Chapter 22 Temple Affair

Prime Minister's Mansion:

The pear trees were in full bloom, and the prime minister's residence was filled with a refreshing fragrance.

Normally, such a beautiful spring season should make people feel refreshed, but Ayao felt that the spring wind was still chilly.

Shen Yuheng was playing Go with himself.

Burning incense, brewing tea and playing chess are all activities that can calm the mind.

But at this moment, as he was twisting the black piece, he had an urge to put down the chessboard.

It has been several days, and there has been no movement from the Yong'an Marquis Mansion.

He looked at the coin for a long time.

Shen Yuheng threw the black piece back into the chess box, feeling a heavy suffocation in his chest.

A Yao stood aside, not knowing whether to speak or not.

Shen Yuheng slowly turned his head and asked, "Has she been staying in the house these past few days without leaving? Has she gone anywhere?"

A Yao felt the chill coming towards him, and subconsciously took two steps back, saying, "Miss Lu herself has never left the house."

Shen Yuheng let out a long sigh, loosened his grip on the teacup, and asked, "So she asked someone else to go out for her?"

Ah Yao recalled carefully, "Indeed, Miss Lu's personal maid, Bai Zhi, went to Guanglin Temple and had some secret conversations with the monks there."

Guanglin Temple?

Shen Yuheng's eyes moved slightly. The emperor personally appointed Prince Ding'an to preside over the royal sacrificial ceremony, and the time was moved forward from the eighth day of next month to two days later.

Could it be that she wants to go too?

Last time at the Spring Banquet, it was heard that Concubine Li wanted to choose a princess for Wei Yan, and Wei Yan mentioned in private to him that he liked the second daughter of the Yong'an Marquis's family.

Marrying into an old family that does not hold real power can dispel the emperor's suspicion of the prince and is also the court's care for the old ministers.

The second and third daughters of the Lu family have always been at odds with her, and Lu Yong, who favors his concubines over his wives, is in the middle and practices a laissez-faire policy.

I am afraid--

I'm afraid she has to find a way out for herself.

Is this also why she wants to use his influence to divide the family's land and shops?

Come to think of it...it makes sense.

Shen Yuheng grabbed a handful of chess pieces, rubbing them carefully in his hand. His voice was slightly cold, "Go and find out clearly. Tell the person from Guanglin Temple to obey Miss Lu's instructions and help her succeed."

——

Guanglin Temple is an old temple where the royal family worshipped Buddha, with a history of more than 300 years.

Green pines and ancient trees, and the sound of old bells.

It was the season when apricot blossoms were in bloom. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the petals, spilling onto the bluestone-paved ground, forming patches of tree shadows.

Every step on the bluestone slab will lengthen the tree's shadow.

Wei Yan, as a representative of the royal family, walked at the front of the queue.

Today he was wearing a crimson robe with a cloud dragon pattern, and a dark red agate belt wrapped around his waist, embellished with a Hetian jade stone that sparkled. His black hair was tied up with a jade crown, which softened his tough features a little.

After meeting the abbot, Wei Yan burned incense, worshipped and prayed according to the established rituals.

Lu Qiaoxiao stood behind an apricot tree, waiting for the wonderful show that was about to be staged today.

She was dressed simply today, but this simplicity concealed many subtleties.

For example, the unique and noble hairpins and jewelry, the extraordinary red jade belt around her waist, and the pear blossom makeup she also specially put on.

And all this is just to lure people.

She got up early in the morning and paid her respects to her father, then said that she had an appointment with the Prime Minister today and needed to leave the courtyard.

Lu Yong happily sent her out and, for the first time ever, gave her some extra allowance so that she could spend it as she pleased and not appear too stingy in front of Prime Minister Shen.

Lu Xiuzhu watched her lie and sneered in her heart.

The second sister left early, saying that she had an appointment with Concubine Li, but in fact she had already booked a carriage to go to Guanglin Temple.

