The seductive princess is no longer being pursued; the aloof prime minister is facing a crematorium.

When they arrived at the main hall after washing up, the Empress Dowager and Jiang Biechen and others were already kneeling and chanting scriptures in a low voice.

As Jiang Jinshuang stepped into the main hall, the Empress Dowager raised her eyes and glanced at Jiang Jinshuang out of the corner of her eye.

He then closed his eyes, lowered his brows, clasped his hands together, and continued to worship Buddha.

—I was very dissatisfied with her lateness.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled indifferently, quietly found a spot, and then lowered her head to begin chanting Buddhist scriptures and meditating.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't really believe in gods and Buddhas.

But the due respect was not lacking. Jiang Jinshuang knelt properly on the prayer mat and read the scriptures in her hands in a low voice.

Jiang Biechen sat next to the Empress Dowager, while Xia Yurong sat behind him.

From a distance, an uninformed person might think that Xia Yurong was the pampered princess.

It wasn't just them; all the monks at Huguo Temple had the habit of getting up early to chant sutras. A group of people would gather here, chanting sutras and reciting Buddhist verses.

After an hour of chanting, the monks in the hall gradually got up and left.

The Empress Dowager, supported by Eunuch Sun, rose to her feet and slowly walked to Jiang Jinshuang.

“Zhaoming, chanting scriptures and worshipping Buddha should be done at 1:15 a.m. every day. You are half a quarter of an hour late today. According to the rules, you should kneel in the hall for an extra half hour.”

He was clearly very dissatisfied with her.

Jiang Jinshuang raised his eyes, looking completely innocent: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I haven't been to Huguo Temple for many years and have forgotten many of the rules. Please forgive me."

The implication is that she had forbidden her from entering Huguo Temple in previous years, and it's normal for her to forget the rules now that she's new here.

The Empress Dowager naturally understood the implication, her face turning cold and stern: "You mean, I was wrong?"

“Your subject dares not,” Jiang Jinshuang smiled. “Your subject only wants to say that Zhaoming is shallow and ignorant, and knows very little about the rules of the temple. If he offends the Empress Dowager, then it will be your subject’s fault.”

After a pause, Jiang Jinshuang feigned fear and said, "If Your Majesty the Empress Dowager dislikes me, I will immediately go down the mountain and return to the capital to the Princess's residence to reflect on my mistakes."

"You—" The Empress Dowager pointed her fingernails at Jiang Jinshuang's nose, her face gloomy, "Zhaoming, I have truly spoiled you!"

"With your unruly and unruly nature, how can you be a princess? If you were as gentle as Yu Rong, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble!"

Jiang Jinshuang still looked innocent: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is absolutely right. It's just a pity that Miss Xia comes from a humble and lowly background. I'm afraid she can't become Princess Wanjin."

—She just kept criticizing her, one sentence at a time.

"presumptuous!"

The Empress Dowager was truly enraged and raised her hand.

"Your Majesty," Jiang Jinshuang said coldly before the slap could land, "I would like to remind you that this is a sacred Buddhist site, Your Majesty should not be angered."

The slap paused for a moment, the Empress Dowager glared angrily at Jiang Jinshuang, but finally the slap landed heavily.

"You will kneel here for another hour. You may leave only after the hour is up!"

After saying this, the Empress Dowager snorted coldly and left with a flick of her sleeve!

Seeing this, Jiang Biechen chuckled, glanced at Jiang Jinshuang, and followed.

Xia Yurong bit her lip slightly and said softly, "Your Highness, you shouldn't have talked back to the Empress Dowager..."

Seemingly well-intentioned.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow and sneered, glancing at Xia Yurong with indifference: "Miss Xia, you don't really think that just because you've been by the Empress Dowager's side for a few years, you can look down on me and criticize me, do you?"

What qualifications does she have?
Upon hearing this, Xia Yurong slightly parted her lips, as if she wanted to say something.

