"Girl, are you okay?"

Xigui quickly held her arm. Sheng Xiyan shook her head, and after she stood up, she said, "It's okay, I just feel a little dizzy."

The sunlight outside the small Buddhist temple shone on her, making her feel dizzy.

"Maybe I've been copying too many Buddhist scriptures recently."

My grandfather once said that if you keep your head down for too long, you will get dizzy.

I haven’t been sleeping much lately, and I stayed up until the 2nd update last night.

Sheng Xiyan gently pressed her temples and said, "I'll go take a rest." She paused and said, "You'll have to go out for a while. Last month I booked a ritual for my mother at Huangjue Temple. Go and confirm the time."

Xigui responded to all the requests.

She looked at Sheng Xiyan with some worry, and thought: The girl has always been in good health and was full of energy in the morning. Why did she become a little listless after kneeling for a while?

Could it be that you were thinking about your late wife just now?

After Sheng Xiyan returned to the east room, she lay down directly on the beauty bed. Xigui covered her with a thin quilt, asked E Rui to watch over her, and went to Huangjue Temple. When she came back, Sheng Xiyan had just woken up. She slept until three quarters past three in the afternoon and did not even get up for lunch.

Xigui waited for her to get up and said, "Miss, the ritual has been prepared and will be held on February 2."

Sheng Xiyan nodded. She didn’t sleep very well. Even though she had slept for such a long time, she still felt heavy and listless.

Could it be a cold?

Sheng Xiyan asked Xigui to pour a glass of water, and then she calmly checked her own pulse. But just as the old saying goes, "a doctor cannot treat himself." Every time Sheng Xiyan checked her own pulse, she didn't know if it was because she thought too much, and she was always a little inaccurate.

This time was the same, her pulse was only slightly faster than usual, and there was nothing unusual about her pulse pattern, so she was very healthy.

"Girl, drink some water."

Sheng Xiyan drank the warm water in the cup in one gulp and ordered, "Xigui, go get me a doctor."

If you are not sure, just ask others.

Xigui quickly agreed and went to do it.

The doctor from Qianjintang came quickly, took her pulse and said it was a cold and asked her to rest well.

Sheng Xiyan originally thought that she might have caught a cold, and since the doctor said so, she nodded and asked him to prescribe some medicine.

The doctor's prescription was completely sound and there was no problem with it, so she asked Xigui to get the medicine.

After taking the medicine, I fell asleep again. When I woke up this time, I felt much more energetic.

Xigui was a little scared, patted his chest and said, "Miss, you can't stay up late again. If you stay up late and catch a cold, I will, I will...I will tell the princess!"

Sheng Xiyan tapped her forehead, smiled, and said, "Okay, I won't stay up late."

Xi Gui brought breakfast and asked her to enjoy it slowly, saying that he had already gone to the main courtyard to tell her that the girl was not feeling well and would not go to pay her respects.

Xigui's action pleased her very much, and Sheng Xiyan gave her two small steamed buns.

Xigui said a few words in a humorous way. When Sheng Xiyan said that they would go to the small Buddhist temple after breakfast, she said, "Miss, I asked, and the maid who buys incense said that the incense plates in the small Buddhist temple are still bought from the same shop as before and have not been changed. I said that the young lady didn't like them, so I asked them to bring some new ones."

The young lady's position in the mansion was now secure, so she would not hesitate to ask them to take some new incense sticks from the storehouse or even to go out and buy some immediately.

Sheng Xiyan nodded, and after breakfast, she went to the small Buddhist temple, where she also offered a copy of the Heart Sutra that she had copied herself.

According to her past custom, she would continue to offer sacrifices until the day of her death.

She also knelt in the small Buddhist temple for a while, offered scriptures and burned incense, and then came out.

Before leaving, she deliberately stopped for a moment and asked, "Were the incense sticks you used today and yesterday purchased from the same source?"

"Yes." Xigui said, "The nanny in charge of purchasing said that all the incense used in our mansion was purchased from an old shop on Sinan Street. The madam's funeral is coming soon, so we bought a lot of it at once. All of it is stored in the warehouse. All the incense we have used recently is from this purchase."

"It smells different." Sheng Xiyan murmured.

She trusts her sense of smell.

The scent of the incense today is the same as the one usually used in the mansion, but it was not the same last time.

Only subtly different, but different indeed!

"Xigui, go and find out who else has been to this small Buddhist temple recently."

Sheng Xiyan lowered her eyes slightly, lifted her skirt and walked out of the small Buddhist hall.

The bright sunshine fell on her, bringing a warmth of early spring.

