Yun Chu and Du Ling chatted about many things.
From childhood anecdotes to troubles after marriage—all manner of topics. The more they talked, the more they had to say.
At this time, a young monk brought people to set out the vegetarian meal. Over a dozen dishes on the table were all vegetarian, yet prepared with excellent color, aroma, and flavor.
Du Ling was about to send a maid to fetch Du Ying and Xie Ping when Du Ying rushed in through the doorway in a panic: “Something’s wrong, Sister Yun. Miss Xie has disappeared.”
Yun Chu stood up: “Xiaoying, don’t panic. What do you mean ‘disappeared’?”
“After Miss Xie and I admired the peonies, we both wanted to ask Buddha for another divination stick, so we went to the front together.” Du Ying answered. “I went in, had my fortune interpreted, and came out, but Miss Xie was nowhere to be seen. My maid and I searched the front area in a circle, searched the back as well, but couldn’t find any trace of her.”
Du Ling’s expression changed: “After Prince Pingxi suppressed the bandits last time, some remnant bandits still haven’t been caught. I heard several farm girls went missing outside the city. Could it be…”
“It shouldn’t be.” Yun Chu said calmly. “Qing’an Temple is full of people everywhere. If bandits wanted to abduct someone, they definitely wouldn’t choose here. Ping’er is playful—she probably got lost. Let’s go out and search.”
Unable to care about the vegetarian meal anymore, the group hurried to find Xie Ping.
The back courtyard of Qing’an Temple was quite extensive, with several small courtyards specifically for receiving high officials and nobles. Outside of festivals and holidays, most courtyards were empty. Yun Chu was about to search courtyard by courtyard when she saw two guards rushing over from the east corridor, clearly searching for someone.
“Madam Ji, Madam Xie.” The two guards didn’t recognize everyone, but these two ladies before them—one the daughter of the Minister of Justice, one the daughter of the Great General—they had naturally seen before. They quickly saluted and inquired: “Have you two madams by any chance seen Prince An’jing?”
Light appeared in Du Ying’s eyes: “Prince An’jing also came to Qing’an Temple?”
Du Ling looked at her younger sister with some exasperation. Why did she become so happy just hearing Prince An’jing’s name…
She spoke: “Prince An’jing going missing is no small matter. Quickly have the temple’s abbot arrange for people to help search together.”
The two guards had originally held a thread of hope, but thinking about the uncaptured bandits outside the city, if something happened to Prince An’jing, their heads would roll too.
The two were about to go to the front courtyard to find the abbot.
Yun Chu furrowed her brow: “There seems to be sounds coming from this courtyard.”
This was an unoccupied small courtyard. Upon entering was a side room, and the sounds were coming from within that side room.
“It’s the Prince’s voice.” The two guards exchanged glances, both seeing the joy of survival in each other’s eyes. They hurried toward that side room.
Without thinking, Du Ying followed the guards.
She hadn’t seen Prince An’jing in such a long time. She truly hadn’t expected to encounter him at Qing’an Temple. Had Buddha heard the wish she’d just made?
Du Ling looked toward Yun Chu: “Since we’ve encountered Prince An’jing, let’s pay our respects first, lest the Prince say we’re being impolite.”
Yun Chu’s mind was clear as a mirror.
She followed along.
Drawing closer, the sounds became increasingly distinct.
“Ping’er, that you would come see this Prince at such a time is sufficient proof of your true feelings toward this Prince. This Prince will definitely not fail you…”
Then came a soft female voice.
“Since that day we met, Ping’er has deeply admired Your Highness. To spend even such a brief moment with Your Highness is already fortune cultivated in Ping’er’s previous life.”
Prince An’jing swept the Xie Ping before him into his embrace.
The Crown Prince was gravely ill, all evidence pointed to him. He had inexplicably been banished by the Emperor to this temple. Eating vegetarian food every day was one thing, but he couldn’t even see a single woman around him.
