Noble Consort Xi glanced at the little bean and continued, “I got into an accident when I was young and I injured my muscles. It hurts when it’s cold, so I need to always stay warm.”
At first, Lin Feilu wondered why such a mysterious woman, a majestic female general, entered the palace. Now she suddenly understood that this was probably the reason she did not choose to be a general.
The tone of her voice was light, as if it was not a big deal. But if her injured muscles could not even stand the cold weather, then the injury must be serious.
Lin Feilu felt sad and regretful.
Concubine Xi glanced at her again, “What’s that expression for? Go position yourself on the piles.”
“The piles?”
With a signal from Noble Consort Xi, the maid servant led Lin Feilu out to the neighboring courtyard, where there were many wooden posts set up and arranged irregularly.
Lin Feilu was a little excited, “Is this the legendary quincuncial piles?”
Noble Consort Xi raised her eyebrows, “She knows quite a lot.” Her lazy voice echoed from the hall, “Go up and stand for an hour. We will restart the time if you fall.”
This is much easier than a horse stance!
She climbed up in high spirits, but fell down after standing for less than two minutes.
Fortunately, she did not get injured due to the muddy ground, but Lin Feilu quietly climbed up again, feeling disheartened.
And fell again.
She fell so many times into the mud that she could be mistaken for a clay doll.
It’s time to practice balance yoga.
Finally, she completed the time requirement on the pile with much struggle. Her legs trembled so violently that she felt like she was floating on the clouds by the time she was done.
Noble Consort Xi looked at the adorable little bean’s muddy, ash covered face. Her expression remained indifferent, but there was a hint of a smile in her eyes, and spoke shortly in a bossy manner, “Tomorrow again.”
Lin Feilu left obediently.
Although the Jinyun Palace was large and luxurious, its geographical location was not good; it was quite remote. The general preference for concubines in the harem was to have their palace placed as close to Emperor Lin’s Yangxin Palace, but Jinyun Palace was far away from Yangxin Palace.
However, the remote palace had a peaceful sense of tranquility. The traces of winter had gradually faded, and spring quietly arrived. The flowers and trees alongside the roads had shooted buds. Her mood was elevated once more at the sight of the young flowers and plants all the way back to her own palace.
When she reached the junction, Lin Feilu also saw that the bamboo forest nearby was flourishing. The plants seemed to have been nourished by the baptism of wind and snow.
Jinyun Palace was far away from Yangxin Palace, but it was quite close to Song Jinglan’s Cuizhu Villa.
She had not seen the pretty boy for a long time, and she happily headed towards the villa.
Before she got near to Cuizhu Villa, she bumped into Song Jinglan who was digging for bamboo shoots with Tiandong in the bamboo forest.
Hearing Lin Feilu’s pitter-patter footsteps, he looked up and saw the little girl’s bright eyes. He was stunned for a moment, then could not help laughing. He stood up and said, “Was the Fifth Princess skating in the mud?”
Lin Feilu recalled her skiing adventures and scratched her head, “No, I’m practicing martial arts with Noble Consort Xi. I fell when I was standing on quincuncial piles.”
Song Jinglan raised his eyebrows in surprise, but did not say anything. Instead, he handed Tiandong the digging knife in his hand, and took Lin Feilu’s dirty hands gently, “Let’s go and get you cleaned.”