Chapter 45 He lifted her chin behind the veil.

Chapter 45: Lifting her chin from beneath the veil.

Jiang Congyan noticed Su Li's strange gaze, likely a mix of jealousy and resentment. She chuckled to herself, unafraid.

The little bird that had flown away had now come back to her, and she was quite pleased. She asked A Chun to fetch some jerky to feed Lingxiao.

Lingxiao finished the meat in a few bites and tried to nuzzle against her again, but Tuo Baxiao kept blocking it.

It called out to her twice, its voice pitiful, as if saying, "It's been so long, and you're not close to me anymore."

Despite its large, fierce look, its voice sounded utterly pitiful.

Jiang Congyan couldn't bear it and took a step forward, but Tuo Baxiao tightly gripped her wrist.

She turned her head to look at him, smiling through her veil. Though the lower half of her face was obscured, her long, delicate, and charming eyes alone stirred his heart.

"Your Majesty is unmatched in bravery. I believe as long as you're here, I won't get hurt," she said softly.

Her voice, usually cool, now had a sweet, soft tone, incredibly pleasant to hear. Along with her shimmering, crystal-clear eyes under the cold moonlight, it was impossible to refuse her.

Tuo Baxiao rarely saw her acting flirtatious toward him and was momentarily stunned. His gaze darkened, his fiery gaze settling on her fair earlobe.

Jiang Congyan had already turned her head back and didn't notice. She held out her left hand, and Lingxiao eagerly nuzzled her palm, rubbing its head against her hand.

The soft, smooth, warm feeling reminded her of when Lingxiao used to do the same thing as a child.

She didn't know why it had left back then or why it had returned now, but the fact that it hadn't forgotten her after all these years filled her with nostalgia.

After a while, as it grew late, Tuo Baxiao led Jiang Congyan back to the tent.

Lingxiao wanted to follow her inside but got a cold glare from him.

Animals can sometimes sense human auras more keenly. Lingxiao sensed the man's unfriendly demeanor, tilted its head, and stared at him with its blood-red eyes, perhaps assessing whether it could take him on. Realizing it was no match, it reluctantly stayed outside the tent, letting out a dissatisfied growl.

Tuo Baxiao gave a cold snort.

Jiang Congyan, amused, asked, "Do you not like Lingxiao?"

Tuo Baxiao couldn't quite explain.

Logically, no one would dislike such a magnificent bird, especially in their warrior culture, where owning such a divine creature was a symbol of bravery. His Li Eagle was a similar creature.

But seeing how much attention she gave the bird, and how it fawned over her, constantly trying to nuzzle her, he couldn't like it.

However, saying so would make him seem petty, so he pursed his lips and said seriously, "Its nature is still unclear. It's best not to be too relaxed. Your maid can't handle it."

Fair enough. Jiang Congyan had no retort. Then she heard him ask, "Its name is Lingxiao? Which 'xiao'?"

Jiang Congyan suddenly remembered that his name also contained "Xiao." She smiled but didn't answer him directly. Instead, she tilted her head and asked, "Do you feel it disrespects your name? Should it be avoided?"

"But it was named years ago, before I even knew you," she said deliberately, her tone teasing.

Tuo Baxiao stiffened. "This king wouldn't stoop to arguing with a bird, nor do we have the convoluted taboos of your Central Plains emperors."

His use of "this king" revealed his true feelings.

She looked at him, deliberately staying silent for a moment. His jawline grew sterner, his lips pressed into a thin line. Though not angry, his displeasure was evident. Yet she refused to placate him. Only when his expression darkened further did she suddenly flash him a soft smile, her eyes curving slightly, her voice sweet. "Your 'Xiao' stands for bravery in battle, while Lingxiao's 'xiao' means soaring into the heavens."

Hearing this, Tuo Baxiao was finally satisfied.

Although he could imagine she wouldn't give a bird the name "Xiao," the thought of sharing the same name with a bird was still too much for him to tolerate.

Though the man's expression didn't change much, Jiang Congyan clearly sensed his mood improving after she spoke.

Hmph, acting all high and mighty, saying one thing but meaning another!

If it really shared his name, she would have changed it herself without him saying anything, as comparing him to a bird would be too insulting.

After speaking, Jiang Congyan stopped in her tracks, standing by the bed, her clear black eyes fixed on him, silent but her meaning clear as day.

Tuo Baxiao knew she was telling him to leave.

