Chapter 50: The Relationship Between Prince Yu and Prince Xuan Is Quite Subtle

As the Tang family’s carriage arrived at the foot of the mountain, a young monk immediately stepped forward to greet them. “Amitabha.”

Tang Song was the first to get off the horse, then turned to help the old Madam Tang alight.

Once the old lady stepped down from the carriage, the young monk bowed. “Old Madam Tang, Master has sent me to guide you.”

“Many thanks, little master,” the old madam quickly returned the courtesy.

Behind them, Tang Mi, Tang Ying, Tang Ning, along with Lady Qin and Lady Lin, also got out of the carriage.

“Let’s go, we’ll walk up,” Old Madam Tang said, looking at the steep staircase ahead.

White Horse Temple was built halfway up the mountain. Although it was possible to take the carriage up, they were here to worship and perform a ritual, it would be inappropriate to seek comfort on such an occasion.

Tang Mi immediately stepped forward to support the old madam as they began climbing.

Lady Qin glanced disdainfully at the ridiculously high steps.
This old woman, really… there’s a perfectly good carriage, but she insists on walking. Climbing such high stairs, anyone would be exhausted.

Though she had no desire to climb them, with the old madam doing it, they had no choice but to follow slowly behind.

Unhappy, Lady Qin glanced at Lady Lin beside her and deliberately said, “It’s so hot today, and the old madam is climbing such steep stairs. Did you bring her medicine, Third Sister-in-law?”

“Of course I did. You needn’t worry about such things, Sister-in-law,” Lady Lin replied curtly, her face unchanged as she kept climbing.

A flash of irritation crossed Lady Qin’s face. She had originally thought that after Tang Mi’s incident during the Mid-Autumn banquet, the old madam would surely strip Lin of her household authority. Yet unexpectedly, the old lady hadn’t blamed Lin at all. Instead, she scolded Qin and Tang Ying, even confining Tang Ying.

“I’m just concerned. The old madam holds a first-rank title, if anything happened to her, could you take responsibility?” Lady Qin said with a mocking tone.

Lady Lin understood her implication immediately and glanced at Tang Ying behind them. She then smiled and said, “Congratulations, Sister-in-law, on Tang Ying’s engagement. Now you’ll have one less thing to worry about. And since it’s a marriage between relatives, your sister-in-law’s family will surely take good care of her. You’ve done well, Sister-in-law, finding her such a good match. If we can’t find a good match for our Ning’er, perhaps I’ll speak to my sister-in-law too, another family tie, wouldn’t that be something?”

Line after line, her sarcasm made Lady Qin’s face turn from pale to blue, and then black. She was so angry it felt like the breath was stuck in her throat.

Was this woman mocking that Tang Ying couldn’t get married? If it weren’t for their plan involving Ying’s marriage, she would never have agreed to marry her off to the Qin family. That Qin Qingyu was like a toad lusting after a swan.

Fuming, Lady Qin wanted to argue back, but found that Lady Lin was already ahead of her. Gritting her teeth, she had no choice but to continue climbing.

By the time she reached the top, Lady Qin was nearly exhausted.

Tang Mi also had a flushed face from the effort, but surprisingly, the elderly Madam Tang was full of energy.

Seeing Tang Mi’s rosy cheeks, the old madam chuckled, “You all lack exercise. I should’ve made you learn martial arts.”

Her family had practiced martial arts for generations. In her youth, she had been quite skilled, so climbing stairs like these was nothing. But these younger ones were far too delicate.

Before Tang Mi could respond, Lady Qin interjected loudly, “Mother, you must be joking. Girls don’t need to practice martial arts. If they get too muscular, who will want to marry them?”

Her words immediately made Old Madam Tang’s face darken.

Noticing how tactless Lady Qin was, Tang Ying quickly tugged her sleeve.

Their grandmother had trained in martial arts, was she insulting her now?

Realizing her mistake, Lady Qin opened her mouth to speak, but Tang Mi beat her to it, smiling, “It’s true we should train a bit. A girl too weak in body isn’t good either.”

Lady Lin quickly followed with a chuckle, “Exactly. I think Mother is the healthiest among us. Look at the rest of us panting, we should really learn from her!”

The pair’s seamless banter made Old Madam Tang laugh, “Indeed, we should do some training. I’ll have Steward Cao hire a female martial arts teacher. Everyone can learn some basic skills to stay healthy.”

“Grandmother is absolutely right,” Tang Mi agreed sweetly and helped the old lady into White Horse Temple.

Once she was gone, Lady Qin turned and glared furiously at Lady Lin.

Lady Lin ignored her completely and walked off with Tang Ning.

“You really should speak less, Mother,” Tang Ying commented before following them in.

Lady Qin was left fuming, with no outlet for her frustration.

Just after finishing her prayers, the temple abbot Master Jingkong came out. “Amitabha.”

“Master Jingkong,” Old Madam Tang greeted him politely.

“Old Madam, I understand your request. I ask that you and your household observe purification and fasting for seven days. On the seventh day, I will personally hold a ritual for the late General Tang to ease his soul.”

“I’m grateful to the master,” the old lady bowed again.

“Your rooms have been prepared. Please rest first,” said the master.

“Many thanks.”

Following the young monk toward the rear quarters, they unexpectedly ran into Prince Yu (Ye Junyu) and Prince Xuan (Ye Chenxuan) in the courtyard.

At the sight of Ye Junyu, Old Madam Tang’s brows knit tightly. She instinctively glanced at Tang Ying and Tang Song.

Tang Ying lowered her head as if she knew nothing.

Tang Song looked completely innocent.

Tang Mi, on the other hand, had already expected Ye Junyu’s presence and wasn’t surprised. But this Prince Xuan, he was often seen with Ye Junyu lately. Yet, in her past life, the two had not been close. In fact, Ye Chenxuan had ended tragically, and everything had been caused by Ye Junyu.

In this life, their relationship seemed… oddly subtle.

Both Ye Junyu and Ye Chenxuan saw Tang Mi immediately. Seeing her flushed face, Ye Junyu was momentarily entranced, while Ye Chenxuan’s heart pounded so hard it felt like he couldn’t breathe.

Noticing the look in Ye Junyu’s eyes, Old Madam Tang’s face instantly darkened. “Greetings to His Highness Prince Yu, and His Highness Prince Xuan.”

Tang Mi and the others quickly followed suit. “Greetings, Your Highnesses.”

The two finally snapped out of it. Ye Chenxuan quickly withdrew his gaze and nodded slightly toward the old lady.

Ye Junyu, smiling, stepped forward. “Old Madam is here at the temple to offer prayers?”

The old lady bowed slightly. “It’s the tenth death anniversary of my eldest son. We’ve come to ask the abbot to perform a memorial rite.”

“The tenth anniversary of General Tang’s death… yes, such an occasion definitely calls for a proper ritual,” Ye Junyu replied as if suddenly remembering, but his eyes again drifted to Tang Mi.

Old Madam Tang’s expression darkened further, her tone growing cold. “Women should not linger. We ask your leave, Your Highness.”

Ye Junyu quickly withdrew his gaze and nodded with a smile. “Please go ahead, Old Madam.”

The old lady immediately led Tang Mi and the others toward the north wing rooms.

White Horse Temple rarely hosted female guests, and when they did, they were always placed in the north wing.

Ye Junyu stared at Tang Mi’s retreating figure, a determined glint flashing in his eyes.

“What is Brother looking at?” came a sudden voice, catching Ye Junyu off guard and turning his expression as dark as the bottom of a pot.