Chapter 33 Chapter 33 "Look at you, you just don't believe it." ...
Soon after the Empress Dowager returned to the court, she went to Da'an Temple.
Da'an Temple was a royal temple, and many Buddhist activities were only carried out for the royal family. Emperor Zhao's death anniversary was in March, so Shangguan Xu would go to Da'an Temple and stay for a few days in March every year.
On the day of departure, the procession of palace ladies was huge, with the Imperial Guards guarding in front and behind, and the Empress Dowager's carriage was in the middle of the procession.
However, there was a young official riding a horse in front of the empress dowager's carriage. He was neither a member of the imperial guards nor a relative of the royal family.
But it was Su Shang, the Minister of Rites.
"Although I'm not from the imperial court, I've heard a lot from you guys and know a little bit. As far as I know, the one responsible for Buddhist rituals at the temple should be the Zongzheng Temple, right? Does it have a close relationship with the Ministry of Rites?"
In a restaurant on the side of the road, two young men in their twenties were sitting opposite each other in the attic. One of them was sitting at the table, raising the teacup to his lips, his eyes lowered, his whole body unconcerned with the hustle and bustle of the outside world, while the one who was talking was tilting his head, looking at the huge procession downstairs with interest.
Noticing the person sitting opposite him pause in his drinking, the young man raised his lips and leaned closer, continuing, "This is your person..." He added teasingly, "Who do you think they're copying sutras and chanting for this trip?"
With a crisp "tap", the teacup was placed back on the table not too gently.
Xu Qing'an raised his eyes, and his gloomy gaze, like thorns, shot towards the young man who asked questions knowing the answer and deliberately provoked him.
The look in his eyes was like a cold pond in winter, giving the young man goose bumps. He immediately withdrew and said with a smile, "Who cares who he is? I'm sitting here peacefully anyway."
Xu Qing'an stopped talking and said seriously, "I've already asked An Ce to prepare the things you mentioned in your letter while the court officials are in Mount Li."
As he spoke, he pulled out an envelope from his pocket and handed it over: "It's all written down in here."
The young man who was talking to Xu Qing'an was none other than the wealthy businessman from Jiangnan, Shen Heng, Shen Xinzhou.
Shen Heng took the envelope but didn't rush to open it. He just put it in his arms and said quite straightforwardly: "Okay, I understand."
Xu Qing'an refilled the cup with hot tea and asked, "How are things going in Jiangnan?"
Shen Heng raised his eyebrows and said confidently: “Everything is going well, just waiting for an opportunity.”
Xu Qing'an took a sip of tea and turned to look out the window. The traveling team downstairs had reached the end of the team. The sound of movement was gradually getting smaller, and the figure of the person in the carriage in front was also hard to find.
Xu Qing'an lowered his eyes and looked away: "It's almost time. The plum rain season will be here soon."
——
At night, the day's chanting ceremony was completed in Da'an Temple. When Shangguan Xu and Su Shang arrived at the Zen courtyard, the abbot stopped and did not see them off.
The abbot clasped his hands together and said, "You have been chanting sutras all day. Your Highness and the Lord should rest early."
The two of them returned the gift and thanked him together.
Although the meditation rooms of Da'an Guo Temple are all built in one place, the area is not small, and there are many courtyards in it.
Although Shangguan Xu and Su Shang will both be staying in the temple these days, one will live in the east and the other in the west, and the distance between them will take half an incense stick of time to walk.
After the abbot left, Su Shang said to Shangguan Xu, "I will escort Your Highness back."
Shangguan Xu smiled and declined politely, "Xu Bai must be tired after traveling and reciting scriptures today. You should go back and rest early. There's no need to see me off."
"I'm not tired," Su Shang said. "It's my humble duty to escort His Highness. His Majesty the Emperor Zhao and I have a relationship of ruler and subject dating back to childhood. Reciting scriptures for him today is nothing wrong, so I can't say I'm tired."
As he spoke, his tone suddenly became lonely: "Or is it that now we can't even walk a distance together?"
Shangguan Xu heard this and looked at him. She had known him since childhood and their friendship was not shallow. Now she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable hearing him say this. Moreover, she had to consider her superficial relationship with the Su family. She sighed softly and said, "Then let's walk together for a while."
Su Shang curled the corners of his lips and followed.
On the way, Su Shang didn't want to let silence remain between them, so he found a topic to talk about: "Your Highness, this time you are leaving the palace, you have only decided on the outbound itinerary but not the return itinerary. Do you have any other plans?"
