Chapter 48. On the second day of the fifth lunar month, the weather turned cloudy as people gathered herbs.

On the second day of the fifth lunar month, the sky cleared up but then turned cloudy, with heavy clouds and muggy heat.

Phoenix Mountain stands majestically on the outskirts of Lin'an City, with steep slopes, layer upon layer of peaks, and its main peak piercing the sky like a sharp sword.

In the height of summer, when the city is unbearably hot, this place is refreshingly cool due to its high mountains, dense forests, and crisscrossing streams. Wealthy families and officials often go to Qinglan Temple, located halfway up the mountain, to cultivate themselves and escape the summer heat, enjoying a cool and secluded retreat.

From the foot of the mountain to Qinglan Temple, one can travel by carriage or horse. However, if one wishes to climb to the summit, one must rely on one's own two feet and painstakingly ascend the rugged and winding mountain path.

At dawn, Meng Yutong, along with Bai Zhi and He Haochuan, set off for Phoenix Mountain in a horse-drawn carriage.

When we arrived at Ciyun Temple, the sun was already high in the sky, around 9:45 AM.

Although it is early summer, a gentle breeze blows through the mountains, carrying the freshness of grass and trees and the coolness of water vapor, relieving the heat and bringing a sense of tranquility.

The group left their carriage at the temple and rested briefly. Then, led by He Haochuan, they climbed step by step toward the summit along a more secluded and steep path behind the temple.

He Haochuan walked at the front, carrying a medicine basket on his back. Holding a sickle, he deftly cleared away the thorns and dense weeds growing by the roadside, making a relatively easy path for Meng Yutong and Bai Zhi behind him.

“Look over there,” he said, catching his breath, pointing to the misty hillside some distance from the summit. “That’s my family’s tea garden. The best-selling ‘Fuliang Xuehao’ tea in the teahouse is picked from here.”

He spoke with pride, “This peak soars into the clouds, nourished by clouds and mist all year round. In addition, the soil is rich in mica and quartz, the climate is mild and rainy, and the temperature difference between day and night is significant, making it the perfect place to nurture spiritual sprouts.”

"The tea leaves produced here are plump and covered with thick white down. After brewing, the tea soup is clear and green, with a delicate and long-lasting aroma. It is fresh, sweet and mellow on the palate, with a lingering sweet aftertaste. Therefore, it is highly favored by nobles and scholars in Lin'an City."

Bai Zhi, who rarely undertook such arduous journeys, was already slightly out of breath. Upon hearing this, she sighed and said, "Young Master He, with such a wealthy family, you can live comfortably on this tea garden alone. Why bother running that tea shop?"

Meng Yutong also looked up and saw that the tea garden stretched along the mountainside, with rolling green waves, and was quite a large-scale tea plantation.

Based on the price of top-quality tea in Lin'an, an annual income of several thousand strings of cash would be easily achievable. In comparison, the income of teahouses does seem meager.

Upon hearing this, He Haochuan's handsome face broke into a hearty smile. His naturally smiling eyes curved like crescent moons, and shallow dimples appeared on his cheeks, adding to his sunny and approachable demeanor: "This teahouse has a long story to tell. It was built by my mother before she passed away. Every table and chair inside bears her mark."

He paused, a tender reminiscence flashing in his eyes, "When my mother was alive, she always said that while living in these lush green tea gardens was certainly peaceful and tranquil, the teahouses at the foot of the mountain were bustling with people, where one could hear stories from all directions and smell the most authentic human warmth. She loved that lively and vibrant atmosphere."

“After my mother passed away, my father and I… became even more reluctant to close this door.” His tone was slightly somber, and his longing transformed into a firm commitment to protecting it. “It’s as if keeping it means keeping the warmth of human life that my mother loved most, keeping a part of her.”

He took a deep breath, and his smile became bright and strong again, with a sense of responsibility: "Besides, although it is indeed hard work to keep the teahouse busy, with the stove burning and customers coming and going, it also gives my father a real place to focus, so that he doesn't have so much time to dwell on the past and feel sad. Being busy like this, running the business in a down-to-earth manner, makes life fulfilling and bright. I think it's pretty good."

Bai Zhi then realized her slip of the tongue, blushed, and looked at Meng Yutong uneasily.

Meng Yutong gently patted the back of her hand to comfort her, then turned to He Haochuan with concern and said, "Is your father still in good health? If he is overworked during the day, he should drink tea in moderation. Perhaps we could try some calming herbal tea to help him recover."

