Inside the front hall, Lin Qinghe was naturally unaware that You Rong stood outside for a long time without entering.
She had pondered for two full days, unable to come up with a suitable reason to recommend You Rong for service with the Emperor. Feeling she could no longer wait passively, she decided to make an appearance before the Emperor, hoping for unexpected gains.
Lin Qinghe called out to the outside, "Mei Lan, go prepare a bowl of lotus seed soup for me. This Princess wishes to present it to Father Emperor for his tasting."
"Yes, Your Highness Princess."
Once the lotus seed soup was ready, Lin Qinghe changed into a more elegant and simple gown and emerged from her chambers. The moment she stepped out, she met You Rong's dark, deep eyes.
You Rong's heart tightened, his expression shifting slightly, as if he had something to say.
Lin Qinghe, not noticing, directly said, "You Rong, this Princess is going to the Imperial Study to see Father Emperor. You shall accompany me."
You Rong swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and replied, "Yes, Your Highness Princess."
Following Lin Qinghe to the Imperial Study, You Rong repeatedly stole glances at her along the way. Seeing that her expression was normal and her complexion good, not appearing unwell, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Imperial Study.
"Eunuch Wang, I trouble you to announce my arrival. This Princess is here to pay her respects to Father Emperor."
Eunuch Wang narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Your Highness Princess, please enter quickly... His Majesty has long said that if the Fifth Princess comes, and His Majesty is not discussing matters with his ministers, you may enter directly."
The Emperor's favor towards the original body once again surprised Lin Qinghe.
She showed no outward reaction, nodded, and said calmly, "Mm, this Princess understands. I will enter now."
Stepping into the Imperial Study, she saw Emperor Zhen seated at his desk, perusing memorials.
Lin Qinghe steadied her mind, entered her role, and softened her voice, saying, "Your humble daughter pays her respects to Father Emperor."
The Emperor put down the memorial in his hand, looked up with a face full of benevolent smiles, "Qinghe, no need for formalities. Come to my side. Why have you come today? Do you have something to tell me?"
"What else could it be? It is that your humble daughter misses Father Emperor. I made some lotus seed soup. These lotus seeds were personally picked by your humble daughter from the lotus pond in the Imperial Garden, so I wanted to bring them for Father Emperor to taste."
The Emperor raised his eyebrows slightly, "Oh? Is that so? Qinghe's thoughtful gesture, I naturally must savor it well. Bring it here."
"Yes, Father Emperor."
Lin Qinghe took out the lotus seed soup from the food box and presented it to the Emperor. The Emperor took it and tasted a couple of mouthfuls, his face breaking into a wide smile, "Good, it tastes excellent! Qinghe's culinary skills are improving ever more."
"It is good that Father Emperor likes it. This humble daughter will often make more and bring it to Father Emperor in the future."
The Emperor's face showed a look of immense satisfaction. He stroked Lin Qinghe's head and instructed, "Wang Wan, have we not recently acquired a batch of fine jewels in the palace? Have the jewelers process them immediately and send all the finished ornaments to Yaohua Palace."
Wang Wan busily agreed, "Yes, Your Majesty, your servant remembers. I will urge them to begin immediately."
Seeing this, Lin Qinghe curtsied, "Your humble daughter thanks Father Emperor for the reward." Suzhou Novel Network
The Emperor personally helped Lin Qinghe up and smiled, "There's no need to be so formal with me. What else do you desire? Just ask me!"
"My humble daughter's palace lacks nothing, and I want for nothing. If I must say I want something, then I wish Father Emperor good health and happiness every day."
"Hahaha... You clever little thing, you know how to please me!"
Lin Qinghe's sweet words made the Emperor laugh heartily.
Seeing that the timing was right, Lin Qinghe pretended to casually mention, "Father Emperor, you are busy with state affairs in the palace every day. Can you not leave the palace? For example, for hunting or excursions. This humble daughter has not gone out of the palace with Father Emperor for a long time..."
"As the ruler of a nation, how can I casually go out for excursions? Moreover, the autumn hunt has just concluded, how can we go hunting so soon? However... in three days, I must leave the palace for a ceremony at Jianan Temple for blessings, praying for prosperity and peace in the coming year."
Lin Qinghe thought carefully. From the original body's memories, she knew that:
The royal family had a rule that the Emperor had to perform a ritual at Jianan Temple every autumn to pray for national prosperity and peace, and for a bountiful harvest and favorable weather for the people.
Lin Qinghe's eyes lit up.
Being able to leave the palace might present an opportunity.
After all, according to common tropes, when the Emperor leaves the palace, there are bound to be assassins. This was a golden opportunity for the protagonist to earn merit!
Lin Qinghe immediately hugged the Emperor's arm and acted spoiled, "Father Emperor, this humble daughter also wants to go. Will you take me with you? This humble daughter also wishes to leave the palace to pray for the people of Dongli, and I promise to be obedient and not cause any trouble!"
The Emperor pondered for a moment. For blessings, he usually only brought important ministers and princes. Princesses and consorts rarely went.
However, the ancestral rules did not forbid bringing them, so the Emperor did not dwell on it and smiled, agreeing, "Alright, you shall accompany me to Jianan Temple in three days."
"Yes, thank you, Father Emperor!"
Emerging from the Imperial Study and returning to Yaohua Palace.
Lin Qinghe accepted the clear tea offered by Mei Lan and took a sip. She put down the teacup and her gaze fell upon You Rong.
You Rong's heart tightened slightly.
Did she... have something to say?
Just as she was about to inquire, Lin Qinghe spoke first, "You Rong, You Yue, and Mei Lan, prepare yourselves. In three days, you will accompany this Princess and Father Emperor to Jianan Temple."
"Go to Jianan Temple?" You Rong asked with slight confusion.
Lin Qinghe nodded, "Indeed. Father Emperor agreed today to bring this Princess along to Jianan Temple to pray for the people of Dongli. As for You Rong, you will..."
Lin Qinghe paused, retracting the words that were on the tip of her tongue. She then said, "It's nothing really. You just need to prepare a little for accompanying us out of the palace."
She had intended to give You Rong some pointers, to remind him to pay close attention to the Emperor, and to protect him with all his might if any assassins appeared, thereby facilitating his chance to earn merit.
But what if things didn't go according to plan? Then her reminder would be in vain. Moreover, even if it did, if she, with her foreknowledge, told him that the Emperor would be assassinated, You Rong would inevitably become suspicious.
So, she decided to say nothing at all, and see how things unfolded then.
You Rong found Lin Qinghe somewhat strange, but upon careful consideration, he couldn't pinpoint what was strange. He could only follow You Yue and the others, saying, "Yes, Your Highness Princess."
"Mm, there's nothing else. You may withdraw."
You Rong said, "Yes, your servant takes his leave."
"This servant takes her leave."
After You Rong left, Lin Qinghe sat at her desk, her eyes narrowed, a thoughtful expression on her delicate face.
If she succeeded in recommending You Rong to serve the Emperor, how could she nonchalantly let You Rong know that her intention was to help him, thereby gaining his favor?
This was another major problem.
Lin Qinghe pondered for a long time but could not come up with a suitable method. She decided to stop thinking about it for now.
The most urgent matter was to get You Rong into service with the Emperor. Only then could she proceed with her plan.