Cuiping Nunnery
Cuiping Nunnery was located halfway up Cuiping Mountain, just outside the capital.
The mountain was not very high, and the nunnery sat on its slope.
Because it was the most popular nunnery in the area, many noble ladies from the capital came to worship there.
The road leading to the nunnery was wide, smooth, and well built.
Carriages could travel all the way to the open square outside the main gate.
On ordinary days, the square would be filled with small stalls selling incense, candles, and snacks.
But today was during the New Year holiday, and the weather was poor.
Not a single person was outside.
Even the main gate of the nunnery was tightly closed.
The nuns had probably expected that no visitors would come in such weather.
Nanny Qian gently knocked on the gate.
The people inside clearly had not expected any visitors. After waiting for a while, a young nun finally opened the door.
“Please come in, Benefactors.”
The Old Madam was not only a regular visitor to Cuiping Nunnery, but she was also a generous donor.
The nuns all recognized her.
The young nun, together with a middle-aged nun who had hurried over after hearing the news, led the Old Madam to a small courtyard.
This courtyard belonged exclusively to the Duke’s Mansion.
Every year, the Old Madam came several times and stayed here for a while.
After she had settled in, the abbess of Cuiping Nunnery, Master Xiushan, came personally to visit her.
“Master, this is my granddaughter, Fourth Girl. Fourth Girl, this is Master Xiushan.”
The Old Madam introduced them.
“This humble believer greets you, Master.”
Lin Suisui had visited Cuiping Nunnery several times in her previous life and had always liked this kind-looking abbess.
Because Master Xiushan was close to the Old Madam, she naturally knew who Lin Suisui was.
Although Lin Suisui was dressed as a servant girl, she carried herself with calm confidence.
The abbess immediately understood the situation but only smiled gently.
“This child is blessed. After reaching the lowest point, good fortune will follow.”
The Old Madam was surprised by those words.
The Duke’s Mansion was now facing a life-or-death crisis.
Yet Master Xiushan said that Fourth Girl was blessed.
Her words, “After reaching the lowest point, good fortune will follow,” seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
Not only the Old Madam, but Lin Suisui also felt that the abbess was hinting at something.
“Master, why don’t you ask why I came today?”
the Old Madam asked cautiously.
“Whether I ask or not makes no difference. Everything follows fate.”
Master Xiushan stood up and bowed slightly.
“Old Madam, the person you wish to see is staying in the courtyard next door. If you need anything, have Nanny Qian come and find me.”
The grandmother and granddaughter watched the abbess slowly leave.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
“Grandmother, I feel Master Xiushan is no ordinary person.”
After Nanny Qian closed the door and went to prepare more charcoal, Lin Suisui finally spoke.
“It’s almost as if she already knew why we came today.”
“The Master grew up here in Cuiping Nunnery.”
The Old Madam did not explain further.
Everyone in the capital knew that Master Xiushan had been abandoned at the entrance of the nunnery as a newborn.
The previous abbess had found her, raised her personally, and taught her herself.
From a very young age, she had shown extraordinary intelligence and a remarkable gift for Buddhist teachings.
She had become the most respected and influential Buddhist abbess in the entire Great Yong Dynasty, with countless followers.
“The Master said the person we want to see is next door. She must mean the Empress Dowager.”
Lin Suisui fell into thought.
Soon Nanny Qian returned with charcoal, and the room gradually became warm.
“Fourth Girl, should we visit now or wait until after lunch?”
Now the Old Madam looked to Lin Suisui whenever an important decision had to be made.
She still liked calling her Fourth Girl. It made them feel closer as grandmother and granddaughter.
“We don’t know whether the Emperor has already decided to make his move.”
Lin Suisui used the fire tongs to stir the burning charcoal.
Because of the Old Madam’s status, the nunnery had provided the finest smokeless charcoal.
“If the Empress Dowager suddenly falls unconscious only one or two days before they act, it would seem too deliberate.”
She had thought about this the previous night.
If the Emperor had moved up his plan, then poisoning the Empress Dowager would also happen earlier.
Thinking of this, Lin Suisui gave a cold laugh.
“After all, our Emperor is famous for valuing filial piety above all else.”
“You mean Yan’er is already…”
The Old Madam’s heart tightened.
“…in grave danger.”
Lin Suisui answered firmly.
“Grandmother, let’s go visit her now.”
…
The courtyard next door was completely quiet.
If the abbess had not told them, they would never have guessed someone was living there.
“Please inform Her Majesty that the Old Madam of the Duke’s Mansion has come to visit.”
Lin Suisui politely greeted the elderly maid who opened the gate.
“Let them come in.”
Before the maid could answer, a woman’s voice came from inside the room.
It seemed the Empress Dowager had already heard Lin Suisui speaking.
The maid respectfully led them inside.
Nanny Qian did not come with them.
She had stayed behind to tidy up their own courtyard.
As Lin Suisui entered, she noticed that this courtyard had almost the same layout as theirs.
By the time they reached the yard, the Empress Dowager was already standing beneath the covered walkway, waiting for them.
“Yan’er… Your Majesty… I greet the Empress Dowager.”
The Old Madam had not seen her childhood friend for almost two years.
Seeing her again, she became so emotional that she almost stumbled over her words.
“Between the two of us, why bother with all these formalities?”
Before the Old Madam could kneel, the Empress Dowager hurried forward and supported her.
“Sister Ying, it’s cold outside. Let’s talk inside.”
Her joy was completely genuine.
She held the Old Madam’s arm, smiling with obvious happiness.
Lin Suisui followed them into the room.
Although the layout was similar to the one next door, the furnishings here were far more luxurious.
“Nanny Yan, quickly bring some tea. Let Sister Ying warm herself.”
As the Empress Dowager helped the Old Madam sit down, she instructed Nanny Yan, who stood beside her.
Before the Empress Dowager entered the palace, Nanny Yan had been her personal maid.
She had also grown up alongside the Old Madam.
Seeing the Old Madam again, she was clearly delighted.
“Old Madam, please have some tea.”
Lin Suisui did not dare stare directly at the Empress Dowager.
Although she was dressed in plain clothing, the Empress Dowager still carried herself with natural grace and dignity.
She even looked several years younger than the Old Madam.
However, Lin Suisui looked carefully at Nanny Yan several times.
The little maid who had grown up with her grandmother was now over sixty years old.
Perhaps because she had served powerful people for so many years…
She was thin, and when she did not smile, she looked stern and intimidating.
Seeing her reminded Lin Suisui of a secret rumor that had quietly spread through the imperial palace in her previous life.
It was a secret involving this very old nanny.
“Sister Ying, how did you know I was here?”
the Empress Dowager asked curiously.