Chapter 40 Yao Qingling is in grave danger

Upon arriving at Yongning Temple, there was a long flight of steps in front of her. Yao Qingling looked at the seemingly endless steps and felt her legs go weak.

She should have pretended to vomit and faint at the city gate.

However, she talked so much and seemed so energetic that Zhan Xingzhuo wouldn't believe she was sick.

As Qing Ling stepped onto the stairs, Zhan Xingzhuo suddenly walked in front of her and squatted down.

"Come up."

Yao Qingling stared at his back, momentarily stunned.

Zhan Xingzhuo was wearing a blue robe embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns. The blue color made his broad shoulders appear even more striking, giving him a silent and gentle demeanor.

Qingling still remembers that three years ago, he was wearing a moon-white robe, elegant and handsome, with a refined and noble air. She couldn't bear to press down on him, and said with a smile that she was worried he would drop her.

However, he easily carried her on his back and walked all the way, keeping her company and talking to her to keep her entertained even when he was panting heavily.

He whispered sweet nothings all the way, and as she listened to his deep and gentle voice, her heart softened again and again, as if she were sinking into the clouds. Along the roadside were towering trees, wildflowers, grass, and strange rocks... She floated, feeling warm, walking on a road leading to the clouds, her heart bright.

She just wanted him to carry her for the rest of her life.

But what is he doing carrying her on his back now?

The person who actually rode on his back and was carried forward by him was Zhou Zhining.

She's seen through it all and doesn't want to be fooled anymore.

The carriage of Lady Cao, the Imperial Censor, also arrived.

As soon as Lady Cao, the Imperial Censor, got off the carriage, she saw Zhan Xingzhuo half-squatting, about to carry Yao Qingling on his back.

She smiled and said, "Young Madam, you're so much better off. You're so slender that even Doctor Zhan can carry you. I can't, and Old Cao isn't as strong as me. Well then, I'll go up first."

The censor's wife was plump but healthy and robust.

She stepped up the stairs first, moving swiftly and quickly putting distance between them.

Yao Qingling took two steps forward sideways, took Zhan Xingzhuo's arm, and quietly said to him, "I can walk this mountain path by myself."

She took a step, her embroidered shoes landing firmly and steadily on the stone steps.

Step by step, it seemed to crush his lies; step by step, it crushed the memories that happened here.

My eyes suddenly felt sore.

She didn't have many beautiful memories, and they were all fake and illusory.

Even this moment of forgetting tugs at her heartstrings, causing her pain.

Qing Ling lowered her eyelashes, seemingly watching the road carefully, but she was just hiding her emotions.

As Zhan Xingzhuo gazed at her figure, he suddenly felt that there was a sense of resolute determination in her back.

Like... gone and never to return.

This realization sent a jolt through him, and he shook his head to shake off the sense of absurdity.

No matter how much Yao Qingling threw a tantrum at him, she couldn't bear to leave him.

She just didn't like Zhou Zhining, resented his kindness towards her, and desperately wanted to assert her presence.

He followed her, took her hand, and said in a gentle voice that left no room for refusal, "Then I'll hold your hand and walk with you. If you get tired, just tell me."

He slipped his fingers between hers and intertwined them with hers.

Yao Qingling was enveloped by his burning hot palm and glanced at him sideways.

His face was resolute, his eyes cold, showing no tenderness whatsoever. He pulled her up step by step, as if coercing her to walk with him.

As she climbed the 9,999 steps, Qingling began to hold her breath, and then her breathing became erratic. But she still managed to walk the entire long mountain path on her own without uttering a sound.

Just like when she was eight years old, she didn't cry or make a fuss on that long journey from the southwest to the capital, supporting the coffin all the way.

When they arrived at the mountain gate, it was past noon. The young novice monk greeted them at the door, clasped his hands together, and chanted "Amitabha."

They went to the main hall to pray for blessings. While Yao Qingling was kneeling in worship, Zhan Xingzhuo, led by a novice monk, went to check on Tao Weixian's sister's eternal lamp and added incense money.

After that, I listened to Master Yuanci preach.

Qingling was almost asleep when she bumped her head hard, waking up and turning to look at Zhan Xingzhuo, who was listening intently.

She rubbed her face and continued listening.

He thought to himself, "Zhan Xingzhuo is a man of many thoughts; only those whose minds are heavy and chaotic need a master to enlighten them and guide them through their confusion."

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed, and then it got dark and started to rain outside.

The rain was heavy, pounding against the eaves, and the master's voice was muffled.

