The two clay figurines were just ordinary clay figurines, solid, with nothing hidden inside.
"As long as you sincerely worship these two clay figurines day and night, the Prince's curse will be lifted."
Wang Qingyao played with the clay figurines, staring at the abbot with a half-smile. "And what about me?"
The abbot clasped his hands together and chanted, "Amitabha." "One life for one life, this is the method to transfer the curse. If the Prince dies, the Princess lives. If the Prince lives, the Princess dies. Alas, this old monk knows the Princess's deep affection for the Prince, but all beings are equal. Princess, please reconsider."
Wang Qingyao did not show the slightest intention of exchanging one life for another from beginning to end, yet the abbot was convinced that Wang Qingyao would do so.
Not only did he provide a method, but he also pretended to be a good person and advised her not to act impulsively.
Truly, he wanted to play the whore and set up a memorial archway.
"I understand."
Wang Qingyao left with the clay figurines.
Xiao Yun felt somewhat unsatisfied. Was that all?
He had arranged for people to be there with great fanfare and caution, and yet nothing happened?
In the carriage, Wang Qingyao threw the clay figurines to Xiao Yun. Xiao Yun examined them up and down carefully, but could not discern anything.
"Is this what that old bald donkey gave you?"
Wang Qingyao nodded.
"What did he give you two clay figurines for? A gift? What did he say to you?"
Wang Qingyao sneered and recounted the abbot's words to Xiao Yun verbatim.
As Xiao Yun listened, the more he heard, the more something felt wrong, and his brow furrowed tightly.
"No, why does it sound like he has ill intentions? One life for one life? I, the dignified Prince of Ding'an, a man of honor, would sacrifice my wife's life just to prolong my own existence?"
As he spoke, he lifted the carriage curtain, intending to throw the pair of clay figurines out.
Wang Qingyao snatched them back. "Don't throw them, I still have a use for them."
Xiao Yun's face changed in fright. "You don't actually believe that bald donkey, do you? I'm not worth you..."
"Stop," Wang Qingyao interrupted him. "Don't worry, I cherish my life. I won't do something as foolish as exchanging one life for another."
Xiao Yun, feeling self-important, coughed awkwardly.
"Then what are you keeping them for?"
"If you throw them away now, how can Concubine Wei and the others continue their act? Putting aside whether I'm willing to exchange one life for another, do you even believe this talk of exchanging lives? Just two clay figurines bought from a street vendor, and by praying sincerely day and night, you can transfer the curse on you to me? You're trying to fool a child."
"It is indeed absurd."
Wang Qingyao, in any case, did not believe it.
"Let's keep these two little clay dolls for now and see what Concubine Wei does."
Xiao Yun frowned and pondered for a moment. He picked up the clay dolls and sniffed them, analyzing, "Wei Yu and the others want your life. Could these clay figurines be mixed with poison? If you pray to them day and night, you would inhale the poison and die?"
This was not an impossible scenario.
Wang Qingyao quickly wrapped the clay figurines with a handkerchief and put them into a box, closing the lid.
Upon entering the city, she immediately found a medical clinic and had the doctor examine the clay figurines. As it turned out, the clay figurines were indeed just clay figurines, with no poison at all. In fact, they were made of some kind of red clay, which was even beneficial to the human body.
One doctor could not be trusted, so Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun visited four more. The results were all similar.
The clay figurines were not poisonous.
This made things very perplexing.
Wang Qingyao was certain that Concubine Wei had gone to great lengths to have her visit Ye Guo Temple, and it was definitely not about the curse on the Xiao family. She must have intended to do something.
Upon returning to the Ding'an Prince's mansion, the Old Dowager asked about the temple. Wang Qingyao found it difficult to tell her about "one life for one life," so she simply said, "The abbot said I am the Prince's fated person. As long as I pray for the Prince day and night, he will live a long and healthy life."
She then took out the clay figurines to show the Old Dowager.
The Old Dowager was also half-believing, half-doubting.
However, at least she had found a spiritual solace, and was no longer as anxious as before.
Wang Qingyao earnestly found a shrine and enshrined the two clay figurines within. She lit incense in the morning, noon, and evening, kowtowed, and prayed with great piety.
At least, she appeared very pious to outsiders.
Concubine Wei made no further moves, continuing to focus her efforts on Bian Siyue.
In mid-September, the Prince of Dingnan finally arrived in Duanjing.
He was accompanied by the Old Duke Zhongyong and the Imperial Preceptor Feng Fuguo.