Chapter 104 Chapter 104: There is no coincidence in the world! ...
They say illness comes like a mountain falling, and passes like a thread being pulled out. But under Zhao Mingsheng's care, Old Lady Gu's health gradually improved, and with her worries finally resolved, her spirits were much better than before.
Before the old lady fell ill, the whole family recited Buddhist scriptures a lot, so the second wife, Mrs. Li, suggested going to the temple to burn some incense as a way to fulfill a vow.
The old lady also agreed.
Considering the old lady's health, the Zhao family chose a nearby Linyin Temple, which was just to the west of the capital. It was very close and could be reached in less than half an hour by car.
The second wife accompanied Old Lady Gu on the first carriage, and Zhao Mingsheng had to get on the carriage behind with Zhao Mingjing.
The carriage began to move slowly, but the interior fell into an unusual silence. Although the atmosphere between the two sisters had eased a little last time in the old lady's room, it was still a bit awkward.
The carriage came out from the bluestone-paved avenue and stepped onto the uneven gravel road. The carriage felt noticeably more shaken than before.
Seeing Zhao Mingjing leaning against the window sill with a frown on her face, Zhao Mingsheng knew she must be suffering from carriage sickness again. Zhao Mingjing had been like this since she was a child; the slightest shaking in the carriage would make her feel dizzy.
Zhao Mingjing squeezed her eyes shut tightly, trying to fall asleep, but the shaking of her body still made her head spin and feel very uncomfortable. Just then, a slight noise was heard in the carriage, and someone sat down next to her.
She opened her eyes, wanting to see what Zhao Mingsheng was planning. The girl moved closer to her and, without blinking, grabbed her hand. She was so startled that she subconsciously tried to pull her hand back.
Zhao Mingjing moved her wrist but didn't pull it back. Her left hand remained firmly clasped in Zhao Mingsheng's.
When did this woman become so strong?
Zhao Mingjing was truly confused.
"What do you want..." Zhao Mingjing's voice was a little nervous. She suddenly remembered that she had bullied Zhao Mingsheng a lot in the past, such as stealing her hairpins and jewelry. Could this girl be trying to get revenge on her? She even grabbed her hand. Was she going to hit her?
Just when Zhao Mingjing was thinking wildly and was even about to beg her not to slap her in the face, Zhao Mingsheng spoke.
"Aren't you dizzy? I'll press this acupoint for you, it will make you feel much better."
After Zhao Mingsheng finished speaking, she looked at her strangely. Why did she feel that Zhao Mingjing was acting weird today?
"Oh, thank you." Zhao Mingjing pulled the corners of her mouth awkwardly, revealing a smile that was uglier than crying, which made the other person look at her even more strangely. She simply curled her lips and retracted her smile, enjoying it quietly.
Well, it’s more normal not to smile like this.
The Hegu acupoint was kneaded back and forth with moderate force. After a while, Zhao Mingjing really felt that she was much better. She widened her eyes in surprise.
"I really don't feel dizzy anymore, it's amazing."
Zhao Mingsheng's lips curled slightly. "Carriage sickness is also an illness. Every illness has its own treatment. Ultimately, it's because you're too weak. I'll prescribe some medicine for you when we get back. If you keep taking it, it'll be effective."
"A country bumpkin knows all this? That's amazing." Zhao Mingjing realized after she finished speaking that her words didn't seem quite right, and quickly explained, "I didn't mean to laugh at you."
It’s over. Why does it feel like the more I explain, the worse it gets?
Just when Zhao Mingjing felt completely hopeless, the girl next to her suddenly laughed.
"I know what you mean, thanks for the compliment."
Zhao Mingjing wasn't necessarily a bad person, but she was quite tongue-tied and often said things that were annoying. She also didn't act like a proper older sister, constantly bickering with her younger siblings. Instead, she was often taken care of by her younger sister, Zhao Mingsheng.
Zhao Mingsheng continued to massage her for a while until she felt less uncomfortable, then he stopped.
Before he could pull his hands back, they were grabbed by another pair of soft hands.
