Mo Chou's face turned pale, and she said steadily, "Your Highness, please don't worry, this servant would rather die ten thousand deaths than let anyone abduct Your Highness."
"Alright, those people are not to be trifled with. Don't forget they are a group of assassins. If we hadn't brought a large contingent of palace guards last time, it would have been difficult for us to escape. This time, if they are truly determined, I will surely not be able to get away. So don't blame yourself then. I will be fine. Those people would not dare to kill in Yue Jue Temple. If Yue Jue Temple is indeed their base, wouldn't it expose their target?"
"Your Highness?"
Listening to her mistress's analysis, Mo Chou felt her heart tremble. Since her mistress had already guessed all this, why did she still have to risk going to Yue Jue Temple? Why not send the Imperial Guards to raid Yue Jue Temple? Why go through so much trouble?
"Your Highness, since this journey is so perilous, why don't we return to the palace and have the Emperor decree a raid on Yue Jue Temple? If anything happens to Your Highness, I fear the Emperor will not let any of us off."
Mo Chou was not afraid of death. She would rather be the one robbed, captured, and killed by those people than her mistress. If anything were to happen to her mistress, even if she died, she would have failed her mistress.
"If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger cubs? Besides, this is all my speculation. If I were truly confident, would I go alone? Anything can happen. Perhaps Yue Jue Temple has no problems at all, or perhaps what Chun Han said before dying about Yue Jue Temple was just idle talk. Should we also have the Emperor decree a raid on it? Wouldn't that make the Emperor a foolish ruler and give people something to talk about? The Empress Dowager would surely have something to say about it?"
Mu Qingyao's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, her clear eyes carrying a hint of authority. Her voice was cold and indifferent, neither pleased nor angered, as if completely unaffected. She slowly closed her eyes and leaned back on the soft couch to rest.
The carriage galloped steadily on the bustling and prosperous streets. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares mixed with the clamor of the crowds. The carriage could not accelerate, so it had to slow down.
Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted in.
"Master, come in and take a look. This humble one will surely serve you comfortably."
As the voice faded, a faint scent of cosmetics wafted in, extremely unpleasant.
However, this voice caused Mu Qingyao to abruptly open her eyes. She lifted the curtain and looked outside. She saw several women, dressed in flamboyant attire, trying to solicit customers outside a brothel.
Among them, one girl, heavily made up, was particularly conspicuous. It was Bao Zheng, the maid who had betrayed Mu Qingzhu. She had not expected to have fallen so low, and to be the lowest-ranked courtesan in the brothel, only fit to solicit business and be manhandled by others.
Mo Chou followed her mistress's gaze and frowned slightly, saying coldly, "She reaps what she sows."
Mu Qingyao lowered the curtain, a cold smile playing on her lips.
As you sow, so shall you reap. She had been used by that old fox, the Empress Dowager. Perhaps if she had succeeded, she might have remained in the palace as a maid.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Nothing was accomplished, and could the Empress Dowager spare her? This was all her own doing.
The two no longer thought about that maid and decided it was better to conserve their strength. The upcoming trip to Yue Jue Temple was likely to hold thrilling events.
After passing through the lively market, the carriage accelerated and sped out of the imperial city, heading straight for the suburbs.
Xiang Hua Mountain, winding and undulating, was in late autumn. The air was cool and sparse. The entire mountainside appeared somewhat desolate. The lush green foliage was tinged with a hint of golden yellow, and the sunlight, refracting through the leaves, seemed to cast a layer of golden light.
As the wind blew, some withered leaves fluttered down, landing in the slowly flowing stream. They drifted downstream, washing away the desolation of the season.
At the foot of the mountain, there were many carriages, and people were coming and going up and down the mountain. It was the same as the first time they had visited, except for the yellowed leaves and the cooler weather, there were no other changes. The pilgrims were still numerous.
The desolation of autumn did not affect the incense and offerings at Yue Jue Temple. The pilgrims said that Master Liao Kong of Yue Jue Temple possessed great wisdom.
Possessed great wisdom? A tall figure appeared in Mu Qingyao's mind. Although advanced in age, he did not appear old; on the contrary, his eyes were bright and piercing, full of wisdom and serenity.
If there were indeed assassins within Yue Jue Temple, what role did this Liao Kong play?
Mu Qingyao suddenly recalled an oddity she had discovered when she had someone investigate the Empress Dowager's former beloved. That man, due to his excessive infatuation, had reportedly become a monk. Could it be…
Mu Qingyao's heart pounded violently. She really did not want to believe that the monks of Yue Jue Temple were the Empress Dowager's former love. After so many years, they were still entangled. And anyone with a brain would know that the Empress Dowager was merely using him.
If Master Liao Kong was that person, how much suffering must he have endured? The woman he loved married another man, and he himself ultimately became her weapon.
"Your Highness, shall we go up?"
The group followed the flow of people up the mountain, attracting many curious glances along the way. Their entourage was striking, with handsome men and beautiful women.
Although Mu Qingyao was dressed as a man, she was still the center of attention. Despite it being autumn, she insisted on fanning herself with a jade-bone fan, acting as if she were a romantic. She truly possessed the charm to attract attention, captivating many young women who gazed at her with infatuated eyes.
Mo Chou rolled her eyes as she watched her mistress's ostentatious ascent. Her mistress was truly composed, knowing full well the danger of their journey yet still managing to put on such a show. Unlike her, whose heart was already in her throat.
"Your Highness."
Mu Qingyao turned her head and cast a sidelong glance at Mo Chou. Seeing the girl's pale face, she couldn't help but furrow her brow. She leaned in and whispered, "Why are you so nervous? Don't you know there are people watching us from the shadows?"
"Ah?" Mo Chou exclaimed in surprise. Who had been watching them from the shadows since they arrived at the mountain? Her Highness was truly amazing. It seemed she had been too careless, only paying attention to her mistress and forgetting about the people in the shadows.
"This servant understands," Mo Chou said softly, then composed herself and followed behind her mistress.
Mu Qingyao occasionally glanced back and lightly pecked at Mo Chou's cheek, her actions exceedingly frivolous, causing many women to gasp. This young master was so amorous!
The grand and solemn Yue Jue Temple was teeming with pilgrims. The square in front of the gate was even more lively than before. In addition to those selling incense and offerings, there were even some small vendors selling miscellaneous items and simple goods. Mu Qingyao had not paid much attention last time, but this time, due to the matter of the assassins, she couldn't help but look more closely. Why were people selling these things in front of the temple gate?
"Your Highness?" Mo Chou followed Mu Qingyao's gaze and raised her eyebrows in confusion. Was her mistress suspecting something?
Mu Qingyao remained silent, fanning herself with an air of self-importance, and swaggered towards the incense and offering vendors, leading her three subordinates. Mo Chou and Mo You followed her closely, afraid that their mistress might encounter any danger.