As soon as dawn broke, Yun Chu awoke.

Xie Shi’an came early to pay his respects, then departed for Huaide Academy to study.

He would study at Huaide Academy for about a few more months. By autumn in the ninth month, he could directly enter the Imperial Academy and become classmates with the princes and noble scions.

As he walked out of Shengju Residence, Yun Chu could see his back radiating high spirits and ambition.

She smiled. Xie Shi’an was ultimately still too young. If it were Minister Xie from the Cabinet ten-plus years later, she definitely wouldn’t be his match.

Before long, the concubines and children from the back courtyard all arrived. Xie Ping wore brilliant purples and reds, a gold hairpin on her head, a pair of pearl earrings on her ears, and two translucent jade bracelets on her wrists.

“Isn’t the Eldest Miss going with Madam to Qing’an Temple?” Concubine Tao looked her over. “Wouldn’t dressing like this to visit a temple be disrespectful to Buddha?”

Yun Chu’s expression was indifferent: “Many devout women praying for marriage also dress this way, so it’s not a problem. But there’s too much jewelry—remove two pieces.”

Xie Ping secretly glared at Concubine Tao.

She had a maid remove the gold hairpin from her hair, and also placed the jewelry from her ears and wrists into the maid’s hands.

Yun Chu stood up: “While it’s still early, let’s go.”

Xie Ping followed behind her as they walked out.

Concubine He watched them leave with wide eyes. Her heart felt as if it had been thrown into a vat of boiling oil. She pressed her palms together, praying incessantly in her mind.

A carriage had long been prepared at the Xie residence entrance. Yun Chu and Xie Ping boarded one after another, and the carriage slowly headed toward the city gate.

Upon reaching the city gate, the carriage stopped.

Xie Ping asked somewhat anxiously: “Mother, are we not going to Qing’an Temple?”

“I arranged to go together with Madam Ji.” Yun Chu smiled. “You know Madam Ji too—you met her at the Yun Family spring banquet last year.”

Jealousy arose in Xie Ping’s heart.

Madam Ji was the legitimate eldest daughter of Minister Du of the Ministry of Justice, married to the legitimate eldest son of Minister Ji of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Though such a family standing couldn’t compare to the imperial family, it was already one of the great families ranked among the best in the capital.

Those Mother knew must all be such noble ladies from prestigious families.

If her maternal grandfather’s family hadn’t met with disaster, she too would have been born into nobility, and those around her would also be daughters of distinguished families…

As Xie Ping indulged in wild thoughts, Tingfeng’s voice came from outside: “Madam, Madam Ji has arrived.”

Yun Chu lifted the carriage curtain and looked toward the opposite carriage. A bright, smiling face also appeared at that carriage window: “Madam Xie, it’s been so long.”

Yun Chu also smiled. Counting from her previous life, she and Du Ling hadn’t seen each other in over ten years.

After the two exchanged greetings, the carriages proceeded toward the outskirts of the city. After traveling for about half an hour, they finally arrived at Wild Goose Mountain outside the city. Qing’an Temple was built halfway up Wild Goose Mountain.

Descending from the carriage, Du Ling walked over to Yun Chu and huffed coldly: “After you married, how many times did I invite you? You refused every time. Even our last meeting was only because of the Yun Family spring banquet. I’m at least the eldest young madam of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, yet you, Madam Xie, truly give me no face at all.”

Yun Chu loved this vibrant appearance of hers.

After marrying into the Xie residence, having lost her child and having no ability to bear children, with her husband treating her coldly, her life gradually lost all hope. She simply had no mind to meet old friends.

“Lingling, stop mocking me with those three words ‘Madam Xie.'” Yun Chu pulled at her hand. “It was my fault before. I’ll change.”

That single address “Lingling” drew their relationship much closer. Du Ling sighed: “Chuchu, the Guanyin for children at Qing’an Temple is very efficacious. Many women who pray there can conceive after returning home. Let’s go in.”

Du Ying stood before Yun Chu: “Sister Yun, you want to learn the pomegranate knot, right? It’s very simple. I’ll teach you in a bit.”