Zhao Mingjing grabbed her hand as if she had discovered a new world. She shrieked, "How can your hands be so white!" She touched it and said, "They feel so tender. How do you maintain them?"
"And your face, did you put some powder on it? How come you look even whiter than before? And the day you came back, I wanted to ask, where did you buy that dress? It's so beautiful, and the embroidery is so unique!"
Sure enough, the topics among women always revolve around clothing, dressing, and skin care.
After Zhao Mingsheng finished explaining everything, that there was no maintenance or powder on her, and that her clothes were made by her mother herself, Zhao Mingjing immediately looked at her with envy and jealousy.
"I don't believe it!"
Zhao Mingsheng held his forehead with his hand. If he didn't come up with a random excuse, it seemed she wouldn't give up today. So he made up a random excuse and replied, "Maybe the soil and water in the countryside are more nourishing."
"Really?" Zhao Mingjing thought carefully, then made up her mind and said, "Then I'm going to live in the countryside for a while after I get back."
Why did it feel like he was deceiving an innocent girl? Zhao Mingsheng could only face it with a smile. Fortunately, he arrived at Lingyin Temple soon.
The Zhao family had arranged for the abbot of the courtyard in advance. As soon as they entered, someone led them into a large hall where a huge golden Buddha was enshrined.
After burning incense and worshipping the Buddha statue in the main hall, everyone happened to meet the old lady of the Yu family from the Yong'an Earl's Mansion who came to worship Buddha together, and there was a man following behind her.
Zhao Mingsheng had never seen the man before. Through their conversation, he found out that he was the grandson of Mrs. Yu. He came to accompany his grandmother to burn incense and mourn his deceased mother.
Only then did she realize that this was the family that her grandmother and the Second Madam had discussed their intention to get engaged that day! What a coincidence!
The adults of the two families were chatting happily. Zhao Mingsheng glanced at Zhao Mingjing beside her. She had noticed from a while ago that her third sister had become a little absent-minded since the appearance of Old Madam Yu. Although she didn't show it too obviously, her eyes were always glancing at Old Madam Yu's grandson.
The man's eyes would fall on Zhao Mingjing from time to time.
Something is happening!
Zhao Mingsheng believed that her sixth sense was always accurate, so she asked her grandmother with a smile, saying that this was her first time in Lingyin Temple and she wanted to visit other places.
Old Madam Gu readily agreed.
"Then Jing and Sheng, you two should go for a walk and just come back before the vegetarian meal."
Old Madam Yu beside her also said enthusiastically, "Lingyin Temple is very large. You two little girls, don't get lost by mistake. Let my grandson show you around. He's familiar with this place."
The temple was full of people, each accompanied by maids and attendants, so there was nothing wrong with walking together.
Zhao Mingsheng looked at his grandmother and saw her nod, so he nodded obediently.
Along the way, Mrs. Yu's grandson walked in front, keeping a distance that was neither too far nor too close.
The two sisters lagged behind him by a step, and from a distance they looked like two little tails following him.
After walking for a while, Zhao Mingsheng couldn't help but whispered to Zhao Mingjing.
"You two knew each other before?"
Zhao Mingjing looked up at the tall figure in front of her. She neither admitted nor refuted it, but just bit her lower lip slightly, which made Zhao Mingsheng anxious.
At this moment, Zhao Mingsheng caught a glimpse of a light yellow dress at the corner of a room. With her excellent eyesight, she could naturally see the embroidery on the corner of the dress. It was the dress that Meng had personally sewn for the young lady of the Huang family.
It just so happened that the Huang family was also in the capital, so the person who just passed by was most likely Huang Yuexin. Thinking of this possibility, Zhao Mingsheng hurriedly greeted the two people beside him, and then chased in the direction where the corner of the clothes disappeared.
Before Zhao Mingjing could even react, the person had already disappeared.
Only she and Li He were left standing there staring at each other.
"Your sister runs really fast, but is it okay for her to leave alone?" Li He spoke first.
Zhao Mingjing thought about her amazing strength and shook her head slightly. The bad guys should pray that they don't meet her.
