Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Sending Back, Going

By the end of the month, snow had become rare in the capital. The monks who had been lodging at Qixia Temple were welcomed back to their nunnery five days ago.

Lan Nongnong originally wanted to go to greet him in person, but her health had deteriorated since she entered the palace, and she was willing but not physically able.

Although she hadn't come in person, she had already taken a carriage to the nunnery to investigate. There was no trace of the burn on the platform that night; even someone like her, who knew the situation well, couldn't discern a single clue.

Fortunately, her aunts knew that her leaving on New Year's Day had made the cold worse, and heard that she was too weak to travel in the cold, so they did not inquire too much. They just asked Biyu to bring back clothes and a safety bag, and told her not to worry, and that everything was fine.

Though the palace was lit with fire, the bricks and stones remained warm. The chill had penetrated her bones, and she could not withstand the torment. Even with the most careful care, she could only walk, barely a hundred steps.

After a few days of recuperation, she had recovered slightly, but she still couldn't bear the fatigue. She had to be carried up the stone steps outside the nunnery in a sedan chair brought with her.

After meeting her aunts, Lan Nongnong didn't go to the Buddhist temple to worship as usual, nor did she accept the advice to stay in her old home. Even when she came to inspect the temple last time, she only walked around the platform. If it weren't for her aunts, she wouldn't have set foot in this temple again.

"...How did you become so thin? And your hands are still so cold?"

"I heard from a pilgrim that a while ago, doctors from the Imperial Hospital went to the Shangshu Ling's residence to treat his wife. What exactly happened?"

Because the nunnery had been closed and its reopening was not widely known, there had been no pilgrims for several days. Therefore, everyone present at this moment, seeing her increasingly thin and frail appearance, was filled with worry.

Lan Nongnong leaned on Aunt Yun'an's shoulder, basking in the warm winter sun. A faint smile lingered on her face, her voice lazy. "Aunts, you know, it's only been a short time. Even if a miracle doctor were reborn, there's no way this could be so quick. Everything must be done gradually. It's just that he and the aunts are just as anxious, so we've asked for a consultation with the imperial physician."

"I do see that the aunts seem to have lost some weight, but what are they so worried about?"

Seeing that she spoke calmly, had a peaceful expression, and was as lazy as a cat, without any worry on her face, several people gradually felt relieved, thinking that nothing was wrong. Perhaps she was just worried.

But how could there be nothing wrong?

Although he has returned, with complete palaces, spacious nunneries, and a vast collection of scriptures, and under a strong reputation, it is still a place that can be overturned by the powerful, and it is no different from living under someone else's roof.

It’s just that everyone is open-minded and doesn’t think about wasting time, so they can deal with it calmly.

In the past, Lan Nongnong always had endless things to say, and there was never a dull moment in a gathering. But now, perhaps due to fatigue or illness, she spoke less and less.

Everyone talked for a while and then gradually fell silent.

Fortunately, they had all made progress in their spiritual practice in recent days. Even though their emotions were turbulent, they remained calm and composed, and the situation did not appear embarrassing.

After a while, Lan Nongnong suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Aunts, do you think it's better to stay in this nunnery or in Yuqing?"

She remained leaning against Yun An as she spoke, her gaze darting across the faces of the crowd. Yun Ting, being relatively cheerful, smiled and replied, "We are all cultivators. The world outside of our bodies is no different."

The head of Qingfeng Temple also said slowly: "Everything has its own reason. In Yuqing, there is Yuqing, and here is another kind of practice."

After hearing this, several people seemed to understand something, nodded in agreement, and recited Buddhist verses.

Lan Nongnong smiled faintly after hearing this. She naturally couldn't tell anything from the others' expressions, but seeing the silence after she finished speaking and then someone else taking up the conversation was enough to tell her.

She was now tired and always woke up at noon. By the time she had changed her clothes and had eaten, it was already nearly noon. With servants from the mansion waiting on her, there was no need for the nunnery staff to prepare meals.

After a brief chat, they were invited to dinner. During the meal, Lan Nongnong deliberately ate more and finished all the dishes and soups that were served.

