Go back to the Northern Hu with him? Is there something wrong with Yelü Qi's brain?
How could I possibly go back to Beihu with him?
Just as Shen Yunjiao was about to refuse, she heard the Daoist nun hurrying back and saying to her, "Benefactor Shen, you must hurry back. The Pavilion Master is leading people this way."
Shen Yunjiao could only nod and say to the Daoist nun, "I understand."
She struggled to her feet, but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.
"Yelü Qi! Quickly put me down."
"At this rate, the Pavilion Master will probably be waiting for you at the gate. How will you explain to her that you returned to the Pavilion with a man?" Yelü Qi said with a smile, his steps quickening.
The Taoist nun quickly looked away, thinking that it was better to avoid such a scene, otherwise she might get into trouble.
Shen Yunjiao naturally refused to be embraced by Yelü Qi.
But with a little lightness skill, that guy effortlessly carried her, who was lame, to the front of Qingxin Pavilion.
In this way, she arrived earlier than the young Taoist nun who was keeping watch for them.
"Shen Yunjiao, take your time to think it over. I'm going to stay in Dayong for a few more days anyway."
"Beihu is better than Dayong, really, believe me this once."
Yelü Qi gently put her down. Her deep blue eyes blended with the blue sky behind her, forming a continuous line of light, like a touch of spring in early autumn.
He lowered his head slightly and gazed at Shen Yunjiao. The slanting morning light shone golden on the ends of his hair, giving him a bright yellow glow.
Shen Yunjiao was not attracted by his good looks. Instead, she turned her head away and said indifferently, "I don't need to consider it. I won't go with you."
Yelü Qi narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Don't rush to make a decision. If you're really heartbroken, come to me, and I'll help you live a happier life."
He slowly approached Shen Yunjiao, his breath brushing against her neck, and the scent of cedarwood immediately filled her nostrils.
Then, she heard Yelü Qi whisper in her ear in a seductive voice, "I'll wait for you."
Shen Yunjiao was startled by his sudden action and took a big step back.
Yelü Qi smiled and returned the full basket to her, saying, "I'm leaving now. I'll come see you again in a few days."
As soon as Shen Yunjiao took the basket, the Taoist nun behind her rushed over, "Benefactor, the sect leader has arrived."
Following the winding mountain road, Shen Yunjiao first caught a glimpse of a few heads, and then saw an old lady with gray hair and a high bun walking towards them, accompanied by several maids.
Shen Yunjiao had heard Xie He say that this old lady was over seventy years old.
In ancient times, living to seventy was considered an extremely long life.
The old lady walked with a light step, climbing the mountain without any effort, truly befitting a female general who fought on the battlefield in her early years.
When she arrived at the entrance of Qingxin Pavilion, she saw a young woman carrying a bamboo basket, wearing a lake-blue thin jacket and a lotus-pink silk skirt, standing at the door, looking her up and down with her dark eyes.
Madam Qin thought to herself, "This must be the famous eldest daughter of the Shen family."
She had already heard about this girl, Ms. Shen, from other people. Some said she didn't follow the proper conduct of a woman, some said she was shameless, and many more said that she opened a clinic and showed her face in public after the divorce, and that she should have cured her uterine infertility first.
Madam Qin didn't care about these rumors. As long as Shen Yunjiao stayed with her, she had a responsibility to keep an eye on her.
"Greetings, Pavilion Master." Shen Yunjiao slightly squatted down and bowed to Old Madam Qin.
Madam Qin smiled in response, "I've heard that Miss Shen is very beautiful, and seeing her today, she truly is a beauty that could rival the most beautiful women. However, there's a rule against leaving Qingxin Pavilion, so why is Miss Shen alone outside? Could it be that you don't want to abide by the rules of Qingxin Pavilion?"
Upon hearing the old lady's words, the Taoist nun beside her gasped and quickly explained for Shen Yunjiao, "No—"
"Master, I was asking about Miss Shen, not you," Old Madam Qin interrupted her, glancing at Shen Yunjiao without making a sound.
