Chapter 8: Past Events.

On this day, the emperor arrived at Nanqiongzi, accompanied by the imperial consorts, noblewomen, and their attendants. 

The Yan Yang Temple had been prepared since early morning to welcome these distinguished guests. 

A wu had barely slept the previous night, working alongside Miaoxin to clean every corner of the temple. 

They were kept busy from dawn till dusk, running around non-stop, their feet barely touching the ground.

As the honored guests entered the temple, A wu and Miaoxin, being ordinary members of the Taoist community, joined the procession in the main hall to welcome them.

Upon entering the hall, they saw over a hundred Taoist nuns standing in solemn silence. 

The hall was adorned with twelve hydrogen lamps, the twelve palace deities, and the spirit tablets of past empresses. 

Each tablet was accompanied by a wooden plaque, candles, cups, and offerings of beans, coins, and silk.

A wu kept her eyes downcast, carefully standing in place, not daring to make a sound.

She only hoped that the Crown Princess would not come, and if she did, that she would not recognize her.

She wished to live quietly, avoiding any trouble.

Just as she was thinking this, the sound of court music filled the air. 

The melody was light and enchanting, like the tinkling of jade pendants in a gentle breeze. 

A wu couldn’t help but feel uplifted, wanting to look around more.

But as soon as she glanced up, she caught the stern gaze of the head nun.

A wu quickly averted her eyes, trying to appear composed.

Then the honored guests entered the temple. 

A wu could vaguely see imperial guards outside, all dressed in wide-sleeved brocade robes with green- brimmed hats, holding black-lacquered staffs with silver tips, forming an imposing procession.

Amidst the court music, a palanquin stopped, and ceremonial officials stepped forward to assist the honored guest in alighting.

Song Lingguan, along with her trusted nuns, went to welcome the guest, while A wu and others were led aside by the head nun to form separate lines, ready to assist in the ceremony.

A wu happened to be near a window. 

Curious, she discreetly peeked outside and saw palace maids holding glass and jade fan-shaped lanterns on either side, with red silk lanterns with gold tracery leading the way. 

The procession was grand and solemn.

Amidst this entourage, a dignified and elegant lady finally appeared.

A wu saw that this lady wore a phoenix and dragon hairpin crown and a black silk forehead band. 

The crown was, of course, magnificent, and even the forehead band was adorned with gold cloud and dragon patterns, embellished with top-quality pearls, making it exceptionally luxurious.

From her attire, A wu could tell she was wearing a deep cyan brocade robe with cloud and dragon motifs, woven with colorful phoenix patterns. 

A wu guessed that this must be the Empress.

The Crown Prince was not the Empress’s biological son, as his mother, the virtuous Consort, had passed away early. 

He had acknowledged the Empress as his stepmother and was quite filial towards her.

But seeing the Empress now, A wu was surprised. 

The Empress didn’t look old; in fact, she seemed rather young.

A wu counted on her fingers: the Crown Prince was sixteen, the same age as herself. 

The Emperor seemed to be in his early thirties. 

So, the Empress must be around that age as well.

If that was the case, the Empress’s youthful appearance was understandable, given her good care.

After the Empress entered the hall, Song Lingguan respectfully accompanied her, assisting in the worship and blessing rituals. 

The ceremony was elaborate, and A wu initially found it fascinating, but soon grew tired.

Just then, she was suddenly nudged.

She looked over in surprise.

Miaoxin quickly signaled her, whispering, 

“The Empress wants to speak with you.”

What?

A wu’s heart sank.

She had been hiding there just fine; why was she suddenly being summoned?

To see what kind of femme fatale she was? 

Or to take her life, to prevent her from causing chaos?

Though suspicious, she had no choice but to approach cautiously and pay her respects to the Empress.

Since she was now a Taoist nun, she didn’t need to kneel. 

Instead, she clasped her hands in a bow: 

“Disciple Miaozhen greets the Empress. May the Taoist ancestors bless the Empress with health, prosperity, and auspiciousness.”

After she spoke, the room fell silent. 

The Empress made no sound.

A wu grew even more uneasy.

Finally, a voice came from above: 

“Miaozhen? Is that your Taoist name?”

A wu hurriedly replied, 

“Yes, it is this disciple’s Taoist name.”

The Empress nodded slightly, her voice warm: 

“Look up, let me see you.”

A wu didn’t want to look up, but she had to obey.

She raised her head, keeping her eyes downcast, her expression one of respectful piety.

But as her face lifted, there were faint gasps around her. 

The Empress seemed to let out a soft “ah.”

Then everything seemed to quiet down. 

A wu felt the Empress’s gaze on her, a long, scrutinizing look. 

A wu dared not speak, keeping her eyes down, waiting obediently.

She vaguely sensed something else in the Empress’s gaze, perhaps a hint of displeasure or rejection?

Was it because of the Crown Prince?

Just as she was thinking this, the Empress finally spoke: “Indeed, a beauty.”

A wu’s heart sank further. 

A beauty? 

She didn’t take that as a compliment.

The Empress then instructed Song Lingguan: 

“Take good care of her, ensure she devotes herself to cultivation here.”

Song Lingguan smiled obsequiously, replying respectfully, “This humble disciple obeys.”

A wu was finally dismissed. 

As she left, her heart was still pounding, filled with fear.

She remembered Nie San’s words, warning her that someone was out to harm her. 

Was he not just trying to scare her?

Did the Empress want her dead?

But… in the eyes of these noble people, she was nothing  but an ant. 

If they wanted her dead, why send her to Yan Yang Temple? 

They could have just executed her directly.

A wu was at a loss, feeling both anxious and uneasy.

Living… was so hard!