After the meal, seeing that she looked tired and still taking medicine, everyone urged her to go back home to rest. Lan Nongnong did not refuse, hugging each of her aunts one by one before waving goodbye with a smile.

After that, Lan Nongnong did not come to the nunnery for a long time, only occasionally sending letters and gifts through others. Until the beginning of spring, Biyu sent a message to the nunnery, saying that if the masters were willing, they could return to Yuqing at any time, or stay in the capital, it all depended on their wishes.

At this point, some things, some words, no longer needed to be spoken; they were all understood. Their existence had long since become a deep weakness that held that person in check. Since they couldn't help, they shouldn't be a burden to him.

Although he was ultimately unable to break free from the cage, as Nongnong once said, since he had fought hard for it, he would have no regrets for the rest of his life that he had "never tried".

Despite setbacks, every word and action is a form of practice. I only hope that Nong Nong can also achieve great enlightenment, keep his mind forever, and live a life without suffering.

When the letter from Yifan Yuqing was handed to Lan Nongnong, her calm heart was suddenly stirred and she burst into tears.

February 25th is Lan Nongnong's birthday.

On this day, Qin Jingyao took a day off to spend time with her. He presented her with a stream of rare treasures and priceless gifts, and promised to fulfill all her wishes, but none of them could elicit a smile from her.

Until he took out the heart-shaped jade pendant, each of the inscriptions had been carved by him under the lamp after she had fallen asleep. When the warm jade ornament was gently placed in her palm, she lowered her eyes and looked at it quietly, and finally her face opened, a smile spreading in her eyes.

He also took the opportunity to ask her for a promise to celebrate his birthday next year.

-

On March 3rd, the 35th year of Chengping, the spring breeze blows the willows, making it a good time to travel.

There were three horse-drawn carriages parked at the foot of Qingyun Temple on Miaofeng Mountain, each of which was more spacious than usual.

They hadn't packed much when they arrived, and the messengers said they had everything they needed, so they only took a change of clothes and the wooden fish sutra scroll. According to their original intention, two carriages would be enough, one for the people and their luggage, and one to carry the sutras they had copied over the past few days.

The day before, Lan Nongnong had sent a message saying that the carriages and guards had been arranged, and that the aunts did not need to hire any more. No one looked, nor did they ask what was in the extra carriage. Instead, they approached the woman, whose complexion was noticeably more rosy than when they last saw her, and gave her careful instructions.

Take it easy, be content with what you have, and take good care of yourself. Although we are far apart, don't forget to send messages.

Lan Nongnong nodded heavily. Although she had made sufficient preparations when she came, she felt a surge of guilt in her heart, almost drowning her, when she saw that the aunts treated her as before and did not blame her at all.

Qin Jingyao came with her to see everyone off. He was just as elegant and graceful as when they first met him, with proper manners, as if he had never taken his anger out on his captors.

".....We are going a thousand miles from now. You can ask Jiang Ting for everything. I will take care of Nong Nong. You will live in peace and happiness for the rest of your life. I wish you all a safe journey."

Jiang Ting immediately stepped forward and bowed. Although his only responsibility was escort, these were elders whom Madam treated as close relatives. Their safety was crucial to Madam's well-being, and therefore, a matter of great concern to her. Therefore, this seemingly simple task was in fact a heavy one, hence why he was sent personally to lead the escort.

Everyone recited a Buddhist verse as if nothing had happened, expressed their gratitude, returned the greetings, and then boarded the car one by one.

Lan Nongnong never spoke a word, and even dared not to join her aunts at the farewell banquet. However, when her aunts lifted the curtain and looked at her, their eyes were filled with the same tenderness, and she knew that they understood her.

They knew that if they opened their mouths, she would burst into tears. They were also telling her that they understood the guilt and farewells she hadn't expressed, and they never blamed her.

The carriage carried the aunts away, seemingly taking half of Lan Nongnong's soul with it. Unable to stand any longer, she collapsed into his arms. A heavy stone weighed on her heart, suffocating her. Her throat trembled slightly, but she didn't cry. She simply closed her eyes and sighed.

