Lin Qinghe's sudden question surprised Mei Lan. "Your Highness, why do you suddenly ask about the palace maids who served Imperial Concubine Jing when she was alive?"
Lin Qinghe found an excuse without revealing her true intentions. "My birth mother passed away during childbirth. I have almost no memory of her. I want to understand what kind of person she was, so I thought of finding the palace maids who served her to ask about her."
Mei Lan believed her and thought carefully. "Reporting to Your Highness, when I first came to Yaohua Palace, I heard your wet nurse mention that most of the people in Imperial Concubine Jing's palace had been dispersed to various concubines' palaces. Her personal maid at the time is now seemingly a disciplinary嬷嬷 in the Xin Zhe Ku, whose name seems to be...嬷嬷 Li."
Mei Lan paused. "If Your Highness wishes to inquire about anything concerning Imperial Concubine Jing, asking嬷嬷 Li would be best."
Lin Qinghe's eyes narrowed slightly. After a moment of thought, she said, "Alright, arrange it. We will go to Xin Zhe Ku to find嬷嬷 Li later."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lin Qinghe was decisive. As soon as she said she would go find嬷嬷 Li, she went immediately after finishing her morning meal.
Lin Qinghe stepped into Xin Zhe Ku and saw many palace maids and eunuchs busy at work. Mei Lan stopped a palace maid and asked, "Excuse me, where is嬷嬷 Li?"
"嬷嬷 Li is ahead. You'll see her if you walk that way."
Mei Lan thanked her and turned to Lin Qinghe. "Your Highness, let's walk a bit further.嬷嬷 Li is just ahead."
Lin Qinghe nodded. "Good."
After walking a short distance, they saw a嬷嬷 in her forties standing before a palace maid, carefully teaching her how to wash precious silk.
Lin Qinghe walked over and asked, "Excuse me... are you嬷嬷 Li?"
嬷嬷 Li turned around. When she saw Lin Qinghe, she was startled. Judging from the shock in her eyes, she seemed to recognize Lin Qinghe as the Fifth Princess.
After regaining her composure, she quickly curtsied and bowed. "This servant greets the Fifth Princess. May the Princess be blessed with eternal peace."
Lin Qinghe thought to herself: I haven't found the wrong person. She must be嬷嬷 Li.
Lin Qinghe reached out to help嬷嬷 Li up. "There's no need for such formalities,嬷嬷 Li. Please rise quickly."
As she was helped up,嬷嬷 Li's eyes reddened as she looked at Lin Qinghe, murmuring softly, "She's so alike. Your Highness resembles the mistress so much..."
Lin Qinghe remained silent, allowing嬷嬷 Li to gaze at her with deep emotion.
After a while,嬷嬷 Li emerged from her thoughts, hurriedly wiped her moist lips, and composed herself.
"Your Highness, this servant was rude. Seeing how much you resemble Imperial Concubine Jing, I was reminded of many past events. May I ask what brings you to Xin Zhe Ku today?"
Lin Qinghe smiled faintly. "It's alright. I came to Xin Zhe Ku today specifically to find嬷嬷 Li."
嬷嬷 Li was slightly surprised. "Your Highness specifically came to find this servant? Are you looking for me for..."
"My birth mother passed away during childbirth, and I was raised by Noble Consort Qing. I have no memory of my birth mother. I want to understand what kind of person she was, so I thought of you,嬷嬷 Li, who was once her personal palace maid. I believe... you are the person who knows my birth mother best in this world."
嬷嬷 Li said emotionally, "Your Highness, what do you wish to ask about Imperial Concubine Jing? This servant knows, and will tell you everything!"
"Then, let's find a quiet place to sit and talk slowly."
"Yes, yes, yes..."嬷嬷 Li said several 'yeses' in a row. "Your Highness, please follow this servant..."
Lin Qinghe followed嬷嬷 Li to a quiet room in Xin Zhe Ku.嬷嬷 Li brewed some tea.
"Your Highness, this servant only has coarse tea. I hope Your Highness will not be displeased."
"It's alright,嬷嬷 Li. Please don't be so formal. Please sit down."
After嬷嬷 Li sat down, Lin Qinghe thought for a moment and then asked, "嬷嬷 Li, I want to ask about my birth mother's personality. Her daily habits? Details of her interactions with my father, the Emperor. Can you tell me in detail?"
嬷嬷 Li assumed Lin Qinghe missed Imperial Concubine Jing dearly and wanted to know everything about her past, so she didn't think further. She recalled for a long time and recounted everything to Lin Qinghe.
"Imperial Concubine Jing had a gentle personality and loved quiet. She was an extremely kind woman and treated the palace staff very well. When she was in the common folk, she studied medicine and collected herbs from the mountains herself. She did not charge money and treated many poor commoners. Her relationship with the Emperor was naturally extremely loving. When Imperial Concubine Jing was alive, the Emperor loved the tea she brewed the most, especially the lotus leaf tea. He also loved the sachets she made with medicinal herbs..."
Unconsciously,嬷嬷 Li spoke for two hours about the deceased Imperial Concubine Jing. During this time, Lin Qinghe listened patiently without interrupting.
嬷嬷 Li wiped the corners of her eyes, which had become moist from recalling the past. "Your Highness, I apologize. When I speak of the Imperial Concubine, I can't seem to stop. You must be tired after listening for so long."
Lin Qinghe smiled faintly. "No... I am very happy to be able to learn about my birth mother's every little detail from your descriptions,嬷嬷 Li."
嬷嬷 Li was filled with emotion. "If Imperial Concubine Jing's spirit in heaven knew that Your Highness missed her so much, she would surely be very happy."
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered. "嬷嬷 Li, you mentioned earlier that my birth mother made sachets for the Emperor with herbs. Do you know how to make them? My birth mother is gone, and I was young then. Not many of my birth mother's belongings were preserved. If I could make this sachet and wear it, it would be like my birth mother is always by my side."
"This..."嬷嬷 Li's expression became troubled. "Imperial Concubine Jing did tell me the formula for the sachets when she was alive, but it's been so long, I don't remember it very clearly."
Seeing Lin Qinghe's disappointed expression,嬷嬷 Li quickly added, "Please give me some time, Your Highness. I still remember most of the medicinal ingredients in the formula, and I've seen Imperial Concubine Jing prepare them herself. If I try a few times, I should be able to make this sachet... I just can't guarantee that the sachet I make will have the exact same fragrance as the one Imperial Concubine Jing made..."
Lin Qinghe interrupted嬷嬷 Li. "嬷嬷 Li, you don't need to feel guilty. I am already very grateful that you will try your best to make the sachet. Even if it doesn't have the exact same fragrance as my birth mother's, I believe you can make a sachet with a fragrance closest to my birth mother's, and that will be enough!"
"Good! Please rest assured, Your Highness. This servant will do her utmost!"
Lin Qinghe came out of Xin Zhe Ku and returned to the side hall. She ordered writing materials to be prepared and wrote down the details of the Emperor and Imperial Concubine Jing's interactions that she had learned from嬷嬷 Li, such as the Emperor liking lotus leaf tea, and adding sugar to his plain congee for breakfast, and so on. Suzhou Novel Network
She put down her brush and picked up the paper, blowing on the ink to dry it.
A sharp gleam flashed in her eyes.
With this information, You Rong would not only avoid making mistakes while serving the Emperor but would also be greatly favored by him. Over time, she would surely gain the Emperor's trust!