"This…" Ren Wan Yun was somewhat hesitating. If she were to stay with Shen Miao, and if she was to meet with any unexpected misfortune, it would be difficult for Ren Wan Yun to escape from obligations. Not waiting for her to think out of a better way, Shen Miao continued speaking, "If Shěnshěn is not willing, then it is also alright if either Dàjiě or Èrjiě is willing to squeeze with me."
Shen Yue's gaze flashed but she did not speak. Even though Shen Qing did not know what her mother was planning, she could vaguely guess that this trip was targeted at Shen Miao. Additionally, she currently did not bother to conceal the hate she had for Shen Miao, naturally, she coldly said, "I am used to living alone."
"As such…" Shen Miao muttered gently.
"Then I would go with Wǔ jiě'ér to stay at the Northern Pavilion." Shen Miao's words were not even finished when Ren Wan Yun spoke. She was afraid that Shen Miao would change things at this time again and thinking that even though they were to stay together, she could still stay somewhat further away so that the blame will not fall to her. Since the Heavens were high and the Emperor far away, Shen Xin would not be able to say anything of her at that time as the truth was such.
Shen Miao smiled faintly, "Then many thanks for Èrshěn's accompaniment."
Her words were polite but Ren Wan Yun could not help but frown but she instantly put on a smiling face, "We are after all one family."
After settling the living arrangement, the next thing was to tidy things up. Because Shen Qing and Shen Yue were a little tired, they did not eat vegetarian food together and went back to their individual rooms. After reaching the Northern pavilion, without waiting for Ren Wan Yun to speak, Shen Miao said, "I also feel very tired and would not be taking the meal with Èrshěn and head directly to the room first."
Ren Wan Yun was surprised for a moment before smiling, "Then suit yourself. If one is tired, then rest early."
Shen Miao nodded in agreement.
When the young monk who led the three of them, mistress and servants, to the room, Shen Miao could not help but sigh with admiration.
Indeed, in such a cold and desolate place like Wu Long Temple, there was this room that was particularly elegant. The side was lined with a small forest which made it quiet and even though the furnishings in the room were simple, they revealed exquisiteness everywhere. When one sees it, one's heart would feel happy.
"The scenery here is really beautiful." Gu Yu was unexpectedly surprised.
"Replying to Shizhu, only honourable guests can stay in this particular room. The residence's Fūrén had instructed to leave this precious room for Shizhu." The young monk said as his head lowered.
"Help me to thank Èrshěn's good intentions." Shen Miao said lightly but her eyes were looking around. This room was located the innermost of the Northern Pavilion, which meant that the surroundings were inaccessible. So if one were to scream, it would be useless.
It was rare to see that they even seal off any survival route. As for the exquisite layout of the room, one was afraid that it was out of the convenience of 'that person' to use.
"What is this incense?" Jing Zhe picked up a few sticks of incense on the table and put it to her nose to smell, "It is similar to Orchids but is more fragrant than Orchids." Her eyes fell onto the Orchid designed incense burner, "This incense burner is also very unique."
Gu Yu saw it and also smiled, "It seemed that the temple has also specifically inquired that Xiǎojiě likes to light incense before sleeping. Since Xiǎojiě is tired at night, one will light it up before bedtime so that Xiǎojiě can sleep well at night."
"Now, one feels that this Wu Long Temple is actually not bad." Jing Zhe was laughing and joking, "No wonder even though it is located deep in the forest, Second Fūrén still arranged to come over to pray."
Shen Miao's brows were slightly wrinkled. She walked forward a little and took the incense in Jing Zhe's hands and smelled it. After smelling it, her brows tightened.
When the two girls saw it, they asked in hesitation, "Xiǎojiě, is there anything wrong with this incense?"
Anything abnormal was evil. In Shen Miao's mind, after entering Wu Long Temple, she had not put her heart down. The more the place was proper, the more she could see the danger in it. She had the habit of putting incense before she sleeps as females often like delicate things and the incense burner was lovely. Even if one were to pray, a normal female would light up the incense to match the quiet and elegant environment here.
But to her, it was not the case. The females who survived in the Inner Palace would use all kinds of means and methods to climb up and in Shen Miao's past life where she was the mistress of the six palaces for so many years, naturally, she had the ability to make discerning judgments. This kind of shameful things, she had seen too many of it. As for the aphrodisiac in the incense, it was a common method that the concubines would play with.
If she was a normal unmarried Gūniáng, naturally she would not have heard of such things.
"It is not a good thing at all." Her hand loosened and those incenses fell down.
Gu Yu and Jing Zhe were surprised and looked at one another. After a moment Jing Zhe said, "Then should I throw these things away?"
"No need." Shen Miao's gaze landed on those incenses that fell. Ren Wan Yun and that person had spent so much thought and effort to prepare such a good gift to her and it would be a pity if it was wasted. A sneer suddenly appeared on her lips, "Keep it. There would be a time to use it."
*****
In the room that overlooked far from Shen Miao's room, Ren Wan Yun sat on the couch and facing an old woman who was hunching back. It was not someone else but Gui Māmā.
"You know of today's matter. After it is successful, naturally you will benefit from it but if it fails…" Ren Wan Yun lightly coughed, "I do not need to tell you what kind of ending it would be."
When she spoke, there were not any of the usual amiable appearances and her eyes made one cold.
Gui Māmā flattered with a smile, "Fūrén rest assured. Everything is handled by this old servant and when this old servant does things, naturally there would not be any mistakes. It is expected that tonight would go on smoothly."
Ren Wan Yun's expression only then eased down before she said, "I naturally trust you since you are the closest person to Wǔ jiě'ér. What we do is for Shen Residence. When Wǔ jiě'ér becomes sensible in the future, she would know the pros and cons and naturally would know that you are doing it for her own good and would not treat you unfairly."
Gui Māmā nodded her head in agreement but her heart was filled with contempt. If Shen Miao knew of the matter in the future, it would not be strange for her to hate her to death and how would she treat her well. Thinking of what would be happening tonight, Gui Māmā could not help but be somewhat frightened. She did not think that this Shen family's Second Shen Fūrén who always had an amiable appearance would think of such a vicious and cruel method. After all, if this matter fell on any unmarried female, it would be a life of death rather than living.
In the next moment, she saw Ren Wan Yun giving a look at Cai Ju, who was sitting beside her, and Cai Ju beamed as she took a sachet out and placed it onto Gui Māmā's hands, "Will trouble Gui Māmā to look over the matter for this time too."
Gui Māmā pinched it with her fingers and when she found that the weight of the sachet was not light, happiness immediately bloomed on her face, "Will definitely let Fūrén be satisfied."
After saying a few more sentences, Gui Māmā got up and left.
"Fūrén really want to rest here tonight?" Xiang Lan asked, "This is after all the same area as Wǔ xiǎojiě's room."
"It matters not." Ren Wan Yun waved her hands unconcernedly, "Tomorrow morning, what I say would be what it is. Can not say precisely but when Dà bǎizi returns, one fear that there will not be anyone who knows of the matter." Her laughter was somewhat vicious, "Dà bǎizi, Dà bǎisǎo, who ask you all to block my Qing-er's road."