Jing Huan stood beside Pei Yuanshao. He glanced at him imperceptibly and transmitted his internal energy to speak: “She was in Your Highness’s room last night, yet Your Highness is now indifferent. If you don’t plan to step forward and defend her, I’m afraid the civil and military officials will force Cang Yun to marry the Second Imperial Consort.”

Pei Yuanshao turned his head and gave him a meaningful look, his lips not moving but transmitting his internal energy to coldly snort: “What does she have to do with me? Last night’s moment of passion, that woman was too vigorous. This Imperial Consort is getting older and weaker, unable to enjoy such blessings. Jing Master, if you are… worried about her now, don’t just talk without action! You should strive for her, what use is there in telling me?”

Jing Huan’s eyes flashed with a fierce light, extremely angry. He took a breath and said word by word: “Just such a man who puts power above all else is indeed not worthy of her.”

Pei Yuanshao opened his mouth, restraining the rebuttal that was about to come out, and swallowed it. He coughed lightly, a flash of light passing through his eyes.

“Whatever the King of Zheng Nan says! Jealousy has made you lose your true self…”

Jing Huan clenched his fingers, his chest heaving. He released his internal energy, shooting the thick internal energy in his body into Pei Yuanshao’s chest.

The man in red reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side, barely avoiding it.

He turned his head, curled his lips, and sneered: “Angry from embarrassment, Jing Master is nothing more than this!”

――

At this moment in the Discipline Hall, the Cabinet Elders were remonstrating, pressuring both openly and secretly. If Abbess Ningxin did not hand over Liu Changning, it would not end well.

Ningxin was not afraid. She smiled and listened to everyone’s pressuring words.

Then she stepped forward, bowed to the Empress, put her palms together and said: “Amitabha, Your Majesty need not be troubled. Since all the officials are slandering Cang Yun like this, I don’t mind revealing her whereabouts. But now all of you are maliciously slandering without any evidence. If we can prove her innocence, you should all give her an explanation.”

As soon as Ningxin said this.

Imperial Consort Yu was the first to step forward and refute: “Abbess, why say so much? Whether it’s slander or not, we need to see the evidence first!”

“Liu Cang Yun was in the Sutra Library of our temple’s sacred grounds last night, personally writing the ‘Lotus Sutra’! It’s absolutely impossible for her to be the villain in the Second Imperial Consort’s room.”

When Imperial Consort Yu heard this, he smashed the jade bracelet in his hand on the ground with a “bang”.

He stepped forward and stood in front of Ningxin, saying coldly: “Is the Abbess taking us all for fools with these words? To lie in front of the Empress is a capital offense! Even if that Liu Cang Yun is talented in both virtue and skill, a literary star descended from heaven, how could she write sutras for your Taoist sect?”

“Abbess Ningxin, be careful with your words!”

“Your Majesty, please be clear-sighted. Abbess Ningxin’s bias is serious. She is clearly protecting that commoner woman.”

…

The Cabinet Elders stepped forward one after another to refute.

The bald nun at the center of attention, however, remained composed, with a kind expression and gentle smile, saying: “Those who have left secular life do not tell lies. Although I have known young friend Cang Yun for two years and we have a deep friendship, I would not violate the rules and precepts of Taoism for her. Her attainments in Taoism are far beyond mine, and even surpass those of my teacher, Abbess Jianhua. If she hadn’t insisted on entering the court to become an official, I could have handed over the position of Abbess of Nanhua Temple to her! If you don’t believe me, just follow me.”

――

The Sutra Library was a sacred place in Nanhua Temple, where only enlightened people in the temple could enter.

The group marched grandly to the entrance of the Sutra Library.

Ningxin went forward to unlock the copper lock and called out to the person inside: “Young friend Cang Yun, the Empress and the officials wish to see your attainments in Taoism. Please come out and show the ‘Lotus Sutra’ you wrote last night to all the officials.”

A yawn came from inside.

The voice was neither loud nor soft, as cool as a clear spring.

After a while, the red-lacquered wooden door of the Sutra Library was pushed open from the inside.

Out walked a woman, wearing a moon-colored straight-collared cotton robe, covered with a white cloak with green plum blossoms.

She opened the wooden door with her delicate hand and slowly walked towards the crowd.

A simple white jade phoenix hairpin held up her black hair, and as she walked, the hanging tassels swayed gracefully.

Snowflakes danced around her, blending with the snow-covered ground.

As she came closer, her clear and immortal-like face was clearly exposed to everyone’s eyes.

Her almond eyes were like colored glaze, her skin transparent and blending with the snowflakes. Her willow eyebrows were distinct as if carefully drawn, her nose straight and elegant, her thin lips tinged with a touch of cherry blossom pink.

Cool and otherworldly, standing alone in the world.

From the moment she pushed open the door, the court officials standing at the entrance of the Sutra Library were stunned for half a quarter of an hour.

There was a woman, with a beautiful appearance, as beautiful as a celestial being.

If this woman were to be a grass-cutting villain, then all the men in the world would probably be half-willing, half-reluctant, willingly submitting themselves under her.

Pei Yuanshao stood in the snow, watching her slowly walk towards him, her outstanding appearance just like when he first saw her in his previous life.

He closed his eyes, his eyelids sore. At this moment, everyone’s attention was focused on her.

In his heart, there was only intense anger. Look! High as a mountain!

The looks in everyone’s eyes as they gazed at her were filled with amazement, shyness, and even possession.

And he…

Pei Yuanshao suddenly felt as if he had contracted a serious illness. He had agreed to sever all ties.

Yet in the midst of everyone’s amazed gazes, he felt intense jealousy.

He rubbed his forehead, ignoring the sourness in his heart.

Looking up, he met her smiling almond eyes.

She blinked at him and pointed to his collar.

Pei Yuanshao suddenly came to his senses, looked down, and saw that the button at his collar had come undone at some point, exposing a plum blossom-like seductive kiss mark on his slender neck.

He glared at her angrily and quickly pulled his collar closed.

She had already walked up to the Empress, kneeling respectfully in the snow. Her clear and moist voice was like a tinkling spring: “This commoner pays respects to Your Majesty, Imperial Consort… Long Imperial Consort…”

The last word “qing” was drawn out, whether intentionally or unintentionally, its ending prolonged. It was as gentle as last night when, in the heat of passion, she had whispered over his ear, panting: “Be good, Long Diqing, come on, move yourself!”

Pei Yuanshao’s hands trembled as he struggled with the buttons for quite a while. For some reason, his hands and feet became clumsy, shaking uncontrollably.

The woman before him, dressed in white that outshone the snow. She was like a poison… He had promised to quit her… but it seemed so difficult!