“I am Fang Yue, at your service, Song Lingguan. I am an Imperial Guard, here today under orders to escort the nun back to Yan Yang Temple. I humbly request—”
But Song Lingguan wasn’t listening.
She frowned and glanced at Fang Yue, “An Imperial Guard?”
The abbess beside her sneered, “So you’re the one colluding with Miaozhen, aren’t you? No wonder she dared to return, relying on your influence!”
They had every reason to speak with such confidence, especially with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess present.
Everyone knew that Miaozhen had entangled herself with Commandant of the Crown Prince’s residence!
After all, one commandant is as good as another, and both were involved with Miaozhen!
Upon hearing this, Fang Yue’s face instantly flushed red with a mix of urgency and anger.
“How dare you! I am the Commandant of the Inner Court, and this is my official badge!” he exclaimed, promptly displaying his badge.
But Song Lingguan was not convinced.
With a cold voice, he rebuked, “Bold fool, do you know where you are? This is a sacred place for the nobility. This woman is a runaway nun from our Yan Yang Temple. Who are you to make such a commotion here? Guards, seize them!”
Fang Yue, as the Commander of the Imperial Dragon Guards and a mounted attendant before the Emperor, had always been full of vigor and pride.
Who wouldn’t show him some respect?
He never expected to be so harshly reprimanded and humiliated upon arriving at this temple.
Holding his badge high, he declared coldly, “I am the Commandant of the Inner Court, here under the orders of the Commander of the Imperial Dragon Guards. Who dares to act recklessly!”
However, as soon as he spoke, a group of people rushed out.
Fang Yue’s pupils contracted, almost in disbelief!
Nanqiongzi was the Emperor’s forbidden garden; how could there be such lawless individuals here?
As the two sides clashed, the Crown Prince firmly led A’wu away.
He naturally understood that today’s events would not end well, and he had to take A’wu away.
He intended to hide her in a secluded place where no one in the world could find her.
At the sight of Fang Yue, A’wu immediately saw her savior.
She knew this was the moment to show her loyalty to Emperor Jingxi; she had to completely sever ties with the Crown Prince, cutting off all affection.
Thus, she immediately cried out, “Master Fang, save me!”
Seeing this, Song Lingguan was furious, pointing at A’wu’s nose and cursing, “How dare the adulterer flaunt himself here!”
As he spoke, the guards swarmed forward, ready to capture A’wu, Fang Yue, and the others.
Fang Yue, in desperation, shouted to the Crown Prince, “Your Highness, it’s me, Fang Yue!”
He dared not invoke Emperor Jingxi’s name, so he could only shout his own name.
Hearing this, the Crown Prince was also surprised, “You, why are you here?”
Fang Yue couldn’t explain, as in Emperor Jingxi’s plan, Lady Ning was supposed to hide here first, waiting for the imperial decree to summon her to the palace.
Just as Fang Yue was flushed with embarrassment, suddenly, the sound of horse hooves was heard outside, accompanied by the rapid stomping of iron boots.
Everyone was slightly startled.
Then, commands were heard from outside, the imperial commands of the Dragon Guards, and someone shouted, “The Imperial Dragon Cavalry is here, by the Emperor’s order.”
The Crown Prince’s face changed slightly.
The Crown Princess’s expression was peculiar.
Song Lingguan and others thought, are they here to capture someone?
Fang Yue, however, was completely relieved.
The gates of Yan Yang Temple opened wide, and everyone saw the Dragon Cavalry solemnly standing outside, led by a eunuch in a blue floral robe- Eunuch Fu.
Eunuch Fu was thin, slightly hunched, with eyes that always seemed to smile, but no one dared to act out of line in front of him.
Because whenever Eunuch Fu appeared away from the Emperor’s side, it only meant one thing: he was delivering the Emperor’s decree.
No one dared to make a sound anymore, and swords were placed on the ground, the clanging sounds echoing continuously.
The scene instantly fell into a solemn silence.
Even the arrogant Song Lingguan and the frenzied Crown Prince quieted down.
The Crown Princess stood to the side, not daring to make any rash moves.
At this moment, Awu deeply understood what imperial majesty truly meant.
No matter how rowdy a crowd might be, when the emperor’s authority descended, the noise would vanish in an instant, and everyone would bow their heads in submission.
