"Father, I only wish to stay in the temple for a few days."
Xiao Chengci discovered for the first time that the temple was nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with beautiful scenery.
"If you're looking for a quiet place, you might as well go to the Royal Villa."
Xiao Chengci said frankly, "I want to recite scriptures and pray for blessings here."
Emperor Xiao's lips twitched. It was the first time Emperor Xiao had ever known that his son could actually be patient enough to chant scriptures and pray for blessings.
Without asking, Emperor Xiao knew for whom this chanting and prayer was for.
"Okay, then I'll head back first. Be careful here by yourself."
Emperor Xiao wanted to stay with Xiao Chengci for a few days, but unfortunately, there were many things to do in the palace.
After Emperor Xiao left, he left Xiao Chengci with guards and some palace servants.
Xiao Chengci was indeed very well-behaved, attending morning classes with the abbot every day, eating vegetarian food, and praying for blessings.
The excuse Emperor Xiao used to the outside world was that Xiao Chengci felt deeply guilty and wanted to stay in a temple to pray for the country for a period of time.
This move naturally drew sighs of admiration from the ministers.
Consort Shu surveyed the bedchamber, her tone tinged with impatience, "Why is it so simple now?"
"Your Majesty, the resting place specially provided for the royal family is still under construction, so we can only ask for your temporary accommodation."
Consort Shu looked at the cramped room; there was nowhere to put the clothes and jewelry she had brought.
Consort Shu looked the bed over and pressed it twice with her hand. "This bed is rock hard. How can we sleep at night?"
"I'll add two more quilts for Your Highness later."
Consort Shu stomped her foot. "So annoying! It's all Xiao Chengci's fault!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince is also in the temple."
"Him?" Consort Shu was somewhat surprised. "What is he doing in the temple?"
"They say it's to pray for the country's well-being."
Consort Shu sneered, "The temple has burned down, and now you're talking about praying for blessings? Who would believe that?"
However, if Xiao Chengci were in the temple, wouldn't it be convenient for her to do whatever she wanted?
Before Consort Shu had even finished getting ready, the Second Prince came over to pay his respects.
Consort Shu felt comforted; at least she still had a son.
The house was too small, so we could only sit and chat in the yard.
“It is my fault for letting my mother live in such a humble place.”
"Alright," Consort Shu said, displeased with hearing this. "It has nothing to do with you."
The second prince continued, "I pleaded with Father Emperor on behalf of Mother, but Father Emperor severely reprimanded me and sent me back..."
Pei Yin glanced at the Second Prince from the side. How come she didn't know when the Second Prince had been reprimanded by His Majesty?
Consort Shu felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this.
"Your mother knows you are filial, but at this time, you must not plead for her anymore."
Consort Shu warned, "Your father is the kind of person who will never take back what he says. In his heart, only Xiao Chengci is his real son. If you anger him, with your mother not by your side, no one will be able to protect you."
"I have remembered everything Mother said."
"Go and pay your respects to the Crown Prince first. Pei Yin, you stay here and keep me company."
After the Second Prince left, Consort Shu pointed to the stone bench opposite her and said, "Sit."
"Thank you, Mother."
Consort Shu looked Pei Yin up and down. "How's the matter I instructed you to handle?"
"I have found the person my mother asked me to find."
Consort Shu nodded in satisfaction, "Take good care of that person. When the time is right, I will take down Xiao Chengci in one fell swoop."
Pei Yin said sweet words: "Mother's plan is flawless and will surely allow you to get what you want."
Consort Shu snorted, "Don't worry, after this is done, I will have my son promote you to the rank of concubine."
Pei Yin feigned a look of overwhelming joy, "Thank you, Mother."
After Pei Yin was carried into the Second Prince's backyard in a sedan chair, her days were not easy.
She had already offended the Second Prince to the point of no return, and because of Pei Yin's dowry, the Second Prince couldn't easily kill Pei Yin.
But verbal abuse and physical assault were common occurrences.
Pei Yin's pregnancy was already unstable, and it ended a few days later.
Pei Yin returned to the Duke's mansion in tears, wanting her mother to make a decision for her.
But her mother was so heartbroken by Pei Zhi's death that she couldn't get out of bed, so she had no time to care about her affairs.
Pei Yin planned to go find her father, but overheard Pei Minxue talking to him.
Pei Yin realized that her good younger sister was really amazing.
Pei Yin was having a hard time, so she told Consort Shu about it.
This also allowed Consort Shu to learn the whole story.
Wasn't Xiao Chengci heartbroken because of a woman?
Consort Shu then instructed Pei Yin to find a woman who resembled Pei Yin's younger sister.
Consort Shu was worried that she wouldn't know how to make a move, but Xiao Chengci delivered himself to her doorstep.
Xiao Chengci is currently living in a temple. If His Highness the Crown Prince of Tang were to engage in sexual activity with a woman in the temple...
It was discovered by everyone. Consort Shu wanted to know if Emperor Xiao could still protect Xiao Chengci as the crown prince this time.
"You're a smart one. Keep a close eye on Ayan. If he causes any trouble in his backyard while I'm not around, you'll have to handle it."
Pei Yin softly agreed, "Mother, rest assured, I will certainly not let you down."
Pei Yin only learned after entering the Second Prince's backyard that the Second Prince liked to beat people, especially women.
The Second Prince, who speaks in hushed tones even in public, strikes women with deadly force in the backyard.
Pei Yin had only been married into the family for half a month when the Second Prince had already killed three of them.
The servants in the prince's residence were already used to this and quickly disposed of the corpse.
Pei Yin had no idea what the Second Prince was like before.
Now that I'm in the palace, it's too late for regrets.
But Pei Yin refused to accept her fate. She didn't want to end up like those women who were beaten to death, chopped up, put in jars, transported out, and left to be devoured by wild beasts in the mountains.
Since she had no one to rely on, she decided to find someone to rely on.
If there is no road, then create one for yourself.
Wasn't Consort Shu going to have her harm the Crown Prince?
The Crown Prince was the patron Pei Yin had chosen for herself.
As soon as the news of the prince praying for blessings at the temple spread, people flocked to the temple to burn incense every day.
Consort Shu has not had a good night's sleep for several days.
The hall was cramped, and the bed was very hard.
Even with several quilts on the bed, it would creak whenever Consort Shu turned over.
That wasn't all; every day, many ministers' wives would bring their daughters to pay their respects to Consort Shu.
The implication was that Consort Shu hoped the Crown Prince would come over for a gathering.
The ladies, however, wanted to take their daughters directly to see His Highness the Crown Prince.
Unfortunately, His Highness the Crown Prince's residence was guarded by the Imperial Guards, and he refused to see anyone.
Consort Shu, who was also in the temple, became the only hope for these ladies.
Consort Shu was, after all, the Crown Prince's stepmother; if she spoke up, the Crown Prince would definitely come.
Consort Shu was furious. These people actually asked her to act as a matchmaker for Xiao Chengci.
Have they forgotten that her son is not yet married?
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