As soon as Sheng Xiyan returned to her own Cailing Courtyard, Nanny Sun came and said cheerfully, "Miss, today is the day when Miss Zhao is sending her wedding dowry. Madam wants to ask if you want to go." She added, "This morning, my eldest aunt sent someone to tell Madam to take you there."

Mammy said respectfully, "The second and third girls went to add makeup to my cousin the day before yesterday. When they came back, they said that my cousin's place was very deserted. I heard from the servants of the Zhao family that no one has been there except Princess Qingyue and Princess Qingping."

"I guess that the eldest aunt is afraid that no one will go today, which will make Miss Cousin embarrassed, so she asked you to go to save face."

After Grandma Sun finished speaking, she stood with her hands clasped respectfully.

"I'm not going." Sheng Xiyan said, "Mom, go by yourself."

"Big girl..."

Before Aunt Sun could persuade her again, Sheng Xiyan said, "Go down."

Aunt Sun replied subconsciously: "Yes..."

After saying this, she was slightly stunned. She originally wanted to persuade him again, but when Sheng Xiyan spoke lightly, there seemed to be an overwhelming aura that made her unable to say no.

The eldest girl seems to be getting more and more majestic now...

Nanny Sun stared at her face for a while, her eyes flickered again, and she said with a wry smile, "Then I will go and answer your question."

She knelt and retreated.

Sheng Xiyan didn't want to go, so Liu thought about it and finally didn't go.

Zhao Yuanrou's dowry was sent out of the house in a deserted manner and delivered to Prince Zhao's mansion.

Zhao Yuanrou didn't care about these things, but Sheng was the only one who was very angry. However, she thought that tomorrow was a good day for her daughter, so she endured it.

On the 20th day of the first lunar month, a big red sedan chair was prepared according to the order of the princess, and Prince Zhao personally came to welcome Zhao Yuanrou with clamor and music.

Zhao Yuanrou did not cause any trouble at all. The people of the capital city waited anxiously for a long time, but nothing happened.

When the sedan chair passed through Huashang Street, many people on both sides of the street were waiting to receive copper money. The Zhaowang Mansion was pouring out handfuls of copper money. The people could not stop spitting out all kinds of flattering words, praising the bride as the reincarnation of a phoenix girl and the couple as the harmony of a dragon and a phoenix. The whole atmosphere was filled with joy.

Zhou Jingxun stood in the crowd, staring intently at the sedan chair passing by.

He slightly opened his lips and murmured, "Rou'er."

His voice was filled with sorrow and reluctance, as well as self-blame, resentment, jealousy, and all kinds of emotions mixed together, almost overwhelming him.

Rou'er agreed to marry Qin Wei because of him!

He is useless. He can't even protect the one he loves, and he wants Rouer to sacrifice herself for him.

But he won't give up.

Thinking of what Zhao Yuanrou said to him on the Lantern Festival, his eyes became even more determined.

For their future!

The flower sedan gradually went away, and Zhou Jingxun turned around and left silently.

The flowery sedan swayed all the way to Prince Zhao's palace.

The palace of Prince Zhao was quite lively, but it was far from the dignity a prince should have. Many court officials and nobles who received invitations from the palace were concerned about Xiao Shuo and did not dare to come to congratulate him.

Although it was a prince's wedding and there was nothing wrong with the ceremony, the entire wedding banquet was so deserted that it was a little scary.

To be honest, let alone the emperor's brother like Qin Wei, even the wedding banquets of distant relatives of the royal family were more lively than his.

Qin Wei felt very uncomfortable, but thinking that this was the wedding he had been looking forward to for a long time, he did not lose his temper and greeted the guests with a smile on his face.

However, some people still noticed the stiffness of his smile.

Prince Cheng avoided the people's advice and said unhappily: "These people just want to be Xiao Shuo's lackeys and are busy trying to please Xiao Shuo. They don't think about the fact that a person like Xiao Shuo is not qualified to ascend the throne. The more arrogant he is now, the more miserable his death will be in the future."

Prince Cheng was also annoyed. He didn't know why Qin Wei could be so stubborn. He was not a child of five or six years old anymore. At this age, he didn't even know how to be brave and endure hardships?

Prince Cheng was thinking in his heart whether to just give up, but he was reluctant to part with the money he had invested in Qin Wei, and also his Lian Ting Zuo Lou.

Moreover, Xiao Shuo could be the regent for one day, could he be the regent for a lifetime? Sooner or later, the court would have to appoint a regent king, and Qin Wei was the most suitable candidate. A person who had a stroke would not live for many years, and when the mountain tomb collapsed, it was natural for Qin Wei to ascend the throne from the regent king.

