Mountain Patrol Military Officer

"You dogs, the Crown Princess Consort is going to Xuankong Temple for a pilgrimage, and yet you dare to block her way! Are you looking for death?"

"Shut your dog eyes and kneel properly. Don't sully the sight of nobility."

The six constables from Jingzhao Mansion heard this, and upon almost colliding with the Crown Princess Consort's carriage, their bodies shook, and they could only suppress their groans in their throats. They quickly knelt on the ground, crawling to the sides of the road, their buttocks raised high.

The Green Robe Attendants at the lead kicked aside the horse barriers blocking the way and went straight to the main gate. The imperial guards at the gate opened the door without a word, allowing passage.

Thus, a large procession of palace maids and attendants grandly entered the garden, heading straight for the Xuankong Temple on the mountain.

Outside the main gate, the open and hidden eyes watching Xuankong Temple from all sides were puzzled upon seeing the Crown Princess Consort's carriage enter the mountain.

The Eastern Palace and that border general from Shu were as unrelated as could be, but it was known that the Crown Princess Consort was always devoted to Buddhism. It should merely be a coincidence, as this was a place where the royal family traditionally offered prayers.

At this time, on the damp mountain path, the sound of creaking wheels turned, and from the regal 厌翟 carriage, a lazy and amused female voice arose.

"Sister, why are you so tense? There's no one here anymore."

Soon, another female voice replied, sounding cool, "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Princess. This time I had to trouble you to come out because too many eyes are watching from outside."

"No need to be estranged, sister. Mr. Qin is the Crown Prince's Tutor, the pillar of the Eastern Palace. This is but a small matter."

"Moreover, I am curious as well about what kind of person this general is whom you wish to meet, who has made the illustrious sister of the Divine Capital willing to request my help as cover."

"I have heard that this person is stirring waves within the court."

"Sister, you're nervous; could it be that you are about to meet this general?"

The Crown Princess, speaking in the carriage, had a lazy tone with a hint of jest.

There was a brief silence in the carriage, then

"Please, Your Highness, do not tease me!"

Though the speaker's color could not be discerned through the carriage curtains, by listening carefully, one could hear a slight oppressive shyness in the tone.

"Alright, alright, I know sister's temperament is cool; let's stop joking. Sister, why do you insist on taking such a great risk to meet this general? Within today's court, sister must understand clearly that many are watching him. Sister said you knew this general from Shu, recognized his dedication to the country, but affairs of the court are fraught with both truths and falsehoods, involving too much. I reckon the Tutor also wouldn't want you embroiled in all this!"

"Just this once, if I intervene any further, it would not be aiding you, rather harming you." Inside the carriage, a crisp sound of a bell chimed, the Crown Princess's tone lowered by half a degree, her voice elongated, exuding the dignity of someone long sitting in a high position.

"Rushuang understands, thank you, Your Highness the Crown Princess!"

After that, the carriage remained silent, as if as calm as ever, with only the sound of the wheels rolling outside.

After the new rain, clouds like a veil drifted through Xuankong Mountain. A winding green stone path snaked upwards. Moss-covered spots were dotted with rain droplets like broken diamonds. Fifteen minutes later, the carriage rounded a mountain bend, and a yellow-walled, black-tiled millennium Ancient Temple came into view.

In front of the Ancient Temple, a century-old banyan tree spread its canopy of greenery. Its gnarled roots burrowed deep into the stone walls like dragon whiskers. The moist air carried the earthy scent of moss mixed with a strand of incense from the temple. The copper bells at the eaves rang with the mountain wind, clear sounds spilling, shaking off strands of crystalline rain droplets.

"Dong"

"Dong"

"Dong"

The ringing of the bell echoed from within the temple, as if a melody of Buddhist Chant was played between Heaven and Earth.

Amidst the mist, this ancient temple seemed to merge with its surrounding Heaven and Earth, tranquil and serene.

At this moment, outside the main gate of Xuankong Temple, a group of monks had already come out to welcome.

"Thud, thud, thud"

The carriage came to a halt,

"The Crown Princess has arrived!"

A sharp voice echoed.

A servant stepped forward to the carriage, lowering his head and raising his hand, extending it to the carriage curtain, from which then emerged a pale and graceful wrist.

Subsequently, a noblewoman was escorted down from the carriage.

Her face was like the moon, enveloped in a delicate sheen akin to pearls. Slightly plump cheeks and a jaw reminiscent of the arc beneath a swan's neck. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains yet carried an edge. Her brow's tips arched sharply to her temples, highlighting her long phoenix eyes even more. Her nose was like carved jade, lips vermilion without rouge, slender and graceful, indescribably noble.

She wore a bright red outfit adorned with gold phoenix bird patterns, which meandered from the collar to the hem of her floor-length skirt. The gold threads shimmered with subtle brilliance in the candlelight. Over the robe, she donned a large-sleeved gauze jacket of the same color, its cuffs embroidered with entwined branches of peonies, each layer of petals embedded with rice grain-sized pearls that glistened when the gauze gently lifted as she moved. At her waist was fastened a beaded cape, its tassels swaying, each pearl pristine as the full moon, lightly tapping against her skirt embroidered with ocean waves and cliff motifs, emitting a soft sound with her movements.

Her hair was coiled up, adorned with a golden phoenix pin poised as if to take flight set in a high fairy-seeking bun, with gold-inlaid jeweled hair ornaments fixed at the temples.

Her aura of nobility was overwhelming, making it difficult to look at her directly.

"Amitabha Buddha, this old monk welcomes Your Highness the Crown Princess."

Master Sanjie, leading, stood on the stone steps of the main gate, chanting a Buddhist mantra to the lady, his face benevolent, eyes downcast.

"Reverend Master, you honor me; I have come today to offer prayers on behalf of the Crown Prince." The Crown Princess, with a smile in her eyes, displayed shallow dimples at her mouth's corners, concealing the sharp air at her brows, exuding a gentle courtesy.

"Please!"

Following this, the Crown Princess led several palace maids and attendants into the incense-filled temple.

And those palace maids and attendants behind the Crown Princess mostly kept their heads lowered, slightly hunched, a habit of subordinates to show humility and respect. Yet amidst them, one palace maid stood with her back straight as she walked into the temple.