He had not expected that upon riding to the Purple Void Monastery with Yang Xinzhi, they would not find Chai Yingluo upon entering, but instead be greeted by Wei Shufen. Surprised, delighted, and yet uneasy, they naturally first asked, "Where has the High Truth Master gone?" This prompted a tearful, lengthy account from Wei Shufen.
Chai Yingluo had been secretly meeting with Crown Prince Chengqian for three years? That Blood Jade Thumb Ring was also a gift from Li Chengqian? And the child in Consort Yang Bu-yao of Hailing’s belly was actually the current Son of Heaven’s?... A series of shocking revelations left Li Yuangui dizzy, his heart in turmoil, and his mouth agape. He couldn’t even take a single bite of the midday meal served by the maids. By the time Wei Shufen finished and asked, "How did you two return?" his mind was still unsettled, and he inadvertently blurted out the truth—including his earlier proposal at Wanchun Hall.
Truly, I’ve never seen anyone as foolish as myself...
The young lady of the Wei family turned pale and stood up to leave, prompting him to hastily try to explain and make amends. The two faced each other across the wooden partition of the side room, one sobbing, the other speechless.
After opening and closing his mouth for a long while, Li Yuangui found himself utterly at a loss for words. Turning to seek backup, he saw Yang Xinzhi happily devouring his meal, even finding the leisure amidst his busy chewing to grin at him with his plump face...
Receiving the murderous glare from his lord, Yang Rou-ta finally set down his bowl with reluctance, stood up, and knelt by the side room’s door, speaking in a placating tone:
"Wei Niangzi, the Fourteenth Young Master truly had no choice. Please set your heart at ease and indulge him this once. There’s still a long road ahead! Next time something like this happens, he’ll definitely seek your permission before agreeing to become a consort or anything else..."
Is this even human speech? Li Yuangui turned and elbowed Yang Xinzhi squarely in the chest, eliciting a yelp from the burly guard. Amidst the commotion inside and out, a servant announced from the hall’s entrance: "The Guiyang Princess has come to visit."
The Guiyang Princess? The fifth elder sister of the current Son of Heaven? Of course, she was also Li Yuangui’s fifth elder sister and Yang Xinzhi’s legal mother.
Given the guest’s noble status, Wei Shufen could no longer afford to argue with Li Yuangui. She wiped her tears, reapplied some powder, and went out with Jing Xuan to greet the visitor.
Yang Xinzhi had no desire to see his legal mother, while Li Yuangui didn’t particularly mind—but showing his face would inevitably require lengthy explanations, which he found troublesome. Thus, the two retreated behind a screen in the main hall. No sooner had they settled than they heard the sound of women’s laughter and footsteps as the Fifth Princess entered with her attendants.
The Fifth Princess had also come to the Purple Void Monastery to seek Chai Yingluo, explaining, "There’s an important female patient who has just given birth and is in critical condition. Since she has some connection to my consort’s family, my fifth brother-in-law asked me to fetch Yingniang to save her life."
Her tone was somewhat odd. Though she spoke of a life-threatening emergency, there was no urgency or concern in her voice—rather, she seemed... annoyed? Or resigned? In any case, it was as if she had been forced to come and wasn’t personally invested.
Jing Xuan profusely apologized, explaining that the High Truth Master had returned to the Chai residence on business and might not be back at the monastery for some time. For now, matters at the monastery were being handled by Wei Niangzi, who had received instruction from the High Truth Master and had considerable medical knowledge.
"In that case, I’ll trouble Wei Niangzi to come with me first. I’ll send someone else to Third Sister’s residence to fetch Yingniang, though I don’t know if she’ll make it in time," the Fifth Princess declared matter-of-factly, brushing aside Wei Shufen’s modest protests about being a novice and fearing she might misdiagnose the condition. She promptly called for horses and a carriage to be prepared."May I ask, Princess, is the patient currently at your residence? If Wei Niangzi is lacking needles or medicine, where should we send them?" Jing Xuan, ever attentive, pressed further. The Fifth Princess hesitated before replying, "Not at my home, but at the Temple of Compassionate Harmony."