Qin Jingyao lifted her up and stepped into the carriage. He lowered his head and spoke softly, reassuring her, "Don't worry, Nong Nong. With Jiang Ting and the palace guards escorting us, we will arrive safely. If you miss us, just write to us often. Don't be so sad and hurt yourself."

He carried her to a seat, gently adjusting her position so that she could snuggle against his neck. He placed his lips against her forehead and whispered, "Don't be sad, Nong Nong. The weather is beautiful today, and it's rare that you're willing to go out. Is there somewhere you'd like to go? Let's take this opportunity to relax, shall we?"

Lan Nongnong opened her eyes, raised her hand and grasped his collar, took a deep breath as if to gain strength, and forced herself to stay awake. She thought for a moment and said softly, "Then let's go for an outing by the lake where there are fewer people and the sun is shining."

Since she had such a refined taste, Qin Jingyao naturally agreed and immediately ordered the driver to change course and go to the shore of Wuming Lake.

-

"...This place was originally the private estate of a high-ranking official in Beijing."

He held her in his arms and walked slowly along the grass several feet away from the lake, explaining in a low voice, "The original owner had spent a huge amount of money to enclose the entire Qing Lake in the garden. Later, he was investigated for corruption, and the villa was confiscated and left unused, little known to the public."

The spring sun was bright and the gentle breeze was refreshing and pleasant. But for Lan Nongnong, the lakeside wind was still a bit chilly. Qin Jingyao carefully fastened her cloak and put on her hood before carrying her out of the car.

Lan Nongnong looked up, a sea of ​​lush green enveloping her. The lush grassy slopes undulated endlessly, somewhat resembling the spacious and orderly landscape of a golf course. She couldn't help but wonder how much the original owner had amassed to have been able to claim this natural lake as his own and build a manor of this magnitude.

Not far away stood a roofless pavilion, and within it, facing the lake, stood a large red sandalwood official's hat chair. Just by looking at it, one could imagine the overwhelming sense of pride and excitement that must have filled one's heart as one sat on this high chair, overlooking the entire landscape of lakes and mountains.

Lan Nongnong sat on his lap, seated in the spacious official hat chair. She lowered her hood, letting the sunlight bathe her. From her vantage point, she gazed upon the vastness of the world, a sense of pride that all things lay beneath her feet. She took a deep breath, and much of the pent-up resentment in her heart vanished.

"...This official is so extravagant, no wonder he's being investigated for corruption." She sighed softly, "Tell me, how much money would it cost to build a villa like this?"

Qin Jingyao lowered his eyes and smiled. Silly, what was a mere villa in the eyes of the high-ranking families in Beijing? Not to mention the powerful, even the local wealthy businessmen had villas of comparable size, but they just didn't dare to overstep the boundaries.

For truly prominent families, shops and estates are just superficial wealth. Their real foundation lies in power, land, connections, mines, and the endless supply of minerals contained therein.

He lowered his head and whispered, "Nong Nong, if you want to build a manor, not only as your husband, but also as you have mountains and land under your name, you can choose whatever you like. Even if there is no natural lake, you can dig one artificially. This wish of yours, your husband will realize it for you."

Lan Nongnong's heart stirred. She looked up at him with narrowed eyes, the sunlight dancing between her eyelashes. "Since you have severed ties with the Tan family and have no family to rely on, how could you have so many assets under your name? It can't be all given by His Majesty and the Empress. Could it be that you have received a lot of tributes during your ten years as an official?"

"Hahaha."

Qin Jingyao suddenly laughed out loud, as if he had heard a very funny joke. He only stopped laughing when he saw her pursing her lips and looking gloomy, but there was still a hint of laughter in his voice.

"Good Nong Nong, if your husband really accepted bribes, how could I bear to drag you into this quagmire, living in fear all day long?"

Seeing her bright eyes glaring with anger, he quickly held her hand tightly, pleadingly, "Don't worry, I will solve all your doubts one by one."

He leaned lazily against the back of his chair, his lips slightly raised, his eyes deep, but his tone was extremely serious: "Although I no longer associate with the Qin family, I have not truly severed my ties with them. During festivals, the housekeeper still sends gifts to the clan as usual. These properties under my name were given by the Emperor and Empress, divided among the clan, inherited from my mother's family, and donated by friends and subordinates."