Except for that one night, she had never allowed him to stay overnight again. Even though Tuo Baxiao was burning with desire, on one hand, his previous outburst had frightened her, and on the other, her injuries weren't fully healed. He had also promised her not to cross the line before the wedding.

But logic and desire were two different things.

Having been woken up suddenly in the middle of the night, she was only wearing a nightgown inside, with a thin silk cloak draped over her. The soft, thin fabric draped softly on her body, outlining her slender and delicate figure. As the air stirred the silk, hints of the soft, snow-white fabric inside could be seen, illuminated by the dim candlelight, which instead highlighted her enchanting grace and otherworldly elegance.

Her face was hidden beneath the white veil, only a shadowy silhouette visible, but this mystery added an alluring allure in the dim night.

When he saw her walking out of the tent like this, his entire body tensed up.

Tuo Baxiao's gaze fixed on her face, burning with intensity in the candlelit tent.

Jiang Congyan's back went rigid, her heart tightening, and she instinctively stepped back. Unfortunately, she was too slow. The man's long arm reached out, pressing against her slender, soft waist, and with a slight force, he pulled her back into his embrace. She immediately raised her hand to push against him, but it wasn't enough to stop their bodies from coming together.

It was now spring and summer, and the temperature had risen significantly. The young man, full of energy, wore only a thin robe, which couldn't contain the heat radiating from his chest.

Jiang Congyan felt the man's chest beneath her palm was scorching, the warmth spreading through her bloodstream, making her cheeks and ears burn.

"Don't..." she murmured, her lashes trembling as she lowered her eyes, not daring to meet the man's intense gaze, silently praying he wouldn't go too far again.

The man's arm tightly wrapped around her, and with his other hand, he lifted her chin beneath the veil.

Jiang Congyan closed her eyes in fear, then felt a wave of warmth as his lips brushed against hers.

Through the veil, the sensation was muted, but she could still feel his warmth.

She opened her eyes in surprise, meeting his deep, emerald gaze up close.

He didn't move further, just kept his lips pressed against hers.

His arm still held her tightly, even squeezing a bit tighter, the firmness beneath her palm showing how tense his body was. Yet, he only kept his lips against hers, not demanding more.

Jiang Congyan didn't dare move, nor did she struggle anymore.

His actions were still overbearing, but she inexplicably sensed his restraint.

The man held her like this, kissing her through the veil lingeringly, until A Chun's voice came from outside.

"My lady, do you need me to help you change your bandages?"

Jiang Congyan knew A Chun wasn't really there to change her bandages but was deliberately interrupting.

Tuo Baxiao had been in the tent for too long.

The man seemed to snap back to reality at the sound, his fingers loosening slightly as he lifted his head, breaking the kiss.

Jiang Congyan thought it was over and gently pushed him away, but in the next moment, his intense expression rapidly closed in again.

Then he planted a burning kiss on her eyelids.

Jiang Congyan's long lashes fluttered.

When she opened her eyes again, the man had already left her, his arms no longer holding her.

"Your eyes are beautiful," Tuo Baxiao said.

...

After the man left, Jiang Congyan sat on the bed for a long time, still dazed.

She removed her veil, silently touching her lips and then her eyelids, both still burning, as if they retained his scent.

Looking back, she still felt a little unaccustomed, but she wasn’t as resistant to his closeness as before.

She had never thought about marriage, nor had she liked anyone, and she certainly didn’t want physical contact with a stranger. But a decree had betrothed her to Tuo Baxiao, leaving her no choice but to adapt.

This way wasn’t so bad. Soon they would marry, and the duties of husband and wife would be unavoidable. Even if she didn’t like it, it was better than hating it; otherwise, she’d be the one suffering. Compared to how other men treated their wives, Tuo Baxiao was decent to her, though it’d be better if he were a bit more restrained.

Having sorted out her thoughts, Jiang Congyan felt a little more at ease and lay down, ready to sleep.

In the camp, a white figure nimbly flew onto a tent, found a comfortable spot, and settled in to sleep.

Su Li watched Lingxiao from below, uneasy. If not for the king’s orders, he would’ve captured this divine bird.

Su Li walked back to his tent, glancing back every few steps, his eyes fixed darkly on Lingxiao, as if plotting something.

Lingxiao sensed the human’s scheming, suddenly opened its blood-red eyes, glanced at Su Li, then spread its massive wings and charged, flapping wildly and clawing at his head.

Su Li waved his hands to fend off the attacks, but with one in the sky and the other on the ground, he was at a disadvantage. Unarmed, he couldn’t block Lingxiao’s assault; his hair was a mess, and his face bore several bloody scratches.

