Awu, wearing a veil hat, boarded a carriage under the escort of Fang Yue and others.
The carriage was not luxurious, just ordinary, but Awu was still overjoyed.
She looked outside the carriage, where the autumn atmosphere was intense.
Although the Dragon Guards had changed into civilian clothes, they still looked heroic and extraordinary.
The leader, Fang Yue, was particularly burly and strong, clearly a capable guard.
She roughly guessed that this Commander Fang Yue was probably a “high official” in his usual life, someone whom many officials would flatter and curry favor with.
Yet now, he was here, ordered to escort her.
Of course, she couldn’t be too ostentatious, nor could she let her excitement get the better of her.
She could only keep these thoughts in her heart, digesting this sudden honor and wealth on her own.
She also recalled her fawning and coquettish behavior in front of Emperor Jingxi.
Whether those affections were genuine or not, Awu couldn’t tell, but in any case, it was all worth it.
For the rest of her life, she only needed to please this one man.
If she could do that, she would fear no one in this world.
As the carriage slowly moved through the countryside, Awu began to think about what she should do next.
What could she do?
Of course, she would seek revenge!
Awu rubbed her hands together, determined to give those people a harsh lesson.
She would start with the Yan Yang Temple.
Song Lingguan, right?
And Miaoxin?
She would make them all pay.
Of course, there was also Nie San, that beast.
She would make him wish he were dead!
And the rats in the woodshed!
No, all the rats in Yan Yang Temple would have to die!
After dealing with all of them, she would think about how to deal with Lu Yunjian, the Crown Princess, and the Empress.
-But for these few, the timing wasn’t ripe yet.
The Emperor naturally doted on her, but with just this small amount of favor, she wasn’t qualified to sharpen her knives against them.
Awu racked her brains, thinking and thinking, until she recalled Emperor Jingxi’s words.
He had said that if she could bear him a child, he would pluck the stars from the sky for her.
If only she could conceive a royal heir.
But why did the old Emperor say such a thing?
Awu wondered randomly.
Was his body too damaged to perform?
If so, could she borrow a child from the Crown Prince?
After all, it would still be his bloodline.
Stop!
Awu realized her thoughts and shuddered at her own audacity.
She mustn’t be foolish.
She had worked hard to earn the Emperor’s pity; she must not ruin her own future.
This path was closed.
The idea of securing favor by bearing a royal heir would have to wait.
Awu began to think about what she should do next.
She furrowed her brows and thought carefully, then turned her gaze back to Fang Yue outside the window.
Fang Yue was riding his horse straight and sternly, feeling the gaze from inside the carriage, but he didn’t look sideways.
Having investigated Awu’s background, he naturally knew a thing or two about her actions at Yan Yang Temple.
He had even dealt with Nie San before, knowing Nie San’s past behavior and temperament.
A once-promising guard of the Crown Prince’s residence had fallen to such a state, all because of this femme fatale.
Fang Yue knew well that this was no ordinary trouble.
Every man associated with her, from the Crown Prince to Nie San, seemed to have fallen on hard times.
Now, it was only because of Emperor Jingxi’s majestic aura that this enchantress could be tamed.
But who would have thought that Awu’s gaze would linger on him, wrapping around him like silk.
Fang Yue frowned, pursing his lips tightly, feeling somewhat awkward and helpless as he wondered why she was looking at him.
Though she was undeniably beautiful, he knew all too well that such a woman was not to be touched, nor was she someone he could afford to get involved with.
No matter how stunning she was, he truly harbored not a single improper thought!
The more Fang Yue thought about it, the more anxious he became.
He quickly slowed his pace and rode alongside the other lieutenants to avoid any misunderstandings that might arise from being alone with her.
By the time they arrived at Yan Yang Temple, it was already past noon.
From a distance, they could see several guards standing solemnly outside the temple, all wearing boots, turbans, and identical finely pleated brocade robes, with sabers at their waists.
