Chapter 128 Royal Guanyin Temple

Jiang Jiu was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

This stick of incense is lit for the second son of the Zhou family, the fake monk Huiyuan.

Although Jiang Jiu knew very well the relationship between her and Monk Huiyuan, no one told her whose daughter she was.

Jiang Jiu then asked, "Who should I light the lamp for? For my mother?"

Shen looked at her deeply and smiled: "It's all right."

"Your mother must be a very gentle woman."

Jiang Jiu didn't answer. He took the candle, lit it, and handed the candle back to the monk.

I inadvertently glanced at the monks carrying the lamps and leaving.

The Zhou family has a specific location for the eternal lamp. Generally speaking, the closer to the Buddha, the better.

However, those closest to the Buddha are the royal relatives.

Jiang Jiu was led by Shen to walk around the palace with the eternal lamp on, and unexpectedly saw the title of Princess Qi Yang.

It seems that lighting eternal lamps for deceased relatives is a custom here.

The Guanyin Temple is located on a mountainside a little far away from the capital. If it is spring, the scenery will be beautiful, with high mountains and deep valleys. It is a good place for outing and flying kites.

It is now the first month of the lunar year, but the scenery is still one of withered grass and dead branches covered with snow.

Compared to the front yard, there were suddenly fewer people in the backyard.

"The backyard is quiet, but the front is so noisy." Chang Tingting was in a bad mood and complained a little.

"My grandfather has booked the backyard. You can see it's surrounded by guards from the mansion." Chang Pingping often enjoyed these special benefits and took them for granted.

Shen's eyes flickered. Although her father was the prefect of the capital, already a third-rank official in the court, she still had to look to Prime Minister Zhou for special matters.

Who made him the Empress's father?

Enjoying royal treatment.

"Light the lamps today. Starting tomorrow, you will recite the sutras, once a day, 100 times each time. You three must be sincere."

The last time they went shopping, Jiang Jiu only spoke a few words to Jiang Qiuyue in the front yard.

When I came to the backyard today, I found that the temple’s backyard was really big. I climbed more than a hundred steps before I reached where the abbots lived.

Especially since there were no other families in the backyard except the Zhou family, it gave people a lonely feeling.

After entering the courtyard, the presiding abbot divided the courtyard into several people. Shen lived in the south pavilion not far away, and the unmarried Chang sisters and Jiang Jiu lived in the west pavilion.

Chang Pingping couldn't help but point at the east attic and asked, "It seems like someone still lives there?"

The abbot answered honestly: "It was the ninth prince, Prince Qi, who just returned..."

"King Qi..." A gleam of surprise flashed across Chang Pingping's eyes.

She just raised her eyes and looked at Jiang Jiu, and her eyes suddenly darkened.

After the abbot arranged the room, he asked the little nun to take them to check in while he went to arrange other things.

After the little sister led them into the room, Jiang Jiu couldn't help but admire her.

"As expected of a royal temple, the room is warm and decorated in a low-key and luxurious manner."

The room was warm as soon as one entered. It was decorated just like a lady's chamber, and the bed was also soft. There was also a soft couch next to the master's bed for the personal maid to sleep on.

There is another room outside the house, which is for other servants to live in. The layout is a bit simple.

Jiang Jiu brought Nishang, Nanny Qian, and the maid Zilan who was gifted by Old Madam Zhou.

As soon as they entered the room, Zi Lan said with great tact, "Miss, I will go and bring you some tea and snacks."

After walking all the way, my legs were sore from tiredness.

Nanny Qian was massaging Jiang Jiu's legs, Nichang was busy cleaning the room, and Zilan couldn't rest either.

Jiang Jiu waved his hand and Zi Lan went out.

"Xiao Jiu, have you noticed that every time the eldest daughter of the Chang family looks at you, she seems to want to bite you."

Nichang is very sensitive to the danger around her.

There was no outsider in the room, so Nichang spoke more boldly.

