Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Meeting, Nervous
Qixia Temple is the most famous place in Beijing besides the Da Baoen Temple. Although it is not a festival, there is already a constant stream of pilgrims and believers coming in at noon.
The carriage stopped in a dark place. Lan Nongnong looked outside again. The sunlight was no longer glaring. With a quick glance, she could see the plaque on the temple gate.
Just as she was about to get up, Biyu stopped her. "Madam, please don't worry. Qixia Temple has many Buddhist halls, and the monks need to practice in peace and quiet, so they shouldn't be disturbed. So, they're staying in the Wuguan Hall, which is near the back gate and accessible by carriage. Since you haven't recovered yet, why don't you take a carriage through the back gate and get off near the Wuguan Hall?"
Lan Nongnong glanced at her and slowly sat back in the carriage. Qingluo knocked lightly on the door, and the carriage started moving again.
After about two quarters of an hour, the car slowed down. Looking outside, I saw two young monks guarding the gate. They glanced at the driver, bowed, put their hands together, and then pushed open the red-painted gate from the left and right.
The carriage slowly pulled in, the gate behind it closing with a dull thud. It turned right, then right again, then left again. After passing the fourth gate, it traveled for nearly two-quarters of an hour before stopping in front of another heavy mahogany door.
As Lan Nongnong's feet touched the ground, a chill shot up from the soles of her feet, instantly numb from her feet to her calves. If someone hadn't supported her, she would have nearly fallen from the tension. Despite wearing a jacket and a thick cloak, she shivered uncontrollably from the cold.
Biyu hurriedly fetched another cloak and put it on her. "Madam, why don't you return to the carriage first? I'll go and ask the masters to come over. You and the masters are like mother and daughter, I'm sure they won't mind--"
“No need.”
Lan Nongnong's voice trembled slightly. "Don't worry. Let's find a master first. I have something to ask you."
"Yes, ma'am."
Lan Nongnong lifted her numb feet and treaded on cotton wool, moving to the door. Then, stepping back, she pulled the carriage out of the courtyard. She had just reached the previous door when Biyu arrived, leading a monk in a blue cassock. But her nearly frozen blood didn't flow at all.
"Amitabha. I am Huineng, the monk in charge of the Five Contemplations Hall. Nice to meet you, Madam."
Lan Nongnong handed the hand warmer to Qingluo, bowed, and said gently, "Master Huineng is polite. I have troubled you to come here because I have something I would like to ask you. I hope you will be able to tell me."
Huineng, with his brows lowered, nodded slightly and smiled, saying, "Please feel free to speak, benefactor. I will tell you everything I know."
"Excuse me, Master, how are the people in this courtyard doing on a daily basis?"
Her question was vague, but Huineng seemed to understand her meaning. He calmly clasped his hands and replied, "Although these masters are here to stay, they are extremely self-disciplined. They requested a set of the Heart Sutra from the temple and, after asking the temple administration for some food and clothing, have remained indoors. They did, however, send a young novice monk to bring me some handwritten copies of the sutra as a temporary payment for our stay."
"My daily routine is the same as in the temple. I get up at 11:00 AM and sweep the courtyard. Then I go to the Buddhist hall to chant sutras for the morning service. At noon, I prepare the vegetarian meal. After lunch, I rest for a while and then return to my room to copy sutras until the evening service."
"If you ask me how I am doing, I will answer that I am at peace with myself and my heart is as calm as water."
After hearing this, Lan Nongnong's tense heartstrings relaxed slightly, but she still held her breath. Just as she was about to ask if there was a high place where she could observe the situation in the courtyard, she paused at her lips.
Although she looked distraught at the moment, this opportunity was hard-won. If they didn't meet now, who knew when they would meet again? Plans could never be changed, and now that her aunts and he had laid bare their true intentions, she no longer needed to hide them.
Lan Nongnong slowly walked back to the door, but suddenly felt a sense of homesickness. Her palms, pressed against the door, were numb from the cold wood. She raised her head, her eyes filled with the determination to break free from the shackles.
After meeting her aunts, no matter whether she felt heartache or resentment, no matter what the emotion was, she would not change what she was going to do.
-
Life at Qixia Temple was superficially much the same as at the nunnery, but since one was my own temple and the other was living under someone else's roof, I naturally felt constrained.
