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Wei Qiao had originally intended to come in, say goodbye, and leave, but upon hearing her lingering tone, a pang of pity suddenly welled up in his heart. Thinking of her impending fate, he shook his head. "No rush. Let me accompany you to tour Yehua Temple. It can be considered one of the most prestigious temples in the capital."
"Okay, thank you, Uncle."
The two walked side by side through the temple. Wei Qiao introduced her to the Buddha statues enshrined in each hall and the meanings each statue represented. Xi Chun listened attentively, but didn't remember a single word he said. The bright morning sun shone on his profile, and his long eyelashes resembled a pair of butterflies in flight, each flutter of their wings tickling Xi Chun's heart. He was so handsome; Xi Chun felt he had long surpassed the legendary Song Yu and Pan An described by storytellers.
After passing the Sutra Repository, we arrived at the foot of a steep hill. Several Buddhist halls were also built on the hillside, but their location was hidden and few people knew about them except for regular visitors to Yehua Temple.
Xi Chun followed Wei Qiao, slowly ascending the stone steps carved into the mountainside. As they reached a bend, a monk carrying an incense burner hurried down the mountain. The incense burner blocked the monk's view, and he didn't see Xi Chun and Wei Qiao walking side-by-side around the bend. To avoid him, Wei Qiao turned sideways towards Xi Chun, who was gazing at the distant clouds. Their directions met, and Wei Qiao's lips lightly brushed against Xi Chun's forehead. After the monk descended, Wei Qiao immediately distanced himself from Xi Chun. Xi Chun saw that his expression was normal, as if the touch had never happened.
Further up, there were several steeper stone steps. Fearing Xichun might have trouble climbing, Wei Qiao took her hand. Holding his hand, she felt his warmth on her fingertips, and Xichun's heart suddenly raced. Looking at their tightly clasped hands, Xichun suddenly remembered that day on Qingquan Mountain, how close he had been to her, far exceeding the concern a younger brother-in-law showed to his sister-in-law. She wondered if she held a place in his heart too.
Once they reached the flat ground in front of the Buddha Hall, Wei Qiao still didn't let go of Xi Chun's hand. Xi Chun cherished this moment of being together, and she remained silent, hoping that they could continue holding hands in silence.
The sensation of Xi Chun's gentle touch on his forehead still lingered on Wei Qiao's lips. He remembered kissing her that night by the artificial hill, on the lips—a more intimate touch. Her slender hand was now in his, and before this solemn Buddhist temple, he suddenly felt a pang of regret; he was reluctant to let go.
A sudden gust of wind rose on the mountain, rustling the leaves all over the mountain. The clothes of the two people fluttered, touching and separating in the air.
Wei Qiao looked up at the Maitreya Buddha statue in the hall. Gazing at the Buddha's compassionate face, he seemed to see again the scene of his father having this statue carved by craftsmen when he was ten years old, to pray for his well-being. How could he harbor such thoughts when his father's great revenge was still unavenged? Suddenly, he released Xi Chun's hand.
Suddenly losing his warmth, Xi Chun awoke from a dream, feeling a deep sense of loss. Seeing Wei Qiao had already reached the Maitreya Buddha statue in the hall, Xi Chun went up to him. Xi Chun looked up at the Maitreya Buddha statue holding a cloth bag, its smiling face gazing upon the worshippers, its wise and compassionate eyes seemingly having seen through all the causes and effects of the world.
Xichun lacked wisdom; she couldn't understand it.
She was now stubbornly seeking an answer.
The sandalwood incense on the offering table emitted thin, white smoke, which drifted aimlessly in the wind, twisting and turning without any support. This mirrored Xichun's current state of mind; her small, drifting boat was desperately searching for a place to land on the vast ocean, but she didn't know if the harbor of that island was open to her.
Wei Qiao, having figured things out, wanted to leave quickly. Xi Chun was already moved, but he couldn't pretend to be in love and fall headlong into this trap of desire. He turned to say goodbye to Xi Chun, but she spoke first.
