Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1436 - 255, Rewards (52)

The Empress, high above, felt a warmth around her eyes, and two large teardrops fell onto the back of her hand. Cui Wei was the Eldest Princess, spoiled by both the Emperor and Empress. As a child, she was a tomboy, climbing trees to raid bird nests and wading into rivers to catch fish. Once, she accidentally fell into the water, and it was in such a way that she had held her, crying bitterly.

The Empress’s complicated gaze turned towards Cui Wei, her heart filled with unbearable pain. The child who used to cling to her was now filled with an equal amount of hatred towards her. She truly was a failure as a mother!

The Emperor couldn’t care about his dignity anymore, having already risen from his seat to come to Cui Ping’s side. He wanted to hold the crying child in his arms, but hesitated, recalling how Xiao Linshuang had just pushed the Palace Concubine away.

"Can I hold her now, now?"

Xiao Linshuang had just exhausted herself squeezing out that obstruction from Cui Ping’s throat and now lay limp in Princess Anle’s arms, nodding slightly: "She’s all right now, but be more careful with what she eats in the future."

The Emperor nodded repeatedly, embracing Cui Ping tightly in his arms, softly comforting her with his words: "Cui Ping, my dear, don’t be afraid, Father is here."

That Palace Concubine looked on longingly as her daughter was held by the Emperor, wanting to step forward and hold her too, but she dared not. At this moment, she could only kneel respectfully, knocking her head heavily on the ground, incessantly muttering, "Your Majesty, this consort is guilty, I have failed to properly care for the princess, I am guilty, I am guilty, I implore Your Majesty to administer punishment."

Although the Emperor was fond of Princess Cuiping, he had little pity for her mother. Today, even though he was angry with this woman for not looking after Cuiping properly, he also knew that a birth mother’s love for her child always exceeded that of others.

The Emperor held the now calmer Cui Ping in his arms and cast a cold glance at the Palace Concubine, frowning as he said: "Cui Ping is still young and would surely be uncomfortable away from her mother. You may redeem yourself by taking good care of her."

The Palace Concubine stiffened, then began to sob with gratitude for the grace bestowed upon her.

Lin Yuan looked at the Palace Concubine with some sympathy, her heart filled with mixed emotions. This woman truly was pitiable. It was normal for first-time mothers to be less than perfect in their care, yet she had to live in a state of constant anxiety.

Princess Anle gently wiped the sweat from Xiao Linshuang’s forehead and gave a slight nod to Xia Yuan, who was anxiously looking this way.

Xia Yuan, aware that tossing his chopsticks had been disrespectful, immediately stood up to apologize to the Emperor.

Before he could speak, the Emperor had already waved his hand, indicating for him to sit down, and in a light-hearted tone said, "My subject’s adopted daughter is not bad at all. She saved our Cui Ping today and certainly deserves a reward."

He didn’t mention Xia Yuan’s previous disrespect at all. It seemed the Emperor truly held Xia Yuan and Princess Anle in high regard.

Princess Anle smiled and said, "Imperial Brother, there’s no need for a reward. Just don’t order that my hard-won adopted daughter be taken away and beheaded, and that will be enough."

Her words were, of course, directed at Consort Liu.

Consort Liu forced a smile, repeatedly expressing that it was all a misunderstanding, while inside she felt extremely aggrieved and stifled.

Though Princess Anle said so, the merits of Xiao Linshuang today cannot be erased, especially after learning Xiao Linshuang is Lin Yuan’s younger sister, the Emperor was even more delighted. He immediately rewarded Xiao Linshuang with plenty of gold, silver, and fabrics, and also granted Lady Liu a decree as a reward for her exemplary teaching of her daughter.

Among the women present, there were not many who actually held a decree to their name.

With gold, silver, and the conferment of a decree, now that even Lady Liu had received one, many onlookers turned green with envy at the Lin family’s consecutive honors. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

However, Xiao Linshuang, the recipient of the honors, did not seem very satisfied with the rewards. She whispered something into Princess Anle’s ear, prompting the princess to purse her lips, smile, and nod her head.

Encouraged, Xiao Linshuang stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and performed a respectful bow, her tender voice ringing clear, "Your Majesty, this humble girl thanks Your Majesty for the rewards. However, I would like to exchange these gifts of gold, silver, and fabrics for something else, if Your Majesty would permit my request?"

Those who had just been jealous were now snickering to themselves, thinking the girl was overstepping her bounds and that her audacity, despite receiving rewards today, would surely incur the Emperor’s displeasure in the future.

Foolish, utterly foolish!

The Emperor had never before seen someone wishing to trade their rewards for something else and couldn’t help but find it amusing. Just as he was about to speak, Princess Cuiping, nestled in his arms, spoke up in her babyish voice, "Father Emperor, this big sister saved your daughter and mother Consort’s lives, please agree to big sister’s request."

The Emperor was somewhat puzzled, "Miss Lin indeed saved you, but how did she save your mother Consort as well?"

Princess Cuiping blinked her bright, sparkling eyes, the pupils dark and luminous, "Your daughter was greedy and almost died for not listening to mother Consort’s warning. This big sister saved your daughter and spared mother Consort from Your Majesty’s punishment. Did she not save both our lives?"

Princess Cuiping spoke with such earnest seriousness that the Emperor’s heart melted. He hugged her tighter and touched her delicate little nose, "So it was Cuiping’s own greediness that caused the trouble! After this lesson, let’s see if you dare not listen to your mother Consort’s words again."

Princess Cuiping nodded hastily, "Your daughter will not disobey mother Consort again; I will not cause worry for Father Emperor and mother Consort anymore."

Princess Cuiping’s mother Consort bit her lip tightly, starting to silently shed tears once again.

The Emperor, pleased, readily agreed to Xiao Linshuang’s request, "Miss Lin does not care for gold, silver, and fabrics? How about we exchange them for jewelry or a Luminous Pearl?"

Despite the seemingly ever-improving rewards, Xiao Linshuang still did not nod in agreement but rather negotiated with the Emperor, "Your Majesty, I do not favor these things. Could Your Majesty grant me things I do like? For example, medicinal materials, medical texts, and the like. I have heard from my master that there are many rare medicinal ingredients in the palace not found anywhere else, as well as many precious unique volumes. I am not greedy and will not take those unique volumes away. I only request Your Majesty’s permission to visit the Book Pavilion."

While Xiao Linshuang was speaking, the little palace maid who had gone to summon the Imperial Physician returned with him. The physician was not young anymore, his hair already white. Upon entering the hall, he heard a young girl express her wish to visit the Book Pavilion to read medical books, which astonished him, for the Book Pavilion contained almost all of Dayong’s precious books. It was not just any girl with an unknown background who could wish to go there—even many of them, who had spent years in the Imperial Medical Bureau, did not always have the opportunity to peruse its collection.

Just as he was sure the Emperor would refuse, he heard the Emperor let out a hearty laugh and readily agree.