At this moment, the men in Yunting stumbled as they chanted, and the wooden fish lost its rhythm, evidently uneasy. They worried about Nong Nong's whereabouts, wondering if she had escaped or been found. They were also trapped in their current situation, feeling uneasy.
The abbot of Qingfeng Temple could not bear it any longer, so he called everyone together and said, "Human affairs have been dealt with, and the rest is all up to fate." He also said that since everyone was disturbed by external factors, it meant that their six senses were not pure, and they were destined to have this disaster.
We should put aside distracting thoughts, concentrate on practicing, and be content with whatever happens.
After all, they had been monks for many years and had developed a certain composure. This realization was like a wake-up call, and all the confusion in their hearts suddenly dissipated. With a change of heart, they continued to recite sutras and chant Buddha's name, feeling even more enlightened. Therefore, they had become more relaxed these days.
This place, called Qixia Temple, is actually separated from the main temple by a wall and sealed off by a heavy brass lock. According to the monks in charge, this is where monks who violate the temple's precepts are held. Once the lock is down, it becomes a forbidden area. It's inaccessible from the front courtyard, and this gate also prevents access to the front temple.
Therefore, this Buddhist temple is extremely quiet. Except for the young monks who deliver rice, no one comes here on weekdays.
When the door knocked, everyone was gathered before the Buddha, chanting sutras. It was not yet time for the gifts, nor was it the time to copy the sutras and send them out. Moreover, the door was locked, so the person coming was definitely not from the temple.
When a pattern is suddenly broken, it often means something unexpected has happened. And unexpected things usually bring more harm than good.
However, everyone only paused the chanting for a moment before continuing their studies in peace. It was obvious that their ears were clear and not disturbed by external things.
The abbot of Qingfeng Temple opened his eyes and stopped hammering. The people on the opposite side stopped and looked over at him.
"When guests arrive, we should open the door to welcome them. Yun'an,"
Yun An stood up from his cushion, clasped his hands together and bowed, "Here I am."
"You go and greet the guests."
"yes."
-
The moment the wooden door opened, both those inside and outside were shocked, frozen in place. They immediately forgot everything around them and ran towards each other, clasping hands tightly, tears streaming down their cheeks.
"Aunt Yun'an—! Are you okay? Are the other aunts okay?"
"Nong Nong! Why are you here? You're not—"
"Don't worry, auntie. I'm fine."
Lan Nongnong suppressed her emotions and interrupted hastily, her knuckles tightening in a hint. Even if she escaped, the truth was known to both of them, but since she had chosen this story, she had to play it out to the end.
Yun An understood and fell silent. Only then did she catch a glimpse of the maidservant behind her. She tilted her head and wiped her tears with her sleeve, then took her hand again and led her into the courtyard.
When he touched her fingers, he felt the coldness of their icy texture. His face suddenly changed drastically. He glanced at her clothes in shock, and his gaze finally locked onto the hand warmer in her other hand. His eyes suddenly turned red, his throat trembled, but he couldn't utter a word.
Yun An snatched the heater from her hand and shoved it into the hands of the maid beside him. He then turned around and tightly grasped her cold hands, tucking them into his warm sleeves without a word. The icy temperature didn't faze her at all, and he held her hand and hurriedly walked towards the hall.
The warmth of the human body, after all, could not be matched by a hand warmer. The warm sensation flowed from the contact of skin to skin, slowly awakening Lan Nongnong's numb fingertips.
Aunt Yun'an said nothing, but Lan Nongnong understood from her actions. Aunt Yun'an blamed herself, believing she had caught a cold again. But how could she be blamed? Everyone was already under house arrest because of her; how could she bear the burden of guilt?
Before entering the door, Lan Nongnong stopped and turned around and said, "I have some private words to discuss with the aunts. You guys go wait next door."
Biyu and the others seemed to have received instructions. After hearing this, they said nothing more, bowed, and retreated to the outside of the courtyard.
Lan Nongnong looked at this familiar scene quietly. That day, they were also so obedient.
When she turned around, she saw several aunts coming forward. Their faces might not show it, but their eyes, like Aunt Yun An's, were filled with worry and pity.
It's been only a few days since we last met, but when we meet again it feels like a lifetime ago.
Lan Nongnong was escorted into the Buddhist temple by the crowd. Although the door was closed in time, the charcoal fire was still just beginning to burn, so the room wasn't much warmer than outside.
