She heaved a long sigh, rolled up her sleeves, and revealed the gold bracelet on her wrist to Zhao Yunzhu. "Concubine Yun, I have not stolen a single needle or thread from the palace."
Mother Ding straightened her back a little.
She knew that someone must be jealous and gossiping in front of Concubine Yun.
"Replying to Concubine Yun, this is a gift from my husband. He made a fortune a while ago and, remembering how much he owed me over the years, he gifted me with a lot of gold and silver jewelry. Concubine Yun, please don't listen to those people's gossip."
Zhao Yunzhu looked at Mother Ding's gradually rising lips and suddenly changed the subject, "Has your husband ever asked you about the affairs of the palace?"
Mother Ding was in the middle of a conversation when she heard Concubine Yun ask this question. She blurted out, "Concubine Yun, my husband asked before. He just wanted to know what I was doing in the palace so he could brag about it. Men, after all, need face."
Zhao Yunzhu was still smiling.
Aunt Hua was displeased when she heard this. She frowned and wanted to scold, but she saw her young lady shaking her head slightly at her, signaling her not to say anything. Only then did Aunt Hua suppress the anger in her heart.
"Oh?" Zhao Yunzhu looked at Mother Ding with a suspicious smile. "I'm relieved that Mother Ding is living a good life."
Seeing that Mother Ding had gradually relaxed her guard, she continued to ask, "Mother Ding, can you tell me in detail what information your husband asked you?"
Mother Ding was thinking in her mind, tilting her head to recall carefully.
"He asked me what I usually do in Prince An's Mansion, and whether I often visit Concubine Yun. He also asked about Concubine Yun's life before she got married."
Mother Ding answered very carefully and seriously.
She didn't notice that Aunt Hua's eyes were getting darker, nor did she notice that the smile on Zhao Yunzhu's lips was gradually cooling.
"Mom, do you remember the wet nurse who used to serve me?"
Mother Ding was stunned when she heard this, then frowned, a look of confusion on her face. "Madam Li? Why did Concubine Yun suddenly think of asking Madam Li?"
"Oh?" Zhao Yunzhu already had a rough idea in her mind. "Mom, can you tell me who asked about Nanny Li in front of you?"
"Replying to Concubine Yun, my husband asked me about this a few days ago and also asked me a lot about Madam Li."
Zhao Yunzhu saw that Mother Ding didn't notice anything wrong at all.
Because I already knew that Mother Ding was a little silly, but she was not a bad person and did not have any bad intentions.
I guess she was just being used by her man.
"Mom, this is a reward for you. Take it back first."
Mother Ding happily took the ten taels of silver from Zhao Yunzhu, bowed again, and then said goodbye.
Aunt Hua personally sent Mother Ding out, and when she came back, her face was frighteningly gloomy.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw his young lady biting her lip and staring coldly at the teacup on the table.
"Miss, do you have any plans in mind?"
Aunt Hua stepped forward. She knew in her heart that it must have been Mother Ding's man who betrayed Miss Chun'er.
Ultimately, Mother Ding cannot escape responsibility.
But how could a stupid person understand all the twists and turns involved?
"Mammy, have someone keep a close eye on Madam Ding. Tell them not to leave Prince An's mansion, and don't let her contact anyone outside. Keep her under guard."
Zhao Yunzhu thought for a moment, then added, "Have someone keep a close eye on Mother Ding's man. Remember not to alert the enemy. If we follow the lead of her man, we'll definitely find some clues."
Aunt Hua nodded in agreement.
The day to go to the royal temple is approaching.
She was uneasy about leaving the affairs of the city to others, so she left Nanny Hua in Prince An's mansion and asked the guards to deliver letters to the city every day.
She took a few maids and six guards, followed Empress Dowager Liu out of Chang'an City, and went to the royal temple to practice meditation.
She entered the palace early in the morning and went with the emperor to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Liu.
Only then did he get on the carriage and leave the palace with great fanfare.
The long street was already guarded by guards, and the crowded crowd knelt on both sides, chanting the beautiful name of Empress Dowager Liu.
Zhao Yunzhu and her maid sat in the carriage following behind Empress Dowager Liu.
I could hear the deafening congratulations of the crowd.
She frowned slightly, thinking that all this was ridiculous.
The royal temple was located at Qingshan Temple, thirty miles outside Chang'an City.
The abbot of Qingshan Temple led a group of disciples in the temple to welcome the two distinguished guests at the temple gate early in the morning.
Looking at the extremely luxurious carriage and horses, the host's heart was hanging in the air.
For many years, no nobles from the palace practiced asceticism in the temple.
As the carriage stopped at the gate of Qingshan Temple, Zhao Yunzhu, supported by her maid, came to the front of Empress Dowager Liu's carriage to greet her respectfully.
The palace maid lifted the carriage curtain, and Empress Dowager Liu saw Zhao Yunzhu and her eyes paused.
Thinking of being at the temple gate now, her tone softened a bit, "Concubine Yun is in poor health, so there's no need for you to wait on me. Don't make me worry about you in return."
"Your Majesty, I have made note of this."
Zhao Yunzhu bowed, stepped back, and waited on the side for the palace servants to help Empress Dowager Liu get off the carriage.
"Empress Dowager." The abbot of Qingshan Temple stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Empress Dowager Liu nodded and said, "I'm sorry to trouble the host."
"It is a blessing for Qingshan Temple that the Queen Mother can come."
"Replying to the Queen Mother, the meditation room has been cleaned up. Please ask the Queen Mother and Concubine Yun to go over and make some adjustments."
Empress Dowager Liu responded in a calm voice.
Zhao Yunzhu followed Empress Dowager Liu into the temple.
The rooms at the back had already been cleaned up.
"You also want to rest for a while. I will send someone to call you later. You are exhausted from the journey. It is not appropriate to go to see the Buddha like this."
"yes."
Zhao Yunzhu respectfully agreed, said goodbye to Empress Dowager Liu, and then took her maid and, under the guidance of a master, went to the courtyard arranged for her by the abbot to rest.
Qingshan Temple is a royal temple. When it was first built, a courtyard was reserved for nobles from the palace to stay for a short time.
Zhao Yunzhu lived in the Plum Blossom Garden, which was separated from Empress Dowager Liu's Xiangshan Garden by a garden.
The room was cleaned tidy. Zhao Yunzhu sat aside to rest while the maids went in and out carrying the things she brought.
After drinking a cup of tea, changing into plain clothes and washing up, she took her maid to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Liu in Xiangshan Garden.
Empress Dowager Liu was still washing up, and Zhao Yunzhu was sitting outside waiting.
Soon, Empress Dowager Liu came out from the inner room with the help of palace maids.
"Let's go."
Zhao Yunzhu responded and followed Empress Dowager Liu respectfully. The two of them came to the main hall of Qingshan Temple. The abbot personally led the two nobles into the main hall.
Empress Dowager Liu and Zhao Yunzhu knelt in front of the Buddha statue, closed their eyes, clasped their hands together and prayed in their hearts for the border war.
The host handed the lit incense to the two distinguished persons in turn.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