He has already paid so much and has been busy running around for Qin Wei for so long, it would be a shame to let him just give up like this.

Prince Cheng pulled Qin Wei aside and tried to persuade him to bow to Xiao Shuo again. Even if it was just for show, he had to pretend!

"Your Highness." At this time, Qin Wei's personal eunuch came over and said, "Master Zheng is here."

Prince Cheng had an idea and said quickly, "Awei, since you don't like Xiao Shuo and don't want to be nice to him, why don't you try to win over Lord Zheng? Lord Zheng holds the power of the imperial guards, so he is definitely able to compete with Xiao Shuo. Moreover, Lord Zheng was originally the leader among the ministers, but now he is obviously suppressed by Xiao Shuo, so he must be unhappy."

Qin Wei thought of what Zheng Zhongming had told him, that Xiao Shuo was a remnant of the Lingnan Palace, and his mind moved.

Qin Wei knew very well who the emperor hated the most. He was so ill now. If he knew Xiao Shuo's identity, would he still let Xiao Shuo govern the country?

I am the son of the late emperor, so I am qualified to supervise the country!

He straightened his wedding clothes and said, "I will go to welcome you personally."

Qin Wei ran to greet Zheng Zhongming. Zheng Zhongming's arrival finally eased the cold and lonely atmosphere at the banquet a little.

Qin Wei exchanged a few rounds of greetings with Zheng Zhongming, and then took him to the study. They waited until the banquet was almost over before they came out of the study. Qin Wei's face was excited, while Zheng Zhongming's was expressionless.

After sending Zheng Zhongming away, Qin Wei was too lazy to attend any more social events and returned to his bridal chamber in a hurry.

After entering the room and looking at Zhao Yuanrou sitting on the bed in her wedding dress, Qin Wei's heart felt soft and filled with joy and excitement.

"Rou'er." He called softly, "You must have been waiting for a long time..."

Before he could say a word, his body swayed, and the Zhao Yuanrou he had been thinking about seemed to have turned from one into two. He shook his head vigorously, secretly regretting that he should not have drunk so much.

"Your Highness." Zhao Yuanrou walked up to him and said with concern and affection, "Are you too tired? Do you want to rest early?"

"Rou'er." Qin Wei raised his hand to touch her cheek, "It's okay, I'm happy, I drank a little more."

Zhao Yuanrou had a gentle expression on her face, but her eyes were cold. She asked, "Where is the ointment I gave you last time? Have you taken it?"

Qin Wei nodded quickly. The ointment Zhao Yuanrou gave him was very effective. He had not been sleeping well a while ago, but he fell asleep immediately after taking it.

Zhao Yuanrou helped him sit down and asked softly, "It can also help sober you up. If you feel dizzy, just eat some."

Qin Wei hurriedly gave an order, and his personal eunuch went to get it and handed it to Zhao Yuanrou.

After opening the box, the black ointment inside was nearly 30% gone. Zhao Yuanrou curled the corners of her mouth in satisfaction, then gently and virtuously scooped up a spoonful with a small spoon and put it into his mouth.

Qin Wei was somewhat flattered, and hurried over to take it, looking at Zhao Yuanrou with eyes full of love.

"It's okay. It will be fine soon."

Zhao Yuanrou spoke softly, her voice full of temptation.

King Zhao's wedding did not cause any commotion in the court. For most of the court officials, it was already incredible that King Zhao was willing to marry an eloped woman, and to marry her as his legal wife.

The Zhao Palace was deserted, and the Zhao Family was even more deserted. Almost no one went to the Zhao Family's banquet. Even the in-laws like the Sheng Family did not go and only sent a gift. Not to mention other people, they simply avoided them as much as possible.

After Sheng Xing'an accepted the gift, he did not take the matter to heart. However, the next day, Sheng came to his house to make a fuss. She blocked Sheng Xing'an at the ceremonial gate when he was about to go to the yamen, and pointed at him and scolded him for doing things in an unkind manner.

"Sheng Xiyan didn't come to do her makeup, so you let two concubines come instead. Who are you looking down on?"

"Your only niece didn't even come to the big day. How can you be a father?"

"You just sent some shabby things over here, and you thought we, mother and daughter, would be grateful?"

Thinking of the deserted Zhao family yesterday, Sheng was filled with anger.

She originally thought that at least her family would come to support her, but in the end even her own brother abandoned them.

After the flower sedan was carried away, the Zhao family members began to mock her, as if they had driven away something dirty, and they were spreading rumors everywhere in the mansion.