Fortunately, Lingxiao showed restraint, only warning the human. Otherwise, with its sharp claws, Su Li would have more than just these minor wounds.

After the warning, Lingxiao flew back to the tent and lounged leisurely.

Su Li: '...'

It pissed him off!

He almost grabbed a bow and arrow to shoot the eagle down, but the king had forbidden harming it.

After losing Wudati Hou’s eagle, now they had this troublemaker.

Su Li stomped his foot, glared at Lingxiao, then stormed back to his tent.

The next day, the team moved out again.

Everyone noticed General Su Li seemed different today; his helmet was tightly fastened, and he’d covered his face, leaving only one eye exposed.

It wasn’t even winter—why bundle up like that? Wasn’t it hot?

General Modolou, never one for subtleties, rode over and asked, "Su Li, what’s with the mask?" pointing at Su Li’s face covering.

Su Li glared at him, ignored him, and walked away directly.

Modolou scratched his head, not understanding what tantrum Su Li was throwing this time, but Su Li, like Chigan Balie, had a very bad temper.

Even at lunch, Su Li still refused to remove his helmet and mask.

"General Su Li, how are you going to eat without taking off your scarf?" someone asked.

Upon hearing this, Su Li glared at the person, grabbed the roasted bread they handed him, and made his way to a quieter spot.

He looked around, seeing no one paying attention to him, and then carefully removed his scarf to eat the bread in secret.

"Ha, Su Li, I knew you were up to no good sneaking around like that. Now I've caught you in the act. So, you're hiding because your face is injured and you're too embarrassed to show it."

Chigan Balie suddenly jumped out, startling Su Li, who quickly covered his face and tried to push Chigan Balie away.

"Get lost!"

"Su Li, what happened to your face?" Chigan Balie excitedly pressed, his voice booming like a drum.

Su Li, covering his face, glared at him furiously, his eyes almost spitting fire.

Everyone was drawn by Chigan Balie's loud remark and started looking at Su Li's face. At this point, there was no point in hiding anymore.

That loudmouth Chigan Balie, Su Li thought, I'll smash his mouth shut.

Furious and humiliated, Su Li lunged at Chigan Balie, no longer caring about anything else.

Chigan Balie, though still injured, wasn't afraid of Su Li and threw punches back.

The two exchanged blows, and even though the crowd tried to stop them, they couldn't. Seeing the intensity of their brawl, someone quickly went to get Tuo Baxiao.

Upon hearing the news, Tuo Baxiao walked over with a stern face. Grabbing them while they were tangled up, he yanked them apart and threw them to the ground.

"Do you think this trip is too boring without enemies?" Tuo Baxiao coldly reprimanded.

"My lord, I apologize."

Chigan Balie and Su Li dared not argue and knelt respectfully, admitting their fault.

Tuo Baxiao snorted coldly, glaring down at them with a warning: any further misbehavior would not be tolerated.

After being scolded, Chigan Balie not only wasn't discouraged but instead started laughing uncontrollably, "Su Li, your face got clawed by that big bird, hahaha."

"You can't even beat a bird, hahaha!"

"Hahaha..."

He laughed so hard he couldn't catch his breath, while Su Li's face turned red with anger. If the lord hadn't just scolded him, he would have killed Chigan Balie on the spot.

Ugh!!!

Chigan Balie didn't stop at just laughing himself; he went around telling everyone about it, even thinking his own scars weren't so shameful anymore.

His scars were at least inflicted by the lord himself, whereas Su Li was clawed by a bird. Compared to that, Su Li was more humiliated, hahaha...

Su Li was seething with rage; he had never been so humiliated before.

Chigan Balie, and that bird, hmph, someday he'd get back at them for humiliating him.

Su Li glared at Lingxiao perched on the carriage roof.

Jiang Congyan figured Lingxiao would take off again, but it stuck around.

Raptors are great at flying, but this one was oddly lazy.

When traveling, it didn't fly on its own but instead perched on the roof of her carriage, catching a free ride. It only went out to hunt for food at night.

After Jiang Congyan fed it dried meat a few times, it didn't even want to hunt anymore. Every day at mealtime, it would wait in front of her, staring at her with its crimson eyes, still acting like a hungry baby bird, which left her both amused and slightly annoyed.

However, judging by its behavior, it seemed to have decided to stay by her side.

