Old Zhao left and then returned, only to find that the Buddhist scriptures on the table were gone, leaving behind only a silver ingot.

Wen Yuesheng leaned against the circle chair behind her, gazing at the golden Buddha in front of her.

“Princess, where are the Buddhist scriptures?” Zhao Momo asked.

“They were sold,” Wen Yuesheng replied.

Zhao was taken aback. “What?”

She had never read any books and could not understand Buddhist scriptures, but she had overheard a young monk who had guided her earlier saying that the scriptures Wen Yuesheng had copied were filled with too much murderous intent and were not suitable for being kept in the hall.

…To her surprise, someone had actually bought them.

So, what kind of person would offer such scriptures?

This mystery was soon solved several days later.

Wen Yuesheng had stayed at Tian Ci Temple for four days, and during these four days, several major events took place in the capital.

First, Yan Ling, who had been sent on a mission to find Buddhist connections, returned to the capital with 81 hand-copied Buddhist scriptures, meant to pray for the seriously ill Empress Dowager.

However, after the Empress Dowager read the last scripture, she fainted.

Before the palace could fall into chaos, she woke up.

Not only had she regained consciousness, but her illness also miraculously disappeared, and her health was restored.

This miraculous event shocked the entire court and the common people.

At a palace banquet, the Emperor specifically summoned Yan Ling to inquire about the matter.

Yan Ling, dressed in a crimson official robe, looked just like any other official, yet his beauty was so striking, and his air so ethereal, that when he appeared, even the grand and magnificent palace seemed to lose some of its luster.

Despite his remarkable achievement, Yan Ling’s expression remained unusually calm.

He was a handsome figure, and with every movement, he exuded elegance and nobility.

Even his indifferent demeanor made him seem even more radiant.

The Emperor chuckled, “The Empress Dowager’s recovery is thanks to you, Yan Qing. You’ve made such a great contribution. How should I reward you?”

Yan Ling, his expression calm, cupped his hands and said, “I do not dare claim credit.”

By the time he entered the hall, the atmosphere had already become quite lively.

Yan Ling came from a wealthy and prestigious family.

His aunt was the favored Consort Yan, who was greatly respected in the harem.

Although the Yan family had fallen somewhat after Yan Ling’s father passed away, Yan Ling himself was truly extraordinary, described as being a once-in-a-lifetime genius.

Not only was he a singular talent in the entire capital, but throughout the entire Great Hui Dynasty, he was unparalleled.

Moreover, he was now a close official of the Emperor, with real power in his hands.

Such a valuable catch, still unengaged, made many of the royal consorts eager to arrange marriages for their daughters.

“Indeed, the Empress Dowager’s recovery is due to the Buddhist scriptures of the high monks,” Consort Yan, sitting next to the Emperor, remarked, wearing a brilliantly colored gown.

Despite her age, she still retained her beauty and charm.

She laughed sweetly and said, “He only ran a few errands; how could he deserve such praise from His Majesty?”

The others, hearing her words, understood they were meant to sound modest but were, in fact, a veiled compliment.

Yan Ling was still young but had already attained the position of Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Given time, his future was limitless.

The Empress on the Emperor’s left side spoke up, “By the way, after the Empress Dowager recovered, several people came to see me, each asking about the high monk’s Buddhist scriptures.”

“Yan Ling, now that you are here, you may as well tell us directly. Who was the high monk who wrote the scriptures that saved the Empress Dowager?”

At these words, the hall grew noticeably quieter.

Many of the concubines, though not all believers, were interested in the answer.

After all, anyone who lived in the world surely had something they wished to ask for.

If such a talented monk truly existed, who wouldn’t want to form a connection with them?

Yan Ling, with an ordinary expression, replied, “Your Majesty, the Buddhist scriptures that saved the Empress Dowager were not written by a high monk.”

The hall was immediately filled with murmurs.

“Not written by a high monk?”

“Then who wrote them?”

“Could it be a Taoist?”

“Hah, even if Lady Li does not believe in Buddhism, she shouldn’t speak nonsense. Buddhism and Taoism are two different paths. How could a Taoist write Buddhist scriptures? That would be a joke.”

The hall was filled with hidden currents and secret thoughts.

The Emperor’s gaze turned to Yan Ling.

Yan Ling, his face expressionless, continued, “The Buddhist scriptures were written by County Princess Sining.”

The entire room was stunned.

“Who did you say?” Even the Emperor paused for a moment, not quite understanding.

Princess Sining, Wen Yuesheng?

The Emperor had not heard that name for some time, and he was momentarily taken aback.

The others were no better off.

“Is what Lord Yan said true? Princess Sining… As far as I know, she doesn’t even understand poetry or writing. How could she write Buddhist scriptures?”

It was a known fact that Princess Sining was not favored in the palace, so the concubines naturally did not show her much respect.

The absurdity of the matter surpassed even the story of the Empress Dowager recovering from her illness through a Buddhist scripture.

It was Yan Ling who made this claim.

Setting aside his identity, he was hardly familiar with Wen Yuesheng, making it baffling why he would fabricate such a tale for her.

The Empress seated at the head furrowed her brows slightly, glancing toward Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin’s expression was equally complex.

When had his fiancée developed such abilities? He had been utterly unaware.

After the palace banquet, the story of Wen Yuesheng copying Buddhist scriptures and curing the Empress Dowager’s illness spread like wildfire across the capital.

