The wicked imperial concubine is courting death again; the comments section teaches her how to win w

Therefore, whenever someone is seen walking towards the back of Baohua Temple, others look at his back and their eyes carry a knowing sympathy.

Within half a day, the news would spread throughout the town at the foot of the mountain: "It seems that so-and-so's son is no good... I feel sorry for his wife."

No one goes to fetch water openly anymore.

But the water is still good water, clear and sweet, especially good for brewing tea.

Qi Yitang loves to join in the fun and should have gone out to take a look, but she is a bit spoiled and collapsed on the bed as soon as she got to her room.

Yunzhu helped take off her shoes and socks, only to find that her feet were covered in blisters, no wonder they hurt.

"His Majesty must be heartbroken to see this..." Yunzhu said. "Your Highness, the Dharma assembly doesn't start until tomorrow. Please rest for a while, and I will apply the medicine for you."

Qi Yitang's feet ached, and she was too weak to speak. She let them fuss over her and drifted off to sleep.

The first day was mainly for resting and eating vegetarian meals.

Not only was Qi Yitang exhausted, but everyone else who came also rested early.

The ancient temple was quiet and not hot at night, so Qi Yitang slept soundly, which was rare for him.

The next morning, Qi Yitang was awakened by Yunzhu and Yunying before he had fully fallen asleep. After washing up, he drank a bowl of vegetable porridge and some side dishes before going to the main hall to listen to the master chanting sutras and praying for blessings.

The Bodhisattvas lower their brows, the Buddhas look down, their appearances are solemn and dignified, and the chanting of sutras fills the air, inspiring awe in all who hear it.

However, feeling both tired and hungry, Qi Yitang felt like her life was miserable, and her eyelids kept drooping.

Seeing her listless appearance, Qin Lianyue said sarcastically, "Oh, Sister Qi, why are you almost asleep?"

On the first day of the Buddhist ceremony, almost all the prominent ladies of the capital city were present.

What was supposed to be a solemn occasion suddenly drew everyone's attention after those words.

Qin Lianyue added fuel to the fire, "Sister Qi's listless demeanor might make others think that she wasn't sincerely praying for blessings, or that she disliked the master's teachings."

Xie Changqing also looked disgusted, and even her prayers were not sincere. She didn't know what her brother liked about her.

Qi Yitang: "..."

Does this guy have nothing better to do all day? Is it an eyesore for him to doze off?

The comments section was also amusing: "This girl is interesting. Why isn't she trying to get closer to the emperor? Why is she always staring at the female supporting character?"

[The way the female supporting character is treated is like this: before she awakens her powers of influence, she can't even remember what the male lead likes to eat, but she can clearly remember the female lead's birthday. Every time, she calls the male lead away on that day and always steals the female lead's most important things, including the male lead.]

What's the deal with this quirky charm that's somehow endearing?

The comments on the screen made Qi Yitang feel a chill. Was she really this twisted in the original novel?

The Empress Dowager was very concerned about her reputation, especially since this was in front of Buddha. If she hadn't remembered Qi Yitang's kindness in letting Xie Changqing return to the capital for a temporary stay, she would have already lost her temper.

"Consort Qi, if you are not feeling well, I will not force you."

Qi Yitang tried to explain herself, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. Just now, the master said, 'Only when the mind is as still as water can one see one's true nature.' I was simply closing my eyes to contemplate and try to understand the Zen principles within. It was not that I was being lazy."

Qin Lianyue scoffed, "You're kidding me."

The abbot then replied, "Amitabha, Your Excellency has attained the Samadhi within; excellent, excellent."

Since the abbot had said so, the Empress Dowager naturally accepted the offer, saying, "It's very good that you can comprehend the Dharma."

Qin Lianyue's smile froze, feeling frustrated. Why did she always get the short end of the stick with Qi Yitang? Was this person her nemesis?

Qi Yitang raised an eyebrow slightly, too lazy to pay her any more attention.

Even though they can't win, they still insist on getting involved.

After the morning Dharma assembly ended, everyone was free to wander around the temple. Qi Yitang went to the famous marriage tree at the entrance of the front hall.

It was a huge, ancient tree with a canopy of green shade. A wooden plaque tied with a red ribbon swayed gently in the sunlight, as if a thousand wishes were whispering in the wind.

Qi Yitang approached for a closer look: "[In the seventh year of Kangning, a man from Ying'an… praying for the safe return of his beloved.]"

[Wang Liuliang, a devout believer, prays to be with his beloved wife for all eternity, never to be separated.]

