It was a popular custom in the capital to invite actors to perform to liven up the atmosphere during Taoist temple ceremonies. Princess Changying had just handed her clothes to Shi Mama and asked her to take them out and give them to Taoist Master Ciyun to burn for her when she heard someone outside coming to invite someone to perform.
When she felt sleepy, someone brought her a pillow. She smiled, changed her clothes with the help of the servants, washed her face again, and patted her daughter's hand: "Don't say anything more later, not a single word."
Seeing Li Gui Niang's puzzled expression, she whispered, "It's best for us not to have anything to do with this matter. Someone will shout it out anyway. Then you don't have to marry Chu Jingzong. Even if you can't get your wish and remarry into the Linjiang Palace, at least you can get rid of this hellhole of the Duan Palace."
She paused, held her daughter's hand, looked at her seriously and solemnly, and was silent for a while before she moved her mouth: "Mother has done her best for you, please don't hurt my heart."
She knew that her daughter was an impatient person.
But she could no longer allow her daughter to be so willful.
Li Gui Niang's voice was choked with sobs, and she nodded her head like pounding garlic: "I understand..."
Donglin Temple is a grand temple. Its head, Taoist Master Cihang, was once the director of the Imperial Observatory during the previous emperor's time. Donglin Temple is also extremely magnificent, with a ready-made stage in the middle for performances, and the second floor is a good place to watch performances. It is accessible from all directions. When Princess Changying arrived, the other princesses had already taken their seats. Princess Duan was listening to something, and when she saw her, she smiled and walked in to greet her: "I was just about to send someone to invite you, my sister..."
He also asked Li Gui Niang with concern whether she had had a good nap.
Seeing her so calm and composed, Princess Changying was even more pleased. She looked at her daughter and went upstairs tacitly.
After chatting with several princesses and sitting down, she looked around and frowned, "Why hasn't Chang'an arrived yet?"
Princess Chang'an had indeed not arrived yet. Princess Linjiang frowned in confusion but said nothing.
Speaking of which, Princess Chang'an was indeed a little abnormal. She remembered that Princess Chang'an liked watching plays. In the past, in order to support a young actress from Deyun Club, she once gave her one thousand and two taels of silver as a reward.
How come Princess Chang'an hasn't arrived yet? Princess Duan has already sent people to urge her many times.
She picked up the cup and took a sip of tea, but didn't say anything.
Princess Duan rushed over and shook her head worriedly, "Could it be that Ah Sheng is not feeling well? I haven't seen Ah Sheng all day."
When she said this, everyone remembered.
Sure enough, Yuan Sheng had not been seen for a whole day. He only showed up when he arrived at Donglin Temple in the morning, and then disappeared for some reason.
I went out earlier to admire the flowers blooming on the stone wall, but I didn't see her.
Princess Changying stood up worriedly, "Really? No wonder Gui Niang said she didn't see Ah Sheng when she went to check. It turns out he's not feeling well? This child is just too sensible. We're all family. If he's not feeling well, why should he hide it?"
The two sisters-in-law, who originally disliked each other, cooperated so well for the first time in order to prevent each other from becoming relatives. Princess Changying winked at Princess Duan.
Princess Duan immediately understood: "In this case, I will take the doctor over to take a look."
Since he said he was not feeling well, and everyone present had heard it, they had to go along. Princess Duan calculated the time - her son had not come back yet, so she thought the matter must have been settled, and it was a good time to go and check, so she led the way to the back.
When Princess Chang'an heard the news and came out, she saw the worried faces of Princess Duan and Princess Changying.
Princess Duan stepped forward and held her arm. "Sister, I heard that Ah Sheng is not feeling well. He was fine all of a sudden. What happened?"
Princess Chang'an tried to hide her panic and shook her head calmly, "No, it's just my fault. I've already told someone to go tell you..."
Princess Duan walked past her and went up the stairs while lifting her skirt: "What are you talking about? I know Ah Sheng best. If he wasn't feeling unwell, why wouldn't he go to watch the show with Gui Niang? Stop hiding it. We are all family. What is there to be embarrassed about? I even brought a doctor..."
It was obvious that he wanted everyone to see that Yuan Sheng was not in the room.
Princess Chang'an seemed to be in a panic and almost fell down. She was barely supported by the servants and shouted anxiously, "Sister-in-law!"
Seeing Princess Duan stop and look back in surprise, she took a deep breath, forced a smile and shook her head: "It's really nothing serious, Ah Sheng is in the room..."
Princess Changying looked at her with a half-smile: "Chang'an! Since Ah Sheng is in the room, she should come out to greet us. Given her temper, if she wasn't ill, how could she be so rude? Stop being polite..."
Princess Duan sighed worriedly: "Sister, you too, I told you not to be polite..."
As she spoke, she sighed inwardly.
Even if this marriage is agreed upon, wouldn't it be like making enemies
I don’t know what my son is thinking.
She did this without telling her husband, and she didn't know what kind of trouble it would bring.
But since her son had already done it, could she, as a mother, ruin it? She had no choice but to help him smooth it over. She took a few steps forward, pushed open the door, and then came out with her eyes wide open, biting her lip and asked Princess Chang'an: "Royal sister, what's going on? Where is A Sheng? Why is A Sheng gone?"
Princess Chang'an was staggering and seemed unable to stand.
Li Gui Niang was secretly delighted and almost couldn't help blurting out that Yuan Sheng was probably with Chu Jingzong now, but she was still rational and forced herself to hold back, pretending to be anxious: "Aunt, what happened to A Sheng?"
Princess Linjiang subconsciously felt that something was not right, and frowned as she looked at the expressions of Princess Duan and Princess Changying - these two people...
Princess Chang'an stopped and said with a pale face: "A Sheng..." She sighed quietly: "A Sheng went to the front to look at the murals. She heard that there was a flying fairy painting on the stone wall behind Donglin Temple that was painted by Taoist Master Cihang himself, so she went to see it."
Princess Changying smiled and said meaningfully, "So that's how it is." She looked at Princess Chang'an and shook her head, "My sister is too cautious. She was just going to see a mural, but I thought something happened to the child." She smiled and told her daughter, "Since your sister Asheng is going to see the mural, you should go with her. You don't like watching plays anyway, so you can come back with Asheng later."
Princess Chang'an stood there coldly, looking at Princess Duan and Princess Changying expressionlessly: "Is Lady Gui really going?"