She looked at him intently, her expression solemn as if she were worshipping a deity. She took a deep breath before uttering the question that had been lingering in her heart: "Uncle, do you like me?"
Xi Chun spoke very softly, but every word was clear and distinct.
Upon hearing this, Wei Qiao's heart trembled for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He smiled and said to her, "Sister-in-law, it's getting late, I need to go inspect the garrison camp."
The rising white smoke was blown apart by a strong gust of wind and finally dissipated completely. Xichun's heart suddenly shattered, and blood gushed from her heart, instantly flooding all the nerves in her body.
She got the answer she wanted, but it wasn't the answer she wanted.
Xi Chun turned away to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes. After a while, she turned back and smiled at him, saying, "Alright, Uncle, take care."
After Zhang Yunyao had arranged the time for the ritual, she sent a maid to find Xichun. Xichun had just come down from the Buddhist temple on the mountainside, and the two met right in front of the Sutra Repository.
"Young Madam, the ritual for the young master will be held this afternoon. Madam is waiting for you in the side room right now."
At the Wei residence, Wei Changsong confirmed that Zhang Yunyao had left with Xichun, so he also put on his official robes and went to the palace. He wasn't going to see the Emperor, but rather to see Guang Jinfu, the eunuch by the Emperor's side and Mi Qide's apprentice.
Guang Jinfu stuffed the four hundred taels of silver notes handed to him by Wei Changsong into his sleeve pocket, raised his pinky finger, and said with a smile, "Lord Wei's idea is good. I will go to the palace to report to the Emperor right away."
Yan Zhongyou was reviewing memorials in the Yuanhe Hall when Guang Jinfu brought him a freshly brewed cup of Tiger Hill tea. "Your Majesty," he said, "you are diligent in your duties and care for the people, but you must also take care of your health. This beautiful spring day will soon be over. I remember the magnolias at Yehua Temple should be in bloom by now, and there should be many people going to the temple to admire the flowers. Why doesn't Your Majesty take this opportunity to travel incognito and enjoy the pleasures with the people?"
Just then, Yan Zhongyou was feeling dizzy from reading the memorials, and Guang Jinfu's suggestion suited him perfectly. "Alright, go and find your master, and let him accompany me to see how well the magnolias are blooming at Yehua Temple this year."
Miched and the others changed into their palace attire. Yan Zhongyou looked up and, not seeing Wei Qiao, frowned and asked, "Where is Minister Wei? Why didn't you call him here?"
Miched's wrinkled face blossomed into a smile. "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? You sent Lord Wei to the southern garrison camp these past few days."
Yan Zhongyou slapped his forehead. "Oh dear, look at my memory! Let's go, let's leave the palace."
It was already afternoon when Yan Zhongyou arrived at Yehua Temple. The abbot of Yehua Temple did not make a fuss about Yan Zhongyou's incognito visit, but simply told him about the recent situation at Yehua Temple. As they walked to the Buddha Hall, they saw the monks chanting sutras. The abbot explained, "They are performing a ritual to pray for the soul of the eldest son of the Wei family."
"The Wei residence? Which Wei residence? Is it the residence of Wei Qiao?" Yan Zhongyou became interested.
The abbot nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, those who have come to participate in the memorial service today are the wife of the Wei family and the wife of the deceased eldest son."
The emperor had never seen a folk ritual for the deceased, so he went inside to take a look. The young monk guarding the gate tried to stop him, but when the abbot behind him gave him a wink, he could only purse his lips and quietly retreat to the side.
Yan Zhongyou took a few steps forward, passing a group of monks chanting sutras, and saw Xichun kneeling quietly in front of the Buddha statue, praying. He immediately froze on the spot. Michide, who was beside him, also saw Xichun and was astonished, muttering, "So alike, so alike."
