"It was Ji Quansi who told me,"
Hong Dai pursed her lips, a trace of sarcasm in her expression. "Prime Minister He always appeared neutral, but in reality, he had long since sided with him."
"He Xiaoyu marrying Ji Quansi was something they had decided on long ago, but the Crown Princess Prime Minister He favored was not He Xiaoyu."
Li Yueshu was not foolish. With the conversation reaching this point, she suddenly understood. "The Crown Princess he favored was He Xuebao?"
Hong Dai nodded, sneering, "It's a pity He Xuebao's status was not enough for that position, so Prime Minister He designed He Xiaoyu to be a stepping stone to help He Xuebao ascend."
At this point, everything could be explained.
He Xiaoyu deliberately damaging her reputation and her unreasonable behavior every time she faced Ji Quansi and He Xuebao were all to serve as a foil for He Xuebao.
And Ji Quansi knew the He family's plan long ago, so he went with the flow, creating rumors that He Xuebao was the most suitable for the position of Crown Princess.
No wonder Ji Quansi told Mo Yulin that he would return He Xiaoyu to him.
Li Yueshu suddenly thought of He Xiaoyu's various behaviors that she had gotten to know during this period and asked in confusion, "Does He Xiaoyu know about these things?"
Hong Dai nodded, also a little confused. "He Xiaoyu has always known. But she doesn't seem foolish. I don't know why she would be willing to be a stepping stone for He Xuebao."
Li Yueshu pursed her lips, also perplexed.
He Xiaoyu's personality did not seem like someone who would endure such grievances.
"This is probably something only He Xiaoyu and Mo Yulin know," Qin Moyuan suddenly said. "If A Shu is curious, you can find an opportunity to ask them."
Upon hearing this, Li Yueshu shook her head. "Never mind."
She was not overly curious. It was only because of Xiaoyu that she paid a little more attention to He Xiaoyu's affairs.
Li Yueshu's plan was to leave a few prescriptions after Mo Yulin's condition stabilized and then set off to return to Chennan Kingdom.
If there were delays on the way back, she might miss the twins' birthday.
Upon hearing her plan, Qin Moyuan and the others naturally had no objections. Mother Mo even started preparing things that very day.
The next day, after Li Yueshu finished treating Mo Yulin, she intended to bring up the matter, but He Xiaoyu spoke first. "Miss Li, we plan to visit the Taoist temple tomorrow. Would you like to join us?"
After speaking, she added, "Daoist Master Xuancheng's reputation is widely known. He is temporarily staying at a Taoist temple in the suburbs. It's a rare opportunity to see him."
Li Yueshu was about to refuse, but her eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Xuanchengzi, he had come to Qingyan Kingdom?
Li Yueshu glanced at Qin Moyuan beside her. They clearly had the same thought.
Daoist Master Xuancheng's title was indeed well-known, but most people revered Buddhism and Taoism, so they didn't know much about Xuanchengzi.
"That would be good," Li Yueshu nodded. "We've been in Rui Jing for so long and visited many places, but we haven't been to a Taoist temple yet. It's a good opportunity to meet the legendary Xuanchengzi."
Seeing her agree, He Xiaoyu personally came to pick them up by carriage the next day.
After getting into the carriage, Hong Dai immediately sat next to He Xiaoyu.
With the misunderstanding with Ji Quansi resolved, these two had become very good friends.
However, no one expected that Ji Quansi and He Xuebao would also come to the Taoist temple.
He Xiaoyu's expression instantly fell.
Clearly, she had not expected these two to come.
He Xuebao saw them too and immediately ran over with a look of delight.
"Sister, I didn't expect you to come too!" He Xuebao smiled happily. "Sister, did you come because you knew Crown Prince brother was coming?"
As she spoke, she reached out to take He Xiaoyu's arm.
The latter gave her no chance and dodged sideways. "Yes, is there a problem with the Crown Princess traveling with the Crown Prince?"
He Xuebao was rendered speechless.
How should she respond to that?
"Pfft!"
Li Yueshu chuckled.
Sincerity was indeed a killer move!
She said with a smile, picking up on He Xiaoyu's words, "Of course there's no problem! It's only natural for a couple to travel together. The problem lies with those who insist on getting close to a married man."
He Xuebao's expression changed. She wanted to speak again, but Ji Quansi, who was beside her, spoke. "Alright, I don't know if Daoist Master Xuancheng is still in the temple. Let's go in quickly!"
With his words, He Xuebao naturally dared not say anything more.
She didn't know if it was her imagination, but the Crown Prince's attitude towards her had clearly changed recently, as if it started from the lake poetry gathering that day.
Thinking of this, He Xuebao's gaze fell on He Xiaoyu, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.
This fool had promised Father that she would cooperate with her performance, and she had always done it very successfully all these years. Why was the Crown Prince's attitude towards her different now?
He Xuebao, with her heart full of unease and confusion, followed everyone into the Taoist temple.
The Taoist temple was not large. As it was located in the suburbs, not many people came. In fact, most of the people who came today were there for Xuanchengzi.
Li Yueshu and Qin Moyuan stood at the back, not joining the crowd.
Although they had also come for Xuanchengzi, they both understood that Xuanchengzi would never show himself easily.
As expected, even with Crown Prince Ji Quansi's personal visit, everyone was still blocked at the gate by a few young Daoist priests.
According to the young Daoist priests, Xuanchengzi was only staying there temporarily and did not wish to be disturbed. He would be leaving that day.
Since everyone could not force their way in, they decided to wander around the Taoist temple, hoping to encounter Xuanchengzi if fate allowed.
Li Yueshu and the others also stayed behind. However, unlike others who relied on fate, they sent people to secretly investigate where Xuanchengzi was staying.
After letting Xuanchengzi escape at Shen Wei's tomb, upon hearing news of him again, they naturally had to ask the questions they hadn't finished last time.
While waiting for news, Li Yueshu and Qin Moyuan also wandered around the Taoist temple, offering incense to the various deities.
As everyone was praying, Mo Yulin stood there with a faint smile, his gaze almost constantly on He Xiaoyu, showing no intention of praying.
Li Yueshu couldn't help but ask curiously, "Since you're here, aren't you going to pray?"
Mo Yulin looked up at the high deity statues and gently shook his head. "I only believe in my own god."
As he spoke, he once again looked at He Xiaoyu.
He Xiaoyu seemed to have heard his words and turned to look at him, also raising a gentle smile.
Li Yueshu instantly understood and raised an eyebrow.
Was she being force-fed dog food?
Li Yueshu ignored the two of them and continued to pray to the deity statues.
She was also a firm materialist, but after transmigrating, she felt that nothing was impossible in this world.
Whether a god existed or not depended on belief.
Besides, praying to gods was like burning paper for ancestors during the Qingming Festival; it was for peace of mind.
After finishing their prayers, the secret guards Qin Moyuan had sent to gather information also returned with news about Xuanchengzi.
However, to their surprise, the returning secret guard said that he was discovered by Xuanchengzi as soon as he arrived. The latter did not wish to see them and said that they would meet if fate allowed.
The secret guard paused for a moment and added, "The Daoist master said that he came to Rui Jing this time to prepare a gift for his next meeting with the young lady."