Chapter 9: Will he take the bait?
Yuan Mansion.
The news that the Prince of Yan had sent someone to annul the engagement had spread throughout the Yuan household.
“I stayed out last night and did not return to the manor, and such a thing happened. Does the Prince of Yan really intend to annul the engagement with his niece?”
Inside the main house, a man with a long, beautiful beard was sitting by the window, talking with Madam Yuan.
This person is Yuan Li, the head of the Yuan family.
Yuanli was a refined and elegant man with extraordinary manners. His elder brother was a famously handsome man in his youth, and Yuanli was also known for his good looks. However, now that he was middle-aged, his career was extremely unsuccessful. He only held a sinecure as a compiler in the court, responsible for compiling the history of the previous dynasty.
Madam Yuan Er clenched her fists and paced back and forth in the room, her tone anxious: "Your niece has quite the temper. When she learned that the Prince of Yan's men were coming to visit, she left me to go see them immediately. When my maid returned and reported, I vaguely heard the Prince of Yan say that he was 'breaking off the engagement' with her. I was shocked. My lord, where did your niece climb to such a high position?"
Yuan Li pondered for a moment before speaking: "The Xiao family is a powerful clan with a history of over a hundred years. They have been prominent and prosperous since the previous dynasty, and countless people have tried to curry favor with them. Our only connection with the Xiao family is our eldest sister-in-law. Could it be... that it's related to our eldest sister-in-law?"
Upon hearing this person's name, both of their expressions changed.
The names of the eldest son and his wife are taboo in the mansion, and no one has dared to mention them for more than a decade.
Yuanli said in a low voice, "It must be because of my elder sister-in-law. The new dynasty has been established for several years now, but I have been unable to advance further in my official career. So much money has been invested without any results, and I am suffering from a lack of connections. If I could rely on her..."
Madam Yuan's expression changed drastically: "You still dare to expect her to be of use to you? Regardless of how that marriage came about, the Prince of Yan came to annul the engagement yesterday."
Yuan Chaolu has broken off her engagement with the Prince of Yan. Is there still a place for her to stand in Luoyang?
I only hope that the fire caused by the Prince of Yan will not spread to the Yuan family.
Madam Yuan said, "The family that took her in claimed to be a scholarly family from the Northwest, but they didn't even prepare a dowry for her, and they didn't seem to value her much. Ever since she entered the manor, she's been a thorn in my side. The manor's expenses are already tight, and you still have your two concubines..."
"Madam, please don't worry," Yuan Li quickly stood up to comfort her.
"This matter may not be so simple. Before I uncover the truth, perhaps we should keep her around for now. Would you please go and speak with your niece first, and offer her a way out?"
Madam Yuan sneered, "You know her temperament; she's spoiled and willful, always talking back to me. Now, as soon as I hear about the Prince of Yan, I immediately rush to him. Wouldn't that make me seem like I'm trying too hard to please her? I think it's unnecessary. I'm afraid there's no room for negotiation regarding the Prince of Yan's annulment of the engagement..."
Just then, a servant came from outside to report.
The maidservant reported that the Prince of Yan's men had come to the door again.
And this time, they brought generous gifts, showing great seriousness.
**
In the letter Yuan Chaolu left for the Prince of Yan, she wrote down the rare medicinal herb her elder sister needed. In addition, she also listed several other extremely expensive medicinal herbs because she was short of money. If she could obtain these herbs and resell them, she could get a lot of money to relieve her urgent need.
In addition, it was also a test of the King of Yan's attitude.
First, does the King of Yan keep his word?
Secondly, a husband forcibly obtained through a marriage contract is unlikely to last. The key to love between men and women lies in attraction, and the first step is to arouse the other person's curiosity.
She claimed to be ill, which would surely upset the Prince of Yan.
Furthermore, her handwriting was exceptional. Although she had not received formal training before, she had honed her skills in depicting forms and images while working with her adoptive father in the Northwest, where she helped him repair grotto murals. Her wrist was extremely steady when she held the brush, and even her teachers were surprised by how quickly she learned.
What will the Prince of Yan's reaction be when he sees this...?
However, no one expected that the people from the Prince of Yan's residence would arrive so quickly.