The Temple of Compassionate Harmony... Consort Yang Bu-yao of Hailing?
Behind the screen, Li Yuangui became more alert, realizing this was about his fourth sister-in-law giving birth to the Emperor's illegitimate child. Her postpartum condition was poor, and Yang Shidao, the Fifth Princess's husband tasked with her care, had grown anxious and sent his wife to seek Chai Yingluo's medical help.
Beside him, Yang Xinzhi's burly frame stirred, letting out a low "Ah." The space behind the screen was cramped, and his sudden movement knocked against the wooden base, creating a noticeable noise. The Fifth Princess outside immediately demanded, "Who's there?"
There was no hiding now. Li Yuangui steeled himself and stepped out with Yang Xinzhi to pay their respects, offering a flimsy excuse and an awkward apology. His bejeweled fifth sister barely glanced at him, frowning as she scrutinized her stepson Yang Xinzhi:
"You're here, hiding and fooling around? You returned without informing the family, leaving us in the dark! Your father must be relieved, but your poor birth mother..."
At the mention of "birth mother," the princess abruptly fell silent, sighing heavily before glaring at her stepson. Yang Xinzhi looked up urgently, "How is my mother? Please tell me, Princess!"
"How is she? Go see for yourself—how can I explain such things!" The Guiyang Princess leaned on her maid, shakily rising to her feet without another glance at Yang Xinzhi. "What does it have to do with me? Dragging me into this mess... your Yang family, honestly!"
As if she weren't the matriarch of the Hongnong Yang clan... Li Yuangui silently mocked, following them out and mounting his horse to accompany them to the temple. But the Fifth Princess, seated in her Plain Carriage, lifted the curtain and called out:
"Fourteenth Brother, don’t meddle in this. You’re just a young man—childbirth and hemorrhaging are women’s matters, taboo for you and none of your concern. Go rest, and visit me another time."
This was to be expected. The affair of Yang Bu-yao’s illicit childbirth involved palace secrets. Unaware that Li Yuangui, Wei Shufen, and others already knew the truth, the princess was still trying to conceal it, preventing further involvement—at least to avoid blame for leaking the secret.
Li Yuangui couldn’t think of a reason to insist on going, so he reluctantly reined in his horse. Behind him, Yang Xinzhi approached on his sturdy mount, panting. Li Yuangui grabbed his reins:
"Yang Da, tell me honestly—what is your relationship with my fourth sister-in-law, the Hailing Princess Consort?"
Yang Xinzhi’s ox-like eyes swept over him blankly. He opened his mouth but couldn’t form a reply.
Back then, Prince Qi Li Yuan-ji had married Yang Shidao’s niece as his principal consort, making Consort Yang technically Yang Xinzhi’s cousin. But what about the "birth mother" reference? And according to elders, Yang Xinzhi’s build and strength eerily resembled the mighty Prince Qi, who could take on ten men single-handedly. There were also rumors that Yang Bu-yao had secretly swapped infants to save her own son...
"My mother comes first, Fourteenth Young Master. Forgive me—we’ll discuss everything later." Yang Xinzhi shook his head, yanked back the reins, and spurred his horse to catch up with his stepmother’s carriage, leaving Li Yuangui behind.On an early autumn afternoon, the sunlight remained dazzling and harsh, making one's face sweat. Li Yuangui reined in his horse outside the Purple Void Monastery, watching as the procession gradually faded into the distance. Yang Xinzhi's burly figure disappeared along with them, while his own heart slowly sank into an icy sea.
If he had truly been deceived for so long by someone who stayed by his side day and night... then the mystery of Princess Linfen's murder at the Temple of Common Vocation would likely be unraveled in the way he least desired.
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