Eunuch Fu smiled and said, “Everyone, I am here by the emperor’s decree to deliver his oral edict.”
Upon hearing this, everyone knelt down.
The Crown Prince glanced at Awu with a complicated expression, his face pale as he knelt as well.
In the Crown Prince’s eyes, Awu sensed worry, reluctance, and the resolute determination of a young man.
Then, Eunuch Fu began to announce the edict.
The content of the edict was similar to what Awu had heard from Emperor Jingxi earlier, but with one key difference: Awu was to remain at Yan Yang Temple, copying scriptures under imperial decree. Once her spiritual cultivation was complete, she would enter the palace to serve the emperor.
When the edict was announced, Song Lingguan and the others were stunned but still accepted it stiffly.
The Crown Prince, however, was the first to rush forward and ask,
“Eunuch Fu, what does my father mean by this? What does ‘entering the palace to serve the emperor’ entail? Is he still unwilling to let Awu go? What exactly does he intend?”
His question was highly improper, but it echoed the doubts in everyone’s hearts.
This person, who had been sent to Yan Yang Temple by the emperor’s decree to become a nun, was now suddenly being summoned to the palace to serve the emperor?
How exactly would she serve him?
Song Lingguan was even more suspicious.
Wasn’t she supposed to be a runaway concubine?
How could she suddenly be called to serve the emperor?
If the imperial harem needed any religious ceremonies or rituals, shouldn’t it have been handled by her?
Why was this unknown woman suddenly being given such importance?
Fang Yue, standing nearby, couldn’t help but twitch his forehead.
Had the Crown Prince still not grasped what his father, the emperor, was implying?
The emperor’s intentions were as clear as day, yet the Crown Prince remained oblivious.
Eunuch Fu was also taken aback, but having served the emperor for many years, he was well-versed in handling such situations.
He chuckled and said, “Your Highness, the emperor’s thoughts are beyond my understanding. I dare not speculate.”
The Crown Prince knew he shouldn’t have asked, but he was genuinely confused and deeply concerned for Awu.
He reached out, intending to grab Awu’s hand, “Awu, don’t worry. If—”
But Awu avoided him, stepping back as if afraid to be near him.
“Your Highness, the emperor’s will is absolute,” Awu said, her expression calm as she stepped forward and greeted Eunuch Fu with a smile.
Eunuch Fu, seeing Awu, beamed with joy he said:
“I pay my respects to the Immortal Maiden. Please focus on your cultivation with peace of mind.”
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, witnessing Eunuch Fu’s respectful demeanor toward Awu, were filled with confusion, completely baffled by the situation.
The others, including Song Lingguan and the nuns, were equally perplexed.
A runaway concubine… how could she suddenly be so highly regarded by the emperor?
Eunuch Fu smiled warmly at Awu, his sharp eyes noticing the red mark on her neck.
He turned to Song Lingguan and said, “Lingguan, the Immortal Maiden has sustained an injury to her neck. Please arrange for the temple’s physician to take care of her.”
His kind and amiable demeanor only deepened the suspicions in everyone’s minds.
What was going on?
Hadn’t the emperor previously dismissed this former concubine of the Crown Prince?
Why was he now sending someone to comfort her in such a manner?
Amidst the cloud of confusion, the Crown Princess suddenly had a flash of insight.
This thought was utterly terrifying.
She was so frightened by it that her face turned pale, and she wished she could immediately cast the idea out of her mind.
This was blasphemy!
However, after her initial instinct to discard the thought, everything happening before her eyes forced her to consider this possibility once again.
Her trembling gaze fell on the faint yet vivid red mark on Awu’s neck, a striking and glaring red.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, her expression turning eerily strange.
Then she raised her eyes to look at Awu, only to see her smiling, her expression more resolute than ever before.
The last time she had seen Awu, she was kneeling there, a fragile woman, her clear eyes filled with fear and uncertainty about the future.
But now, it seemed as if she had found her backbone.
She was no longer afraid of anything.
So, who had given her this confidence?
Who had made her refuse the Crown Prince without hesitation?
And who had allowed her to boldly declare in Yan Yang Temple that she had feelings for a certain gentleman?
The truth was on the verge of being revealed, but the Crown Princess dared not think about it.
If it were really so, then, then…
The Crown Princess’s face turned deathly pale, her eyes fixed and unblinking, almost unable to stand.