Because of the assassination on Prince Ray, not only the wedding of Sima Ray and Qin Yunzhuang was postponed, but also the marriage of Sima Ruo and Saichun, the North Di princess, was put on hold for now. The twenty third of this month was a perfectly lucky day for wedding, but only the Fourth Prince Sima Han would marry a concubine. When people knew that whom he married was actually a fool, some of them pointed out in bad faith, while others were concerned that if the fools get married, their babies might be fools too.
This day was also the day on which Qin Yunuan would go to Xiangguo Temple.
“Fourth Miss, Third Miss is here.”
Qin Yunuan lifted the curtain and entered the room to see that Qin Yuzhao’s chaperone was putting on makeup for her. She was a concubine afterall, so she was not allowed to wear a bright red wedding dress. However, the crimson clothes on her had also made Qin Yuzhao appear more graceful and beautiful.
Qin Yuzhao’s eyes were still pure and innocent. Seeing Qin Yunuan, she just randomly found an excuse to drive all the servant girls and the chaperone out. Then, she held Qin Yunuan’s hands and said unwillingly, “Third sister, are you really going to Xiangguo Temple?”
Qin Yunuan nodded and smiled, “The carriage is already outside.”
Qin Yuzhao was a little frustrated, and she responded, “Oh.” Qin Yunuan touched Qin Yuzhao’s long hair, and slowly brushed it with a dark and shiny peach wood comb. Her tone was soft and gentle, “I would love to attend the marriage of you and the fourth prince.”
Qin Yuzhao suddenly raised her head, and subconsciously grasped Qin Yunuan’s hand which was still holding the comb. “I’m not worried about this,” said Qin Yuzhao, “I’m worried that if you get along with Lu Jinghua….”
Lu Jinghua? Qin Yunuan tilted her head. Could it be Imperial Concubine Lu’s name? Or it should be Imperial Concubine Jing now.
“It’s the new favorite of the emperor, Imperial Concubine Jing,” Qin Yuzhao explained, “I’ve heard from brother Han a while back. This Imperial Concubine Jing has a strong background, and she is good at playing a double game. She had secretly murdered countless Imperial maidens and imperial concubines. Moreover, do you know about Dou Xianghuai of the Dou Family, who is coming to the Royal City recently?”
Qin Yunuan nodded.
Qin Yuzhao lowered her voice again, “I heard the servants say that when Lu Jinghua was a girl, she had a relationship with this Dou Xianghuai. They were about to get married when Lu Jinghua suddenly entered the palace, and Dou Xianghuai sweared not to set foot in the Royal City again. If it hadn’t been the emperor’s order this time….”
“Yuzhao, why are you still not done yet? Oh, why did you chase the chaperone out?” outside, Concubine Liu’s sharp and powerful voice suddenly sounded, interrupting the conversation between the two. However, Qin Yunuan already had what she needed to know.
Ignoring the servant girls and the chaperone who were standing at the door, Concubine Liu opened the door directly, opened the curtain and came in. She was still complaining that the servant girls outside actually dared to stop her, “What do you mean by the Fourth Miss is getting changed? I gave birth to Fourth Miss, why can’t I be in there?”
Concubine Liu turned her head and found that Qin Yunuan was actually in the room too. She stunned for a moment, and her expression was subconsciously on guard, but only for a moment. Then, she immediately changed into a warm tone, “Oh look, Third Miss is here too! Now that Yuzhao is able to marry the Fourth Prince, we should really thank Third Miss for it.”
Qin Yunuan disdained to look at her. Concubine Liu and Qin Yuwan are the same kind of people. All they cared about is interest. Whenever there was interest, enemies could also be allies. If there was no benefit, they would turn against them immediately. They were completely different from Qin Yuzhao, and Qin Yunuan was very clear about it. However, it was the day of Qin Yuzhao’s wedding, so Qin Yunuan just stood up and bowed towards Concubine Liu. “Yunuan should go. The carriage to Xiangguo Temple is already waiting outside.”
Concubine Liu looked at Qin Yunuan striding out of the door and she immediately caught up. Concubine Liu always loved gorgeous and bright colors. Today she was dressed up in a flowery way that her tassels were ringing. Her own daughter was going to marry a prince now. Although he was a fool, he was still a legit prince, and he might be crowned king after the marriage. In this way, her daughter would be an imperial concubine. However, she was very clear on how her daughter could become an imperial concubine.
“Third Miss, please wait.” Concubine Liu always kept the most standard smile, so sweet that it was like she was about to drip honey.
Qin Yunuan paused her steps and looked at her coldly. As soon as Concubine Liu approached, Qin Yunuan smelled a distinct fragrance. She looked up at Concubine Liu and sneered in her heart. She heard that Qin Zhi began to get intimate with Concubine Liu again these days, so this was the reason.
“Third Miss, here’s the thing. Now you’ve done Yuzhao such a great favor, and I’ve heard that General Leng had asked the emperor to bless on the marriage between you two. After you return from the Xiangguo Temple, you would marry into Prince Ning’s Mansion and it would be convenient for you to do different things. I’m just wondering if Third Miss would…” Concubine Liu smiled in a flattering manner, kneading the good silk veil on her hand.
“I’m not interested in helping you,” Qin Yunuan interrupted her boldly. Qin Yunuan knew what kind of people she should get along with.
