Goodbye, Crown Prince

  In the evening, Wanyu ordered Molly to light up the incense stick and then lay down with her. Before long, Molly fell asleep. The incense was made by Wanyu herself, which had a calming effect on people and helped them fall asleep quickly, mainly for the maid who slept beside her.

  Wanyu lay flat on the bed, silently operating her skills to slowly absorb the power of the moonlight. Although this couldn't increase her powers much, she could feel a thread of mysterious law from the yin and yang. Therefore, over the years, as long as conditions allowed, she would persist in doing so; if she couldn't sit in meditation, then she would lie down to absorb it, every bit counted.

  On the second day, early in the morning, Wan Yi and Yun Qing came together. After yesterday's hospitality, Yun Qing seemed much more relaxed and happy, with a very good mood.

  "Big sister, haven't we come too early and disturbed your rest?" Wenyi saw that Wenyu's hair was only loosely tied up in a simple bun, as if she had just gotten out of bed.

  Wan Yu smiled and waved at them, "What are you talking about? I got up early and did a set of boxing in the yard. I've been waiting for you to come and have breakfast with me."

  Yun Qing asked with great interest: "Sister, do you practice boxing every morning?" She stared at him with her round eyes, looking very curious.

  Wan Yu smiled and nodded, letting someone serve them hot milk before saying: "I've been learning boxing with Fourth Brother since I was a kid, and I never stopped. My dad said it's good for strengthening the body, so every morning I get up and do a set of punches. If I don't practice for a day, I feel uncomfortable. I've gotten used to it, and over the years, I've rarely gotten sick. If you're interested, you can also give it a try."

  After drinking a mouthful of hot milk, Wanyi let out a comfortable sigh. "I heard my mother praise my older sister for her perseverance, but I just can't hold on. My father also said that practicing is good, but I always oversleep." She frowned with worry, wrinkling up her small nose.

  Yun Qing nodded thoughtfully, her eyes filled with hope. "Sister, do you have time to teach me? I want to learn too. Every winter, I always get sick and cough, I just want to be healthier."

  Wanyu nodded happily, "Okay, I'll teach you a few more times later. It's very simple and you'll learn it quickly. The key is to be consistent."

  "Uh-huh, I understand." Yun Qing immediately nodded seriously, a healthy body is extremely important for the girl's family.

  After the three of them finished their breakfast, they started practicing calligraphy. With her sister's company, Yuwen was even more diligent and dedicated to writing characters, and the effect was even better than when she practiced alone.

  "Miss, the old lady has sent word that you young ladies are to go and pay your respects to our guest. It's the wife of Duke Dingguo who has come to visit, and she's brought her son with her. The old lady says for you all to go and meet them."

  Wan Yu put down her pen and nodded, "Mm-hmm, got it. Let's pack up and head over."

  She turned her head to glance at the attire of Yuanni and Yunqing, which was quite decent. She got up and went to the dresser, took out a coral bangle from the treasure chest, and put it on Yunqing's hand. After another careful examination, she nodded slightly, "Hmm, this is about right. Let's go."

  She suddenly remembered something and asked: "Yun Shu, is he going or not?"

  The peony-faced girl shook her head without changing color, "I've never heard of it."

  Wan Yu sighed, it seemed that the old lady had really made up her mind to ignore Yun Shu. Turning back to see Wan Yi's worried eyes, she couldn't help but smile, "I'm fine, let's hurry and meet our guests, if they ask just say Yun Shu caught a cold and isn't feeling well."

  Wan Yi immediately nodded, "Sister, rest assured, we know what to say and will never bring shame to our family."

  Three sisters went to the main hall together, today is the day when Dingguo Hou's wife brought her son to pay respects to the old lady, and when they arrived at the main hall, they heard the voices of the lady and the old lady chatting happily.

  "Old madam, my mother-in-law said that on the first day of next month, we will go to Huangjue Temple to burn incense. I asked if you have any other instructions, and she said to bring a few younger ones along to add to the excitement, and offer incense to the Buddha." The lady of Dingguo Hou smiled and playfully leaned in close to the old madam.

  The old lady nodded happily, "Good, good, I've all prepared. My granddaughter copied the Lotus Sutra for me to offer to the Buddha. Look, how's her handwriting?" She excitedly asked someone to bring out the sutra book copied by Wenyu for her to see.

  The lady of Dingguo Marquis indeed picked it up and flipped through page by page, couldn't help but nod slightly, with a hint of approval in her eyes. The characters were obviously written with care, making people feel comfortable just by looking at them.

  "As expected, it's a good omen. The old lady is blessed to have such a good granddaughter who respects you so much. I'm really envious. Our family has one that can't sit still for a moment, what a little devil!"

  "I think Huiling is a lively and cheerful good kid, don't be too restrained, children should be lively and cheerful, all stiff and solemn like an old lady, it's not good. Don't worry, your good fortune is yet to come, having both sons and daughters, what a wonderful fate you have!" The old lady's eyes narrowed with delight.

  "The old lady and the young miss have come to pay their respects." The nanny shouted at the door.

  Wanyu and others entered in a line, first and last greeting Old Lady and Dingguo Hou's wife.

  "Alright, good kids, this is for you to play with on your first meeting." Duchess Dingguo took off three bangles from her hand and gave them to the three Yu sisters.

