Tang Zhuyun also found it strange.
However, the temple gates were clearly closed on short notice today, as they were not the only ones turned away.
A woman was carrying a basket, with incense sticks peeking out from the edge of the basket.
She seemed to argue with the people in the temple for a few words, then reluctantly walked back.
Xiu'er stepped forward and said, "Sister-in-law, we've heard that the Lady Shen Temple is very efficacious, so we came all the way from out of town. But... what's going on here?"
Upon hearing that they came from out of town, the woman's face showed a hint of pride.
"That's right, this Lady's Temple is the most efficacious. Every year, countless people from the capital come to worship here!"
The implication is that you have excellent taste.
Xiu'er said, "That's right, that's right, the Red River is truly a wonderful place."
In just a few words, they immediately closed the distance between them.
The woman was indeed even happier, but then she lowered her voice and said, "Come again tomorrow; you missed the best time today."
"What's wrong today?" Xiu'er asked in a low voice, her tone mysterious.
"I heard that the prefect's wife is coming to the Niangzi Temple today, so it's been sealed off to prevent outsiders from entering."
Xiu'er: "What kind of logic is that? I've heard of occupying land or property, but I've never heard of occupying temples."
Even when the emperor went to the Great Xiangguo Temple, he didn't monopolize the Buddha statue!
Sure enough, a small temple has a lot of evil spirits, and a shallow pond has many turtles.
The smaller and more run-down the place, the more arrogant the officials become, truly acting like local emperors.
Xiu'er was indignant, but she didn't say it out loud.
The woman said, "I don't know what happened, the prefect's wife is already over forty years old..."
She suddenly realized she had misspoke, quickly stopped talking, and then hurriedly left with her basket.
Xiu'er couldn't help but complain to Tang Zhuyun, "Is this some kind of wishful thinking? She's over forty, already a grandmother, and still praying for a child?"
Tang Zhuyun said, "Who knows! Yesterday, the Prince had dinner with the Prefect, and upon returning, he praised the Prefect highly..."
Judging from today's events, she needs to go back and talk to her husband.
Being good to superiors isn't truly good; being good to subordinates is.
It's illogical to close a popular temple dedicated to the goddess, which receives many worshippers daily, just because of his family.
Xiu'er said, "Your Highness, let's go in! Let's see what kind of face the Prefect's wife has when she sees you!"
After thinking for a moment, Tang Zhuyun said, "Forget it, we're here to ask for blessings. It's pointless to make a scene and get all worked up. Let's go, we'll come again tomorrow."
Don't let these little things ruin your good mood; just treat it as getting some fresh air.
Besides, she didn't completely believe in places like Niangzi Temple.
"You're right, we shouldn't stoop to their level." Xiu'er helped Tang Zhuyun up. "Your Highness, let's go. I was craving some wontons when we passed the stall earlier, let's go have a bowl before we go back."
"Good."
Just as the two were about to leave, a guard suddenly said, "Is the Prince here?"
Tang Zhuyun stopped in her tracks. "Huh? What?"
The guard hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, I just saw the people following the Prince closing the temple gate."
Tang Zhuyun: "???"
The prefect's wife came for a VIP event praying for a child; did they even invite the Prince of Jin as a guest?
Why does this seem so strange?
Xiu'er, ever outspoken, said, "How could His Highness possibly be here? You must have mistaken him for someone else."
The guard was stubborn. "I wasn't mistaken, I saw two guards following the prince."
Making one mistake is possible, but the probability of making two mistakes is almost zero.
Tang Zhuyun glanced at Xiu'er, and a bold idea popped into her mind.
"Xiu'er, you wait here, I'll go check."
Tang Zhuyun went up and knocked on the door herself, and the person who opened the door was indeed a follower of the Prince of Prince of Jin.
"Your Highness..." The attendants were stunned. "You... you're coming today too?"
Why didn't the prince mention this?
Moreover, since the Princess Consort was coming, why didn't the Prince wait for her and went in on his own?
This is really out of place.
Tang Zhuyun gave a faint "hmm" and asked, "Where is the Prince?"
Following the direction he pointed, Tang Zhuyun walked forward quietly.
Although the Lady Shen Temple is very popular, it is not very big; it is just a large, open courtyard.
In the center of the courtyard stands a large incense burner, taller than a person and with a radius of about one meter. It is currently filled with sandalwood incense sticks as thick as a finger, densely packed and neatly arranged, with wisps of white smoke rising from it.
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
He's obviously a fool with too much money.
Afraid of disturbing the people inside, she walked even more quietly after going up the steps.
The door was tightly shut, so she went around to the window, learned a trick from Xiu'er to poke through the window paper, and decisively put it into practice...
Just as she expected, there was no sign of the prefect's wife in the main hall.
There wasn't a single female Zidu.
The Prince of Jin is kneeling there!
He really is one of our own fools.
She said that the reason why the Prince of Jin treated the prefect here differently was because he was waiting to pin the blame for "favoritism" on him!
The problem is, these are temples that women come to worship at; won't he feel awkward coming?
Although she's silly, she's lovable in her silliness!
In fact, what the Prince of Jin was thinking was that although Tang Zhuyun's origins were mysterious, she did not have much reverence for ghosts and gods, and even often did not believe in them.
Tang Zhuyun: Growing up under the red flag, I believe that science is ingrained in my bones.
Although I've become somewhat superstitious now, I still can't control myself!
Prince of Jin: If you don't believe me, then I'll believe you for you.
I have to do this secretly; I can't let my wife find out and laugh at me.
Furthermore, if one is not devout, it is unlikely to be effective.
So the Prince of Jin came himself in a "devout" manner.
Awkward? Not at all.
What's so embarrassing about wishing for the safety of your wife and children?
What can't a man do if a woman can do it?
However, he might feel a little embarrassed in front of Tang Zhuyun.
However, for something like praying to gods and Buddhas, this was the first time for the eldest daughter of the Prince of Jin to get into a bridal sedan chair, and she had no experience whatsoever.
He hadn't seen how the women here worshipped, so he could only rely on his experience.
Therefore, the large incense burner outside was filled with sandalwood incense sticks.
Inside the main hall, there was a pile of broken sandalwood incense sticks beside him, and he would kowtow three times to each stick.
This was the level of piety he could think of.
If sincerity brings results, then it must be true.
Tang Zhuyun: Is this guy an idiot...?
Forget it, there are so many heads, they'll all get bruised from kowtowing. Go help him share some of the burden.
Goodness gracious, now come and kneel and kowtow as punishment. The little one inside you, you'd better remember this!
Do you think it's easy being a parent?
Tang Zhuyun pushed open the door and entered.
The Prince of Jin turned around with a grim expression—who was so foolish as to disturb him?
When he recognized Tang Zhuyun, his expression instantly turned awkward.
"A-Yun, what brings you here?"
"If you can come, why can't I?" Tang Zhuyun knelt down on the prayer mat beside him. "You could at least have called me! Sneaking in like this is one thing, but you even locked the door, almost making me come all this way for nothing."
The more complaints they utter, the more touched and sweet they feel inside.
Prince of Jin: "This, I..."
"Alright, hurry up and kowtow and burn incense."
Together, the two of them placed lit sandalwood incense sticks into the incense burner in front, which should have been filled with incense sticks by many people.