Chapter Ninety-Eight: Returning

Lin Jiwang suddenly realized that, in serving here, Lin Miaomiao had to carry herself with neither servility nor arrogance, especially when dealing with men of power. If you bowed and scraped, they would not think of you at all; worse still, when they found each other distasteful, they would drag you into the quarrel. Some people even wanted to see the orders placed by their rivals, but Lin Miaomiao had politely declined every such request.

After refusing them, she said gravely to Lin Jiwang, “No matter who it is, no one is ever to reveal the other party’s order or the porcelain they have custom-made through us.”

Her expression was solemn. The instant Lin Jiwang saw it, he understood.

Lin Miaomiao went on, “They have special custom packaging, and it must never be mixed up. Since we charge them a processing fee, we must do our part properly.”

Then she said, “You should know that working in the capital is full of both danger and challenge.”

After a pause, she added, “If you do this job well, you will surely become someone remarkable in the future.”

Lin Jiwang looked at her, then nodded. “Yes, Princess.”

When Lin Miaomiao heard this, a warm smile touched her face. “Sometimes one’s future must be won by one’s own hands.”

She had Lin Jiwang assigned to work in the capital. When Lin Miaomiao came out with Nurse Zhao, the old woman looked at her and said, “Princess, you are a kind mistress.”

Lin Miaomiao looked up at her and said, “Nurse, one must treat others as one wishes to be treated. Only when you show them respect will they respect you in return.”

After saying this, she got straight into the carriage and told the driver, “To the braised-food shop.”

She then sat with her eyes closed as the carriage carried her there.

Although Lin Miaomiao’s own shop sold braised foods, it also handled other goods. She went in, looked over the accounts, and told the owner, “When you sell food, you must be careful about safety. Once something has been sold here, if a customer returns it and you have already refunded the money, do not keep the item around or use it again. Throw it away at once.”

After she finished speaking, she saw that the shop was indeed very clean. She took a turn around the place, only to be bumped by a customer who had just come in.

She apologized, and then saw the man take out a handful of copper coins and say, “I heard the food here is delicious. My mother is gravely ill, and I wanted to buy some to take back.”

Lin Miaomiao glanced at the shop’s manager, then turned and walked out. Nurse Zhao found it odd and asked, “Princess, why didn’t you give him some?”

Lin Miaomiao replied, “I think he may not need it.”

Then she said to Nurse Zhao, “Let’s go.”

Seeing this, Nurse Zhao said, “Princess, when you are with other people, you seem rather grown-up. Only when you are with the prince do you seem like a child.”

Lin Miaomiao’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I have to bear some things myself. After all, I have no family.”

With that, she let out a heavy sigh. After a long silence, she said, “Come on. Let’s go back.”

In the imperial study, Li Yanhe said, “Father, I should be going back. The weather is getting colder by the day.”

When Emperor Yongchang heard this, he raised his brows. “You are in such a hurry to leave? My son has grown up, and now even I cannot keep you.”

Li Yanhe gave a mocking smile. “If you do not want me to return, then I need not return at all.”

He looked at the emperor, and the coldness in his eyes made Emperor Yongchang slam his hand down on the desk.

Li Yanhe said, “Father, I never should have appeared in the capital. My presence here, in a sense, is already an eyesore to many.”

Then he added, “If I remain here even one more day, the crown prince will be uneasy, and the others will keep attacking my mother. Why go on like this?”

With that, he left the imperial study. Li Zheng was waiting outside, watching him.

The moment their eyes met, each saw the same indifference in the other’s gaze.

After Li Yanhe returned to the prince’s residence, Emperor Yongchang erupted in fury in the imperial study, lashing out at the servants behind him.

But no one knew why he was so angry. Li Zheng stood nearby, quietly watching the emperor lose his temper.

Emperor Yongchang glanced at him. “What are you doing in here?”

Li Zheng looked at him and sighed. “He was never meant to belong in the capital. His being here will surely stir up a storm of blood.”

Lin Miaomiao looked at Li Yanhe. His mood was far from good. He glanced at her and said, “Pack your things these next few days.”

“We are leaving.”

Lin Miaomiao fell silent for a long while before answering, “I understand.”

Not long after, Li Yanhe’s transfer order came through. As Lin Miaomiao looked at it, she saw the crown prince and the Fourth Prince arriving as well.

In that instant, she suddenly understood what people meant when they said that the imperial family had no affection.

Silently, she felt a pang of sorrow for the man who had fought on the frontier all this time. In that fleeting moment, she suddenly realized that this man of such high rank had in truth lived a life no less small and humble than anyone else’s.

Lin Miaomiao left with Li Yanhe and the two children. Unlike when they had first come, their departure was rushed and hurried.

Li Yanhe took his transfer order and left at once. Lin Miaomiao watched the capital grow smaller and smaller in the distance, knowing that one day she would have to come back.

She let out a deep sigh and said softly to Li Yanhe, “We will have to come back, won’t we?”

Li Yanhe nodded and, after a long pause, said, “Perhaps next year. If I win merit on the battlefield, Father will confer a title on me in order to steady the army.”

His voice was cool and distant. Hearing it, Lin Miaomiao felt a sharp ache in her heart and pitied him all the more.

Looking at the scenery before her, different and yet somehow the same, Lin Miaomiao finally cast one last glance toward Nurse Zhao and said, “Let’s go. We are going home.”

“All right,” Li Yanhe said to her. “Let’s go home.”