The Eldest Princess turned to look and, seeing a face she didn’t recognize, offered only a polite nod.
As she began to walk away, Meng Wan hurried forward and said, "My name is Meng Wan. I am Brother Song Lin’s fiancée. He sent me to find you, saying the Princess would take care of me."
"Song Lin?" The Eldest Princess frowned in confusion. "I am not acquainted with such a person."
Meng Wan bit her lip. "But... it was Brother Lin who told me to come. He said you were the kindest person, and since I am new here, I should ask for your care—"
"Insolence!"
The Nanny snapped sharply, "In this entire realm, the only people worthy of our Princess's care are the Emperor, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager. Who are you to dare compare yourself to those three noble figures?!"
Even as naive as she was, Meng Wan knew she couldn't answer that. She waved her hands frantically, "I didn't mean that, I have no such intentions! You misunderstand, Madam, I… I only…"
She stumbled over her words, her eyes reddening with anxiety.
The Eldest Princess, unable to watch any longer, said gently, "It is fine. You may leave."
With the Princess having spoken, the Nanny didn't press the matter further, though she muttered, "It is only because of your kindness, Your Highness. If any other royal had been insulted like this, they would have been dragged away for a lashing or a beating long ago. Why would they still be allowed to stand here and be an eyesore?"
Meng Wan trembled with fear, feeling deeply aggrieved.
Song Lin had only mentioned those three people, but she had decided that the Princess was the most noble; being under the Princess's protection would surely be better than being under that of a common official's daughter. She had happened to hear someone mention that the Princess was waiting for people nearby, so she had rushed over.
Who could have guessed that the people around the Eldest Princess would be so vicious?
Before leaving, Lu Wanwan said to her with profound meaning, "Once you step out from under Song Lin’s umbrella, you’ll realize it hasn't even been raining."
Meng Wan bit her lip.
Her complexion had been deathly pale, and it didn't recover even when she returned to Song Lin. Seeing him, she burst into tears and recounted her ordeal.
Song Lin frowned deeply as he listened. "The old woman by the Eldest Princess’s side? That must have been Nanny Wu. She has always been gentle; how could she dare to be so disrespectful to you?"
In his previous life, after the Eldest Princess passed away, Lu Wanwan had made arrangements for those around her, and Nanny Wu had volunteered to enter their household to raise their two sons, treating them with nothing but the utmost respect.
"I don't know... even if the Eldest Princess is royalty, she is only a princess. How dare she offend a pillar of the imperial court like you, Brother Lin? Is she not afraid that Superintendent Xie will cause trouble for her?"
Meng Wan’s eyes were red, her heart aching. "Besides, that Second Young Miss Lu, who traveled with us yesterday, was also there. I thought she was a good person, but just now she stood by and made sarcastic remarks."
"Lu Wanwan?" Song Lin snorted coldly. "She is jealous that you have won my heart, so naturally, she refuses to stand up for you!"
Meng Wan was startled. "Does she... does she also love you, Brother Lin?"
Song Lin nodded. "She is relentless and infatuated with me. Even though her father uses his influence to pressure me, I have never agreed to marry her."
Meng Wan was astonished. "A lady of her standing would actually resort to pestering someone and bringing shame upon her father? This... that is far too unfilial." And very shameless, she added in her heart.
Yet, she felt both smug and joyful. Even if Lu Wanwan was willing to set aside her pride and her entire family's reputation to chase after him, the one Brother Lin loved was only her.
"She is wicked to the core; she has always stopped at nothing to possess me." Thinking of the agony of being burned alive in his past life, Song Lin’s face turned even darker. "Enough of that poisonous woman! Once the Eldest Princess is... gone, I will have Nanny Wu come to your side. You can take out your anger on her however you please."
Meng Wan gave a timid smile. "I believe you, Brother Lin."
Yet, she was afraid. Lu Wanwan was the high-born daughter of the Imperial Tutor; what if Song Lin truly couldn't withstand the threats and agreed to marry her? What would she do then?
Meng Wan gripped her hands tightly as she followed Song Lin to the Dharma assembly.
By now, the people in the monastery were moving toward the front hall. They were all from wealthy or noble families, and the procession was quite grand.
As Meng Wan watched them, she found herself unable to blink, filled with envy.
"Isn't this the courtyard for the Second Prince?" a young gentleman asked, looking at the pair emerging with surprise. "The two of you were actually able to stay here?"
Everyone knew the Second Prince was notoriously fastidious and petty.
