Chapter 129 Lingwei Observation
After listening silently to the old lady's scolding, Qiu Heng handed over a pastry: "Grandmother, try the osmanthus cake made by Fangzhou."
The old lady accepted the snacks with a stern face: "Don't change the subject. What did I tell you when we went to the Prince of Fu's mansion?"
"Then next time Princess Rongning invites me to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football), I'll refuse, lest the ball doesn't have eyes..."
“It’s not a matter of refusing or not—” the old lady couldn’t continue.
In short, this girl is a born troublemaker!
"grandmother."
"explain."
"I want to visit Lingwei Temple tomorrow."
The old lady instinctively objected: "Young lady, you're always thinking about going out. Just stay home and behave yourself."
Qiu Heng's expression was conflicted: "Grandmother, there's something I've been afraid to say."
The old lady's heart tightened: "What is it?"
"The Crown Prince's residence caught fire, and I saw the bodies of the eunuchs who died in the fire. One of them had fallen from a height and his neck was broken..." Qiu Heng's voice trembled slightly as she twisted her handkerchief in her hands. "After that, I kept having nightmares and thought about going to the Taoist temple to get a peace charm when I came back... If Grandmother is worried about me going alone, could you come with me?"
The old lady quietly shifted her body to the side: "In that case, you should go early and come back early tomorrow, and remember to bring more people with you. Oh, take Granny Yu with you, it will put your mind at ease if you have a reliable old woman with you."
Qiu Heng blinked: "Isn't Grandmother going?"
"Sigh, Grandma is getting on in years, and her health can't take going out every day."
"Then you should rest well. I'll take Granny Yu and Fangzhou with me tomorrow."
"Um."
Qiu Heng smiled and took a bite of the osmanthus cake.
Her grandmother was particularly superstitious and afraid of being tainted by bad luck, and this belief actually worked quite well.
The next morning, Qiuheng, along with Fangzhou and Granny Yu, boarded a carriage and headed to Lingwei Temple.
Granny Yu ate pastries along the way, feeling quite cheerful.
Finally, Fangzhou is back, and we can have some snacks again.
The sixth young lady has also become more mature, knowing to take her with her when going out instead of letting her, a governess, secretly deliver things to men outside.
"Sixth Miss, we've arrived at Lingwei Temple." The coachman's voice came as the carriage stopped.
Qiu Heng got off the carriage and looked up at the Taoist temple in front of her.
Lingwei Temple is built halfway up the mountain. The mountain slope is gentle and the stone steps are flat. It's not early at this time. Some people, like Qiuheng, have just arrived, while others have already come out.
Qiu Heng lifted the hem of her skirt and climbed the steps, with Fang Zhou and Granny Yu following closely behind.
"Has Granny Yu visited Lingwei Temple?"
"I came here a few years ago, and the talismans here are quite famous."
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Then I've come to the right place to ask for a peace charm."
Upon entering the Taoist temple, the aroma of incense wafts through the air, a refreshing scent of cypress.
Guided by the guest master, Qiu Heng offered incense in front of the Sanqing Hall.
"Master, I've heard that a highly accomplished Taoist master has come to our temple. How can I possibly meet him?"
I've heard this question many times recently, but this is the first time a young girl has asked it.
The guest master glanced at Qiu Heng again and said, "There will be a Dharma assembly in two days, which will be presided over by Master Miaoqing."
Miaoqing Zhenren—Qiuheng's heart stirred.
The master's Taoist name is Changqing, which is only one character different from Miaoqing. Could this Miaoqing Zhenren, who attracted the visit of the Prince of Fu, be the master?
"Thank you for informing me, Daoist Master." Qiu Heng didn't ask any further questions.
Since there will be a public Dharma assembly, we'll find out when we come and see for ourselves.
Afterwards, the receptionist went to greet other pilgrims, and Qiuheng led Fangzhou and Granny Yu to the back.
