SFS Chapter 169 Greetings
Chapter 169 Greetings
Jiang Yuyue was escorted by Yueying and traveled at a fast pace. She thought it would take at least an hour to get down the mountain, but she did not expect that the guard would take her to take a shortcut from who-knows-where, and they arrived at the foot of the mountain in just a quarter of an hour.
As she got further and further away from Wanfu Temple, Jiang Yuyue couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
She deliberately lured Prince Ning here to see how Prince Jing would react, but now that he has been sent away, how can he know what the situation is like inside the temple?
Thinking of this, Jiang Yuyue immediately stopped in her tracks.
Seeing this, Yueying frowned slightly, "Miss?"
Jiang Yuyue's expression remained unchanged, but her tone was exceptionally sincere, "This place is not far from my home, and my maid will come to pick me up later. On the contrary, I am really worried about His Highness Prince Jing."
"Just now I saw those villains coming on fiercely, and I'm afraid Your Highness will have a hard time dealing with them. If you can return as soon as possible, Your Highness will have more help."
Yueying hesitated slightly. He knew that Jiang Yuyue was not a weak woman who could not even kill a chicken. Now that she had gone down the mountain, she should not encounter any danger. Moreover, His Highness did not have many people with him this time. If he could go back, he might be able to help.
After a moment's thought, he finally nodded. "Alright, young lady, please return to your residence as soon as possible. I'll take my leave now."
Before he finished speaking, he had already leaped to the treetop, his figure disappearing into the night like a ghost. Jiang Yuyue watched the direction he went and sighed softly in her heart.
As expected, those who could accompany Prince Jing were all extraordinary individuals.
Watching the guard disappear into the distance, Jiang Yuyue immediately followed the shortcut she had taken earlier back. Perhaps because she hadn't been active for a long time due to her pregnancy, her body was indeed not as light as before, and it would take some effort to get up the mountain quickly.
As she was walking along the forest path, she suddenly saw a figure rushing towards the mountaintop from a distance.
Jiang Yuyue's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly hid behind a large tree. When she saw who it was, her brows furrowed.
It was Pei Jingchuan?
She remembered clearly that he had been urgently summoned away from Jinling several months ago due to military orders. Why would he be here today? And judging from his hurried manner, he was clearly not here to offer incense and worship Buddha, but rather... as if he already knew everything that was happening inside Wanfu Temple?
This caused Jiang Yuyue's thoughts to become somewhat confused. Could it be that he was also involved in the power struggle between Prince Jing and Prince Ning?
Despite her suspicions, Jiang Yuyue had no intention of showing herself to Pei Jingchuan. Even though she was anxious, she could only lag behind for the time being and wait until he was far away before continuing on her way.
-
Meanwhile, inside Wanfu Temple, the situation had become extremely tense.
The troops brought by Prince Ning, Song Yunming, had already sealed off the entire temple. He had been doubtful about whether Prince Jing was really hiding there, but seeing the monks in the temple looking calm and without any panic, he suddenly felt more certain.
"Monk."
Song Yunming looked down at the abbot who had been brought before him, his tone contemptuous, "I've heard that a distinguished person has been staying at your temple recently? I've come here today precisely to find him. Why don't you hand him over at once?"
The abbot clasped his hands together, his expression unchanged, and simply uttered a soft murmur.
"Amitabha."
“Benefactor, this is a place of Buddhist meditation. Your mobilization of such a large group is probably inappropriate.”
Upon hearing this, Song Yunming sneered, his eyes turning icy. "I only asked you a question out of respect for you as the abbot of a temple, yet you're beating around the bush? In that case, I'll find it myself! Guards!"
Song Yunming immediately ordered, "Search for him! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find him!"
"Yes!"
Upon receiving the order, the guards immediately drew their swords and rushed toward the temple gate. Just then, a tall, slender figure slowly walked out.
"Oh? May I ask who the Second Prince is looking for?"
Song Yunming was stunned when he heard the familiar voice. He never expected that his cunning and treacherous uncle would appear in front of him so readily!
He immediately looked around and found that Prince Jing was not guarded at all!
This made Song Yunming feel a surge of pleasure.
Wanfu Temple is located in a remote area. As long as Song Jinglan is killed here today, and these monks are cleaned up and the news is blocked afterward, then no one will be able to compete with him for the throne, and the throne will be rightfully Song Yunming's!
The guards who were about to rush forward dared not make a move when faced with Xie Jinglan's cold and aloof figure.
A half-smile appeared on Song Yunming's face, and he asked in a playful tone, "Why is the Imperial Uncle here?"
He gave a perfunctory bow, but his tone was utterly disrespectful. “I was recently ordered by my father to apprehend a wanted criminal. I received word that the thief had fled to Wanfu Temple, so I came here to capture him. I never expected to meet you here, my uncle.”
He stared meaningfully at Song Jinglan's slightly incongruous mask, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes. "But... why is Uncle wearing a mask today? Could it be that he has contracted some hidden illness again? If so, that would be truly bad."
Song Yunming paused deliberately, then slowly said, "Uncle, your health is already weak. Instead of recuperating in the capital, you've come to this remote mountain temple. This hiding is really inappropriate."
As he spoke, he tilted his head slightly, signaling the guards beside him to get ready.
"Oh?"
Xie Jinglan spoke calmly, his tone even and undisturbed, but his eyes beneath the mask revealed a hint of coldness. "I have been staying at Wanfu Temple for many days and have never seen any outsiders enter without permission. Yet the Second Prince says that there are fugitives hiding here... This is too much of a coincidence."
After saying this, Xie Jinglan turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on the group of sword-wielding guards, his tone becoming more playful.
"However, I find it strange that when the Second Prince's men see me, they not only fail to pay their respects, but also act as if they are facing a formidable enemy. If I didn't know that the Second Prince is always respectful and courteous, I might even suspect that he is using the pretext of a search to commit patricide."
Xie Jinglan's tone remained calm and unhurried, even carrying a hint of a smile, but to Song Yunming's ears, it made him unconsciously swallow.
"Uncle, you jest."
Song Yunming quickly composed himself, a smile playing on his lips. "I have always held my imperial uncle in the highest esteem, how could I have acted so disrespectfully? It's just..."
At this point, Song Yunming paused, then changed the subject, a cold glint appearing in his eyes, "But instead of resting peacefully in the capital, Your Majesty is hiding here. This makes me suspect that Your Majesty might be involved with that wanted criminal. Therefore, in order to prove Your Majesty's innocence, why don't you come back with me to investigate carefully?"
Xie Jinglan scoffed lightly upon hearing this, his tone carrying a hint of sharpness, "What if I don't agree?"
Upon hearing this, the air seemed to freeze for a moment. The Chinese people held their breath, not daring to utter a sound, and stared nervously at the two people facing off.
Song Yunming looked at him, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. "Oh?"