She wasn't concerned about the cold herself, but rather angrily scanned the hall's furnishings. The less than five meters-wide Buddhist shrine contained nothing but a life-size, gold-dusted Buddha statue, an incense table, five-sided cushions, and a wooden fish. Was this how the aunts chanted and practiced their meditations every day in such a modest room?
What do you mean by "being at peace with yourself"? This is no different from being punished!
Lan Nongnong closed her eyes, thinking of the fire she had just lit. She quickly pulled her hand away to check Aunt Yun'an's fingertips. Her knuckles were red, but fortunately, they were not cracked. She then felt the thickness of the monk's robe, then examined each aunt's fingers and clothing one by one.
While breathing a sigh of relief, I couldn't help but sneer in my heart. Although it was cold here, it was not covered with ice and snow. It was only a few days, and it was indeed not to the point where I would get frostbite.
But today, it's because of her that there's a charcoal fire. If she hadn't come, she'd be in the warm room, wrapped in brocade quilts, surrounded by servants, while the aunts would have to suffer the cold here because of her!
Seeing her breathing grow heavier, her eyes red with tears and anger, how could they not know the reason for her inspection? Although their hearts were warmed by her concern, they couldn't bear to see her so angry, and they all advised, "Don't be angry, Nong Nong. We haven't been neglected here. We didn't light the charcoal fire because we are in the presence of the Buddha. How can we enjoy happiness in the cold?"
"That's right. The charcoal will burn naturally when you sleep at night. And this place is quiet and peaceful. It's rare that there is no need to manage household chores. It is a place for receiving pilgrims. It is actually a pure place for spiritual practice."
"Nong Nong has arrived in front of the Buddha. He will burn incense for the Buddha first, and then go to the back room to tell us about his situation in the past few days."
Lan Nongnong was naturally no match for the aunts. However, she had already decided that Qin Jingyao was guilty, so how could the aunts' words comfort her?
But this time she had misunderstood. Even if Qin Jingyao disliked the people in the nunnery, since he kept them as a check, he would not deliberately treat them harshly in terms of expenses. He also disdained such narrow-minded behavior.
Lan Nongnong gathered her strength, forced herself to calm down, and tried to appear more natural as she worshipped. Kneeling was easy, but standing up was difficult. If Aunt Yun'an hadn't been there to support her, she would have collapsed to the ground.
After the incense sticks were inserted into the censer, without waiting for the aunts to ask, she took the arms of the two aunts beside her and took the coarse cloth hand warmer handed by Yun An. As she walked, she said, "Let's go to the back room quickly. I really can't stand the cold anymore."
This is an opportunity to lightly cover up the fact that he was stumbling.
The charcoal must have been top-quality silver bone charcoal. Within half a quarter of an hour, the room was already warm and cozy. There was no smoke, only the faint fragrance of wormwood.
But this thoughtfulness seemed to confirm Lan Nongnong's suspicions. She sneered and asked directly as soon as she sat down, "Aunts, do you usually burn charcoal like this?"
They glanced at each other, all smiling and shaking their heads. Lan Nongnong was about to frown when she heard Aunt Yunning say softly, "The charcoal we usually use doesn't have any fragrance. Mugwort is good for dispelling cold. I guess they changed it specially today because Nongnong came."
As soon as Yun Ning finished speaking, everyone felt relieved. Even such a small detail was taken into consideration. It seemed that the person hadn't taken Nong Nong's departure seriously.
They were all renunciates, long indifferent to the worldly concerns of life and death. However, Nong Nong was still in her prime, and if she had managed to escape, it would have been fine. It would have finally been what she had hoped for. But her presence here now seemed to have ruined her plan.
The wife's escape without permission was already a serious offense under the law, let alone the fact that she had been granted a title by imperial decree. If this matter were to become public, the title could be revoked at best, or even implicated in the family, with disastrous consequences.
If that person harbored any resentment towards Nongnong because of this, even if he ignored or punished her, it would be justified. I'm afraid her future years would be filled with difficulties.
Even if Nong Nong could cultivate a calm mind, she could not escape the constraints of the world in this world. This failure showed that the man had always sent people to monitor Nong Nong and them.
From this we can see that unless he voluntarily lets go of that person, even if everyone works together, it will be in vain.
Buddhism says, "When things have come, accept them." Given this, we should encourage Nongnong to open up and face the present circumstances seriously, so that we can live in peace. Therefore, at this moment, we should encourage reconciliation, not separation.
