Zhongli knew he couldn't go against his wife's wishes, so he had to compromise: "You've really suffered these years. Wear more clothes and have the servants take good care of you."
"I understand, don't worry."
Madam Zhong finished packing and was about to get into the carriage when Aunt Chen came over and reached out to help her: "Madam, it's cold and the roads are slippery. Let me accompany you to the incense offering this time."
Madam Zhong glanced at her indifferently, avoiding Aunt Chen's outstretched hand: "I wouldn't dare trouble Aunt Chen." After saying that, she turned and got into the carriage.
Aunt Chen clenched the handkerchief in her hand, staring intently at the departing carriage. Her maidservant advised her, "Aunt Chen, it's cold, go back first."
Thirteen years have passed, a full thirteen years. The madam has never given her a second glance, and the master has never set foot in her Yixiang Courtyard since that night when he got drunk.
On the surface, she was the prefect's concubine, but as an unfavored concubine, she could be bullied by anyone in the mansion, and no one could understand her suffering.
It's all Yuan Shuqin's fault. If she hadn't been hogging the master and speaking ill of her to him, how could she have been neglected by the master for thirteen years?
In the carriage, Madam Zhong's personal maid, Yingchun, said with a disdainful look: "Madam, don't blame me for being nosy, but if you ask me, you are just kind-hearted. When Songdong took advantage of your weakness after childbirth to climb into Master's bed, you should have beaten her to death. You are kind-hearted and even made her a concubine."
Madam Zhong smiled faintly: "Song Dong was always my dowry maid. She grew up with me since childhood. Although she was unjust, I cannot take her life for that reason."
Yingchun placed the hot water bottle she had prepared into Madam Zhong's hands: "It's good that Songdong is lucky to have met a wife like you. If it were another wife, even if she wasn't beaten to death, she would have been sold off long ago. In any case, it's still good that the master treats the wife well. He hasn't been to that vixen's room all these years. What's the use of being a concubine?"
Madam Zhong looked down at the Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist and sighed, "I don't ask for anything now, I just hope that Jin'er's illness can get better."
"Madam and Master are both the best of philanthropists. The Bodhisattva will see Madam's sincerity, and Miss's illness will surely be cured."
"I hope so." Madam Zhong lifted the car curtain, and the light snow outside blew into the car with the cold wind.
Yingchun shivered from the cold and quickly lowered the carriage curtain: "Madam, be careful not to catch a cold, or Master will worry about you again."
Jinming Temple is just outside Yanyang City, a one-hour carriage ride away. But today the ground was slippery, so the driver didn't dare to go fast, and it took an hour and a half to get there.
With Yingchun's help, Madam Zhong got off the carriage and saw another carriage parked at the door.
"Hey, isn't that the prefect's carriage? Madam Lin is here to offer incense today too." Yingchun had sharp eyes and recognized the prefect's carriage at a glance.
Seeing Madam Zhong alight from the carriage, the prefectural carriage also lifted its curtain, and a young woman in a pink ruyao (a type of traditional Chinese jacket and blouse) stepped down and bowed gracefully before Madam Zhong: "Wanqing greets Madam Zhong."
This was Madam Zhong's first time meeting Lin Wanqing, and she was somewhat puzzled: "Who are you?"
“My father is Lin Zhengshan,” Lin Wanqing said softly.
Madam Zhong then remembered that she had heard that Prefect Lin had recently found his biological daughter and had become a disciple of Doctor Cai, which must be the girl in front of her.
"So it's Miss Lin. Your father and my husband were colleagues, no need for formalities. Miss Lin, are you here to worship Buddha today as well?"
“I have been separated from my parents for many years. Thanks to the Bodhisattva’s blessing, I am fortunate to be able to return to their side. Today is the fifteenth, and I have come to Jinming Temple to offer incense and thank the Bodhisattva.”
"I see. If Miss Lin doesn't mind, let's go up the mountain together," Madam Zhong invited.
"Of course I'm willing, Madam Zhong. The mountain path is slippery, let me help you." Lin Wanqing obediently came over and helped Madam Zhong up.
Along the way, Lin Wanqing deliberately found topics to chat with Madam Zhong. The two had a pleasant conversation and finally climbed over five hundred steps to reach the temple gate.
Madam Zhong was already in poor health, and after climbing these 500 steps, she was panting heavily and too tired to walk any further.
Yingchun rushed over and, together with Lin Wanqing, helped Madam Zhong up, saying, "Madam, please go into the temple and rest for a while."
Knowing that she was not feeling well, Madam Zhong nodded and, supported by the two men, went to a side room in the temple to rest.
Upon arriving at the room, Lin Wanqing hurriedly stepped forward to massage Madam Zhong's legs: "Madam Zhong, my daughter studied under Doctor Cai and also learned a set of her master's ancestral massage techniques. Let me massage your legs to relieve the soreness."
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