Just then, the sound of music started again, as the noblewomen and imperial relatives began entering Yan Yang Temple. 

A wu wanted to catch a glimpse of the Crown Princess, but all she saw was a dazzling array of pearls and jewels, making it hard to focus. 

She didn’t dare look closely, so she couldn’t spot the Crown Princess.

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt a gaze, a familiar gaze that sent chills down her spine.

In that instant, memories from the past flooded back-joyful, agonizing, and conflicting memories. 

These memories overwhelmed her, almost making her collapse.

She closed her eyes, shivering involuntarily.

Then, mustering her courage, she stiffly and slowly turned her head to look in that direction.

Before her eyes, it was as if a thick morning mist had gathered, slowly dissipating, revealing a face that gradually came into focus.

It was him.

Seventh Master.

In A wu’s memories, Seventh Master was always impeccably dressed. 

Now, he wore a crimson feiyu python robe, his attire dazzling and handsome. 

Even amidst the opulent imperial procession, he stood out, drawing everyone’s attention.

A wu stared in disbelief. 

Why was he here?

Just then, Seventh Master’s gaze lightly fell upon A wu.

When their eyes met, his long lashes lowered, and a meaningful smile played on his lips.

The man was strikingly handsome, and his smile seemed to dim the very light of the heavens.

A wu’s mind went blank, feeling as if the world was spinning.

She belatedly realized that on the day she was expelled from the Crown Prince’s residence, amidst the chaos, she had felt that gaze-it was him.

He had always known her situation, knew she had been sent away from the Crown Prince’s residence, knew she had come to Yan Yang Temple. 

He had everything about her under his control!

Thinking this, A wu felt naive.

Of course, he knew. 

After all, it was all part of his plan.

She let out a bitter laugh.

She was born on the eastern coast, her father a scholar who had mastered the classics by the age of ten, earning some renown in their hometown. 

But when the region was plagued by Japanese pirates, many commoners were affected, and A wu’s father’s path to the imperial exams was cut short. 

A wu’s mother sold her dowry and jewelry, raising a few dozen taels of silver. 

Her father gave up scholarship and turned to trade to support the family.

Her father and two older brothers went to sea to trade. 

He was a shrewd businessman, frequently dealing in lacquer and rice. 

Within a few years, the family had accumulated some wealth, so A wu grew up in relative comfort. 

Though not as wealthy as the daughters of rich families, she had ample food and clothing. 

Whenever her father returned from overseas, A wu would receive exotic trinkets.

But then, one year, her father and brothers went to sea and were caught in a pirate attack, never to return. 

Soon after, a tidal surge hit the coastal area, devastating their hometown. 

Violent winds and heavy rains caused floods, destroying homes and injuring people and livestock. 

A wu’s mother perished in the disaster. 

A wu hastily buried her mother and fled with her neighbors.

She was strikingly beautiful, unlike ordinary people. 

She carefully smeared her face with ash, but even so, she attracted many men, and some saw through her disguise.

During the escape, amidst the chaos, there were those who coveted her beauty and sought to harm her. 

She struggled to protect herself, barely managing to survive.

In her desperation, she sought refuge in the arms of a man who appeared noble and had a group of followers. 

This man was Seventh Master.

Seventh Master was not a kind man. 

Though he often smiled, his temperament was unpredictable, cold, and ruthless. 

A wu spent over half a year by his side, treading carefully, always wary of provoking him.

Then many things happened. 

A wu accidentally learned that this man was not from the coastal area; he was planning to return to his homeland. 

A wu didn’t want to follow him and begged him to let her stay on the coast, where she could wait for her father and brothers’ return.

Seventh Master refused. 

A wu tried to escape but was caught. 

He confined her on a ship, forcing her into intimate relations day and night, using various means to make her addicted to the physical pleasures.

To gain some respite, she pretended to be compliant, only to find herself pregnant.

She had just reached adulthood and had been taken by this mysterious Seventh Master. 

Now she was to bear his child, which filled her with despair. 

She secretly bought abortion herbs, but the Seventh Master discovered her plan.

Whenever she recalled this, A wu remembered Seventh Master’s gaze-venomous and cold, like a snake lurking in the dark.

He hated her, almost choking her to death.

What happened next was a blur. 

Seventh Master treated her like a precious jewel but was always on guard.

She lived in a daze, carrying the child for ten months, and then gave birth.

There was no cry, no baby to be seen.

A nanny came and told her it was a stillborn.

She felt nothing.

Too much had happened in those two years her father and brothers gone, her mother dead, her hometown destroyed. 

She had been forced into the arms of this unpredictable man, and now this was the result. 

She felt no sorrow.

Perhaps it was for the best, to have no ties. 

She treated it as if she had suffered a severe illness.

Seventh Master brought in experienced nannies to care for her, meticulously tending to her every need.

But the Seventh Master’s temperament grew even darker. 

Sometimes she would wake to find him silently observing her, as if evaluating or struggling

with something.

This made A wu nervous. 

She felt the Seventh Master must have some scheme.

It was as if he was weighing her, calculating how much she was worth.

In A wu’s fear, one day, the nanny who served her said that Seventh Master had found her a good place, promising her a secure future and a life of luxury.

She was dressed up and presented to the Crown Prince, who fell for her at first sight. 

So she followed the Crown Prince to the capital.

The Crown Prince was handsome, noble, and gentle, treating her with great affection. 

But A wu felt little emotion.

It was all just lust for her beauty.

But… being cared for and cherished by the Crown Prince, she gradually relaxed, sometimes feeling that the past sufferings were over.

At least the Seventh Master had finally let her go.

But who could have imagined that he would reappear?