Fang Yue immediately recognized them as lieutenants from the Crown Prince’s residence, subordinates of Peng Zhao, the fifth-rank commander of the Thousand Households.
Ah Wu also recognized them—what a coincidence!
These were the very same men who had pursued her with the Crown Prince, only to be stopped at the moat.
Fang Yue narrowed his eyes: “The Crown Prince is here.”
He felt the situation was becoming complicated.
According to the timeline, Emperor Jingxi had returned to the palace and summoned the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess back to the palace.
He had been tasked with escorting Lady Ning to Yan Yang Temple and ensuring she was well taken care of there.
During this time, he was to remain incognito, guarding Lady Ning and ensuring her safety until the Emperor issued an edict summoning her to the palace.
Only then would his mission be considered complete.
But now, with the Crown Prince present, it meant that the lieutenants sent by the Emperor had failed to relay the message to the Crown Prince in time, and they couldn’t divert him.
What if the Crown Prince encountered Lady Ning?
Moreover, his presence here, recognized by the Crown Prince’s guards, could lead to the news leaking prematurely, which would be highly inappropriate.
Ah Wu, however, found the situation perfectly to her liking.
A little excited figure in her heart was twisting and flailing, as if saying, “Come on, who’s afraid of whom?”
Once she entered the palace, she would have to behave properly.
But now, before entering, she could take advantage of the situation and give them a taste of her power!
So she lifted the curtain and smiled at Fang Yue: “Commander Fang, may I have a word?”
Fang Yue was caught off guard by her sudden smile, and his heart skipped a beat.
But given the complexity of the situation, he had no choice but to dismount and stand a full three zhang away from the carriage, bowing with clasped hands.
A woman who could act coy and spoiled in the Emperor’s embrace, no matter how low her status, was still a noble figure.
No one dared to offend such a person, so Fang Yue was especially cautious at this moment.
Ah Wu smiled at Fang Yue: “Commander Fang, though I am of humble status, I have troubled you to escort me all this way. I am truly unworthy.”
Fang Yue kept his head lowered the entire time, refusing to meet her gaze:
“Madam, you jest. This humble official was merely carrying out the Emperor’s orders to escort you to Yan Yang Temple. It is my duty and obligation. There is no question of unworthiness.”
Ah Wu’s eyes curved into a smile: “Commander Fang, as we are about to arrive at Yan Yang Temple, and since the temple is managed by female officials, and the Emperor has instructed me to keep a low profile, I was thinking that once you escort me to the temple, you could withdraw discreetly. This would avoid unnecessary attention and prevent any misunderstandings or complications.”
Fang Yue was surprised by her suggestion, but it was exactly what he had hoped for.
The Emperor had ordered them to escort this woman to Yan Yang Temple and to keep a low profile.
Until the edict was delivered to the temple, the matter was not to be disclosed, lest it lead to unforeseen complications.
The Crown Prince was at the Yan Yang Temple, pondering how to conceal his presence, when this young lady proposed an excellent solution.
However, the Emperor had ordered him to protect her, so he naturally worried about any potential issues, hesitating slightly at the moment.
A-Wu noticed Fang Yue’s hesitation and smiled gently, “Commander Fang, His Majesty has instructed you to accompany and protect me. I know you have always served by the Emperor’s side and dare not neglect your duties. But if anything arises, we can always discuss it, can’t we?”
Fang Yue paused for a moment.
Though her words were subtle, their meaning was clear.
Although Fang Yue was a trusted aide of the Emperor, since he was assigned to protect her, he naturally had to follow her lead.
Her phrase “dare not neglect” was actually a veiled command, implying that he should obey her.
If he didn’t comply, it would be seen as him relying on the Emperor’s authority to defy her orders, and she might very well report him.
After a brief hesitation, he clasped his fists respectfully and said, “Madam is absolutely right. Since I have been assigned to protect you, I will naturally follow your commands.”
He used the word “commands.”
In front of A-Wu, a seemingly delicate woman, for a high-ranking imperial guard like Fang Yue to use the word “commands” would have been humiliating before today, but from this day forward, it became his duty.
