Chapter Seventeen: Winter Snow Returns
Before we knew it, it was already the first year of junior high.
The old lady was a devout Buddhist and would go to Tianqing Temple to eat vegetarian food and make offerings on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month. She had missed two such occasions due to illness a few days ago. Now that she was in much better health, she naturally could not neglect the Buddha any longer. After breakfast, she asked Ruan Bi to accompany her, and then boarded the carriage with Zheng Mama, Sun Mama, Manyun, and the others.
Two masters, accompanied by their head maid, rode in a large pine carriage, while two old nannies and a young maid rode in a blue-draped carriage behind them. The third steward led the way on horseback, escorted by eight young and strong servants.
As soon as she got into the carriage, the old lady leaned against the soft couch inside and closed her eyes.
Ruan Bi noticed her ashen complexion and dark circles under her eyes; she must not have slept well. Ever since Ruan Chi injured his leg, her brow had never relaxed, making her appear five years older. A twenty-year-old sixth-rank official was a rare find in the Great Zhou Dynasty, especially one serving before the emperor, whose future was limitless. Everyone said it was an honor for the Ruan family, but this honor was also a matter of life and death.
The car wheels rolled over a bumpy surface, causing the old lady to slowly open her eyes, look out the window, and say, "I thought we'd arrived, but we're still halfway there?"
Looking out the window at the endless stream of people on the street, Ruan Bi said, "There are too many people today, the cars can't move fast."
The old lady nodded slightly and turned to look at her. Half of her face was like jade, her features faintly resembling her mother, Ruan Lan, yet she possessed a completely different temperament. Her eyes were calm as water, and she exuded an air of composure whether standing or sitting. Compared to her former timid and hesitant nature, it was a world of difference.
Ruan Bi felt her gaze, turned her head and smiled, and said, "Grandmother, is there something wrong with me that you are looking at me like this?"
The old lady shook her head and said, "There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that you're dressed a bit too plainly. Young girls should dress up more. If you need anything to wear, just tell me. I have some jewelry that I wore when I was young. The designs aren't very trendy, but the quality is still good. Come tomorrow and pick out a few pieces that you like, and take them to the jewelry store to be altered. There's just one condition: you have to wear them."
Why so generous all of a sudden? Ruan Bi was surprised, but said calmly, "Yes."
The old lady added, "Also, you're all grown up now, it's time to start learning how to manage a household. I'll talk to your mother about it tomorrow. You have to learn diligently, understand?"
Ruan Bi nodded again and said, "Granddaughter understands." With both rewards and lessons in managing the household, it seems the old lady is determined to groom herself into the matriarch so she can support Ruan Lan in the future. Well, Xu Chuanyang is at least a good choice; hopefully, there won't be any further complications.
Ruan Bi was right; the old lady was indeed determined to make this marriage happen. Ruan Lan was her youngest child, and a girl at that. She had raised her herself until her marriage, and of her three children, she loved her the most. However, she hadn't expected Ruan Lan's fate to be so difficult, marrying twice, and now, more than ten years into her life with the Xu family, she still had no children. Xu Yong was far more powerful than her, and if anything were to happen to her, her later years would be unimaginable. Only by marrying Ruan Bi into the Xu family could Ruan Lan's happiness be guaranteed for the rest of her life.
The two people in the car were lost in their own thoughts and remained silent for a moment.
After a short while, the carriage arrived at the gate of Tianqing Temple.
The Ruan family were major benefactors of Tianqing Temple, so upon alighting from the carriage, a smiling guest master in his early thirties, accompanied by two young novices, greeted them respectfully and led the old lady to the guest hall. The guest hall, specifically for receiving high-ranking officials and dignitaries, faced south. A large "Buddha" character hung in the center of the north wall, below which were carved wooden tables and chairs. The four walls were all whitewashed and covered with calligraphy and paintings, presumably left by visiting literati and dignitaries.
After they were seated, the young novice monk served them tea.
The receptionist said with a smile, "I haven't seen the old lady for a month, and she looks much thinner."
The old lady put down the tea label and said, "Many new things have happened in the family. I was just thinking of asking Master Baiyun to bless us so that we can get rid of disasters and misfortunes."
The guest master said, "I just sent someone to inform Uncle Baiyun, but he is taking his seat today and may not be available."
"Oh? Master Baiyun is going to preach the Dharma today?" the old lady asked, putting her palms together. "Amitabha, which sutra will you be preaching today?"
"The Lotus Sutra".
The old lady said happily, "Good, good, I've made it just in time. Don't forget to save me a seat in the front row."
The guest hesitated slightly.
The old lady's expression froze for a moment, then she said, "What? Is there something wrong?"
Just then, a young novice monk came in and said, "Madam Ruan, the abbot requests your presence."
The old lady stood up and said to Ruan Bi, "You can wander around the temple, but don't go too far. Come with me to listen to the abbot's sermon later." She then said to Zheng Mama, "You accompany the fifth young lady. It's her first time coming back, so don't get lost." After saying this, she led Sun Mama, Manyun, and two maids toward the abbot's room.
Ruan Bi and Granny Zheng followed her out of the guest hall and along the corridor. They hadn't walked far before reaching the main hall. It was the first day of the lunar month, and many people were burning incense and praying, the air thick with smoke. Xiuzhi took out a veil and helped Ruan Bi put it on. Just as she finished, two shifty-eyed, burly men approached from behind, looking around furtively, their eyes darting about as if searching for someone. When they reached Ruan Bi, they stared intently at her veil.