Tears welled in Yan Zhongyou's eyes. Many years ago, also at Yehua Temple, he had seen a girl kneeling before the Buddha, praying just like Xichun, at the entrance of the main hall. That girl was even younger and more beautiful than Xichun before him. At that time, the girl was drawn by the birdsong outside the door and turned around, their eyes meeting. Only then did he realize that she was Fei Xueyi, the only daughter of the Prime Minister. He and Fei Xueyi had almost fallen in love with each other at first sight.
Seeing the strangers who had suddenly appeared at the ritual site, Zhang Yunyao told Granny Wang to send them away. After some discussion with Granny Wang, Mi Qide advised Yan Zhongyou, "Your Majesty, let's go out first."
As Yan Zhongyou walked outside the palace, he took the handkerchief handed to him by Michide and wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye. He thought to himself that Wei Qiao came to his Yuanhe Palace almost every day, so there was no reason why he would not mention that his sister-in-law looked so much like the painting he looked at every day. He scolded him in annoyance, "You, Wei Qiao, actually kept it from me."
Miched heard the dissatisfaction in his tone and laughed, "His Majesty knows that Lord Wei doesn't even have a concubine, so why would he care what his widowed sister-in-law looks like? I think His Majesty must have misunderstood Lord Wei."
Yan Zhongyou thought of Wei Qiao's usual submissiveness to him and nodded, "Ah, you're right. What kind of woman can I expect that Wei Qiao to pay attention to? But regarding this matter, go to Wei Changsong and tell him what I mean. He should know what to do."
"Yes, I will go shortly."
After returning to the palace and serving Yan Zhongyou dinner, Michide rode in a sedan chair to the gate of the Wei residence.
Upon hearing the steward announce that Eunuch Mi from the palace had arrived, Wei Changsong quickly released his hold on Consort Meng and rushed to the main hall in the front courtyard. Seeing Mi Qide standing in the hall looking at the "Longevity Crane Painting" hanging on the wall, Wei Changsong smiled broadly, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Eunuch Mi, what brings you to my humble abode? Is there anything I can do for you?"
Miched already knew from Guang Jinfu that the Emperor's impromptu visit to Yehua Temple today was instigated by Wei Changsong. For his own promotion and wealth, he was willing to sacrifice even his daughter-in-law. Miched despised such a person. However, he did not show it on his face and said with a smile, "I have come to congratulate Lord Wei."
Wei Changsong feigned ignorance, looking surprised, "What brings you this joy?"
"His Majesty, traveling incognito today, saw the women of your Wei family performing a ritual for the deceased eldest son at Yehua Temple. Your daughter-in-law, Jiang, bears a striking resemblance to Master Qiu Jiu's portrait of a beautiful woman, and His Majesty intends to bring her into the palace. I don't need to spell it out, do I?"
"Alas, it is my daughter-in-law's good fortune to have won the Emperor's favor. However, the child is somewhat foolish, and I hope that Eunuch Mi will take good care of her in the palace. I will bring her back to my residence tomorrow, give her a good scolding, and then send her to the palace at night. What do you think, Eunuch Mi?"
"Then we will do as Lord Wei says. A sedan chair from the palace will be waiting in front of the Wei residence tomorrow night. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
Wei Changsong diligently helped Michide into the sedan chair, and only turned back to his residence after the sedan chair was out of sight.
At Yehua Temple, Xichun was heartbroken and unable to sleep due to Wei Qiao's rejection during the day. She finally drifted off to sleep around 3:00 AM, only to be woken up by her maid around 5:00 AM, having slept for less than two hours in total. After washing up, she went to the Buddhist hall to continue the religious ceremony when the Wei family's steward suddenly arrived at Yehua Temple.
After the steward whispered a few words in Zhang Yunyao's ear, Zhang Yunyao's face darkened, and she walked to Xichun's side. "Xichun, the master has sent word that there is an urgent matter at the manor. Let's go back to the manor first."
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