Jiang Si didn’t ask about Xiu Niang but instead walked step by step toward the entrance of the dilapidated temple.
“Princess Consort—” Long Dan called out, his brow furrowed with worry.
He was someone who feared neither heaven nor earth, but when it came to the Princess Consort, it was different.
Jiang Si didn’t stop her steps and said in a low voice, “Come with me.”
The two of them walked towards the ruined temple, and A Man, seeing this, followed without hesitation.
The three stones were not far from the dilapidated temple. Jiang Si quickly reached the temple entrance and paused slightly.
Long Dan said in a low voice, “Princess Consort, let this subordinate go in first.”
Jiang Si didn’t try to be brave and nodded slightly.
However, just as Long Dan took a step inside, a woman’s voice came from within: “Stop!”
The voice sounded aged.
Jiang Si recognized a hint of familiarity and raised her eyebrows slightly.
Soon, that voice sounded again: “Only the Princess Consort of Prince Yan may enter alone.”
Long Dan let out a cold laugh: “Ridiculous. Xiu Niang isn’t even in your hands, why should our Princess Consort go in?”
This person didn’t understand the role of a hostage at all. Who would release the hostage first and then threaten someone?
Long Dan inwardly criticized, thinking the person in the temple was a muddle-head.
But in Jiang Si’s view, the person in the temple was not confused at all.
Releasing Xiu Niang first was because Xiu Niang was an insignificant hostage. The other party didn’t believe that Xiu Niang alone could threaten her.
Xiu Niang’s role for that person was probably just to lure her here.
That voice carried a hint of laughter: “Your Princess Consort will come in.”
Long Dan immediately looked at Jiang Si: “Princess Consort—”
Jiang Si’s expression changed several times, and she indeed lifted her foot to walk in.
The Yin Xin Gu, the vaguely familiar voice… she had already guessed who that person was.
Under these circumstances, just as that person said, she would go in.
That person was in the temple, and having sought her out so abruptly, she couldn’t possibly go back without even daring to meet them. She had to clarify the purpose of the other party’s audacious approach.
Seeing this, Long Dan became anxious: “Princess Consort, it’s dangerous. If someone must go in, let this subordinate go first!”
Jiang Si’s eyes turned slightly cold: “It’s fine. Just wait at the door.”
“Princess Consort—” Long Dan didn’t dare to agree.
Jiang Si had to say: “I’ve met that person before. I’ll be careful about safety.”
“But it’s still too risky!”
Jiang Si smiled at Long Dan: “That’s why you’re waiting at the door. If there’s any movement, just rush in. I believe dealing with an old woman won’t be a problem for you.”
Seeing Jiang Si’s insistence, Long Dan had no choice but to agree.
The Princess Consort was right. If he couldn’t ensure her safety against an old woman, he might as well quit.
But it’s better to be safe than sorry—
While Long Dan was endlessly conflicted, Jiang Si had already walked into the dilapidated temple, leaving A Man outside.
A Man glared at Long Dan and threatened in a low voice: “If anything happens to the Princess Consort, you’re finished!”
Long Dan, who was already tense, rolled his eyes upon hearing this: “I’m listening to the sounds inside. Don’t distract me!”
A Man immediately became obedient.
This brat dared to threaten her. When they got back, she would complain to Cousin Dou.
There was a damp smell in the dilapidated temple. The offering table was covered in dust, and cobwebs remained in the corner of the rafters.
Jiang Si looked around and her gaze fell on one spot.
There sat an old woman cross-legged. In the dim light, her features were not very clear, but Jiang Si had already recognized her as Elder Hua, whom she had guessed outside the temple.
Elder Hua remained silent, and Jiang Si spoke first: “After our parting at the small shop in West Market Street, I didn’t expect to see Elder Hua here.”
Elder Hua and her granddaughter had originally been captured and taken to the imperial prison, but not long after, they had escaped mysteriously, becoming a source of frustration for Emperor Jing Ming and a great shame for the Jinlin Guard.
