"It's good that my cousin still remembers me. I owe you so much for what happened last time."
Mi Shan's eyes shone brightly, and her expression was filled with joy.
Qiao Yunsheng looked at her, and it was as if he were seeing the little girl from his childhood who hid and cried because of a box of pastries.
Between the eyebrows and eyes,
Unconsciously, a layer of tenderness was applied.
"Your Majesty is too kind. I should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have been able to sit here as the head of the academy."
“Cousin, there’s no one else here. I still want to hear you call me cousin.”
A gentle light flickered in Mi Shan's eyes as he thought of his and Sister Xue's fate in their past life.
A hint of sadness appeared on his face.
"cousin."
Hearing Qiao Yunsheng pause slightly, he uttered those two words.
Mi Shan nodded vigorously.
"Cousin, you got this position mostly because of your own abilities."
"But, in this deep palace, there are many times when one has no choice but to stand by one's side. The former Imperial Clerk Guo chose to stand by the Empress's side."
"That's why they ended up like that."
"I heard that the maid bit her tongue and committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and that Physician Guo was ambushed by bandits on his way back to his hometown after retiring, and his whole family was killed. This must have been a planned accident. He knows too much, and some people won't let him live."
“I know you’ve always been upright and honest, and I won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do. But if necessary, I still hope you can stand on my and Sister Xue’s side.”
Mi Shan told him all this in advance in order to bring him into her camp first.
To prevent the Empress from turning him against her beforehand.
Upon hearing the words "Sister Xue," Qiao Yunsheng's previously hesitant face immediately hardened with determination: "Consort Mi Hui, this humble subject is willing to pledge allegiance to you to the death."
"As long as you don't hurt Xue, I'm willing to do anything for you."
With a thought, Mi Shan helped him up with both hands: "Fourth cousin, don't worry, with your words, Shan'er is satisfied."
"In this entire harem, I only recognize Sister Xue as my sister. Even if I harm everyone else in the world, I will never harm her."
-
Time flies.
With eyes open and closed,
The tenth day has arrived.
Early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, the Empress Dowager summoned everyone from the inner palace to go to Yunyin Temple.
Yunyin Temple is located on the highest peak of Wanfo Mountain.
It is famous for its many caves, and almost every cave is carved with lifelike Buddha images.
The bamboo forest on the mountain is lush and green, and when the wind blows, it stirs up waves of green.
Mi Shan sat in the sedan chair and saw the Empress Dowager's sedan chair at the very front.
The princes rode their horses leisurely along in the procession.
Then there's the Empress's palanquin, arranged according to rank.
A long procession moved slowly under the pouring sunlight. The Imperial Guards had specially sealed off the entire mountain to ensure that the Empress Dowager's pilgrimage would not be disturbed by anyone.
Mi Shan put a plaster on her neck.
Using a stiff neck as an excuse.
Actually, it was to mask that special fragrance.
Although she had already taken the antidote, for some reason, the moment was getting closer and closer.
The more you try to resist the unique fragrance in the air, the more irresistible it becomes.
Especially when Li Changyu rode past her on horseback as she got out of the sedan chair, she felt slightly dizzy.
A cool, crisp cedar scent mingled with a rich ebony aroma.
Backlit, the man's tall and bright figure came into view.
Mi Shan stared blankly, somewhat lost in thought, recalling the scene of seeing him shirtless in the courtyard yesterday, and her cheeks unconsciously flushed.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"
Seeing her unusual reaction, Xun'er raised her hand and waved it in front of her.
"I'm fine, please go in."
Mi Shan came to her senses.
Stepping across the threshold.
The temple is quiet and spacious, with a huge Buddha statue made of pure gold, its head bowed in compassion as it looks down at the crowd.
As soon as Mi Shan stepped inside, she felt a cool breeze that shielded her from the heat outside.
"Amitabha, this humble monk Kongwang greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
"Master Kongwang, please rise. I humbly request that you perform the ritual to Heaven, so that I may pray for the royal family's well-being."
The young monk, known as Master Kongwang, remained calm and composed, his cool gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present.
They stopped briefly at Mi Shan and Bai Lingyu's places.
Mi Shan frowned.
He subconsciously looked at Bai Lingyu.
But she discovered that the latter was also looking at her.
Bai Lingyu quietly took a few steps and gracefully approached her side:
"Last night I cast a divination for my servant. Guess what I got?"
"What?"
"Someone wants to harm you and me."
"Is it the same as last time?" Mi Shan frowned.
“That’s right, it’s the same person as Chunhua Yan.” Bai Lingyu looked at Master Kongwang with a provocative gaze. “With his cultivation level, he thinks he can deal with me? He’s too naive.”
"Watch how I make fun of him."
After Bai Lingyu finished speaking, she raised her sleeve and exhaled a breath.
Others may not have seen it.
But Mi Shan was astonished to see that the white mist transformed into the shape of a fox.
It flew over the heads of the crowd.
She came to the monk's side and circled his long robe once.
After he finished lighting the incense and candles, he stood aside, opened the scriptures, and began to recite the Sanskrit chants attentively.
A fox formed from white mist stepped on his head and flicked his nose with its tail.
It made him sneeze several times.
The Empress Dowager was about to kneel down and worship Buddha when she saw him doing so, so she stopped and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Master Kongwang, you..."
Those present all cast reproachful glances at him.
The monk was a little nervous and lowered his head: "It's probably because the window wasn't closed properly last night, and he caught a cold. Let me recite it again."
"Pfft."
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