Song Yaozhu's behavior could be described as both reckless and reasonable. After the Crown Prince's wife saw her off, she couldn't help but complain to her wet nurse, "What kind of people are these?"
"Should I let this servant investigate?"
The Crown Princess thought for a moment, then said, "Have someone follow her and see what she's up to!"
The nanny did as she was told. Something was definitely amiss if things were not going well, and Xie Liwei thought so too.
When he returned to his residence, he learned that Song Yaozhu had gone to the First Prince's residence very abruptly that day, just to hold someone else's child. He found it unbelievable, yet he also felt that she was capable of doing such a thing.
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort also had the kitchen prepare a lot of things today..." Qin Yu hesitated before speaking.
"What?"
"The princess specifically requested chives, oysters, bull penis, and other items, saying she wanted to nourish your body."
"......"
Xie Liwei was originally going back to his own courtyard, but upon hearing this, he turned and went to Biluo Courtyard.
At this moment, Song Yaozhu was practicing her horse stance, her face covered in sweat. She only stopped when she saw Xie Liwei arrive.
"Your Highness, what brings you here? Have you had dinner? If not, please have some here!"
Xie Liwei's foot, which was about to step into the house, froze in mid-air before he withdrew it. Song Yaozhu's tone was too enthusiastic, as enthusiastic as a wife anxiously waiting for her husband.
It's terrifying and eerie.
Why did you go to the First Prince's residence today?
"I'm going to deliver pastries to my sister!" she said innocently.
Xie Liwei sneered; she was definitely up to no good. However, since he didn't know what she was planning, he decided not to expose her for now.
"Then what do you mean by insisting on holding someone else's child?"
“My mother came to talk to me a few days ago, telling me to get pregnant soon. I’m just listening to her, aren’t I? Besides, the royal physician said that my constitution makes it difficult for me to conceive, so of course I’m anxious! I’m thinking of going to the Jokhang Temple outside the city to offer incense in a few days. I’ve heard that it’s very effective for praying for a child there. Can Your Highness allow me to go?”
Xie Liwei thought she had finally made a move, and he wanted to see what she was up to.
"Alright, remember to bring plenty of guards."
After saying that, he turned and left. Song Yaozhu was still behind him, asking, "Won't Your Highness accompany me?"
The sound gradually lengthened, sounding like a great pity, but in reality, the person stood still and didn't move at all.
Even Granny Qin couldn't understand the Princess Consort. She seemed to have deep affection for the Prince, but she didn't do anything about it!
With Xie Liwei's words, it was easy for Song Yaozhu to leave the manor. On the fifteenth, she led her entourage out of the city to the Jokhang Temple. Accompanying her were Qin Yu and about ten guards.
The carriage arrived at Jokhang Temple. After getting off, Song Yaozhu went to the temple to offer incense, bowing to the Buddhas in each hall with the devotion of a believer. Not only that, she also had Granny Qin donate a large sum of money for incense oil, and the abbot generously gave her a palm-sized peach wood sword for warding off evil spirits.
"Granny, I'm tired."
Granny Qin then led her to a side room to rest, as she had already booked a room at the Jokhang Temple for today's incense offering.
Song Yaozhu entered the courtyard and saw servants from another household standing at the door of a house on the other side. She glanced at them and then looked away.
"The woman next to her is the wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue, who has brought her young mistress to offer incense," Qin Mama whispered to Song Yaozhu as they entered the room. The Prince had said to let the Princess know a few people to see what she intended to do.
Song Yaozhu gave a faint "oh" and lay down to sleep.
She's really asleep!
Granny Qin paused for a moment, then went out to guard the gate.
Song Yaozhu's purpose was to attend the afternoon sermon. After waking up, she ate two pieces of pastry and went early to secure a good seat near the front. Her earnest attitude led Granny Qin to believe that she was a devout believer.
Song Yaozhu knelt on the prayer mat, with the family of the Vice Minister of Revenue behind her.
As people gradually arrived, the abbot slowly entered, accompanied by an elderly woman. The woman wore coarse cloth robes but was in good spirits. She sat in front of Song Yaozhu, to the abbot's right.
The ceremony lasted for an hour, and the servants, including Granny Qin, could only wait outside. After it ended, people dispersed in twos and threes, some seeking answers from the abbot. When Song Yaozhu got up, she stumbled, but fortunately, the old lady helped her up, preventing her from embarrassing herself.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Song Yaozhu said softly.
The old lady was surprised. "Whose family are you from? You look unfamiliar to me."
She was the mother of the Prince of Yan, a pawn left in the capital by the Emperor to manipulate him. Unable to bear the hypocrisy of the palace, she requested to leave and came to the Jokhang Temple to practice Buddhism.
Many people knew her, and some were old acquaintances who came to talk to her. But no one had ever met a girl as young as Song Yaozhu.
"I am from the Song Grand Tutor's mansion, and I recently married into the Xiaoyao Prince's mansion."
The Empress Dowager understood and knew her identity. She had come to cultivate, not to go into seclusion, and thus knew some things about the capital.
"It's rare to see someone as young as you come to worship Buddha," the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
"I have my own selfish motives. I want to conceive Your Highness's child as soon as possible, so I came to ask you for help, Bodhisattva." Song Yaozhu smiled shyly.
Speaking of her child, the Dowager Consort couldn't help but show a hint of loneliness on her face. Because of the Prince of Yan's status, his requests to return to the capital for the New Year had been rejected by the Emperor for the past few years. She hadn't seen her son for many years.
Song Yaozhu did not miss the dejection on her face and said apologetically, "It is my fault for reminding the Consort of the Prince!"
The Dowager waved her hand, "It's none of your business, you can go."
Song Yaozhu hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, "Your Highness, it was my fault for bringing up your sad memories. If Your Highness doesn't mind, I will come to the Jokhang Temple sometime and keep you company to talk and cheer you up."
The Dowager Consort is fine with it. She is lonely on the mountain, and few of her old friends come to visit her. She also has no one to talk to.
Song Yaozhu spoke with the Empress Dowager in the palace for only a few breaths, without being seen by Qin Mama and the others.
After descending the mountain, she recounted the day's itinerary to Xie Liwei. Xie Liwei frowned deeply upon hearing it; she hadn't done anything out of line?
Xie Liwei was truly puzzled.
The next day, Song Yaozhu went out again. She traveled simply today, taking only Caijin and a coachman with her. The carriage stopped at a bookstore, where Song Yaozhu spent the day reading.
On the third day, Song Yaozhu still took Caijin to that bookstore.
The person who had secretly followed Song Yaozhu returned to report, and also brought back the book that Song Yaozhu had been reading, with her name written on it, for Xie Liwei to see. Xie Liwei flipped through a few pages; it was all illustrated.
"The princess told the waiter that she couldn't read and asked him to bring her these picture books. The waiter said she could look at them all day long!"
"Hmph, pretending."
This woman must be literate. She speaks Mandarin very well, and although her manners are occasionally coarse, they are by no means rustic or uncouth.
She's the kind of woman who can enjoy the comforts of a luxurious haven, yet also find comfort in a thatched hut. She may appear delicate, but she's actually strong inside.
"Keep an eye on it."
Xie Liwei is busy with the imperial examinations next spring. Although he does not hold an official position, it does not stop him from stirring up trouble.
A few days later, Xie Liwei was about to go out when Song Wenyue found him.
"Your Highness, I'm only telling you this because you're my brother-in-law and I believe family scandals shouldn't be aired in public. My sister is secretly keeping a young, handsome scholar as a lover behind your back!"
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