To be on the safe side, Lu Xiuzhu decided to follow Lu Qiaoxiao.

She just felt that her second sister was a meticulous person who was obsessed with climbing up the social ladder. If she followed her second sister, she might be discovered by her halfway.

But Lu Qiaoxiao is different. Although she has learned to pretend to be weak recently, she is just a facade but not a heart. How smart and meticulous can she be?

Sure enough, she followed Lu Qiaoxiao's carriage all the way and was not discovered.

She had already found out that after Prince Ding'an completed the Buddhist worship ceremony, he would take a bath and then go to the side room to rest.

The incense burner in the side room has been replaced with the Zuihuayin incense burner that she bought at a high price.

It is called Zuihuayin, which is extracted from rare flowers. Its fragrance is as mellow as wine, which makes people intoxicated and fall in love with it.

At that time, she would pretend to be a pilgrim who had mistakenly entered the side room to rest, and appear in front of His Royal Highness Prince Ding'an in time.

Today, she wore a red mandarin duck bellyband under her simple and elegant apricot blossom blouse.

She once heard the maids in the mansion discussing the pleasures of the boudoir with their men, and they all said in unison that erotic bellybands were the most popular among men.

My aunt once said that to win a man's heart, you must first make him happy during sex.

At first, Lu Xiuzhu didn't understand what sex was, so she studied erotic novels for many days.

Now she is no longer as ignorant as before.

According to the agreement made with the greedy young monk, as soon as Prince Ding'an went to bathe, Lu Xiuzhu would wait in the next room. When Prince Ding'an finished bathing and entered the side room, it would be her time to show her skills.

The medicinal effect of the incense in the censer is said to be very strong. As long as a little bit of it enters your nose, you will feel hot all over.

Afterwards, even if Prince Ding'an knew that it was her little trick, so what?

Anyway, it's a fait accompli, and with her looks, there's no doubt that Wei Yan will be tempted.

Lu Xiuzhu held her breath and listened to the sound of her skin hitting the water. She had heard that Wei Yan was good at martial arts, so she thought he should be in good health.

The maids said that in matters between men and women, men are ultimately more dominant.

Therefore, aphrodisiacs are often the best-selling products in pharmacies on the market.

Hearing the door of the wing room being pushed open with a creak, Lu Xiuzhu quickly got up and ran over. Before the door latch was closed tightly, she gently pushed against the door with her small hand.

Wei Yan frowned slightly, looked up, his eyes lit up.

What a beautiful and charming girl! She is more beautiful than peach blossoms.

He looked at Lu Xiuzhu for a while before he suddenly said, "Sister Xiuzhu, why are you here?"

Lu Xiuzhu bit her lip, her bright eyes looking at Wei Yan eagerly, and said softly, "Brother Yan, I came here to burn incense for my family, but I found out that the rooms need to be reserved in advance. My mouth is a little dry now. Can I go in and ask for a glass of water?"

Wei Yan was a little surprised. Lu Xiuzhu was usually naughty, but today she was very restrained and even sensible enough to come and burn incense for her family in person.

He quickly agreed: "Sister, please come in."

Lu Xiuzhu slowly finished a glass of water. Seeing Wei Yan occasionally straightening his collar with some impatience, a hint of joy flashed across her eyes.

Wei Yan didn't know why, but even though it wasn't midsummer yet, there was already a hint of heat in the air that made him feel uneasy.

Perhaps it was Lu Xiuzhu's arrival that made this small room even more stuffy.

He glanced at the woman beside him from time to time. Lu Xiuzhu was actually very beautiful and her appearance was no worse than Qingyue.

Qingyue has a cool and dignified appearance, while Lu Xiuzhu is more prettier.

A small apricot blossom blouse fell on her, and she looked like a peach that would juicy if squeezed.

Wei Yan cleared his throat and looked away uncomfortably.

"Brother Yan, do you know that Xiuzhu actually likes you very much?"