Chapter Ten: Investigating the Truth Behind the Temple

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After the silver from the Prime Minister’s residence was counted and meticulously verified, it was evenly distributed and sent to the various disaster-stricken regions.

When the inventory report was presented before Xiao Ceyun, he couldn’t help but blaze with fury, violently slamming the ledger onto the ground.

Beside him, the chief eunuch Bi Zifu hurriedly picked up the ledger. “Your Majesty, what’s the matter?”

“Look at this!” Xiao Ceyun exclaimed. “The amount of silver counted at the Prime Minister’s residence is over ten times more than what’s recorded in the national treasury! With such a vast sum, just imagine how much Wei Changlong must have embezzled!”

Bi Zifu glanced through the ledger and was genuinely shocked by the records of silver.

“Since he has already handed these silver coins over to the court as disaster relief funds, there’s no way any of this silver will return to his residence!”

Yet Xiao Ceyun still harbored some doubts, unable to decipher the true intent behind Wei Changlong’s actions. Could it be that Wei Changlong was preparing for an early retirement and retreat to his hometown? If so, it might be a wise move. But what if there were darker conspiracies at play?

This thought made Xiao Ceyun’s brow furrow even deeper. Suddenly, he asked, “Is there any news from Consort Wei’s side?”

Bi Zifu quickly replied, “Your Majesty, according to the letters sent back by Miss Shui Yao, Consort Wei has been devoutly praying inside Nan’an Temple during this time, and no abnormalities have been detected.”

An undeniable look of surprise crossed Xiao Ceyun’s face. “She can actually endure such plain meals?”

From his understanding of Wei Yanqiao, she had always lived a life of luxury, adorned in fine clothes and indulging in exquisite food. How could she possibly tolerate such austerity?

“According to Miss Shui Yao, indeed so. Consort Wei insists on vegetarian fasting and Buddhist rituals daily, has transcribed scriptures over a hundred times, and has completely changed from her usual spoiled self to a kind and approachable person. She even voluntarily helps the monks with menial chores and gets along well with everyone.”

“Really?” Xiao Ceyun found it hard to believe. Wei Yanqiao had a notoriously stubborn and domineering temperament—if things or people didn’t suit her, she would ensure they were properly punished. How could such a drastic transformation be possible? Did she truly intend to spend the rest of her life in the temple, treating it as her own home?

“Yes, Your Majesty. Miss Shui Yao said Consort Wei seems truly determined to remain at Nan’an Temple for life and even asked if you wished to bring her back.”

Xiao Ceyun frowned deeply. “I do not believe it!” He knew Wei Yanqiao’s nature well enough to know that she would never so easily abandon everything in the palace to willingly spend her days among ancient lamps and Buddhist chants. “Immediately dispatch someone to thoroughly investigate Nan’an Temple!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Bi Zifu responded promptly and hurried away.

At dawn, a young monk who had risen early to fetch water opened the temple gates and suddenly discovered a woman lying there.

The woman was thinly dressed and weakly pleaded, “Master, please… save me…”

After saying this, she closed her eyes and collapsed.

The young monk was startled, quickly setting down his water yoke, and rushed over in three quick steps, carefully supporting the woman inside the temple.

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Wei Yanqiao was reciting scriptures and paying respects with the monks when she heard the commotion outside. Looking out, she saw the young monk helping an unfamiliar woman and immediately hurried over. “What happened to her?”

She reached out, holding the woman’s hand as she assisted her. Suddenly, she noticed the woman’s fingertips were thickly calloused. Upon closer inspection, the woman’s physique was sturdy, with faintly defined muscles—obviously someone of strong constitution.

How could such a robust person faint outside the temple? Could this woman be a spy sent by Xiao Ceyun to gauge her situation?

Wei Yanqiao quickly said to the young monk, “Young master, men and women should not have physical contact. Let me take care of this woman.”

The young monk nodded. “Alright, then I leave her in your hands, noble lady.”