Jiang Jiu was a little amused: "Then have you noticed that she looks at the prince with a very affectionate look..."

Aunt Qian was slightly startled: "She wants to marry the prince? I'm afraid her father is willing, but Prime Minister Zhou is not willing... I heard that Prime Minister Zhou wants her to marry the second son of the Marquis of Zhenguo. Alas, the second son is three years younger than the girl."

Nichang said sarcastically, "Miss, you are absolutely right. Prime Minister Zhou is good at scheming. If the marriage is successful for him, the entire court will probably belong to Prime Minister Zhou."

The emperor was both a man of letters and a warrior, but he was sidelined.

The three of them were talking in the room.

Chang Pingping, who was in another room, stood in front of the window, looking into the distance with a sad look in her eyes.

She was also aware of her situation.

Although Chang Mingyuan was the left prime minister, he was actually just a figurehead. Whenever there was something happening in the court, he had to discuss it with Prime Minister Zhou before making a decision.

If Mrs. Chang were still alive, she might be able to fight for her marriage.

Now that Madam Chang is gone, she can only listen to Prime Minister Zhou and marry someone she doesn't like.

Chang Pingping is fifteen years old this year, which is the age of coming of age. According to other families, she would have started discussing marriage a long time ago, and would have been engaged at the age of thirteen or fourteen.

But she was born in the Chang family, so she got married later than other girls.

Especially since there are precedents among the previous generation.

For example, Queen Zhou did not marry the eldest prince of the time until she was eighteen.

Mrs. Chang also waited until Chang Mingyuan passed the imperial examination and won the third place in the imperial examination before they got engaged. They were already 19 years old when they got married.

The daughters of the Zhou family sacrificed themselves for the future of the Zhou family.

Although she still had three years of mourning period, she really would not be willing if she did not fight for her own marriage.

At night, the mountains were covered with white snow.

Everyone has their own meal in their own room.

It was freezing outside and Jiang Jiu didn't want to go out.

Zhao Zhuoxi brought some snacks and sneaked into Jiang Jiu's room when no one was paying attention.

When Lu Ming saw Nichang, he smiled with a worthless look, waved his hand, and showed the snacks in his hand to Nichang as if to show off.

Nichang glanced at Jiang Jiu and blushed.

"What? Have you eaten?"

Lu Ming took Nichang's hand and ran out: "Not yet, I'm waiting for you. Look what I brought you. It's snacks from Yueshengzhai. I queued up for the whole afternoon to buy them."

Yueshengzhai’s osmanthus cake and rose cake are both delicious and in short supply, so you need to make an appointment in advance and queue up in advance.

Nichang took a bite and tasted it: "Compared to Shaoyao's craftsmanship, it's still not as good. It's too sweet."

Lu Ming stared with a resentful look, feeling a little aggrieved.

Nichang smiled and said, "However, Shaoyao is not in the capital. If I want to eat delicious food, I can only rely on you."

As she said this, she gave Lu Ming a kiss on the face.

Lu Ming's eyes were like the surface of a lake blown by a spring breeze, turning from cold to icy in just a moment.

"Well, if you want to eat something delicious, I will find it for you even if it is at the ends of the earth."

Nichang and Lu Ming were in Zhao Zhuoxi's room, being affectionate with each other.

Just when the two were being affectionate, suddenly, Lu Ming stopped abruptly.

"Hush, be quiet, someone is coming..."

Nichang was alert and cooperated tacitly, and blew out the candles.

The two of them dodged and hid in the closet inside...

Besides, in Jiang Jiu's room, when Nanny Qian saw Zhao Zhuoxi coming in, she took Zilan to the servants' kitchen to have dinner.

Jiang Jiu and Zhao Zhuoxi were the only two people left in the room, and they missed each other so much.

Suddenly, a guard came in and whispered something in Zhao Zhuoxi's ear.

"who?"

"The eldest lady of the Chang family..."