Chapter 161 Mother is Here
Upon arriving at Taijue Temple, a guest monk led them to a separate courtyard in the back.
This pilgrimage required three days of religious rites at the temple, so they booked an entire courtyard in advance. It wasn't large, just enough for the master and servants to stay in, while the coachman and guards stayed in a row of side rooms outside the back gate of the temple, which was also the temple's rule.
After tidying up briefly, the group went to the main hall where the rituals had been held for the past few days. It was not far from their residence, making it convenient to travel back and forth.
Soon, the main hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the sound of chanting sutras was loud and melodious.
After lighting the eternal lamp herself, Yu Qingci took out the Buddhist scriptures that she and Yun Chu had copied by hand and burned them page by page in front of the Buddha.
After completing the day's religious rites, it was already late afternoon. Yu Qingci, without having time to rest, led Pei Mama and the others to the back gate of the temple with ease.
Having finally managed to get out of town, I naturally wanted to take this opportunity to visit my younger brother on the nearby mountain.
My mother wrote in her letter that my younger brother had fallen behind in his studies because of his injury, so after he recovered, he didn't even go back to the Earl's Mansion but came directly to his teacher to start studying hard.
She hadn't seen her younger brother in a long time since leaving the Su residence, and she needed to see him in person to put her mind at ease.
Thinking about it all the way, I quickened my pace.
They arrived at the place with great joy, only to be told by the gatekeeper that the old gentleman had taken young Master Yu out to meet some friends.
As if splashed with cold water for no reason, Yu Qingci froze on the spot.
"Not here? Then do you know when they'll be back?"
The boy scratched the back of his head and said, "Sir rarely says when he goes out, but based on past experience, he will either be back today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow."
Yu Qingci: ...
It's like I said nothing at all, never mind.
She handed over the clothes, food, and other items she had brought for her younger brother and Mr. Li to the child, gave him a few more words of advice, and then left reluctantly.
Seeing that she was unhappy, Tong'er and Lianqiao, the two maids, started chattering and pointing at the surrounding scenery.
It is now the season when the branches are full of green, and the mountains are lush and magnificent. Yu Qingci's mood gradually calmed down as she looked at the scenery in front of her.
They hadn't gone far when they suddenly heard a noise above them, followed by something falling from the sky to their feet.
The group of people were so frightened that they quickly took a few steps back.
Upon closer inspection, it was a pigeon lying on the ground, fluttering and struggling, with an arrow deeply embedded in its abdomen.
Before the group could recover, they heard a commotion of footsteps coming from the woods. Soon, several soldiers rushed over and saw a group of women standing there. The leading soldier immediately waved for the men behind him to stop, carefully looked them over, glanced at the pigeons on the ground, and then waved his hand behind him.
Immediately, a soldier ran over, picked up the pigeon from the ground, walked back, and handed it to the leading officer, saying:
"Boss, it's just an ordinary pigeon."
"That's good. You guys continue your inspection over there."
After dismissing his men, the leading officer turned to the women and asked:
What are you people doing?
Perhaps because the group was dressed in expensive clothes, the officers and soldiers were still very polite in their speech.
Granny Pei stepped in front of Yu Qingci and replied, "Sir, we are family members of the Ningyuan General's Mansion. We came to the temple today to perform a Buddhist ceremony for the two generals who passed away in our family. We were just out for a walk and were about to head back."
Upon hearing this, the officer immediately cupped his hands and said, "So you are from the Ningyuan General's Mansion. I apologize for my disrespect. However, the area around the capital has been quite turbulent these past few days. It is best for everyone to stay in the temple and not go out unnecessarily to avoid any danger."
Granny Pei said gratefully, "Thank you for the reminder, sir."
After the soldiers left, the group lost interest in sightseeing and quickly returned to the temple.
Seeing that her mistress looked somewhat disappointed, Granny Pei suggested, "Young mistress, praying to the gods at Taijue Temple is very effective. Why don't we go to the main halls with the most incense offerings and pray? As long as we are sincere, the Bodhisattva will surely bless you and make your wishes come true."
Yu Qingyan thought about it and agreed. Since they were already here, they might as well go and pray to the Bodhisattva.
The master and his servants walked toward the main halls in the front courtyard.
In April, Taijue Temple was still bustling with incense smoke, the air thick with the fragrance of sandalwood. After lighting incense, kowtowing, and making wishes in the main hall, the group didn't linger and slowly walked back.
"Madam, it's Miss and Granny Pei."
Just as she was about to walk around the main hall, she heard a woman's light and cheerful voice behind her. When she turned around, she saw several familiar faces, and the one in the middle was her beloved mother.
Su Chengniang, dressed in a plain dress, was surrounded by several maids and servants. A white jade hairpin was tucked into her hair. Although she was over thirty, years of pampered life had not diminished her beauty at all, and her temperament had become even more gentle and elegant.
She stepped forward and took Yu Qingci's hand, her gaze softening as she looked at her daughter:
"Knowing that you came to Taijue Temple to offer incense, I thought I'd come and keep you company since I had nothing to do at home, and also take a look at Qingbai. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Yu Qingci happily wrapped one arm around her mother's arm, her tone slightly coquettish as she said:
“It’s so wonderful that my mother can come and be with me. I’ve missed her so much. I just made a wish to the Bodhisattva that I could see my mother, and it came true immediately. It’s clear that the incense at Taijue Temple is indeed efficacious.”
Su Chengniang couldn't help but chuckle and gently tapped her daughter's forehead with her finger: "You, your little mouth is as sweet as ever, but Mother loves to hear it."
The mother and daughter chatted as they walked toward the backyard. There was a chanting ceremony to begin that evening in the main hall where the ceremony was being performed. Yu Qingci wanted her mother to rest in her own courtyard while she went to the main hall, but Su Chengniang had come to accompany her daughter and was unwilling to be separated from her. So the two of them went together.
After listening to the chanting, the mother and daughter returned to the courtyard to have their vegetarian meal together that evening.
It must be said that the vegetarian food at Taijue Temple is very good and famous far and wide. Because of the good vegetarian food, the lay Buddhists and pilgrims who live in Taijue Temple for a long time come in an endless stream.
The mother and daughter were reluctant to part after finally meeting, so they slept together that night.
Su Chengniang: "I plan to go back tomorrow. I'll accompany you to the Buddhist ceremony first thing tomorrow morning, then go to Mr. Li's place to see your brother, and then I have to go back."
Yu Qingci recounted how her younger brother had gone out to meet friends with Mr. Li and hadn't been at the mountain courtyard for the past few days, and then added:
"Maybe Mother will be lucky, and my little brother will be back tomorrow."
Su Chengniang: "I hope so."
She also hoped that she could see her son as she wished.
However, things didn't go as planned. The next day, Su Chengniang went there excitedly, but the gatekeeper's answer was still the same:
Not returned.
Su Chengniang had no choice but to return and accompany her daughter to continue offering incense to the Bodhisattva.
Upon reaching the main hall, it was already past noon, and the number of worshippers had decreased considerably. Su Chengniang took three sticks of incense, stepped forward, knelt devoutly on the prayer mat, and closed her eyes to pray:
"May Buddha bless my daughter Qingci with a smooth, peaceful, and joyful life; and bless my son Qingbai with academic success, good fortune in all things, and a lifetime of peace and health."
After burning an incense stick, the mother and daughter walked out of the main hall. Just as they stepped over the threshold with their heads down, they suddenly heard a woman's voice from ahead: "Isn't this Sister Su?"
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