"Much better!" He Haochuan said hurriedly. "After what happened last time, I dared not let him drink strong tea anymore. Now he only has a cup of plain water on his desk, and with the calming sachet from my sister's shop, he can sleep much more soundly at night."

"That's good then." Meng Yutong nodded.

The three continued their ascent. The initial path was fairly clear, but the higher they went, the fewer people they encountered. Thorns and vines intertwined like a net, and jagged rocks made progress difficult.

He Haochuan had no choice but to repeatedly swing his sickle and do his best to clear a path for the two women.

After climbing for more than an hour with such difficulty, the sun was already high in the sky. When we stopped to rest, we stood on the steep mountain path and looked back. Below us, there were layers of green mountains and surging forests. In the distance, the city of Lin'an was faintly visible in the thin mist, like a huge green landscape painting unfolding before our eyes.

Looking up at the sky, although the sunlight was blazing, it was somehow covered by a layer of frosted glass-like halo, and fish-scale-like gray-white clouds piled up on the horizon.

The mountain wind suddenly picked up, bringing a few unusual chills and dampness; rain might come later.

"Sister Yutong, which way to go next? Have we arrived yet?" He Haochuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked around before asking.

After passing his family's tea garden, they relied entirely on Meng Yutong's directions. At this moment, they seemed to be on the summit, with no further upward path in all directions, only steep slopes and cliffs extending downwards.

Meng Yutong's gaze fell upon the bottomless cliff not far away, and her voice was calm and even: "Please wait here."

She reached out and took the medicine basket off He Haochuan's back, then slung it over her arm.

Then, she took out a bundle of thick hemp rope that had been prepared in advance from the basket, and with deft movements tied one end firmly around her waist, while the other end was tightly tied to the trunk of an old pine tree with gnarled branches and deep roots on the edge of the cliff.

Her actions instantly stunned He Haochuan and Bai Zhi!

"Miss! What are you doing?!" Bai Zhi's face turned pale as she rushed forward and grabbed Meng Yutong's arm tightly. "It's too dangerous! You mustn't!"

"Sister Yutong! This is no joke!" He Haochuan stepped forward and reached out to untie the knot around her waist. "Let me do it! I'm good at it!"

Meng Yutong nimbly took a half step back, avoiding his hand, and said firmly, "That herb grows in a special environment, and the harvesting method must be extremely delicate. You are not familiar with it, and it is very easy to damage it. If you are really worried, then you can guard this rope for me and keep a close eye on it."

She looked at the increasingly overcast sky and emphasized, "It's getting late, and it will take a lot of effort to get down the mountain. We can't afford to delay any longer."

The two were extremely anxious, but they couldn't dissuade Meng Yutong from her insistence. They could only stand by the tree with heavy hearts, keeping a close eye on the rope, and watch helplessly as Meng Yutong, carrying the medicine basket, steadily walked towards the edge of the cliff.

Meng Yutong stopped just half a step away from the edge of the cliff.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus her gaze on the jagged cliff face before her, refusing to look down into the dizzying abyss.

In my previous life, the hardships of searching for the Purple Snow Ginseng in this place far surpassed those of today. Back then, it was the dead of winter, with heavy snow blocking the mountains and the world turning white. The thick snow buried all life, and searching for a few life-saving purple herbs in the vast snowfield was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Based solely on her grandmother's vague description, she trudged and groped through the biting cold wind for an unknown amount of time, almost exhausting all her strength, before finally finding this cliff.

At this moment, she cautiously leaned over and looked down, her gaze sweeping over the jagged cracks in the rocks a few feet below.

Several strangely shaped purple plants came into view.

Its stems are slender yet tough, deep purple in color, with several small compound leaves with silvery-white down growing at the top. Its roots are deeply embedded in the damp, thick moss. It stands against the wind on the steep rock face, exuding a sense of spirituality.

It was the Purple Snow Ginseng she had picked in her previous life.

Overjoyed, she was so exhausted that she forgot she was standing on the edge of a cliff. In a daze, she leaned forward slightly, and loose stones tumbled down from beneath her feet.

Fortunately, a sudden gust of fierce mountain wind swept through the valley, instantly clearing her mind and causing her to break out in a cold sweat.

She immediately composed herself, gripped the rope around her waist tightly with both hands, and tentatively lowered her center of gravity slowly, carefully placing her feet on the protruding rock edges, pressing them against the cold cliff face.

Once she regained her balance, she finally saw the few purple ginseng plants clearly. They were still seedlings, with tender leaves and roots that had not yet fully grown.

She dared not be careless. She took out a small shovel from the medicine basket and carefully dug up the plant along with the thick, moist moss on which it depended for survival, and put it into the medicine basket behind her.

