Xiao Lan received the news of the returning of the royal entourage, and was already waiting at the intersection. Due to the lack of advancement of communication in ancient times, Xiao Lan was not informed of what happened at the post station. She happily picked up her beloved daughter from Songyu the moment she returned, and held her tightly in her embrace for a long time.
Lin Feilu hugged and kissed her several times, completely melting Xiao Lan’s heart.
At the sight of Honorable Lady Xiao Lan, Songyu immediately thought of the incident in the post station, and immediately buried her head all the way back to Mingyue Palace, trying to hold back the tears. Xiao Lan noticed her abnormal behaviour, and asked in a soft voice, “What is the matter, Songyu?”
Tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes, Songyu knelt in front of her, “This servant has let down my Lady! This servant failed to take care of the princess, it’s all this servant’s fault. My lady, please punish this servant!”
Xiao Lan paled from shock. She put down Lin Feilu from her arms and quickly helped her up. “What happened?”
Songyu explained to her the story in the post station, sobbing the whole time. Xiao Lan’s face turned paler by the second. By the time Songyu finished, her fists were clenched together and her lips had completely lost colour. She looked at her safe and healthy daughter in fear.
Lin Fei Lu comforted her, “Mother, I’m fine. That man didn’t appear again.”
Xiao Lan barely managed to smile. She recalled Songyu’s words – if his Majesty had not arranged guards for full-time protection, and if Little Lu had not been in the constant company of Noble Consort Xi, the perpetrators would have already taken action again.
After organizing her luggage and after Lin Feilu woke up from her nap, she entered her room alone, and caressed her daughter’s head with a shaky hand.
Lin Feilu rubbed her eyes and sat up. Holding her mother’s hand, she said, “Mother, I’m really OK, don’t worry.”
Xiao Lan’s eyes were red, her voice was low, “I’m too incompetent and can’t protect you.”
Lin Feilu patted her own little chest, “I can protect myself, I can also protect my mother and brother!” She paused to look out, and then asked in a whisper, “Mother, have you ever had any old resentment with Consort Mei?”
Xiao Lan was surprised at the question, bewilderment filled her face for a moment before she shook her head, “No.”
She pondered, and said, “Consort Mei and I entered the palace in the same year. We were both promoted to be Pure Ladies by his Majesty, and because of her personality, I had a good relationship with her. But later when I lost favouritism, the people around me gradually distanced themselves, and we also stopped communicating. It’s normal.”
She frowned at her daughter and asked, “Why are you suddenly asking this? Did you meet with Consort Mei during the trip? Did she cause any trouble for you?”
Lin Feilu really thought that her mother deserves the title of a fool.
With her personality, she was not suitable for any harem cold war. Her character would not even last for three episodes in any modern palace dramas. To think that she was able to gain favour and even give birth to royal children, it was obvious that Emperor Lin cared deeply for her.
Lin Feilu decided not to tell her innocent, naive mother her heroic story, but asked another question, “Mother, I heard from Qingyan that Brother was born prematurely because you were given the wrong medicine?”