Previously, he had enjoyed music and pleasure every night, living freely and happily every day.
He truly couldn’t endure such a barren existence now.
Seeing this delicate young maiden before him, how could he possibly restrain himself? He reached out and stripped the clothing from Xie Ping’s shoulders…
Rustling sounds came from within the side room.
Du Ling suddenly understood what was happening and turned to look at Yun Chu.
Before she could read any emotion from Yun Chu’s face, she saw Du Ying at her side dash up the steps in a single bound.
She reached out to grab Du Ying but failed to catch her.
Du Ying raised her hand and forcefully pushed open the side room door.
When she saw the scene before her, Du Ying’s powder-white face instantly turned deathly pale.
“Your Highness, you…”
Her voice caught in her throat, as if someone was forcefully strangling her neck.
She stared at Prince An’jing, her eyes slowly changing from disbelief to utter disappointment…
Just a few months ago, the two of them had viewed flowers and the moon together under the moonlight. He had said he would ask Consort De to bestow their marriage, said he wouldn’t fail her true feelings.
Yet after such a short time, he was embracing another young maiden, saying such sweet words of love, doing such disgraceful things…
Prince An’jing had been embracing Xie Ping on the couch when the door was suddenly pushed open. Sunlight shone in from outside, making his eyes dazzle somewhat.
He adapted for a while before finally seeing clearly who had come.
He hurriedly pulled over a thin blanket to cover his body.
Xie Ping also frantically picked up the long dress from the floor and pulled it to her chest.
Du Ying wanted to say more but was forcefully pulled by Du Ling, who said in a low voice: “This matter has nothing to do with you. Keep quiet.”
His Majesty had not bestowed the marriage, the Du Family and Prince An’jing had not discussed marriage matters, and they hadn’t even exchanged betrothal cards. No matter who Prince An’jing was with, it had nothing to do with the Du Family.
Du Ying was pulled outside the door, tears streaming down her face.
“This subject’s wife greets Prince An’jing.” Yun Chu spoke coldly. “May this subject’s wife know if Prince An’jing can provide an explanation?”
By this time, Prince An’jing had calmed down.
Although being caught doing such things was somewhat embarrassing, he was an imperial prince—who would dare say a single word against him?
He raised his eyelids to look at Yun Chu: “Oh, so it’s Madam Xie. Since Madam Xie has seen it, then this Prince will speak truthfully. This Prince and Miss Xie are mutually in love. This Prince intends to take her as a serving concubine. What does Madam Xie think?”
Xie Ping, half-sitting on the couch, suddenly raised her head.
Serving concubine… Prince An’jing only wanted to make her a serving concubine?
The women in a prince’s back courtyard also had ranks. The highest was the Princess Consort, then secondary consort, then common consort, and lowest was serving concubine.
Her requirements weren’t high—she’d be satisfied as long as she received the status of common consort…
She and Prince An’jing were here, hadn’t even used that medicine He Shi had given her, yet the Prince had become enamored with her. She had thought the Prince felt differently about her.
But this status of serving concubine suddenly made her understand—if not for Mother and Madam Ji suddenly bursting in, after Prince An’jing had possessed her, she probably wouldn’t even qualify as a serving concubine… This realization made Xie Ping unable to hold back her tears.
“What fine ‘mutual love.’ My daughter is crying like this—this subject’s wife does not believe it was willing!” A smile appeared on Yun Chu’s furious face. “If Prince An’jing were truly fond of my daughter, he should have sent a matchmaker to our door. Even if he only wanted my daughter to be a serving concubine, he should follow proper procedures. This is Qing’an Temple, at Buddha’s feet. Prince An’jing disregarded my daughter’s wishes and committed acts of violation in this Buddhist sacred place—how is that different from the bandits in the mountains… Not to mention, my daughter hasn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony! In this matter, this subject’s wife will definitely demand an explanation!”