Lin Jingyuan would always put on fierce appearances like this one, which made Mu Tingyun a little scared at first, but now, she was not scared in the slightest. She pursed her lips and smiled, rubbing her head obediently against his neck. Her entire body was soft, and even her hair was unbelievably smooth, tickling his heart as he felt her rubbing against the crook of his neck.

The news that His Highness King Jing showed his affection towards his Princess Consort in public on the day they returned home quickly spread. After all, he was the nation’s talk when he resisted proceeding with his marriage plans. Unexpectedly, his attitude took a big turn after marriage. It was practically a slap to the face for him but also a slap to the face for those who gossiped about the fact that he would have countless concubines.

Lin Feilu, who heard about this, thought to herself the Law of Hypocrisy(1) might be late, but it would never be absent.

(T/N: In Chinese, this term describes the phenomenon when someone tries their best to do/ not do something, but they end up doing the opposite of what they preached. Basically, hypocrisy.)

She knew since the Emperor liked his Fourth Prince that much, how could he force a marriage on him without taking his likes into account? He would definitely find someone that suited his son’s taste right down to the T.

As expected of both father and son!

Once Lin Jingyuan got married, Lin Feilu had nothing else to do every day. She then devoted herself to developing her brothers’ wives into her close friends and spent every day surrounded in bliss. The only downside was that Emperor Lin would occasionally summon her into the palace to pick a husband.

Time flew into winter, and one morning before dawn, Lin Feilu was still asleep when she suddenly heard nine death knell (2) rang.

(T/N:Death knell is the ringing of a church bell to announce the death of members of the royal family)

To hear seven tolls would mean that the Emperor had passed, whereas nine tolls signaled the passing of the Empress Dowager.

Lin Feilu suddenly jolted up from the bed.

At the same time, Songyu also hurried into the house, and Lin Feilu asked nervously, “Did you hear that, Songyu?”

Songyu nodded slowly, “Princess, it’s the Empress Dowager…”

Lin Feilu’s heart seemed to tighten, and she couldn’t catch her breath for a few seconds.

Songyu brought some clothes over, choked up, and said, “Princess, you should get dressed. It’s time to enter the palace.”

In the 49th year of the Tianyuan era of the Great Lin Empire, the Empress Dowager passed away, and the entire country mourned.

The Empress Dowager passed away on Mount Wutai without any illness or accident. The night before, she was still smiling and listening to the lectures of the eminent monks, but when Nanny Liuzhi entered her chambers the following day, she was already gone.

According to modern times, it would be classified as a joyous death.

The news reached the capital immediately, and after the death knell rang nine times in the palace, preparations for the Empress Dowager’s funeral began. Crown Prince Lin Qing and King Jing, Lin Jingyuan, rushed to Mount Wutai for her final send-off.

Lin Feilu entered the palace that morning. Followed by a series of complicated funeral ceremonies. She was so busy that she didn’t even have the time to be sad. After a few days, Lin Ting also rushed back. When the Empress Dowager’s coffin reached the capital, he, too, joined the send-off to express his condolences.

Lin Feilu had never experienced the death of a loved one.

When she was involved in the car accident back then, her grandparents were still alive.