Thinking of yesterday's humiliation, Sheng almost cried.

Sheng Xingan tried hard to control his temper and advised: "Sister, in the future..."

Sheng interrupted him angrily: "This is the broken thing you sent. I'm giving it back to you."

The nanny behind Sheng was holding the gift sent by the Sheng family. Sheng Xing'an did not go in person, but he thought that his sister's only daughter was about to get married, and his sister might not have a good time in the Zhao family in the future. So he hid it from others and quietly put a silver note of 10,000 taels in the gift.

Sheng Xingan was just about to talk to her when he saw Sheng pick up the gift and throw it to the ground.

What he gave was a landscape painting by a famous artist, which could be used to make up for Zhao Yuanrou. However, not only did Sheng throw it away, he also stepped on it a few times.

"Big sister, are you crazy?!"

Sheng Xingan was shocked, he pushed her away, picked up the painting with heartache, and a silver bill fell to the ground.

Sheng raised her head high and said angrily, "You look down on us because I am a widow and my daughter is helpless. If that's the case, we won't have any more contact in the future!"

Sheng Xingan was furious: "You..."

He was so angry that he couldn't speak, and felt that all his good intentions had been wasted.

"In this case, from now on..."

Sheng Xingan wanted to tell him not to come again, but Sheng suddenly looked to the side and shouted fiercely, "Sheng Xiyan, stop right there!"

Sheng Xiyan and Cheng Chuyu made an appointment to watch her play polo. Just as they were about to leave, the carriage was already ready.

She saw the two people quarreling from a distance and didn't want to pay any attention to them, but Sheng ended up targeting her.

Sheng Xiyan didn't get on the carriage either, and asked with a smile, "Aunt, why are you here?"

She walked slowly towards Sheng, bowed perfunctorily, and said with interest: "Aunt, my cousin just got married, and you are so free?"

Sheng asked, "Sheng Xiyan, I asked you to help Roujie with her makeup, why didn't you come?"

On the day she returned home, she repeatedly asked Liu to remind Sheng Xiyan, but in the end, only two concubines' daughters came, causing her to be ridiculed.

Later, she held back her anger and wanted to ask her to save face by going there on the day of delivering her wedding dowry, but unexpectedly, Sheng Xiyan still didn't come!

"Aunt, why should I go?" Sheng Xiyan asked back, "My cousin eloped with someone and caused such a big fuss. I can't afford to lose face like this."

"I'm about to get married, and even if I accept it, the Zhenbei Palace can't afford to lose face."

Sheng Xingan thought it made sense and nodded frequently. If a girl eloped in the family, the marriages of girls in this generation and even the next generation would be affected. Yan Jie'er was going to marry the King of Zhenbei, and he couldn't let him think that she and Zhao Yuanrou, who eloped, were good sisters.

"Cousin, didn't you promise last time that you and the Sheng family would go back together forever? What's the matter? Now that you want the Sheng family to support you, and if you don't want to, you'll kick the Sheng family out?" Sheng Xiyan sneered, "Aunt, you are too skilled at this kind of thing."

Last time, Zhao Yuanrou just said that she would not come to her for help again, but this did not prevent Sheng Xiyan from misinterpreting her meaning.

Sheng Xingan felt happy, his daughter was really capable!

"You bastard!" Sheng pointed at Sheng Xiyan and said to Sheng Xing'an, "Is this how the Sheng family raises concubines?"

Sheng Xingan was silent for a moment, then lied with his eyes open: "Father taught you the same way. Our Sheng family's rules are that girls cannot be bullied when they go out."

He thought to himself that he would add this family rule when he returned from the government office today!

Sheng was so frightened that she was speechless, and out of habit she raised her hand and slapped Sheng Xiyan on the face.

Sheng Xiyan silently pressed the long whip at his waist.

The pain from the last time she was whipped came back to her mind clearly. Sheng shuddered and quickly retracted her hand.

Sheng Xiyan glanced at the banknote on the ground and asked, "Father, who dropped this banknote? It looks like no one wants it. Why don't you give it to Huangjue Temple to donate porridge?"

This banknote was originally intended for the Sheng family, but now that this was the case, Sheng Xingan didn't want to give it away. Giving away the porridge was better than letting the Sheng family take it, so he nodded in agreement.

Sheng Xing'an nodded, and a maid picked it up and handed it over attentively.

After Xigui took it, he said cheerfully: "Girl, we are so lucky today. While walking, we even picked up a banknote with 10,000 taels!"

Sheng slowly raised her head and looked at Sheng Xingan in shock.

