frightfiction Chapter 1627 Xier's Beloved
Chapter 1627 Xier's Beloved
"Ah."
Shen Zhinian nodded in satisfaction: "Keep it up."
"Also, how is Consort Feng doing at Ruixue Pavilion these days?"
Xiao Mingzi replied, "It's still the same as always, the pregnancy is unstable, and the imperial physician is frequently seen."
"The Imperial Concubine visited me a few days ago and gave me some gifts."
"However... it is said that Consort Feng is becoming increasingly haggard and often has nightmares."
Shen Zhinian understood.
The guilty conscience needs no accuser; this is a common saying.
She instructed, "Keep an eye on things, but don't get too close, and absolutely do not try to find out what His Majesty is thinking."
"Slave understands!"
After Xiaomingzi left, Shen Zhinian's thoughts were in turmoil.
Nangong Xuanyu was determined this time to cleanse the harem of its corruption.
The child in Consort Feng's womb is likely to meet with bad luck.
Fatu Temple is an important clue for tracing the source.
How much does Huichen actually know?
What role does Xingchen play in all of this?
Shen Zhinian's memories of her past life are like looking through a layer of fog, unclear and indistinct.
What happened in this lifetime is now unfolding vividly before my eyes.
Could the key to this be a reminder to Nangong Xuanyu, perhaps it lies with Master Xingchen?
Shen Zhinian quickly dismissed the idea.
Firstly, she had no solid evidence, and it was too risky for her to make baseless accusations that a highly respected monk had problems.
Secondly, given Nangong Xuanyu's shrewdness, he might have suspected Master Xingchen and was perhaps observing him in secret.
If she speaks rashly, it might disrupt the plan or even backfire.
Most importantly, this matter involves a royal scandal, which is a taboo subject for the emperor.
Shen Zhinian is already a Noble Consort, with a son and the emperor's favor, her position is secure. Why would she want to get involved in this mess? If she's not careful, she could bring trouble upon herself.
Shen Zhinian has never been a hot-blooded or impulsive person.
Having lived in the inner palace for many years, she understood best the principle of self-preservation.
When it's time to fight, we will not yield an inch; when it's time to avoid conflict, we will never be aggressive.
The best course of action for now is to wait and see how things develop.
……
A young lady is putting on her makeup in front of a mirror.
The bronze mirror reflected a beautiful and radiant face, with delicate and exquisite eyebrows and eyes, and naturally rosy lips that were already dazzling without the need for rouge.
She held an ivory comb, slowly combing her waist-length black hair, listening to her personal maid talking to the eunuch in the outer room.
"...Indeed, who would have thought?"
The palace maid's voice held a mixture of sighs and gleeful excitement: "Who would have thought that the eminent monk Huichen of Fatu Temple would do something like this? Tsk tsk..."
The eunuch chimed in, "I heard he's amassed quite a fortune over the years, even the palace's steward, Tao, who was sent to investigate, was astonished."
"That's terrible. Master Huichen's reputation is ruined, and he'll probably never be able to recover..."
The concubine paused slightly as she combed her hair.
Master Huichen has been arrested?
Thankfully, it wasn't Xingchen...
A familiar figure appeared in her mind.
The man always wore an immaculate monk's robe, and his features were so refined and handsome that he seemed otherworldly. His eyes were warm and clear, and when he looked at you, it seemed as if they could cleanse away all the filth of the world.
His voice when he preached was like a clear spring flowing over rocks, bringing peace to the listener's heart.
It is Master Xingchen.
He was someone she cherished deeply, someone whose name she was reluctant to utter easily.
How can someone like Huichen be compared to Xingchen?
He was greedy for gold and silver and acted in a despicable manner.
One, however, is truly transcendent, shining like the bright moon in the sky. It can only be admired from afar, not profaned!
He is the man Xi'er loves!
Xier put down the comb and picked up a small brocade box from the dressing table.
Inside was a dried lotus petal, its color faded to light brown, yet its original shape was still discernible.
Last summer, she went to Fatu Temple under the pretext of praying for her mother. At the lotus pond outside Chengxin Pavilion, she happened to meet Xingchen, who was admiring the lotus flowers by the pond.
The sun was shining brightly then, and the lotus flowers in the pond were in full bloom.
He stood by the pond, dressed in white, his back view slender and upright.
She mustered her courage, stepped forward, bowed, and asked a few questions about Buddhist principles.
He turned around, his gaze calm, and patiently answered.
As we were parting, a gust of wind blew by, and a half-withered lotus flower in the pond happened to shed a petal, which drifted to the shore.
She picked it up.
He saw it and said calmly, "Even when the lotus withers, it remains unstained by the mud."
She then, as if possessed, carefully collected the petal and has treasured it ever since.
Awakening dust is different.
How could a vulgar person like Master Huichen be worthy of being in Fatu Temple with Xingchen? Now that he has been exposed, it's a relief to have some peace and quiet.
The palace maid dismissed the young eunuch, lifted the curtain and came in. Seeing Xi'er staring intently at a withered flower petal, she smiled and said, "Your Highness is looking at this treasure again? A mere lotus petal is worth keeping like this."
Seele closed the brocade box, her expression returning to normal: "It's just an old item, something to look at for fun."
Then, seemingly casually, she asked, "Besides Master Huichen, has there been any other activity at Fatu Temple?"
The palace maid shook her head: "I haven't heard of that."
"Oh, by the way, they say that Manager Tao is still questioning people at the temple, asking quite detailed questions. But I suppose it's just a formality; Master Huichen's crimes are irrefutable, so who else can they implicate?"
Seele's heart tightened slightly.
You investigated quite thoroughly?
It's probably just a routine matter, right?
Someone as clean as Xingchen would definitely not be traced back to him.
But for some reason, a vague unease still rose in Seele's heart...
"Little Master."
The palace maid, oblivious to Xi'er's unusual behavior, continued, "Do you think Master Huichen might reveal all the people he's helped in the past?"
"This servant believes that someone in the palace must have asked him for a favor. If this leads to a whole chain of events..."
Seele turned around, her face expressionless, and said calmly, "What does it have to do with us? We have never had any dealings with such people."
"That's natural!"
The palace maid quickly replied, "Your Highness is the most upright and honest person; she would never stoop to such crooked and evil ways!"
Upright and honest?
Seele smiled bitterly to herself.
The bittersweet love between her and Xingchen was probably not considered virtuous in the eyes of the world...
If one day this secret is discovered... Seele dares not think of the consequences.
Even so, she never regretted it.
Since entering the palace, I have become accustomed to the emperor's majesty and coldness, and the scheming and intrigue among the concubines.
In this magnificent cage, true feelings are a luxury, and even more so, foolishness.
With her beauty and gentleness, she had enjoyed a few days of imperial favor. But the emperor's heart never lingered for anyone.
In the stillness of the night, Xi'er would always think of the little things she had with Xingchen before entering the palace...
At first, when he looked at her, his gaze was calm, without the amazement or desire that other men often showed.
She seemed no different from the lotus flowers in the pond or the ancient pine trees in the courtyard.
Yet it was precisely this pure and unadulterated gaze that stirred Seele's heart...
Later, she took the opportunity to visit Fatu Temple several more times.
Sometimes it's just an excuse to burn incense.
Sometimes it means praying for one's family.
Each time, she would always find a way to "bump into" Xingchen.
Even just a glance from afar, or a few trivial questions about Buddhist principles, fills her heart with sweetness…