Yun Chu smiled and expressed her thanks.

Du Ying was skilled at needlework—even the Empress would praise the pomegranate knots she made. So she had used wanting to learn the pomegranate knot as an excuse to write to Du Ling.

The pomegranate knot symbolized many children and much fortune. She knew that Du Ling, feeling sorry for her childlessness, would definitely bring Du Ying to the appointment.

Following behind them, the jealousy in Xie Ping’s heart grew increasingly intense.

Though Mother was now merely the inner family member of a fifth-rank official, Madam Ji still maintained such close friendship with her. Such affection made her envious.

The daughters of noble families she usually knew were all daughters of officials of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ranks. She was too lazy to cultivate relationships with them, and thus had not a single close friend.

The group walked inside.

Qing’an Temple was the temple with the most flourishing incense near the capital, with devout men and women coming to worship in an endless stream.

At the temple entrance, one needed to queue to enter. Yun Chu donated two hundred taels in incense money, and a young monk led them directly inside.

Incense smoke curled upward, the great Buddha was solemn. Yun Chu knelt on a prayer cushion and kowtowed sincerely.

She wasn’t praying for children, but for the Yun Family’s smooth fortune in this life, and for her two children who died young to be reborn into good families…

Xie Ping silently prayed in her heart for everything to go smoothly. In her whole life, she was only doing this one bold thing. She hoped Buddha would fulfill her wish…

After the worship ended, the four stood up. Yun Chu smiled: “Lingling, let’s eat a vegetarian meal before leaving.”

Du Ling also had many things she wanted to say to Yun Chu and naturally nodded busily. The four followed a young monk to the temple’s back courtyard.

Qing’an Temple regularly received many distinguished nobles and great families as worshippers. The back courtyard was quite spacious, but at a doorway on the east side of the corridor, two guards stood watch.

Du Ying asked somewhat curiously: “They seem to be palace guards. Which noble personage has come?”

Du Ling shook her head.

With her status, she naturally knew who was staying here, but if her younger sister knew that Prince An’jing had been punished to stay at Qing’an Temple, her heart would likely break.

Xie Ping glanced twice and secretly committed this door to memory.

The four entered the side room the young monk had arranged. As soon as they entered, Xie Ping said: “I saw many peonies blooming in the back courtyard. Second Miss Du, why don’t we go take a look?”

Du Ying was two years older than Xie Ping but still had a child’s temperament. Unable to sit still in the side room, she immediately nodded and followed Xie Ping to the back courtyard to admire the flowers.

“Xiaoying must be fifteen years old now.” Yun Chu inquired. “Has her marriage been settled?”

Du Ling spoke: “Two years ago, His Majesty had my father bring Prince An’jing to train at the Ministry of Justice. Prince An’jing thus frequently visited the Du residence. Through these comings and goings, somehow Xiaoying took a fancy to Prince An’jing… But I’ve heard that the Crown Prince’s serious illness is related to Prince An’jing, which is why he was banished to Qing’an Temple. Now, with His Majesty still in his prime yet such turmoil arising, who knows what else awaits in the future. A while ago, Consort De sounded out my mother, wanting Xiaoying to marry into Prince An’jing’s residence. My mother played dumb and deflected it. This matter absolutely cannot let Xiaoying know, or she’ll definitely make a scene…”

Yun Chu sighed.

They say parents can’t overcome their children’s will, and it was truly so. No matter how much Madam Du opposed it, Du Ying was determined to marry him.

Around June or July this year, Consort De would petition His Majesty to bestow the marriage. However, before Du Ying could marry into Prince An’jing’s residence, the Fourth Prince would meet with disaster at the autumn hunting grounds.

That day, His Majesty was assassinated. The Fourth Prince, the prime suspect, disappeared. When he was found months later, he was already a corpse…

Du Ying didn’t believe the Fourth Prince would assassinate His Majesty, and couldn’t accept that her betrothed had died this way. She crashed her head against the Fourth Prince’s coffin.

Yun Chu couldn’t understand it. He was just a man—how could he make Du Ying abandon her parents, abandon her entire family, and die for love at such a young age…