"Why are you suddenly concerned about being assassinated?" Fu Yuheng paced back and forth in his heart. Whether he should trust Xiao Shushen or rather believe that Xiao Shushen did not believe him, he should properly investigate him.
Xiao Shushen obviously stiffened, "Does Your Majesty suspect that Chenqie was involved in the assassination attempt?" As she spoke, her tears were on the verge of falling, "Chenqie couldn't bear to have Your Majesty worry so much, so I prepared to boil the soup for Your Majesty to drink. If the assassination was really your chenqie's doing, how could chenqie obediently send herself over? "Your majesty's harem has three thousand beauties, how could he suspect me? Why do I care so much about your majesty and treat it as a guilty conscience?" Xiao Shushen's tone was filled with grievance, but what she said was not without reason.
When Fu Yuheng heard her words, he actually felt somewhat guilty. Back then, she had saved his life. How could he have doubted his? "Alright, stop crying." Fu Yuheng rubbed his temples and felt somewhat helpless. Putting the bowl to the side, he patted her shoulder and she fell into his embrace.
Because of Xiao Shushen's sorrowful state, she gulped a little. Fu Yuheng felt that it was his own fault, and felt that it was too embarrassed to push her away.
This time, he didn't want to doubt her anymore. After all, every word she said made sense. In addition, according to Xiao Shushen's usual style, he didn't seem like the kind that would assassinate the empress dowager and Consort Xian.
"Enough, enough, I apologize to you. It was my bad, I shouldn't have blamed you so wrongly …"
She was now in the Consort De's camp. Although the Consort De was one of the four concubines, she had slowly lost the favor of the Emperor. If she stayed by her side, she would not be able to see the Emperor in half a year, and could only slowly grow old in this deep palace.
"What do you think?" Li Yu lowered her head and asked the maidservant who was kneeling on the ground.
The maid's face was red and swollen. At this moment, he trembled as he raised his head, but he did not dare to meet his gaze.
"What a woman fears the most in this palace is letting her youth die in this palace without the appreciation of any man. Based on the situation with the Consort De, if they really met the Emperor in an organic manner, the Consort De would have to grab the opportunity herself. If that's the case, then when will the Empress be able to rise above the rest? "
Her beautiful eyes became sharp, and the maid nodded in agreement. She felt that he had already been by Consort De's side for a long time, but the current situation made his feel very disappointed. She did not want to wait for the day when people aged and turned yellow, and if that day really came, she might not be able to accomplish anything in her entire life, and might even be kicked out of the palace.
The only way out was to seek a better solution. And the one that Liuyu had set her sights on was the current Empress. The empress was different from the Consort De. As the empress was the head of the imperial harem, she wanted to act as a mother to the world and promote the royal family's bloodline. Thus, she could not have any selfish thoughts in her heart, and could not monopolize the emperor and not let go. If he was close to the empress, it was highly likely that he would see the emperor often. Only this way would he have a higher chance of being favored.
After thinking it over for a long time, she decided to seek refuge with the Empress. Her youth that was destined to die in the palace was not in vain.
"Consort De, don't blame me. It's just that you're really too old, and you might as well still pity yourself in the courtyard …" She reached out her hand and tore off the flower branch beside her. Blood dripped from her fingers, but she didn't notice it at all.
After about half a day, Shen Qingwan also arrived at Fashan Temple. This time, her journey was much quieter than the last time she travelled with the empress dowager.
Originally, Shen Qing Wan had went to Fashan Temple to pray for her blessings and to meet with Master Fang. However, after walking for a long time and not seeing him, she was also confused. Seeing a young monk looking around, he went over and asked, "Where is your Lord Fang?"
Seeing that she was not surprised at all, the little monk raised his hand and said, "Amitabha, seeing that Master is at the back of the mountain, I'm afraid it will take a while before I can see you. If you want to meet Master, why don't I help you lead the way?"
The scenery at the back of the mountain was very beautiful. It could even be said that it was lush and verdant. The birdsong was crisp and melodious, and one could feel the freedom and independence of the birds. It was like a hermit living in a place that was extremely peaceful and full of life.
"We're here." The little monk saluted, only then did Shen Qingwan come back to her senses.
Looking up, he saw the abbot playing chess with a white-clothed gongzi. However, when this scene appeared in front of Shen Qingwan's eyes, it was as if two otherworldly experts were playing chess. One could only observe from afar and absolutely not go close to blasphemy.
"Reverend, it seems like an important guest has arrived." After the white-clothed gongzi finished his Blackie, he turned around to look at Shen Qingwan. He had already discovered her and turned to smile at her.
Shen Qingwan was stunned for a few seconds, then quickly walked over.
That white-clothed gongzi was like precious jade, delicate and fair, with a myriad of words in his eyes. However, he didn't say a single word to her and only smiled at her. That smile seemed to even make the flowers lose their color.
Shen Qingwan did not know what to do, and could only smile at him. His aura was as if he was in a trance, so much so that she was too focused on admiring her pure temperament that she didn't even notice that he had left.
"Is female benefactor here to find me?" Fortunately, the abbot reminded her in time. Shen Qingwan came back to her senses and immediately said: "This little girl is being rude." The abbot only smiled faintly, as if this was a common occurrence.
"Who is that man in white? Who is he?" Shen Qingwan was cold and aloof, but she was extremely curious and had her own guesses towards the white-clothed gongzi.
"Lord Buddha said: 'Don't say it.' This humble monk shouldn't reveal too much, and the female benefactor doesn't need to worry. You and the white-clothed gongzi will meet again very soon."
See you again? How did Fang Zheng know? Why are you so sure? He guessed in his heart but didn't ask any further questions.
The fact that the abbot did not answer made her more curious about the identity of this white-clothed gongzi.
"Almsgiver, you're not going to the main hall with me like I am. As for who the young master is, Almsgiver will find out sooner or later, so why are you in such a hurry?" Fang Zheng's mouth was sealed, he was unwilling to reveal anything. Shen Qingwan nodded, but did not ask any further. Since Fang Shen had already said so, there was no point in continuing to ask.
This time, Shen Qingwan had thought of many things. About this unfathomable harem, this unfathomable imperial court … She could only try her best to protect herself. As for what would happen in the end, that would depend on her fate. But just as the Shufei had said, throwing one's life on the line to live wasn't out of the question.
After bidding farewell to the abbot, he left the Fashan Temple and returned to the palace.