Chapter 50: She

The Discipline Hall was located on the far right side of the solemn temple, usually a place to punish monks and nuns who violated the rules and precepts.

At the entrance of the Discipline Hall stood two human-shaped stone statues, one holding a knife and the other wielding a whip, with fierce and evil expressions, symbolizing solemnity and strict discipline.

As Empress Mingxing led a group of court officials through the corridor and approached the entrance of the Discipline Hall, the questioning voice of Imperial Consort Yu could be heard from afar, his tone not particularly pleasant.

“Does the Abbess know that my child was almost forcibly taken in the back courtyard last night… After a thorough investigation throughout the night, it was discovered that the culprit was Liu Changning, a regular guest staying at the temple. This palace is of low status and cannot command the Abbess. However, Yunzhi is after all your own nephew. Morally and reasonably, you should not conceal the whereabouts of the commoner woman Liu Changning.”

Imperial Consort Yu’s words were a mix of grace and pressure, leaving no room for argument. Though outwardly appealing to virtue, they contained hidden coercion.

The bald nun turned the prayer beads hanging on her chest. She looked up and surveyed the court officials who had come with the Imperial Consort.

Although no one stepped forward to pressure her, these noble officials were clearly standing behind Imperial Consort Yu, offering kind advice.

“The Imperial Consort has no ill intentions. Abbess, you just need to hand over the whereabouts of this woman! This matter certainly has nothing to do with Nanhua Temple.”

“What the Imperial Consort says is polite. Abbess, please do not be deceived by villains.”

“This concerns the reputation of the Second Imperial Consort. We hope the Abbess will consider the bigger picture.”

…

Her eyes, full of wisdom, were filled with disappointment. Although she had been out of secular life for many years and did not inquire about worldly affairs, she was still of royal blood after all.

In all these years, she had never been pressured like this by an Imperial Consort leading a group of court officials.

She put her palms together and said softly, “Amitabha. Since the patron has mentioned this poor nun’s secular identity. Given your current status, you indeed are not qualified to speak to me. Our Nanhua Temple is a sacred place of Taoism in the world. Even if the Empress were here, if this poor nun doesn’t wish to speak, she certainly won’t. As for you…”

Her eyes, which showed compassion for all living beings, fell on Imperial Consort Yu: “Patron, your sins are deep. You shouldn’t have stayed long in our Taoist sacred grounds to begin with. Last night, you sent troops without authorization to search the inner courtyards of the temple, disturbing the peace of Taoism. How can you be allowed to run wild here?”

“You!” Imperial Consort Yu trembled with anger.

For years he had managed the imperial harem, wielding both grace and authority, and no one had dared to say he was of low status.

Today, being insulted like this in front of a bald nun, although he was seething with anger inside, he didn’t immediately lash out.

Imperial Consort Yu had lived for many years. Even when he was oppressed by the Empress Consort in the past, he could still endure. Now, as long as he could achieve his goal, he had to forcibly suppress this anger in his heart.

He raised his hand and slapped a palace servant behind him hard on the face.

The servant, suddenly struck by a slap out of nowhere, fell to the ground, covering his face and involuntarily crying out in pain.

Imperial Consort Yu played with his slender fingers and glanced at the servant with a swollen face, saying pointedly, “I was wondering why there was suddenly such a foul smell. It turns out it was you, you dog slave, letting out a dirty fart. Get out of here quickly!”

Seeing the Imperial Consort’s sudden anger, the servant’s body shook like a sieve. Ignoring the pain on his face, he repeatedly agreed and crawled out of the Discipline Hall.

This man, Yu Qinglan, was becoming bolder as he aged!

What he had just done was actually to implicitly curse that his previous words were farts!

Ningxin narrowed her eyes, turning the prayer beads in her hand. She looked Imperial Consort Yu up and down, put her palms together, and said in a calm tone, “Amitabha. Patron, you should restrain such behavior. Your past sins are deep, and vengeful spirits cling to you. If you continue to act willfully, you will surely not have a good outcome. You will never escape the cycle of rebirth.”

Abbess Ningxin of Nanhua Temple was the foremost figure in Taoism in the world. She had cultivated for many years, comprehending the secrets of heaven, able to observe the stars and predict people’s fortunes and misfortunes.

Because reading people’s faces revealed heavenly secrets and damaged the natural order, she rarely helped people with face reading. But her judgments were always ten out of ten true.

Imperial Consort Yu’s face alternated between green and white. The nun opposite him had an otherworldly air, with a profound and unfathomable expression.

Thinking of her judgment, he opened his mouth and gritted his silver teeth.

As the Empress stepped over the threshold, the tense atmosphere in the Discipline Hall eased slightly.

Everyone knelt down in unison to pay respects.

The Empress bowed to Imperial Consort Yu in greeting and helped Ningxin up.

“Imperial Aunt, there’s no need for such formalities!”

Although the young Empress usually had little influence in court, today Long Diqing was following behind her.

The civil and military officials had always been quick to read the situation. This time they lowered their heads, eyes on their noses and noses on their hearts.

“Imperial Consort, what matter have you called me here for?” The Empress Mingxing raised her eyes to look at the elegant man not far away and asked in a gentle voice.

Imperial Consort Yu’s expression brightened. He stepped forward and recounted everything that had happened yesterday.

Although he was asking the Empress to make a decision, he was actually exerting pressure both openly and secretly, bringing out the Three Dukes and Six Marquises and the Cabinet Elders to uphold justice in this matter.

It concerned the reputation of the Second Imperial Consort, and the villain was Liu Changning, the top commoner that the gentry were all paying attention to.

As Imperial Consort Yu had expected, the older generation of officials came forward to pressure Abbess Ningxin to hand over Liu Changning, to stop the rumors.

Ningxin and Pei Yuanshao exchanged a glance, and she subtly shook her head at him.

Then she lowered her head and remained silent, watching from the sidelines.