Chapter 58 I'm afraid I'll offend someone terribly.

Zhan Xingzhu stared blankly at the divorce papers Yao Qingling handed him, and didn't react for a long time.

When did she prepare it?

They even have a list of betrothal gifts and dowry?

Yao Qingling said, "Today, I will go to the Duke's mansion to formally discuss this matter with the Grand Princess Deyang. The carriage is ready. If you have anything to add, please have Minglu prepare the carriage to go to the Duke's mansion. Let's make everything clear in person to avoid any future entanglements."

After Qingling finished speaking, she got up and left.

I don't want to spend another moment with him.

Zhan Xingzhuo read the divorce papers several times, but he couldn't recover from the shock for a long time.

He had heard Yao Qingling mention divorce more than once; the most recent time was just last night.

But he still felt that Yao Qingling was reluctant to leave him; she was threatening him with a firm divorce, trying to break things off with Zhou Zhining.

He said: Are you happy that Zhi Ning was divorced?

His point was that Zhou Zhining had been divorced, and her future was already clear; Yao Qingling should see her future misery in Zhou Zhining's case, and she was glad that someone had taken her as a reference, so she took back her word about "divorce".

How could it be like this...?

Seeing that Yao Qingling had left, Minglu scurried in to inform Zhan Xingzhuo, "Master, the young mistress has gone out... Didn't you place her under house arrest?"

How terrifying it is for someone to die and be brought back to life; shouldn't we give them some time to process things?

Minglu thought that his master would ask the young mistress to stay at home for a few days, and then lift her confinement once the outside world knew that she had returned home safely.

But Zhan Xingzhuo seemed not to have heard what he said.

Minglu helped him change his clothes, and noticed that he was holding a few pieces of paper in his hand. She curiously leaned over to take a look and wondered why he was so engrossed in reading them.

Divorce papers?

Minglu's eyes widened: "Does the young mistress really want a divorce from you?"

No one believed that Yao Qingling was truly willing to leave the Duke's mansion and give up her position as the second young mistress.

How many noble ladies yearn to marry into a wealthy family; who would be willing to take off their noble crown and return to a declining social class?

Zhan Xingzhuo snapped out of his daze and kicked Minglu.

"Hey, hey—" Minglu fell to the ground, but quickly got up again.

His clothes were covered in dust, so he quickly changed them into clean ones and helped his master put them on.

Zhan Xingzhuo's face was extremely ugly, and he was so angry that his whole body was tense.

Minglu didn't dare to put the sleeve over him, nor did she dare to remind him or say anything, and accidentally pulled his arm.

Zhan Xingzhuo was like a raging tiger. He ripped off the clothes he was wearing halfway: "Why are you wearing this black one? Is there a funeral in your family?!"

Minglu was so frightened that he changed into another outfit and dared not utter a sound.

Zhan Xingzhu glared at him fiercely, wearing a dark blue robe embroidered with silver bamboo branches.

It made him appear exceptionally refined and tall; there was no trace of the ill omen of a divorce from his wife.

He ordered, "Prepare the carriage."

Minglu glanced at him and said cautiously, "Master, Miss Zhou has woken up and is waiting for you to come over."

Zhan Xingzhuo was walking out the door when he heard this. He frowned, but only paused for a moment before leaving.

...

The Duke's Mansion.

Yao Qingling entered the hanging flower gate. The inner courtyard was no different from usual, with even more flowers blooming than on the day of the spring banquet.

Flowers bloom everywhere, and butterflies flutter among them.

The servants performed their duties, and the mansion was well-organized.

Qingling felt heavy-hearted and had no heart to appreciate the scenery; yet, despite the heaviness in her heart, there was also a sense of lightness.

It made her lose all interest in the prosperity and elegance of this place.

"Second Sister-in-law—" Zhan Xingxiang was chasing butterflies in the garden with a fan in her hand. When she saw Qingling, she ran over. "Second Sister-in-law, they said you're not dead."

Zhan Xingxiang seemed unafraid of seeing ghosts, and pulled Qingling's arms to touch them: "They're warm."

She looked behind Yao Qingling again: "There's a figure!"

Her eyes sparkled with joy: "Second sister-in-law, you really didn't die! You don't know, I was so sad for so long when they said you were dead."

