Everyone looked over.
Madam Xu blushed instantly.
Hongye, who was standing to the side, quickly ordered someone to fetch new chopsticks and bring them over.
Gu Baozhu steered the conversation back to the topic, saying, "If you're saying my third brother was able to drive away the Yelü clan, it must be inseparable from the protection of my father and brothers in heaven. I heard from my mother that my father and brothers died with their eyes still open. Before my third brother went to the northern frontier, he swore an oath before our ancestors that they would definitely protect him. The first thing my third brother did when he came back was to go to the ancestral hall to burn incense. I saw it with my own eyes that day; the incense was burning so fast it was practically exploding. Our ancestors were very pleased."
The crowd exclaimed in admiration and shared their own stories of the strange things they had heard.
Madam Xu's face grew paler and paler.
Madam Dai said, “A country is protected by dragon energy, and a family naturally has ancestors to protect it. Who dares not believe in ghosts and gods? I’m getting old now, and I believe in these things more and more. Some people don’t believe in these things, but they do all sorts of bad things, thinking that no one knows. But Heaven has eyes! If it’s not exposed at the time, it will be revealed in time. I heard our master say that the other day, the police caught that flower thief while patrolling the streets at night. He was in a ghostly maze, and after being lost for half the night, he was so tired that he was foaming at the mouth. When he saw the police, he confessed on his own, saying that…”
The maid handed over the new chopsticks.
Madam Xu reached out with trembling hands to catch it, nearly dropping it to the ground.
Fortunately, Hongye reacted quickly and caught him.
Dai continued, "He said he was tormented by a female ghost in red, and he couldn't wait to go to prison. He kept saying that there were Bi'an guarding the prison gates, so the female ghost couldn't get in."
Gu Baozhu said, "This vengeful ghost is so powerful that it scares people so much that they'd rather go to jail."
Madam Xu could no longer eat anything.
Madam Dai said, "That vengeful ghost must have been harmed by that philanderer. Let me tell you, if you have resentment in your heart, you won't be at peace even as a ghost. You'll be determined to collect your debts before you can be reincarnated."
Madam Xu tucked her trembling hands into her sleeves and said to Qin Yuan, "Why do you have a headache right now? I'll go back and lie down for a while, and we can leave together when everyone else leaves."
Qin Yuan said with concern, "Madam Xu, just go back and rest. Although their pastries are made with vegetable oil, they taste pretty good. Have them make some for you to take on your journey."
Madam Xu said gratefully, "You've thought of everything so thoroughly, thank you for your trouble."
The people at the table were chatting happily, and no one paid attention to her movements.
After Madam Xu left the table, Qin Yuan gave Hongye a wink, and Hongye immediately leaned over.
Qin Yuan whispered, "Tell Sixteen to hurry up, the banquet will be over soon."
Hongye didn't understand why, but she could tell it was related to Madam Xu, so she nodded and said, "Yes."
Hongye went out to call for someone, and when they met, the two exchanged silly smiles.
Suppressing her embarrassment, Hongye relayed Qin Yuan's words, and Gu Shiliu said, "I understand. You can tell Madam to rest assured."
Hongye lowered her head and said, "Okay."
Gu Shiliu smiled slightly, gently stroked her hair, and then leaped away.
Hongye finally dared to raise her head, her face flushed as she stared blankly in the direction where the person had disappeared. After a long while, she noticed that a fragrant osmanthus flower had been tucked into her temple.
"This person!"
Hongye stomped her feet, but ultimately failed to take it down.
The banquet ended not long afterward.
The ladies all returned to their meditation rooms to rest, and the servants quickly finished their meal, set up the carriages, packed their bags, and prepared to depart.
General Jin and his men were already guarding the temple entrance. The abbot was somewhat panicked and asked someone to announce that he wanted to see Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan then said, "Please invite him in."
The abbot asked, "Madam, do you know what these soldiers are doing here? Should the temple prepare vegetarian meals for them?"
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "No need. The Marquis heard that thieves had visited the temple last night, so he specially ordered them to escort us back to the city. Abbot, there is no need to panic. If we were to prepare a vegetarian meal, I'm afraid we would be too busy."
The host breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "If we can prepare, we can, but we can't make it very elaborate, and we can only take turns eating."
Qin Yuan said, "After we get back, I will have someone send you more money for incense oil."
The host was extremely grateful.
Qin Yuan then added, "Take this opportunity to properly renovate all those abandoned courtyards."
The abbot, not understanding the meaning, thought for a moment and then said, "This old monk will arrange for the fire-working Taoist to come and repair it."
Qin Yuan simply smiled and nodded, then picked up her teacup to see the guest off.
Once Qin Yuan had gone far away, General Jin led his soldiers to drive all the monks out of the ancestral temple and surround them, beginning to check their names. He also said that all the mud at the bottom of the dry well should be dredged up, and the collapsed walls should be cleaned up. Only then did the abbot realize the meaning behind the words of the Lady of Dingbei Marquis.
Because of the large number of people, Qin Yuan and the others did not leave all at once. The men rode ahead on horseback, while the women of each family followed in their carriages.
Some did not have a carriage and used sedan chairs.
Qin Yuan then instructed the soldiers and guards to follow in twos and threes, escorting her to prevent anyone from being left alone or being bumped into.
Gu Shiba, accompanied by guards and servants, surrounded Qin Yuan's carriage, with soldiers clearing the way in front and behind.
Gu Baozhu was impatient with riding in the carriage, so she changed into riding clothes and rode a horse outside.
Halfway there, Hongye sighed, "If anyone dares to offend us here, they must have a death wish."
Cui Ming smiled and said, "This is the Marquis's affection, and it is also the proper pomp and circumstance for the Marquis's wife when she goes out. Even if someone has any ulterior motives, seeing this, they will naturally not try to fight back."
Hongye curled her lip: "Under the emperor's nose, in broad daylight, who would dare to offend us? If we're going to do something bad, we should do it in a secluded place, at night."
Qin Yuan touched Lan Jie'er's little tuft of hair as she leaned against the car window looking out at the scenery, and asked, "Is Lan Jie'er dizzy?"
Lan Jie'er turned her head and said, "I'm not dizzy. I can peek out the window. I was just crying when I came. I hope I can ride a horse like my aunt when I grow up. Unlike now, I can only watch my aunt ride."
Qin Yuan nodded, "That's good."
Just then, Gu Baozhu screamed from outside, shouting, "Who dares to ram the Marquis's carriage? How audacious!"
Qin Yuan quickly lifted Lan Jie'er away from the car window and held her in her arms, gently patting her.
Lan Jie'er was very well-behaved and didn't say a word.
The car stopped.
Hongye asked, "What's wrong?"
Gu Shiba said from outside, "Madam, a hunter accidentally ran over the guards' horses, twisted his ankle, and suffered some minor injuries."
Qin Yuan thought for a moment, then handed Lan Jie'er to Cui Ming to hold, lifted the curtain and helped Hong Ye out of the carriage: "I'll go take a look."
Gu Baozhu said from her horse, "Why did you have to go and see for yourself, Third Sister-in-law? Anyone with eyes would know to avoid us when our whole group went by, but he just ran straight into us. It's not that we're bullying him; it's just that he was careless."
Qin Yuan said, "It's alright, I'll go and see what's going on."
Gu Shiba and the others dismounted, gathered Qin Yuan in the center, and went to see the hunter who had fallen to the ground.
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