She stood at the head of the crowd, her gaze devout as she knelt in worship. Afterward, she signaled for the others to rise.
The abbot of Qinghan Temple stepped forward in surprise. "Your Highness, according to tradition, one must kneel for two full hours during a prayer to show sincerity. But you...?"
Princess Huifu smiled gently at him. "The Bodhisattva's compassion is boundless. With sincere prayer, it will surely be heard. There is no need to strictly follow tradition. A woman's body is frail; if she were to injure herself in the process of praying, it would be a disservice. Master, what do you think?"
The abbot pressed his palms together and sighed deeply. "The Princess's compassion humbles me. I am not worthy to compare."
What was supposed to be two hours of kneeling now became a joyful occasion thanks to Princess Huifu. The women from various families, delighted, d more incense money than they had originally planned. They were happy not to kneel so long and were glad to contribute more!
When Bai Qingqing went to incense money, Princess Huifu had not yet left. As Bai Qingqing approached her, the princess glanced sideways at her. Bai Qingqing noticed and, with a gentle smile, curtsied gracefully, her demeanor poised and charming.
Princess Huifu immediately had a favorable impression of her and asked, "Which family do you come from? What fragrance is that you're wearing? It smells wonderful."
"Your Highness, I am Bai Qingqing, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ying. This fragrance is something I personally crafted. It helps with focus and alertness. I am honored by your praise, but I do not deserve it."
"You made it yourself? No wonder I’ve never smelled it before. It’s quite unique."
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Bai Qingqing had never met Princess Huifu before and didn’t know much about her. But now, seeing how approachable and kind she was, Bai Qingqing naturally relaxed. "It’s just a simple hobby of mine to pass the time. It’s nothing important. It sometimes helps with sleep or refreshes the mind—useful in its own way."
Princess Huifu seemed thoughtful. After Bai Qingqing made her donation, she asked if Bai Qingqing would be willing to have a private conversation with her.
Bai Qingqing was naturally willing, so she followed Princess Huifu out of the main hall and into a private space.
Madam Qiao was stunned. Several acquaintances gathered around her. "Elder Sister Bai, why did your daughter leave with the Princess?"
"Such talent, Lady Bai! Your daughter has caught the Princess's eye. I've never seen the Princess treat any other lady so warmly."
"Yes, indeed. Madam, could you share how you managed to make the Princess treat your daughter so differently?"
Madam Qiao quickly composed herself and responded calmly, "The Princess spoke with Qingqing for her own reasons. It’s not something we can speculate about. If you're curious, feel free to ask her yourselves."
"Oh, we're just curious. It's said that Princess Huifu is frail and reserved, not good at socializing, so we rarely see her at events. But here she is, making a close connection with your Qingqing after just meeting her. Naturally, we have to ask."
"Yes, yes. I’ve met your eldest daughter before, and she’s always been quiet and reserved, never one to talk much. But now, she seems like a completely different person. Her demeanor has changed. How did you raise her, Madam Bai?"
Madam Qiao led them to a quieter place to talk, deflecting their curiosity with gracious humility. She explained that as daughters grew older, their personalities would naturally evolve. Perhaps it was because Princess Huifu and her daughter had similar temperaments that they got along so well, and so on—modest, yet nonchalant.
But inside, she was anxious and uneasy, worrying about her daughter who had left with Princess Huifu.
At that moment, Bai Qingqing sat before Princess Huifu, a cup of fragrant tea beside her. The sachet at her waist was now in Princess Huifu's hands, being carefully examined.
The princess brought it to her nose, inhaling gently. She immediately felt her mind clear, the grogginess from last night's restless sleep vanishing. Her expression shifted to one of surprise. "It really works! I feel instantly awake. The scent is delicate. Does this fragrance have a name?"