  Wan Yu first glanced at the old lady and saw her nodding before smiling and bowing to pay respects, "Thank you, madam."

  Yuanyi and Yuanyu followed in Yuanyu's footsteps, neither taking a step too many nor saying a word too much. Until Madame Dingguo nodded slightly.

  "I see that you're copying scriptures. Which scripture are you copying now?" asked the Lady of Dingguo, sizing up Yuwan from head to toe.

  Wanyu slightly lowered her head with a hint of a smile, "I've copied the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra before, now I'm just starting to copy the Lengyan Jing."

  The lady nodded slightly and didn't ask anything else, turning to chat with the old lady instead. "I heard that the vegetarian dishes in the temple are quite good. My family's elderly lady said we can stay for three days, would you like to have some?"

  "Old madam, the young master has arrived and says he's come to pay his respects." The nanny reported once again.

  Wan Yu immediately got up and prepared to go to the warm pavilion to avoid it, this move made Ding Guo Hou's wife look at her with a few more approving colors, first waving her hand to persuade: "No need to avoid, elders are all here."

  The old lady's eyes flashed with a hint of sharpness, and she nodded with a smile, "That's right, the children are still young. Let him in, Brother Yu should be going to court for official business, what position did he get?"

  She turned her face and looked at Madame Dingguo with concern and asked.

  The lady smiled slightly and said, "His father has arranged for him to become a guard, let him try his best to see if he can be promoted to the imperial guard."

  The guards in the palace were at least fourth-grade officials, which was already a very high position for a boy of about 15 or 16 years old. Moreover, they could see the world and learn many things, and it can be said that their future prospects are great.

  The old lady nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad, children need to practice more, boys should be stricter, can't be spoiled, have to hold up the family gate, don't know how to do things won't work. Look at my home's Li Ge and Qi Ge, big and small, winter training three nine summer training three fu, the most bitter time, skin on their body shed layer by layer, I looked at it like a knife cutting through my heart, but couldn't say a word of advice, children just rely on this spirit to hold on."

  The lady of Dingguo Hou looked at Yuwen with a glance, seeing her gentle and smiling eyes chatting and laughing with Yunxiang, warm and quiet, such a child is really rare at this age.

  She smiled and nodded, "Isn't that the reason why his father told him to go learn from those with high eyebrows and low eyes, so he can see capable people and know where he should position himself?"

  "Yes." The old lady let out a long sigh.

  At this time, the crown prince Zhang Yun came in, wearing a long gown of snow-green color, with a moon-white waistband around his waist, hanging a sheep-fat white jade pendant, a pine crane's bag, deer skin boots, and hair tied up with a jade crown, looking spirited and handsome.

  "Old lady, junior has paid respects to you and asked about the three sisters." Zhang Yun bowed his hands to pay respects to the old lady, casting a glance at Yuwen.

  Wan Yu led her sisters in rising and performing a curtsy, "To pay respects to the young master."

  Zhang Yun's face turned slightly red, and he waved his hand repeatedly. "Wenyu, don't laugh at me, just call me Brother Yun. I've known Li Ge since we were kids, so there's no need to be polite with me."

  Wan Yu smiled slightly but didn't say anything, and instead had the maid serve tea to Zhang Yun. Turning around, she said: "Grandmother, I'll go take a look at the kitchen, let's have Aunt stay here for dinner today, I'll go tell them to prepare some good dishes."

  The old lady smiled and nodded, "Alright, you all go ahead. You kids can't sit still here anyway. Bring us that Osmanthus cake of yours."

  He turned his head and smiled at Dingguo Hou's wife like a child: "My granddaughter made osmanthus flower dumplings, they are delicious! They don't let me eat too much, now that you're here, I can have another bowl!"

  The lady covered her mouth and chuckled, "At home too, my old lady loves to eat sweets. Afraid she'll eat too much and it won't be good for her, I give her a fixed amount, but the old lady always complains."

  The old lady nodded in deep agreement, her expression like that of an elderly child, with a look of grievance on her face.

  Wan Yu smiled and stretched out one finger, "Grandma, it's no use complaining, you can only have one bowl, and you definitely can't have more."

  "Look at how strict I am with her." The old lady pointed at Yuwen and couldn't help but laugh, Yuwen was so embarrassed that she stomped her foot and ran away with her sisters.

  Zhang Yun couldn't help but gaze longingly at the back of Yuanyu as she left, taking a long time to withdraw his gaze. This scene fell into his mother's eyes, and she couldn't help but slightly furrow her brow.

  The old lady saw it in her eyes, the corner of her mouth slightly raised, a hint of sarcasm flashed by, she picked up the tea and took a sip, still smiling on her face.

  Wanyi followed Wanyu out the door, "I think Duchess Dingguo looks very stern, even more so than Eldest Aunt."

  Wanyu also smiled and explained: "I don't know either, but I heard my mother say that the main house of Dingguo Houfu has no concubine children, it can be seen that she is also a capable person, but there is only one son, the heir."

  Wan Yi nodded slightly without commenting, but Yun Qing murmured thoughtfully, "So she's that formidable after all."

  Wan Yu smiled and shook her head, saying: "This kind of thing can only be discussed behind one's back, but it's not something that can be learned from. Her family is also very powerful, with her brothers holding official positions in the imperial court, and she herself has a good relationship with the Marquis' household. She has given birth to a son and a daughter, so no one can say anything about her."