Shangguan Xu smiled softly. "I don't have any other plans. I usually come to Da'an Temple in early March. This year, I went to the imperial palace early and haven't come until now. I feel a little sorry for the late emperor, so I thought that after I come here, I will ask the abbot what Buddhist services I can perform. That's why I haven't set a date for my return trip."
"Oh, that's it." Su Shang lowered his eyes and stopped talking.
Shangguan Xu glanced at him sideways, and understood what he was thinking, but he continued walking, pretending not to know what he was thinking.
When they arrived at the Zen temple where the empress dowager lived, it was already late. As a foreign official, Su Shang could not stay any longer. After paying his respects and instructing Shangguan Xu to rest early, he took his leave.
Temples are not like palaces, where everything is about purity and quietness. Shangguan Xu was exhausted as he had not rested all day. So after bathing and before going to bed, he dismissed all the palace servants and only left a maid on duty outside.
Not long after Shangguan Xu rested, she smelled a strong scent of peony in the room. The smell was not overpowering, but very obvious.
She lifted the quilt and sat up, looking for the place where the fragrance of flowers came from - it was a slightly open window opposite the door.
Shangguan Xu walked to the window and looked out.
"My Lady."
Shangguan Xu was startled and shuddered all over with fear.
Outside the window, Xu Qing'an was holding an incense burner in one hand, leaning against the wall, wearing a black nightgown and smiling at her.
Shangguan Xu was about to get angry.
Fortunately, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and controlled herself: "Why are you here?"
Xu Qing'an said leisurely, "Of course I'm here to look for the Empress."
"This is Da'an Guo Temple!" she lowered her voice.
He always downplayed the situation: "I know."
Shangguan Xu couldn't help but laugh at his attitude, then turned to sarcasm, "First it was the Lishan Palace, then the Da'an Temple. Is Lord Xu going to sneak into the Taiji Palace at night to visit me in the Lizheng Hall?"
Xu Qing'an seemed to have seriously considered its feasibility and said sincerely, "If your Majesty requires it, I can give it a try."
Shangguan Xu certainly didn't need it. She immediately calmed down and asked, "How did you get in? The Da'an Temple is surrounded by Yulin Guards."
Xu Qing'an said, "The Queen has already said that there are Yulin Guards all around, and there are only a few inside the temple. As long as we find a gap in their patrol outside the temple, wouldn't it be easy to get inside?"
Shangguan Xu: "Can you find a gap when the Imperial Guards are patrolling?"
Xu Qing'an leaned sideways, leaning only one shoulder against the wall, his posture appearing even more lazy. "I have previously told Your Majesty that I was not in good health when I was young. Therefore, the great doctor at that time suggested to the elders of my family that I practice martial arts to improve my health. Therefore, I have learned some martial arts since I was young, and my body movements are quite good."
"Although the Da'an Temple is guarded by the Imperial Guards, the security is not as strict as that of the Imperial Palace. Naturally, I found a loophole."
Shangguan Xu then felt that it made sense. Although there were many people accompanying him when he left the palace this time, the Da'an Temple was located in Chang'an City. There were already Jinwu Guards on duty in Chang'an City, and the temple emphasized purity and disliked killing and anger. Therefore, the Yulin Guards, armed with knives, mostly only guarded the periphery and the Jinwu Guards patrolling the city. Only a few necessary positions inside the temple were guarded.
What surprised Shangguan Xu was that Xu Qing'an had learned martial arts and knew how to move his body. What he didn't know was that because of the new General Gu Chou of the Jinwu Guard, Xu Qing'an was able to break through the outer defense line of the Jinwu Guard with extraordinary ease.
Shangguan Xu lowered his eyes and glanced at the person outside the window. Even though he was standing in a lazy manner, he held the incense burner in his hand very steadily. "What do you want to tell me?"
Xu Qing'an asked first, "Your Majesty, are you planning to have me stand here and talk to you?"
Shangguan Xu glanced at him and turned to walk inside.
That’s fine, it’s also good to say it outside.
Xu Qing'an looked at Shangguan Xu's reaction and smiled.
"Come in." However, the person inside suddenly said, "Remember to be quiet, there are people outside."
Xu Qing'an's face suddenly darkened.
With a very light sound of landing, the window was closed.
Shangguan Xu knew that he had climbed in through the window.
She took a coat and put it on, then walked to the other side of the room without looking back.
Behind him, the sound of cloth rustling as he walked followed.
