Chapter 196: Changing One's Minds
On the second day of the New Year, Jiang Yueyao got up at dawn.
There will definitely be a lot of people going to Xiangguo Temple today, so it’s better to set off early so that the journey will be smoother.
But who knew that when the carriage arrived at the city gate, they learned that the emperor and his little grandson would also go to Xiangguo Temple today. The city gate was blocked, with Yulin guards standing on both sides, and carriages from various mansions were waiting on the side, waiting for the emperor's arrival.
The carriages of the Grand Tutor's Mansion and the Shen family were lined up together, but because they arrived later, they were at the back.
Jiang Yueyao and Shen Baoqing rode in a carriage.
This wait lasted for half an hour, but Jiang Yueyao was lucky enough to still be able to sit still.
Shen Baoqing couldn't take it anymore. It was like there were thorns on her butt. She stood up and leaned on the car door to look out, and then fell into Jiang Yueyao's arms.
Finally, he couldn't sit still any longer, so he discussed it with his brother Shen Linchuan who was riding beside him.
"Brother, come up and I'll ride the horse."
Shen Linchuan glanced at her and warned in a low voice: "Look, which girl looks like you? Sit down and stop looking around."
Shen Baoqing is still quite afraid of her brother.
He quickly retracted his head and threw himself into Jiang Yueyao's arms.
"I didn't sleep well, I didn't eat well, I was freezing, my life was really hard."
Jiang Yueyao held her in his arms and was about to tell her a story when he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves, as if a team of carriages and horses were approaching.
Then, someone was heard saying something.
"The Emperor's carriage has arrived."
Shen Baoqing sat up and lifted the curtain to look outside.
Jiang Yueyao also came over, their two heads squeezed together, looking outside.
Not far behind him, there were several guards on horseback leading the way. They all had stern expressions and it was obvious that they were very skilled.
Following them was a very ordinary carriage, which was no different from ordinary carriages except that it was a little bigger.
Jiang Yueyao saw Duan Yanzhou at a glance.
He was wearing the dark red uniform of the commander of the Royal Guards, with a sword slung across his shoulders, riding a horse close to the carriage, while on the other side...
"The Regent is personally protecting the emperor. It seems there must be many experts hiding in the dark."
Shen Baoqing said in a low voice.
Jiang Yueyao looked at Lu Sui.
He sat upright on a tall horse, dressed in a dark brocade robe, with an upright and slender figure, full of nobility, and an angular yet handsome face, which immediately attracted the attention of many girls in the surrounding carriages.
Jiang Yueyao clearly felt that since he appeared, the girls around him started whispering more.
Even Shen Baoqing whispered to her.
"Aside from his age, cold temper, and unpleasant words, Lord Lu is quite impressive."
Jiang Yueyao: “…”
Seeing Lu Sui approaching, Jiang Yueyao was about to look away and sit back down, but Shen Baoqing grabbed her arm and said, "Yaoyao, look, Lu Sui's mouth is broken? It looks like someone bit him!"
Jiang Yueyao took a quick look.
Sure enough, there was an obvious wound near the corner of the man's thin lips.
At first glance, it's a bite mark...
She felt a little guilty, lowered her head and didn't dare to look any further, but Shen Baoqing didn't let her go.
Gnashing his teeth in her ear.
"Yaoyao, he must have been having an affair with someone behind your back."
"Don't bother with a fickle, fickle man like him anymore. Stay away from him, okay?"
Jiang Yueyao didn't know whether to nod or shake her head.
He could only shrink back guiltily and hide in the carriage.
She stopped watching, and Shen Baoqing was too lazy to watch anymore.
She was about to look away when she saw Lu Sui suddenly looking towards their carriage.
Shen Baoqing didn't hesitate to roll his eyes, then retracted his head and lowered the curtain with a snap.
Lu Sui: “…”
As the carriage passed by, the city gate, which had been noisy, suddenly became quiet.
The Ming Emperor was always diligent in his work and loved his people. As long as he did not do so in a ostentatious manner, he did not need to kneel down or pay his respects when he went out incognito.
But the men on horseback dismounted, stood quietly by, and watched the carriage pass by.