However, the truth is one thing, and the deep feelings are another. Their original intention is to seek deep joy, so they will not lose sight of the main point.
If this turmoil could finally be calmed down, they would not rashly intervene in the future as long as Nong Nong did not speak. If Nong Nong asked for anything, they would help without hesitation.
At the moment, it seems that the situation is much better than expected.
Lan Nongnong's breath hitched, having not expected such an answer. The aunts and the man had already come clean, and there was no reason for them to bail him out. But their expressions and tones didn't sound fake, and for a moment it was hard to tell the truth.
Since she was not here to verify the matter, she put her doubts aside for the time being and first told her about her situation on that day and her circumstances in the past few days, both true and false, and then asked about her aunts' conditions in the past few days.
Although Nong Nong's appearance was unexpected, everyone had made some progress after these few days of quiet cultivation. Furthermore, the abbess was in charge of all important matters, so they didn't panic when she asked.
The head of Qingfeng Temple spoke at the right moment, his words naturally mixed with truth and falsehood: "...The Minister of the Chancellery didn't make things difficult for us after questioning us, but he was indeed angry, which is why he placed us here. You know, those who practice cultivation don't value pleasure. As long as we have Buddha to worship and scriptures to recite, a mansion or a humble room makes no difference to us."
"...The sharing of knowledge among monks is a kind of good karma. Qixia Temple has a rich collection of books, and the monks have profound insights, which is truly an eye-opener for us. Moreover, Qixia Temple has allowed us to take the copied scriptures home. Coming here feels like a blessing in disguise."
After the head of Qingfeng Temple finished speaking, he observed her complexion carefully, his brows furrowed slightly. "Your lips are pale, and your voice is weak. Did you catch a cold that day? Are you feeling unwell elsewhere? Have you taken any medicine to treat your condition?"
Lan Nongnong knew she couldn't hide her current situation, so she didn't argue. She nodded and said truthfully, "It was indeed me who caused trouble. I got off the car early and walked alone in the wind and snow. This must be because of the recurrence of my cold."
"Fear of cold leads to poor blood circulation, weak qi, and decreased strength. Furthermore, the failure of the expedition has left me feeling depressed and overly worried, making it difficult to sleep soundly at night. That's why I look unwell. Other than that, there are no other symptoms. Aunts, don't worry. I'm already taking the medicine. Seeing you all safe today, I can finally put my worries to rest."
Several people sat above her, across from her, and to her side. As she spoke, their gazes were fixed on her face, taking in the weariness between her brows. Her former openness with them, as before, was something they missed immensely.
What is even more noteworthy is her calmness when she recounted the incident, as if she had grown up overnight.
Love is the most hurtful word. Once it is touched, no one can escape unscathed.
Although everyone felt sorry for her being worn down by love, in the current situation, her calmness was actually a good thing. At least in the future, she would no longer easily reveal her true feelings and let others take advantage of her.
"We've been through a lot and are still together, so there's nothing to worry about. But what are you planning now, Nongnong?"
After seeing with her own eyes that her aunts were safe, Lan Nongnong finally relaxed. She was getting weaker, but after saying these words, she felt a little restless.
When asked by the abbot of Wen Qingfeng Temple, he still forced himself to speak, "After this incident, there is nothing left to hide between him and me from the aunts. Furthermore, I am still young and inexperienced. If I continue to act rashly and alone, I will inevitably be careless. In the future, I will need the guidance of the aunts when I am confused and in trouble."
Yunming brewed tea, and Lan Nongnong paused, letting go of the hand warmer and accepting it with both hands. Aunt Yunming was the elder, so she should have served the tea, or at least stood up to greet the guests. However, she didn't even have the energy to stand, so she could only sit and bow slightly in thanks.
The warm, moist tea vapors wafted across her face, soothing she could almost sigh. She cupped the cup in both hands, absorbing the warmth and taking a sip. The warmth soothed her chilled mouth and lungs, and her complexion visibly improved.
Everyone waited for her quietly. After the tea in the cup was finished and placed on the table, Lan Nongnong continued, "Even I didn't know anything about this incident in advance, but he still managed to plan and control the entire situation. This shows that everything my aunts and I did was exposed to him. Nothing can be hidden."
"This trial has taught me to face reality. Even with all my plans, it's like an ant trying to shake a tree. Knowing it's futile, yet still insisting on doing it, is sheer folly."
