Chapter 78 Daoming Temple
Mingshan Mountain is not high or steep, so climbing it is not difficult.
Mu Xi walked for a while without realizing it, and suddenly heard the sound of a zither drifting from afar.
The sound of the zither was melodious and clear, sometimes like a mountain stream flowing gently down, and sometimes like the soft and ethereal white clouds in the sky.
Mu Xi had never heard such beautiful music before, and she couldn't help but slow her pace: "Could it be that someone is going to pay respects to their mother?"
Upon hearing this, Doctor Luo shook his head: "It can't be."
Since Doctor Luo spoke with such certainty, Mu Xi didn't ask any further questions.
The group quickened their pace, reaching the solemn burial ground halfway up the mountain. The music had faded, as if no one had ever been there.
Mu Xi was too exhausted and had to rest.
The divine physician Luo personally placed four neatly arranged offerings on the grave, along with a bunch of unidentified small yellow flowers.
"Dr. Luo, what kind of flower is that?" Mu Xi asked.
The yellow flowers were unremarkable; they were freshly picked from the mountain path, and the petals of Xinxian were still glistening with dew.
Doctor Luo did not answer. She stood solemnly in front of the grave for a long time, then solemnly lit three incense sticks before returning to tend to Mu Xi: "This flower is called 'Dendrobium,' which represents love, courage, auspiciousness, and purity. Your mother did not like those overly flamboyant flowers like red and pink, so this little yellow flower must be the one that best suits her taste."
"If only Doctor Luo had said so earlier, I would have picked some to give to my mother as well," Mu Xi said with some regret.
The divine physician smiled and said, "The flowers all over the mountains and fields are always with your mother, so there's no need to pick them all and place them in front of her grave."
That makes sense.
So Mu Xi followed the rules and kowtowed to offer incense.
Next are Mu Xun and Mu Chong.
Once everyone has finished their offerings, the objective will be considered achieved.
Mu Xi had finally made it to the halfway point of the mountain and didn't want to come down so soon.
Mu Xun pondered for a moment: "In previous years, when Father came, he would also visit the Daoming Temple at the foot of the mountain on the east side and offer some incense. Brother is a little tired, so why don't we take a sedan chair and go down the mountain road on the east side, which is flatter, and take a look along the way?"
“That would be excellent.” Mu Xi readily agreed.
So Mu Xi sat in the sedan chair, and Mu Xun instructed his entourage to go down the mountain and inform the carriages and horses below to take a detour to the east to meet up.
Daoming Temple, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, far from the hustle and bustle of the world, is truly a wonderful place to rest.
The Taoist temple has only two courtyards. The main hall is located in the main courtyard. The deity enshrined in the main hall is neither the sea god Jumang nor Yi Guang, one of the seven ancient gods, but the sorcerer god who holds the power of life and death over sorcerers.
Mu Xi had never had the chance to enter the temple to burn incense, so she couldn't help but carefully examine the statues in the hall.
The image of the witch god is very similar to the image of the goddess Yiguang in memory. Both are depictions drawn by later generations based on their imagination. However, the goddess Yiguang usually poses as if looking down on all living beings, while the witch god is dancing gracefully as if flying.
Mu Xi pondered how she could create a flawless "miracle" if she were to follow the example of those shamans and perform some kind of sacrificial ceremony to thank the gods.
As I was pondering this, I vaguely heard the sounds of many people moving and talking in the inner courtyard behind the palace.
The Taoist temple is quiet and secluded, with few visitors.
When they came in just now, there was only a Taoist boy leading the way at the door.
Mu Xi heard the sound coming from the main hall.
In no time, the group entered the main hall through the back door.
A middle-aged woman stood at the front, her clothes fluttering, her figure ethereal.
It was so bright it caught one's eye.
The woman paused, seemingly unaware that there were outsiders in the main hall.
Mu Xi had never seen such a beautiful mortal before, and couldn't help but think of the fairy sister.
A middle-aged woman, in her early forties, is not as youthful and sharp as she is in her prime, nor as beautiful and regrettable as she is nearing the end of her life. Rather, she is beautiful in a graceful and radiant way.
She was so beautiful that she didn't even need to dress up. Her hair was simply styled in a flowing cloud bun, adorned with an antique white jade hairpin. She wore a simple blue and white silk brocade dress, which, despite its plainness, gave her an air of otherworldly elegance and overwhelming nobility.
Mu Xi couldn't help but think of the fairy's personality; the two were too similar in temperament.
The difference is that although the middle-aged woman also does not wear makeup, she has a faint touch of rosy cinnabar painted between her eyebrows.
Staring at that wisp of rosy light, it evoked the feeling of colorful clouds supporting the sun and the radiant glow of the sunset.
Mu Xi was stunned for a moment.
The woman in the middle smiled and nodded slightly.
The personal maid behind him announced in a loud voice, "This is Princess Yanya. May I ask who you are?"
"Oh, Prince Mu Xi of Jin Fang." Mu Xi then came to his senses and bowed respectfully.
My memory of the title "Princess Yanya" is vague; I can't recall it.
Princess Yan Ya stepped forward gracefully: "You... are General Mu's son?"
Ever since Jin Fangjun Muzhen was seriously injured and could no longer go to the battlefield, and was then granted the title of Duke, basically no one has called him "General" anymore.
But Mu Xi still bowed slightly and replied, "Yes."
Princess Yan Ya's radiant eyes seemed to glance over Mu Xi intentionally or unintentionally: "You look a lot like your father."
Mu Xi felt somewhat uncomfortable under her cold yet intense gaze, but then, remembering her father's sickly and emaciated appearance, she dismissed it: "Do you know my father?"
Princess Yanya seemed not to hear, her eyes seemingly looking at Mu Xi but not at her: "General Mu was incredibly brave and valiant on the battlefield back then, and you are his son... but... but this body... is too frail."
Princess Yan Ya's gaze was so intense that Mu Xi could hardly bear it.
Since the two were so close, it wasn't appropriate to keep looking directly at each other, so he could only stare at her brow.
But then she suddenly noticed that the wisp of crimson between her brows seemed to be moving, and it wasn't painted on.
Mu Xi was startled. Could this be a great shaman?
"Princess..." the attending matron called softly from behind.
Princess Yanya seemed to come back to her senses, as if something was on her mind but she quickly put it aside: "It was my abruptness. I heard that the Crown Prince has always been frail and sickly, and he was recently assassinated. Please take good care of your health."
Mu Xi bowed slightly and asked again, "Do you know my father?"
Princess Yan Ya glanced around behind her, as if searching for someone, but finally couldn't hide her disappointment: "Ah, your father and I are old acquaintances who have met a few times."
"An old friend?" Mu Xi couldn't find any recollection of him in the original owner's memories, so she turned back to ask Mu Xun.
Mu Xun simply said, "Your Highness, I presume His Highness has other matters to attend to, so let's not disturb him any longer."
"Huh?" Mu Xi was still confused about what was going on.
Princess Yan Ya then fixed her gaze on Mu Xun, her bright eyes gleaming with an unusual light: "You're also General Mu's son? You wouldn't happen to be the one General Mu had with the courtesan..."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized they were inappropriate and immediately stopped himself.
Mu Xun smiled faintly as if nothing had happened: "Why does Madam ask such a question?"
"Madam?" Mu Xi was still confused.
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