Chapter 582: Chapter 582: If there’s a war with the Buddhists, I’m not joking about it

Shi Ning’s maid nodded quickly, agreeing with a prompt "Yes," then advised her, "Miss, don’t overthink it. Even if the Princess of Nanjiang is cunning, she’s just a woman from a foreign kingdom. People from Nanjiang are viewed with apprehension in the palace. Even if His Majesty truly develops feelings for her and takes her in, he would absolutely not make her his Empress."

The maid’s implication was clear: Shi Ning still had a chance to contend for the Empress’s throne against the young lady of the Duke’s Mansion!

"Of course, I know she can’t become the Empress. But among all the women in this world, who is willing to share her husband with another? I’m not willing. The young lady of the Duke’s Mansion certainly isn’t willing, and neither are the young ladies from the various influential families in the court. Miss Li, Miss Sun, Miss Ji—they all surely think as I do. Since none of us are willing, then before anything is settled between the Princess of Nanjiang and His Majesty, we must act more quickly!"

"What does Miss intend to do?"

"Currently, in terms of capability, the daughters of our various ministers are all on a par. However, if we’re talking about status and background, then Song Yingxue of the Prime Minister’s family comes first. Next is Xiao Ning’Er from the Duke’s Mansion, and then Shi Ning from Marquis Ting Sheng’s Mansion. I’ve heard there’s an unmarried eighteen-year-old in the Earl’s Mansion, and the Li Mansion has the virtuous and talented Li Zhujun. Each of these women is a formidable rival. I was originally wondering how to avoid a direct confrontation with them, but now it seems I won’t need to make a move myself. Since we have the Princess of Nanjiang, let her be the one to cross swords with them first!"

Just as Shi Ning said this, Princess Ata, back in the Capital City, was sneezing non-stop.

Xiaosuisui took her pulse, her brow furrowed. "There’s nothing wrong with you!"

She was quite puzzled. "Why do you keep sneezing?"

Princess Ata was on the verge of tears. "I don’t know what’s happening either. Ever since I returned from the Imperial Garden, I’ve been sneezing constantly, as if I’ve been poisoned. I’ve heard that in your Central Plains, there’s some kind of curse where if someone continuously badmouths you, you start sneezing incessantly. Is that true?"

Princess Ata spoke hurriedly between sneezes—ACHOO! ACHOO!—then continued to cover her mouth with a handkerchief and went on sneezing.

Xiaosuisui blinked, looked at the attending Palace Maid beside her, and asked, "Is what she said true?"

The Palace Maid looked like she was about to cry. "Replying to the Eldest Princess, there is indeed a saying that if someone sneezes, it’s because another person is speaking ill of them. However, some also say it’s because their relatives or friends are missing them. This servant has never heard of it being a curse."

"Ah! Someone is missing me? Could it be Ah Jia missing me?"

The Palace Maid remained silent, but Xiaosuisui asked, "Who is Ah Jia?"

"Ah Jia is my younger brother. You’ve met him; you even fought. Have you forgotten?"

ACHOO! ACHOO!

Princess Ata continued to cover her nose and sneeze, clearly not wanting to say another word.

"Ah Jia fought with me?"

Xiaosuisui pondered for a moment. It seemed there was such a person, and I even took two knives from him.

So she said no more and quietly handed her a Medicine Pill.

"Take this. It should be effective!"

Princess Ata accepted the Medicine Pill with profuse thanks.

Just then, a young Palace Maid entered from outside to report, "Eldest Princess, someone from outside the Palace has sent you a letter."

Xiaosuisui took the letter, and her face immediately lit up with joy upon reading it.

"Eldest Maternal Uncle and Eldest Maternal Aunt are back! I need to find the Emperor, my foster father! I want to go home!"

The little girl jumped for joy, absolutely thrilled.

After taking the medicine, Princess Ata finally stopped hiccuping. Hearing Xiaosuisui, she casually asked, "Your eldest maternal uncle, who’s that?"

"He’s my eldest maternal uncle!"

Then she left.

Princess Ata grimaced, thoroughly annoyed. While she had been sneezing non-stop earlier, this little girl had relentlessly pestered her with questions. What was this? What was that? Why was this like this? Why was that like that? She had asked a whole barrage of them.

Now that she had taken the medicine and felt better, the little girl just up and left.

Wait, the medicine... It was only then that Princess Ata realized. Furious, she slammed her hand on the table.

"That little brat! She had the medicine all along but didn’t give it to me sooner! She made me suffer so much before finally handing it over! Is her heart made of black sesame paste?"

Princess Ata immediately came to a conclusion: This Eldest Princess of Great Han is absolutely devious!

「Xiaosuisui ran all the way to the Imperial Study.」

Before she even entered, she heard the National Master and the Emperor, her foster father, speaking.

Eunuch Ling quickly stopped her.

"Oh, Eldest Princess! His Majesty is discussing important matters with the National Master. You cannot go in now!"

Hearing it was that detestable National Master in the Emperor’s Imperial Study with her foster father, Xiaosuisui decided not to go in.

After all, she could still hear what was being said from outside.

So, she stood her ground, obediently not entering.

Eunuch Ling quickly brought her a chair. She sat down, concentrated, and openly listened to what the Emperor, her foster father, was saying.

"Regarding Suisui’s matter, I indeed cannot tell the National Master. This is something I promised Ji Youyuan. If the National Master wishes to know, he should wait for Ji Youyuan to return to the Capital City and ask him personally!"

The matter the Emperor, my foster father, and the National Master are discussing actually concerns me!

Xiaosuisui’s eyes widened immediately, and she focused with all her might.

"Your Majesty! This matter concerns Great Han. This minister went to Qixia Temple. When the monks at Qixia Temple saw this minister, their expressions changed. They were so guarded, it was as if they suspected this minister of having ill intentions towards them."

Hearing this, the Emperor couldn’t help but frown. "Did the National Master encounter that old bald donkey?"

"Bald donkey? To whom is Your Majesty referring?"

"Liao Kong!"

Master Liao Kong? The National Master was somewhat puzzled. No matter how one looks at it, Master Liao Kong is the foremost figure in the Central Plains Buddhist Sect. His Buddhist Dharma is boundless, and his power is comparable to that of a Grand Master! A person of Master Liao Kong’s caliber should be respected anywhere. So why does it seem like His Majesty doesn’t regard Liao Kong as worthy at all?

"Your Majesty, Master Liao Kong is the foremost figure in the Central Plains Buddhist Sect; his strength is comparable to a Grandmaster!"

The National Master was reminding His Majesty to respect such an expert.

However, the Emperor merely snorted coldly.

"HUMPH! The foremost expert of the Buddhist Sect? Is he worthy?"

Hearing this, the National Master’s brows furrowed. "Does Your Majesty hold a grudge against Master Liao Kong?"

Liao Kong was of the Buddhist Sect, and the National Master from the Daoist Sect. Though their cultivation systems differed, in this world, strength was paramount—it was the natural order.

"Declaring war on the Buddhist Sect is no jest, National Master. Are you prepared?"

「Inside the room, the Emperor gazed at the National Master, demanding his stance word by word.」

「Outside, Xiaosuisui snuggled into a large armchair, also waiting for the National Master to declare his position to the Emperor, her foster father!」