Throughout the entire process, she kept her gaze focused on what was in front of her, not glancing down at anything.

Only after the last purple ginseng was safely placed in the basket did she realize with a start that her back was already soaked with cold sweat. A sudden gust of cold, damp wind from the valley floor rushed up, making her shiver involuntarily.

Bai Zhi and He Haochuan were also on tenterhooks waiting on the other side. They seemed to hear some movement from Meng Yutong's side, so He Haochuan came forward to pull her up.

He walked to the edge of the cliff, and just glancing down briefly, he felt dizzy and his heart raced.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and asked loudly, "Sister Yutong, are you done picking?"

"Alright!" Meng Yutong responded, gripping the protruding rock with both hands and feet, and struggled to climb upwards.

Upon hearing the sound, He Haochuan suddenly opened his eyes. Ignoring his heart palpitations, he rushed to the edge of the cliff, trembling as he reached out his hands and firmly grabbed Meng Yutong's arm, using all his strength to pull her up.

The two stood at the edge of the cliff. He Haochuan was still feeling lingering fear. Almost instinctively, he put his arm around Meng Yutong's shoulder and led her to a safer place. "Sister Yutong, no magic pill can compare to the importance of life! It's so dangerous here! Don't do this again. I was so worried about you."

Only when Bai Zhi saw people coming up did she dare to loosen her grip on the rope.

She lunged forward, grabbing Meng Yutong's other arm tightly, looking her up and down, tears welling in her eyes.

He Haochuan was instantly pushed aside, only then realizing that he had overstepped the proper boundaries between men and women in his haste.

He stared blankly at his hands, his palms still seemingly retaining the warm touch of her shoulder blades through her thin shirt. At this moment, it felt like a branding iron, making his heart race and his cheeks inexplicably burn.

He suddenly felt a burning sensation in his hands...

"I'm fine, I'm sorry to have worried you." Meng Yutong gave the two a reassuring smile. A mountain breeze blew by, stirring a few strands of hair damp with sweat at her temples. Her clothes fluttered, outlining her slender yet resilient figure. Though weathered by the elements, she was as pure and serene as an orchid in a secluded valley.

He Haochuan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked away.

Bai Zhi held Meng Yutong tightly, looked up at the suddenly darkening sky, and said urgently, "Miss, the clouds are getting lower and lower, it looks like it's going to rain! Let's go down the mountain quickly!"

He Haochuan finally snapped out of his turmoil and replied repeatedly, "Okay! Okay! Let's go!"

The group followed the same footprints they had come by, hurrying down the mountain. The thorny path they had cleared on the way up was now much easier to walk on, and they moved much faster than when they had gone up.

The dark clouds overhead gathered and churned rapidly like spilled ink, making the sky increasingly gloomy and overcast, and the mountain wind carried a damp chill. The three dared not rest for a moment, and pressed on with all their might towards Qinglan Temple.

While passing a steep slope with jagged rocks, Meng Yutong spotted a few medicinal herbs among the grass and rocks.

She paused slightly before quickly picking them. There were several 'Dendrobium nobile' plants with gnarled roots resembling dragon bones, several clumps of 'Dendrobium nobile' with thick leaves and small purple flowers, and several 'Murraya paniculata' plants with a refreshing fragrance.

These are all valuable medicinal herbs that grow deep in the mountains and are not easy to find. She casually put them into her medicine basket for future use.

After rushing for about an hour, the three of them finally arrived at the gate of Qinglan Temple, panting heavily.

Meng Yutong took out her medical kit from the parked carriage, took out several wax-sealed "Dispelling Evil and Strengthening Qi Pills", and gave them to Bai Zhi and He Haochuan: "Take them by holding them in your mouth, they can refresh your mind and dispel dampness and turbidity."

Just as the group swallowed the pills, a loud "whoosh" sound came from behind them.

The long-awaited downpour finally began, with large raindrops pounding against the bluestone ground, splashing up a white mist.

Bai Zhi looked back at the heavy rain, patted her chest, and said with lingering fear, "Luckily we were quick, otherwise we would have been soaked to the bone!"

He Haochuan, however, remained unusually silent.

Meng Yutong greeted the young novice monk with palms together and explained their purpose: "Young master, we have encountered a heavy rain on our journey and would like to take shelter and rest here for a while. I wonder if your temple is offering vegetarian meals at this time?"

The young novice monk returned the greeting and said, "Amitabha, you have come at the right time. There is still food left in the dining hall. Please follow me."

