Just as she was secretly amazed by Old Madam Liang’s behavior, she heard someone calling her: “Shuying!”
It was actually Lin Zilan.
Qin Shuying was very happy – they hadn’t seen each other for quite a long time.
But she couldn’t stop to talk with Lin Zilan, as her main task today was to keep a close eye on Old Madam Liang and see if she would make any unexpected moves.
She gestured, gently shook her head, and followed closely behind Old Madam Liang.
Lin Zilan had come with Madam Lin. Seeing Old Madam Liang walking ahead with her head held high and chest out, she seemed to understand something, nodded, and was soon left behind by Qin Shuying’s group.
This was because Old Madam Liang walked quite quickly.
At the end of the wei hour, they arrived at Wanshou Palace.
The entire Wanshou Palace was decorated magnificently, with brilliant plum blossoms, unswept snow piles still on the trees, and exquisitely crafted ice sculptures throughout the courtyard that were works of art.
The greenhouse was located in front of the main hall.
Inside the greenhouse, though warm, it wasn’t oppressively hot – at most it just prevented people sitting there from feeling cold. This way, when people went from the greenhouse to the snowy ground to admire the ice sculptures, they wouldn’t fall ill from the sudden change between hot and cold.
Even more ingenious was that the greenhouse had completely transparent walls, made of something called glass. This material could both block cold and wind while allowing views of the outside scenery.
Only the imperial palace could afford to use such things.
There wasn’t just one greenhouse, but multiple ones set up around the garden’s ice sculptures and plum blossoms. This way, they could accommodate many people viewing the scenery while allowing people of different statuses to sit in different locations.
However, greenhouses in different areas naturally offered different viewing angles. Those in the center were naturally the best and reserved for people of the most noble status. Those on the sides were for people of slightly lower status and position.
Old Madam Liang, currently only of fourth rank, was led to sit in a somewhat secluded greenhouse.
Luo Meixiang, Qin Shuying, and Liang Qiong were all with her.
After sitting for a while, a palace maid came to request Qin Shuying: “Madam Liang, Princess Fuping requests that you come speak with her.”
Not only were Luo Meixiang and Liang Qiong surprised, even Old Madam Liang felt astonished.
In the past, Princess Fuping had often visited the Liang family and had an extremely good relationship with Liang Qiong. For some unknown reason, after she fell ill at the beginning of this year, she gradually grew distant from Liang Qiong.
Even in the traveling palace, when Consort De had listened to Luo Meixiang’s instigation and wanted to intimidate Qin Shuying, it was Princess Fuping who had interceded and spared Qin Shuying.
Liang Qiong couldn’t help but speak up: “Are you mistaken? The person Her Highness wants to see should be me, right? How could it be her?”
In the past, when she entered the palace, Princess Fuping would often send people to invite her over to talk.
The palace maid replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Princess Fuqing, our princess has requested specifically for Madam Liang.”
Liang Qiong sat down huffily and snorted.
Qin Shuying said to Old Madam Liang and Luo Meixiang: “Old Madam, Madam, since Her Highness has requested me, I’ll go speak with her and return shortly.”
Old Madam Liang remained noncommittal, while Luo Meixiang’s eyes turned red.
Why was Qin Shuying becoming increasingly fortunate while her own Qiong’er not only had to marry some Prince Huo Luo, but now due to her own questionable status, even Qiong’er’s status had become lowly.
Even if she was granted the title of princess, she had no fiefdom – she was just an honorary princess!
Qin Shuying followed the palace maid along the way, passing through many palace halls, finally arriving outside an elegant courtyard wall. Qin Shuying looked up and saw three large characters written in the middle of the courtyard wall: “Xieyu Palace.”
This was Princess Fuping’s palace.
Entering the palace, she was brought before Princess Fuping.
Princess Fuping sat under the corridor, reading a book.
“Your Highness, this subject woman pays her respects to Your Highness.”
Princess Fuping raised her head, looking at Qin Shuying with profound eyes. The palace maids tactfully withdrew.
Qin Shuying maintained the proper demeanor of a subject woman, standing respectfully to one side, quietly waiting for Princess Fuping to speak.
After a long time, Princess Fuping finally put down the book in her hands. Qin Shuying glanced at it – it was a Buddhist sutra.
“Qin Shuying, this princess has heard that Buddha is mindful of the suffering of all beings. If one cannot attain what they seek in their previous life, Buddha will grant them another life, allowing people to choose anew and plan anew. Qin Shuying, do you believe this?”
Qin Shuying answered without hesitation: “This subject woman believes it. All beings suffer, and Buddha is compassionate.”
Princess Fuping stared at her fixedly, her gaze very calm, very gentle, and carrying a detached indifference.
Since the flower-pinning banquet, this was how Qin Shuying had seen Princess Fuping.
The two women of similar age looked at each other. After a long time, Princess Fuping shifted her gaze away and asked indifferently: “What exactly are you seeking?”
“Your Highness, what this subject woman seeks is merely to preserve her life.”
Princess Fuping, after quite a while, murmured in response: “Preserve her life?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After another long pause, Princess Fuping said softly: “But if preserving one’s life cannot change the outcome, then what?”
Though one sat and one stood, and though they were under the corridor, the fire dragon heating from inside the rooms was warm, and they were dressed thickly, so they didn’t feel cold.
Qin Shuying didn’t answer Princess Fuping’s question, because she felt that Princess Fuping was actually asking herself.
Since their conversation at the traveling palace, Qin Shuying had always been grateful to Princess Fuping. However, due to her relationship with the Fifth Prince, Qin Shuying didn’t intend to become too intimate with Princess Fuping.
If there was an opportunity, she would choose to repay Princess Fuping – this way, they would owe each other nothing, which would be best.
Through their recent exchange, Qin Shuying became even more convinced that Princess Fuping, like herself, was also reborn.
However, given Princess Fuping’s current status, if she was indeed reborn, why was she so low-key? Moreover, she could see that Princess Fuping was deeply world-weary.
She wondered what kind of life Princess Fuping had lived in her previous life to make her so disheartened.
After a long while, Princess Fuping looked at her again: “Qin Shuying, what are your plans for the future?”
Qin Shuying pondered briefly, then said: “Act according to my heart, do as I wish.”
“What is your heart, and what is your wish?”
“My heart is happiness, my wish is to need no hesitation.”
Princess Fuping was stunned for quite a while, then said faintly: “What use is happiness?”
Qin Shuying seemed to understand something.
“Qin Shuying, you are still a virgin? Why?”
Qin Shuying was somewhat surprised. Although she knew that some people could tell whether a woman was still chaste, she hadn’t expected that Princess Fuping could also discern this.
She had worried about this at the Pingxi Earl’s residence, wondering whether Old Madam Liang and Luo Meixiang, or the nannies around them, might notice her situation.
Of course, as long as the person in question denied it and no one examined her, such things couldn’t be proven.
“Your Highness, this subject woman has not yet reached the age of ji. Consummating the marriage too early would be bad for a woman’s health.”
“Liang Zhe is willing?”
“He is considerate of me and respects my wishes.”
Princess Fuping’s gaze gradually became somewhat dreamy.
After another while, Princess Fuping dismissed Qin Shuying.