He gently held her hand to his lips and chuckled, "Nong Nong needs to know that money can make money."

Lan Nongnong's fingertips felt itchy from the touch of his breath. She frowned slightly but did not withdraw her brows. Instead, she became more curious: "I heard that your mother's family, the Guo family, is rich in jade. Do you really have mines? Do you also have mines under your name?"

Seeing her questioning like this, Qin Jingyao couldn't help but laugh. Since they were close relatives, her previous inquiries into his assets had been nothing more than a bluff, and even her attempts to explain had fallen on deaf ears. Now that she genuinely wanted to ask, he wouldn't hide it.

Seeing him nod, Lan Nongnong was in a trance for a moment, and then she exclaimed softly: "It's amazing to have a mine..."

Having said that, she leaned back into his arms and said no more.

Qin Jingyao was amused by her sour tone. Seeing that she suddenly lost interest, he thought she was just feeling jealous. He held her fingers together and coaxed her softly, "I've sent people to find a new vein and put it in your name. Let us become a great mine owner, okay?"

Lan Nongnong seemed exhausted and only murmured a low response. Perhaps it was the tranquility of the vast scenery, or perhaps the warmth of the sun that made her feel lazy, but she closed her eyes and fell asleep before she knew it.

When I woke up again, the sun was still shining brightly.

A carpet had been laid out on the smooth grass nearby, and a food table had been set up, laden with exquisite delicacies. Lan Nongnong didn't ask how he had conjured all this in this deserted villa; she simply assumed he had brought it with him or had someone deliver it.

After dinner, Lan Nongnong felt tired again. Her eyelids were so heavy that she couldn't open them. She snuggled limply in his arms and naturally had no interest in going out for an outing.

-

In April, spring is deep, all things are vying to grow and flowers are blooming.

Lan Nongnong, however, was too lazy to go out all day. All her properties were managed by capable people, and the affairs of the mansion were shared by the housekeeper and maids. She only needed to listen to the reports and make some suggestions every day.

As his free time grew, he returned to the pursuit of purification. He first gathered fresh flowers and experimented with unusual stones, then tried branches, leaves, sand, water plants, and corals. When he felt inspired, he even added herbal remedies from his collection to his decoctions.

Qin Jingyao rarely saw her so interested in anything, so he did not stop her. He just repeatedly reminded her not to do it herself, and strictly ordered the maid to put the lady's safety first and not to overwork herself.

Therefore, there was still wisps of smoke floating in the Shangshu Ling's mansion all day long, from the initial rich fragrance, to the astringent smell of branches and leaves, and then to the recent dry and sharp medicinal smell.

That day, Lan Nongnong sat outside the distillery. Due to a long illness and medication, she was particularly sensitive to medicinal fumes. Suddenly, she sensed something was wrong and hurriedly ordered Biyu inside to extinguish the fire, summon everyone outside, and close the doors and windows. Once the concentrated medicinal aroma had mostly evaporated, she rose and led everyone back to the lakeside. Deeply breathing in the refreshing water vapor, the faint dizziness finally dissipated.

Although she had been taking medicine for three months, she still felt weak, so physical exercise was out of the question. Everyone in the mansion knew that the lady was frail, so couches, tables, and chairs were set up in the places she frequented, allowing her to rest at any time.

Lan Nongnong settled into a lounge chair by the bridge, flipping through a distillation log filled with her own symbols, checking the ratio of herbs and heat for the steaming process. She tilted her head to Biyu and instructed, "The smell of the herbs just now was too pungent. Don't let anyone in for the next few days. Wait three to five days for the odor to dissipate, then clean it out and bury it. Remember to bottle it up as usual, so all your efforts will be worthwhile."

Biyu responded and withdrew, whispered instructions to the other maids, and then returned to stand silently by the side.

Lan Nongnong wrote "pungent taste, discard" next to the name of the medicinal material, without closing the notebook, and put it on the small table.

She lay in the rocking chair, eyes closed and rocking gently, and suddenly said, "I've tried flowers, leaves, water plants, and medicinal herbs. What else can I use to play with?"

