flstandardbreds Chapter 154 Lin's Mother 2
Chapter 154 Lin's Mother 2
After talking for a while, Su Ye offered a cup of tea. An Lingrong took it and handed it to her mother personally. "Mother, are you adjusting to life in the capital?"
Lin's mother opened the lid. The tea was emerald green in color, rich in aroma, and shaped like a sparrow's tongue. After taking a sip, she found it tasted fresh and mellow. It was the best pre-rain Longjing tea.
It seems that her daughter can still live in the palace, and Mother Lin feels a little relieved.
"It's not that I'm not used to it, but..." Mother Lin hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Madam Shen is very kind to our family. She's thoughtful and considerate of everything. She even helped me with all the arrangements for my visit to the palace today. I'm a little nervous and worried that I might cause you trouble."
An Lingrong smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, mother. Concubine Hui and I are like sisters. It's only natural for her mother to take care of you. Just live your life well, mother. I will remember this friendship."
Seeing her daughter say this, Lin's mother finally felt relieved and said something else, "Daughter, I have something to discuss with you!"
"Mother, please speak!"
Mother Lin was a little shy and pursed her lips before saying, "When I first came to the capital, I gave Madam Shen a few handkerchiefs I embroidered myself. Madam Shen said that my embroidery skills were excellent and wanted to invite me to her embroidery workshop to teach some techniques to the embroiderers. I haven't agreed to her request yet, so I wanted to ask for your opinion."
Mrs. Shen has found a job for my mother!
An Lingrong asked, "Then is mother willing to go?"
Mother Lin murmured in silence. An Lingrong took her hand and asked again, "Mother, are you willing to go?"
Aunt Xiao, who was standing next to her, felt a little anxious when she saw her mistress's submissive appearance and wanted to step forward to speak up for her mistress, but An Lingrong gently waved her hand.
"Mother!" She called her mother in a gentle and sweet voice.
Mother Lin slowly raised her head, looked at her daughter's expression, and nodded slightly.
She had been dealing with embroidery thread and needles all her life. With this skill, she supported herself, bought an official position for her father, and raised her daughter. Needles and thread had become a part of her body. She was extremely reluctant to sit back and be a lady drinking tea and appreciating flowers.
Seeing that her mother finally dared to express her thoughts, An Lingrong was very happy and said with a smile: "Then mother will go!"
Mother Lin's eyes lit up with joy, but also with a hint of worry. She asked anxiously, "But now I'm a court lady. If I show up in public, will it have a bad impact on you?"
An Lingrong was moved by her mother's words. She thought her mother was hesitant because she was timid and unwilling to deal with others. She didn't expect that she was afraid of affecting herself.
"Mother, you teach your skills to those embroiderers. You realize your own value, and those embroiderers also learn the skills to make a living. It's a win-win situation. In your daughter's heart, you are the best. Even if others say that you are too showy, your daughter doesn't care. Your daughter only cares about whether you are happy and joyful!"
Listening to An Lingrong's words, tears welled up in Lin's mother's eyes. She touched her cheek and said with relief, "Rong'er has grown up!"
The two exchanged a few more words before Xiao Luzi outside the palace reported, "My lady, Concubine Hui is here!"
"Please!"
Mother Lin quickly stood up and tidied her clothes with Aunt Xiao.
An Lingrong quickly explained to her mother, "Empress Hui is Madam Shen's daughter. Mother, don't be nervous."
After hearing this, Lin's mother relaxed a little.
As soon as Shen Meizhuang entered the hall, she knelt down and bowed deeply: "Greetings to my aunt!"
She deliberately called Mrs. Lin "Aunt", on the one hand to show intimacy, on the other hand to put herself in the same generation as her nephew, so that Mrs. Lin could feel at ease to accept the gift.
An Lingrong was startled and quickly leaned over to pull her up: "Sister, you are a concubine now, how can you bow to my mother? Get up quickly!"
Shen Meizhuang held An Lingrong's hand and looked at her with burning eyes.
Now she and Shen Meiyu have already reached a tacit understanding. Looking at her eyes, An Lingrong understood what she meant and reluctantly let go of her hand.
Although Mother Lin was not very familiar with the palace rules, she knew that Concubine Hui was of high status and could not bow to her. She quickly squatted down and returned the greeting, saying, "I dare not!"
"Aunt, please stand up. Since I entered the palace, Rong'er has helped me a lot. If it weren't for her, my child and I would have died long ago. Aunt, please accept this gift."
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune and is protected by the Buddha and Bodhisattvas."
An Lingrong bent over, pulling one person with each hand, but neither of them could be lifted up. She knew Shen Meizhuang's temper, and once Shen Meizhuang made up her mind, she could not change it.
She had no choice but to say, "Mother, please get up first. She is my sister, and there are no outsiders here. Please accept her greeting!"
Mother Lin always obeyed her daughter's orders, so she stood up and politely accepted Shen Meizhuang's greeting. After the greetings were completed, the three of them sat down to talk. "Auntie, did you have a smooth journey?"
Seeing Shen Meizhuang smiling and showing no airs, Lin's mother gradually relaxed. "The people sent by Madam Shen are very capable and have taken excellent care of us. We must thank Madam Shen!"
Shen Meizhuang smiled at An Lingrong and said affectionately, "Aunt, there's no need to be so polite. Aunt, you've just arrived in the capital. If you have time, please come visit the Shen Mansion more often. Nanny Lin just told me that my mother and aunt regretted not meeting each other earlier!"
"Mrs. Shen is dignified and elegant. I'm afraid I might disturb her!"
After a few more polite exchanges, Shen Meizhuang finally said with a smile, "It's getting late now. I've prepared some wine and food at Yonghe Palace. Please do me the honor of coming."
Lin's mother quickly looked at An Lingrong.
An Lingrong said, "Mother, the food in my little kitchen is delicious. Would you like to try some?"
"it is good!"
Arriving at Yonghe Palace, she saw Zhen Huan waiting at the palace gate from a distance. Seeing Lin's mother, she took a few steps forward, took Jin Xi's hand, and slowly bowed. Seeing this, Lin's mother quickly returned the greeting.
When An Lingrong saw Zhen Huan, a delighted smile appeared on her face, and she said cheerfully, "Sister Zhen is here too!"
Zhen Huan smiled and nodded, responding, "Since Madam Lin has entered the palace, of course I must come and pay my respects to her."
The group walked into the hall and sat down at the dining table.
Although Shen Meizhuang was the master of Yonghe Palace, today's banquet was to entertain Lin's mother, so she let Lin's mother sit in the main seat, and she and An Lingrong sat on both sides, while Zhen Huan sat next to An Lingrong.
A moment later, the palace maids filed in and presented the carefully prepared dinner one by one. Now that Shen Meizhuang was assisting in the management of the six palaces, the things sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs were all of the best quality!
Shen Meizhuang picked up the wine pot and poured a glass for Lin's mother herself. She smiled and said, "Aunt, I don't know what you like to eat, so I found a chef from Jiangnan from the imperial kitchen. This wine is green plum wine. Please try it!"
"Thank you, ma'am!"
After the meal, Shen Meizhuang took the things she and Zhen Huan had given to Lin's mother and personally sent the mother and daughter back to the Yanxi Palace.
Soon, the emperor, empress, concubine Jing and noble lady Xin all brought a lot of gifts.