The little girl chattered excitedly, her joy evident in her words.

Yao Qingling looked at her with a slight smile, a hint of relief in her eyes.

She thought no one in this family cared about her; it turns out there was someone...

There was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she looked at Zhan Xingxiang.

Zhan Xingxiang couldn't understand her smile, and tilted her head slightly: "Second sister-in-law, you seem to have something on your mind. I can—"

"Xingxiang, where is the Grand Princess?"

Zhan Xingxiang pursed her lips: "Looking for Mother again." She turned and pointed to her right, "She's at Qixia Garden."

Yao Qingling smiled and was about to leave when Zhan Xingxiang pulled her back, saying cautiously, "Mother seems unhappy. Be careful what you say, don't make her angry again... Mother is terrifying when she's angry."

Princess Deyang, who served three emperors, is still respectfully addressed as "Aunt" by the current emperor.

Yao Qingling thought that she was probably going to offend someone very badly today.

She smiled and said, "It's nothing."

Then he left.

He didn't even ask Zhan Xingxiang how things were going with the heir of the Marquis of Xincheng's mansion.

Upon arriving at Qixia Garden, we could see from afar that Grand Princess Deyang was expounding Buddhist scriptures and Zen with Master Huiming.

Princess Deyang twirled her prayer beads in her hand, remaining silent as she listened quietly to the master reciting Buddhist scriptures.

The tea smoke curled upwards, and a picture of the "Maitreya's Descent to Earth Sutra" hung nearby.

Xue'er also lay quietly on the prayer mat, looking as if she were kneeling in worship.

But the little thing is still a little thing. Smelling the familiar scent, it cleverly got up and ran happily towards Yao Qingling.

The barking interrupted the master's sermon.

Yao Qingling bent down slightly, picked up the puppy, and stroked its snow-white long fur.

She vaguely recalled that the day she first met Xue'er was also like this.

Everyone says that Xue'er is a bully who relies on her master's power and is difficult to please, but strangely enough, this little thing is close to her.

Princess Deyang turned to look at Qingling; Qingling, holding the puppy, walked over with her back straight.

He bowed to the Grand Princess before her; the master rose and murmured to Qingling, "Amitabha."

He added, "I heard that the young mistress was also on the mountain during the night at Yongning Temple. Now that she has returned safely, may Buddha have blessed her."

Qingling bowed and said, "May Buddha bless you."

Seeing that the master seemed to have something to say, she said, "Master Yuanci passed away peacefully without suffering too much."

In fact, Qingling didn't know what Master Yuanci looked like when he died.

When refugees stormed the temple, Master Yuanci stepped forward to protect it; however, having experienced hardship, the refugees no longer believed in Heaven or the Buddha's mercy.

Afterwards, Yao Qingling went to the front hall to rescue people and saw Master Yuanci lying on the steps of the Mahavira Hall. His chest had been slashed, and his blood was mixed with that of others. He was no longer breathing.

Yao Qingling placed him in front of the Tiger-Taming Arhat, who hadn't been burned, and then went to look for the survivors.

Master Huiming nodded, bowed again, said nothing more, and quietly withdrew.

Before the quiet painting of the Maitreya's Descent Sutra, Yao Qingling and Princess Deyang looked at each other face to face.

"Sit down," said the Grand Princess Deyang, as she wrapped the prayer beads around her wrist.

Yao Qingling sat down with Xue'er in her arms; Xue'er ran out of her arms and returned to the Grand Princess of Deyang.

The Grand Princess was holding a puppy, and behind her, Granny Jia poured tea for Qingling.

Princess Deyang slowly spoke: "Ever since the news of your death spread, I have invited Master Huiming to come to the manor every day to chant sutras for your soul."

The implication is that Yao Qingling's survival was due to the Grand Princess's prayers to the gods and Buddhas for protection and blessings.

It's not that she doesn't care about Yao Qingling.

Qing Ling smiled faintly, her eyes showing little gratitude and appearing indifferent.

She took a sip of tea, and as the refreshing tea touched her lips, she recalled the fresh air she smelled in the tea garden after the bloodshed at Yongning Temple.

Setting down her teacup, she said, "Zhan Xingzhuo arranged my funeral without even inquiring about my death; did the Duke's mansion not even confirm the news of my death?"