She seemed to be asking herself this question, then suddenly became interested. She stood up and said to Biyu, "Send someone to buy an alchemy furnace and find some alchemy books. I'll try to make the elixir myself."

Biyu and Qingluo exchanged a look of hesitation. To them, steaming food, medicinal herbs, and ointments was commonplace. Even the lady's ingenious addition of rocks and red mud to the boiling water was just for fun, and everyone was happy to join in the fun.

But refining an elixir was no small feat. Even though they were slaves, they had heard of alchemists exploding their furnaces, resulting in disfigurement at best and death at worst. Given the way the Master cherished his wife, he would never allow such a dangerous object near her.

However, Madam's power is growing day by day, and even in the presence of the Lord, she still holds her own. Although the two men were worried, they did not show it on their faces. They immediately ordered someone to purchase it and sent someone else to report to the Lord.

-

In the past two years, due to the emperor's habit of taking elixirs, the number of sorcerers and alchemy furnace shops in the capital has increased significantly. The alchemy books and recipes arrived at the palace before the alchemy furnaces. Lan Nongnong had just finished lunch and was leaning on the couch looking through the recipes when the alchemy furnace arrived.

She just supported her forehead with her hand and glanced through the window, asked someone to put it away for the time being, and then lowered her head to continue studying.

Qin Jingyao returned home from duty. As he entered the bedroom, he saw the alchemy furnace standing in the corridor. He paused for a moment, then passed by as usual. Only when he saw her did he smile and ask, "Don't you believe in Buddhism? Why are you studying Taoist alchemy?"

Lan Nongnong had just woken up from a nap in the afternoon and was still in good spirits. Upon hearing the voice, she glanced up at him and snorted softly, "It's always good to have many skills. I have nothing to do anyway, so I might as well find something interesting to do. Do you really want me to become a useless person?"

Her voice was light, her eyes still fixed on the pages of the book, but Qin Jingyao felt as if a long needle was piercing his heart, causing him to suddenly feel a sharp pain.

He approached and took her in his arms. She obediently adjusted her posture, leaning against him to continue reading. He lowered his head to bury it in the crook of her neck. At this time of year, the skin of an ordinary person should be warm, but the skin that his lips and nose touched, although as delicate as jade, exuded a chilling coldness.

"itch...."

Lan Nongnong trembled slightly at his breath, turned sideways to avoid him, and nudged him with her forehead.

Qin Jingyao raised his head following her force, staring at her silently for a moment, then suddenly stretched out his hand to take the book from her palm and tossed it away casually. He held the back of her neck with his palm, leaned over again, and silenced her unfinished cries and anger between his lips.

Her lips were soft and her tongue was sweet. Now she had gradually learned to dance with him, sucking in response.

People's lips and tongues should be warm, but her mouth is not even warm.

Qin Jingyao closed his arms and held her deeper.

Pressed into the arms, he passed the breath around, as if to

In this way, he drove away the coldness in her bones.

At some point, the servants in the room had quietly left, and the people outside the courtyard were also

Return to silence. Lan Nongnong was held in his arms, his arms around her

I hugged his neck and buried my cheek in his shoulder.

My heart is tightly clasped to him, my body moves slightly...

Her fingertips skillfully penetrated his collar from behind, and her palms touched his warm

Warmth welled up in her warm skin, and the chill that lingered in her body seemed to be truly expelled from her body in an instant.

The heat spread, and she couldn't help but whimpering softly because of the pleasure.

She was greedy for this kind of warmth and tensed up unconsciously.

The pain and beating that followed became more intense.

Suddenly, I lost my strength, my palm left the heat source, and the coolness returned.

At that moment, she couldn't help trembling and shrinking.

A sudden feeling of weightlessness overwhelmed her, and she hurriedly clung to him again. The moment the curtains fell, tumbling onto the brocade quilt, her already disheveled dress unraveled. Before she could feel the coolness, she was captured by the burning heat of his lips and tongue.

As the body stretched, the heat surged like a tidal wave...