Xiuzhi blocked Ruanbi's path and hissed, "What are you looking at? Be careful I gouge your eyes out."
The two men then walked away.
Ruan Bi had no interest in burning incense and praying to Buddha, and asked Granny Zheng, "Are there any fun places in this temple?"
After thinking for a moment, Granny Zheng said, "There is a Hall of Five Hundred Arhats on the west side. You can count the arhats and play there, young lady."
Ruan Bi and Xiu Zhi's eyes lit up, and they said in unison, "Okay, okay."
Passing through the main hall and exiting through the small door, the crowd immediately thinned out. Upon entering the Arhat Hall, a cool breeze swept over me, though I couldn't tell where it came from. The Arhat Hall was very large and dimly lit, containing five hundred Arhats in various poses: some staring, some grinning, some sitting cross-legged, and some leaning against rocks gazing at the sky.
Seeing Ruan Bi looking around, Granny Zheng said, "Miss, close your eyes, take a few steps and stop. Count down from the Arhat in front of you until you reach your age. The Arhat will then reveal your age."
Ruan Bi nodded. Following her instructions, they counted to the thirteenth statue when a dark figure suddenly lunged out from behind it. Startled, she quickly took a few steps back, but the figure knelt before her with a thud. "Girl, godmother..."
Ruan Bi and Zheng Mama were stunned. Upon closer inspection, who else could it be but Dong Xue? She was dressed in a light purple dress, but she had lost a lot of weight, and her eyes were filled with tears.
Granny Zheng quickly helped her up, exclaiming in surprise, "Girl, you're back?"
Dongxue nodded, tears falling like pearls, and said, "Girl, godmother, Dongxue will be back in half a month..."
"Then why didn't you come to the manor to find me and Fifth Miss?"
“It’s not that I don’t want to,” Dongxue said, choking back tears. “It’s my cousin who won’t allow it. He says that now that I’ve regained my status as a member of the Liangzi family, I shouldn’t associate with my former master anymore. He also says that I’m still a daughter of an official, and I shouldn’t lower myself to such a lowly position. If I go out, he sends people to follow me. He’s taken all the valuables the young lady gave me, and now he wants to give me to Prince Han…”
Granny Zheng shouted, "What?! Give it to that King Yama? Isn't that an insult to a person?"
Dongxue nodded and said, "Yes, godmother, girl, please save me."
Ruan Bi asked in surprise, "Who is this Prince Han?"
Granny Zheng said indignantly, "He's a first-rate scoundrel. Relying on his royal lineage, he keeps hundreds of concubines in his mansion and plunders women everywhere. He doesn't even let go of women who aren't even slightly attractive. Every few days, several of them die. Everyone calls him Yama, the King of Hell. No decent family would send their daughter to his mansion."
"Then the government doesn't care?"
Granny Zheng looked at her in surprise and said, "He is the late emperor's own brother and the emperor's uncle."
Ruan Bi smiled slightly, inwardly cursing herself for being foolish. Seeing Prince Jin's self-discipline and concern for the people, she assumed all members of the royal family were like that. The royal family has always had special privileges; who would dare to question the killing of a few people? Besides, even Prince Jin, wasn't he trying to kill her to silence her at Wanmiao Residence?
Dongxue said in a trembling voice, "...I knew the old lady would come to the temple today, so I lied to my cousin and said I was coming to burn incense for good luck. I ran away when they weren't looking, and now they must be looking for me at the temple..."
Ruan Bi thought about the two shifty-eyed men from earlier; they must be her cousin's men. "Don't be afraid, we'll take you back to the Ruan residence in a bit."
Granny Zheng shook her head and said, "Miss, we can't take her back. She has no relatives or friends in the capital. Her cousin will definitely know that she came to our Ruan family. If he makes a scene, we'll have to give her back to him."
"How about letting Dongxue sell herself again?"
“Young lady, now that her cousin is alive, the indenture will have to be signed by him. Besides, the First Madam would not agree to it.”
This is a patriarchal society where women can only depend on men for survival. Without a father or brothers, decisions are made by the clan. Ruan Bi frowned and asked, "Isn't there any other way?"
Granny Zheng thought for a moment, then shook her head heavily.
Dongxue burst into tears again.
A man's voice could be faintly heard outside: "...Have you seen a girl, about sixteen years old, very pretty, wearing a light purple dress...?"
Ruan Bi quickly racked her brains and said, "How about this, Dongxue, you go to Yuxu Temple to hide for a while, and then we'll think of something else."
Granny Zheng's eyes lit up, and she said, "That's a good idea, but her cousin is outside, so how will Dongxue get out?"
Ruan Bi looked around and, seeing that there weren't many people, said, "Dongxue, Xiuzhi, you two hide behind the Buddha statue and change your clothes."
After Dongxue and Xiuzhi changed their clothes, Ruanbi took off her veiled hat and gave it to Dongxue, then said to Zheng Mama, "Send her out and hire a carriage to take her away."
Granny Zheng nodded and said, "Alright, Miss and Xiuzhi, go to the backyard. Give us the name of the Ruan family, and the gatekeeper will let you in."
Ruan Bi nodded and led Xiuzhi out through another door, heading towards the backyard.
They hadn't gone far when they heard hurried footsteps and shouts behind them: "Stop! Stop!"
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