After casting a glance at Ningqiu who was stunned, Lin Mengya held the vase of peonies and went out of the wing room.
She said, “Let’s go. Take me to meet Madame.”
The Fengyu Court was not very large. After walking through several corridors, Lin Mengya and Ningqiu saw the main hall where Madame Jingrou was punished to kneel.
In fact, it was still peaceful in the Fengyu Court at the moment. Given that Ningqiu did not dare to go out secretly to ask for help although she was as agitated as an ant on a hot pan, Lin Mengya was aware that Madame Jingrou just wanted to smooth things over by swallowing the insult.
However, the Empress bore down menacingly. Even if Madame Jingrou managed to smooth things over, it would probably lead to endless trouble. After all, gossip was a fearful thing.
“Miss, the Empress and the Mesdames are all inside. Let me get in, just in case you offend any of them,” Ningqiu said.
By now, she was a little convinced by Lin Mengya’s capability.
Nevertheless, Lin Mengya looked like a stranger rather than a member of the imperial palace. At this moment, The Empresses and the Mesdames were all present. Ningqiu was really afraid that something terrible would happen to Lin Mengya who was highly valued by the prince.
“It’s okay, just get in and report that the palace maid sent out by Madame has come back to report on completion of her task. You don’t have to worry about other things,” Lin Mengya said with a smile.
Her father had specially arranged a nanny to teach her manners and rules since she was a child. Besides, most of the people she had dealt with in the past year were members of the royal family. So this was not a problem for her.
Ningqiu still wanted to say something, but suddenly, there came a sound of a teacup smashed on the ground from the main hall. She seemed to be startled and ran into the main hall recklessly at once.
“Your, Your Grace, someone asks to meet you,” she said, kneeling in the cold hall.
Lin Mengya only saw that the thin girl seemed to be shivering. Even so, Ningqiu still gathered her courage to rush in to protect her master, which showed that she was loyal.
Moreover, Ningqiu, who managed to repeat what Lin Mengya had told her despite her fear, was much smarter than Lin Mengya expected. Lin Mengya found her a diamond in the rough.
“Hmm? Who dares to ask to meet me at this time? Sister Jingrou, your palace maid really has no manners.” There came a cold female voice from inside the main hall.
The only person who dared to speak up at this moment was probably no one other than the Empress.
“Please forgive her, Your Grace. It’s all my fault. I’m willing to accept the punishment,” Madame Jingrou said in a gentle but firm tone.
Even at this moment, she was still unhurried, neither haughty nor humble.
Lin Mengya was full of admiration for Madame Jingrou’s courage. Given that she could send her infant son away in order to protect him, Lin Mengya thought she must have a strong will and determination.
However, her blind forbearance and making concessions could only make her enemies go even further.
Madame Jingrou could suffer all this for Xiaoyu, but her enemies might also make things difficult for her for their children.
Moreover, Xiaoyu, who was growing full-fledged, was no longer at the mercy of others.
“Hmm? I’m curious what palace maid makes you so protective of her. I would like to meet her. Let her in to meet me,” the Empress said.
She was indeed an expert at finding fault with Madame Jingrou. Although Madame Jingrou had stooped to compromise, she was even unwilling to spare Madame Jingrou’s maid.
Ningqiu got up and staggered out of the main hall. Seeing Lin Mengya holding the vase of peonies, she looked worried.
Lin Mengya gave her a consoling smile, lowered her head and put on a respectful look.
After that, Lin Mengya lifted the vase of peonies over her head and entered the main hall softly and quietly in measured steps.
It was so quiet in the main hall that even people’s breathing could hardly be heard.
Lin Mengya looked steadily forward and knelt on the ground to pay her respects to the Empress as Qingqiu did, “Your Grace, I, Helan, pay you my respects.”
An extremely sharp glance was cast at her and finally fixed on the vase of peonies she raised.
Knowing that the glance was cast by the Empress, Lin Mengya just knelt there meekly and let the Empress stare at her.
However, her staying still disappointed the Empress.
The Empress snorted and said coldly, “I expected a special palace maid, but she just brought a vase of peonies. Sister Jingrou, today you got into trouble caused by a vase of peonies. It seems that you just like these useless things.”
“Ordinary flowers?” Lin Mengya despised the ignorant Empress in her heart.
Madame Jingrou was stunned, as she had never seen this vase of flowers or this palace maid before.
Lin Mengya raised her head and blinked her eyes at Madame Jingrou under the cover of the peonies.
Madame Jingrou was a little surprised. Nevertheless, she, who had experienced ups and downs over the years, was able to adapt herself to circumstances.
“I dare not. Please forgive me, Your Grace,” Madame Jingrou said.
