The Ninth Princess’s procession moved very slowly. Because she was Emperor Jianzhang’s first princess to marry off in a political alliance, the Ministry of Rites had made the scale exceptionally grand. The Ninth Princess’s carriage at the front had already left the city, while the palace servants accompanying her dowry at the rear had not yet boarded their carriages.
Song Chuyi let out a soft sigh. It was she who had changed the Ninth Princess’s life trajectory, transforming what should have been a pampered Grand Princess living in wealth and arrogance her whole life into a princess marrying away in a political alliance. This was the first time she realized her own hands could change people’s fates. She spread her palms, peering at the golden, dazzling sunlight through the gaps between her fingers, then slowly smiled.
Song Chuning, Han Zhi, the Ninth Princess, Shen Qingrang—these people who had appeared countless times in her dreams, endlessly entangled with her, were leaving her one by one. From now on, she would never again need to live in fear, unable to sleep peacefully at night.
After the crowd dispersed, First Madam Song couldn’t help but relax considerably, leading them down the mountain.
Qing Ying and Ziyun, who had been waiting at the foot of the mountain, hurried forward to stuff a hand warmer into her hands. While doing so, Qing Ying lowered her voice to tell her: “Just now Luo Gui came to say that Han Zhi has entered the city.”
So he really hadn’t died. Though she had long anticipated this, Song Chuyi still showed a delighted smile when she actually heard it. Today was an auspicious day of double happiness—the Ninth Princess’s wedding and the deity manifestation at Huangjue Temple. The common people inside and outside the city were all overjoyed, with crowds constantly coming and going. It wouldn’t be difficult for Han Zhi to slip into the city, especially with someone secretly clearing obstacles for him.
Indeed, he should be allowed to see his sister in her wedding robes, and his mother’s appearance aged and deteriorated by more than ten years. Song Chuyi nodded thoughtfully and instructed Qing Ying: “Have Luo Gui notify Eldest Brother. Also, tell Ma Changjiang and the others to keep a close watch on Han Zhi. If he tries to do anything irrational, cause a commotion first.”
Only when there was a commotion would there be chaos, and only in chaos could Han Zhi escape—toward his only way out, his only choice now—to Datong.
Qing Ying quietly agreed and went to the rear to find Luo Gui who was following the carriages.
Song Chuyi still rode in the same carriage with Xiang Mingzi and First Madam Song all the way to Huangjue Temple. Inside and outside Huangjue Temple, everything had been swept spotlessly clean and looked brand new. Because the morning hours were customarily for noble ladies to come hear scriptures and pray for blessings, the mountain gate had long been cordoned off, refusing other devotees.
Just as the Song family’s carriage drove through the mountain gate, the guest monk Yuanjue came forward with palms pressed together, smiling as he chanted a Buddhist invocation, then said with a smile: “The Princess and Madam Cui are both already waiting for you in the meditation chambers inside the temple.”
First Madam Song also pressed her palms together in return, the corners of her mouth holding just the right amount of a smile: “Then we’ll trouble Master Yuanjue to guide us there. Speaking of which, I’ve just remembered something—regarding the matter of lighting the eternal lamps that we discussed last time, I wonder if everything has been prepared? If it’s ready, we can also pick a time to come and have the masters perform a ritual.”
While leading them inside, Yuanjue nodded courteously: “The household has already informed us—how would we dare not comply? It all depends on when the Princess Consort has time. Once the ritual is completed, the eternal lamps can be lit.”
As they spoke, they had already entered through the moon gate. Yuanjue led them around a two-courtyard compound and explained in a low voice: “Today all the families’ madams have come in full force. The temple’s meditation chambers are all full. If the Princess hadn’t informed us early, the Phoenix Pavilion would have been reserved by the Duchess of Yingguo.”
At the mention of Lady He, First Madam Song couldn’t help but furrow her brow—they were both surnamed Shen, both Madam Shen, but nowadays whenever she heard of Duke Yingguo’s Shen family, she couldn’t help but want to frown. This was also because of how increasingly improper Duke Yingguo’s household had become. She sighed and nodded, supported Jin Huan’s hand as she passed through the covered corridor, then through a bamboo grove, and indeed saw the Phoenix Pavilion beside Huifang Garden nestled among the lush green bamboo, faintly revealing a corner of its flying eaves.
Madam Cui and Lady Yu were talking when they heard the announcement outside that First Madam Song had arrived. They quickly smiled and invited the newly arrived First Madam Song to take a seat, laughing as they did: “We’ve been waiting for you so long, the tea has been refilled three times already.”
Cui Huayi and Cui Huaying, one on each side, pulled Song Chuyi on one hand and Xiang Mingzi on the other, wanting to go outside to play. While doing so, they winked at them: “Just now Second Brother Ye already had the young novice come over to ask several times, saying that the green plum blossoms on the back mountain are blooming beautifully. The Jade-Dripping Pavilion has also been cleaned up, perfect for brewing tea over a charcoal fire.”
Before her words had finished, someone outside suddenly announced that Vice Minister Wei’s wife, having heard that the Princess, Madam Cui, and First Madam Song were all present, had specially come to pay her respects.
Vice Minister Wei’s youngest son, Wei Yanzhao, was still Song Jue’s classmate and good friend. First Madam Song had seen him several times in earlier years. Vice Minister Wei himself served in the Ministry of Rites, and like Vice Minister Wang, was First Master Song’s superior, so they had regular contact. Presumably having heard that the Song family women and Princess Duanhui were together, she had specially come to say a few words.
This outing had originally included the intention of introducing Xiang Mingzi to everyone. First Madam Song thought for a moment, then smiled and said: “Please invite her in quickly.”
Madam Wei was of medium build, with a plump white face bearing a kindly smile. Upon entering, she first performed courtesy to Princess Duanhui, then greeted Lady Yu and the other madams in turn, and looked over all the young ladies one by one, smiling as she had someone present greeting gifts: “I’ve long heard that First Madam gained a clever and intelligent daughter and have always wanted to meet her. Now that I’ve met her, I feel it would have been better not to—she puts all those blockheads in our family to shame!”
So tactful, and truly coming for Xiang Mingzi. First Madam Song didn’t know why but suddenly recalled Old Madam Song’s warnings, feeling that Madam Wei’s enthusiasm was somewhat too deliberate. The smile on her face involuntarily restrained somewhat: “Madam, please don’t praise her. Young children can’t take praise—give them praise and their tails will reach up to the sky.”
She then looked at the Cui sisters, Song Chuyi, and Xiang Mingzi with a smile: “Your elder sisters from the Li family have also come. You youngsters would inevitably find it dull staying cooped up in this meditation chamber with us. Why not go stroll and play on the back mountain? Just one condition—be very careful and don’t go where the snow is deep.”
Madam Wei still maintained a warm smile on her face, not at all offended, echoing First Madam Song’s words. She then spoke with Princess Duanhui about the scripture lecture after noon: “Master Yuankong is becoming harder and harder to invite these days, and it’s increasingly difficult to hear him lecture on scriptures.”
Cui Huayi and Cui Huaying led Song Chuyi and Xiang Mingzi out the door. Who would have thought that before they had even turned past Huifang Garden, they would see Shen Qingrang standing straight at the end of the stone path with a dazed expression and haggard appearance.
The nannies and maids beside Cui Huayi and Cui Huaying immediately stepped forward to shield the young ladies tightly. Just as they were about to speak a rebuke, they saw a delicate embroidered shoe adorned with pearl tassels come flying from behind Shen Qingrang, hitting him squarely with a thud.