Song Xibai turned to the side, refusing his full bow, and returned his curtsy.
“We’re all family, no need for all this politeness, it’s getting dark.” King Wu chimed in with a smile, “I won’t stand on ceremony with you, sister-in-law! This isn’t the first time we’ve met.”
He acted so familiar that Song Xibai was momentarily unsure whether she should continue bowing.
Although I don't particularly like this King of Wu, he is, after all, a prince.
Song Xibai blinked and looked at the Crown Prince.
The crown prince put on a stern face, grabbed the King of Wu by the shoulder and collar, and pulled him aside.
"Speak, what is it that you've gone to such lengths to find out my whereabouts?"
King Wu chuckled and said, "Brother, what are you saying? I didn't intentionally inquire about your whereabouts! It's just a coincidence."
The crown prince glanced at him, his eyes filled with warning.
King Wu initially had a smile on his face, but he couldn't maintain it when the crown prince stared at him like that.
"Okay, okay, to be honest, I just don't like Lao Liu."
The Crown Prince was puzzled: "What does this have to do with Xiao Liu?"
"Brother, you're usually not close to any of your brothers, but suddenly you're so close to Sixth Brother. I can't help but wonder! Even if you need help, you should look for someone like me! They say that a young man is unreliable, but how old is Sixth Brother?"
The King of Wu raised his eyebrows and glanced sideways at the sixth prince who was talking to Song Xibai.
The crown prince was speechless for a moment, then pointed his index finger at the King of Wu.
"You! You!"
In fact, the Crown Prince did not deliberately ignore the King of Wu. It's just that they weren't particularly close to each other, and he wouldn't think of the King of Wu intentionally when there was nothing else to do.
But what he didn't expect was that the King of Wu would be jealous of Xiao Liu.
While the two brothers were talking, Song Xibai was exchanging pleasantries with the Sixth Prince while listening intently to the conversation between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wu.
Then she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
The sixth prince, having not heard his two elder brothers' conversation, was completely bewildered.
All three people's eyes fell on Song Xibai.
Song Xibai covered her mouth, trying hard to suppress her laughter.
"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."
Upon hearing this, the crown prince looked nervous and quickly went to her side, putting his arm around her waist.
"It's windy outside, let's go inside!"
Without paying attention to his two younger brothers, he helped Song Xibai walk into the gate of Huangjue Temple.
As soon as the group entered, the abbot, dressed in a bright red kasaya, immediately came to greet them.
Those who could come to Huangjue Temple were naturally members of the royal family. The abbot was kind and amiable, but not overly obsequious, which gave Song Xibai a very good impression.
Afterwards, Song Xibai visited the front and back courtyards and went into each hall to pay his respects.
This square temple is divided into two sections, front and back. The front section enshrines Guanyin Bodhisattva, while the main hall enshrines Buddha. Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas also attend to the temple on either side.
In front of the Guanyin Hall stands an ancient tree with many red ropes hanging from its branches and plaques dangling below.
"Is this a wishing tree?"
Song Xibai was quite surprised; he hadn't expected that ancient temples had already developed the function of making wishes!
Seeing that she had become interested, the abbot immediately asked the guest monk to bring the wishing plaque.
"What wish does this lady wish to make? This old monk will carve it for you."
After thinking for a moment, Song Xibai said to the abbot, "I wish to inscribe a message of peace and safety for my entire family."
The abbot took a small carving knife and carved these four characters on the sign.
Song Xibai took the wishing plaque and waved it at the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, would you mind hanging it up for me?"
The crown prince naturally wouldn't refuse.
He not only wanted to hang it, but he wanted to hang it at the highest point.
The prince, in high spirits, hung the wishing plaque at the top of the tree canopy.
Seeing this, the King of Wu and the Sixth Prince also got playful. They each took a wishing plaque and insisted on competing with the Crown Prince to see who could hang it higher.
The King of Wu was the most extravagant; he even had a ladder brought over and climbed the tree while holding onto it.
The sixth prince, not to be outdone, climbed up the tree trunk in a few quick movements without even using a ladder.
Song Xibai was stunned, her mouth agape.
I must say, they truly are brothers.
One or two of them, it's just too much to say.
Song Xibai watched the three of them playing around speechlessly, then decided to ignore them and followed the abbot to the place for fortune telling.
She knelt on the prayer mat, facing the Buddha statue, silently praying for the prince's success in the struggle for the throne. She shook the divination tube, and after a while, a divination stick fell out.
Wei Hong, who had been following behind her, hurriedly picked up the fortune sticks and took them to the monk for interpretation.
The monk said some kind words.
"Master, it's an extremely auspicious sign!"
Wei Hong's eyes lit up with joy.
Song Xibai also smiled and said, "Yes, that's a good omen!"
The master and servant linked arms and walked toward the back hall.
Dingxiang had arrived before them and was worshipping the Medicine Buddha.
The abbot asked them if they wanted to visit the pagoda, but Song Xibai declined.
She was genuinely tired at this point. She had come here to have fun, not specifically to burn incense and pray to Buddha.
Song Xibai gave Wei Hong a wink, and Wei Hong immediately understood, taking out a large purse and handing it to the abbot.
Song Xibai lit an ever-burning lamp for her mother, paid fifty taels of incense money, and then led the two back to the front hall.
The three people on the wishing tree had disappeared, leaving only Eunuch Feng waiting in the same spot.
Upon seeing her return, Eunuch Feng hurriedly stepped forward to explain.
"Your Highness, His Highness has instructed me to convey that an urgent matter has occurred, and His Highness has led Prince Wu and the Sixth Prince down the mountain ahead of you."
Song Xibai was puzzled, then her heart tightened: "What urgent matter could be at this time? Could it be that something has happened in the palace?"
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