use now."
The Empress turned around and clean off the dust on her hands without any care.
Lin Chujiu's facial expression remained unchanged, the smile on her face didn't fade.
The Empress didn't show any care, she smiled and said: "Chujiu, are you bored? You know… … there were very few young girls wanted to spend time with this empress."
"It is my pleasure to be with the empress." Lin Chujiu said insincerely.
"You child are very clever." The Empress showed a very affectionate expression, but Lin Chujiu had a sweat on her forehead: "The time is late, bengong will not delay your departure. Someone come, send Xiao Wangfei out in the palace."
After everything was said, if Lin Chujiu still couldn't understand it, then… …