Phi-Fic Chapter 800 A Chance Encounter at Huguo Temple!
Chapter 800 A Chance Encounter at Huguo Temple!
No one would have guessed that Li Wanhe chose this time to go outside the city to offer incense because she had already received news that Duanmu Chuze would accompany the Empress to Huguo Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings in two days.
Li Wanhe chose to leave at this time, naturally to avoid giving the impression that she was deliberately trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince.
With the time difference, no matter what she does, others won't think she deliberately climbed up the social ladder.
After all, she was just a concubine's daughter from the Zhenguo General's Mansion, and a concubine's daughter from the second branch at that. Who would have thought that she would have such ability to get the news that the Crown Prince and the Empress would leave the palace in advance?
After spending two days at Huguo Temple, Li Wanhe finally saw the arrival of the Empress and the Crown Prince.
Xu Shi naturally wouldn't allow Li Wanhe to leave the mansion alone. After all, she was a young lady of the mansion, how could she casually show her face in public without an elder accompanying her?
However, the old lady was overjoyed when she heard that Mu Xin Nuan was pregnant, so she nodded in agreement.
It just so happened that Li Wanyue was also at Huguo Temple accompanying her mother-in-law to pray for blessings, so they went together.
For Li Wanhe, Li Wanyue was naturally no threat whatsoever.
She was a married woman, so naturally His Highness the Crown Prince wouldn't pay any attention to her.
On this day, Li Wanhe deliberately knelt in the main hall for an extra hour, until she felt her legs were numb and she could hardly hold on any longer. Finally, she heard some noises coming from outside.
Although the Empress and the Crown Prince had arrived, the Empress herself came from a humble background. Although her family was wealthy, she was still quite approachable, so she did not have the area cleared beforehand.
However, Duanmu Chuze still ordered that some people who looked somewhat suspicious be asked to leave.
As for Li Wanhe, since she was the daughter of the General of the State, she was naturally not invited out.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, and greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince."
Duanmu Chuze frowned slightly, somewhat displeased that there were still people in the hall.
If it were just him coming alone, it wouldn't matter, but the main thing is that his mother is also there. As her son, he naturally doesn't want anyone to disturb her.
"Get out of here." Before the Empress Dowager could speak, Duanmu Chuze dismissed the person.
Although Li Wanhe had not expected the Crown Prince to be so indifferent, she still withdrew with great composure.
The Empress Dowager fell to the ground, having formed some impression of this woman. "Whose daughter is this? She looks unfamiliar, but judging from her demeanor, she shouldn't be a commoner's daughter."
"Reporting to Mother, she is from the Zhenguo General's Mansion. I saw her once before at the Mu Mansion. She is the illegitimate daughter of General Li Yan. A few days ago, she also went to celebrate Old Master Mu's birthday."
"Oh I got it."
Upon hearing that she was Li Yan's illegitimate daughter, the Empress Dowager abandoned her idea. Such a low status made it impossible for her to enter the Eastern Palace.
After Li Wanhe left, she returned to her room very slowly, secretly thinking about what method she could use to attract the Empress's attention.
She knew perfectly well that Duanmu Chuze only had eyes for Mu Xin Nuan right now, so naturally he couldn't see her.
However, the Empress could not help but consider her son. Since the Crown Princess was pregnant, she could no longer serve the Emperor. So, for the next year, the Crown Prince would be left alone in his empty room.
How can this be?
Even in ordinary households, any family that is slightly wealthy will arrange for one or two concubines, so how could the man be wronged?
Therefore, Li Wanhe's purpose this time was very clear: to make the Empress remember her.
It must be said that her idea was shrewd, and it was indeed very effective.
Once she wins over the Empress, her chances of entering the Eastern Palace will likely be halfway there.
"Mother, let me help you over to rest."
After lunch, Duanmu Chuze helped her to rest in the royal courtyard.
As I passed a small pavilion, I saw a young woman in flowing white robes brewing tea and enjoying it inside.
The Empress looked closely and realized that it was the same girl from before.
Duanmu Chuze frowned slightly. If their encounter in the main hall was unexpected, he was now certain that the other party was clearly after them.
This road is the only way to get to the courtyard.
If it weren't for a deliberate intention, why would one brew tea here?
Whether Duanmu Chuze did it intentionally or unintentionally, he let out a cold snort, which reached the Empress's ears.
The Empress is quite old; she has naturally experienced countless trials and tribulations!
She had naturally experienced countless instances of the scheming and backstabbing among women vying for favor.
Although the Empress was virtuous, she was not the kind of person who did not know how to adapt, nor was she unaware of trickery and deception.
The Empress enjoyed unwavering favor in the palace for many years. The Emperor had countless beauties around him, but none of them could shake the Empress's position in his heart. This was due not only to the trust and tacit understanding that the couple had built up over many years, but also to the Empress's shrewdness.
Hearing his snort, the Empress immediately understood and ignored him. It was time for their procession to arrive.
Li Wanhe hurriedly stopped what she was doing, then stepped down the stairs and bowed gracefully, saying, "This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress and Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The Empress raised an eyebrow slightly. As for whether this girl had planned this in advance, she naturally had a way to find out.
The Empress didn't linger, or even glance at her, and simply ignored her.
"How could this be?"
Li Wanhe got up and couldn't help but think carefully about whether she had done something wrong just now.
After thinking it over and over, I couldn't find anything wrong with it. So where exactly did the problem lie?
Even if Li Wanhe were beaten to death, she would never have imagined that the Empress had already become suspicious of her, but Duanmu Chuze's cold snort stopped her from doing so.
If she had known it was for this reason, Li Wanhe probably would never have come to this pavilion.
The Empress and the Crown Prince will not stay at the temple for long; they will stay for a maximum of two more hours before returning to the palace.
Seeing that this chance encounter was hopeless, Li Wanhe inevitably began to consider other methods.
When Li Wanyue and her mother-in-law, Madam Xu, learned that the Empress was also there to pray for blessings, they naturally sent people to inquire about it.
About half an hour later, the mother and daughter-in-law went out to pay their respects to the Empress.
Li Wanhe also came out of the room at this time, and then nervously told her about what had happened in the palace, worried that she would be disliked by the Empress.
Li Wanyue had no idea what she was thinking. She only glanced at her mother-in-law before deciding to let her go along.
With Li Wanyue and Madam Xu leading the way, it would naturally be much easier for Li Wanhe to get close to the Empress.