Madam Wu hurriedly asked, "Please enlighten me, Master, what is the pity?"
Master Huiyuan shook his head. "This woman was born into a wealthy family, but unfortunately, she is cursed. No matter which family she marries, she will bring trouble to the peace of the household."
This wasn't the first time Madam Wu had met Master Huiyuan. Master Huiyuan had never made a mistake in interpreting people's fates, and she deeply believed in what he said.
"Thank you for your frank advice, Master. I have another matter to discuss today. I have come to light a lotus lamp for my third grandson and pray that the Bodhisattva will bless him with peace and safety and that he will find a good match soon."
After Madam Wu finished speaking, a maid behind her quickly presented her with the brocade box she was holding.
Huiyuan then summoned the young novice monk outside the door, personally wrote down the name of the Third Young Master Wu and a prayer, and then had the novice monk deliver the brocade box to the Changming Hall.
Madam Wu rose to bid farewell to Master Huiyuan, and stumbled as she walked out of the meditation room.
The old nanny and maidservant quickly stepped forward to support her, saying, "Madam, please be careful on the steps."
Old Madam Wu gritted her teeth and said, "I knew my eldest son was all show and no substance. He can't even handle this simple matter. I was truly blind back then to marry such a pretty face to my eldest son."
"Oh dear! Grandmother, please don't upset yourself. In my opinion, it's probably all lies told by that Yang woman who bribed the matchmaker. What about having many children and grandchildren, and long-lasting blessings? The First Madam was also deceived by the matchmaker."
The nanny, fearing that the old lady would be too angry, quickly helped to analyze the reasons behind it.
Old Madam Wu stopped, looked up at the sky, and closed her eyes. "That Yang woman, who was able to climb from a concubine to the position of the main wife, is no simple person. My eldest daughter-in-law, if someone sold her off, she would still be helping them count the money."
The old woman patted her back and said, "Our ancestor was wise enough to prevent the Minister's family from succeeding. They were clearly born out of wedlock, but they forced her to become the legitimate daughter and kept lying. They are shameless!"
The maid standing nearby nodded emphatically, "That's right, that's right. It's a good thing that the matriarch came in person, otherwise our handsome and extraordinary third young master would still be in the dark."
The third young master of Wu is the same age as the second young master of Wu, only one month older. The second young master of Wu has already been engaged.
The old lady originally planned to hold the marriage ceremony for the third young master of the Wu family at the end of the year.
Since the Second Young Master Wu is born out of wedlock, it wouldn't be too late to arrange his wedding next spring.
"Enough, enough. Before my old bones fall apart, I'll personally choose a capable girl for my third grandson."
Madam Wu sighed and slowly opened her eyes.
Then a bright and beautiful girl walked over from under the Bodhi tree.
With delicately drawn eyebrows, clear and bright almond-shaped eyes as if washed by the Milky Way, and red lips and a delicate nose, her makeup was light and natural; she was truly a beauty in the making.
Her black hair was tied back with a jade hairpin, with a few strands of black hair hanging down her chest. She was dressed in plain clothes and looked otherworldly, like a fairy descending to earth. Upon closer inspection, the vermilion beauty mark between her eyebrows resembled Guanyin on a lotus throne in a grand hall.
“Aunt Yan, look over there, doesn’t that girl look like the deceased Miss Jiang?”
The old nanny, Mama Yan, felt her arm being pinched painfully by the old lady.
She looked up and instantly felt a chill run down her spine.
The person walking towards us was clearly Miss Jiang. The beauty mark between her eyebrows was the kind of mark that all the noble ladies in the capital envied, and they wished they could cut it off and stick it on their own eyebrows.
Mother Yan's hand, which was supporting Old Madam Wu, trembled, and her voice trembled as she spoke, "Grandmother, she, she really is the eldest daughter of the Jiang family! Look at that beauty mark between her eyebrows."