But in the end, he said nothing and quickly left.

Jiang Jinshuang didn't want to stay in the hall for another hour.

Actually, if you really think about it, the ones who don't want her to leave the mountain right now are the Empress Dowager and Xia Yurong.

Jiang Jinshuang had gotten the answer she wanted, and there was no point in staying here any longer.

—It seems that Abbot Miaofeng will find it difficult to say anything else to her.

If she were to return to the capital now, only the Empress Dowager and Xia Yurong would be unhappy.

In other words, Jiang Jinshuang has the initiative in this matter.

Sitting cross-legged on the prayer mat, Jiang Jinshuang listlessly flipped through the scriptures. Looking at the obscure and difficult Buddhist verses, she yawned. She calculated the time, deciding to leave after the Empress Dowager finished her vegetarian meal.

—Maybe I can still make it to breakfast then.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Jiang Jinshuang got up from the futon, dusted herself off, and walked towards the door.

But before she could even step out of the front door...

A whisk was placed in front of Jiang Jinshuang.

The smile on Jiang Jinshuang's lips faltered slightly, and she followed the direction of her whisk to look at the person who had arrived.

Grandpa Sun was standing outside the door at some point, his body hunched over, facing her.

"Your Highness, an hour has not yet passed; you cannot leave."

His tone was respectful, but his actions in stopping people showed little deliberation.

—They came to watch over her.

Jiang Jinshuang's temples throbbed, and the sunlight shining on her made her feel a little irritable.

Jiang Jinshuang chuckled lightly, then looked at Sun Zhang with a leisurely air, her expression ambiguous: "Eunuch Sun is truly dedicated to his duty."

Sun Zhang bowed: "Your Highness, please stay inside for a full hour, and this old servant will release you."

He tightened his grip.

Jiang Jinshuang narrowed her eyes and looked Sun Zhang up and down.

If Jiang Jinshuang had to say, she would say that even within the palace, Eunuch Sun Zhang's martial arts skills were among the best.

—I can probably withstand three… no, two moves from her.

Jiang Jinshuang raised an eyebrow slightly, but took a step back.

Forget it.

Exposing her martial arts skills in front of him would be a very troublesome thing for her.

Adopting an imperious and superior demeanor, Jiang Jinshuang loudly rebuked, "Sun Zhang, you wait! When I return to the capital, I will make sure you suffer!"

A hint of disdain flashed in Eunuch Sun's eyes.

For a "peerless master" like him, Princess Zhaoming, who was weak and cowardly, was not worth his attention at all.

Although he thought this in his heart, Eunuch Sun simply bowed and said, "There is still half an hour and two quarters left, Your Highness, please wait a moment."

Before Jiang Jinshuang could say anything more, a clear and detached voice came from afar.

"I have met His Highness."

Look up.

It was Zhao Yun who returned.

Seeing the Imperial Preceptor, Eunuch Sun was clearly somewhat surprised.

The Grand Preceptor prefers quiet and lives in a meditation room on the back mountain, not wanting to be disturbed by others.

Why have you come to the main hall in person now?

Eunuch Sun bowed respectfully to Zhao Yungui: "This old servant greets the Imperial Preceptor."

Zhao Yun walked over leisurely and stopped outside the main hall.

"Eunuch Sun, there's no need for you to be so polite. I've come today because I have something I'd like to ask Your Highness for advice."

Eunuch Sun paused, then asked, "May I ask... if it is Her Highness the Princess?"

Zhao Yungui nodded, but turned to Jiang Jinshuang and said, "I have some ancient scriptures that I have not yet comprehended. I wonder if Your Highness could annotate and enlighten me?"

Oh, I'm here to help her.

Jiang Jinshuang smiled, but said with an innocent and aggrieved expression, "Since the Grand Preceptor has requested it, I should lend a hand."

"However, I will need to remain in this hall for another half hour. Grand Preceptor, you will have to wait a little longer." (End of Chapter)