Later, when Emperor Jing Ming sent people to Wu Miao, they didn’t discover any trace of Elder Hua and her granddaughter.
Jiang Si was indeed greatly surprised to see Elder Hua appear in this dilapidated temple, her mind racing to guess the other party’s purpose.
Had Elder Hua returned to Wu Miao after her escape?
Back then, Nursemaid Duo had used the opportunity to accompany the Empress Dowager out of the palace to pray to meet with Elder Hua. She learned from Elder Hua that a Holy Maiden of Wu Miao, whose authenticity was hard to determine, had appeared in the capital. However, at that time, Nursemaid Duo had not yet met her and couldn’t inform Elder Hua about her identity as the Princess Consort of Prince Yan.
In other words, Elder Hua should only know that the Holy Maiden was in the capital, but not know her identity.
But now Elder Hua knew, which was why she used Xiu Niang to lure her here.
“How come I don’t see Elder Hua’s little granddaughter?” Seeing that Elder Hua was still silent, Jiang Si asked again.
Elder Hua finally spoke, but instead of answering Jiang Si’s question, she said in the Wu Miao language: “You aren’t the Holy Maiden.”
Outside the door, Long Dan and A Man, who were listening intently, were immediately dumbfounded, left only to look at each other in bewilderment.
Jiang Si smiled slightly and replied in the Wu Miao language: “Why doesn’t Elder Hua believe my words? I am the Holy Maiden. I came to the capital with a secret mission, just like you.”
Elder Hua was silent for a moment, then slowly said: “I went back to Wu Miao once and saw the Great Elder.”
Jiang Si’s face didn’t show any unusual expression, but in her heart, she understood why Elder Hua was certain she wasn’t the Holy Maiden.
Having met the Great Elder, she naturally knew that the Holy Maiden A Sang had died.
“The Holy Maiden has fallen seriously ill and is in seclusion in the clan to recuperate, so you can’t possibly be the Holy Maiden,” Elder Hua said, staring intently at Jiang Si.
Jiang Si’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
It seemed that the death of Holy Maiden A Sang was too significant for Wu Miao. Even now, Elder Hua didn’t dare to speak the truth.
Jiang Si remained silent, but Elder Hua became more talkative: “Who exactly are you? Why do you look identical to our clan’s Holy Maiden? And why do you know the Wu Miao language and even understand Wu Miao’s esoteric arts?”
Elder Hua asked several questions in succession, none of which Jiang Si answered. The wrinkles between her brows deepened: “Why aren’t you speaking?”
Jiang Si suddenly smiled: “Just because Elder Hua asks, must I answer? But if I do answer, will you believe me?”
“If you speak, I can naturally judge whether to believe or not.”
“Very well, I’ll answer then. I’m a native of Da Zhou, I’ve never been to Wu Miao, and I don’t know why for any of these questions Elder Hua asked. I’m puzzled myself.”
Elder Hua’s face looked somewhat unpleasant, obviously thinking Jiang Si was toying with her.
But Jiang Si’s identity as the Princess Consort of Prince Yan left her helpless. After maintaining a grim face for a while, she sighed: “Fine, let’s put aside how you accomplished these things. This meeting with you is to ask for your help with something.”
“What is it?” Jiang Si asked calmly, her heart vaguely guessing.
Sure enough, she heard Elder Hua say: “Recently, rumors have been spreading in our clan, saying that the Holy Maiden is no longer in this world, causing great unrest among our people. Unfortunately, due to her physical condition, the Holy Maiden cannot meet people and cannot appear to comfort the clan members. I’ve come this time to ask you to travel south, appear before the clan members as our Holy Maiden, and pacify their hearts.”
After listening to Elder Hua’s words, Jiang Si couldn’t help but laugh: “I am the Princess Consort of Prince Yan. Why should I agree to such an absurd request from Elder Hua?”
Elder Hua tugged at the corner of her mouth and said calmly: “What if there’s a reason you have no choice but to go?”