Every March, the emperor would lead a week-long fast at the temple on Chunhua Mountain, accompanied by the empress and imperial concubines, all the princes and princesses, as well as third-rank officials and their families.
This fasting was a long-standing custom, and the emperor hoped to achieve peace and prosperity for the country through this method.
Ironically, after the fast ended, news of continuous natural disasters came from various places.
In the original text, Xiao Mu and Nan Wusi naturally participated, and Ouyang Jiangli was also among those who went.
Although Ouyang Jiangli, as a concubine's daughter, was originally not qualified to participate, she was the female lead, so she naturally had a halo, and anything unreasonable could become reasonable.
Moreover, because the temple had separate rooms for men and women, it provided Xiao Mu and Ouyang Jiangli with a perfect environment for their secret affair, during which the two had countless passionate encounters.
The same thing happened this time. As a concubine, Ouyang Jiangli was not qualified to participate in this fasting, but she still participated, and no one raised any objections.
As the daughter of the Great General of the State, Nan Wusi was naturally included in the list. Fortunately, her second brother accompanied her on this trip, otherwise she would not have wanted to go at all.
On the day of their journey to Chunhua Mountain, Ouyang Jiangli came to find Nan Wusi, hoping to ride in the same carriage with her.
"Xinxi, isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Nan Wusi noticed that Prime Minister Ouyang's face was somewhat dark.
"Ignore him." Ouyang Xinxi naturally saw her father's ugly expression, but she was very angry and didn't want to be with him at all.
After getting into the car, Nan Wusi asked, "What happened? Why are you so angry?"
"Sisi, my father actually wants me to curry favor with the Third Prince. The Third Prince will be of royal age this year, and he hopes that I can become his princess consort then." Ouyang Xinxi told Prime Minister Ouyang Nanwusi directly about his plans.
Upon hearing this, Nan Wusi knew that although from Prime Minister Ouyang's perspective, this was a good choice, she also knew that the Third Prince was destined for a bad end, so she naturally wouldn't let Ouyang Xinxi jump into the fire pit.
"So what are your plans?" Nan Wusi asked, looking at Ouyang Xinxi.
"Sisi, you know what I'm thinking." Ouyang Xinxi's tone was tinged with sadness.
Nan Wusi never expected that Ouyang Xinxi would still be thinking about her older brother, even though she knew the chances of them being together were slim.
"Xinxi, of course I support you. I look forward to you becoming my sister-in-law." Nan Wusi held Ouyang Xinxi's hand and smiled faintly.
When Ouyang Xinxi heard Nan Wusi say that, she blushed a little, but she was happy inside.
"Then what do you think I should do now?" Ouyang Xinxi was a little unsure.
"You and your father should analyze the current situation carefully. He simply wants to ensure the prosperity and wealth of the Prime Minister's Mansion, so that no matter whether the Crown Prince or the Third Prince ascends the throne in the future, the Prime Minister's Mansion will have a place." Nan Wusi could roughly guess Ouyang Yan's plan.
"But he never considered whether he could navigate the power struggle between the two princes and ensure the Prime Minister's mansion would remain standing." Nan Wusi believed that the only outcome of doing so would be that one of his daughters would ultimately become a pawn.
Moreover, Ouyang Xinxi would be the one ultimately abandoned. She had gone to great lengths to change Xinxi's fate, and she absolutely couldn't let her jump into another fire pit again.
"The Crown Prince and the Third Prince are currently locked in a fierce battle, but the Crown Prince is a cunning man who secretly holds a lot of dirt on the Third Prince, just waiting for the right moment to expose it. Let your father wait and see."
"Sisi, how do you know so much?" Ouyang Xinxi was somewhat alarmed.
“I can’t tell you that; I have my own sources.” Nan Wusi shook his head, signaling Ouyang Xinxi not to press the matter further.
“Okay, I believe you.” Ouyang Xinxi nodded solemnly.
Upon reaching the foot of Chunhua Mountain, everyone, including the emperor, had to walk up the mountain.
So the group set off in a grand procession.
Xiao Teng and the Empress walked at the front, followed closely by the Imperial Concubine and a group of princes and princesses, and then by a group of ministers and their families.
Nan Wusi and Ouyang Xinxi walked in the middle of the group, followed by a group of people.
Although Chunhua Mountain is high, it is a piece of cake for Nan Wusi. She is physically strong and has no fear at all.
Nan Wuyu was not someone she needed to worry about. Although her second brother looked weak and scholarly, he came from a family of military generals and his martial arts skills were quite good.
Ouyang Xinxi, however, rarely left her home and found climbing the mountain extremely difficult. Towards the end, she could barely support herself by leaning on Nan Wusi.
Similarly, the other women were in the same situation, but none of them dared to complain or grumble, because the emperor had not spoken.
Although Xiao Teng was a man, he had spent a long time in the palace and rarely got any exercise. Climbing the mountain was still quite strenuous for him. However, as the emperor, he naturally couldn't let others laugh at him, so he persevered.
Fortunately, there was a designated rest area on the mountainside of Chunhua Mountain. After reaching the mountainside, Xiao Teng finally ordered a short rest.
Although they could rest, the team remained completely calm. Everyone just stood there catching their breath and quietly recovering their strength.
"Little sister, are you tired?" Nan Wuyu asked, looking at Nan Wusi.
Nan Wusi shook his head. "Where is Second Brother?"
"Don't worry, your second brother isn't that weak." Nan Wuyu smiled.
"I'm tired." Ouyang Xinxi slumped against Nan Wusi, not wanting to move at all. She rarely got such a high level of exercise.
"You should also get some exercise." Nan Wusi's smile was dazzling, leaving Ouyang Xinxi stunned. She felt that Sisi was becoming more and more beautiful.
"Sisi, your title as the most beautiful woman in the capital is truly well-deserved," Ouyang Xinxi teased.
But a discordant voice came from the side: "Hmph, these days anyone dares to call themselves the most beautiful woman in the capital."
"It's still better than someone not even making the list." Ouyang Xinxi now dared to retort without any mercy.
Nan Wusi looked at Li Lanru, who spoke rudely, and didn't want to pay any attention to her. There are always some people who are just sour grapes.
"If Jiang Li hadn't stopped participating in the competition this year, none of you would have had a chance," Li Lanru said sarcastically.
"What does this have to do with Miss Li?" Nan Wusi glanced at Li Lanru with disdain. She couldn't understand the mentality of using someone else's name to trample on her.
"Ha, I just can't stand your smug looks," Li Lanru persisted.
“If Miss Li were capable of earning the title of the most beautiful woman in the capital, she could be as proud as she wanted, and we certainly wouldn’t be so tasteless as to gossip like this,” Nan Wusi retorted sarcastically.
“You…” Li Lanru was somewhat exasperated, drawing curious glances from everyone.
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