The carriages stopped one after another at the foot of the mountain.

The concubines filed out of the carriage.

Concubine Lin was the first to step out of the carriage. Her appearance was so stunning that she sparkled like a pearl in the sun.

The girl following behind the imperial concubine had a pretty face and when she smiled, two sweet dimples appeared on her face, which made people happy when they saw her.

The girl came over and spoke a few words to Concubine Lin. Concubine Lin frowned slightly, but finally nodded to show her agreement.

The girl instantly broke into a smile.

She quickly took off all the hair accessories on her head, took the water bottle handed to her by the maid beside her, put it around her waist neatly, and then ran up the mountain at a flash.

She took three steps at a time, moving very quickly, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Looking at her back, she doesn't look like a lady from a noble family at all.

Concubine Lin smiled and shook her head, knowing that she was bored in the palace.

Monk Zhihui saw this scene and couldn't help but feel curious. He asked Zijuan, "Could that young lady just now also be the concubine's maid?"

The abbots of Huguo Temple all have respectable looks.

The wise monk wore a monk's robe and held Buddhist beads in his hands. As a monk, he had a natural air of elegance and charm, which attracted the attention of others.

Zijuan was also happy to talk to him more.

"Master Zhihui, you misunderstood." Zijuan reminded, "This is Concubine Wu. This is her first time at Huguo Temple. You need to be more careful and don't call her by the wrong name."

The wise monk was startled and tried to hide his subconsciously changing expression.

It turns out that she is Concubine Wu.

After a while, all the concubines gathered together.

Under Zijuan's gaze, they reluctantly took off their expensive or heavy jewelry, gave up their comfortable sedan chairs, lifted their skirts and stepped onto the steps up the mountain.

This is a wonderful sight.

The wise monk couldn't help but wonder, "What happened?"

Zijuan said, "The Queen has ordered that, as a sign of piety, all the concubines must walk up the mountain to pray for the Queen."

The wise monk was stunned. This was completely different from what he had imagined.

Shouldn't Concubine Wu be the only one walking?

Why is everyone climbing mountains now?

Zijuan urged, "Master Wisdom, please lead the way."

The wise monk nodded casually twice, touched his nose, and turned and walked away as if nothing had happened.

Maybe it was because of the heavy rain yesterday that the weather today is too good.

It was already autumn, but the sun was still scorching, causing pain on the faces of every concubine.

Even with eunuchs holding umbrellas, most of the ladies were exhausted after walking for only a quarter of an hour.

People in such poor health as Yuepin and Ningpin could not help but rest in a pavilion by the roadside.

A quarter of an hour later, Concubine Sun finally arrived.

She was the oldest among the harem. At the moment, she was exhausted and panting. Sweat wet the makeup on her face, revealing several wrinkles that could not be concealed.

Sunpin was breathing heavily, but when she saw Yuepin, she couldn't help but sneer: "Yuepin is walking fast, she is still young, she doesn't care about the heat even though her makeup has melted."

Yuepin smiled slightly: "Sister Sunpin is here, why don't you sit down with her?"

Sunpin shook her head. "Today I am here to pray for the Queen, how dare I sit down and rest? Unlike my sister, I can sit here with peace of mind."

After hearing this, Yuepin put down the fan in her hand and said, "I am naturally beautiful, so I am not afraid of losing my makeup. But my sister needs more powder to cover it up."

Sun Bin's face changed: "What do you mean!"

Yuepin smiled and said, "Sister, don't be angry. I didn't mean to say that you are old and ugly."

The two sides have never gotten along, and now they are confronting each other again.

Ningpin sighed and came out to help, "Why are you two sisters doing this? You should rest for a while."

"I don't know what the imperial concubine got up to today. She actually asked everyone to walk up the mountain."

"Yeah, she clearly said she wanted to walk up the mountain, but now she is far behind."

Qi Chang heard this and rolled her eyes. Suddenly, she said, "My dear sisters, you may not know this. I heard that I was originally going to ride a sedan chair up the mountain today, but I changed my mind hastily because of Concubine Wu."

Everyone's eyes were focused.

Lady Wu?

What does this have to do with her?

Qi Changzai explained, "Last night the weather was bad and a sedan chair suitable for a noble lady was destroyed in the Huguo Temple. The imperial concubine was kind-hearted and could not bear to see Noble Lady Wu walk up the mountain alone, so she simply let everyone walk together."

Everyone knows that the Imperial Concubine is cruel and ruthless, and she definitely did not make the decision because she could not bear to see Concubine Wu suffer.

Concubine Zhang immediately said aggrievedly: "Then let Concubine Wu go alone, what does it have to do with us?"

She had been a lady from a wealthy family since she was young, and she never left the house. She had never suffered such hardship.

Lu Changzai frowned, "Where did you get the news?"

She looked at Qi Changzai with eyes full of suspicion.

With these words, Concubine Qi made Concubine Wu the target of public criticism.

"My servant overheard the conversation between Monk Zhihui and Zijuan just now. Otherwise, I would not dare to make up stories about the imperial concubine." Qi Changzai said.

Now everyone has a place to vent their resentment.

Ningpin asked Mu Changzai, "Aren't you usually with the Imperial Concubine? Why didn't she invite you?"

Mu Changzai's expression changed slightly, and she said uncomfortably, "Madam Ningpin, you are joking. Madam Guifei has been busy with trivial matters in the palace recently, and I haven't been able to see you for a while."

Ningpin smiled and said, "Ever since the Imperial Concubine brought Lady Wu to the palace to 'recuperate', Linhua Palace has refused to allow outsiders to enter. I thought that Concubine Mu was not included in this list."

Concubine Sun covered her mouth and chuckled: "Mu Changzai, aren't you a favorite of the Imperial Concubine? How come you have become an 'outsider' now?"

Mu Changzai's expression became increasingly ugly, but she was speechless.

In this harem, there are no eternal allies, only eternal interests.

Now it seems that Concubine Wu has become the favorite of the Imperial Concubine.

"Now is not the time to consider these things. We can't let the imperial concubine take back her fame." The highest-ranking concubine stood up and glanced at the group of women with their own thoughts.

“Instead of complaining here, you should think about how to get up the mountain.”

Concubine Zhang said angrily, "Madam Shufei, everyone has heard what Concubine Qi said. Since the concubines' sedan chairs are intact, why not let the Huguo Temple come to pick us up."

Lu Changzai advised: "Sister, you have come this far, why should you fail at the last moment?"

Concubine Sun agreed with Concubine Zhang: "Without the sedan chair, we may not even be able to reach the halfway point of the mountain tonight."

Seeing that the concubines were arguing more and more fiercely, the only concubine present, Concubine Shu, finally spoke up.

"In that case, when the imperial concubine comes later, I will plead for you."

Hearing this, Concubine Zhang smiled and immediately expressed her gratitude.

Concubine Shu shook her head.

These women couldn't even walk for a quarter of an hour. They were really used to a life of luxury and extravagance.

After a while, Concubine Lin and Concubine Wu finally arrived.

At the bottom of the stairs, below everyone's sight, two people overlapped.

Wu Qing placed one hand firmly under the imperial concubine's shoulder, and the other hand gently supported the imperial concubine's knee.

She looked calm and steady, climbing the steps effortlessly.

Modern people have another name for this posture - "Princess Hold".

The women in the pavilion: "..."

Their eyes seem to be damaged.