Before leaving Yuehua Pavilion, the Fifth Prince made a special trip to Ning'an Hall. He had a gloomy face and looked extremely unapproachable.
The maids all avoided him.
Those who had never seen the Fifth Prince before dared to step forward and obstruct him: "Stop! This is the Marquis's residence, how can you be allowed to trespass at will?"
"Get out of the way!" The Fifth Prince kicked, knocking the person down, and then stepped on the maid's face, crushing her hard.
The maid was in so much pain that her face turned pale, and she cried out for help.
Perhaps the commotion was too loud and disturbed the people inside. A maid came out from the inner room. Upon seeing the Fifth Prince, her expression changed slightly, and she hurriedly stepped forward. "This old servant greets the Fifth Prince. Please calm down. There's no need to be angry with a maid."
The old woman stepped forward, her face smiling obsequiously but her eyes revealing disdain: "Fifth Prince, the Grand Madam has not been feeling well these past two days. If she is disturbed again, people will gossip about you. When the Fourth Prince came a few days ago, he was very polite, unlike you who caused such a commotion as soon as you arrived."
The Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Is that so?"
"That's right, you should stop now." The old woman bent down to help the maid, muttering, "You fool, you can't even guard the door properly!"
The maidservant cried out in a wronged tone, "Aunt, I stopped the man, but the Fifth Prince wouldn't listen to my explanation at all."
The old woman glanced at the Fifth Prince, and for some reason, the chilling look in his eyes sent shivers down her spine.
Before she could react, the Fifth Prince drew a soft sword from his waist and, right in front of the nanny, plunged it into the maid's heart with a soft thud.
A scream.
Blood splattered three feet deep.
The old woman touched the warm bloodstains on her face, and her mind went blank.
"You lowly servant, how dare you accuse me, the prince, of being ignorant of etiquette? Is this how Song Kaifeng disciplines his servants?"
The Fifth Prince drew his sword with a whoosh, pointing the tip at the old woman, and scolded, "She's just a lady from a marquis's mansion, yet she dares to act high and mighty in front of me. If it weren't for her good family ties, Song Kaifeng wouldn't even be qualified to invite me!"
"You..." The old woman was stunned by the Fifth Prince's words and her legs went weak with fright.
The Fifth Prince raised his chin: "What are you all standing there for? Bring the Grand Madam out here! I have some questions to ask her."
The quick-witted maidservant dared not delay and rushed inside, quickly helping the old lady out. Upon seeing the blood on the floor, the old lady's face darkened. She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath to suppress her anger, and said with a forced smile...
"I was unaware of the Fifth Prince's arrival. I apologize for not welcoming you properly. If you have anything to say, please come in and sit down for a chat."
The Fifth Prince smiled contemptuously: "The old man does have some sense now; he's not deaf or blind anymore."
Upon hearing this, the Dowager almost lost her smile. She gave a look to the maid beside her, and after the Fifth Prince entered, the maid rushed off to find the Marquis.
Upon entering, the Fifth Prince sat directly in the main seat. Just as the Grand Madam was about to sit down, the Fifth Prince stopped her with a look.
Helpless, she could only stand there.
The old lady endured it with great effort.
The Fifth Prince wasn't in a hurry. He leaned back lazily in his chair, crossed his legs, and slightly furrowed his handsome brows: "I just saw Song Kaifeng. It's no use bringing him here."
The old lady's eyelids twitched: "I wonder what brings the Fifth Prince here today?"
The Fifth Prince suddenly smiled, his gaze falling on the Buddhist prayer beads that the Grand Madam always carried: "Naturally, I have something to discuss with the Grand Madam. The Grand Madam is compassionate and has been a devout Buddhist for many years. She has written excellent scriptures. Next month is the Empress Dowager's birthday, and I plan to offer a scripture as a gift. I will have the Grand Madam do it on my behalf."
The old lady paused, her hands holding prayer beads. Copying a sutra wouldn't be difficult, but she didn't believe the Fifth Prince would bring up something so simple.
"The most filial thing to do is to copy scriptures yourself. Why doesn't the Fifth Prince copy them himself so that the Empress Dowager can see your filial piety?" The Grand Madam politely declined.
Thinking the Fifth Prince would be angry, the Fifth Prince nodded in agreement: "The Grand Madam's teachings are correct. It is indeed most appropriate to copy the scriptures by oneself."
The old lady breathed a sigh of relief.
Unexpectedly, the Fifth Prince said again in the next second: "Then from today onwards, I will come to the Grand Madam every day to ask for her guidance and help me to finish copying the scriptures as soon as possible."
"This...this is absolutely unacceptable!" The old lady was anxious; she didn't want to see this troublemaker every day.
They'll be furious by then.
"What?" The Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow, a hint of displeasure in his expression. "I only wanted to get close to the Grand Madam because I thought she was kind-hearted and had her copy scriptures for the Empress Dowager to pray for her. Does the Grand Madam look down on my filial piety, or does she think the Empress Dowager's scriptures are not worthy of your guidance?"
The questioning left the old lady speechless, and she hurriedly said, "No, that's not what I meant."
"Then it's settled." The Fifth Prince took a long stride and stood up: "Madam, please have people prepare the things, starting today."
The old lady felt dizzy and almost fainted.
How did they start blaming it on you?
Under the Fifth Prince's cold gaze, she had no choice but to order someone to prepare writing materials and send the person to the study. The Fifth Prince shook his head: "I think this hall is spacious enough. Bring the table here, and bring the Buddha statue over as well."
"Why are you carrying the Buddha statue?" the old lady asked, puzzled.
"I heard from an expert that if someone chants sutras and prays for blessings while copying scriptures, the effect will be better."
The old lady pursed her lips, knowing full well that the fifth prince was doing this on purpose.
They used the pretense of praying for the Empress Dowager's well-being, leaving her with no choice but to grit her teeth and endure it: "I will do as the Fifth Prince orders."
Soon a long table was set up in the hall, with writing implements on it, a jade Guanyin statue on the side, and a prayer cushion underneath. The old lady knelt on the prayer cushion, turning the prayer beads and chanting scriptures.
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