Chapter Fourteen: The Noble Person

  Jingyi invited Lin Zhaoyan into the house, led her to a bamboo chair and sat down, then poured a cup of bamboo leaf tea for her.

  "This water is made from snow collected on plum blossoms and boiled, it has a plum fragrance, try some."

  Lin Zhaoyan took a light sip, the cold fragrance of plum blossoms mixed with the clear fragrance of bamboo leaves, sweet and mellow in the mouth, more fragrant and rich than the top-grade Longjing tea.

  "It's indeed good tea, I also have a red plum tree in my yard, I'll go try it tomorrow."

  She smiled slightly and took a sip of tea, savoring it before slowly saying: "Good tea needs to be savored, this plum blossom tea may taste sweet at first but can't leave a pleasant aftertaste, the finish is bitter and astringent, far inferior to West Lake Longjing's lingering fragrance."

  Lin Zhaoyan was stunned for a moment before realizing that his mouth was indeed bitter.

  "Wait a bit and smell it again, the refreshing aroma of this tea will be gone soon."

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Life is like tea, isn't it about being calm and composed? I just arrived and you're already lecturing me on grand principles. I thought I was here to learn a skill!"

  Jingyi shook her head and lost her smile, then lowered her face, "I'm not joking with you."

  Lin Zhaoyan was taken aback, and then she said in a low voice: "Zhaoyan, life is like tea. What you said is right, nothing can be judged by its appearance alone. Just like this jasmine tea, at first glance it looks bright and clear, and the taste is also refreshing, but only after drinking it do you realize that everything is just an illusion."

  "Behind every dazzling appearance lies corruption and ugliness. At this time, one must learn to let go!" After finishing speaking, she surprisingly raised her hand and poured the remaining plum blossom tea from the white porcelain cup onto the ground, the water stain spreading out on the muddy ground, moistening a nearby upright orchid. Only then did she continue: "To let go is to gain, only by letting go can one gain."

  Lin Zhao looked at the orchid in a daze, and after a while, she raised her eyes and said, "I don't understand what you mean, Master."

  "You're a clever child." Jingyi Shitai gazed quietly at Lin Zhaoyan and said softly, "The Empress Dowager's plan to select girls from various noble families to enter the palace, you must have heard about it."

  Lin Zhaoyan suddenly realized, but then furrowed his brow again.

  This matter has not been announced in the imperial palace, but Lin old lady knew it in advance because of Jingfei's presence in the palace. How did Jingyi Shitai know?

  Just as she was in a state of confusion, Jingyi suddenly asked: "Zhaoyan, do you want to enter the palace?"

  She almost subconsciously shook her head, "I don't want to."

  In fact, if she hadn't had that dream, she might have thought about it too. After all, it's just accompanying the empress dowager in the palace, not being a concubine or anything, why would there be so much intrigue? If she could gain the favor of the empress dowager, her status and position would be greatly different.

  She is also an ordinary girl, how can she have no vanity at all?

  Ever since she had that dream, even the slightest thought of it has disappeared, leaving only deep-seated repulsion and disgust.

  Jingyi smiled slightly, relieved, and then said softly: "It's better not to think about it, it's better not to think about it. This deep palace is not as glorious as you little girls imagine. One careless move and your life will be gone! You really think the crown prince..."

  Having said that, he realized his own mistake and shut up immediately.

  Lin Zhaoyan furrowed her brow, she had known Jingyi Shitai for three years and met more than ten times, but had never asked about her identity. How come now that she saw her, it seemed like she was connected to the imperial palace?

  She wanted to ask, but swallowed her words. Jingyi Shitai didn't say anything for sure, she had her own reasons, and she didn't need to pry into other people's secrets, just like she also had secrets that she didn't want others to know.

  The two of them chatted for a while longer before Lin Zhaoyan reluctantly bid farewell.

  "In the autumn of many things, you must pay attention to safety and don't get involved in other people's business, or you'll get into trouble." Jingyi Shitai was very dissatisfied with her for wanting to help Lin Ruoyan avoid trouble.

