Right now, the Hou Clan hated the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess bitterly. But when she was done with Xiao Yue and saw the Crown Princess again, she was still the virtuous and considerate Princess Sheng. Even though her face was slightly pale, no one would feel that she was still in great grief from her smiling appearance.
The Double Ninth Festival was a festival for ascending to a high place and looking into the distance. In order to show his filial piety, the Qilong Emperor and the Empress personally went to a Taoist temple in the Jing suburbs to pray for the Empress Dowager. In the entourage, there were also the younger generation of the Yan Clan. After all, praying for the Empress Dowager was their filial piety.
When they reached the Taoist temple, all the womenfolk got off the carriage according to their status. Hua Xi Wan was a qinwang fei, so she was in the line of qinwang fei. Not long after she got off the carriage, she saw the Hou Clan talking with the other womenfolk.
After not seeing them for almost a month, the Hou Clan seemed to have lost some weight, but their eyes were exceptionally spirited. Their bright black pupils were even slightly frightening.
This caused her to involuntarily think of the rumor that had spread a few days ago. It said that the Hou Clan's insides were injured and that it would be very difficult for them to conceive in the future. This rumor had not been proven, but if it was true, then it was undoubtedly a calamity for the Hou Clan.
As the main wife, she could not get pregnant. Then she only had two choices. One was to adopt a child from the clan, but this had to be approved by the Emperor and her husband. The second was to have a concubine bear a child, and then have the mother keep the child and raise it as her own.
But there was no such thing as an airtight wall in the world. Who could guarantee that the child raised would not know that his birth mother had been killed by his adoptive mother? Even if the child did not know, which woman did not want to have her own child and not raise the child left by her husband with another woman?
Thinking of this, Hua Xi Wan frowned. She moved her gaze away from the Hou Clan and turned to walk with the shizi fei of Xu Wang Fu. For her, it was more appropriate to walk with the neutral shizi fei of Xu Wang Fu.
The Ning Clan seemed to know Hua Xi Wan's intentions, but she did not refuse Hua Xi Wan. Instead, she said in a friendly tone, "Wang Fei's complexion looks very good."
"Really?" Hua Xi Wan touched her face and said with a light smile, "Maybe it's because I eat and drink all day and have too much time?"
Seeing her like this, Ning shi also smiled. She was a little envious. She felt a little envious. While she was the shizi fei of Xu Wang Fu, she still had an authoritative mother-in-law. She did not have a son of her own. She had to be careful in the fu and did not dare to be careless. She did not dare to think of living like Xian Wang Fei.
"It is good fortune to be able to eat and drink well." The Ning Clan turned to look at the nearby Hou Clan and said with pity in her voice, "If you can't even do this, it really is difficult."
Knowing that she was pitying the Hou Clan, Hua Xi Wan sighed lowly. "It is always difficult for women."
Hearing this, the Ning Clan smiled and said, "Why do you say this? Who in Jing doesn't know that Xian Wang's love for you is as deep as the sea? He is gentle and considerate. He doesn't even have a concubine or tongfang in the fu. If even you feel that it is difficult for women, what should we do?"
Hua Xi Wan smiled and said noncommittally, "Maybe."
The Ning Clan also knew that Xian Wang and his wife were not as loving as the rumors said. Even if that was true, what could they do? There were as many women in the world who were deeply in love with their husbands as there were hairs on a cow. Was there anyone in the world who praised them? But if there was a man who was half devoted to one woman, it would become a legend.
Those women who were praised by men were all virtuous and magnanimous or women who would do everything for men. How unfair was the world? How difficult was it for women?
When she thought of this, the smile on the Ning Clan's face faded. She said with some disappointment, "You are right. It is difficult for women."
Hua Xi Wan looked with surprise at the Ning Clan. The Ning Clan gave her the impression of being indifferent and calm. But a woman who could say such words did not seem to have such a personality.
"There are some things that I am not afraid to tell you." The Ning Clan saw her looking at her and said with a smile, "You and I are both common people. We know that it is difficult for women, but we can't change it. How are we different from other people? We are just drunkards who think we are sober."
Hua Xi Wan's heart shook. After a while, she said with realization, "Yes, how are we different from other people?" She had transmigrated for more than ten years. Other than having a lifetime more memories than other people, in reality, how was she different from the noble ladies here? She lived a life of luxury, was surrounded by beautiful maids, and had methods of inner residence. She was no worse than other people. Unfortunately, after her rebirth, she was not as open-minded as this woman in the Ning Clan, who was not even twenty years old.
"One day, things will slowly get better." Hua Xi Wan smiled with relief. "Even if it is not now, nothing in the world is eternal." Millions of years ago, the world was still dominated by matriarchal clans.
They chatted all the way to the Three Purities Temple. Men and women entered separately to kneel and pray. The men were in front, and the women were behind.
The Taoist ritual of kneeling was very particular. It was not over after a few kneels. Hua Xi Wan did the same as the others. After carefully performing the ritual, she took a sachet from the tray held by the Taoist priest. It was called a blessed sachet, and it was said to be able to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune to people.
