Chapter 138: Cease the Foolish Obsession

Stepping out of the carriage, Bu Shenglian found herself facing a throng of elderly, faded nuns, with only one or two youthful faces among them.

A chill ran down her spine, and her instinctive impulse was to flee, but the eunuch had already whipped the horses and driven the carriage away.

The abbess, leading the group, stepped forward holding a willow branch dipped in pure water. As she approached Bu Shenglian, her face devoid of the slightest trace of a smile, she spoke in a cold voice: "Those who come here must abide by the rules of this place and cast away all worldly attachments."

With that, she flicked her wrist, letting two drops of water fall upon Bu Shenglian's head. "From this day forth, your name is Mo Chi."

Mo Chi?

Bu Shenglian let out a cold laugh. In her eyes, these nuns were nothing more than pitiful creatures, yet she had no inkling of the trials that awaited her.

In a nunnery, there was nothing that silver could not accomplish. No sooner had they stepped inside than the abbess began to probe her. Pointing toward a well-repaired cottage on one side and a dilapidated hovel on the other, she asked, "Which of these would you like to live in?"

Bu Shenglian cast a glance and thought only a fool would choose the wretched ruin. Assuming the proud posture of a young noble lady, she immediately strode toward the repaired quarters, but after taking barely two steps, she was yanked backward by someone behind her.

The abbess smiled insipidly. "Silver."

"I have no money!" Bu Shenglian cried out in shock.

Almost simultaneously, the abbess's expression turned frigid, and she shoved Bu Shenglian violently toward the ramshackle hut. "No money, and you expect to live in a place like this!"

With that, she turned and walked away with her entourage, leaving Bu Shenglian stranded where she stood. Only a nun close to her own age, possessing delicate and refined features, approached her and whispered, "Shall I show you the way?"

"Hmph."

Bu Shenglian let out a disdainful snort and strode ahead with large strides. With no other choice, Yuexian could only follow behind—after all, what else was she but a humble nun?

Pushing open the door, a cloud of dust rushed out to meet them, choking Bu Shenglian into a fit of coughing. Seeing this, Yuexian immediately stepped forward and hurried to explain, "This place hasn't been cleaned in a very long time."

"And yet you all made me live in such a place?"

Bu Shenglian raised her voice several octaves. Yuexian, feigning an air of indifference, replied, "When the others arrived, they all brought at least some silver with them. If one has none, this is the only place left to stay."

"And you?"

Remembering that Yuexian had taken the initiative to speak to her just moments before, a scheming thought stirred in Bu Shenglian's heart. After pondering for a moment, Yuexian shook her head. "We are allowed to go out once a month to fetch silver from home. I went back to my maiden family and brought a considerable amount back with me."

"So that's how it is..."

Once everything was settled, Bu Shenglian's nightmare had only just begun.

Meanwhile, Qiao Qingyun was pacing back and forth within the palace. The Zijing Palace occupied a vast expanse of land, and making a complete circuit around it truly required a great deal of effort.

"Her Ladyship should walk a bit to aid digestion, lest your body feels uncomfortable later."

Lately, Zhong Shi had taken over almost all of Qing萝's duties. Had it not been for the fact that he could not cook, Qing萝 might have found herself completely unemployed.

Watching Qiao Qingyun and Zhong Shi grow increasingly close, Qing萝 pulled Hongying and Yuanbao aside to gossip. "Who do you think Her Ladyship is more likely to end up with?"

Upon hearing this, Hongying immediately patted her chest. "My brother, undoubtedly!"

"I think so too," Yuanbao chimed in without hesitation.

Qing萝, however, was troubled. Judging by Qiao Qingyun's demeanor, she didn't seem entirely devoid of lingering affection for Yuan Zaichun. That was the most agonizing part—if feelings still remained, how were they supposed to live their lives in the future?

"Qing萝? Are you going to say something or not?" Yuanbao urged.

Coming back to her senses, Qing萝 offered an awkward smile. "I think either of them is possible."

"Oh, come on! The chances are definitely higher for my brother!" Determined to swing the odds in Zhong Shi's favor, Hongying practically forced Qing萝 to speak. Fortunately, at that exact moment, Qiao Qingyun came strolling back with Zhong Shi in tow.

"What are you all whispering about? Hurry up and tell me."

Eager for amusement, Qiao Qingyun joined them, hoping to share a laugh, but to her surprise, all three of them fell silent simultaneously. If they were to repeat what they had just been discussing, it would be a miracle if Qiao Qingyun didn't skin them alive!

"Your Ladyship!"

Before Qiao Qingyun could press them for an answer, a maidservant came running in from outside and bowed. "Your Ladyship, His Highness the Crown Prince sends word that he wishes to invite you to take a stroll outside the palace."

"Huh?"

"No. Her Ladyship's wounds have not yet healed; she cannot go out." Zhong Shi was immediately the first to object. Because of Qiao Qingyun's somewhat vigorous movements earlier today, traces of blood had actually seeped through her bandages, which showed just how frail she still was.

The maidservant made to turn back and deliver the reply, but Qiao Qingyun quickly called out, "Hey! Wait."

Turning around, she grabbed the sleeve of Zhong Shi's robe with her right hand and pleaded softly, "Please, won't you come with me? You don't need Qing萝 and the others to follow—just you will do."

"This..." Zhong Shi frowned deeply. Every time they went outside, accidents seemed to happen, and to this day they still didn't know whether the Empress had been dealt with by the Emperor. If she was still at large, they were bound to run into assassins out there.

Noticing Zhong Shi's apprehension, Qiao Qingyun slumped back into her chair and drooped her head, completely losing her previous lively spirit. "Oh, never mind then."

"Fine, we'll go. I will take Hongying and myself, while Qing萝 and Yuanbao stay behind. Neither of them knows martial arts; if they came, they would only be a burden."

Qing萝: ...
Yuanbao: ...
Wonderful! For the first time in their lives, they were being looked down upon!

Hearing Zhong Shi's consent, Qiao Qingyun nearly jumped out of her chair in joyous surprise. Had Zhong Shi not pressed her down in time, she probably would have torn her stitches open again.

"However, since we are going out, Your Ladyship must promise me not to wander off and to remain within my sight at all times."

Qiao Qingyun only had her heart set on going out to play; how could she possibly be deterred by such conditions? She nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice, her eyes brimming with eager anticipation. "Let's go, let's go!"

With that, she pulled Zhong Shi and Hongying straight to the entrance.

Yuan Zaichun had been waiting anxiously in place, periodically craning his neck to peer inside. When he saw the three of them approaching together, his heart skipped a beat. He had hoped to find an excuse to walk alone with Qiao Qingyun, thinking it might help bridge the distance between them. Who would have thought that instead of gaining an advantage, he would end up losing his own stake.

"Greetings to the Crown Prince," Qiao Qingyun offered a perfunctory bow, while Liu Fu cupped his fists in salute, and the group set off walking side by side.

"I hadn't expected Young Master Lu and the Princess to have so much leisure on their hands." Yuan Zaichun's opening remark dripped with hostility, thick enough for Qiao Qingyun to ignore. Before she could interject, Zhong Shi immediately fired back with a smile, "Isn't the Crown Prince the exact same?"

Neither yielded an inch, their imposing auras colliding in the air as if they might come to blows at any second.

"Are you two going out to have fun, or are you going out to bicker?"

A single sentence from Qiao Qingyun instantly extinguished their fire. Zhong Shi docilely subsided like a large golden retriever, staying quietly by the woman's side and uttering not another word.

"Where are we going? Let's find a crowded place so we don't get caught by your mother."