Chapter 643 - 421: Not Necessarily a Laughingstock

Chapter 643: Chapter 421: Not Necessarily a Laughingstock

Song Yunzhao knew Xu Mingying had just offended Consort Shu. The harem was managed by the three concubines. Princess Consort Wan typically didn’t involve herself in management, and Song Yunzhao never tried to steal Consort Shu’s spotlight, so Consort Shu handled most of the day-to-day affairs of the harem.

Xu Mingying wanted to go for a short stay at the Royal Temple. She should have requested permission from the three concubines first, but she had gone straight to the Emperor. It was a good thing the Emperor hadn’t paid it any mind. Had he taken it to heart, he might have assumed the three concubines were neglecting the other concubines and failing in their duties.

Song Yunzhao didn’t put in a good word for Xu Mingying this time; she was feeling rather unsettled herself.

Princess Consort Wan was even quieter than usual. Moreover, she hadn’t slept well the previous night, and her complexion was indeed looking rather poor.

Consort Shu stared at Xu Mingying, her expression cool. "Xu Ji," she began, "you may have the Emperor’s permission to go to the Royal Temple, but it is not as simple as you imagine. Once there, your daily life—your food, clothing, and lodging—must follow the temple’s ways. You will eat vegetarian meals and chant sutras. You must not show the slightest bit of indolence. Do you understand?"

Xu Mingying immediately replied, "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness. If I were not truly at the end of my rope, I would not wish to trouble the three of you."

Consort Shu snorted. "This trip will last half a year. Even if you can’t bear it, you won’t be allowed to return to the palace."

Xu Mingying lowered her head in assent.

Song Yunzhao studied her face closely but couldn’t get a clear look, only a faint glimpse of her profile. Still, Xu Mingying’s expression was serene. ’She must have been psychologically prepared for this,’ Song Yunzhao thought.

Song Yunzhao truly couldn’t fathom it. ’What could Xu Mingying possibly hope to achieve by insisting on going to the Royal Temple now?’

’Is it truly to find spiritual solace?’

She doubted that was the real reason.

But she couldn’t think of any other reason for the moment, nor could she detect anything amiss about Xu Mingying. Today, Xu Mingying’s complexion was a bit better than yesterday, and she seemed pleased that the Emperor had granted her request.

At this thought, Song Yunzhao finally addressed Xu Mingying for the first time. "Xu Ji, on your trip to the Royal Temple, all your affairs will be managed by the temple staff. Hardship is inevitable. You are so frail right now; I fear you won’t be able to hold up on a prolonged vegetarian diet."

Hearing Ming Fei’s words, Xu Mingying looked up at her. Yesterday, Yaohua Palace had returned the thank-you gift she had sent, stating it was the Emperor’s order. This had left her feeling uneasy. Now, as she met Ming Fei’s gaze, her heart skipped a beat. She then replied, "I understand. Even if my health is poor, I can persevere. Besides, if so many others can live well in the temple, I can too."

Song Yunzhao raised an eyebrow and gave a disdainful smile, then said no more.

’It seems Xu Mingying has made up her mind.’ She turned to Consort Shu and said, "I have no particular opinion on this. Since Xu Ji wishes to go, I will naturally help her fulfill her desire."

Princess Consort Wan nodded in agreement. "Ming Fei is right. It is a trivial matter. Since the Emperor has already given his word, we should just let Xu Ji go."

The Royal Temple was no paradise. Once Xu Ji was there, she would find out just how difficult life could be.

Princess Consort Wan had once stayed in a nunnery with her mother. The nuns had to attend morning and evening services, clean the temple grounds, and copy sutras as offerings. It was rare to have a moment of leisure in a day.

Only those who had never been would imagine such a place to be a tranquil sanctuary with a leisurely pace of life. They didn’t realize that in a place of Buddhist practice, the rules were, in fact, even more stringent.

Seeing that neither of them objected, Consort Shu said to Xu Mingying, "In that case, you may go." She then looked at her attendant. "Take the token and escort Xu Ji part of the way."

Yunshang curtsied. "Yes. I will go at once."

Yunshang fetched the token and approached Xu Ji. "Mistress, we should go now."

Xu Ji curtsied to the three concubines to take her leave before following Yunshang outside.

As soon as she was gone, Princess Consort Wan said listlessly, "I have no idea what that Xu Ji is thinking. I’m afraid she’s in for a bitter lesson."

With a look of displeasure, Consort Shu said, "Who cares what she’s thinking. Once she’s in a place like that, she has to stay put. No matter how bitter it gets, she can’t come back in the middle of her term."

In any case, she had no intention of pleading on her behalf. Xu Ji’s conduct this time had greatly displeased her.

’Plead for her?’

’In her dreams.’

In front of Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan, Song Yunzhao said nothing more than, "Since she dared to make such a request, she must be prepared. She won’t necessarily become a laughingstock for everyone to see."

"Who cares what happens to her," Consort Shu said dismissively. "However, now that she’s gone, this matter can’t be kept under wraps. After all, Xu Ji went to the temple because she couldn’t recover properly in the palace. Someone has to make sure people know the real story."

Song Yunzhao understood immediately. Consort Shu intended to use Xu Mingying’s departure for the Royal Temple to stir up some trouble for the Empress Dowager. After all, the Empress Dowager was the root cause of Xu Mingying’s poor health.

Consort Shu would surely spare no effort to vex the residents of Shouci Palace.

Song Yunzhao was right. Consort Shu had no intention of keeping Xu Mingying’s departure a secret. The news spread through the palace like wildfire, and soon, the reason she was going to the Royal Temple was also common knowledge. Now, things were getting lively over at Shouci Palace.

When Song Yunzhao heard the Empress Dowager had sent Nanny Yao to Cuiwei Palace, she couldn’t help but chuckle. ’I wonder what kind of look is on Consort Shu’s face right now,’ she thought. ’It must be a real picture.’

As news of Xu Mingying’s trip to the Royal Temple spread through the harem, Feng Yunjin took time out of her busy schedule to visit Yaohua Palace.

Song Yunzhao was happy to see her. "Why have you come by yourself?"

She was so used to seeing the four of them together that Feng Yunjin’s solo visit felt a little strange.

Feng Yunjin first paid her respects before speaking. "Business at Baozhuang Building and Treasure Pearl Building has been excellent recently. Everyone’s so busy with the shops that it’s become difficult to get together."

Song Yunzhao was delighted. The better the shops did, the better it was for her.

"I just heard about Xu Ji’s situation and had some questions, so I came to seek your guidance, Your Highness," Feng Yunjin said.

"What is it you want to ask?" Song Yunzhao was surprised. ’For Feng Yunjin to pay attention to Xu Mingying’s affairs while being so busy... could there be something more to it?’

Feng Yunjin paused in thought before speaking slowly. "In the days after the new year, while Xu Ji was still recuperating, I saw Qin Wan Yi visit her on several occasions. It was always at night."

Feng Yunjin’s Yanqing Palace was in a direct line with Zhaoyang Palace, where Xu Mingying lived. She often took a solitary walk after her evening meal to aid her digestion. By following the wall of Changle Palace until she reached the fork in the path leading to Zhaoyang Palace, she had a perfectly clear view of the area outside Zhaoyang Palace.

Since Wang Zhaorong and Qin Wan Yi’s relationship was merely cordial, Qin Wan Yi certainly wasn’t going to Zhaoyang Palace to pay respects to Wang Zhaorong. And if she wasn’t visiting Wang Zhaorong, it must have been Xu Ji.

Besides, she often dealt with Wang Zhaorong on matters concerning the shops nowadays, and she had subtly inquired about this before.