Although Hua Xi Wan did not believe in this, she still asked Bai Xia to pick up the sachet. Then, she listened to the sermon of an old Taoist priest called the Black Hair Immortal. She listened for a long time. Although she felt that some things were a bit deceptive, some of the words were still reasonable.
In order to prevent herself from dozing off, Hua Xi Wan drank several mouthfuls of tea to refresh herself. When the eunuch came to report that they were leaving for the city, she was relieved. It seemed that she had no fate with Taoism.
The Three Purities Temple was very large. It looked like a Taoist temple used by the royal family. Although the plants and trees inside were not luxurious, they had a solemn and otherworldly aura. Hua Xi Wan enjoyed the scenery along the way and found it interesting.
After leaving the temple, Hua Xi Wan walked with the Ning Clan. Because there were people in front and behind them, they did not talk as much as when they came in. They just talked about which shop produced the best rouge and which shop made the best hairpins.
Just as the womenfolk were about to step out of the gate, they suddenly heard a scream from the house next to them. All the womenfolk were so shocked that they stopped.
"What's wrong?" The Empress, who was walking at the front, looked at the palace maid who was so scared that her face turned ashen. "This is the Three Purities Holy Place. How can you be so flustered?!"
The palace maid knelt in front of the Empress. She was trembling all over and could not say a word.
The guards saw that the situation was not right. They all pulled out their weapons and surged in front of the little room. The scene inside frightened them so much that they wanted to dig their eyes out.
The captain first felt despair because they were likely to be killed. He looked behind him at the brothers who had gone through thick and thin with him for many years. He gritted his teeth and turned to walk towards the Empress. He said in a voice that was not loud but enough for the other Imperial womenfolk to hear, "Empress, this soldier and the other guards found that the Crown Prince and … and Li meiren have fainted on the couch."
Rather than wait for the Empress to kill them, it was better to expose the matter. Right now, there were so many Imperial womenfolk present. No matter how discontent the Empress was, she could only endure this matter. It was not a pity that he died alone. Today, there were so many brothers present. They were all men of old and young. They could not all be buried with the idiot Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince and the Emperor's woman had fainted on the same couch? This was the holy land of the Taoist sects. Today was the day that the Emperor had come to pray for the Empress Dowager. Yet the Crown Prince and the Emperor's new favorite consort had fainted on the same couch. Was there such a coincidence in the world?
Even more, it was not certain if they had fainted. Didn't they see the ugly expression of this soldier? If they had really fainted, would these guards have such ugly expressions?
Hua Xi Wan looked at the Empress' face that had lost all color and sighed in sympathy. The Crown Prince was a professional seeded contestant who had caused trouble for his parents. He had been running on the path of death and no one had surpassed him yet.
"What nonsense are you saying? How can the Crown Prince and Li meiren be together? If you don't shut up, be careful of your head." Princess Sheng suddenly scolded harshly, "Go in and take a look."
After saying this, she did not care how ugly the Empress' expression was and said directly, "Empress, why don't we also go and see what is going on? Maybe there is a misunderstanding?"
The Empress' breath was stuck in her throat. Looking at the Hou Clan's considerate smile, she wanted to slap them, but she could not.
Fortunately, Princess Duan He reacted quickly and hurriedly said, "There is definitely a misunderstanding. As womenfolk, how can we go and see? Why don't we have this soldier go and clear up the misunderstanding?"
She emphasized the word "clear up." Princess Duan He was warning the soldier to adapt to the situation. Even though the soldier was discontent, he could not say no. But before he came close, he saw a disheveled Li meiren suddenly charge out of the room and slam heavily into the wall. With a muffled bang, blood sprayed all over the wall.
The wall had been freshly painted to welcome the Emperor's blessing. Li meiren's blood had dyed a large patch and her light pink dress red.
Li meiren's one sentence was more than a thousand words. Her suicide by slamming into the wall was a silent accusation. The Empress wanted to cover up this matter, but she could not do anything.
As Li meiren fell, the womenfolk of the Imperial House screamed. Some of the more timid ones even fainted.
Princess Duan He's heart was filled with endless coldness. Hearing the screams around her, she faintly felt that she was in big trouble this time.
Forcing his father's concubine. If this matter was exposed, the Crown Prince … … would be finished.
Hua Xi Wan looked at the Ning Clan beside her who was also swaying drunkenly. She simply swayed with her feet, closed her eyes, and fell straight down.
"Wang Fei, Wang Fei!" Bai Xia reached out to support Hua Xi Wan and said in panic, "Wang Fei, what's wrong?"
Bai Xia's acting skills really deserved full marks.
Hua Xi Wan thought as she was supported by several servant girls.
Then she heard the worried cries of the servant girls beside the Ning Clan.
Alright, every master with superb acting skills would have a few servant girls supporting them. She praised them for their professionalism.
In her mind, the splashing blood on the wall was unusually clear. It was so clear that she could picture the splashing blood with her eyes closed.
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