“Hmm? I’d like to know if you instruct her to bring the flowers here in order to show off to me!” The Empress said.
With a “bang”, the Empress struck the table heavily. The people around her were so frightened that they did not even dare to breathe heavily.
Estimating that the Empress was done with putting on airs, Lin Mengya pretended to be terrified and said, “Your Grace, this kind of flower is named Zirui, a precious kind of peony Madame Jingrou specially found for you. Madame Jingrou often says that you are incomparably dignified and graceful so that ordinary peonies are not good enough for you. Only this unique kind of peony can barely match your noble status. Moreover, dark colors are always considered noble in our country. The bright pink peony definitely can’t match your noble status.”
Although Lin Mengya’s voice was a little trembling, she did a good job in fawning on the Empress.
Her blood made the vase of peonies in her hands turn enchantingly dark purple, and it would last for some time.
But after tonight, the peonies would wither. After all, they could not endure the strong toxicity of her blood.
“Hmm? That’s how it is. Suye, take the vase of peonies from her,” the Empress said, obviously interested by Lin Mengya’s words.
Soon, the vase of peonies in Lin Mengya’s hands was taken over.
Not only did her blood turn the peonies purple, but also the peonies’ fragrance mixed with the smell of her blood became a little enchanting.
Ordinary people would have an increasingly strong desire for the fragrance after smelling it. If they smelled it for a long time, they would be addicted to it.
As she expected, the Empress didn’t find fault in the peonies after smelling them.
“Well, these flowers are good. Look up. I would like to see which palace such a clever palace maid comes from,” the Empress said.
After kowtowing to thank the Empress, Lin Mengya raised her head meekly and kept looking down timidly without daring to look around.
“What a quick-witted palace maid. Get up,” the Empress said.
She was exceptionally tolerant of Lin Mengya presumably because of the vase of purple peonies.
Lin Mengya retreated to a corner quietly and made eye contact with Madame Jingrou.
By now, she finally clearly saw the situation in the main hall.
A gorgeous lady dressed in pale red clothes was kneeling in the center of the main hall.
When she first met Xiaoyu, she believed the parents of such a delicate young man must be exceedingly beautiful.
Now her guess was confirmed. Although Madame Jingrou had lost her precious youth as time went by, her air of nobleness and gentleness endowed by time made her increasingly mellow and distinguished.
Under the soft light in the hall, her delicate face seemed to be covered with a mask of innate fragileness.
Nevertheless, her bright eyes, which seemed to contain the moist gleam of the autumnal waves, were sedate. At a glance, Lin Mengya could tell that she was a tough woman.
Only such a woman could go through ups and downs in the competition for power with the Emperor of the Lieyun Empire.
“Did you really find these flowers for me?” The Empress asked.
She sat in the seat of honor, dressed in a crimson dress that was exceptionally eye-catching.
After all, Lin Mengya was just a nobody, so no one noticed she stole a few glances.
Compared with Madame Jingrou who was outwardly soft and inwardly hard, the Empress gave out a distinguished air, but she lacked the calmness and reservedness she was supposed to have.
Even at this age, she still wore plenty of ornaments. Despite her pretty face, the acrimony of her attitude made her beauty less agreeable.
Such a woman was just a shrew even as the legal wife.
No wonder she failed to win the Emperor’s favor. It was her destiny.
“Yes. Seeing the peonies presented as a tribute a few days ago, I found their color a bit frivolous, so I instructed the greenhouse to deliver them to my palace. Helan is the palace maid I sent to search precious flowers for you a few days ago, Your Grace,” Madame Jingrou said.
It was easy to make use of the favorable current situation, and Jingrou had always tried to avoid conflicts with the Empress.
This time, she would rather be punished to kneel than send someone to complain about it to the Emperor, which had upset the Empress.
Moreover, the vase of peonies presented by Lin Mengya eased the situation.
If the Empress were to continue pursuing this matter, she would seem to be narrow-minded.
Although Jingrou was usually reserved, it did not mean that the Empress could do whatever she wanted to.
Thinking of this, the Empress looked away. Glancing at the purple peonies in Suye’s hands, she had to let it go for the time being despite her reluctance.
She said, “Since that’s the case, I blamed you wrongly. But sister, even His Majesty respects me. Although His Majesty allows you to participate in running things in the imperial palace, you’d better not make arbitrary decisions so as not to cause misunderstanding between us.”
“I dare not. I should be blamed for acting recklessly this time. You, who showed both kindness and severity when handling this matter, are really our role model,” Madame Jingrou said without the slightest intention of going against the Empress, which made the Empress feel as if she punched the cotton and did not get the response she expected.
