At the Protectorate Temple, Xie Fengran had listened to the abbot's Buddhist scriptures for a whole morning. When she returned to the courtyard, Lan Fang had already come back.
"Why did you come back so soon?"
Lan Fang stepped forward to help Xie Fengran change her clothes and said, "The old lady was worried about you, and I also had something to tell you."
"What's the matter?"
"It's about the mistress." Lan Fang stole a glance at Xie Fengran's expression and said carefully, "The old lady sold the stewardess maid beside the mistress and punished the mistress to kneel in the courtyard. Although no outsiders saw it, it was still a loss of face."
Xie Fengran's hand holding the teacup paused. She felt a bit uncomfortable, but she also knew that her grandmother wasn't the kind of person who would pick on others without reason.
"Why did grandmother sell the maid beside mother?"
"I heard from Liu Yi that it was because the stewardess maid instigated the mistress to ask the old lady for the power to manage the household, and was caught by Nanny He. So the old lady found an excuse to get rid of that maid."
Lan Fang took the teacup from Xie Fengran's hand and continued, "Moreover, when I saw the mistress this time, she wasn't wearing her favorite moon - white diamond - patterned gauze dress. Instead, she changed into a red Shu brocade skirt. Liu Yi heard from the Green Pine Courtyard that the mistress was scolded by the old lady when she went to pay respects yesterday, and then changed her clothes the next day."
In fact, among the high - ranking families in the capital, no mistress would be like Yun Shi, who didn't manage the household and dressed like a celestial being every day, as if she didn't eat the food of the mortal world.
The old lady had long been dissatisfied with Yun Shi. If it weren't for the fact that she had given birth to a good daughter, she would probably have been divorced and sent back to her natal family by the old lady.
"Grandmother did this for her own good. Did she see you?"
Lan Fang hesitated for a moment and then told Xie Fengran what had happened when she met Yun Shi.
Xie Fengran showed no extra expression. "I see. How about Concubine Yuan?"
"Concubine Yuan is still begging the marquis to bring the second young lady back. It is said that she also begged the mistress and wanted to go to the Green Pine Courtyard to pay respects with the mistress. But she was blocked back before she even got in the door."
"Grandmother hates people like Concubine Yuan the most. She won't be able to cause any trouble."
Xie Fengran didn't pay much attention. She told Lan Fang to keep an eye on Zhu Qing and Xie Chenghui, and then went to read books by herself.
In another quiet room of the Protectorate Temple, there was a chessboard, and two people were playing chess. The person holding the white pieces was in a desperate situation and was about to be completely defeated.
The person in the monk's robe put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist mantra. "Amitabha. Benefactor Qin has too much obsession. Now that the situation is settled, why do you struggle so hard and do something useless?"
Qin Junxing pinched a white piece with his slender fingers. After pondering for a while, he placed it on a certain position. In an instant, the situation on the chessboard changed dramatically. The white pieces made a comeback and actually found a way out of the dead end.
"Master, don't persuade others to be kind without experiencing their hardships. Moreover, I only seek the truth. If the person on that throne can't even provide the truth, how can he convince the public?" Qin Junxing slightly hooked the corner of his mouth, threw away the piece in his hand, looked at the person opposite, and said in a determined and domineering tone, "Moreover, how do you know that what I'm doing is useless? Master, you are attached to appearances!"
"Amitabha!" The monk half - closed his eyes. "I've said all I need to say. Please take good care of yourself, benefactor!"
"Humph!" Qin Junxing raised his eyebrows and smiled, looking evil and flamboyant. But his tone was not polite at all. "Yuan Ning, don't think that just because the world respects you as a master, you really think you've jumped out of the mortal world and are above the pilgrims. What exactly happened before Emperor Dezong's death eighteen years ago? Don't you really know?"
As the Protectorate Dharma Master appointed by Emperor Dezong, Yuan Ning had never been treated so rudely in front of him.
But Yuan Ning didn't get angry. He sighed deeply. "I swore in front of Emperor Dezong's spiritual throne that I would not participate in the royal struggle and would not get involved in these matters. Please don't make things difficult for me, Benefactor Qin!"
"So you really know." Qin Junxing suddenly stood up, bent down, put his hands on the chessboard, and stared at Yuan Ning. "Did you swear in front of Emperor Dezong or in front of the current one?"
"Benefactor Qin, the current one is your uncle."
"You don't need to worry about this, master. Just answer my question."
"Amitabha. Benefactor Qin should know that I only obey Emperor Dezong."
Qin Junxing straightened up and nodded. "I believe what you said, master. But if one day I really need your help, I hope you can make the most beneficial choice and don't implicate the whole Protectorate Temple at that time."
Yuan Ning closed his eyes and didn't say a word.
Qin Junxing didn't seem to expect an answer from him. He turned around and pushed the door open to leave.
In the quiet room, Yuan Ning sat in one position for a long time.
After walking out of the quiet room, Qin Junxing's bodyguard immediately followed up. "My lord, not long after Zhang Yao returned to the mansion, Prime Minister Zhang entered the palace."
"It seems that Prime Minister Zhang is at the end of his wits. Let's go back too."
"Yes!"
Qin Junxing strode towards the outside of the temple. The guards had already prepared everything and were just waiting to set off.
Qin Junxing mounted his horse, pulled the reins, and looked back at the temple. Suddenly, he gave an order, "Zang Feng, you stay behind."
"Yes!"
After a faint "yes", Qin Junxing left the Protectorate Temple without looking back.
Not long after Qin Junxing left, another carriage came to the entrance of the Protectorate Temple.
In the courtyard where the Xie Mansion stayed, Lan Fang saw Sun Yuelan following the monk. She blinked her eyes and quickly welcomed the person in.
"Greetings to Miss Sun. Our young lady is reading a book. Please come in quickly."
"Oh, why is she still reading at this time? Go and call your young lady quickly!"
"Yes!"
Lan Fang told the maids to serve tea and then went to call Xie Fengran.
After a while, Xie Fengran came out. Seeing Sun Yuelan, she said with a smile, "We just met yesterday. Why did you come all the way here today? Do you miss me?"
"Get out of here. It's this time, and you still have the mood to joke. Let me ask you, did you send your half - sister to the manor?"
Xie Fengran nodded. "Yes."
"Did you have a conflict with Zhang Yao last night?"
Xie Fengran nodded again. "Is there any connection between these two things?"
"No connection. They are just all aimed at you. Now there are rumors in the city that you are domineering in the marquis's mansion. You not only disobey your father, make the old lady ill, but also lock your younger sister up in the manor. Moreover, you take your younger brother away from your mother, which makes your mother's personality change greatly!"
"..."
"As for the matter of Zhang Yao, my mother heard from the palace that Prime Minister Zhang entered the palace to ask the emperor to bestow a marriage and marry Zhang Yao to Prince Qin. In his words, he mentioned you."
Sun Yuelan rubbed her forehead and said tiredly, "I'm worried about you, so I came here specially to tell you. These rumors are coming fiercely, and Prime Minister Zhang is the emperor's confidant. No matter what conflicts you have with Zhang Yao, if the emperor really bestows the marriage, it will all be your fault, and the rumors will be further confirmed!"