A-Wu smiled lightly, “Good.”
She noticed the change in Fang Yue’s attitude toward her, which was only natural, as she had gained the Emperor’s favor.
She was the woman who could sit in the Emperor’s lap and act coy.
Though the world looked down on those who used their beauty to gain favor, in the end, the world had to bow to her.
Fang Yue and Nie San were not so different-only their ranks set them apart.
Once, she had used her charm to seduce Nie San, but now, she could sit in a carriage and demand that Fang Yue stand while speaking to her, using her position or the Emperor’s orders to control him.
Today, she was still the same person as yesterday, yet she was also different.
With that, A-Wu stepped out of the carriage.
Fang Yue selected five lieutenants, all of whom had no prior connections to the Crown Prince’s household, ensuring they wouldn’t be recognized, and instructed them to accompany Miao Zhen, the Daoist nun, to the Yan Yang Temple.
Afterward, he respectfully presented a sealed envelope made of waxed parchment, bearing the bright yellow imperial seal.
A-Wu accepted it.
Fang Yue glanced subtly at A-Wu.
Her eyes were soft as silk, yet cold as autumn water.
He lowered his gaze, fully aware that the seemingly calm harem of the Great Hui Dynasty was about to be stirred.
Even the infamous Daji and Bao Si might pale in comparison to this young woman.
A-Wu, however, was unfazed.
She took the sealed envelope and, accompanied by several plainclothes lieutenants, walked toward the Yan Yang Temple.
As soon as they reached the gate, guards swarmed around them.
A-Wu declared her identity, and the guards were visibly startled.
They had been searching for this woman, and now she had appeared without any effort.
They immediately surrounded her and sent someone to quickly inform the head guard, Peng Zhao, as well as the Crown Prince.
Before the guards arrived, an elderly Daoist nun at the gate looked over.
The moment the old nun saw A-Wu, she shuddered, “You… you dare to return? You—”
A-Wu asked, “Is the Crown Prince in the temple?”
The old nun spat, “Ha! You still want to see the Crown Prince!”
Her disrespectful tone prompted the lieutenants accompanying A-Wu to step forward and shield her.
As the lieutenants moved, the Crown Prince’s guards drew their swords, and the clashing of steel filled the air as the two sides faced off.
A-Wu said calmly, “Everyone, please remain calm. Since I have returned to the Yan Yang Temple today, I naturally have something to say. Kindly inform the Crown Prince that I wish to speak with him.”
“Spiritual Official, and pay respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
The old Taoist nun, accustomed to her usual arrogance, couldn’t tolerate Awu’s presence.
She opened her mouth to scold her with a “Pah!”
But Awu raised her hand and slapped her directly.
Though Awu’s figure was delicate, the slap wasn’t heavy, but it still shocked the old nun greatly.
She covered her face in disbelief, stammering, “You, you—”
Awu remained expressionless.
“I remember now. You hit me before, and today you still want to stop me?”
The captain beside her glanced at Awu for instructions.
Awu raised an eyebrow, and the captain, understanding, stepped forward and delivered two slaps, one on each side of the nun’s face, leaving her bruised and swollen.
Then he kicked her away.
The old nun was caught off guard by the kick to her chest, writhing in pain, her face pale.
Awu’s gaze swept over the nun’s greasy hands-the same hands that had slapped her that day, now trembling in pain.
It had only been two days, yet retribution had come so swiftly.
She smiled. “If you had known this would happen, why did you act so recklessly before?”
With that, she walked past the old nun.
The nun clutched her chest, trembling as she lay there, suddenly afraid of the woman before her.
Awu, who had always seemed so fragile, now exuded an unexpected strength.
The Crown Prince’s guards nearby were also slightly startled.
At that moment, the commander of the Crown Prince’s guards, Peng Zhao, hurried over.
When he saw Awu, he was both surprised and excited.
As the saying goes, “After searching high and low, success comes effortlessly.”
This young lady had returned on her own!