Coming from Yan Ling’s mouth, no one dared to question it.

On closer thought, the only explanation seemed to be that Wen Yuesheng had astonishing luck.

How outsiders perceived the situation was unimportant.

The Wen family had to respond.

The reason?

Wen Yuesheng had not returned home since leaving the residence that day.

She truly had taken up residence in the temple.

Wen Xun had publicly stated he would no longer concern himself with her.

Going to retrieve her now would be an embarrassment.

Yet, the situation was out of his hands.

Shortly after the banquet, a message came from the palace stating that the Empress Dowager would host a feast in seven days, and Wen Yuesheng must attend.

This left Wen Xun no choice but to swallow his pride and send the steward to fetch her.

By the time the carriage from the Princess’s residence reached Tian Ci Temple, Granny Zhao(Zhao Momo), who had been eating vegetarian meals for days, looked noticeably thinner.

Hearing the news, she was momentarily stunned.

She turned to Wen Yuesheng and asked, “Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?”

Wen Yuesheng, holding a string of sandalwood prayer beads, replied indifferently, “It’s probably the payment for selling the scripture.”

Granny Zhao: ?

The steward from the Princess’s residence, usually impatient, now personally came to request Wen Yuesheng’s return.

Fearing she would refuse, he immediately said, “The swing in the courtyard has been dismantled as per your instructions, and I’ve arranged with the abbot to transport a statue of Buddha from here to the residence.”

Wen Yuesheng asked, “Gold-plated?”

The steward hesitated but, recalling Wen Xun’s orders, nodded. “Gold-plated counts as gold, right?”

Only then did Wen Yuesheng nod in agreement.

Thus, the carriage from the Princess’s residence left Tian Ci Temple, carrying a massive Buddha statue over two meters tall and a reluctant Wen Yuesheng back to the capital.

Upon arrival at the Princess’s residence, she was transferred to a luxurious sedan chair with soft drapes of fine purple gauze. Within, one could faintly see her seated figure.

This extravagant sedan chair, which showcased status, had been custom-made by Wen Yuesheng in the past.

It was later repurposed by Wen Xun for his younger daughter when she fell ill.

Now, it had been retrieved to welcome her.

But Wen Yuesheng showed no reaction, sitting quietly with cold, ink-like eyes and fingers rolling the sandalwood beads.

Unexpectedly, before the sedan chair could enter the residence, it was blocked at the gate.

The person who appeared was a maid with a familiar face.

Startling Granny Zhao, she asked, “Gu Yu? What’s happened to you?”

Gu Yu, a second-tier maid from Wen Yuesheng’s courtyard, had often tried to visit Wen Yue Sheng during her bedridden days but was stopped by the head maids.

Though young, still wearing twin braids, Gu Yu now sobbed uncontrollably.

Granny Zhao noticed her disheveled appearance, with torn clothes and a visible blood-red scratch on her exposed skin.

“Your Highness! Please, grant me justice!” Gu Yu knelt abruptly, her voice trembling with humiliation and desperation.

She cried out, “The steward, Liu Shen, has repeatedly harassed me with lewd words. Though I refused him, he became more brazen. This morning, he broke into my room with ill intentions!”

“I fought back, but he beat me violently. Were it not for Sister Xia Zhi returning and interrupting him, I fear he would have succeeded!”

Lifting her face, everyone noticed her swollen cheeks, clear evidence of abuse.

Granny Zhao sighed softly. “Such matters should be reported to the mistress of the household…”

Gu Yu interrupted loudly, “I already reported everything to the mistress, but Liu Shen claimed I seduced him!”

“I haven’t even come of age, while he has a wife and a daughter only two years younger than me. Even if I were out of my mind, I’d never do such a thing!”

At this moment, several burly servants from Chen Shi’s courtyard, led by Granny Jiang, emerged and tried to pull Gu Yu away.

Granny Jiang scolded harshly, “What are you doing? The mistress has already dealt with this matter, and yet you make a scene out here!”

Turning to the sedan chair, she added, “Your Highness, this maid is out of her mind, disturbing you. Please forgive her.”

Then she said, “The steward Liu Shen has been dismissed. Let the matter rest.”

Gu Yu, however, broke free, her voice sharp and defiant. “He was only dismissed and not expelled from the residence! I am a maid from Her Highness’s courtyard, and this should be decided by Her Highness!”

Her piercing cries echoed in the street.

Granny Jiang’s expression darkened.

She signaled one of the maids to gag Gu Yu, who struggled fiercely.

Granny Jiang maintained a calm facade as she asked Wen Yuesheng from outside the sedan chair, “She is from your courtyard. How would you like to handle this?”

The gauzy curtain of the sedan chair was lifted by a slender, jade-like hand.

From her angle, Granny Jiang could only see Wen Yuesheng’s exquisite profile and the sandalwood beads in her hand.

Recalling recent rumors about Wen Yuesheng’s spiritual enlightenment, Granny Jiang hesitated.

But Wen Yuesheng’s voice was calm and emotionless.

“Beat him to death with a staff.”

Granny Jiang froze in shock, looking up in disbelief at Wen Yuesheng’s icy, unwavering gaze.

“Drag Liu Shen to the courtyard and beat him to death,” Wen Yuesheng repeated coldly.