Feng Zhi Wei suppressed her anger and left in a huff. Before she left, she brushed past chief eunuch Jia and heard him whispered to Emperor Tiansheng, “Your Majesty…Concubine Shu’s father has been imprisoned for being involved in the Weiming case, and her mother died a long time ago. Do you think other people should be notified to come to the palace…”

“No need! Just send the body out of the palace!” Emperor Tiansheng’s answer had so much viciousness in it that one could hear the gnashing of teeth even through the partition. 

Feng Zhi Wei’s foot on the door’s threshold paused. 

Concubine Shu is dead. 

This concubine who colluded with Second Prince, and played a role in Shao Ning’s being tricked that night, lost everything after one mistake, ruining her family’s glory and also losing her own life. 

But, why today. 

Was it Shao Ning who did it?

After what happened last night, Shao Ning would’ve returned to the palace, and thought about what happened that night, such as who instigated her to visit Wei Zhi secretly that night. 

Once she thought it through, she naturally would not let Concubine Shu off. 

However, even Feng Zhi Wei did not imagine Shao Ning would act so quickly. She probably knew that she would be leaving the palace soon and it would not be easy to get her revenge on Concubine Shu once she was gone so she promptly took action that night. 

Shao Ning has always been more ruthless and decisive than her brother. It is only her girlish feelings that cause her to have some gentleness and shyness when she is with Feng Zhi Wei. If they really had to go against one another, Feng Zhi Wei wonders if she can be more ruthless than her.

Facing the incoming sunlight, Feng Zhi Wei squinted her eyes, suppressed a sigh deep into her heart, and walked out the door. 

=========================================

When she left the palace, she saw a plain carriage parked next to hers. Several eunuchs came up to her and said in a low voice, “Marquis Wei, His Majesty has ordered you to escort the princess to the imperial temple.” 

Feng Zhi Wei was silent for a moment, nodded, and bowed slightly when passing the carriage. As she bowed, she saw some broken colored glass flashing to the side of the carriage. 

Her eyes swept past the broken glass before she turned away immediately and got into her own carriage. 

The imperial temple is not far from the Wei Manor, almost just the next street over. When the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Rites jointly supervised the construction, they moved all the original residential houses around the imperial temple and built a special dedicated small street. Not sure if it was for the convenience of the princess to come and ask Marquis Wei concerning Buddhist teachings or what, that small and very quiet street devoid of any people led directly to the back door of the Wei Manor. 

On the day when the imperial temple was completed, Feng Zhi Wei shook her head and let out a bitter smile at that rather strange street. Tiansheng Emperor is indeed an interesting person. Indeed, he is the sort that appears dignified on the surface but is actually a bit absurd and devious in his bones. This imperial temple, in the eyes of anyone with a discerning eye, wouldn’t be obvious it is nothing but a rendezvous place for the princess and Wei Zhi?

“Princess, we have arrived at the imperial temple. Do you need to get out of the carriage?” She asked through the curtain. 

She thought Shao Ning would come out but instead, after a moment of silence, Shao Ning said, “No need, just go right in.” 

Thoughtful, Feng Zhi Wei looked at the bearers of the four-person carriage as they switched shoulders and lifted the carriage up again. 

“Without the princess’ summon, I dare not step into the temple.” Feng Zhi Wei took a step back and asked again tentatively. 

There was silence again, before Shao Ning said, “Hmm.” 

Feng Zhi Wei stepped back with a smile, watched the carriage enter the house, and returned to her own manor. She then immediately went out from the back door, crossed the quiet street, and arrived at the back door of the imperial temple. 

Many shade trees had been transplanted into the imperial temple. She passed through the trees and found the princess’ backyard, lay down on the roof, and waited. 

As expected, moments later the princess’ carriage could be seen approaching. The guards had already been left guarding the second gate and the maids were left outside the inner gate to wait for orders. The carriage bearers carried the carriage directly into the inner courtyard and left. 

Only the carriage is left in the courtyard, standing quietly in the shade of the afternoon. 

After a while, the curtain of the carriage lifted and Shao Ning came out. 