Just now she only saw a piece of paper floating out, and didn't pay much attention to it. She didn't expect it to be a banknote, and a banknote with a face value of 10,000 taels! Her dowry didn't even have 10,000 taels.

"This is..."

Sheng wanted to say that it was hers, but Sheng Xiyan curled her lips and said righteously, "I picked it up."

"Let's go, Xigui, let's go and give out porridge."

Sheng Xiyan said this, and then walked away with Xigui in a swagger.

Sheng stood there, her face flushed red, not knowing whether she was regretful or angry.

She really didn't expect that Sheng Xing'an would actually give her 12,000 taels of silver. Her husband passed away early, and they had a hard time living in the Zhao family.

When she got married, her father had just been promoted to the fifth rank, and the family was not well off, so the dowry he gave her was not much, which had been mostly spent over the years. In order to prepare a generous dowry for his daughter, the remaining dowry was almost used up.

She came here to make trouble today because she was indeed angry, and also to get Sheng Xing'an to give her some money. Otherwise, she wouldn't even be able to take out money to bribe the servants in the mansion.

Seeing that her ten thousand taels of silver were all taken away by Sheng Xiyan, she felt heartbroken and was about to rush over to snatch it back without caring about anything, but she heard Sheng Xingan coldly said: "Big sister, you have been married for so many years, and the Sheng family has long been divided. Since you feel that I, as your eldest brother, have let you down, then there is no need for our two families to have any contact in the future."

"Someone come here." Sheng Xing'an flicked his sleeves and said expressionlessly, "Send the eldest aunt out. From today on, if the eldest aunt comes again, you don't have to open the door for her."

Sheng froze there.

She was scared.

She dared to make trouble only because she was the eldest aunt of the Sheng family and Sheng Xingan's biological sister. Once Sheng Xingan disowned her as his sister, who would care who she was as a widow? !

"Big brother."

Sheng Xingan ignored her. He had to go to the government office and had no time for that.

Two burly old women came over and made a "please" gesture to Sheng.

Sheng Xiyan's carriage drove past her, and Xigui asked curiously, "Miss, will the master really disown his aunt?"

"Can."

Sheng Xiyan nodded affirmatively.

Sheng Xing'an has always been a cold-hearted person. Giving 12,000 taels of silver to the mother and daughter of the Sheng family, who could not bring any benefits to the Sheng family but would instead bring shame to him, was already the greatest kindness he could show.

However, the good thing about Sheng Xing'an is that he is not stupid and knows how to judge things. As long as you put the "benefits" in front of him, you can save her a lot of trouble at her parents' home.

Sheng Xiyan said: "Let's go to Baicaotang first."

Xigui asked nervously, "Miss, are you feeling unwell again?"

Sheng Xiyan shook her head and said with a smile, "I heard that the ancient doctor from Baicaotang has returned. The ancient doctor seems to have been to many places. I want to ask him about something."

Baicaotang has a history of nearly a hundred years in the capital and is a medical clinic passed down from generation to generation by the Gu family.

The present-day Doctor Gu is the grandson of the ancient doctor. After the ancient doctor took his grandson to school as an apprentice, he traveled far and wide, practicing medicine and collecting some rare herbs.

She couldn't tell what was in the black ointment Xiao Shuo gave her last time. She had searched through medical books in recent days but hadn't found anything similar, so she wanted to ask the ancient doctor if he had seen it before.

There are more than thousands of medicinal herbs in this world, and no one can possibly have seen them all, so the ancient Shennong would try hundreds of herbs.

Thinking of Baicao, Sheng Xiyan's mind moved, and he asked, "Xigui, last time I asked you to find out, is there anyone who still goes to the small Buddhist temple?"

Xigui hurriedly replied, "The second, third, and fourth girls have all been there, as have Madam's Nanny Sun and Amber. In addition, the nanny who manages the small Buddhist temple also goes there every day to change the incense and clean the place."

Normally, not many people go to Xiaofo Temple. But now, because Xu's funeral is approaching, the concubines in the mansion are nominally Xu's daughters, so they have to go to burn incense and recite scriptures.

Xigui asked, "Miss, are you suspicious of something?"

Sheng Xiyan said bluntly: "I just feel that burning incense is not right."

After that, the incense sticks became the same as before, just like the slight difference she smelled that time, but she smelled it wrong.

However, on the day when the aroma of the dish changed slightly, she felt inexplicably dizzy. Even though her pulse was normal, she couldn't help but wonder if the two were related, and she couldn't help but worry about it.

Unfortunately, the incense sticks had already burned out when she left the small Buddhist temple that day, and even the ashes had been cleaned up by the old woman.