She thought so and said it out loud accidentally. Then she saw Li He looking at her in shock.
She quickly changed her tone. "Don't worry, Fifth Sister might have run into someone she knows. Let's go."
After saying this, in order to hide his embarrassment, he strode forward and even accidentally surpassed Li He.
Li He couldn't help laughing as he looked at the petite back of the girl. This little girl from the Zhao family was really interesting.
"Okay." He said gently.
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There is a huge wishing tree in the backyard of Lingyin Temple. It is said that all wishes made here will come true.
Huang Yuexin came here specially for this purpose.
At the beginning, her father was planning to take medicinal materials to Yanzhou for disaster relief. Because the journey was long and arduous, Huang Yuexin stayed in the capital. But now it has been more than half a month since her father left for Yanzhou, and there has not even been a letter during this period, which made her start to worry.
I heard that you can make three wishes under this wishing tree. Huang Yuexin closed her eyes and clasped her hands together, reciting silently in her heart:
First, I hope that the people of Yanzhou can survive this disaster safely.
Second, I hope my father can return safely.
Third, he hopes that his good friend Zhao Mingsheng will be healthy and safe.
After making these three wishes, Huang Yuexin gently opened her eyes. Beneath the mottled shadows of the trees, her third wish stood before her, gazing at her with a gentle smile, her stunning little face radiant in the sunlight.
Huang Yuexin's watery eyes were filled with confusion.
"Am I dreaming?" she asked uncertainly.
Otherwise, how could she see the young lady from the Zhao family, who was far away in Qingshan Village, standing in front of her and smiling at her?
Zhao Mingsheng reached out and gently pinched Huang Yuexin's cheek until she felt a slight pain, then he let go.
"Now you know you're not dreaming, right?" Zhao Mingsheng said with a smile.
The maidservant beside the young lady from the Huang family also echoed: "It really is the young lady from the Zhao family!"
Huang Yuexin blinked her big watery eyes, and tears as big as beans fell from her eyes.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't cry. Did I hurt you?" Zhao Mingsheng was a little flustered as he wiped her tears and began to feel a little overwhelmed.
"No, I'm just too happy." Huang Yuexin said while crying and smiling.
Her father had been gone for so long, and she hadn't heard from him since. She was very worried. But now that her third wish had come true, she was sure the first two would come true too!
Thinking of this, she felt a lot more relaxed.
Huang Yuexin talked to her a lot, and Zhao Mingsheng then realized that Huang Furen did not sell the batch of medicinal materials to the capital, but decided to transport them to Yanzhou for free for disaster relief. She wondered why those medicinal materials were not seen in the pharmacies in the capital.
Zhao Mingsheng patted Huang Yuexin's back comfortingly. "Uncle Huang is a man of great integrity. Don't worry. I believe that good things will come to him."
Huang Yuexin nodded. She felt much better after saying this. These things had been in her heart for a long time. She was already very satisfied to have a close friend who could listen to her.
She wiped away her tears, looked up at Zhao Mingsheng and asked, "Why did you come to Beijing? Why didn't you tell me and come to play with me?"
Zhao Mingsheng scratched his head embarrassedly. "My grandmother was ill some time ago, and I was in a hurry when I came here, so I forgot to tell you."
Later, he was busy taking care of his grandmother and had no time to visit her. Zhao Mingsheng had originally planned to contact Huang Yuexin again in a few days, but he didn't expect to meet her here today. It was really a coincidence.
Huang Yuexin nodded to show her understanding.
"Taking care of grandma is more important. By the way..." She suddenly seemed to have thought of something and took out a purse from her sleeve, which contained two amulets.
Huang Yuexin mustered up her courage and said, "This is what I just asked for here. Now that you are here, you can take it back."
"What is this?" Zhao Mingsheng flipped through them and felt that one of them did not look like a talisman worn by a woman, but more like one worn by a man.
Looking at the young lady from the Huang family again, her face had already turned as red as an apple. She whispered softly, "This is a lucky charm that will bring you success in every exam. It's for your brother."
Zhao Mingsheng: My brother???
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