Unlike other towns, the imperial city is lined with teahouses and taverns of all sizes on both sides of the street, and there are small vendors with stalls in the open spaces in front of the shops, where many pedestrians are choosing what they want.
The carriage swayed slowly along the bustling street. Inside, a woman quietly lifted the curtain, looked at the lively scene, smiled, and then lowered the curtain again.
"How was it?" Lou Mu put down the book in his hand and looked at Tang Nian with a smile.
Lou Mu had already changed into his official robes. After sending Tang Nian to the Grand Secretary's residence, he would go to the palace to report on his duties.
“It’s very lively.” Tang Nian paused, then added, “It would be better if we didn’t have to dress like this.”
Today, Tang Nian wore a light blue long dress with snow-white trim embroidered with bamboo leaf patterns. Her black hair was styled into two buns, with a flower ornament between her eyebrows. She wore jade drop earrings and a lake-blue half-moon wavy belt around her waist, with a small sachet hanging from it.
Ming Huan originally wanted to suggest that Tang Nian wear another veil, but Tang Nian's look scared him so much that he dared not say anything.
Besides, even if Tang Nian, who has been helped by her, were to encounter her dressed like this, they might not recognize her.
Although Lou Mu was reading a book the whole way, he still kept an eye on Tang Nian's every move.
A few days ago, when they were traveling, it was fine for Tang Nian to dress casually, but today, when they were going to enter the capital, Lou Mu made Tang Nian dress like this.
Tang Nian didn't want Jing Yao to do her hair, and she could only manage a difficult hairstyle like double buns. Along the way, Lou Mu noticed that she would occasionally flick her tied-up hair or tug at her dress.
He was clearly very dissatisfied with his appearance.
Lou Mu suppressed a laugh the whole way, and the book he could have finished much earlier ended up being less than halfway through.
To get to the Prime Minister's residence, one has to pass through this bustling area. The area is crowded with people, so the driver doesn't dare to whip the whip to speed up and can only slowly sway out of the city.
The carriage swayed slowly, making Tang Nian drowsy and unable to keep her eyelids open.
Gradually, the surrounding noise subsided. Tang Nian lifted the curtain again. This place was probably where wealthy families lived. There were no more small vendors in sight, only large courtyards.
Tang Nian couldn't help but click her tongue twice and lower the curtain.
"Whoa—"
With the sound of hooves, the carriage came to a stop.
Tang Nian was about to lift the curtain and jump down when Lou Mu stopped her.
Just as Tang Nian was about to speak, Lou Mu got out of the car first and extended his hand.
Tang Nian was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening. She placed her hand in Lou Mu's hand, carefully climbed down from the carriage, and smiled at Lou Mu.
Jingyao and Minghuan, who were standing to the side, felt a toothache watching this.
"Are they secretly having an affair?" Ming Huan whispered in Jing Yao's ear as he moved closer.
Ming Huan was unaware of Tang Nian and Lou Mu's plans for this trip, only assuming that Lou Mu would help them enter the city. Jing Yao, however, knew, but she had no intention of telling this silly bird.
Jing Yao glanced at Ming Huan, who was looking on with a gossipy expression, shook her head, and followed Lou Mu into the mansion, leaving Ming Huan standing alone by the carriage with a bewildered look on his face.
Lou Mu led Tang Nian to the backyard and settled her in Huasheng Pavilion.
Upon entering the room, Lou Mu raised his hand and set up a protective barrier.
Tang Nian sat down on the tatami mat and stretched.
"Is this all you need?"
Lou Mu sneered: "There are plenty of spies in the Grand Secretary's residence. You'll find out when we go to the palace to report on our duties."
"By the way, what about Minghuan?"
Lou Mu knew that Tang Nian hadn't told Ming Huan about this.
“I will find an excuse to get rid of him; keeping him in the capital will only make things worse.”
Thinking of Ming Huan's silly appearance and then looking at Jing Yao's clever look, Tang Nian couldn't help but facepalm.
“Just let Jingyao stay by your side for now, and don’t scare her all the time.”
There are too many spies in Lou Mu's mansion. Rather than sending any maid who might be a spy, he would prefer Tang Nian to accept Jing Yao.
Tang Nian pondered for a moment and nodded.
Although she disliked the foxy smell on Jingyao, it was still better than being watched by a maid whose true nature she didn't know.
After giving his instructions, Lou Mu removed the barrier and left the Grand Secretary's residence to report to the palace.
Tang Nian wasn't idle either; she called Ming Huan over and asked him to go to Jin Guang Temple with her.
When the two arrived at Jinguang Temple by carriage, it was noon, and the sun was shining directly on the earth. Tang Nian, sitting in the carriage, could only see a little monk sweeping the steps in front of the temple gate.
Ming Huan got out of the car first and held up an oil-paper umbrella for Tang Nian.
"Young monk, is your abbot in the temple?"
The young monk shook his head: "Please leave, female benefactor. Jin Guang Temple is not receiving worshippers today."
Tang Nian frowned. She had never heard of Jin Guang Temple being closed, and the coachman had never mentioned it either.
She couldn't force her way in, so she decided to come back tomorrow.
Just as Tang Nian turned to leave, a young monk ran out of the temple and called out to her.
"May I ask if you, female benefactor, are you Tang Nian?"
Tang Nian turned around and nodded: "Is there anything I can help you with, little master?"
The young monk glanced at Ming Huan, who was holding an umbrella for Tang Nian: "Our abbot invites you in for a chat."
Tang Nian understood the little monk's meaning, took the oil-paper umbrella from Ming Huan, and followed the little monk into the temple alone.
Passing through the lotus pond and the main hall, the young monk led Tang Nian to the backyard.
Several towering ancient trees grow in the backyard, blocking the glaring sunlight, and even on a summer afternoon, a cool breeze blows through.
The young monk led Tang Nian to a path and stopped, saying, "I won't see you off any further, please. The abbot is waiting for you inside."
Tang Nian nodded and put away the oil-paper umbrella.
The path was no longer flanked by towering trees, but by a tranquil bamboo grove. The chirping of birds gradually faded away, and the sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo leaves could be clearly heard on the quiet path. It seemed as if one could also hear the sound of water trickling down.
Tang Nian wandered through the bamboo forest and finally saw a small bamboo house deep in the forest.
Tang Nian stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.
"Please come in."
It was the deep, resonant voice of an old man.
Tang Nian gently pushed open the door. The abbot was sitting on a bamboo mat, with a cup of still-steaming tea opposite him.
Tang Nian bowed and sat down opposite the abbot.
The abbot of Jinguang Temple, whose Dharma name is Huian, is a renowned and highly accomplished monk.
"Benefactor Tang has come here to retrieve the thousand-year-old relic of our temple, hasn't he?" Before Tang Nian could exchange a few pleasantries, Abbot Huian revealed Tang Nian's purpose.
Tang Nian's trip was for the thousand-year-old relic that the gods wanted. Although it was not the most precious treasure of Jin Guang Temple, it was still a rare treasure.
Tang Nian pursed her lips, somewhat embarrassed, and then nodded: "Please, Abbot, be so kind as to part with it."
“Since it was sent by the Supreme God, Benefactor Tang, this old monk will naturally give it to you,” Abbot Huian said unhurriedly. “However, this thousand-year-old relic is only for those with affinity, so Benefactor Tang will have to go and retrieve it in person.”
Tang Nian was hearing about this for the first time. She paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
Abbot Huian stood up with a smile and took a treasure box from the bamboo shelf next to him.
He carefully opened the box, revealing the golden relics inside.
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