Shangguan Xu sat on the futon.
Xu Qing'an's tone was unclear, "Your Majesty, are you so confident in letting me into your bedroom?"
Shangguan Xu raised his eyelids and asked, "Don't you want to stand outside?"
As she spoke, Shangguan Xu suddenly realized a point that she could take advantage of—
Didn't he say that he liked her? Since he was here today, why not take this opportunity to express his "feelings" to her?
Shangguan Xu suddenly smiled and said softly, "Actually, I'm waiting for Xu Qing to come tonight."
"What?" A dark light flashed in Xu Qing'an's eyes.
Shangguan Xu's voice remained soft. "Why else do you think those loopholes in the Imperial Guards' patrols were so easily exposed?" She buried her head in her hands and chuckled softly. "Or, not to mention the Imperial Guards, just look at my attendant. It's so early today, why is there only one attendant on duty in the courtyard? Of course, it's to make it easier for Xu Qing to come and go."
"I guess... what Mr. Xu wants to tell me tonight is about Jiangnan's water transportation, right?"
In the Zen room, the girl had a cunning look in her eyes, while the man's eyebrows were full of gloom.
In fact, if Xu Qing'an had only said that the Yulin Guards deliberately revealed the patrol flaws, he would not have believed it. However, when he heard her say that she had deliberately dismissed the palace servants and pointed out his purpose, he became a little shaken.
"real?"
"uh-huh."
The corners of Xu Qing'an's lips twitched, and he seemed to be trying to smile, the words coming out from between his teeth. "But just now, I saw Your Majesty and Lord Su chatting happily. Since Your Majesty knew I was coming, why did you let him come with you? What if he discovered my whereabouts? Wouldn't it be bad?"
It was strange to say, even before Shangguan Xu and Xu Qing'an began working together, there were always reasons for them to meet alone. But after they began working together, perhaps to avoid suspicion, or perhaps because their plans were too daring and dangerous and they didn't want others to notice, they rarely met alone in public. These days, even when they do meet, it's either at court or when other officials are involved in a meeting.
The water transportation in the south of the Yangtze River was related to the Su family. As a descendant of the Su family, Su Shang was naturally not allowed to do this matter.
Shangguan Xu didn't expect Xu Qing'an to see her and Su Shang coming back together. She was nervous and didn't know when he arrived.
But she still pretended, still pretending to be sincere.
Shangguan Xu pretended to recall the past. "Did we have a pleasant conversation? Wasn't it?" She smiled frankly, "Xu Qing must have seen it wrong. Apart from a few words before we parted, Lord Su and I didn't have much communication."
"Or was it just a coincidence that Xu Qing came? He happened to arrive just as Lord Su and I were about to say goodbye."
What is she testing?
Xu Qing'an hid in the darkness, looking at her calmly.
He lowered his eyes, chuckled softly, and regardless of the probing tone in her words, he said, "I've been here for a while. I've been here since the Majesty entered this courtyard."
"Oh, no wonder..." Shangguan Xu said nonchalantly, "That was just when Lord Su was about to leave."
She rested her elbow on a small table beside her, her cheek resting on the back of her hand. "Look, wasn't it because I knew you were coming that I asked him to leave as soon as we got to the courtyard? As for his offer to take me back, considering his status, it was really hard for me to refuse."
Whether it is because of her identity or for other reasons, only she knows it.
Xu Qing'an secretly resents.
He looked at her, and what resented him more than her attitude towards Su Shan was her attitude towards a foreign official like him.
He really…really wanted to pounce on her, grab her by the neck and question her, questioning whether she was sincere! Could she allow anyone who was useful to her to be her lover just for the sake of the benefits she sought?
Sometimes he really wanted to kill her.
But she said: "So, Xu Qing, everything I did today was just to wait for your arrival."
Just two words, and she bit them a little harder than the others.
Xu Qing'an slowly leaned over and placed the incense burner on the small table beside her, but he did not walk to the other cushion. Instead, he sat down in front of her, with one foot flat on the ground and the other raised, with his hand on it.
"So, Madam, what are you waiting for me to do?"
Is it something to be done or something that needs to be done?
Shangguan Xu understood the implication of his words. She chuckled slightly, leaned towards him, and raised her hands to put her arms around his neck.
Under his dim gaze, she closed her eyes and kissed him on the lips.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water, it disappears in a flash.
Then she raised her face and said as if in reproach: "Look at you, you just don't believe it."
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