Chapter Fourteen: The Radiant Phoenix Lantern

“You want that Phoenix Glazed Lamp?” The Old Madam Qin looked at her with a peculiar expression.

“I’d like to have it!” Qin Wanru blinked and nodded.

“You truly want it?” The old lady asked again, her tone more deliberate.

“I really do!” Qin Wanru sighed helplessly. In truth, it wasn’t her own desire, but rather that Prince Chen had asked for it. With a patron as powerful as him, even if she didn’t cling to his favor, she dared not offend him.

If one Phoenix Glazed Lamp could pacify him, why not?

Why would such a noble prince covet the Phoenix Glazed Lamp? With his status, what treasures hadn’t he seen? Yet he wanted this particular lamp? There was certainly more to this than met the eye.

The lamp was indeed a rare treasure, but for someone of his rank, no treasure was out of reach.

Now, watching her grandmother’s reaction, Qin Wanru became ever more certain that the Phoenix Glazed Lamp was anything but ordinary. Still, she had no wish to dig deeper into its mysteries.

“The Phoenix Glazed Lamp is no longer in my possession,” the old madam sighed when she saw Qin Wanru’s insistence. She waved her hand, signaling everyone else in the room to withdraw.

“Why isn’t it with you anymore?” Qin Wanru inquired curiously once everyone had left.

“Some time ago, I placed it with the Abbess of the Serene Heart Nunnery. I had originally thought of donating it, but then hesitated and left it with her for safekeeping. We agreed I’d fetch it back in exchange for incense money, but I haven’t gone back for it yet,” the old madam replied, her gaze heavy as she spoke evasively.

“Grandmother doesn’t like the Phoenix Glazed Lamp? I think it’s quite beautiful,” Qin Wanru tilted her head, puzzled by her grandmother’s apparent reluctance or even aversion. Did the lamp bring trouble?

If that was the case, it would be best to send it to Prince Chen as soon as possible.

Some things, in the hands of ordinary people, could become the source of calamity.

“I don’t care for it much. Looking at it only brings back certain memories,” the old madam shook her head with a sigh. “If you like it, then take a hundred taels of silver to the Serene Heart Nunnery tomorrow, offer the incense money, and bring the Phoenix Glazed Lamp back with you.”

There were matters the old madam wished to avoid, but fate seemed to have its own designs. What belonged to someone would end up with them, and no one else could claim it.

She did not wish to say more on the subject. After this, she simply asked after Qin Wanru’s injuries and soon sent her off to rest.

The night passed without incident. The next morning, Qin Wanru awoke to find her wounds less painful. After Qingyue helped her up, they paid their respects to the old madam, who handed her a hundred taels of silver and sent her out of the house.

The Serene Heart Nunnery was a small temple outside Jiangzhou City, not particularly renowned. Still, the old madam was fond of its abbess, saying she was not bound by worldly matters and was a person of great wisdom. Whenever she left the city, she would always stop to offer incense at the nunnery.

Qin Wanru was the closest to her grandmother, and because she accompanied her often, she was quite familiar with the place.

Thus, she didn’t bring many attendants—just Qingfeng—and prepared to set out.

However, just as they reached the decorative archway, two old servant women blocked their path.

“Second Miss, Madam and the General have instructed that no one is to leave the house at this time, to avoid trouble,” one of them declared.

Qin Wanru frowned.

“Our young lady is acting on the old madam’s orders to visit the Serene Heart Nunnery outside the city. Why won’t you let us pass?” Qingyue stepped forward from behind Qin Wanru.

“Madam and the General have made it clear—especially for Second Miss—it’s best not to go out,” the two servants insisted, their words respectful but their tone not so much.

Everyone knew the second young lady was not the Madam’s own child, and she received no affection from her. What’s more, the General had given strict orders to keep an eye on her and not let her wander—even if the old madam said otherwise, permission had to come from him.

So the two servants stood their ground.

“How dare you…” Qingyue was furious that even the old madam’s authority was being ignored.

“Let’s go,” Qin Wanru said, tugging Qingyue’s sleeve after glancing at the two women’s obstinate faces. After what happened yesterday, it was understandable that she was forbidden from leaving; even if she asked her grandmother, it would only deepen the rift between her and her father.

Her grandmother was her only real support in the household. She couldn’t let their relationship with her father suffer further, to the point of no return.

But she had to go out today. After a moment’s thought, she changed direction at the next moon gate, heading straight for the back garden.