  In her life dictionary, there are only four words: "self-preservation is wisdom". Helping others, especially someone who doesn't get along with you, that's called being foolish!

  She most admires Lin Zhao's transparent and clever words, but also can't stand her excessive sympathy!

  Lin Zhaoyan just smiled and didn't say much.

  She understood what Jingyi Shitai meant, but she also had her own principles and persistence. She really couldn't ignore the people close to her and let them fend for themselves.

  However, she will never overestimate herself and do things that are beyond her capabilities. If she can help, she will; if not, she won't pretend to be a saint by doing something that would harm others or benefit herself at the expense of others.

  After leaving the plum blossom forest, Lin Zhaoyan returned along the original path and had to rush back into the house before Old Lady Lin and the others returned.

  Along the way, I also met several young ladies from noble families who were going to Mei Lin to admire the flowers. We just nodded at each other and passed by. When I walked to a octagonal pavilion for summer shade, my footsteps were stopped by someone's call.

  "Excuse me, miss in white, would you mind waiting for a moment?"

  Lin Zhaoyan subconsciously turned his head and saw three or four old women surrounding a white-haired, bearded old man beckoning him from a distance.

  Seeing they were all elderly people, Lin Zhaoyan put down his guard and walked forward slowly. He said respectfully, "I don't know what to call you, seniors?"

  An old woman in a blue cotton gown next to her apologized and asked: "Excuse me, miss, how do I get to Mei Lin?"

  "Turn past Baying Pavilion and head straight north along the road on the west side." Lin Zhao replied with a smile.

  "Thank you, miss." Those people thanked and were about to leave, but the old man in the middle suddenly said: "This girl is quite polite and kind-hearted, give her a reward."

  Lin Zhaoyan's gaze had always been cast downward, but at this moment, upon hearing these words, he subconsciously lifted his head to look over.

  This is terrible!

  This old woman is dressed in simple clothes, but her whole body exudes a majestic aura, and at first glance, she is the mistress of a wealthy family. But these are not the key points, the key point is that there is a faint black air surrounding her head, with an inverted brow, as if there is a bloody disaster.

  Lin Zhaoyan furrowed her brow and asked subconsciously: "May I ask, old lady, are you coming from the east?"

  "How did you know?" asked the old woman in blue clothes in surprise.

  Lin Zhaoyan's eyebrows were tightly locked, and he remained silent.

  They say the purple air is coming from the east, but this time what's coming from the east is disaster.

  She wanted to remind him, but thinking of the outcome of that divine calculator Yu Bo Tong, she was so frightened that she didn't dare to speak.

  But if I don't say...

  Lin Zhaoyan gazed at the old man's benevolent and harmonious eyebrows and eyes, and couldn't help but think of her grandmother from her previous life.

  She was diagnosed with a serious illness at the age of ten. After her parents' divorce and remarriage, they rarely took care of her. Only her grandmother stayed by her side, speaking to her in the warmest voice in the world: "Niang niang, don't be afraid, Grandma will be with you."

  But later on, her grandmother passed away prematurely due to overwork.

  A tear rolled down from her eye socket, she hadn't thought about her past life for a very, very long time.

  It's not that I'm heartless, it's just that thinking about it makes me feel pain. The circumstances of my past life were far more painful than this one.

  This is also why she looks at the current situation so lightly.

  "Old lady, you can't go east. Think thrice before acting." Lin Zhaoyan mustered up the courage to say these words and left hastily without waiting for their reaction.

  Waiting until she had walked far away, the old woman in the indigo cheongsam finally spoke up: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, this..."

  The empress narrowed her eyes, and saw that the white figure gradually disappeared before her eyes. She slowly said: "It's better to believe it exists than not to believe it doesn't exist. The road back to the palace isn't just one way."

  Everyone should be like this.

  The empress dowager said: "Su Xin, go and investigate, whose daughter is she?"

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