“Naturally, I won’t let you do me a favor for nothing,” Concubine Liu smiled embarrassingly and said, “I was thinking that now it’s about time for Yuwan to consider about her marriage. However, the misfortune of the Shangguan Family had affected Yuwan for no reason. Now, she doesn’t even have matchmakers approaching her. I heard that the wife of the second young master of Prince Ning’s Mansion, Leng Changxuan, passed away because of illness. Now Leng Changxuan is alone. If Third Miss and Yuwan could marry into Prince Ning’s Mansion together, you’ll be able to help each other out, right?”
Whatever she said was about Qin Yuwan’s marriage. Qin Yunuan leaned slightly, and her tone was a little floating,”Concubine Liu, I’m sorry. I haven’t finished my words. I’m not interested in helping you, and I’m equally not interested in working with you. Also, Concubine Liu, the smell of Ningxianglu on you is too heavy, be careful that others might notice.”
Qin Yunuan knew that working with someone like Qin Yuwan and Concubine Liu would be like burying a time bomb next to herself. Just looked at where it led Dou Qing’e now.
Concubine Liu watched Qin Yunuan firmly walking away, and suddenly loosened the smile on her face. She suddenly spitted fiercely on the ground and muttered, “You are just a motherless daughter of a concubine, and you really think that you’re already the princess of Prince Ning’s Mansion. Yuwan can go wherever you can go.”
The carriage to Xiangguo Temple and the crowd heading for marriage left at the same time, one towards south and the other north. While the scenery outside the carriage slowly changed from the bustling street to the noise of cicadas in the mountains, Qin Yunuan was reading a book in the carriage. At the same time, she was also playing with the little magpie ceramic whistle in her hands. She didn’t believe that Leng Changxi would appear if she blows the whistle, but….
Qin Yunuan raised her eyes and looked at the little magpie, rubbing her fingertips back and forth against the uneven mark on it, and suddenly felt warm in her heart.
After a half-day drive, they had arrived at Xiangguo Temple, the most magnificent Royal Temple in the suburbs of the Royal City.
“Be careful, Third Miss.” Ting Xue held Qin Yunuan as she got off the carriage, while Maner immediately opened a twenty-four bone sunshade to cover Qin Yunuan from the burning sun.
The monk who was there to lead the way was already waiting at the gate. As soon as he saw Qin Yunuan’s carriage, he came forward to greet her.
“Benefactress, this way please.”
Qin Yunuan returned the greeting very politely and carried her skirt. Before she even stepped out, an arrogant and aggressive female voice interrupted her,”Oh look! Isn’t this the daughter of a concubine of Qin Family? Nanny, check it for me, have we come to the wrong place? This is the Royal Temple. It’s not somewhere that anyone could come casually.”
Needless to say, Qin Yunuan could tell who it was just by listening to the voice.
In fact, who else could it be? Who else in Qi would dare acting so presumptuously in the royal territory apart from Infanta Shuhua, who became unruly relying on Queen Mother’s favor on her?
Qin Yunuan turned back, and met the pretty sharp eyes of Infanta Shuhua. The mean and sharp look was like that she wanted to skin Qin Yunuan alive. Infanta Shuhua still remembered everything Qin Yunuan did to her in the palace last time. Now she was out of the palace, even the Queen Mother couldn’t control her anymore. She was determined to pay back all the anger she had suffered in the past.
Infanta Shuhua’s carriage was magnificent, with four tall and strong horses, black nanmu thills, and pearl beads. Even the coachmen were wearing silk clothes that only the rich young masters in the Royal City could afford.
“Yunuan greets Infanta Shuhua.” Qin Yunuan greeted Infanta Shuhua according to the palace etiquette. She wouldn’t let Infanta Shuhua take any advantage of her, but she wouldn’t leave any chances for others to get the goods on her.
Infanta Shuhua was as proud as ever, and she didn’t even bother looking at Qin Yunuan. “Now you know about greetings, good. However, I still don’t know since when does the Royal Temple allow outsiders in,” Infanta Shuhua said as she deliberately looked at the monk who led the way, pretending to be serious. “Tell me about it. If you don’t know, ask your abbot about it. There has to be rules in the world, not to mention that it’s the Royal Temple of Qi which is in charge of all the rituals and prayers in the world.”
This monk was stunned for a moment and looked quite uneasy.
Meanwhile, Qin Yunuan tilted her head and said plainly, but extremely on point, “The Royal Temple has been accepting outsiders since long ago.” Qin Yunuan stared straightly at Infanta Shuhua and suddenly smiled, “Isn’t Infanta Shuhua an outsider yourself?”
What she meant was that even Infanta Shuhua was titled the Infanta, that was all because of the merits of her ancestors that she was adopted by the good-hearted Queen Mother. After all, she was merely a homeless abandoned girl, who had no relationship with the royal family of Qi at all.
“You…” Infanta Shuhua glared.
“What?” Qin Yunuan smiled softly, “Did Yunuan say the wrong thing? The original surname of Infanta Shuhua is Wu. How is that related to the Sima Family of Qi? If you’re not an outsider, then what are you?”
Infanta Shuhua only pointed at Qin Yunuan fiercely. Just when she was about to make trouble, she heard the eunuch behind them chanting loudly, “Imperial Concubine Jing is here.”
