The Crown Prince was still worried, questioning Eunuch Fu.
The Crown Princess wanted to cry.
She trembled as she tugged at the Crown Prince’s sleeve:
“Your Highness, let it be. Once Lady Miaozhen enters the palace, she will naturally have her own good fortune…”
However, the Crown Prince didn’t understand at all.
He coldly shook off the Crown Princess’s hand and said, “Eunuch Fu, what exactly does my father mean? Since I’ve come to Yan Yang Temple, I must protect my sister. I absolutely cannot let him—”
Fang Yue watched this scene from the side, almost unable to bear it.
The Crown Prince was still young, too stubborn.
Why couldn’t he understand?
He couldn’t bear to watch.
Nor could he imagine how the Crown Prince would accept the truth once he knew everything.
Eunuch Fu was also helpless and somewhat embarrassed.
After all, this was the future heir to the throne, and he couldn’t make things too difficult for him.
He could only say, “Your Highness, I truly don’t know the specifics. Why don’t you return to the capital with the Dragon Riders and ask His Majesty directly? That way, you can clarify everything.”
The Crown Prince pondered for a moment and agreed.
He first instructed Peng Ming to guard Yan Yang Temple and not allow any unauthorized people to enter.
As he said this, he looked at his sister: “Make sure to take good care of her.”
A-Wu averted her eyes, pretending not to see or hear.
This foolish child.
Now that she was about to become the Emperor’s concubine and enter the palace, the Crown Prince was her junior.
She increasingly felt that the Crown Prince was so immature.
Finally, the Crown Prince instructed everyone at Yan Yang Temple, especially Priestess Song, to take good care of A-Wu.
He stood with his hands behind his back and said coldly, “If anything happens to Lady Miaozhen, you will be held accountable!”
Priestess Song, who had already received Eunuch Fu’s instructions and was now threatened by the Crown Prince, was completely overwhelmed.
She didn’t understand what was happening, but she didn’t dare say anything, only stiffly agreeing.
A-Wu silently watched the Crown Prince from the side, becoming more certain that her choice was right.
At this moment, the Crown Prince already had some of the aura of a future ruler, his demeanor resembling that of Emperor Jingxi.
But he wasn’t.
The slightly immature and awkward young man was far less attractive to her than the sharp and experienced old man who had wielded power for over a decade.
A-Wu even felt that the old man was like a fine wine aged for thirty years, now opened at its most mellow and exquisite moment.
She had tasted the smoothest sip.
Eunuch Fu and others accompanied the Crown Prince as he left, and the Crown Princess’s carriage followed.
The bustling Yan Yang Temple returned to tranquility in an instant.
However, Fang Yue didn’t leave.
He still led thirty Dragon Guards stationed outside Yan Yang Temple, ready to follow A-Wu’s orders and protect her.
At this point, A-Wu naturally didn’t need his protection anymore.
Everyone at Yan Yang Temple revered her like a deity.
The first to approach was Priestess Song, who completely set aside her usual pride as a high-ranking priestess and bowed deeply to A-Wu.
Only then did she respectfully say, “It was my ignorance that I did not recognize Lady Miaozhen as a distinguished figure of our Taoist sect, thus disgracing her. I beg Lady Miaozhen to forgive my past transgressions.”
As she spoke, her voice was tense, clearly nervous.
If A-Wu were to truly hold her accountable for her past actions, who knows what the consequences would be.
Seeing her trembling demeanor, Awu found it utterly amusing and said:
“As a spiritual official of Yan Yang Temple, you don’t resemble a Daoist spiritual official in the slightest. Instead, you’ve mastered the art of flattering the powerful and stepping on the weak!”
Spiritual Official Song dared not utter a word, bowing her head and repeatedly agreeing.
As a spiritual official, she had previously interacted with members of the royal family and had some experience.
Now, she vaguely understood that Awu was not someone she could afford to provoke.
Yan Yang Temple was located in Nanqiongzi, and her future and life were entirely at the mercy of the royal family.
Seeing that she was sensible, Awu didn’t bother to argue further.
She simply instructed her to prepare a quiet meditation room:
“I need a peaceful place to copy scriptures and pray for the emperor’s blessings.”
Spiritual Official Song immediately arranged the meditation room and even assigned four young Daoist nuns to serve Awu, ready to attend to her needs at any moment.
One of these nuns happened to be Miaoxin.
Suddenly assigned to serve Awu, Miaoxin was filled with anxiety.