Today, the two brothers Shen Linchuan and the Bai family escorted the old lady to Xiangguo Temple.
The Emperor's carriage suddenly stopped when passing by the Bai and Shen families' carriage convoys.
Soon, a white-faced, beardless eunuch came over and politely asked the old lady about her carriage.
"But the old lady from the old Grand Tutor's house?"
Old Madam Qiao hurriedly got off the carriage with the help of Bai Jinyu and Second Madam Cui, and Jiang Yueyao and Shen Baoqing followed suit.
"I am Bai Qiao. May I ask the eunuch, what are His Majesty's instructions?"
The eunuch bowed to the old lady and said with a smile, "The emperor has no instructions. I just happened to be passing by and saw the Bai family carriage. I thought there were too many carriages ahead. Since you are the oldest, it would be inappropriate for you to wait for a long time. Why not follow the emperor's carriage and leave the city together?"
When Mrs. Qiao heard this, she was naturally grateful.
After the eunuch left, everyone got back on the carriage, which followed the emperor's carriage and went out of the city gate together.
After leaving the city, Shen Baoqing whispered to Jiang Yueyao.
"I just saw it. It wasn't the Emperor who saw our carriage. It seems Lu Sui said something to the Emperor, and that's why the eunuch was sent over."
Jiang Yueyao didn't say anything.
Shen Baoqing was extremely curious.
"Hey, who would be so bold as to bite him on the mouth?"
"Tsk, old men really know how to have fun."
Jiang Yueyao silently turned her head to look to the side, and her fair face turned slightly red.
Along the way, with the Holy Chariot leading the way, the journey was smooth and unobstructed.
An hour later, the carriage stopped directly in front of the mountain gate of Xiangguo Temple.
When the carriage stopped, everyone got off. Jiang Yueyao followed the old lady and looked at the Emperor Ming, who was wearing a bright yellow brocade robe and holding a little boy of about eight or nine years old, not far ahead.
In front of them was a young monk wearing the abbot's robes.
The other person was very handsome, with a pair of affectionate peach blossom eyes, but his eyes contained compassion and love for the people in the world. He was cold and untainted by the worldly world. He held a Buddhist rosary in his hand and chanted a Buddhist name to the Emperor Minghuang.
Even when facing the person with the highest authority in Daye, he remained neither humble nor arrogant, and his voice was calm and slow.
It makes people feel like spring breeze and comfortable all over.
Jiang Yueyao touched Shen Baoqing's arm and asked, "Is this the host you mentioned before?"
Shen Baoqing stared straight at the young host.
He said, "His Dharma name is Xuan Ji, he is twenty-four this year, five years older than me."
"I fell in love with him at first sight, but he advised me to change my ways."
"Yaoyao, my life is so miserable!"
Jiang Yueyao looked at her and was speechless again.
After a moment's hesitation, she advised her.
"How about you find someone you like who isn't a monk?"
"That won't do." Shen Baoqing instantly cheered up from his lethargy, "I just like men who challenge difficult things. Xuan Ji is exactly what I want, no matter what."
"Look at the little mole on the tip of his nose. I dreamed last night that I kissed it..."
Jiang Yueyao covered her mouth with her hand.
Scared to death.
He is the abbot of Xiangguo Temple, a highly accomplished monk... Even if it is a dream, it is a blasphemy.
In front, Minghuang and Xuanji exchanged a few words, and then followed him into the temple.
When the old lady was hesitating whether to follow, Lu Sui, who was originally following the Emperor Ming, suddenly turned around and walked towards where the Bai family was standing.
He was tall and had long legs, and he reached the old lady in just a few steps.
First, bow respectfully.
Then he spoke slowly, "Old Madam, ladies, the Emperor said that if you are interested, you can go to the main hall to burn incense and listen to the sutra together."
The old lady naturally nodded.
She has always believed in burning incense on the second and third days of the Lunar New Year.
In previous years, it was always snatched away, but this year, the emperor got the privilege.
Bai Jinyu and Second Madam Cui helped the old lady into the temple.
Chen Baoqing also pulled Jiang Yueyao to follow.
When passing by Lu Sui, Jiang Yueyao brushed past him.
She heard him say, "The lamp for the deceased is in another hall. Please come with me."
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