Jiang Zhengqing dreamt of Du Haitang crying to him all night, and he couldn't get rid of her no matter what he tried.
Early in the morning, he sent someone to Xiangli Mingzhu to invite a high monk to his home to perform a ritual for Du Haitang.
Xiangli Mingzhu didn't sleep well either, having nightmares all night. She dreamt that someone was strangling her, and that she was chased by a ghost with a long tongue for several streets. She felt more tired after sleeping all night than after working all day.
She also felt that her home was unclean and that it was necessary to invite a high-ranking monk to perform a ritual at her home.
The carriage, servants, maids, and guards were busy before dawn. Just as Yuan Qi went out to set up his stall, he ran into Xiangli Mingzhu setting off.
Xiangli Mingzhu stared at Yuan Qi through the car window, recalling how the house had been in turmoil ever since he returned—one thing after another. She felt that Yuan Qi might be a jinx, and it would be best to have Master Huineng of Wuxiang Temple take a look. If she really was cursed, then she should stay at the temple and not come back.
She scolded him impatiently, "What are you going out to do all day?"
Yuan Qi pouted and snorted, reluctantly stepping forward to bow: "Replying to Mother, I'm just going out for a stroll. I've been in the mountains for the past few years and haven't seen what the capital is like. I'm just going to broaden my horizons."
Xiangli Mingzhu didn't doubt that Yuan Qi was lying, and said irritably, "Don't go, get in the car, come with me to Wuxiang Temple."
She raised an eyebrow slightly: "Let Master Huineng check if you have any evil spirits, otherwise why have misfortunes been happening in the manor ever since you came back?"
Yuan Qi smiled sweetly, pretending not to hear Xiang Limingzhu's vicious words: "Fine, I'll go then."
She looked back and saw two carriages in total. One was for Xiangli Mingzhu, and through the carriage window, she could see Jiang Bailu and Jiang Songlu inside.
There was another car behind her, and she walked past it without thinking.
Li Guiqie and Jiang Jiulu were in the carriage, followed by the three brothers Jiang Juncai, Jiang Junjing and Jiang Junyu on horseback.
Haha, the whole family went together, it's so lively!
Musō-ji Temple is not far from Kyoto; it takes a little over an hour by carriage to get there.
Wuxiang Temple is a royal temple, with flourishing incense offerings and numerous pilgrims. People are constantly coming and going in front of the main hall.
Yuan Qi followed slowly at the back. Everyone else was surrounded by servants, while she was all alone with no one to serve her.
However, she didn't care.
The Jiang family is also a frequent visitor here. Every year, Old Mrs. Bai would stay at Wuxiang Temple for a few days to pray and chant sutras, and she donated a lot of money for incense oil.
If it weren't for the fact that Old Madam Bai's health hadn't yet recovered, she would have come this time as well.
“Master Yuanjue, Venerable Huineng is in the temple.”
Yuanjue was a middle-aged monk with nine ordination scars on his head, a symbol of an enlightened monk.
Yuanjue put his hands together and said, "Female benefactor, the abbot is in the temple."
Yuan Qi leaned against the door, not kneeling down, but simply bowing to Yuan Jue. Yuan Jue said to her, "Amitabha, congratulations to the little celestial master on recognizing her ancestors."
The Jiang family members were somewhat surprised; it seemed that Yuan Qi was very familiar with this place.
As expected, Yuan Qi's next sentence stunned everyone: "You're too kind. How is the old monk Huineng?"
Huineng... the old monk?
Who dares to call that?
Xiangli Mingzhu immediately scolded, "How dare you be so rude! Come over and apologize to Buddha!"
Yuanjue smiled and said, "It's alright, that's what I've always called you, Little Celestial Master. The abbot is doing well, thank you for your concern, Little Celestial Master."
Although Xiangli Mingzhu could see that Yuanjue was very friendly to Yuanqi, she still felt that Yuanqi was ill-mannered and lacked decorum, so she sincerely apologized to Yuanjue.
She also respected the masters of Wuxiang Temple, and scolded Yuan Qi: "Did you hear me? Why aren't you coming over to apologize?"
"Little Celestial Master?" A black figure directly blocked Xiangli Mingzhu's view.
"Young Master Jiu?" Yuan Qi smiled and ignored Xiangli Mingzhu, then went to a less crowded place to talk with Xiangli Youming.
Xiangli Mingzhu angrily exclaimed, "This is absolutely outrageous!"
She turned around and apologized to Yuanjue, then brought up the matter of wanting to see Abbot Huineng.
"Unfortunately, the abbot is currently entertaining guests, so you will have to wait a while, lady."
After saying that, Yuanjue went to entertain the other pilgrims.
Xiangli Mingzhu had no choice but to wait with Li Guiqie and the children.
Jiang Bailu felt uneasy seeing Yuan Qi chatting and laughing with Xiangli Youming.
Jiang Songlu's gaze was also eager, and she whispered to Jiang Bailu, "She's only been here a few days and she's already met Young Master Jiu. I don't know how she seduced him."
Jiang Bailu was seething with anger and found Yuan Qi increasingly unpleasant. She pulled Jiang Juncai over and said, "Brother, aren't you on good terms with the Xiangli family? Why don't you take us over to say a few words to Young Master Jiu?"
She planned to go over and ridicule Yuan Qi, to let the Ninth Master know that Yuan Qi was a mistress who couldn't be seen in public, and see if the Ninth Master would still be willing to continue talking to Yuan Qi.
Jiang Juncai thought about it for a moment. His fourth sister was already engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince, but his sixth sister was not yet engaged. Although his sixth sister was a concubine's daughter and was not qualified to be the Ninth Prince's legal wife, it was still possible for her to be a concubine.
What if Ninth Master takes a fancy to Sixth Sister?
Even if you don't like it, there's no loss.
He was, after all, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and still held some influence in the capital.
"Walk."
Jiang Bailu and Jiang Songlu were very pleased with themselves.
Jiang Songlu even pouted at Jiang Jiulu.
Jiang Jiulu scoffed lightly, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, but sarcastic: "Perhaps Young Master Jiu doesn't want to be disturbed."
Over there, by a pond, Yuan Qi was looking at a turtle in a book. A small turtle was carrying a large turtle on its back, and they were not moving.
Xiangli Youming said gently, "I won't run away anymore, okay? Just tell me I'm going to your house to propose marriage, okay?"
Yuan Qi turned his head and asked him with amusement, "I'm only nine and a half years old, Ninth Master. Isn't it a bit too early to talk about this?"
Xiangli Youming scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "I mean, I'm going to marry you in the future. You have to promise me first, and then you can't marry anyone else."
Yuan Qi shook his head: "You're speaking too soon. What if you meet a better woman than me in the future? You'll definitely regret your decision then. Let's talk about this later."
Xiangli Youming sounded extremely annoyed. He felt that Yuan Qi looked down on him, disliked his current sickly state, and thought he might die one day, which was why he refused.
"I know I'm useless..."
"Young Master Jiu." Jiang Juncai arrived with his two younger sisters, greeting them with a smile.
Interrupted, Xiangli Youming was in an even worse mood. He glanced coldly at the three of them, then took Yuan Qi's hand and left.
Jiang Songlu was unwilling to accept this and loudly reminded Xiangli Youming: "She is an illegitimate daughter of our Jiang family, Ninth Master, she is not good enough for you!"
"Slap!" Jiang Songlu was slapped from a distance, without even knowing who did it.
Xiangli Youming didn't turn his head, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Jiang Songlu was about to remind him again when Jiang Juncai grabbed her hand and said, "That's enough. Young Master Jiu's attitude is already very clear."
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