Her face pale, she cautiously said, “Immortal Lady, I was wrong in the past. I, I kowtow to you.”
With that, her legs gave way, and she knelt on the ground with a thud, trembling all over.
Awu found it even more amusing.
She said indifferently, “Your past actions were merely following orders. I’m not angry. Serve me well now, and I’ll remember our past friendship.”
Miaoxin immediately breathed a sigh of relief and quickly kowtowed several times.
Awu then told her to rise and wait outside, while she herself inspected the newly prepared meditation room.
The room was originally reserved for distinguished guests, and its furnishings were quite elaborate.
A bronze vase and a bronze sea lamp were placed on the table against the east wall.
The meditation chairs were all adorned with blue satin brocade cushions.
In front of the bed was a twelve-panel rosewood screen, and the bedding on the bed was brand new, embroidered with floral patterns in blue satin.
A serving nun respectfully said, “Immortal Lady, these beddings were reserved by the spiritual official for distinguished guests. They are all brand new and have never been used. They were hastily aired for your use.”
Awu was quite satisfied: “Excellent.”
Her meals were naturally exquisite, consisting of fresh mountain vegetables, clearly prepared with great care.
Thus, Awu settled peacefully in Yan Yang Temple, eating and drinking, occasionally going out for a stroll, and pretending to copy scriptures in her spare time.
She mentioned that she would copy three to five scriptures, but where would she find the time?
After a glance, she casually chose the “Yellow Emperor’s Yin Talisman Scripture” to copy.
In truth, she knew nothing about Daoist scriptures, only that this one discussed the relationship between heaven, earth, and humanity, with some military strategies and Daoist cultivation.
While studying the scriptures, Awu also issued an order: capture all the mice in Yan Yang Temple!
Fang Yue was stunned: “Capture them?”
They, the Dragon Guards, were majestic and formidable.
Now they were to catch mice in a Daoist nunnery?
What would people think if this got out?
Awu was also taken aback, then thought for a moment: “Oh, right, go get twenty cats. We’ll exterminate them all.”
Fang Yue was silent for a while, his temple twitching:
“Alright, we’ll set up an inescapable net and exterminate them all!”
Awu: “They’ll meet their end in the cats’ bellies.”
Fang Yue: “…”
He really had nothing to say.
This was the most humiliating moment for the Dragon Guards.
Awu noticed Fang Yue’s thoughts: “What, Commander Fang, do you feel you’re being underutilized?”
Fang Yue hurriedly replied with respect, “Your subordinate wouldn’t dare!”
Seeing Fang Yue’s serious demeanor, A’Wu couldn’t help but laugh.
Her laughter carried a hint of smugness, while Fang Yue’s expression subtly changed.
He quickly averted his gaze and inconspicuously took three steps back.
The Emperor’s thoughts were profound, and he had to maintain his distance at all times.
The future imperial concubine’s charming and lively smile was something he had to stay far away from!
That evening, the Imperial Guards suddenly brought news that Nie San had been found.
Upon hearing this, A’Wu was surprised.
The Imperial Guards?
This meant that the Emperor knew someone else had abducted her, not Nie San.
However, she soon understood the key point.
The Emperor had mentioned the Empress’s personal guards that day, indicating he suspected the Empress.
Since he hadn’t yet considered her relationship with Lu Yunjian, his current suspicion fell on the Empress, believing she was deliberately obstructing him.
Thus, under the guise of the Empress, Lu Yunjian’s actions were concealed.
If the Emperor had already suspected her relationship with Lu Yunjian, she wouldn’t be able to remain here safely.
Given his decisive nature, he would likely come straight for her.
She felt completely at ease.
After all, the Empress would surely cover for Lu Yunjian.
If the old Emperor suspected, she would just take the blame herself.
As for her, she knew nothing.
She was just a simple young woman, being used by the wicked Empress!
She rubbed her hands together eagerly, “Quick, bring Nie San to me!”
Fang Yue lowered his head and eyes, “But His Majesty has ordered that Nie San be strictly guarded.”
A’Wu raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Fang Yue, “Oh? Then bring His Majesty here directly. I’ll speak to him myself.”
Such boldness!
Fang Yue’s heart trembled.
This newly favored concubine, delicate as powdered snow, was as audacious as a clawing cat.
Fang Yue hesitated, his mind racing with thoughts, but in the end, he decided to follow her orders.
A man who dared to defy the world, unafraid of eternal infamy, to possess his own son’s former concubine would he really be angered by such a trivial matter?
So he immediately brought Nie San over.