Chapter 36 I don't like the vegetarian food at Yongning Temple, and I don't like you.

The censor's wife next door was also about to go out. Seeing this, she came over and greeted her, "Young mistress, where are you going?"

Yao Qingling had already boarded the carriage. She glanced at Zhan Xingzhuo, who was still below, and bowed slightly to greet the Censor's wife: "To Yongning Temple."

"Oh? That's perfect, I'll go too," the Imperial Censor's wife said with a smile.

The censor's carriage was still being prepared, and the censor's wife was waiting. With nothing else to do, Qingling's eyes flickered slightly, and she said to Taoye, "Taoye, I'm a little cold. Go get me a hand warmer."

It's still warm these days, so we don't need hand warmers anymore, and we can take off our winter clothes, but Qingling is still wearing winter clothes.

Tao Ye exclaimed "Hey!" and immediately went back into the house to get a hand warmer.

The censor's wife sized up Yao Qingling from the side. She saw that Yao Qingling was so thin that she looked like she could be blown away by the wind, and her face was pale. She glanced at Zhan Xingzhuo with a complicated expression, and there was some contempt in her eyes.

Zhan Xingzhuo pretended not to see it. He got into the carriage and thought to himself: Why did I have to buy a house next to the Imperial Censor Cao's house? What bad luck.

He shook Qingling's hand in front of the Imperial Censor's wife, and sure enough, it was ice-cold.

He gripped her hand tightly, his gentle tone revealing worry and deep concern: "You've been taking medicine for so long without seeing any effect. If I hadn't insisted, you still wouldn't have gone to pray to the Buddha. In any case, just pray once; sincerity will bring results."

When the censor's wife overheard this, she wondered if Yao Qingling was ill. That's why she wasn't going out, yet outsiders were spreading rumors that she was being abused by her husband.

But if he was sick, why didn't Zhan Xingzhuo speak in court and just let himself be scolded?

Not wanting to disturb the couple's affectionate moment, the censor's wife turned away awkwardly and walked back to her own doorway. Suddenly, she heard a cry of "Oh dear!" behind her.

The censor's wife immediately turned her head and saw the carriage sway slightly before falling silent.

Inside the carriage, Yao Qingling sat up, supporting her forehead.

Zhan Xingzhuo looked down at her forehead: "How could you be so careless? Let me see if you're hurt."

Qingling did it on purpose; she "accidentally" bumped into the carriage ceiling when she entered the carriage.

The nursery rhyme implied that she was being abused, and Zhan Xingzhuo was furious with her. But the next day, he was a completely different person. He not only lifted her confinement but also put on an act in front of outsiders.

Although the Censor's wife didn't say anything directly, Qing Ling noticed her probing gaze and realized that Zhan Xingzhuo had a purpose in going to Yongning Temple.

"I feel a little dizzy and lost my balance for a moment... My lord, could we not go to Yongning Temple?"

Zhan Xingzhuo held her hand, his voice gentle: "Everything's already arranged, it would be a shame not to go. The vegetarian food at Yongning Temple requires reservations, and I only got this opportunity because I asked Weixian to give it to me. Didn't you say it was delicious before?"

Tao Weixian's youngest sister died last year. Lady Shen set up an ever-burning lamp at Yongning Temple. She was saddened and dared not go there, so she asked Tao Weixian to add incense oil to it on her behalf every month.

Yao Qingling looked at Zhan Xingzhuo and silently lowered her eyelids.

The vegetarian food at Yongning Temple is delicious, but the last time she ate it was the year she got married.

They were so good to each other back then. He carried her up the mountain, up 999 steps, and carried her all the way to the mountain gate without stopping to rest.

On the way, he said he was willing to carry her like this for the rest of his life, until he was ninety-nine.

But only a few years have passed in his life, he should have forgotten those words long ago.

Perhaps not. From the very beginning, he only told those lies that moved her heart, and never took it seriously.

He just wanted to deceive her and use her as a cover between him and Zhou Zhining.

Doesn't he feel guilty for lying in front of Buddha?

Qingling lifted her eyelids, her clear, sparkling gaze fixed on the man.

