Yue Ning, seeing Qin Guan wished to meet the abbot of Fahua Temple, immediately said, "I know, I'll take you there. You mentioned earlier that you wanted to dedicate bright lamps for your father and mother at Fahua Temple—is this for that purpose?"
Qin Guan nodded, and Yue Ning smiled, "Let's see if they've finished talking."
Yue Ning led Qin Guan out of the flower hall and followed the small path west of it. The layout of Prince Yi's royal residence was similar to that of Prince Rui's, but the scenery differed. Soon, they arrived before a Moon Cave Gate. The servant who had earlier delivered the message was about to return and paused in surprise upon seeing Qin Guan and Yue Ning approach.
"How did you two County Princesses come here? The Crown Prince has received the news and will arrive shortly."
As soon as he finished speaking, two figures emerged from the corridor behind the servant. Leading them was Yan Ze, his eyes no longer covered with Medicated Gauze.
Following Yan Ze was a middle-aged man around thirty years old, dressed in a black short jacket. The man, initially trailing behind Yan Ze, seemed taken aback by Qin Guan and Yue Ning's presence. He halted abruptly, his expression stiffening slightly, and instinctively glanced at Yan Ze ahead.
Yan Ze's gaze was vacant, fixed on a distant spot. The servant, noticing Yan Ze's emergence, hurriedly turned to greet him. "Your Highness, the two County Princesses are here."
Yue Ning stepped forward as well. "Third Brother, have you finished your matters?"
As she spoke, Yue Ning glanced at the black-clad man accompanying Yan Ze, but the man lowered his head.
Yan Ze reached out a hand, and Yue Ning promptly supported him. Yan Ze said gently, "It's done."
Then Yan Ze added, "Master Song, you may go."
The black-clad man nodded, clasped his hands in a salute to Yan Ze, and turned to leave toward the side gate of the royal residence.
Yue Ning watched his retreating figure and asked, "Who was that?"
Yan Ze replied, "He's the artisan crafting the Golden Buddha."
Yue Ning furrowed her brow slightly but said nothing more. Qin Guan stepped forward. "I heard from the servants that the abbot of Fahua Temple is also here. I mentioned to Yue Ning that I'd like to meet him. Would Your Highness be so kind as to facilitate this?"
Yan Ze had been about to ask Yue Ning why she had come, but upon hearing this, he smiled. "It's not the abbot but Master Huixin from Fahua Temple who is here. He's still speaking with my father. In that case, I'll take you to meet Master Huixin."
After speaking, Yan Ze turned around, and Yue Ning supported him as they headed toward the west courtyard. Just as they reached the entrance, Prince Yi Yan Xiang and a monk in crimson kasaya emerged. Seeing Qin Guan and the others approach, Prince Yi smiled. "I just heard you'd arrived. Why not wait in the flower hall? It's quite cold outside."
Qin Guan and Yue Ning bowed in greeting. Yan Ze explained, "Yongci County Princess wishes to dedicate bright lamps at Fahua Temple. Knowing Master Huixin is here, she wanted to inquire."
The monk beside Yan Xiang was Huixin, who clasped his hands and chanted "Amitabha" before stepping forward. "For whom does the benefactor wish to dedicate the bright lamps?"
Qin Guan stepped up and explained her intentions. Master Huixin chuckled warmly. "That is quite simple. The benefactor need only make the request at the temple."Qin Guan pondered for a moment, then inquired about the details of the ritual. She was determined to offer bright lamps for her parents and the couple of the second master of Qin Manor, so her questions were very practical. Master Huixin answered them one by one. After finishing, Master Huixin clasped his hands toward Prince Yi and said, "In that case, this humble monk will take his leave now. On the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month, I will bring people into the city to invite the Buddha statue."
Prince Yi nodded with a smile and instructed a servant to see Master Huixin off. After Master Huixin left, Yue Ning remarked, "The date is set? The tenth day of the twelfth lunar month is the very day Qin Guan is getting married."
Prince Yi chuckled, "That day is auspicious, so the Buddha invitation is also scheduled for then."
The west courtyard was very close to where Prince Yi resided. Prince Yi asked Yan Ze to entertain Qin Guan and the others while he returned to his study first.
Thus, the three of them headed to the flower hall. Yue Ning said, "Has Third Brother regained any sensation in his eyes? Today, after I left the palace, I went to pay respects to Grandmother and mentioned Third Brother's eye condition, so I asked her to come take a look..."
Yan Ze smiled, "There's no feeling yet, but don't worry, my eyes are fine."
Qin Guan pressed her lips together and remained silent. Yue Ning glanced at Qin Guan, sensing something was off. When they reached the flower hall and the three took their seats, Yan Ze sniffed slightly and said, "I forgot for a moment—my orchids haven't been brought back yet..."
Yue Ning quickly asked, "Were they taken to the front courtyard again?"