Meng Yutong thanked him, carefully placed the purple snow ginseng she had picked, along with the medicine basket wrapped in damp moss, at her feet. She then took out a clean cloth and carefully covered the medicine basket tightly to prevent it from getting damp. Only then did she pick up the medicine basket and follow the young novice monk into the dining hall.

Just as Meng Yutong sat down and took a simple vegetarian meal, she saw a woman dressed as a maid, wearing a light blue vest and with her hair in double buns, also enter the dining hall.

Although dressed as a servant, her clothes were of fine quality, and her demeanor exuded an air of refinement beyond that of an ordinary person. Without glancing to the side, she quickly packed a few delicate side dishes into a food box and hurried away.

Meng Yutong followed her figure with her gaze, and only after she disappeared into the rain curtain outside the door did she casually ask the young novice monk who was serving tea beside her, "Little monk, are there any pilgrims who have come to the temple to take shelter from the rain today?"

The young novice monk replied, "That is the personal maid of a female benefactor who is staying in the west wing for quiet meditation. That benefactor has been recuperating in the temple for more than half a month."

Meng Yutong smiled and nodded: "Qinglan Temple is a place of tranquil Buddhist chants and fragrant sandalwood, truly a blessed place for spiritual cultivation. Thank you for taking us in, young monk. After the rain stops, we will definitely add some incense to the temple to express our gratitude."

The young novice monk put his hands together and said, "Amitabha, benefactor's kindness is immeasurable."

Outside, the rain poured down, pounding loudly against the roof of the palace with astonishing force.

Looking out through the open window, Meng Yutong caught a glimpse of the maid in green holding an oil-paper umbrella, hurrying along the corridor towards a quiet wing room on the west side.

That must be the place where the female guest who practiced asceticism mentioned by the novice monk lived.

She looked away and stopped paying attention.

Today's hike to gather herbs had been extremely physically demanding, and she had only eaten dry rations along the way, so she was now starving. She lowered her head and focused on eating the vegetarian meal in front of her.

With an empty stomach, I ate a little faster than usual, and in no time, the food in my bowl was gone.

Bai Zhi and He Haochuan were still eating slowly. Meng Yutong put down her chopsticks and said softly, "Please enjoy your meal. I'll go to the front hall to offer some incense."

Meng Yutong left the medicine basket containing the purple snow ginseng and the medical kit on her seat in the dining hall, instructed Bai Zhi to take good care of them, and then got up and left her seat, following the direction indicated by the novice monk, and walked towards the Mahavira Hall deep in the temple.

To reach the main hall, one must pass through a long corridor, which happens to pass by the area where pilgrims reside. Meng Yutong followed the path the maid in green had taken earlier. As she reached the door of an elegant room, the tightly closed door was suddenly pushed open from the inside.

She instinctively stopped in her tracks, stepped aside to let him pass, and waited quietly with her eyes lowered.

"Oh, isn't this the eldest daughter of the Meng family?" A boastful female voice, tinged with a habitual sarcasm, rang out from behind the door.

Meng Yutong looked up and met a familiar face with exquisite makeup but an air of arrogance.

Her eyebrows were arched high, reaching her temples, and a hint of mockery played on her lips. As she spoke, a pair of crimson coral pendants swayed by her ears, adding to her aggressive demeanor.

It was Princess Gyeongbok.

Meng Yutong remained expressionless, curtsied, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, may you enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Princess Jingfu chuckled lightly, her gaze sharp as she scanned the woman from head to toe: "What are you doing in this remote mountain temple? Praying to the gods and Buddhas?"

She deliberately dragged out her words, with a playful malice, "Could it be that you heard the Matchmaker Temple in this temple is quite effective, and you regret breaking off your marriage with my nephew, so you've come here to beg the Bodhisattva to let you continue the marriage?"

Jingfu's words seemed barbed, something she had already experienced at the Ji family's place. There was no need to be argumentative with such a pampered and ill-tempered princess; she could only go along with her.

Meng Yutong lowered her head, her gaze calmly sweeping over the torrential rain pouring down outside the corridor, and explained gently, "Your Highness is too kind. The engagement has been called off; it was simply that my fate with Young Master Ji was shallow. I am well aware of my own limitations, and having already broken off the engagement, I have no more unrealistic desires. I came up the mountain today to gather herbs, but unfortunately, I was delayed by the rain, and I was just about to go to the main hall to offer incense and add some fragrant oil."

