Liuzhi quickly brought the porridge over as the Empress Dowager watched the little girl swallow a gulp of her saliva in anticipation. As she politely received the bowl of porridge, she started to eat her with a surprisingly proper etiquette. When she was having her third mouthful, she asked softly, “Brother, would you like some?”
Lin Zhanyuan played with his little fingers, “No, I don’t want it. Little sister should eat it and grow taller!”
Her eyes formed crescents as she smiled, revealing two small dimples on her cheeks before she continued to eat.
The base of the bowl could now be seen as the little girl patted her belly contentedly. She also unintentionally let out a small burp.
The Fifth Princess was suddenly surprised and became self-conscious of her actions. Her pupils quickly darted towards the Empress Dowager out of panic before she ducked her head out of embarrassment. The movement made her two side buns droop slightly as well.
The Empress Dowager asked, “Are you full?”
She answered in a soft tone, “Yes, Imperial Grandmother, I am full.”
The Empress Dowager got up from the couch and said, “Good. Accompany me for a stroll, then.”
Lin Feilu hurriedly tugged onto Lin Zhanyuan’s sleeves and led him out of the palace with the Empress Dowager.
The current weather was at its best— it was neither hot nor cold and there was plenty of sunshine. Drops of dew remained on certain flower branches from the previous night and a butterfly was shaking off a few drops of dew as it flew by. Lin Zhanyuan initially thought of the Empress Dowager’s disposition as scary. However, as the Empress Dowager didn’t converse with him all that much, he had completely forgotten about her existence and chased after the butterfly on his own.
Lin Feilu looked a little nervous. She wanted to tell him to return, but the Empress Dowager said quietly, “It’s okay, just let him play.”
She gave a small hum in response. Then, the Empress Dowager looked at her before she asked, “What is that bulge that you’re hiding in your arms?”
The little girl glanced at her quickly before she took out a small box from her arms, whispering, “This is a greeting gift for Imperial Grandmother,” She opened the box and said, “They’re Buddha pills made by me and my Honourable Mother. “
Buddha pills were incense pills made of sandalwood, which could be burned in an incense burner to emit a specific type of fragrance.
Yesterday, the Empress Dowager heard Consort Hui mention that the princess loves to give gifts. Now that she was actually presented with one of the items, the corners of her lips raised slightly, but she didn’t show any form of elation on her face. She took the box and smelled it, realising that there was also a touch of a faint orchid scent and bamboo fragrance that was intertwined with the sandalwood. The combination of the three scents produced a very elegant fragrance that was very pleasing.
The little girl lifted up her small head and her eyes sparkled. When the Empress Dowager focused her gaze on her, she asked with a hint of anxiousness and anticipation, “Imperial Grandmother, do you like it?”
The Empress Dowager did not answer her question. Instead, she asked, “Do you like to make these kinds of things?”
The little girl smiled and nodded her head twice, causing her side buns on the top of her head to bob up and down as well. Although her voice was soft, it was full of pride, “Everytime I make something by myself, I feel very satisfied!”
The Empress Dowager smiled and asked, “What else did you make?”
She stretched out her fingers and counted to her, “I made hand creams, dried flowers, sachets, bookmarks and a little tiger!”
The Empress Dowager laughed as she asked, “What is a little tiger?”
The little girl proudly replied, “It’s a small tiger that me and my Honourable Mother made out of straws!”