“And, and those eyebrows and eyes, even if she turned to ashes, this old servant would still recognize her.”
As Mrs. Yan spoke haltingly, Jiang Shuyue quickly approached them.
The pretty young woman smiled gently, noticing the shocked look in Old Madam Wu's eyes.
Jiang Shuyue gave a slight curtsy, "May the old lady be blessed with good health and peace."
Madam Wu secretly wondered if Yang had mistreated the late Madam's daughter and had imprisoned her.
"Little Yue, it's been years. Do you still remember this old woman?" Old Madam Wu quickly suppressed her surprise and smiled warmly.
"Of course I remember, how could Shuyue forget? I even went to the Grand Commandant's banquets a few times!"
Jiang Shuyue looked up and met the gaze of Old Madam Wu.
"This old servant also remembers that Miss Jiang's poetry is quite good, no worse than Miss Jiang's."
A single sentence from Yan's mother confirmed Qiuju's suspicions: Jiang Jiaojiao indeed took her manuscript out to show off.
"Madam, please continue with your business. Shuyue will go and pay her respects to Master Huiyuan."
Before Old Madam Wu could ask her whereabouts over the years, she gave a slight curtsy and left.
Seeing Jiang Shuyue walk away, Old Madam Wu said solemnly, "Go back to the manor. Tomorrow, you will personally go and exchange the betrothal papers, and also inquire whether Miss Jiang is engaged or not."
"The legitimate daughter is different; she has a kind face and eyes like clear springs. She looks like a good person."
Madam Yan nodded in agreement, "This old servant also thinks that although Miss Jiang the Second appears dignified, she does not have the noble demeanor of Miss Jiang the First. No matter how this old servant looks at her, she seems to exude a petty and narrow-minded air."
On the Bodhi tree, a pair of butterflies fluttered about, captivating Old Madam Wu.
The pair of butterflies appearing in front of the unbloomed Bodhi tree—could they be reminding her of something?
The distant sound of bells broke Madam Wu's drifting thoughts. In a corner of the magnificent temple, a string of wind chimes hung from the high, upturned eaves.
A breeze blows by, and the wind chimes make a crisp and melodious sound, which makes people feel happy.
"Let's go back to the manor."
Madam Wu smiled, as if nothing had happened.
Jiang Shuyue arrived outside the meditation room and saw a young novice monk coming out.
She quickly put her hands together and said, "Please inform the master that my daughter, Jiang Shuyue, has come to pay her respects."
Those who usually come to the meditation room to see the elder are all either rich or noble.
The young novice monk returned a Buddhist salute, saying, "Please wait a moment, female benefactor, I will go in and inform them immediately."
The young novice monk turned and went inside.
Qiuju glanced at the corner where Old Madam Wu and her group had disappeared.
"Miss, Madam Wu looks to be in good health and a good mood. Could it be that Miss Jiang and Young Master Wu's horoscopes are very compatible?"
"That's because you were walking behind me. I saw her acting strangely as soon as she came out of the meditation room; she seemed very angry."
Jiang Shuyue had already noticed that Old Madam Wu was looking up at the sky speechlessly, her face full of disappointment.
"I was so nervous just now, afraid that the old lady would suddenly ask you where you've been all these years, and how you suddenly came back to life," Qiuju said, patting her chest.
Jiang Shuyue smiled faintly, "Silly girl, Old Madam Wu is such a shrewd person, she doesn't need to ask to guess what's going on in the inner quarters of the Minister's mansion."
It's just the same old routine of mistreating the legitimate daughter, having a concubine rise to power, and then having a concubine's daughter suddenly become the legitimate daughter.
Soon, the young novice returned. "Please come with me, benefactor."
Jiang Shuyue led Qiu Ju inside, one after the other.
As Master Huiyuan watched the woman approach, countless images flashed through his mind.
That was something that had appeared in his mind during his seclusion.
When Jiang Shuyue looked up at him, Master Huiyuan's pupils contracted.
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