"Since I am destined to be unable to break free, I have no choice but to change my mindset and stop clinging to this knot."
Lan Nongnong suddenly sighed, raised her eyes and looked around at everyone, the corners of her lips slowly curved up: "Isn't there a saying? Take a step back and the world will be wider. Actually, it's not a big deal."
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.
In the silence, the head of Qingfeng Temple suddenly said in a gentle voice, "Yes, it's no big deal."
He turned to look at the woman with a sweet smile and clear eyes, but her innocence had faded. He nodded slightly, "The Heart Sutra says, 'Seeing the five aggregates are empty, one can overcome all suffering.' 1 Then take good care of yourself. Next time you come, don't be as weak as you are now."
Lan Nongnong's heart suddenly ached, and she quickly lowered her eyes and replied softly, "Hmm."
"If you have any concerns in the future, you can tell us. If it's inconvenient for you to come in person, please write and send it to us. One person's plan is short, three people's plan is long. Together we have six people. If we really encounter a problem, we will definitely have one more plan than others."
Yun Ning was one of the younger members of the nunnery, and his words were more relaxed when he was close to others. With these words, the slight dullness in the room was instantly dispelled. The others' expressions relaxed slightly, but Lan Nongnong couldn't help but burst out laughing.
When she smiled, everyone felt relieved.
It is gratifying that she is sensible, but if she is too sensible, it will only make people feel distressed.
"Although this place is nice, it's just a temporary place. Aunts, you're all implicated by me this time. After a few days, I'll reconcile with him and come to take you back personally. Just wait for me, aunts!"
The strength she had gained from the tea was gradually depleting, and Lan Nongnong was afraid of revealing her presence by staying any longer, so she slowly stood up from the chair. However, her feet were numb from the cold, and her body was swaying, which made people frown.
She had her own way of dealing with this. She leaned towards Aunt Yunming beside her and said with a friendly smile, "My feet are numb. Aunt Yunming, please help me up. I'll be fine after a few steps."
Without another word, the men escorted her all the way to the courtyard gate. Seeing this, the maid from the mansion hurried over, carefully holding her steady. A carriage was already waiting nearby, with a step stool already set out. A maid stood silently, waiting for her to board.
Lan Nongnong didn't notice that the others hadn't left the courtyard. She didn't want to cause any more trouble for her aunts, so she relied on Biyu and the other two to support her, pretending to be fine. She stood up straight and waved towards the courtyard, her eyes curved like the moon, her smile bright and cheerful.
"It's cold outside, aunts, please close the door and go back. Don't argue with me, I'll wait until you go in before getting in the car."
Since what needed to be explained had been explained, the few people stopped arguing with her, nodded, and closed the courtyard door.
As the mahogany door closed, Lan Nongnong's body suddenly collapsed, startling the two maids so much that their faces suddenly changed, but her glare silenced them, forcing them to remain silent. Biyu whispered, "Excuse me," then leaned over and let Qingluo carry her onto her back, swiftly boarding the carriage.
Lan Nongnong was caught off guard. When the shadow in front of her eyes stopped, the person was already lying on the soft couch in the carriage. She didn't ask any more questions, just glanced at Biyu and then looked away.
---
The carriage drove straight into the mansion and stopped in front of the bedroom gate.
Lan Nongnong didn't know when she fell asleep, and only woke up suddenly when she felt someone touching her. Seeing this, Biyu hurriedly retreated and apologized, "Madam, please forgive me. I saw that you were tired today and couldn't bear to wake you, so I took the initiative to carry you out of the car. I didn't mean to offend you."
Seeing that it was her, Lan Nongnong was still frightened, but she felt more relieved. She waved her hand to ask her to stand up, and then she supported herself and sat up to get out of the car.
The glass awnings in the mansion had already been set up, and the room was as warm as spring, without the need for a cloak. When I got out of the car, I accidentally looked up and saw that although the sun was at its zenith, it was half-obscured by dark clouds, and the sky was gloomy.
Back in the room, the warmth intensified, and she gradually removed her scarf and high-necked jacket. Lan Nongnong walked over to a carved, gilded mirror as tall as a person, tilting her head to examine it. Most of the marks on her neck had faded, but a few bruises remained, a startling sight.
She had lunch alone, consisting of simple dishes. She forced herself to wait for a moment, then, after finishing the medicine, went to bed and fell into a deep sleep.
