Chapter 200: Remembering an Old Friend
Ying Wuchou seemed struck by these words, forced to lean against a nearby tree.
His hands trembled violently, and it took him a long time to speak.
“You… how do you know these things?” Ying Wuchou stared intently at Wen Mingqian, “Please tell me, or I won’t rest.”
His tone was more pleading than commanding.
“Does Your Highness believe what I’ve said? Perhaps, this is just a story,” Wen Mingqian reminded him.
After all, she had said from the beginning that it was a story.
“No, you must know something,” Ying Wuchou shook his head, “Few people know about her and me. Even my aunt wouldn’t be this clear. It’s evident you are very close to her. Who are you to her?”
Ying Wuchou asked urgently. For so many years, he had kept that person hidden in his heart, daring not to tell anyone.
He thought he would have to bury it for his entire life, until the day he died.
Because the world was full of curses against her, even the history books recorded them as such.
“Although we are not related by blood, we are like sisters. When I was young, my mother was gravely ill. All attempts to find medical help were in vain. Someone suggested that if one’s own children entered a temple to cultivate, abstain from meat, and worship Buddha, it might accumulate blessings and extend the mother’s life.” Wen Mingqian spoke slowly, “At that time, my two elder brothers were diligently studying. I couldn’t bear to see their studies disrupted, so I volunteered to go into the mountains to cultivate.
There I met Elder Sister Shen. She was staying there at the time, praying for her father.
She was a few years older than me and treated me like a younger sister. We lived in that temple for nearly three years, eating and sleeping together, sharing everything.
I remember in the spring of the third year, outsiders came to the temple to offer incense. Afterward, I contracted the plague. The people in the temple avoided me as if I were a contagion, and they left me in an empty room in the back courtyard.
Only Elder Sister Shen, without undressing, took care of me. Several times, when I was already on the verge of death, she pulled me back.
She searched for herbs for me, tried folk remedies, and even performed acupuncture, exhausting every method she could think of.
Later, Elder Sister Shen also contracted the plague, but she still tried her best to take care of me.
Fearing the spread of the plague, the temple people sealed the room we were staying in with bricks, tiles, and wooden planks, leaving us to fend for ourselves.
For those half-months, we survived on only half a vat of water and half a bag of moldy dry rations in the room.
After half a month, we worked together to dig a hole in the window and crawl out, only to discover that everyone else in the temple had died from the plague.
We walked in the desolate mountains for three days before reaching the nearest town. We also met a kind person who helped us send a message home.
Later, we were brought back by our families. For several years afterward, although we exchanged letters a few times, we never met again. Later, our families moved around, and our news of each other ceased.
It wasn’t until many years later, when my family moved to the Capital City, that I learned she had entered the palace as a consort.
We had no opportunity to meet again, nor did I deliberately contact her. Firstly, I didn’t want people to think I was trying to curry favor, and secondly, I thought there would be plenty of time in the future, and we would meet again someday.
I never expected that our next meeting would be in the autumn of the third year of Chunjia.
Your Highness must have had people investigate me, so you should know what I went through that year.” Wen Mingqian gave a slight bitter smile as she said this. Some things, no matter how much time passes, still feel bitter when looked back upon.
Ying Wuchou nodded. He did know.
“Since Your Highness knows, I won’t elaborate. We met in a dilapidated temple in Lanxi. Elder Sister knew she couldn’t escape and told me to leave quickly to avoid being implicated. It was then I learned that Elder Sister was originally going to seek refuge with Your Highness, but ultimately didn’t make it in time,” Wen Mingqian said.
“Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Ying Wuchou became anxious, “If I had known it was like this…”
“Your Highness, please don’t blame me for not speaking sooner. The truth is, people’s hearts are unpredictable. I didn’t know if your heart had changed after so many years. I was afraid that with one misstep, I would trust the wrong person,” Wen Mingqian said.
“I understand your good intentions, and I don’t blame you. But what do you plan to do?” Ying Wuchou looked at Wen Mingqian, feeling that as a weak woman, she could hardly accomplish anything significant.
“Your Highness, since I have chosen to trust you, I will hide nothing further. What I intend to do is of great importance,” Wen Mingqian said with a solemn expression, looking at Ying Wuchou. “It’s not suitable to talk much here. Let’s arrange another place to discuss in detail.”
After Wen Mingqian descended the mountain and arrived at Wu Qiu Nunnery, she saw Prince Zhao’s Mansion’s horse carriage already waiting at the entrance.
“Madam Wen, the Princess Consort invites you to her mansion for a visit,” the stewardess from the Prince’s Mansion said to Wen Mingqian with a smile.
Wen Mingqian got into the carriage without a word. She dozed off slightly in the carriage and woke up as the carriage arrived in front of the Prince’s Mansion.
Upon arriving at the guest room designated for visitors in the Prince’s Mansion, the old woman smiled and said to Wen Mingqian, “I see a bit of spring on Madam’s face. You must have had some wine. Have them bring some tea for you to drink before you meet the Princess Consort.”
“Granny is truly thoughtful,” Wen Mingqian smiled. “I did have a few drinks at the Grand Princess’s place.”
After drinking her tea, Wen Mingqian went to see the Princess Consort Zhao. The Princess Consort Zhao was beaming and, while gesturing for someone to bring her a seat, said, “You truly have remarkable skills! Look at my face, how many years has it not been this good?”
“Princess Consort, your skin was originally excellent. These are just minor issues,” Wen Mingqian said with a smile. “This is merely adding luster to an already beautiful thing. I don’t deserve such high praise.”
“No wonder the Grand Princess thinks so highly of you. You are not one of those frivolous people,” the Princess Consort Zhao said, her admiration for Wen Mingqian growing upon hearing her words. “You left in such a hurry last time that I didn’t even have a chance to reward you. This time, I will reward you handsomely. You must not refuse.”
“I am naturally happy if the Princess Consort wishes to bestow a reward, but please do not make it too excessive, as it would make me uneasy,” Wen Mingqian said, following the Princess Consort Zhao’s lead.
“You can rest assured about that. What I reward you with is something you can bear,” the Princess Consort Zhao said with a smile. “I know you are living in a nunnery, and that is not acceptable. Not only is it inappropriate for you to live in such a place, but it is also in a very remote area on the outskirts of the city, making it inconvenient to go anywhere.
I have asked someone to find a house for you nearby. Although it’s not large, it’s more than enough for you to live in alone. When you have free time, you can come over to chat with me and relieve your boredom, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
“Princess Consort, your generosity is too great. Any house in the Capital City is incredibly expensive,” Wen Mingqian said quickly. “You truly honor me too much.”
“What I give you, you must accept without further refusal, or I will be angry,” the Princess Consort Zhao said. “Do you think I give houses to just anyone? One must have the ability for that.”
The old woman beside her chimed in, “Madam Wen, please don’t refuse. The Princess Consort is in a very good mood these days; she even had a few more new clothes made.”
No woman dislikes beauty, especially someone as noble as the Princess Consort Zhao.
The Emperor’s annual allowance for her cosmetics was fifty thousand guan, enough to buy several houses.
Wen Mingqian did not refuse and thanked the Princess Consort Zhao deeply.
“Do you have any other good things? Bring them out for me to see,” the Princess Consort Zhao asked. “I will be going into the palace in a few days and will bring a few items for Elder Sister as well.”
The Elder Sister she spoke of was the current Empress, Dong Xiangning.
