By this time, her belly had become slightly protruding. Ye Qingxue stroked her belly, said nothing, and got up to leave the tailor room to get some fresh air.
It was the dead of winter, and a heavy snow fell.
Yun Zhuo was always busy outside and rarely came back, so Ye Qingxue celebrated the New Year and Lantern Festival with the whole family.
On these two important holidays, Yun Zhuo was finally able to return to be with her. During their time together, the two of them tried to name their child, but after much thought, they couldn't come up with a satisfactory name.
Yun Zhuo then decided to have the Ministry of Rites draft a few for review.
When the weather cleared up, he left again.
On this day in early February, a rare guest arrived at the Crown Prince's residence—Mo Yuan, whom Ye Qingxue entertained in a side hall.
Granny Xing ordered the finest tea and snacks to be served, and Mo Yuan bowed to Ye Qingxue and thanked her.
Ye Qingxue said, "Lord Mo, there's no need for such formalities. Is there something urgent that you've come to visit at this time?"
She subconsciously touched her abdomen. When Mo Yuan came to visit, she could only feel that it was related to the child.
"Does Your Highness still remember what I told you before, that Xiao Bao wouldn't return so soon if fate hadn't brought him back?"
Ye Qingxue pursed her lips and nodded: "But I'm pregnant now, and I'll be due to give birth in five or six months. Could it be that the baby in my belly isn't Xiaobao?"
His tone was somewhat strained.
"Yes and no," Mo Yuan said. "I have come here today for the matter of Xiao Bao."
"As the Buddhist saying goes, 'A single lamp can dispel a thousand years of darkness.' The nineteenth of this month is the birthday of Guanyin. The Crown Princess may wish to go to the Guanyin Temple and offer a perpetual lamp for Xiao Bao. The perpetual lamp is also called the endless lamp, and it is especially a lamp of protection for Xiao Bao. Carve Xiao Bao's childhood name on the lamp, which may bring him back soon."
"But once the eternal lamp is lit, it needs to be refilled with oil every day to keep it burning. The everlasting flame symbolizes the eternal life."
Ye Qingxue said, "Alright, on the nineteenth of this month, I will personally go to the Guanyin Hall to light the eternal lamp to welcome Xiaobao back. Thank you for informing me, Lord Mo!"
Mo Yuan couldn't help but glance at her with a sorrowful look in his eyes.
But he quickly composed himself and told Ye Qingxue, "No matter what happens to the Crown Princess, you must believe that even if the process is difficult, the result will be good. You must never give up halfway. Once you give up halfway, you will have nothing left."
At this moment, Ye Qingxue thought that the difficult process Mo Yuan mentioned was because keeping the ever-burning lamp lit was not an easy task.
So she smiled confidently: "Lord Mo, there's no need to worry. I'm not one to give up easily!"
Mo Yuan bowed solemnly and then turned and left.
The next morning, Ye Qingxue, along with Qiu Shendongbai and Granny Xing, left the city and headed to Shenyin Temple.
Shenyin Temple is the most efficacious temple in and around Kyoto, attracting many worshippers. Ye Qingxue found Abbot Master Chen, told him about the ever-burning lamp, and asked him what preparations she needed to make.
Master Liaochen said that no special preparations were needed; she only needed to fast for seven days before lighting the lamps.
During this time, the temple will prepare an ever-burning lamp for her, and carve the words "Xiao Bao" on it. When she comes to the temple on the nineteenth day, the monks in the temple will chant sutras to bless the lamp.
In other words, Ye Qingxue didn't have much to do; she only needed to provide the money, and the monks would handle the rest.
Ye Qingxue indeed fasted for seven days, and on the morning of the nineteenth, she took Chunxia, Qiudong, Granny Xing and the others out of the city and up the mountain.
As Master Liaochen instructed, the lamps were blessed with chanting sutras. Granny Xing gave them money for incense oil, and Ye Qingxue carried the everlasting lamp that belonged to Xiaobao to the Guanyin Hall.
Master Liaochen said, "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. This humble monk will arrange for two capable monks to watch over the ever-burning lamp day and night."
Ye Qingxue was still very worried, so when she came, she brought two nannies and two maids with her, and asked them to stay in the temple for a while to ensure that the lights were always on.
There were also sixteen guards left in the temple to protect the four people. Ye Qingxue gave their food expenses to Master Chen.
It's always better to have someone watching over things, providing more security. She dared not take Xiaobao's situation lightly at all.
If she weren't pregnant and had to guard the Crown Prince's residence to prevent others from taking advantage of her, she would rather live in a temple and personally add oil to the ever-burning lamps every day.
It gets dark early in February.
Master Liaochen personally saw Ye Qingxue and the others off.
As you walk through the front yard, you see a huge incense altar standing in the yard, burning with countless incense sticks and candles. The smoke and the fragrance of the candlelight are very strong and permeate everywhere.
By the time Ye Qingxue and the others reached the foot of the mountain, dusk had already begun to fall.
They arrived in two horse-drawn carriages, leaving four people on the mountain, where the carriages were much more spacious.
Four guards held torches in front, the coachman drove the carriage, and eight guards followed behind, slowly making their way towards the capital.
After walking for about half an hour, Ye Qingxue suddenly sensed that something was wrong, and a sharp killing intent came from all directions.
Immediately afterwards, she heard Dongbai say, "Oh no, there's an assassin!"
Dong Bai's second question was: "What's going on? Why can't I use my martial arts?"
Ye Qingxue's heart tightened suddenly, and she tried to mobilize her internal energy, but she couldn't!
He can walk and move freely, but he cannot mobilize his internal energy, just like an ordinary person.
She suddenly remembered the strong scent of candlelight in the temple's front courtyard. Could there be a sleeping potion in there?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
