tallest building

Chapter 200 Remembering an Old Friend

Ying Wuchou seemed to be knocked down by these words and had to lean on a tree next to him for support.

His hands were shaking so badly that it took him a long time to speak.

"How...how do you know these things?" Ying Wuchou stared intently at Wen Mingqian. "Please tell me, or I won't let this go."

His tone was more pleading than commanding.

"Does Your Highness believe what I'm saying? Perhaps this is just a story," Wen Mingqian reminded him.

After all, she said from the beginning that this was a story.

"No, you must know something." Ying Wuchou shook his head. "Very few people know about my relationship with her. Even my aunt wouldn't know this much, which shows that you are very close to her. What are you to her?"

Ying Wuchou asked anxiously, explaining that he had kept that person hidden in his heart for so many years, not daring to tell anyone.

He thought he would have to keep it hidden for the rest of his life, until the day he died.

Because the world is full of infamy against her, even in history books.

“Although we are not related by blood, we are as close as sisters. When I was young, my mother was seriously ill. We sought medical help but to no avail. Then someone said that if her biological children went to a temple to cultivate themselves, eat vegetarian food and worship Buddha, it might bring my mother good fortune and prolong her life.” Wen Mingqian slowly began to speak. “At that time, my two older brothers were studying hard. I couldn’t bear to see them neglect their studies, so I offered to go into the mountains to cultivate myself.”

There I met Sister Shen, who was staying there at the time, praying for her father.

She was a few years older than me and treated me like a younger sister. We lived in that temple for almost three years, eating and sleeping together, and sharing everything.

I remember in the spring of the third year, some outsiders came to the temple to burn incense. After that, I contracted the plague. The people in the temple avoided me like the plague and abandoned me in an empty room in the backyard.

Only Sister Shen took care of me tirelessly, pulling me back from the brink of death several times.

She searched for herbs for me, tried folk remedies, and even performed acupuncture and bloodletting; she tried every method she could think of.

Later, Sister Shen also contracted the plague, but she still did her best to take care of me.

Fearing the spread of the plague, the people in the temple sealed off our rooms with bricks, tiles, and wooden strips, leaving us to fend for ourselves.

For those two weeks, we survived on only half a vat of water and half a bag of moldy dry food.

Two weeks later, we worked together to dig a hole in the window and climb out, only to find that everyone else in the temple had died of the plague.

We walked for three days through the desolate mountains before reaching the nearest town. We were fortunate to meet a kind person who helped us send a message home.

Later, we were taken back to our families, and although we exchanged letters a few times over the next few years, we never saw each other again. Then both families moved on, and all contact was lost.

It wasn't until many years later, when my family moved to the capital, that I learned she had become a concubine in the palace.

We didn't have a chance to see each other again, and I didn't deliberately contact her. Firstly, I didn't want people to think I was trying to curry favor, and secondly, I thought there would be plenty of time in the future, and we would meet again someday.

Little did we know that we would not see each other again until the autumn of the third year of Chunjia.

"Your Highness must have had someone investigate me, and should know what I went through that year." Wen Mingqian smiled bitterly as he said this. Some things, no matter how much time has passed, still bring bitterness when you look back. Ying Wuchou nodded; he did indeed know.

“Since Your Highness already knows, I won’t go into details. We met in a dilapidated temple in Lanxi. My sister knew she couldn’t escape, so she told me to leave quickly to avoid being implicated. It was then that I learned that my sister originally intended to seek refuge with Your Highness, but ultimately it was too late,” Wen Mingqian said.

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?" Ying Wuchou said anxiously, "If I had known it would be like this..."

“Your Highness, please don’t blame me for not saying so sooner. The truth is, people’s hearts are hard to fathom. I didn’t know if your heart had changed over the years. I was afraid that I might accidentally trust the wrong person,” Wen Mingqian said.

“I understand your good intentions, and I don’t blame you. But what are you planning to do?” Ying Wuchou looked at Wen Mingqian and felt that it was really difficult for a weak woman like her to accomplish anything great.

“Your Highness, now that I have chosen to trust you, I will no longer hide anything. What I am about to do is no small matter.” Wen Mingqian looked at Ying Wuchou with a solemn expression. “It is not appropriate to say more here. Let’s arrange another place to discuss this in detail.”

After Wen Mingqian descended the mountain and arrived at Wuqiu Nunnery, he saw that the carriage of Prince Zhao's Mansion was already waiting at the entrance of the nunnery.

"Madam Wen, the Princess Consort invites you to her residence for a visit," the head maid of the Prince's residence said to Wen Mingqian with a smile.

Without saying a word, Wen Mingqian got into the carriage. She took a short nap in the carriage and woke up when the carriage arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion.

Upon arriving at the guest room in the Prince's mansion, the old woman smiled and said to Wen Mingqian, "I noticed a hint of spring on your face, Madam. You must have had some wine. Tell them to make some tea, and you can have a cup before you go to see the Princess."

“Mom is so thoughtful,” Wen Mingqian smiled. “I did have a few drinks at the Princess’s place.”

After Wen Mingqian finished his tea, he went to see Princess Zhao. Princess Zhao was all smiles, and as she asked someone to bring her a seat, she said, "You really have a way with me! Look at my face, how many years has it been since I've felt this good?"

"Your Highness, your skin is already excellent; these are just minor flaws," Wen Mingqian said with a smile. "This is merely icing on the cake; I don't deserve such praise."

“No wonder the Princess admires you so much; you are not one of those frivolous people.” Princess Zhao admired Wen Mingqian even more after hearing her say this. “Last time you left in such a hurry that I didn’t have time to reward you. This time I will reward you properly, and you cannot refuse.”

"I am naturally pleased that Your Highness wishes to bestow rewards, but please do not go too far, lest it make me uneasy," Wen Mingqian continued, following the Princess Zhao's wishes.

"Don't worry about that, everything I'm giving you is something you can afford," Princess Zhao said with a smile. "I know you live in a nunnery, but that won't do. It's not only inappropriate for you to live there, but it's also in a very remote area on the outskirts of the city, making it inconvenient for you to go anywhere."

I've had someone find you a house nearby. It's not big, but it'll be enough for you by yourself. You can come over and talk to me whenever you have time, and it'll keep you company. Wouldn't that be nice?"

“Your Highness, your generosity is too great. Any house in the capital is extremely expensive,” Wen Mingqian said hastily. “I’m really being too kind.”

“Take what I’m giving you and try to refuse it later, or I’ll get angry,” said Princess Zhao. “Do you think I’ll just give a house to anyone? You have to have the ability to do so.”

The old woman next to her chimed in, "Miss Wen, please don't refuse. The Princess Consort has been in a good mood these past few days, and she's even had a few extra new clothes made."

No woman doesn't love beauty, especially someone as noble as Princess Zhao.

The emperor would give him 50,000 strings of cash every year for cosmetics, enough to buy several houses.

Wen Mingqian did not refuse and thanked Princess Zhao deeply.

"Do you have any other good things? Show them to me," Princess Zhao asked. "I'm going to the palace in a few days, and I'll bring a few things back for my sister as well."

The elder sister she mentioned was Empress Dong Xiangning.