Tuo Baxiao observed Lingxiao for a few days and, after confirming that it was intelligent and wouldn't attack her, allowed her to interact with it alone. However, he probably couldn't stand seeing it freeload, so he suggested to Jiang Congyan, "There are people in the royal court who are skilled at raising eagles. I'll have someone train it for you to serve as a protector."

If trained well, such a raptor could be as formidable as a fierce man, especially since it could fly, giving it an added advantage.

The only guard she had was a man named Zhang Zheng, whose skills were nothing special. As for the maids, they were too weak to protect themselves, let alone her.

After the incident where she was abducted by Wudati Hou, he was still worried and wanted to strengthen her security. However, most of his subordinates were male warriors, and even if assigned to her, they couldn't provide close protection. As for women, there simply weren't enough to go around.

Now that this eagle had come along, it was just what they needed.

Jiang Congyan thought for a moment and said, "Alright, but I don't want to turn it into a guard. I want it to be my messenger."

"A messenger?"

Jiang Congyan looked up at the vast sky, spreading her arms, her voice light and cheerful. "Yes, I want to write letters to my grandparents. If Lingxiao could deliver them, it would be a lot easier."

Tuo Baxiao looked at her expectant face. He had heard her mention Liangzhou several times, each time with a look of longing. She must have had a happy childhood there.

In this era, carrier pigeons were already used for communication, but they were pretty limited. They could only deliver messages point-to-point and were easily shot down. If Lingxiao were used instead, it would be a game-changer.

It could fly at high altitudes and was highly intelligent. Besides Liangzhou, it might even be able to deliver messages elsewhere.

In this era, communication was a big problem, especially since she was in the distant grasslands of the royal court, far from the Central Plains. News from there would take at least two months to reach her, and in two months, major events that could change everything could happen.

...

There were no further provocations or ambushes. Apart from the occasional complex and resentful glances from Su Li, the rest of the journey was quiet and uneventful. In a few days, they would reach the royal court.

Meanwhile, Xie Shao also set off on his journey back to Chang'an.

They first returned to Guyuan for a day to rest, treat the wounded, and restock supplies and horse feed.

Before setting out the next day, Xie Shao's Imperial Guard helped him pack his belongings in the room. While sorting through his old clothes, something fell out—a white porcelain jar.

The Imperial Guard picked up the jar, but before he could do anything, Xie Shao had already noticed and snatched it back without a word.

"General..." the Imperial Guard was taken aback.

Xie Shao's stern face revealed nothing. He simply tucked the jar into his robe and said to the guard, "Keep packing. We leave at dawn."

"Yes..."

The Imperial Guard continued packing, but he couldn't stop thinking about the white porcelain jar. If he remembered correctly, it was the jar from the medicine the princess had given.

During the ambush, the princess had distributed medicine to the wounded soldiers and had physicians tend to their injuries promptly. Many in the Lüben Guard were grateful to her.

Although the white porcelain jar was exquisite, it wasn't all that special for the Lüben Guard. Yet the general seemed to treasure it.

Xie Shao said nothing more and, at dawn, led the Lüben Guard on their way.

Chang'an.

Since mid-March, when Tuo Baxiao was sent off, the noisy city of Chang'an quieted down for a while, only to become unprecedentedly lively again in early April.

On the eighth day of the fourth month, the Buddha's Birthday Festival.

This Buddhist ceremony commemorates the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni. Because the main content of the ceremony is bathing the Buddha, it is also called the Bathing the Buddha Festival.

At this time, Buddhism flourished, with not only commoners but also scholar-official families and feudal lords deeply devoted to it. Thus, the Bathing the Buddha Festival in Chang'an was always particularly lively each year. This year, the Emperor's participation further heightened the people's enthusiasm.

Besides the people's own activities, the court sent officials to host the Bathing the Buddha ceremony at Pinglin Temple, Chang'an's largest temple.

Pinglin Temple, built during the previous dynasty, had stood for a century.

Fifty years ago, amidst chaos, rebel forces breached Chang'an. They set the city ablaze, burning many houses and palaces to the ground. As the fire neared Pinglin Temple, a sudden strong wind blew the flames away, sparing the temple. Moreover, two hours later, heavy rain extinguished the raging fire. Witnessing this, the people were deeply moved, believing Buddha had intervened, sending rain to save Chang'an. Suspecting they had angered the gods, the rebel forces grew fearful and their morale waned. Taizu took advantage of this to gather his troops and defeat them, saving Chang'an and laying the foundation for his future unification.

