Chapter 110 Inexplicable Malice
Qiao Wei was standing outside the door just now, and saw the prince standing motionless under the old plum tree.
She was worried about the master inside at that time, but the other party left after a while.
Xu Shuyao came out at this moment and saw the maid's relaxed expression. She couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
Qiao Wei shook her head and said after a long while, "I just think it's really nice for the girl to be like this!"
Xu Shuyao smiled with her lips curled up, but she felt vaguely uneasy.
Since Xiao Mo left in anger that day, Xu Shuyao only saw him today.
Although the prince in Songhe Hall had a smile on his face and seemed no different from usual, Xu Shuyao could feel the cold alienation that went deep into her bones.
Will he take revenge on her?
She couldn't help but think about this possibility, but she felt that she was worrying too much.
She deliberately made her words clear that day, on the one hand to show her own position, and on the other hand to humiliate the other party.
Xiao Mo has a very high opinion of himself and would not do anything that would be detrimental to his reputation just for a momentary interest.
Xu Shuyao and two maids walked towards Jiyunzhai, chatting and laughing.
Two days later it will be the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which is Buddha's Birthday, the legendary day of the Buddha's birth.
On this day every year, Qingning Temple holds a grand religious ceremony.
The ladies in the capital would also take carriages to the temple on this day, either to participate in the Buddha bathing ceremony, or to pray, or to take advantage of this rare day to go out for a trip.
Xu Shuyao was unable to attend the ceremony in previous years due to mourning period, so this year is her first time to attend.
Except for a few masters, almost all the staff in the Duke's Mansion were dispatched this time.
Originally, Xu Shuyao wanted to get on the old lady's carriage, but Xiao Jinshan didn't like her second sister-in-law, so she forced her and Xiao Jintong to sit in one carriage. In this way, the remaining Chen, Liu, and Liu Qingwan sat in the remaining carriage.
In the front car sat Madam Xiao, Cui Zhaoran and Wang.
The young men rode on both sides of the group, and they headed towards Qingning Temple in a mighty procession.
Xu Shuyao had stayed in the temple for a while a few months ago, but the novelty of it had long since worn off.
Just thinking about the kitten that ran away from Qingning Temple, I felt like laughing.
Is it that it has no owner?
Xiao Jinshan naturally had a lot to say, and Xu Shuyao and Xiao Jintong were happy to be listeners.
Although Liu Qingwan looked down on the stupid sister-in-law from the second house and didn't want to ride in the same carriage with her, she still felt embarrassed by such obvious exclusion.
When Liu saw this, she just said a few words of comfort.
She didn't have much to say to her niece at the moment.
Not to mention Chen, her eyes hurt when she saw Liu Qingwan.
When Xu Shuyao and his party arrived at the foot of the mountain of Qingning Temple, there were already many carriages parked there.
In addition to the ladies and daughters of various mansions, young ladies from ordinary families also came to the open space.
They gathered in groups of three or four to talk and chat. Some of them were accompanied by maids, and they were holding food that they had just bought from vendors, which was still steaming.
Xu Shuyao smelled the scent of sour plum soup in her nostrils, and her mouth and tongue felt increasingly dry.
But soon after they got off the car, they saw a ceremonial guard leading the way in front. They heard that the eldest prince Zhu Yanqing and his eldest grandson Zhu Chonggan came to the temple to preside over the Buddha bathing ceremony.
The Duke's Mansion entourage hurriedly stood aside respectfully.
Since Prince Liang was executed and Empress Feng was banished to the cold palace, the eldest prince has appeared in public more and more frequently.
In contrast, the previously most popular second prince Zhu Ruijing has become much more low-key.
But even though the second prince is currently at a disadvantage, his wife's family is still powerful and cannot be underestimated.
I originally thought that the presence of the eldest prince and the eldest grandson in this year's Buddha's Birthday Festival was already a big enough event.
Unexpectedly, they saw Concubine Cao's ceremonial procession next, followed by the prince's wife and concubine.
It was really so grand and overwhelming.
This was the second time Xu Shuyao had seen Shen Jingshu since the small banquet at the Shen Mansion. As the prince's concubine, her clothes were gorgeous, but her whole temperament was very different from the first time she met her at her second cousin's wedding banquet.
At that time, the legitimate daughter of the Shen family held the title of the most talented woman in the capital, and was also the nominal fiancée of Prince Xiao. She exuded the pride of a lady from an aristocratic family.
Moreover, the woman at that time had a delicate and round face, unlike her now, with a fierce look in her eyes and a pointed chin that made her look a little mean.
Xu Shuyao only took a glance and then lowered her head. Thinking of Shi Zhongyu's fate, she felt very complicated.
She didn't know why the marriage between the Xiao and Chen families didn't take place, but it was obvious that the second prince was not a good match.
Just looking at the wives' families he found, his principal wife was the legitimate daughter of the General of the Cavalry, his concubine was the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Shen and the only daughter of the Chief Censor Shen Xinian, and another concubine was from the Marquis of Changle's Mansion, the mother's house of Empress Feng.
From this, it is not difficult to see that the second prince chose those who could help him. He has a principal wife and two concubines in the mansion, and it is not known whether he has any other concubines.
If it weren't for the future position they were aiming for, the infighting among a room full of women would be enough to make people suffer.
At the same time, she was also a little confused as to why the Shen family got involved.
Thinking of the thin young man who admired the chrysanthemums with her, including the Second Master Shen and Ruan who she saw at the Shen family's small banquet, none of them looked like people who would do anything to cling to power.
Xu Shuyao frowned, and saw Shen Jingshu in the carriage also looking at her, with unspeakable malice in her eyes.
Xu Shuyao felt puzzled and looked at him again. She saw the other person curl his lips into a smile, then quickly looked away.
Chen Jingshu has been unhappy recently, and she has become increasingly unbalanced about the previous marriage.
She returned to the Shen Mansion a few days ago, but saw the prince getting into a carriage on the way.
When she suddenly saw Xiao Mo, she couldn't help but have someone follow him secretly, and finally saw him with the girl from the Xu family.
The young lady with outstanding appearance and tragic life experience did have some seductive tricks. She felt that she was not simple when she saw her for the first time that day.
After the nobles had passed, the people around them followed behind and walked forward slowly.
"Cousin?" Xiao Jinshan saw Xu Shuyao standing there silently, and waved her hand in front of her.
"Let's go. What are you daydreaming about?" she said.
Xu Shuyao took the other person's hand and smiled, "It seems like I've been stared at by a poisonous snake."
"Who? Where is the poisonous snake?" Her voice was too loud and everyone around looked at them.
Xu Shuyao sighed. This third cousin was always noisy.
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