CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: PROTAGONIST AURA

So, Lin Qingqing suppressed her heartache and took out the smallest piece of silver, placing it into the beggar’s hand. "Go buy some food."

Just as Fu Shinian remembered from the original story, other beggars saw this and gathered around.

In no time, the Lin family’s carriage was surrounded, unable to move forward.

The servants of the Lin family could no longer drive them away.

The noise here soon reached the emperor and empress’s carriage.

"What’s happening at the back?" the Empress asked.

Nanny Chu, close by, replied, "It’s the young lady from Lin Siye’s family, Lin Qingqing. Out of pity for the beggar, she gave him silver. Other beggars saw and crowded around, surrounding their carriage."

"Send someone to drive away the beggars," the Empress said. "She has a kind heart but lacks experience, not knowing that giving silver at such a time can cause trouble even if she meant well."

"Yes, young girls can be soft-hearted without going through such experiences," Nanny Hou agreed, then hurried to issue instructions.

Soon after the officials arrived, the beggars dared not surround them any longer.

Order was restored.

Fu Mingzhu naturally heard of it too, and said fearfully, "Luckily, last time you reminded me not to give silver. Otherwise, we might have been surrounded on the street."

"Not only that," Fu Shinian sighed. "That beggar is likely to suffer badly."

"Why?" Fu Mingzhu was puzzled.

Madam Fu explained, "Holding wealth but lacking the ability to protect it means only misfortune."

The Cheng Family sought protection by sending their daughter to the Fu family to be a concubine.

With Mr. Fu’s protection, no one would dare to target the Cheng Family casually.

"It’s the same for the beggar. To him, even a piece of silver is immense wealth. If others don’t have it, they won’t be willing. Beating him up and robbing him would be light. If they don’t know their limits and are ruthless, his life might be at risk."

"Losing money and suffering a beating, wouldn’t that be a calamity for nothing?" Madam Fu explained sternly. "That Lin Qingqing showed off her kindness without considering others’ lives."

"With so many family members of ministers’ carriages, is she the only kind-hearted one while others are cold-hearted? Who’s missing those few pieces of silver? Even knowing that giving away will cause trouble, she still showed her cleverness."

Madam Fu always disdained Lin Qingqing.

Previously, Fu Mingzhu was close to Lin Qingqing, even if Madam Fu hinted a few times, Fu Mingzhu didn’t mind.

Madam Fu thought Lin Qingqing, a daughter of a minor official, wouldn’t be able to stir much trouble, so she stopped nagging, fearing it would distance her from Fu Mingzhu.

But seeing recently that Fu Mingzhu no longer interacted with Lin Qingqing, Madam Fu was relieved and used the opportunity to say, "In the future, don’t get involved with Lin Qingqing. That girl has dishonest thoughts and clever tricks, getting close to her won’t do you any good."

Instead, it leads to one’s own misfortune.

"Mother, I know. I’m not in touch with her anymore," Fu Mingzhu admitted self-blamingly, "It was my poor judgment of character. Now I see her true nature. Mother often reminded me before, yet I didn’t take it to heart."

Fu Shinian thought in the original story, the mother probably disliked Lin Qingqing because she constantly schemed against Fu Mingzhu.

However, the original story was from Lin Qingqing, the female protagonist’s perspective, treating any hardship against her as acts of vile antagonists.

Madam Fu was pleased and patted Fu Mingzhu’s hand resting on her knee. "That’s good."

After reaching the hunting grounds and settling in, ministers went to pay respects to the emperor while the women visited the Empress.

"Which one is the daughter from Lin Siye’s family?" the Empress asked.

A wave of nervousness washed over Lin Qingqing, her heart in her throat.

Could it be that due to rewarding the beggar earlier causing a commotion, she incurred the Empress’s displeasure?

She had hoped to use this gesture to make a good impression before the Empress, garnering a reputation for kindness, but she hadn’t expected it to backfire.

Lin Qingqing, anxious, stepped out of the crowd, bowing her head in salutation. "Greetings, Your Majesty, I am the minister’s daughter."

"Rise," the Empress said gently.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Hearing the relaxed tone, Lin Qingqing breathed a small sigh of relief.

"What is your name?" the Empress asked.

"I am Lin Qingqing, minister’s daughter."

"A good child," the Empress nodded approvingly.

"Though I meant well, I caused chaos. I hope you will punish me," Lin Qingqing bowed her head nervously.

"Since you acted with good intentions, why speak of punishment?" the Empress said warmly. "If we punish acts of kindness, who would dare to do good deeds?"

"Though it caused some commotion, it was because of your lack of experience. Now that you know, will you repeat this mistake in the future?" the Empress asked.

"I dare not repeat it," Lin Qingqing immediately replied.

The Empress asked again, "If you encounter such a situation in the future, what will you do?"

Lin Qingqing lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "I will still give, but not as much. I would give a few copper coins so he can have a full meal, or if I have food, give him that directly."

"You are a good child," the Empress nodded with satisfaction.

Fu Shinian thought that Lin Qingqing indeed deserved to be the female protagonist in the original story, even managing to gain the Empress’s favor.

Moreover, she reacted quickly and learned from her mistakes.

"Making mistakes out of goodwill isn’t terrible, but never lose your kind heart. As long as you learn from it and change your methods in the future, it is good." The Empress praised, "You are good; Mr. Lin has taught you well."

The accompanying ladies heard this and sighed with envy.

Today, a minor official’s daughter unexpectedly stole the spotlight. Everyone knew the Empress was kind, but since this was a royal outing, to prevent chaos, no one dared to promote themselves as kind-hearted recklessly.

Who would’ve thought Lin Qingqing got the advantage?

Lin Qingqing was overjoyed, initially thinking she would face criticism, but instead, she received the Empress’s favor.

She must seize this opportunity.

Lin Qingqing plucked up the courage and said, "Your Majesty, though I am unworthy, I have a suggestion I wish to voice. If Your Majesty finds it unsuitable, could you refrain from blaming me?"

The Empress, hearing her slightly innocent tone, couldn’t help but smile gently, saying, "You are young. Even if your suggestion is flawed, you shall not be blamed. Speak freely."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lin Qingqing said joyfully, "I thought of this when I saw that beggar."

"Under His Majesty’s governance, Great Xi is prosperous, yet there still are elderly without children to rely on and abandoned infants, children unable to support themselves."

"I thought, every year during the plowing rites, His Majesty and Your Majesty work in the fields. So why not set a day each year when Your Majesty, along with the esteemed and family members, visits the nurturing centers and Kindness Halls in the capital?"