Under the scorching afternoon sun, Ye Shu arrived once again, led by a group of guards from the Prince of Yan's mansion. The warriors filed in and unloaded the medicine chests one by one in the courtyard.
Ye Shu cupped his hands and said, "Second Miss, all the medicinal herbs you need are here. Yesterday, His Highness the Prince of Yan ordered me to hurry up and search for them. However, there is one herb that we have searched everywhere in and outside the palace without success... I hope you can be more accommodating for a few more days. Once I find it, I will come to your door."
Behind the screen, Yuan Chaolu stood quietly, gesturing for Heyi to come out and express her gratitude.
The courtyard was filled with boxes and baskets of medicinal herbs, far exceeding what Yuan Chaolu had requested. These were all top-quality medicinal herbs, and some even bore the seal of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Despite being behind the screen, Yuan Chaolu still gracefully bowed, fulfilling all the proper etiquette: "Thank you, sir."
"You flatter me, Miss." Ye Shu bowed in return. "His Highness felt deeply abrupt about his visit yesterday. Upon reflection, he realized it was indeed impolite. Today, in addition to bringing medicine, he also specifically instructed me to convey his apologies."
Yuan Chaolu was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
Ye Shu said, "Your Highness should have come to visit in person, but unfortunately he is tied up with urgent official business today. It is not that his apology is insincere. At most five days later, His Highness will come to your residence to apologize. I hope you will not be offended, Miss."
"How could I possibly accept such a title as morning dew? Your Highness's solemnity fills me with trepidation."
Should we apologize? Of course we should.
She still remembered Ye Shu's words: "The Prince of Yan advises you, Miss, that if you insist on this marriage, it will ultimately be a fleeting illusion, like trying to catch a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water, which cannot last."
She stood there alone, as if she had been hit by an invisible blunder.
Unexpectedly, after just one day apart, the King of Yan's attitude changed so drastically, and his words became exceptionally humble.
Furthermore, the date of their visit was set, which shows that they were not just trying to fool us and were extremely sincere.
The person outside said, "I work for the Guards' Office. If Miss needs anything, she can send someone to find me at any time, and I will certainly convey her message to the Prince of Yan."
Ye Shu glanced at the medicinal herbs that had been properly moved, then cupped his hands in farewell.
A clear voice suddenly came from behind, "Please wait, sir!"
Ye Shu stopped and turned around to see that the figure was still standing behind the screen.
"My daughter has another question for you, sir. I have heard that there are Buddhist temples all over the capital. I wonder which one is the most popular?"
"Miss wishes to visit a temple to worship Buddha?"
At the end of the Chu Dynasty, the war ended at some unknown time. From kings and nobles to commoners, everyone worshipped the Buddha as a spiritual sustenance. When the Xiao family accepted the Mandate of Heaven and established their rule over the world, Buddhism had reached its peak. Therefore, in the capital city of Luoyang, pagodas stood side by side, one after another.
There are some things that Yuan Chaolu can find out with just a little inquiry.
For example, Empress Dowager Lu is a devout Buddhist, and the magnificent Buddhist temple complex that is still under construction west of Luoyang was commissioned by the Lu family for her.
For example, His Highness Prince Yan was extremely filial and often visited Buddhist temples to pray for Empress Dowager Lu.
Yuan Chaolu sighed softly: "To be honest, my lord, I am ill and have not improved even after a month in Luoyang. I wish to go to a Buddhist temple to sincerely worship. However, there are so many temples in Luoyang that I do not know where to go."
Ye Shu spoke in a gentle tone: "I see. If we're talking about the most popular temple, then it's the White Horse Temple. However, the White Horse Temple is always teeming with worshippers, making it unsuitable for quiet meditation. If we're talking about the most profound Buddhist teachings, then it's the Rongjue Temple. There are eminent monks from the Western Regions who explain Buddhist scriptures and teach doctrines there, and the people of Luoyang often go there to listen to their teachings..."
Yuan Chaolu asked, "Where is the most effective place?"
Her weak cough came again.
Ye Shu remembered that the Prince of Yan had instructed him to serve the Second Miss wholeheartedly in whatever she asked for.
