Did Miss become a nun today?

Emerging from the alley, she stood at the street corner, momentarily at a loss for where to go.

Before she could decide, several people approached from a distance. The one leading them was the steward of the Prince Su's residence, who bowed respectfully before her. "It's rare for the Princess to come down from the mountain. Would you like to return to the Prince's residence for a few days?"

She had originally planned to come and go today, but after thinking about it, she changed her mind and nodded: "Alright, then I'll go back and stay for a few days."

On the way, Hui Niang kept glancing at her sideways, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Xie Yun Chu felt helpless under her gaze. "Just ask whatever you want to ask."

Hui Niang then leaned closer, "You...are you really a princess from the Prince's mansion?"

"Yes."

"Then why did you become a monk?"

Hui Niang couldn't understand it. That was a royal palace, and she was a proper princess. With such a noble status, what could she possibly be so upset about that she would want to become a nun?

Are you crazy?

Xie Yun Chu didn't turn around, her voice flat, "What does wanting to become a nun have to do with one's social status?"

"Are you stupid!" Hui Niang slapped her knee in exasperation. "In the Prince's mansion, you can enjoy endless wealth and luxury for a lifetime, having whatever you want. Although you also have food and lodging in a nunnery, it's like heaven and earth. How can they be the same?"

Her mind is made up, and there's nothing to sway her.

In the past, knowing that one was a princess would probably have been so happy that one couldn't sleep.

But what does it matter now?

There are so many people in the world who enjoy happiness; we don't need her.

By chanting Buddhist scriptures and praying for the well-being of the people, we can help even more people when the charity hall opens in the future.

Living a peaceful and stable life by following the Buddha is also quite good.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of Prince Su's residence. Zhao Zhang had received word from the secret guards early in the morning and stood outside waiting, craning his neck. As soon as he saw the carriage stop, he came forward to greet it.

He wanted to get closer, but was afraid of startling her, so he stopped a few steps away, his lips curving into a smile. "You're back? I've prepared your favorite dishes at home. Come on in."

Xie Yun Chu nodded slightly: "Thank you."

Zhao Zhang didn't care about her indifferent appearance. When he heard that she was willing to enter the manor, he smiled and his eyes narrowed.

Hui Niang followed closely behind her, not daring to glance around, and secretly tugged at Xie Yun Chu's sleeve, afraid of taking the wrong step.

Zhao Zhang smiled broadly, "Your mother happens to be out of the house today, but I've already sent someone to look for her."

Xie Yun Chu paused slightly, looked up at him, and said, "Actually... I didn't come to see my mother today."

"We've come to see His Highness."

Zhao Zhang was delighted. "Looking for me? Is something the matter? Is Qingyun Nunnery short of money? Or has someone bullied you?"

She shook her head and turned to the butler beside her: "This is my friend. Please look after him for me. I have something to say to His Highness."

The steward readily agreed. Although Hui Niang was feeling uneasy, she didn't want to delay her business. She simply squeezed Hui Niang's hand and followed the steward.

The two entered the waterside pavilion, where the table was filled with pastries and fruit drinks, all of which she used to like.

She didn't move, sitting upright and proper.

"The reason I've come today is to ask Your Highness for a favor."

"you say."

"Could you...plead on behalf of the Pei family?"

Although the Pei family members sometimes have disagreements and frictions, they would never do anything illegal or criminal.

Even if those relatives outside are ignorant, at most it's just a matter of lax discipline. Why put all the blame on the Pei family?

As for the Ji family, they are not in the capital for most of the year. Although they have some dealings, the Marquis and his eldest cousin are not fools and would not be led astray.

"Although the Pei family is guilty, their crimes do not warrant death. Your Highness, could you perhaps..."

Zhao Zhang put down his teacup and remained silent for a long time.

After a long pause, Zhao Zhang finally spoke, his tone a few degrees heavier than before, "The Pei family's affairs are far more complicated than you think."

According to Zhao Zhang, it was fine to kill Pei Changyu; as for the rest of the Pei family, he didn't care.

"Although he is not very old, he has cultivated his influence in the court for many years. Did you know that more than half of the officials in the Ministry of Revenue were promoted by him?"

The Ministry of Revenue has a Minister, but his words are not as effective as those of a Vice Minister. What can be done?

"He is young and impetuous, and does not know how to restrain himself. Now everyone in the court is happy to see this happen. He is colluding with court officials, forming cliques and engaging in self-serving activities, which is a major taboo."

Zhao Zhang naturally wouldn't plead for Pei Changyu. As for the Pei family, if they couldn't teach their child properly, then let the law teach him; it's good for them to suffer.

However, out of respect for Shen Heng and for the sake of raising his daughter, he also spoke well of the Pei family in front of his elder brother.

However, the matter is not yet resolved, and the male members of the Pei family cannot be released for the time being.

Xie Yun Chu lowered her eyes, showing no surprise.

Pei Changyu's ability to quietly take her away from Qingyun Nunnery in the capital and lock her in a mansion for so many days without being discovered is something that a young master of a marquis's mansion could not possibly do.

Over the years, he has always presented a gentle and dignified appearance in public, but beneath that exterior lies a deep abyss.

"I don't ask Your Highness to overturn his case, it's just..."

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "The women of the Pei family have nothing to do with this matter. Since His Majesty is not pursuing it, could you... at least ensure they have better food and lodging?"

She had inquired about the Pei family's women when she entered the city. Although they would not be punished, their food, lodging, and transportation were subject to restrictions.

They weren't allowed to live in large houses, their daily food rations were fixed, and they were watched when they went out. Although they weren't in jail, their treatment was no different from that of someone in jail.

Zhao Zhang looked at her face, which was remarkably similar to Shen Heng's, and could hardly believe it.

Such a vindictive and wicked man has such a kind-hearted daughter.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed. There was no sarcasm in his laughter; instead, it carried an indescribable meaning.

Fortunately, he doesn't look like him.

"You're just like your mother, with a softer heart than anyone else."

"Since you've asked, I'll send someone to take care of the women of the Pei family."

Xie Yun Chu opened her mouth, but still said, "Your Highness, about my eldest cousin..."

Zhao Zhang's face suddenly turned cold, and he interrupted her, "He must die."

She lowered her head and said in a muffled voice, "But he is my aunt's son."

My aunt may have sounded nonchalant, but she just didn't want to put others in a difficult position.

"Your Highness, it's all in the past. I'm doing fine now. If His Majesty is kind and willing to let him go, please don't make things difficult for him."

Zhao Zhang was furious at these words. How could they be so easy to bully?

His wretched daughter, if not ruthless, is at least full of thorns, yet now she's pleading for the people who bullied her.

"You've lost your temper after becoming a monk?" he said irritably.

"Monks should be calm and peaceful, and should not be concerned with gains and losses," Xie Yunchu replied.

Zhao Zhang felt a tightness in his chest from those words, yet he couldn't muster any anger at the face that resembled Shen Heng's.

He walked around the pavilion twice with his hands behind his back, then pointed at Xie Yun Chu and said, "You! You really are... I thought you'd never felt this aggrieved, not even when you argued with your mother."

"The Marquis's mansion raised me for eleven years; compared to this kindness, everything else is insignificant."

The kindness of raising and nurturing is greater than heaven. She is not a heartless person. The Buddha said: Those who know gratitude are the root of great compassion and the first door to good deeds... They die and are reborn in heaven. Those who do not know gratitude are worse than animals.

She didn't know what she could do for the Marquis's mansion, but at least she could repay it in some way through this blood relation and sense of guilt.