---
In the late afternoon, it started snowing again.
Qin Jingyao tilted his head to look out the window, only to see heavy snow falling like a shattered sky. He endured it again and again, but finally stood up suddenly, leaving behind the desk full of documents and the farewells of his subordinates.
"Madam, have you had your meal? How much did you take? Is it time to take your medicine?" He asked in a deep voice as he walked quickly out.
Tongze hurriedly tied his cloak around his neck and held up his dark-colored umbrella. He then replied, "Your Excellency, there's been no news from the palace yet. According to the servants' report, Madam returned home at noon and should have eaten and taken her medicine by now."
Qin Jingyao didn't speak again, knowing that he couldn't ask any more questions at this moment. However, the desire to see her suddenly surged in his heart.
I want to see her immediately, I can't wait a moment.
He sat upright in the carriage, his posture as strong as a horse and a golden sword, his back straight, his eyes closed, his face calm, but his heart was in chaos.
Before she met those people, she was obviously anxious and uneasy, but when she met them, she was so calm and composed. She did not hug anyone and cry bitterly. Her words were clear and logical. Even on the way back, she did not show any sign of forbearance.
Now that he's back home, he acts as if nothing happened—
A nameless irritation welled up in his heart, and his breath suddenly became heavy. Qin Jingyao suddenly opened his eyes, his brows furrowed. The heavy snow made it difficult for the carriage to move, and the speed was more than twice as slow as usual.
He could no longer bear it, so he suddenly stood up and jumped out of the carriage. He ordered his men to unload the carriage, turned around and spurred his horse. With a loud shout, he galloped away through the flying snow.
The guards beneath the eaves of the mansion gate saw a man riding alone on snow from afar and hurriedly waved open the red gate. Hot breaths and the cold air that poured in collided in the air, leaving a winding trail of water on the obsidian ground.
As the horse's hooves passed, the gate of the mansion slammed shut, and the splashing water droplets instantly bloomed into ice flowers.
Qin Jingyao threw off the reins, untied his cloak, and strode straight to the backyard. The pavilions and corridors that used to offer a new view with every step now seemed exceptionally long, so long that he wished he could flatten them all with a wave of his hand, so that he could reach her courtyard as soon as he entered the mansion, and be right in front of her in one step.
He walked straight along the main road, crossing corridors and visiting gardens. The journey that took nearly two quarters of an hour was compressed into just one quarter of an hour.
Although Jiang Ting and Tong Ze were both handsome personal guards, they were still not as tall and majestic as the master. Their pace was almost a run. When they finally reached the outside of the lady's courtyard, the figure running ahead suddenly stopped.
Jiang Ting's heart trembled, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately waved his hand and ordered the servants in the adjacent courtyard to quickly bring the warm stove and fumigation clothes. He walked around to the master and skillfully took off the official robe and inner garment that were soaked in cold air.
Just then, his daily clothes arrived, and he quickly changed into them. Meanwhile, a servant had already warmed his dark hair with a specially crafted, slender heater. The entire process took only a few breaths, and by the time Qin Jingyao entered the courtyard, he was no longer cold.
Jiang Ting breathed a sigh of relief, dismissed everyone, and was about to return to Butler Guo to discuss matters. As he reached the courtyard, he ran into Tongze, who was running home with his hair covered in snow. Their eyes met, and as they sized each other up, they both raised their eyebrows.
Compared with Tongze's disheveled Bingshuang, Jiang Ting, whose breath was only slightly disordered, couldn't help but straighten his back, and a hint of pride flashed across his face.
The story goes that the two had been taken into the palace together, assigned to the same martial arts training team, and both personally appointed by the master to his side. Their abilities and skills were equally matched, and their personalities were even more compatible, making them inseparable and undoubtedly close friends.
This was also true before the Lord inspected the border troops on behalf of the Emperor. In the past, when the Lord went out, one of them would accompany him while the other would stay behind, taking turns.
This time, however, the Master was away from the capital for a long time, and before he departed, both men offered to accompany him, even engaging in a duel in front of him. In the end, Tongze emerged victorious, securing the opportunity to accompany him, while Jiangting was left behind in the capital to guard him.
Although the responsibility of staying behind is heavy and can only be undertaken by trusted confidants, for guards like them, even if they are entrusted with an important task, it is far less important than serving the master by his side.