To be able to live in his residence peacefully without being slaughtered—the look he gave Song Lin and Meng Wan was one of genuine admiration.
These two were clearly something else.
Meng Wan, unaware of the Second Prince’s reputation, felt a surge of pride. "Brother Lin is full of talent. Even the Prince treats him with great hospitality."
Taking it as truth that they were guests of honor, the young gentleman hurriedly bowed, "I am Jiang Huan. I failed to recognize an expert when I saw one. Please, Brother, do not take offense."
Song Lin gave a slight nod, not even bothering to return the gesture of a peer.
As a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, he had been higher in rank than this man when he first entered the Ministry from the Hanlin Academy in his past life. He could naturally accept the salute of a former subordinate with ease.
Jiang Huan said nothing, simply smiling as he took his leave.
To the onlookers, however, the scene took on a different meaning.
"A guest of the Second Prince acting this arrogant? Daring to accept a bow from an official without reciprocating? It truly is an eye-opener!" The Fourth Young Miss of the Marquis’s Mansion, whom Song Lin had once praised for being "upright and hating evil," sneered. She immediately declared her stance, "With such conduct, my Marquis of Yongan's Mansion shall have no further dealings with him!"
Song Lin frowned, looking at her with displeasure.
The Marquis of Yongan's Mansion had such boorish upbringing.
However, he could not afford to be truly blacklisted by them, and he found it beneath him to argue with a woman. Seeing Lu Wanwan standing behind her, he felt relieved, waiting for her to step forward and intervene on his behalf.
Lu Wanwan rolled her eyes.
A moment later, Song Lin’s expression darkened as he flicked his sleeves and left with Meng Wan.
He had intended to give Lu Wanwan a chance to curry favor with him, but she remained jealous of Meng Wan and refused to humble herself. From now on, she should not expect another kind look from him!
"He... he is truly this insolent? The Second Prince is far too indulgent," the daughter of the Left Censor-in-Chief remarked in disbelief. "I shall write a letter to my father later to report this."
She would see the Second Prince scolded until his head spun!
The female relatives of the Second Prince’s political rivals nearby, having overheard them, also hurriedly sent word back to the capital.
They would ensure their own masters followed the lead of the Left Censor-in-Chief and taught the Second Prince a lesson in decorum.
Following his encounter with Xie Yanxi, everyone had once again piled up enough animosity toward the Second Prince on Song Lin’s account.
Lu Wanwan was satisfied. The man who had been Song Lin's patron in the previous life would now be the first to lose his head. She hoped he could hold out; she still wanted to watch Song Lin’s dreams shatter as he struggled to survive.
...
By the time the group reached the front hall, the Dharma assembly was about to begin. The altar was covered in ritual implements, incense, and candles. Master Liaoran, with a peaceful expression, stood at the front, eyes closed and hands pressed together in prayer.
Standing at the very front was Minister Zhou, who had come on imperial orders, along with the Heir of Prince Ping and his wife, who had arrived that morning.
Everyone else stood according to their status.
Though Buddhism preached that all beings are equal, everyone present held their own scale of superiority and inferiority.
Seeing the dark circles under Minister Zhou’s eyes and his lethargic state, the Heir of Prince Ping kindly steadied him. "Did you not sleep well last night, Excellency?"
"That is an understatement..." Minister Zhou trembled.
He hadn't slept at all!
Glancing around, the culprit who had kept him up for a "night of candlelight conversation" was nowhere to be seen—likely fast asleep catching up on rest. The sleep-deprived Minister Zhou was twisted with envy.
Fortunately, the assembly began soon after.
Due to his status, Song Lin had to stand outside the hall, and his expression was far from pleasant.
Especially when the assembly concluded and the pilgrims began to voluntarily offer incense money, he finally remembered the embarrassing fact that his pockets were empty.
The people in front had already made their offerings. Looking at the donation box, he found himself in an awkward predicament and began to hesitate.
"Master Liaoran."
Lu Wanwan walked over, nodded to the Master, and placed the bank note she was holding into the donation box.
Song Lin breathed a sigh of relief. Three hundred taels was not much, but it was enough to barely maintain his dignity.
He prepared to take Meng Wan and leave with a calm demeanor.
"Are you not going to donate incense money, Young Master Song?" the Fourth Young Miss of the Marquis’s Mansion asked.
"Did I not just donate?"
Everyone stared blankly.
"Is that... the three hundred taels I just put in?" Lu Wanwan’s expression turned peculiar, her heart a complex mix of emotions.
Song Lin’s habit of sponging off others was truly an unshakable mountain.