From the time the sky began to set until night fell, Lan Nongnong was always immersed in the warm tide that made her body and mind melt.

As the sex subsided, she was barely perspiring, unlike Qin Jingyao, who was drenched in sweat. Only her pale red cheeks, her slightly short breathing, and her lingering blush betrayed the intensity of the passionate lovemaking.

Qin Jingyao held her in his arms as they immersed themselves in the hot spring pool, slowly regulating his breathing. From time to time, he scooped up water with his palms and sprinkled it on her shoulders, which were not submerged in the water. His voice was low and hoarse, and he warned, "Alchemy can be used for entertainment, but it must not be consumed, okay?"

Lan Nongnong felt so limp that she struggled to even speak, but she couldn't resist his insistence on a response, so she could only let out a soft moan. Then, she couldn't help but sink deeper into the water, only rising again when the pressure made her chest swell.

About half a minute later, the two emerged from the pool. Though they immediately donned their robes, the sudden temperature change still made Lan Nongnong frown, and she unconsciously snuggled into his embrace. Only after being tucked into bed and covered with a quilt did she slowly relax her brows and sigh lazily, her face still etched with a longing for the warm spring. If only she could, she truly wished to soak in its warmth forever.

Seeing her like this, Qin Jingyao couldn't help but chuckle, and brushed his finger across the tip of her nose. "Although the hot springs are nice, you can't indulge in them every day. Nong Nong, just be patient for a while. When the cold illness is cured in summer, let Mo Chou adjust the prescription for you. I'm sure you can get rid of the root cause soon, okay?"

Lan Nongnong pursed her lips and smiled faintly, agreeing. She had just gotten out of the bath and couldn't catch a cold. A table was set beside the couch for dinner. After a few simple snacks, she fell into a deep sleep.

---

Time flew by as Lan Nongnong pursued her experiments with gusto. Inside the room where her findings were stored, glass, porcelain, and jade vases gradually filled up, holding a variety of liquids and solids, almost filling the entire wooden shelf.

Qin Jingyao often came to inspect the recipes. Although she didn't know their uses, she secretly sent people to try each one. Fortunately, she was under the watchful eye of her servants, so there was no risk of the secret recipe being leaked. If she found anything harmful, she would quietly replace it with a harmless product of the same appearance.

Lan Nongnong seemed to enjoy the crafting process alone, never touching the finished product once it was on display. Meanwhile, the owner of Minglifang visited several times, firing the vessels she requested to perfection.

After the successful firing of high-purity pure-color glass, the craftsmen of Minglifang learned from it and developed a variety of single-color pure glass.

As usual, the first batch of finished products was delivered to the Shangshu Ling Mansion. Lan Nongnong was so captivated by their dazzling beauty that she immediately drew several designs, decided on the colors and dimensions, and had the craftsmen burn them. They were then sent to the mother and daughter of the Shangshu Ling Mansion, Princess Baozhen of the Renwang Mansion, and Sister Wen Niang.

After Biyu reminded her that the elders in the palace should not be negligent, she realized the omission and hurriedly designed two elegant patterns. After Qin Jingyao reviewed them and confirmed that they were correct, she handed them over to the craftsmen for production.

When the finished product arrived, she naturally asked him to present it to the emperor. Judging by the generous gifts he brought back that day, the emperor and empress must have been pleased. Whether this satisfaction stemmed from the artifact itself or from her nephew's filial piety, she didn't much care.

In June, Mo Chou adjusted the prescription, combining internal and external fumigation, and she felt much lighter. But she seemed to have developed a lazy streak, still unwilling to move. She declined all invitations, but fortunately, Biyu and the others would often tell her about the latest news, so she could stay informed without leaving home.

However, this tranquility was suddenly broken in mid-June.

Qin Jingyao returned home from court and mentioned something to her. Lan Nongnong was stunned after hearing this, a trace of confusion flashed across her eyes, and then a faint uneasiness emerged. She blinked and asked softly, "How long will you be gone?"

The deepness in Qin Jingyao's eyes gradually melted away, and he said slowly, "The journey is long. It will take half a year at the fastest and a year at the slowest to return. Would Nongnong be willing to go with me?"