Gathering herbs? Ha, what a ridiculous joke! She's a merchant's daughter, raised in seclusion, and now she's trying to emulate Hua Tuo, the legendary healer? Does she really think she's some kind of gifted, self-taught miracle doctor? It's utterly delusional!

Princess Jingfu still harbored her disdain, but seeing Meng Yutong's respectful and humble attitude, and her tactful words that distanced her from Ji Yun, she snorted lightly, her arrogance and contempt undiminished. She casually waved her well-maintained hand, adorned with exquisite nail guards, as if swatting away mosquitoes: "Get out of the way, you're blocking the road without any manners."

"Yes." Meng Yutong obeyed, obediently taking two steps back, lowering her head slightly, and standing respectfully to the side, completely clearing the corridor.

After the maid carefully helped Princess Jingfu through the corridor and her figure disappeared around the corner, Meng Yutong slowly raised her eyes, her face calm and composed, and continued walking towards the Mahavira Hall at a leisurely pace.

Stepping into the solemn and majestic Mahavira Hall, one is surrounded by the rich fragrance of sandalwood and the soft, lingering sounds of Buddhist chants.

The enormous golden Buddha statue sits serenely on a lotus pedestal, its brows lowered and eyes filled with compassion for all living beings.

Meng Yutong glanced around and saw that Princess Jingfu had not left, but was temporarily taking refuge in a quiet room next to the palace for distinguished guests to rest in, with her maid standing outside the door.

Meng Yutong did not linger, but went straight to the prayer mat in front of the Buddha, knelt down, and put her hands together in prayer.

She had never believed in gods or Buddhas before, but now, gazing up at the compassionate face of the Buddha statue, she had no grand wishes in her heart, only a soft prayer: "I, Meng Yutong, have disturbed your temple today and have been fortunate enough to be taken in. I have come to offer incense. I dare not ask for anything more than that the Buddha may bless my relatives and friends with good health and that there be less illness and suffering in the world."

After speaking, she took out several silver ingots from her sleeve and gently placed them into the donation box.

Just as he was about to get up, he suddenly heard a clear sneer coming from the direction of the quiet room, filled with undisguised mockery.

Immediately afterwards, there was a sharp "crash," as if a cup or saucer had been violently knocked to the ground.

The maid standing guard at the door exclaimed, "Princess!" and hurriedly lifted the curtain to enter.

Meng Yutong turned to look and, through the gap in the curtain, saw that Princess Jingfu's arrogant expression had vanished, her face had turned deathly pale, and she was covered in cold sweat. She collapsed painfully onto the table.

The maid rushed forward in a panic to help Princess Jingfu up. Princess Jingfu struggled to sit up, but her gaze met that of Meng Yutong, who was peeking from outside the quiet room.

A fierce glint of shame and indignation flashed in those eyes.

Meng Yutong felt a chill run down her spine and quickly lowered her eyes.

Jingfu seemed to be struggling to stand up. With the help of a maid, he took a step, but as soon as his left leg touched the ground, he suddenly went weak and lost his balance. The maid also lost her support, and the two of them fell heavily onto the table.

Another crashing sound came from inside the room.

The maid was terrified and cried out, "Your Highness!"

The curtains had been completely drawn, so Meng Yutong couldn't see what was happening inside. She stood there, a few thoughtful glances in her eyes.

Ultimately, her medical instincts prevailed over her concerns, and Meng Yutong no longer hesitated. She quickly stepped forward, lifted the curtain of the quiet room, and went inside.

She quickly walked to the two of them, and together with the distraught maid, helped Princess Jingfu, who was trembling slightly from the pain, to her feet and settled her on the soft couch next to her. "Princess, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Meng Yutong's sharp gaze swept over Jingfu's hand, which was pressed tightly against her lower back, and her left leg, which had been unable to support itself and was still trembling slightly.

I had a hunch that the problem was probably in my lower back and legs.

The maidservant was so anxious she was almost incoherent: "Your Highness, should I go to the city to fetch... the imperial physician...?"

“It’s too late.” Meng Yutong interrupted her. “It’s pouring rain outside, and the mountain roads are muddy and difficult to travel. It would take at least an hour and a half to travel to and from the city. Given Your Highness’s current condition, I’m afraid you can’t wait. I have some knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, and I humbly request Your Highness’s permission to examine you.”

"How dare you!" Princess Jingfu gasped in pain, but still maintained her composure. She suddenly raised her hand and shoved Meng Yutong away with such force that Meng Yutong staggered back a step before regaining her balance.

"You...you dare to curse me?! I'm perfectly fine! I just tripped by accident! Get out!" Her voice trembled sharply with pain, but her eyes were fierce.