Shen Yun said with a smile, "Don't misunderstand, Pavilion Master. Since I am in Qingxin Pavilion, I naturally follow the rules here. However, a few days ago, Princess Pingning came to visit and asked me to make a medicinal ointment for General Yao. That's why I was specially allowed to go out to collect herbs. If you don't believe me, you can ask the Taoist priests of Xuanqing Temple. I'm sure they all know about this."
Upon hearing Yao Zhan's name, Old Madam Qin's sharp brows instantly softened.
Yao Zhan had served under her and their relationship was closer than that of ordinary soldiers.
If Shen used this reason, then she naturally wouldn't say anything more.
"Alright, let's talk after we're all inside." Old Madam Qin nodded and gave a calm instruction.
Upon receiving the order, the Taoist nun immediately took out the key and opened the door.
Currently, only three women live in Qingxin Pavilion: Xie He, Shen Yunjiao, and Qin Youran.
Therefore, Madam Qin only needs to come and inspect once a month.
She happened to have nothing to do today, so she came over to take a look and happened to run into Shen Yunjiao standing at the door.
She seemed to see another man behind Shen Yunjiao, but when she got closer, she found that Shen Yunjiao was alone.
Madam Qin thought that perhaps her eyesight was failing due to her age.
"Where is Youran?" Old Madam Qin walked into the courtyard and found that only Xie He was drying some green plants in the yard.
"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, the young lady is copying books in her room."
The nun lowered her head, not daring to look, but Old Madam Qin sensed something unusual.
When Xie He saw Madam Qin, she quickly ran over to greet her, and then secretly glanced at Shen Yunjiao, who was slowly crossing the threshold.
Seeing her limping, Xie He didn't hesitate to go past Old Madam Qin to help her.
It was only then that Madam Qin noticed that Shen Yunjiao's leg seemed to be injured.
She felt a chill run down her spine; if this person were injured in Qingxin Pavilion, it would be disastrous.
Moreover, she had just received news that His Majesty had granted her a one-day leave of absence to attend Yao Zhan and Jiang Rong's wedding at the Jiang family home.
She had originally intended to gather the three of them together for a talk, but now it seems that's no longer possible.
"Miss Chen, since you have an injury on your foot, you should go back first. Xie He, please escort Miss Chen into the house." Old Madam Qin glanced at Xie He indifferently and gave the order.
The old lady Qin treated Xie He with no politeness whatsoever, as if she were treating any of the maids and servants.
Xie He quickly agreed and helped Shen Yunjiao to her room.
Before leaving, Old Madam Qin suddenly remembered something else, so she said loudly to Shen Yunjiao, "Miss Shen, the Jiang family will send someone to pick you up in five days. You must get up early then."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao turned around and bowed to Old Madam Qin from afar to express her gratitude.
Meanwhile, in Qin Youran's room at the other end of the courtyard, upon hearing her grandmother's voice, she immediately put down her calligraphy brush and ran inside.
"grandmother!"
Qin Youran buried her face in Old Madam Qin's arms and tearfully complained, "I thought Grandmother didn't want her granddaughter anymore."
"What are you saying, you silly girl!" Old Madam Qin patted her head with amusement, trying her best to appear stern, but her words still revealed her deep affection. "Have you learned your lesson this past month at Qingxin Pavilion?"
Qin Youran is the darling of the Qin family. In three generations of the Qin family, only this beautiful girl has emerged; the rest are all men.
Qin Youran was spoiled since childhood, but she was arrogant and domineering by nature. Some time ago, she even led a group of people to smash up a rouge shop in the city because the shop did not have the rouge she wanted.
Normally, this could be suppressed a little.
Unfortunately, the newly enthroned monarch was the one who couldn't stand such domineering and arrogant people the most, and the civil officials below him would impeach them at the slightest provocation.
Left with no other choice, the old lady sent her beloved granddaughter to Qingxin Pavilion for fifty days of confinement.
“I’ve been good, Grandmother, but there are always people who don’t think I’m doing well.” Qin Youran looked like she was about to cry. She held up her swollen fingers. “Grandmother, look, my fingers are stiff from copying books.”
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