Behind it is the Star Lord Hall, a place to pray for disaster relief and longevity, and to request talismans.
Before she could get close, a well-dressed maid stopped Qiu Heng and said haughtily, "Please wait, young lady. Our lady is offering incense in the hall."
Qiu Heng glanced at the palace gate and frowned slightly: "Does Lingwei Temple still have a system of clearing out the area? The guest master didn't mention it just now."
The maidservant looked Qiu Heng up and down, then slightly raised her chin: "Our lady is sincerely worshipping the gods and doesn't like to be disturbed. Perhaps the host forgot to remind you, young lady."
Seeing the maidservant adorned with gold and silver, exuding an air of superiority, Granny Yu assumed she came from a wealthy family and, not wanting Qiu Heng to get into trouble, whispered, "Miss, let's wait a bit—"
Before the word "ba" could be uttered, Fangzhou rushed over and tackled the maid to the ground.
The maid let out a scream, followed by more screams.
Fangzhou pressed down on the maid, kicking and hitting her as if he were insane.
Granny Yu was dumbfounded and forgot to react.
Hearing the commotion, a woman came out of the hall and was shocked to see what was happening outside: "What's going on?"
Qiu Heng walked over quickly, pulled Fang Zhou up, and called her name: "Fang Zhou!"
Fangzhou shuddered, his eyes regaining their clarity: "Miss, I—"
"It's alright." Qiu Heng quickly squeezed Fang Zhou's hand and comforted her in a low voice.
"Qiu Liu, it's you!" the girl beside the woman said angrily.
Qiu Heng steadied herself and looked over.
The one who spoke was Fang Rui, the daughter of the Prime Minister, whose resemblance to the woman next to her was immediately apparent.
Qiu Heng had seen Fang Rui with a lady during the autumn hunt, but it wasn't this one, so he couldn't be sure about their relationship.
"Miss Fang."
The woman, surnamed Yang, was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Prime Minister's household. Seeing that the two knew each other, she asked coldly, "Rui'er, who is she—"
"Mother, she is that Miss Qiu Liu!"
"From the Yongqing Marquis's residence?" Upon learning Qiu Heng's identity, Madam Yang's face darkened further. She glanced at the maid who had just gotten up and asked coldly, "What exactly happened?"
The disheveled maid, feeling wronged, said, "This young lady wanted to go in, and I told her you were offering incense and asked her to wait a moment. But then her maid rushed over and started punching and kicking me..."
The servant woman grew angrier the more she spoke.
Heavens above! As the most favored head maid of the Prime Minister's wife, she had never suffered such humiliation.
This is an utter disgrace, a complete disgrace!
Madam Yang looked at Qiu Heng with a gloomy expression: "If Miss Qiu Liu is unwilling to wait, she can simply say so. To directly allow her servant to injure someone is far too arrogant."
“Mother, that’s how she is. She even slapped Susu hard in public earlier.”
Noticing that Fangzhou was about to speak, Qiuheng gently touched her hand and curtsied slightly to Madam Yang: "It was my fault for not disciplining the maid properly. I hope Madam will forgive me."
"Please forgive me?" Madam Yang was already in a bad mood today because she had come to offer incense and pray for a talisman for her son's health. This incident only made her feel worse. In addition, she had heard of Qiu Heng's reputation before, so she was even more disgusted with her.
Of course, the premise for not wanting to let it go and venting one's emotions was knowing that the girl in front of him came from the Yongqing Marquis's Mansion.
For Madam Yang, even the old lady of the Yongqing Marquis's mansion had to be very polite to her, so why should she tolerate a little maid?
"If Miss Qiu Liu says 'please forgive me,' then my head maid has been humiliated for nothing?" Madam Yang looked at Qiu Heng expressionlessly. "Your maid represents your reputation. I won't argue with a young girl like you. I'll just have someone ask your family's matriarch how she disciplines her granddaughter."
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