The carriage was dimly lit, and to suit the spring sunshine, the curtains had been changed to a light blue-green. Sunlight streamed in through the curtains, making Qingling's eyes appear bluish-black.

Under her gaze, Zhan Xingzhuo inexplicably felt that her eyes were deep and eerie.

Just as he was about to look away, Qingling said calmly, "I stopped liking it a long time ago."

I don't like the vegetarian food at Yongning Temple, and I don't like you.

Zhan Xingzhuo frowned slightly, losing patience with coaxing her. Just then, the voice of the Imperial Censor's wife came from outside the carriage: "Young Madam, I have some snacks here to help you pass the time on the journey. Here, have some?"

Zhan Xingzhuo frowned, but before he could speak, Qing Ling lifted the curtain of the carriage, revealing half of her face through the small opening. She smiled, but seemed to have something difficult to say: "Alright, then thank you, Madam."

The wind blew, scattering her bangs across her forehead, revealing a noticeable red bump on her temple, as if she had hit it hard.

The censor's wife watched, her heart skipped a beat, thinking that Zhan Xingzhuo was ruthless and cruel. He pretended to care about his wife in front of others, but then turned around and slammed his wife's head against the ground.

"Young Madam—" Before the Imperial Censor's wife could say anything, Qingling had already taken the snacks she offered. "Thank you, Madam."

The curtain was lowered, and the person disappeared behind it.

It was as if they were being coerced.

The censor's wife's face darkened.

Taoye returned with a hand warmer, and handed it in through the curtains.

At this moment, the carriage seemed to grow impatient and slowly began to roll forward.

Tao Ye gave the Imperial Censor's wife an embarrassed smile, then lifted her skirt and jogged after her.

"That Zhan Xingzhuo, for the sake of a criminal's remnant, he humiliates his wife like this. That Zhou Zhining looks like a vixen. He's going to be in big trouble sooner or later!" The Censor's wife spat fiercely at the back of the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Yao Qingling leaned against a soft pillow, catching up on her sleep.

Her forehead was hit quite hard and still hurt, but she controlled the force. There was only a noticeable injury and pain on her forehead, but no other effects.

But she planned to wait until she was outside the city gate before vomiting and saying she felt dizzy and unwell.

This way, there's no need to spend half a day by horse-drawn carriage to Yongning Temple.

Then she remembered that the Censor's wife had also mentioned going to Yongning Temple.

She could find an opportunity to talk to the Censor's wife, so that she could find out about the situation in the court and perhaps find out the reason for Zhan Xingzhuo's change of heart.

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at Yao Qingling and saw that she was unusually quiet and her face was so pale that it looked almost blue.

She must have been hurt by that bump.

She is in poor health and can't stand steadily, so she may not be able to travel far.

The man's heart softened for a moment, then he thought of Zhou Zhining.

The phrase "remnants of the crime" carries too heavy a burden.

The matter arose because of that nursery rhyme, and he had a responsibility to quell the rumors and let the storm pass.

Therefore, even though Yao Qingling was feeling unwell, she could only endure it and go with him to Yongning Temple to pray for blessings.

He will make all the necessary arrangements at that time.

Zhan Xingzhuo sat upright, looking at Yao Qingling who was resting with her eyes closed. His expression was complicated. His hand, which was resting on his knee, was slowly rubbing the knuckle of his index finger with his thumb.

After traveling for a while, the carriage entered a bustling city, where the surrounding noise became deafening.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

Zhan Xingzhuo lifted the curtain and asked the driver, "Why did you stop?"

The coachman pointed ahead with his whip: "It's blocked over there, we can't get through. Something big seems to have happened."

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced ahead and saw several carriages parked there. Looking further ahead, past countless figures, he saw a high platform erected in an open space, with a large crowd gathered below.

An official was seen banging a gong and speaking loudly, while other officials maintained order around the perimeter.

Judging from the situation, it seems like the government is handling something.

However, during yesterday's court session, apart from the corruption case being brought up again, there were no other major events.

Furthermore, I haven't heard of any major cases being handled by the Shuntian Prefecture or the Dali Temple.

What is that?