Furthermore, Jiang Ting has been in charge of the affairs of the capital for a long time and now seems to be unable to get away. If this continues, Your Excellency will have to promote new guards to serve by his side.
Therefore, seeing Tongze always by the adults' side, one can imagine the envy in Jiangting's heart.
He had also forgotten that when his wife disappeared, he had secretly been glad that he was not as afraid to speak as Ruze. At this moment, he was only looking at the other's miserable appearance and gloating.
He knew that his master was riding back alone, and that Steward Guo had already sent someone to fetch the carriage, but he still deliberately looked behind Tongze, feigning concern: "Why didn't the carriage come back with him?"
Tongze ignored his provocation and hurried to his room. He still needed to change clothes and report back, so he didn't have time to deal with such sarcastic remarks. After all, it was he who was with the master now, not Jiang Ting.
Although his mind was clear, he couldn't help but cast a glance at her when they passed by, his eyes slightly raised, full of unconcealed pride. Then he didn't stop and walked away.
This made Jiang Ting feel depressed behind him, so there is no need to elaborate.
---
Knowing that she was still sleeping, Qin Jingyao walked quietly around to behind the screen. The six-panel gauze screen was hazy and vague, and a slender figure could be seen lifting the bed curtains and disappearing into the room.
About half a minute later, the bedroom door opened slightly, and Biyu and Qingluo hurriedly and quietly closed the door. Hearing the call, Qingluo stayed outside the door, while Biyu stepped forward with lowered brows and eyes.
As soon as he stood still in the hall, he heard the master's low voice coming from the top: "Tell me everything the lady did, her expression and her tone after she returned home, word for word."
Biyu was well prepared. Upon hearing this, she lowered her head and hurriedly reported, "...Madam then went to the mirror to examine herself, tilting her head left and right, then slightly raising it once, her gaze fixed on her neck and behind her ears. The Madam remained calm and her breathing steady. She then called the servants to prepare water for her bath. After about two quarters of an hour, she changed her clothes and personally applied the ointment, leaving the rest to the servants. She then reclined on the couch, closed her eyes, and took a short nap..."
"...After lunch, the Madam was extremely sleepy, yet she forced herself to walk slowly around the room. She frowned slightly while taking the medicine, and it took about ten breaths for her to relax. She then allowed the servants to accompany her to the screen, and she retired to bed. She had been asleep since 3:30 PM, and it had been an hour and a half since then."
Qin Jingyao listened quietly for a moment, then silently took off the bracelet from his wrist and slowly spun it. Amidst the light friction sound, he suddenly spoke,
"--never cried?"
Biyu shook her head affirmatively: "To answer your Excellency, no."
There was no sound in the hall for a moment, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
The air was so thick and stagnant that it was difficult to breathe. After a long moment, the leader's sleeves flicked gently. Biyu felt as if she had been pardoned. She bowed silently, retreated to the door, and stood there with her head bowed.
As the sky darkened, a faint rustling sound suddenly emanated from the tightly closed bedroom. The man at the head, whose expression was hidden in the shadows, suddenly opened his eyes.
Almost at the same time, the maid knocked on the door and came in.
When the bed curtains were drawn, Lan Nongnong was still lying on her side. She only glanced at the candlelight in the room and asked in a hoarse voice, "Is he back?"
Biyu was startled by her calm tone without any resentment or excitement. She looked up and saw that she was breathing calmly, lying relaxedly, with her eyes half closed and a lazy look after sleeping.
Biyu's throat tightened unconsciously, and she lowered her eyes and whispered, "My lady, the master has returned at the end of the afternoon. Knowing that you were well asleep, he has been waiting outside. Would you like me to invite you in now?"
"Need not."
Lan Nongnong blinked, shook her head, and declined the offer of support. She leaned forward with her arms and slowly rose to a sitting position. Her long, knee-length black hair flowed gracefully behind her. Her snow-white nightgown, against the dim light of the bed, seemed like the only bright spot in the world.
She always had a cold body, so even though the house was as warm as spring, she still had to wear thick socks and soft-soled embroidered shoes.
Biyu and the other wanted to help her change clothes, but Lan Nongnong shook her head and pointed lightly at the pink and white cloak on the clothesline. The two understood, one gently lifted her long hair, and the other quickly fetched the cloak and carefully tied it on her.
Lan Nongnong washed up briefly, then walked out of the bedroom slowly with her long black hair loose.
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