Yan Ze nodded, "There was sun today, so I moved them to the front courtyard for some light."
Yue Ning stood up, "Then I'll go bring them back. I know they're your treasures.Yan Ze smiled, "Tan Xiang, accompany the princess to go.".."
Tan Xiang, who was waiting nearby, acknowledged. Yue Ning said to Qin Guan, "You sit here for now," and then headed to the front courtyard.
Once Yue Ning left, Qin Guan's gaze sharpened and fixed intently on Yan Ze. Yan Ze sat opposite her and said, "Princess, you must have something to say to me, don't you?""
Qin Guan's lips were pressed tightly together. "This morning, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had another argument. It was about the Emperor practicing swordsmanship in previous years. The Emperor couldn't remember the name of that great sword master."
Yan Ze raised an eyebrow, "Oh? The Emperor is overwhelmed with state affairs, so it's natural he might forget. The Empress Dowager shouldn't hold a grudge over such a thing."
Qin Guan responded with a cold laugh. "For the past few months, the Crown Prince has frequently visited the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager. Yet, on the other hand, the Crown Prince seems particularly fond of bringing up old matters with the Empress Dowager, especially events before the Emperor ascended the throne—playing chess, injuries, martial arts training... There are likely many more I'm unaware of."
Yan Ze smiled warmly, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze. "What's wrong with that? I've been away from the capital for ten years, so naturally, I can only talk about past events."
Qin Guan stared at Yan Ze, as if trying to see through his gentle facade to discern what he truly harbored in his heart. But after a long while, she found Yan Ze's exterior as flawless and impenetrable as an exquisite painting. Her lips still tightly pressed, she said, "The Empress Dowager's health is fragile. If she experiences shock or anger, even a deity might not be able to save her."
Though Qin Guan shared no blood relation with the Empress Dowager, since treating her illness earlier in the year, the Empress Dowager had shown her kindness and affection. Her marriage to Yan Chi owed much to the Empress Dowager's support. This care was enough to make Qin Guan deeply concerned for the Empress Dowager's life. And what Yan Ze was doing was like holding a blade suspended over the Empress Dowager's head.After Qin Guan finished speaking, Yan Ze also remained silent for a moment. The drawing room fell into stillness, yet there was an undercurrent of tension simmering beneath the surface.
Before long, faint voices could be heard from beyond the courtyard gate near the drawing room—Yue Ning had returned.
Yan Ze suddenly spoke, "Will the princess be free tomorrow?""
Qin Guan raised an eyebrow, unsure of Yan Ze's intention. Yan Ze smiled slowly, "I have a favor to ask of you."
Qin Guan didn't know what Yan Ze wanted her to do. After a moment's thought, she said, "I will visit the Empress Dowager in the palace in the morning, but I'll be free after noon."
Yan Ze pondered briefly, "Very well. Tomorrow at noon, I'll send someone to wait for you outside the palace." He paused, then added, "There's no need for Ning'er to know about this."
Qin Guan seemed about to say something but held back. Just then, Yue Ning strode in from outside carrying a pot of orchids. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she announced, "Third Brother, these orchids shouldn't be exposed to more sunlight. They should stay in the drawing room for the next few days."
Yan Ze turned toward Yue Ning and nodded with a smile, "Alright."
Qin Guan sat with Yue Ning in the drawing room for a while, her mind elsewhere. Seeing that it was getting late, Yue Ning felt it inappropriate to keep Qin Guan longer and suggested they take their leave. Though Yue Ning had been wearing a bright, cheerful smile, the moment they stepped out of the main door of the drawing room, her expression froze. She remained silent all the way out of the royal residence. Only after they had left Prince Yi's residence and boarded the carriage did Yue Ning suddenly speak, "That man earlier was no ordinary craftsman."
Qin Guan, who had also been distracted, looked at Yue Ning in surprise upon hearing this. Yue Ning narrowed her eyes and said, "I've never seen him before, but he couldn't possibly be a common craftsman. His footsteps were extremely light, and there were obvious calluses on the web of his thumb—the kind that only someone who has practiced martial arts for years would have."
Qin Guan slowly straightened up. Would a craftsman practice martial arts year after year?
Such craftsmen were far too rare...
And Qin Guan had also noticed the man's demeanor earlier.
He was a very alert man, and he trusted Yan Ze completely. When he saw Yue Ning and her, he instinctively looked toward Yan Ze, which showed they shared a closer relationship. His alertness seemed more like the vigilance of someone in a dangerous environment. If he were a craftsman or one of Yan Ze's hidden guards, why would he be so wary of outsiders in Prince Yi's residence?
Qin Guan glanced at Yue Ning again but ultimately decided not to mention Yan Ze's request for help.
If she wanted to know what Yan Ze was really up to, tomorrow might provide an opportunity.
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