Although Taizu did not believe in Buddhism, the event was seen as a miracle by the people, who became even more convinced that Buddha was protecting them. They donated money and rice to Pinglin Temple and erected golden statues of Buddha. Taizu, having taken advantage of the rebels' weakened morale to defeat them, could not easily forbid the people's activities.

Because of this event, Pinglin Temple held a special place in the hearts of Chang'an's people. Over the decades, it was continuously renovated and expanded, and now its scale was no less than that of a palace.

The nobles of Chang'an often came to this temple to offer incense and worship Buddha. To accommodate these distinguished guests, the temple had built many rooms in the rear garden for them to rest and dine.

On the eighth day of the fourth month, Chang'an was already bustling before dawn. When the morning drum sounded from the bell tower, signaling the end of the curfew, the people eagerly took to the streets. They carried colorful silk, flowers, candles, and incense, and as monks carried a golden Buddha statue through the streets, the crowd followed devoutly behind, accompanied by music and chants, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

While the common people celebrated the Bathing the Buddha Festival with great enthusiasm, Pinglin Temple focused on solemnity.

Officials from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and monks from Pinglin Temple had long prepared for the grand ceremony of the Bathing the Buddha Festival. Imperial Guards cleared the way, standing on both sides to escort the royal consorts and noble ladies.

In the morning, the Emperor of Liang led his ministers in performing the Bathing the Buddha ceremony in the main hall of Pinglin Temple.

He stood in the magnificent hall, first offering flowers to the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni in the center. Then, holding incense sticks, he dipped them in water infused with spices and sprinkled it on the towering Buddha statue.

The water droplets fell on the gold-leaf-covered statue, forming crystal-like beads that reflected dazzling light.

This was the Bathing the Buddha ceremony.

After the ceremony, everyone moved to the rooms in the rear garden to rest and await the vegetarian meal.

Consort Zhao Shi of Chu often came to Pinglin Temple to worship Buddha and was familiar with the monks there. Without needing guidance, she made her way to a secluded courtyard in the rear hall.

The courtyard had only three rooms, much simpler than other areas, but it was surrounded by flowers and trees, making it very quiet.

"I'll take a short nap. You go guard the courtyard entrance," she casually dismissed her personal maid and then lay down on the low couch.

She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep for a while. Suddenly, a large hand caressed her fair cheek, fingers brushing her lips, sliding down her chin to her neck, and then continuing until they disappeared into her collar, lifting a curve.

"Really asleep?" the man chuckled softly, his fingers continuing to play.

"Even if I were asleep, you would have woken me with your mischief," Zhao Shi finally opened her eyes, glaring at the man with a mix of anger and affection, her eyes filled with tenderness, her tone not angry but flirtatious.

"You complained last time that I hadn't visited you in a while. Now that I have the chance, here I am," Zhao Zhen said as he deftly untied the sash at her waist, her robe falling open.

Zhao Shi reached out with her jade-like arm and hooked it around his neck. "Today is the Bathing the Buddha Festival, and we're in Pinglin Temple. How dare you not revere Buddha?"

Hearing her speak of revering Buddha while her hands clung to him, Zhao Zhen knew her words were insincere. Without further ado, he lowered his head and bit her snow-white skin...

Last time in the palace's artificial mountain, it was too rushed. Today, he would take his time to claim what he wanted.

"Ah!" Zhao Shi let out a coquettish cry.

The quiet and secluded room was suddenly filled with faint, suggestive noises.

The Lady of the Marquis of Anping was also led by a novice monk to the resting quarters. As she passed through the apricot grove, she saw one of her maids rushing over.

The maid hurriedly leaned in and whispered something into her ear. The Lady of the Marquis of Anping's expression changed abruptly, her eyebrows furrowing as she asked in a low voice, "Is it true?"

The maid nodded hastily, "I indeed heard someone saying this."

The lady's hand bracelet was missing. She had just been searching along the path when she overheard two young maids hiding behind the bushes, whispering gossip. She initially didn't want to pay attention, but then she suddenly heard a familiar title, "Lord Zhao," followed by "Princess Consort of Chu."

The terms "Lord Zhao" and "Princess Consort of Chu" mentioned together could only refer to those two.

As the Lady of the Marquis of Anping's personal maid, she naturally knew her mistress's mindset.

Noble Consort Zhao was favored, and the Zhao family was greatly favored by the Emperor. However, the Empress, a woman from the Wang family, was sidelined by His Majesty. The Lady of the Marquis of Anping was the wife of Wang Gui, the Empress's older brother, and thus the Empress's sister-in-law. She naturally had a natural animosity toward the Zhao family. If she could catch the Zhao family in wrongdoing, her mistress would be delighted, and she herself would gain favor in her mistress's eyes.