Feng Zhi Wei didn’t move. 

Shao Ning came out and stretched out her hand to the side of the carriage. A person slowly stretched out a hand and rested it on Shao Ning’s palm. 

Feng Zhi Wei’s eyes narrowed. 

A hand as white and as exquisitely maintained as Shao Ning. 

What kind of person would be personally helped out by Shao Ning?

Feng Zhi Wei was taken aback– the broken glass she saw earlier looked like something used by palace servants. Shao Ning is cultivating at the temple with her hair unshaven (unlike most Buddhist nuns who would have their heads shaved), and did not wear jewelry. There were no other palace servants in the carriage so that could possibly been left behind by someone else. However, as someone prone to notice every detail, she was still suspicious especially when she later noticed that the carriage bearers were switching shoulders frequently and Shao Ning’s did not weigh enough to make the carriage bearers this tired. This was the reason she came back and sure enough, there was someone else in the carriage…but this person’s identity seemed to be beyond her imagination. 

The person came out of the carriage. She had her black hair up in a bun and her clothes were big and loose, revealing only her pale neck. Feng Zhi Wei didn’t recognize her at first glance and stared with puzzlement. 

Shao Ning supported her hand and said with a smile, “Be careful.” 

The person smiled and raised her hand to slightly sweep her hair back. A simple action such as this was done with great allure. Feng Zhi Wei was shocked and finally recognized who it was. 

It was Concubine Qing. 

Both times she has seen Concubine Qing, she has always been left with an enchanting seductive impression and didn’t recognize her at first sight with her in such plain makeup and clothes. 

In the lingering daylight, Concubine Qing patted Shao Ning’s hand and said affectionately, “There’s no need to be so careful. It’s only been a little over a month.” 

Shao Ning smiled and helped her into the room. Feng Zhi Wei slowly moved to the eaves and hung herself upside down. 

Concubine Qing’s figure was faintly reflected on the window. Her dress had no waist at all, fluttering and swinging as she moved. Although it was very elegant, all feminine lines were completely hidden. 

She supported her waist and sat down slowly. Shao Ning leaned against the table and said, “I have a few trusted palace servants who left the palace with me. I will assign a few of them to you.  They are completely reliable, you can rest assured.” 

Concubine Qing smiled but said, “You don’t need to assign Mama Chen to me. That’s someone you are used to having. I don’t need too many people at my place. I also brought some people with me. In a couple of days, they will come here as nuns, keeping a low profile.” 

Hearing this, Feng Zhi Wei kept feeling something was off. She also wondered why Concubine Qing would leave the palace when she was doing just fine in there. Does the emperor know? He probably does or else Shao Ning would not be so brazen as to steal a favorite concubine away. But why all this secrecy? 

 “Sorry to trouble you, but the palace, that place is too gloomy. According to the Imperial Divination, I must move to a quiet and clean place. After much thought, only your place here seemed suitable.” In the room, Concubine Qing said with a smile. 

“What trouble, last night…didn’t you help me as well.” Shao Ning patted her hands, glanced at her belly, and said with a hint of coldness in her smile, “Don’t worry, I will take good care of you.”

Last night…

Feng Zhi Wei frowned. 

No wonder Concubine Shu died so quickly. It turned out Concubine Qing had a hand in it as well.

Inside the room, Concubine Qing stood up, patted her lower back, turned around, and smiled at Shao Ning, her smile was full of charm and allure. 

“Princess, even if it was only for you, I would take care of my body.” 

Shao Ning stared at her…belly. After a while, she stretched her hand and rubbed it slowly. Concubine Qing didn’t avoid her hand but lowered her head and looked at her with a hint of mysteriousness and pride. 

Shao Ning’s movement was very slow, with a faraway hollow expression in her eyes. After a long moment, she whispered, “…you came just in time…it’s like I saw a new hope…I will watch you born into this world…I will protect you as you grow up…I will always be with you and defeat your wolf-like brothers…be good…and wait for me…”

She smiled a strange and sad smile.

“….my brother.” 

(The “brother” in this post can be singular or plural since it is not discernable in the text.)

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