He patiently replied, "It is Chanxu Temple. This place is backed by green mountains and has a quiet environment. It is a rare and peaceful place, most suitable for cultivation. His Highness Prince Yan often goes there to pray for the Empress Dowager."
"Chanxu Temple is divided into two temples, the front temple and the back temple. The front temple is open to the general public, while the back temple is reserved for nobles to worship Buddha. If we talk about efficacy, the temple is undoubtedly the best. All requests can be fulfilled."
Yuan Chaolu said, "Is that really so? But what you said, sir, is that only princes and nobles are allowed to enter that back mountain... cough cough..."
Ye Shu naturally sensed the longing in her words and said, "If Miss is willing to go, I can make arrangements for you."
The coughing behind the screen was intermittent, accompanied by a faint smile: "No need to trouble yourself. There are countless famous temples in the capital, and even if I visited them every day, I could not possibly see them all. There is a reason why the temples are so popular; I will go to the White Horse Temple."
Ye Shu remembered the words of the Prince of Yan, took off the jade pendant from her waist, and solemnly handed it to He Yi.
"This is a token of the Prince of Yan. If you present this to His Highness, Chanxu Temple will allow the Second Miss to pass. Although the Second Miss does not wish to trouble His Highness, His Highness will surely feel guilty if he knows that she sought Buddhist help while ill but returned empty-handed."
He Yi stepped lightly into the house from outside, presenting the jade tablet with both hands.
Yuan Chaolu saw that the jade plaque was as smooth and lustrous as mutton fat, reflecting light under the sunlight.
Ye Shu spoke a few more words about the Buddhist temple before leaving.
Yuan Chaolu stroked the jade pendant as she emerged from behind the floor-to-ceiling screen.
The medicine sent by the Prince of Yan was still missing the most difficult ingredient, and her heart remained unsettled. At first, she asked Ye Shu about the Buddhist temple, which was indeed because she wanted to pray for her elder sister.
But the moment he opened his mouth, another idea came to mind.
Unexpectedly, after just a few words, I actually managed to extract the pattern of the Prince of Yan's Buddhist worship, and now I have even obtained a pass. It was truly an unexpected gain.
He Yi, standing beside her, said, "Aju, if you want to see the Prince of Yan, why don't you just have Ye Shu arrange it? Instead, you're using a Buddhist temple to inquire about him."
Yuan Chaolu said, "Because the Prince of Yan does not want to see me. Look at him, he came today to apologize, but did he mention the word 'marriage agreement' even once?"
He Yi paused for a moment, then said, "No, not at all."
Yuan Chaolu said, "The Prince of Yan is extremely arrogant. With this marriage already in mind, no matter how I get along with him, I'm afraid he will still feel resistant."
"What if I approached him under a different identity?"
He Yi looked up and saw the girl's bright eyes sparkling.
Yuan Chaolu did not want to use the identity of a Yuan family woman. If she were to meet the Prince of Yan by chance at the Buddhist temple and then use another identity to get to know him, she would be able to have a more equal dialogue with the Prince of Yan and understand his character and temperament better.
Therefore, she never revealed her true face to Ye Shu and always spoke in a low voice.
From the day she learned of the engagement, she made thorough preparations.
Opportunities are something you have to seek out; she won't wait for the Prince of Yan to come to her.
However, I have always been impatient, so this time when I'm fishing, I must be extremely calm and not rush things.
Within just two days, the Prince of Yan's mansion had visited twice with such a respectful attitude. Presumably, the people in the Yuan family had already made up their minds and dared not neglect her again.
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, but...
How can this perfectly timed "chance encounter" be arranged so that it is both natural and seamless, yet unforgettable for the Prince of Yan?
After a moment's thought, the girl had her answer. She turned around, her clothes swirling slightly, her eyes gleaming with cunning.
“Heyi, starting tomorrow, we will go to Chanxu Temple to try and meet the Prince of Yan.”
A note from the author:
----------------------
[Shy] But in the morning dew, there might be more than just the Prince of Yan in the Buddhist temple.
The layout of the ancient city of Luoyang and its Buddhist temples in the text is based on the ancient book "Luoyang Garanji". Garan means Buddhist temple.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