Spanning several decades, the prayers are either for marital harmony or for the well-being of a loved one.

I wonder if all those who made wishes got their wishes fulfilled?

Just as she was thinking this, Qi Yitang saw someone fulfilling a vow: "[A devout woman comes to fulfill her vow, wishing for marital harmony and the blessing of both sons and daughters.]"

It seems to work quite well.

Qi Yitang's heart skipped a beat. "Yun Ying, go and borrow paper and pen from the little master."

Yun Ying responded and quickly came to find him. Qi Yitang picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a few lines.

"Your Majesty, what did you write?" Yunzhu asked, leaning closer.

Qi Yitang: "I'm not telling you."

Yunzhu smiled mischievously, "Even if you don't say it, I know you must have written that you'd be with His Majesty forever..."

"You talk too much," Qi Yitang scolded, then tiptoed and forcefully threw the wooden sign into the center of the tree canopy. "Let's go."

Unbeknownst to Qi Yitang, not long after she left, a gust of wind blew, and the wooden plaque slipped from the branch, fluttering to the ground, and then—

It was picked up by a pair of hands with distinct knuckles.

【My love for Yanzhi will last for all eternity, our hearts forever bound together.】

After reading what was written on it, Xie Jingyu sneered.

It's ridiculous that she actually believes this?

Xie Jingyu still remembers when Qi Yitang was eleven years old, she said to him, "Brother Yu, I heard there's a marriage tree in Baohua Temple that's very effective... But the stairs to Baohua Temple are steep. After we get married, you can carry me up there, and I'll write a prayer and hang it up myself, okay?"

They were childhood sweethearts, innocent and trusting of each other—how wonderful that was.

But just a few years later, she became fickle and completely changed her mind.

With a forceful pull, the wooden plaque broke in two.

……

Baohua Temple is only so big, and the next day Qi Yitang ran into Xie Jingyu head-on.

Unlike before, when she would greet him with a smile and affectionately call him "Brother Yu" whenever they met, their childhood friendship is gone, and the two have completely fallen out.

They met unexpectedly and remained silent, only offering sarcastic and cold laughs.

Qi Yitang found it strange; why was he everywhere?

She turned and left, but unexpectedly ran into Liu Ruyan, who was panting as she climbed up in front of the main hall.

Since the imperial decree of marriage was issued and the wedding day drew closer, Liu Ruyan's mental state had become much more stable.

Of course, this only means that the frequency of his illness has decreased, not that people are no longer allowed to follow Xie Jingyu.

Sure enough, as soon as she learned he was coming, she rushed over as well.

"Your Highness, have you seen Brother Yu?"

Qi Yitang viewed Xie Jingyu as a monstrous threat, but naturally there were others who cherished him dearly. She kindly pointed out the way, "Look, over there."

"Thank you!" Liu Ruyan's eyes sparkled with starlight as she lifted her skirt and headed in the direction Qi Yitang pointed.

"Brother Yu, Yan'er has come to see you."

Qi Yitang clicked her tongue in admiration. She was incredibly devoted, utterly devoted.

Later, Yunzhu found out that Zhu Xirou was also at Baohua Temple. The principal wife and concubines had all gathered. It was obvious that the two women and one man were going to have a relationship. However, Qi Yitang had been eating too blandly lately and really didn't have the energy to watch the excitement.

"Your Majesty, I went to check, and dinner tonight is still wild vegetable porridge," Yunzhu reported with a worried look on her face.

Upon hearing the words "wild vegetable porridge," Qi Yitang could no longer laugh.

It wasn't that she couldn't endure hardship, but the food at the temple was really bland.

These masters also loved to drink porridge, which always included wild vegetables from the back mountain. The other two side dishes were also wild vegetables, simply stir-fried and served on the table.

After eating this for a few days, Qi Yitang felt that her chin had become pointed and her stomach was empty.

"Forget it, let's go back. I'm not eating tonight."

Maybe I'll be able to swallow those grasses when I'm hungry tomorrow morning.

At that moment, Qi Yitang really wanted to sneak back to the palace, and she also missed Xie Ling. They hadn't seen each other for four or five days, and she wondered how he was doing.

But Xie Ling was the emperor, and no matter how busy he was, he was always served by the imperial chefs, enjoying chicken, duck, fish and meat to his heart's content.

I really want to go back...

Returning to her room, ravenously hungry, Qi Yitang suddenly stopped before even entering, sniffing the air. "What's that smell?"