Actually, the marriage temple outside the city is called Qingshan Temple, which means "green mountains all around", symbolizing a bright and promising future.

However, in many poems, "green mountains" are used as a metaphor for a majestic man and a desirable lover.

So, at some point, the Qingshan Temple became known for its exceptional efficacy in granting marriage requests, and it began to gain popularity among young women and ladies from noble families.

Gan Qiongying, of course, didn't believe in this stuff. She had received a modern scientific education and was originally a staunch materialist, but she couldn't resist the fact that she had time-traveled...

Moreover, she transmigrated into a book and could even sense the remnants of the original owner's consciousness from time to time. Most importantly, she met a man as perfect as Li Hua. How could she not be superstitious?

She was also willing to kneel before the Buddha for a long time, and on the way to the carriage, she remembered a poem, Cangyang Gyatso's poem "That Life".

One passage reads: "That year, I prostrated myself on the mountain path, not for an audience, but to feel your warmth. That lifetime, I circled the mountains, the waters, and the stupas, not for the next life, but to meet you on the way..."

Gan Qiongying's mind was racing. She tilted her head and leaned on Li Hua's shoulder, which, though not particularly strong, was exceptionally reassuring.

When Li Hua turned to look at her, Gan Qiongying said sweetly, "I miss you."

Li Hua: "...Aren't we together?"

Gan Qiongying shook her head and said profoundly, "You don't understand. There's a kind of longing where, even if you're right in front of me, I still miss you so much that it's like a poison seeping into my lungs, a disease that's reached the very end..."

These were, of course, some cheesy pick-up lines that Gan Qiongying had seen online, but she made some slight modifications.

However, these two sentences made Li Hua's mind wander and his soul soar to the heavens the whole way.

He felt as if he were floating on clouds or diving into the deep sea, sometimes soaring as if he were about to fly away, and other times feeling as if he were being crushed to pieces by some kind of emotion in Gan Qiongying's breath.

Even after they reached the foot of Qingshan Temple, Li Hua was still unable to recover from that state. He closed his eyes as if he were resting, but in reality, he was experiencing a series of thrilling events.

How deep can one love someone?

Li Hua doesn't believe in gods or Buddhas, nor is he afraid of ghosts or monsters, but he feels that he is willing to suffer divine punishment and go to hell for Gan Qiongying.

"Are you asleep?" Gan Qiongying said, pushing Lihua. "We're here! Get down quickly!"

Gan Qiongying got off the bus first, and Manyue and Tianjiao came to put down the footstools at the same time, and each of them ended up carrying one.

They looked at each other for a moment, their eyes filled with awkwardness.

Gan Qiongying didn't notice that there was a rift between the two young ladies. The prince consort had long ago instructed that nothing about what happened in the courtyard the night before should be revealed to the princess.

Manyue also thought it was just right, but she also complained in her heart that the prince consort was acting more and more like the mistress of the house. The conflicts in the backyard would stay in the backyard and would never be brought to the "master's" attention.

Gan Qiongying, the "master," carefree, stepped down from the footstool, shielded her eyes with her hand, and gazed into the distance. The Qingshan Temple did indeed have a certain artistic charm.

The buildings rise one after another, the mountains are lush and verdant, and the pavilions are painted in red, as if reaching the sky.

Moreover, it was noon, and the autumn heat was still quite intense. The entire temple was bathed in a faint glow under the bright sun, giving it a somewhat dreamlike quality.

However, when Gan Qiongying turned her gaze back to the foot of the mountain, she saw mostly luxury cars and fine horses, as well as women dressed in either gorgeous or simple attire. They moved back and forth in twos and threes on the stone steps in the mountains, their appearance like white flowers vying for beauty, which was quite astonishing.

Li Hua had also sorted out his thoughts and got off the carriage. Gan Qiongying said to Li Hua with curiosity, "There are so many beautiful young girls. I have never seen so many at the palace banquet."

"let's go?"

Gan Qiongying, arm in arm with Li Hua, was about to ascend the steps, but the carriage had to be parked at the foot of the mountain, watched over by the servants. Nobles had their own designated parking area, and after Gan Qiongying and her party left, Chen Wa and his entourage would take the carriage there.

Li Hua shook her head and said, "This is the path for female pilgrims to enter the mountain. I cannot go up with you, lest I offend these young women who are still in their boudoirs."

Gan Qiongying was taken aback. Li Hua pointed to the other side of the path, to the steps hidden behind a relief stone wall, and said, "That's where male guests enter the mountain. And once inside the temple, you and I won't be offering incense in the same place. This Qingshan Temple is divided into male and female sections."

Upon hearing this, Gan Qiongying's lips drooped.

Li Hua looked around and, seeing that no one was too close to them, stepped forward and used his tall figure to block Gan Qiongying, then gently pinched Gan Qiongying's cheek.

He said with great affection, "We'll meet at the foot of the mountain in two hours."

“The rainbow is red, but the green is blue.” Li Hua turned his head slightly and called out.

Soon, two tall, slender women with delicate features walked up to Gan Qiongying and bowed deeply to her.

They all said in unison, "Greetings, Princess."

Li Hua said to Gan Qiongying, "These two are old men who have been with me for many years. They are absolutely reliable and have some martial arts skills. Let them protect you in my place, so that you won't be disturbed by the crowd in the temple."

Gan Qiongying looked at the two women. The two women were tall and slender, not the type of women who were alluring. Instead, they were very thin and not the average person. However, their appearance was too plain. How could anyone look like that? They had no memorable features at all.

Gan Qiongying pulled Li Hua over and leaned close to him, asking, "A human skin mask?"

Li Hua smiled and nodded.

Gan Qiongying then accepted the two men, made an appointment with Li Hua, and led a group of maids on foot up the mountain.

Halfway up the mountain, they encountered a devout believer who knelt down with every step. Gan Qiongying's knees ached just watching her.

Even if she didn't take in Li Hua and her two maids, she still had several shadow guards around her.

Those people seem to disappear without a trace, but they always appear in times of crisis and never make a mistake.

Gan Qiongying felt particularly at ease and planned to go to the temple to burn incense, eat a vegetarian meal, and donate some incense, which would be enough.

However, as soon as they stepped through the magnificent and ancient temple's red-lacquered gates, they nearly bumped into a group of people.

Just as Manyue was about to step forward to argue, Gan Qiongying stopped her in time, saying it wouldn't be good to get into a quarrel with someone inside the temple.

Upon closer inspection, the person who rushed out in a panic was an acquaintance, practically a relative—Gan Huiyue, the beloved granddaughter of the Grand Princess of Hui'an.

She also saw that the person she almost bumped into was Gan Qiongying, and immediately curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Princess. Princess Ji'an."

Gan Qiongying stepped forward and took her hand. Seeing her flustered expression, she asked, "What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"

"Your Highness," Gan Huiyue replied in a soft, gentle voice. She was usually very proper in her actions and demeanor, and rarely appeared so flustered.

If someone else asked, she certainly wouldn't tell.

However, Gan Qiongying was her aunt, and during this time, the Grand Princess Hui'an had been urging her to get closer to Princess Duanrong, so Gan Huiyue told her everything.

It was the youngest daughter of the official from the Ministry of Rites who had come to offer incense. She was the first to go down the mountain, but it is said that a group of refugees suddenly rushed down the mountain and surrounded the youngest daughter's carriage. Now the girl is terrified by the group of ferocious refugees and is anxiously waiting for Gan Huiyue to bring people to save her.

Gan Qiongying's first reaction upon hearing this was that it was nonsense.