The mountain road was difficult to travel on rainy days, and it seemed that they would not be able to make it back in time, so Zhan Xingzhuo suggested staying overnight and returning the next day.

After dinner, Qingling returned to her room, pondering when to meet with the Imperial Censor's wife.

—Even the wife of Imperial Censor Cao could not descend the mountain.

Taoye came in, her face grim, and said, "The young master has gone down the mountain, and Minglu has left too. They didn't even say goodbye before leaving us here. It's really too much."

Tao Ye only saw his back. Zhan Xingzhuo rushed down the mountain in the rain. Minglu took an umbrella in one hand and a raincoat in the other and chased after him. The last person following behind was the servant who came to deliver the message.

She didn't even have a chance to go up and ask.

Yao Qingling was taken aback: "Go down the mountain?"

She looked out the window; the rain outside hadn't stopped, and it seemed to be getting heavier.

Why did Zhan Xingzhuo brave such heavy rain to come down the mountain?

Taoye said, "A servant has come from over there. I wonder what kind of trouble that young mistress Wang has caused this time."

That's Mao'er Lane.

Qing Ling smiled mockingly, not caring or worrying about any danger Zhan Xingzhuo might face walking at night.

Even if he rolled down the mountain, it would be for Zhou Zhining's sake. What is she feeling guilty about, or worried about?

His absence is perfect; she no longer needs to hide from people when she goes to see the Imperial Censor's wife.

Qingling put on a cloak and went to find the Imperial Censor's wife.

As soon as I stepped out of the yard, I heard a commotion outside.

Several novice monks ran very fast, muttering something about grabbing sticks.

He almost bumped into Qingling.

"Young Madam, don't go out! Migrants are causing trouble outside and have rushed up the mountain. We're on our way to protect the temple!"

The novice monk finished speaking quickly, grabbed his stick, and rushed out.

Between the inner and outer courtyards is a circular archway, where several martial monks stand guard, preventing pilgrims from venturing out into the inner courtyard.

“Female benefactor, our temple can protect your safety. Please go back and wait.”

They locked the door and no longer allowed anyone to enter or leave.

Tao Ye nervously grabbed Qing Ling's arm, staring in horror at the closed courtyard gate: "Miss, there really are refugees! Why... why are they attacking the mountain at this time!"

Yao Qingling felt a dull pain in her arm from being gripped, but she was also very nervous.

She had previously suggested to Zhan Xingzhuo that he send Zhou Zhining to a country estate in the suburbs, but Zhan Xingzhuo said there were refugees there...

But she never expected that those refugees would turn into bandits in the important area around the capital!

Hearing the commotion, the wife of Imperial Censor Cao also ran out and asked Qingling what had happened.

Qingling recounted the story of the refugee uprising.

"...As Qingming Festival approached, many powerful and wealthy people came to the temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, donate money for incense and oil, and even hold vegetarian banquets. The temple's silver and prepared food piled up like mountains, which became something that displaced people coveted."

Yongning Temple is famous for its vegetarian meals. A table of meals usually costs over a hundred taels of silver, and during festivals it costs five hundred taels. I heard that there are even auctions for them.

When Qingling was in the Duke's mansion, she heard Princess Deyang mention it.

However, the Duke of Zhan's mansion was a respectable family and did not participate in this matter, so Qingling had never witnessed a vegetarian banquet.

“But I’m afraid those refugees are eyeing more than just the money…” Yao Qingling frowned, looking worried.

The wife of Imperial Censor Cao frowned: "What do you mean?"

Qingling's gaze was deep: "It rained heavily today, and many worshippers remained at the temple. Among them were wives of officials and wives of wealthy merchants, just like you and me. If they surround us and take us hostage, they can demand a larger ransom."

"If it were just a ransom, that would be fine, but Madam Cao, think about it, why did they become refugees in the first place?"

The censor's wife's face darkened, and she clenched her fists: "The Yellow River has breached its banks... a corruption case!"

“Yes, corruption cases… those vagrants feel that the court’s punishment of those officials who committed the crimes is not enough to quell their anger. Then we, the families of officials…” Qing Ling’s voice was slow and strained, “we are afraid that we will become the targets of their venting of anger.”

Many of those displaced people had lost their homes; many had lost their loved ones, forever separated from them by death.

They had nothing, were homeless, and could not find a way to survive in their new place; the authorities, for the sake of local peace, drove them away.

They lost hope and had no way to survive.

All their anger combined drove them to take the risk and were willing to fight for it!