After listening in for a while, she realized the situation was even more shocking than she had imagined. Lord Zhao had slipped into the resting quarters of the Princess Consort of Chu and had not come out for a long time. If it were official business, why would he need to act so covertly? She immediately thought of scandalous affairs within the inner chambers...

Not daring to act on her own, she rushed back to report to her mistress.

The Lady of the Marquis of Anping lowered her eyes, pondered for a moment, and then whispered back, "Sneak around to the back wall of Zhao Shi's residence and listen carefully. Make sure you're not seen. Once you find out, come back and report to me immediately."

The maid nodded and hurried off.

The Lady of the Marquis of Anping decided against resting. She dismissed the novice monk and hurried toward the inner hall where several other ladies were preparing to chant Buddhist scriptures to show their devotion.

She stood outside the hall, waiting for a while until the maid returned. The maid nodded to her and whispered, "There are indeed sounds of intimacy, but I'm not sure if the man is Lord Zhao."

The Lady of the Marquis of Anping immediately smiled, a gleam of cunning in her eyes. Regardless of who the man was, if Zhao Shi was caught in such a scandalous act on such an important day, and in the sacred grounds of Pinglin Temple, she would not be able to escape.

She softly instructed the maid to ask the temple for some monk guards, claiming that a thief had been spotted and that they needed to surround Zhao Shi's courtyard to capture the intruder.

After the maid left, her expression changed to one of urgency.

She rushed into the hall, "Ladies, something terrible has happened! I heard that a thief has entered the area where the women are resting in the rear garden! I've already called for monk guards to help apprehend him, but I can't handle this alone. Please come with me."

"A thief?" someone exclaimed.

This was no small matter, especially since the people attending the Bathing the Buddha Festival at Pinglin Temple today were all high-ranking nobles.

"Yes, my maid saw it with her own eyes. He fled toward the northeast behind the apricot grove. The monk guards have already caught him, but I don't know how to deal with him."

"How to deal with him? Anyone who dares to sneak into the temple and disturb the women should be beaten to death," said an elderly lady, supported by her maid, as she stood up from her cushion. Her voice was cold and authoritative.

This was the mother of the Minister of Ceremonies and also the Princess Consort of Liuyang Commandery, the highest-ranking lady among them. Her family men held positions in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, so they were very strict about propriety.

Seeing her anger, the Lady of the Marquis of Anping felt even more pleased, though she feigned hesitation, "In principle, that should be the case, but this involves a noble..."

"No matter their status, no one should act improperly in the sacred grounds of the temple. Come, take me to see!"

The Princess Consort of Liuyang Commandery took the cane handed to her by her maid, stomped it heavily, and immediately ordered someone to lead the way.

Thus, a large group of people marched toward the rear garden.

Zhao Zhen had come to secretly meet Zhao Shi, and Zhao Shi's personal maid was naturally keeping watch outside, ready to alert her mistress at any sign of trouble.

However, her stomach was hurting terribly. It had been bothering her earlier, but she could still bear it. Now the pain was getting worse, and her stomach was growling loudly. She was on the verge of losing control, and if she soiled herself, it would be utterly humiliating. She looked around and, seeing no one, hurried off toward the restroom.

She had just finished and stepped out of the outhouse when her stomach growled again.

"Bad luck, I only had a pancake this morning and haven't eaten anything else. As soon as I arrived at this temple, my stomach started acting up. What kind of sacred Buddhist site is this? Pah!" She cursed under her breath and squatted back down.

She didn't know that during her time in the outhouse, the courtyard had already been surrounded by the temple monks and several ladies.

The monk guards encircled the courtyard. With their keen hearing, they naturally caught the faint sounds of indecent activity, causing them to feel both ashamed and furious, their faces red with anger. This was a sacred Buddhist site; how could such filthy acts be tolerated? Despite their anger, they didn't rush in to catch the culprits. It wasn't until the Lady of the Marquis of Anping and the Princess Consort of Liuyang Commandery arrived that they stepped forward to report and seek their judgment.

The Princess Consort of Liuyang Commandery had no tolerance for disrespectful behavior, especially since she was a devout Buddhist. To have such a disgraceful incident occur in the temple today, even if it involved the emperor, she would give him a good whack with her cane.

"Go in! Arrest them!" The Princess Consort of Liuyang Commandery trembled with anger, her lips quivering as she spoke through clenched teeth.