Chapter 103 His Mother Was Displeased
Dou Wenyi's eyes were filled with suspicion and uncertainty; she didn't understand what he was going to do.
Those large hands that were on her waist finally released their grip, and Pei Siyan gently stroked her cheek with affection. "Hurry up and put your clothes on, I'll take you to see the Empress Dowager."
Dou Wenyi looked at him incredulously, her heart pounding with fear. The late empress had been gone for many years; was he really going to take her to pay respects at this time?
In what capacity did she go to pay her respects?
What's wrong with you so late at night?!
Dou Wenyi dared not look directly into his sharp, dark eyes, and softened her voice, "Your Highness, it's getting late, and I'm afraid of the dark. Could we perhaps do it another day...?"
The atmosphere inside the room instantly turned cold.
Pei Siyan held her restrainedly, stroking her hair with his palm. After a long while, he coaxed her gently, "With me here, don't be afraid. No ghosts or spirits will dare to approach you."
"But......"
Pei Siyan's dark, cold eyes stared intently at her. "Want to stay? Then let's finish what we need to do?"
His tone was clear and calm, yet it carried the oppressive force of authority.
Dou Wenyi's fingers tightened, and she dared not utter a word of rebuttal. She would rather go burn paper money in the middle of the night than continue to stay here and suffer humiliation.
Pei Siyan picked up the brocade robe from the bed and wrapped it around her body gently, then fastened the collar button by button.
He frowned slightly. "How about changing into a dress?"
"Someone, bring me the dress!"
——
The night was clear and dust-free, the moonlight as silvery as silver, and the autumn wind whistled, seeping through the gaps into people's clothes, making them feel a chill. The streets were almost deserted, and the rows of buildings and houses on both sides quickly receded into the distance.
The silence was broken by the sound of galloping hooves and the crisp sound of carriage wheels. The city gate was suddenly opened, and the exquisite sandalwood carriage sped towards the outskirts of the capital.
Dou Wenyi leaned against the pillow, her brows slightly drooping, trying to suppress her discomfort, but she unknowingly fell asleep. Pei Siyan held her tightly in his arms and contentedly tidied her slightly disheveled hair...
Half an hour later, the carriage stopped at the foot of a small hill.
Pei Siyan fastened her cloak and carefully led her forward, holding her hand. They were surrounded by dense bushes, and the bluestone path in the middle was overgrown with weeds, so that every step they took made a crunching sound.
The moonlight was soft and the surroundings were quiet. Dou Wenyi broke out in a cold sweat. She gripped his hand tightly and staggered forward, her steps uneven.
By the faint moonlight, Dou Wenyi saw that the lonely grave in front of her was extremely simple and overgrown with weeds. There was not even a tombstone or memorial tablet. No one would have thought that this was the burial place of the virtuous Empress Wen.
Pei Siyan remained calm as he lit the candle with a flint, the tiny flame reflecting in his pupils. He couldn't help but recall how his mother had chosen a wrong path rather than the righteous one advocated by Emperor Muzong.
Because the person she loved most throughout her life was not Emperor Muzong, but his elder brother who died young.
Pei Siyan's expression was cold and solemn. He personally placed the offerings on the altar, inserted the three lit incense sticks into the altar with both hands, and bowed three times respectfully. He silently said to himself: I know what I am doing. She will not be like you. She will definitely choose the right path.
As he spoke, Pei Siyan took out three incense sticks and handed them over, "...Let's offer incense to the Empress Dowager first, and then burn some paper money later!"
Dou Wenyi's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. She hesitated before accepting the incense, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of his determined demeanor, and hurriedly lit the incense.
Dou Wenyi followed his example and bowed three times before inserting the incense into the altar. However, the incense miraculously went out as soon as it was inserted.
The surrounding darkness enveloped Pei Siyan, and Dou Wenyi dared not look at his dark face, but she couldn't help but secretly rejoice.
She murmured softly, "Your Highness, I'm afraid Empress Wen is unhappy."
Pei Siyan was silent for a moment, then handed her three more sticks of incense. "These dogs are trying to fool me with damp incense. The Empress Dowager is easygoing and won't hold a grudge against a junior like you. Light them again!"
Dou Wenyi: "......"
He really has no taboos; anything that is not good for him is someone else's fault.
Dou Wenyi clutched the three incense sticks tightly, hesitating to light them. Pei Siyan urged, "Don't be nervous, it's just one stick of incense. If one isn't enough, we'll light a few more!"
Dou Wenyi lowered her eyes and prayed silently, hoping that Empress Wen, if she were truly alive, would appear in his dream and ask him to marry that Miss Sheng as soon as possible, to tire of him, and to stop entangled with and forcing her!
Fortunately, after making this wish, the incense burned very brightly.
Dou Wenyi's tense back finally relaxed after a whole night. It seems that Empress Wen had some reservations about her son's outrageous behavior, and that's why she would accept her incense offerings after hearing her wishes.
Never mind, she'll just take it as Empress Wen's agreement.
Then, Dou Wenyi's face showed a clearer piety as she burned the gold ingots and yellow paper she had prepared for her.
——
Consort Tan and others originally intended to use Consort Jiang's miscarriage to pin the crime of murdering the imperial heir on Consort Zhang.
Everything was ready except for the final touch, but for some reason, Consort Jiang changed her tune at the last minute, saying that she was fine. In addition, the imperial physician had been waiting at Jingren Palace and assured her that Consort Jiang was alright.
Before Consort Tan could even launch her attack, Emperor Muzong rushed over from the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Upon learning that Consort Jiang was pregnant, he was overjoyed and even declared that he would promote her to the rank of Consort.
The sudden reversal of the wind caught Consort Tan off guard, and all the arguments she had prepared were suppressed.
Back at Chuxiu Palace, the palace maids respectfully poured her tea. Consort Tan stared at the teacup, then suddenly flicked her sleeve, and with a crash, the teacup shattered into pieces.
Prince Rui, Pei Shaoqin, sat quietly opposite her, his face expressionless, his tone indifferent, "Mother, don't upset yourself!"
Consort Tan had been favored for many years, but recently she had suffered a series of setbacks. Several important court officials they had placed in their hands were replaced by Pei Siyan without anyone noticing. Just when it seemed that Jiang Wan, their pawn, could open a gap, she was unexpectedly stabbed in the back at the very door.
"That bitch Jiang Wan dares to betray me? I'll make her wish she were dead!"
Pei Shaoqin spoke slowly and deliberately, "The fourth young lady of the Dou family also went to Jingren Palace today, right?"
"Investigate!" Consort Tan paused slightly, then immediately ordered her servants.
When they arrived, they did not see the future Crown Princess's sister. Given her status, she could only pay her respects to that vile Consort Zhang when she entered the palace.
“Mother, when we left the palace, the fourth daughter of the Dou family was also there, and she was also there when Jing Shu encountered trouble at Chaotian Temple last time.”
Having spent many years in the palace, Consort Tan would never underestimate such trivial matters.
So many coincidences are bound to raise suspicions.
Her narrow eyes were half-closed. "You mean she ruined our plans?"
Pei Shaoqin chuckled softly, “Mother, according to ancestral rules, I should have four concubines. This Miss Dou seems quite suitable.”
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