Wei Yanqiao smiled. “No trouble at all; it’s my duty.”

After some effort, Wei Yanqiao helped the woman all the way into her room and gently laid her on her comfortable bed.

She poured a cup of water and fed it to the woman. After a while, the woman’s eyes slowly opened. Seeing this, Wei Yanqiao’s face lit up with a gentle smile and softly said, “You’re awake.”

The woman looked around bewilderedly and asked, “Miss, may I ask… who are you?”

Wei Yanqiao’s lips curled slightly. “My name is Wei Yanqiao. I am cultivating here in this temple. I saw you collapse in front of the temple gates today, so I brought you inside. This is my room; the temple’s conditions are rather austere, so please bear with it.”

The woman said humbly, “Miss, it’s nothing. Having a place to shelter from wind and rain is more than enough for me.”

“Why did you faint outside the temple?”

The woman’s face was haggard as she weakly replied, “I came from the south. My home was flooded, and my family was swept away by the waters, leaving only me. I had hoped to seek refuge with relatives, but along the way I endured hardship, slept outdoors, begged on the streets, and finally made it here. Unexpectedly, I lost my way and, with nowhere else to turn, happened upon this stone temple in the mountains and hurried here.”

Wei Yanqiao nodded thoughtfully and asked with concern, “You must be very hungry after such a journey. Wait a moment; I’ll go to the kitchen and prepare a bowl of plain noodles for you.”

The woman was moved to tears and hurriedly thanked her, “Thank you so much, Miss!”

Wei Yanqiao smiled faintly and turned toward the kitchen. It was breakfast time at the temple, so she could simply bring a bowl of food from there.

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After finishing the plain noodles, the woman repeatedly thanked Wei Yanqiao.

Wei Yanqiao suppressed her inner distaste as she took the dirty bowl from the woman and smiled, “You rest well. I won’t disturb you anymore.”

Stepping outside, she saw monks cleaning the courtyard. Without hesitation, she picked up a broom to help.

The woman stayed at the temple for two days before taking her leave. Those two days of running errands had thoroughly exhausted Wei Yanqiao; she wanted to rest well, but the thought that the woman had slept in her bed made her feel queasy.

Disgusted, she threw the bedding onto the floor. When Shui Yao arrived, she had no choice but to gather the bedding to wash it.

Shui Yao came to assist and cautiously asked, “Consort, during these days of fasting and chanting in Nan’an Temple, don’t you miss His Majesty even a little? The conditions here are so austere. Do you really intend to spend your life in this temple? We should return. Perhaps the Emperor, not having seen you for so long, misses you deeply.”

Recently, Shui Yao had noticed that Wei Yanqiao truly wished to remain in the temple and had no desire to return. She hadn’t even heard a single complaint from Wei Yanqiao, which made her anxious. If Wei Yanqiao intended to stay here for life, then Shui Yao would have to remain by her side indefinitely as well.

Wei Yanqiao looked puzzled. “Why go back? Although the temple’s conditions are austere, life here is peaceful and harmonious, free from strife. Why not stay here forever?”

“What’s so good about it here? You want to stay, but I don’t!”

Wei Yanqiao had experienced everything and naturally yearned for a simple life. But Shui Yao had never enjoyed such indulgence; she faced dull, unsympathetic monks every day and hoped to return to the palace to serve the Emperor and live a better life.

Wei Yanqiao smiled gently. She, too, wished to return to her pampered life in the palace someday, but the time was not right. “Shui Yao, if you calm your heart and truly experience life here, you will come to love it.”

“I never will! I will never love this place!”

Shui Yao threw her clothes into the water in anger and stormed off.

Wei Yanqiao watched her leave coldly. Lately, Shui Yao had become more and more unruly, no longer treating her as mistress. If not for her hope that Shui Yao would pass messages to Xiao Ceyun, she would have discarded her in the wilderness long ago.