Chapter 1535 - 823: Your Majesty (Double Chapter)_3

Chen Yi did not pause his steps and asked aloud, "Sir, may I ask how to get to the Golden Immortal Temple?"

The middle-aged man turned around with some difficulty after hearing him. He was around forty years old, had fair skin, kept a short beard, with eyes reflecting a merchant's shrewdness, yet was somewhat fatigued from climbing the mountain.

He looked at the three people, a hint of doubt appeared on his face.

"Golden Immortal Temple?" he asked in return, catching his breath, "You... are also going to the Golden Immortal Temple?"

He raised his hand and pointed towards the deeper woods above, saying, "Follow this main path up, then turn left at the white-walled side path, walk all the way down the more worn stone steps, that's it, but..." He paused, scrutinizing the three, "That place has been abandoned for a long time, no Mage or Daoist remains. What are you going there for?"

"To worship Buddha."

The middle-aged man was slightly stunned upon hearing this, then smiled and said:

"Oh... worshiping Buddha, well, well, I am going to worship the Immortal."

"We're on the same path, then."

"I'll rest here for a moment, you go ahead."

The middle-aged man made way for them.

The three continued in the direction pointed out by the middle-aged man, for about another quarter of an hour.

The mountain path grew increasingly narrow, requiring cautious footing on the eroded stone steps. The dense forest canopy brought darkness, amplifying the silence around, with only the sound of footsteps and the rustling of clothing heard.

Turning past a rock wall covered in thick green moss, they arrived at the Golden Immortal Temple, an unexpectedly level mountain terrace stretched before them. The edge of the terrace was encircled by a half-collapsed white-washed wall defining a courtyard, with roof moss sprawling over the wall.

However, the scene before them starkly contrasted with the expected desolation.

On the open area outside the courtyard wall, several horse-drawn carriages were parked. The most conspicuous was the central one, larger than ordinary carriages, with slightly upturned eaves, its sides faintly displaying complex cloud pattern paintings. Though not overly ostentatious, its standard and demeanor were of a class no ordinary wealthy family could possess, as evidenced by the striking vermillion color of the carriage shaft handles.

The courtyard gate was open, with figures bustling inside, all wearing brocade robes of varying colors but uniformly smooth textures. Their movements were swift and silent, occasionally engaging in hushed conversations, the voices... sharp and deliberately softened, penetrating the silent mountain air to reach Chen Yi's ears.

Were they... palace eunuchs?

Chen Yi paused, furrowing his brow, as East Palace Ruo Shu was also slightly surprised. Wasn't it said that no one comes to the Golden Immortal Temple anymore? She drew slightly closer, eyes widening under her veiled hat, her gaze surpassing those darting brocade figures, falling deeper into the courtyard, where before the Three Pure Ones Hall stood a figure in dark cyan attire, with its back to the entrance. This figure was slightly hunched, an elderly woman slowly rolling a string of Buddha Beads in her hand.

East Palace Ruo Shu stiffened for a moment, murmuring in disbelief, "Is that... the Empress Dowager?"

Chen Yi was immediately drawn back to reality by her words, also looking over. The elderly woman's attire was simple, not fitting in with the surrounding brocade-robed eunuchs, yet her demeanor was remarkable. This figure didn't match the woman Chen Yi instinctively imagined; thus, the "Empress Dowager" mentioned by East Palace Ruo Shu naturally couldn't be the Empress Dowager of Great Yu, then it could only be...

The Empress Dowager of Western Jin?

"Hey! You three! Who dares to spy here?!"

A sharp shout interrupted Chen Yi's thoughts.

A eunuch in a dark blue brocade robe, with fair skin and no beard, had already approached swiftly, his eyebrows raised, face displaying a sharpness intending to drive away idle people.

"Idle people must leave quickly! This is a place for the noble to meditate and pray, how can it be disrupted by people of the mountains!"

Behind the eunuch, several younger eunuchs also glanced over, with wary expressions.

Chen Yi's mind raced, about to open his mouth and negotiate.

However, before they could react, a gentle yet undeniable voice came from behind them, from the mountain path:

"Mr. Wang, those three are pilgrims from afar to worship Buddha, do not be rude."

As soon as these words fell, the eunuch's face froze, immediately becoming obsequious and deferential. His lips moved without sound, but Chen Yi could already tell what those words were...

Your Majesty.